13C-NMR spectroscopy of human serum high density lipoprotein enriched with labelled phospholipids.

Native human serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) (d = 1.063--1.21g x cm-3) was enriched with phosphatidylcholines labelled with 13C in the polar head group ([N-13CH3]choline) and in the fatty acyl chains ([26-13C]cholesterol) and its linoleic acid ester using the previously described exchange method (Stoffel et al. 1978). The properties of the HDL particles with the exchanged lipid classes were the same as those of the native particles (Mr, CD, fluorescence, lipid and apoprotein stoichiometry, electrophoretic mobility). The T1-times were very similar to those obtained previously with recombined apolipoprotein-[13C]lipid complexes and further support our proposals concerning lipid and apoprotein interactions in the HDL particle.     

Diet‐induced obesity impairs AKT signalling in the retina and causes retinal degeneration

Retinopathy, a common complication of diabetes, is characterized by an unbalanced production of nitric oxide (NO), a process regulated by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). We hypothesized that retinopathy might stem from changes in the insulin receptor substrate (IRS)/PI3K/AKT pathway and/or expression of NOS isoforms. Thus, we analysed the morphology and apoptosis index in retinas of obese rats in whom insulin resistance had been induced by a high‐fat diet (HFD). Immunoblotting analysis revealed that the retinal tissue of HFD rats had lower levels of AKT₁, eNOS and nNOS protein than those of samples taken from control animals. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analyses indicated higher levels of iNOS and 4‐hydroxynonenal and a larger number of apoptotic nuclei in HFD rats. Finally, both the inner and outer retinal layers of HFD rats were thinner than those in their control counterparts. When considered alongside previous results, these patterns suggest two major ways in which HFD might impact animals: direct activity of ingested fatty acids and/or via insulin‐resistance‐induced changes in intracellular pathways. We discuss these possibilities in further detail and advocate the use of this animal model for further understanding relationships between retinopathy, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Alleviation of rapid, futile ammonium cycling at the plasma membrane by potassium reveals K+-sensitive and -insensitive components of NH4+ transport

Futile plasma membrane cycling of ammonium (NH4+) is characteristic of low-affinity NH4+ transport, and has been proposed to be a critical factor in NH4+ toxicity. Using unidirectional flux analysis with the positron-emitting tracer 13N in intact seedlings of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), it is shown that rapid, futile NH4+ cycling is alleviated by elevated K+ supply, and that low-affinity NH4+ transport is mediated by a K+-sensitive component, and by a second component that is independent of K+. At low external [K+] (0.1 mM), NH4+ influx (at an external [NH4+] of 10 mM) of 92 micromol g(-1) h(-1) was observed, with an efflux:influx ratio of 0.75, indicative of rapid, futile NH4+ cycling. Elevating K+ supply into the low-affinity K+ transport range (1.5-40 mM) reduced both influx and efflux of NH4+ by as much as 75%, and substantially reduced the efflux:influx ratio. The reduction of NH4+ fluxes was achieved rapidly upon exposure to elevated K+, within 1 min for influx and within 5 min for efflux. The channel inhibitor La3+ decreased high-capacity NH4+ influx only at low K+ concentrations, suggesting that the K+-sensitive component of NH4+ influx may be mediated by non-selective cation channels. Using respiratory measurements and current models of ion flux energetics, the energy cost of concomitant NH4+ and K+ transport at the root plasma membrane, and its consequences for plant growth are discussed. The study presents the first demonstration of the parallel operation of K+-sensitive and -insensitive NH4+ flux mechanisms in plants.     

Resin duct size and density as ecophysiological traits in fire scars of Pseudotsuga menziesii and Larix occidentalis

Background and Aims

Resin ducts (RDs) are features present in most conifer species as defence structures against pests and pathogens; however, little is known about RD expression in trees following fire injury. This study investigates changes in RD size and density in fire scars of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and western larch (Larix occidentalis) as a means to evaluate the ecophysiological significance of traumatic resinosis for tree defence and survival.

Methods

Transverse and tangential microsections were prepared for light microscopy and image analysis in order to analyse axial and radial RDs, respectively. Epithelial cells of RDs and fusiform rays associated with radial RDs were also examined. RDs were compared between normal xylem and wound xylem at four different section heights along the fire-injured stem.

Key Results

Following fire injury, P. menziesii axial RDs narrowed by 38–43 % in the first year after injury, and the magnitude of this change increased with stem height. Larix occidentalis axial RDs widened by 46–50 % in the second year after injury. Radial RDs were of equivalent size in P. menziesii, but widened by 162–214 % in L. occidentalis. Fusiform rays were larger following fire injury, by 4–14 % in P. menziesii and by 23–38 % in L. occidentalis. Furthermore, axial RD density increased in both species due to the formation of tangential rows of traumatic RDs, especially in the first and second years after injury. However, radial RD density did not change significantly.

Conclusions

These results highlight traumatic resinosis as a species-specific response. Pseudotsuga menziesii produce RDs of equivalent or reduced size, whereas L. occidentalis produce wider RDs in both the axial and radial duct system, thereby increasing resin biosynthesis and accumulation within the whole tree. Larix occidentalis thus appears to allocate more energy to defence than P. menziesii.     

Phenothiazine–rhodamine‐based colorimetric and fluorogenic ‘turn‐on' sensor for Zn2+ and bioimaging studies in live cells

A phenothiazine–rhodamine (PTRH) fluorescent dyad was synthesized and its ability to selectively sense Zn²⁺ ions in solution and in in vitro cell lines was tested using various techniques. When compared with other competing metal ions, the PTRH probe showed the high selectivity for Zn²⁺ ions that was supported by electronic and emission spectral analyses. The emission band at 528 nm for the PTRH probe indicated the ring closed form of PTRH, as for Zn²⁺ ion binding