Recombination and deletion of sequences in shuttle vector plasmids in mammalian cells.

Shuttle vector plasmids were constructed with directly repeated sequences flanking a marker gene. African green monkey kidney (AGMK) cells were infected with the constructions, and after a period of replication, the progeny plasmids were recovered and introduced into bacteria. Those colonies with plasmids that had lost the marker gene were identified, and the individual plasmids were purified and characterized by restriction enzyme digestion. Recombination between the repeated elements generated a plasmid with a precise deletion and a characteristic restriction pattern, which distinguished the recombined molecules from those with other defects in the marker gene. Recombination among the following different sequences was measured in this assay: (i) the simian virus 40 origin and enhancer region, (ii) the AGMK Alu sequence, and (iii) a sequence from plasmid pBR322. Similar frequencies of recombination among these sequences were found. Recombination occurred more frequently in Cos1 cells than in CV1 cells. In these experiments, the plasmid population with defective marker genes consisted of the recombined molecules and of the spontaneous deletion-insertion mutants described earlier. The frequency of the latter class was unaffected by the presence of the option for recombination represented by the direct repeats. Both recombination and deletion-insertion mutagenesis were stimulated by double-strand cleavage between the repeated sequences and adjacent to the marker, and the frequency of the deletion-insertion mutants in this experiment was again independent of the presence of the direct repeats. We concluded that although recombination and deletion-insertion mutagenesis were both stimulated by double-strand cleavage, the molecules which underwent the two types of change were drawn from separate pools.     

Role for Golgi reassembly and stacking protein (GRASP) in polysaccharide secretion and fungal virulence

Secretion of virulence factors is a critical mechanism for the establishment of cryptococcosis, a disease caused by the yeast pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. One key virulence strategy of C. neoformans is the release of glucuronoxylomannan (GXM), a capsule-associated immune-modulatory polysaccharide that reaches the extracellular space through secretory vesicles. Golgi reassembly and stacking protein (GRASP) is required for unconventional protein secretion mechanisms in different eukaryotic cells, but its role in polysaccharide secretion is unknown. This study demonstrates that a C. neoformans functional mutant of a GRASP orthologue had attenuated virulence in an animal model of cryptococcosis, in comparison with wild-type (WT) and reconstituted cells. Mutant cells manifested altered Golgi morphology, failed to produce typical polysaccharide capsules and showed a reduced ability to secrete GXM both in vitro and during animal infection. Isolation of GXM from cultures of WT, reconstituted or mutant strains revealed that the GRASP orthologue mutant produced polysaccharides with reduced dimensions. The mutant was also more efficiently associated to and killed by macrophages than WT and reconstituted cells. These results demonstrate that GRASP, a protein involved in unconventional protein secretion, is also required for polysaccharide secretion and virulence in C. neoformans.     

Relative accuracy of spatial predictive models for lynx Lynx canadensis derived using logistic regression-AIC,multiple criteria evaluation and Bayesian approaches

We compared probability surfaces derived using one set of environmental variables in three Geographic Information Systems (GIS) -based approaches: logistic regression and Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC),Multiple Criteria Evaluation (MCE),and Bayesian Analysis (specifically Dempster-Shafer theory). We used lynx Lynx canadensis as our focal species,and developed our environment relationship model using track data collected in Banff National Park,Alberta,Canada,during winters from 1997 to 2000. The accuracy of the three spatial models were compared using a contingency table method. We determined the percentage of cases in which both presence and absence points were correctly classified (overall accuracy),the failure to predict a species where it occurred (omission error) and the prediction of presence where there was absence (commission error). Our overall accuracy showed the logistic regression approach was the most accurate (74.51% ). The multiple criteria evaluation was intermediate (39.22%),while the Dempster-Shafer (D-S) theory model was the poorest (29.90%). However,omission and commission error tell us a different story: logistic regression had the lowest commission error,while D-S theory produced the lowest omission error. Our results provide evidence that habitat modellers should evaluate all three error measures when ascribing confidence in their model. We suggest that for our study area at least,the logistic regression model is optimal. However,where sample size is small or the species is very rare,it may also be useful to explore and/or use a more ecologically cautious modelling approach (e.g. Dempster-Shafer) that would over-predict,protect more sites,and thereby minimize the risk of missing critical habitat in conservation plans.     

Association Between the 4 bp Proinsulin Gene Insertion Polymorphism (IVS‐69) and Body Composition in Black South African Women

The objective of the study was to examine the association between a functional 4 bp proinsulin gene insertion polymorphism (IVS‐69), fasting insulin concentrations, and body composition in black South African women. Body composition, body fat distribution, fasting glucose and insulin concentrations, and IVS‐69 genotype were measured in 115 normal‐weight (BMI <25 kg/m²) and 138 obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) premenopausal women. The frequency of the insertion allele was significantly higher in the class 2 obese (BMI ≥35kg/m²) compared with the normal‐weight group (P = 0.029). Obese subjects with the insertion allele had greater fat mass (42.3 ± 0.9 vs. 38.9 ± 0.9 kg, P = 0.034) and fat‐free soft tissue mass (47.4 ± 0.6 vs. 45.1 ± 0.6 kg, P = 0.014), and more abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT, 595 ± 17 vs. 531 ± 17 cm², P = 0.025) but not visceral fat (P = 0.739), than obese homozygotes for the wild‐type allele. Only SAT was greater in normal‐weight subjects with the insertion allele (P = 0.048). There were no differences in fasting insulin or glucose levels between subjects with the insertion allele or homozygotes for the wild‐type allele in the normal‐weight or obese groups. In conclusion, the 4 bp proinsulin gene insertion allele is associated with extreme obesity, reflected by greater fat‐free soft tissue mass and fat mass, particularly SAT, in obese black South African women.     

Effects of disease modifying agents and dietary intervention on insulin resistance and dyslipidemia in inflammatory arthritis: a pilot study

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) experience excess cardiovascular disease (CVD). We investigated the effects of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) and dietary intervention on CVD risk in inflammatory arthritis. Twenty-two patients (17 women; 15 with RA and seven with spondyloarthropathy) who were insulin resistant (n = 20), as determined by the Homeostasis Model Assessment, and/or were dyslipidemic (n = 11) were identified. During the third month after initiation of DMARD therapy, body weight, C-reactive protein (CRP), insulin resistance, and lipids were re-evaluated. Results are expressed as median (interquartile range). DMARD therapy together with dietary intervention was associated with weight loss of 4 kg (0–6.5 kg), a decrease in CRP of 14% (6–36%; P < 0.006), and a reduction in insulin resistance of 36% (26–61%; P < 0.006). Diet compliers (n = 15) experienced decreases of 10% (0–20%) and 3% (0–9%) in total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, respectively, as compared with increases of 9% (6–20%; P < 0.05) and 3% (0–9%; P < 0.05) in diet noncompliers. Patients on methotrexate (n = 14) experienced a reduction in CRP of 27 mg/l (6–83 mg/l), as compared with a decrease of 10 mg/l (3.4–13 mg/l; P = 0.04) in patients not on methotrexate. Improved cardiovascular risk with DMARD therapy includes a reduction in insulin resistance. Methotrexate use in RA may improve CVD risk through a marked suppression of the acute phase response. Dietary intervention prevented the increase in total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol upon acute phase response suppression.     

RalA mediates v-Src, v-Ras, and v-Raf regulation of CD44 and fibronectin expression in NIH3T3 fibroblasts

Oncogenic transformation of fibroblasts by v-Src and v-Ras is often associated with downregulation of fibronectin (FN) and increased expression of CD44, a receptor for hyaluronan. Both v-Src and v-Ras as well as v-Raf activate phospholipase D through the small GTPase, RalA, an important mediator of transformation and tumorigenesis in vivo. We have therefore investigated whether RalA is involved in the downregulation of FN and overproduction of CD44 upon oncogenic transformation. We report here that compared to untransfected cells NIH3T3 cells transformed by v-Src, v-Ras, or v-Raf have reduced levels of FN and increased levels of CD44. Moreover, the ability to form extracellular FN fibrils was significantly reduced in the oncogene-transformed cells compared to parental controls. Coexpression of the dominant negative S28N-RalA mutant restored the levels of CD44 and FN and the capacity of v-Src-, v-Ras-, and v-Raf-expressing cells to form extracellular FN fibrils, to those observed in NIH3T3 cells. The data presented here show a novel regulatory role for RalA, which is required for tumor formation in transformed NIH3T3 cells, in mediating the signal transduction pathway activated by v-Src, v-Ras, and v-Raf, that leads to FN downregulation and CD44 overexpression.     

Sequence, organization, and evolution of the A+T region of Drosophila melanogaster mitochondrial DNA

The long (4.6-kb) A+T region of Drosophila melanogaster mitochondrial DNA has been cloned and sequenced. The A+T region is organized in two large arrays of tandemly repeated DNA sequence elements, with nonrepetitive intervening and flanking sequences comprising only 22% of its length. The first repeat array consists of five repeats of 338-373 bp. The second consists of four intact 464-bp repeats and a fifth partial repeat of 137 bp. Three DNA sequence elements are found to be highly conserved in D. melanogaster and in several Drosophila species with short A+T regions. These include a 300-bp DNA sequence element that overlaps the DNA replication origin and two thymidylate stretches identified on opposite DNA strands. We conclude that the length heterogeneity observed in the A+T regulatory region in mitochondrial DNAs from the genus Drosophila results from the expansion (and contraction) of the number of repeated DNA sequence elements. We also propose that the 300-bp conserved DNA sequence element, in conjunction with another primary sequence determinant, perhaps the adjacent thymidylate stretch, functions in the regulation of mitochondrial DNA replication.      

Activation of morphogenesis and proliferation by low specificity chemical effectors

Activation of highly specific biochemical processes by simple chemical agents is demonstrated for morphogenesis (anlage and development of female gametophyte in cereal) and mitosis (in cell cultures and animal and plant tissues). The effects of these agents are tissue-specific. Structure--activity relationship is analyzed in this group of compounds. Thus, the phenomenon reveals the exact pathways of the influence of allelopathic and anthropogenic chemical agents on evolution of plant biocenoses.     

On the phylogeny of families and genera within the Temnocephalida

Temnocephalida includes species demonstrating many intermediate steps presenting the transition from commensalism to parasitism. Dramatic morphological changes also occurred within this group but the number of supraspecific taxa is small, making the Temnocephalida an excellent model for evolutionary studies. Having summarised original and relevant published morphological data, we suggest a cladogram (phylogenetic tree) which nearly fully resolves the order of branching of families and main genera within the Temnocephalida. We also introduce a new family, the Diceratocephalidae nov. fam. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.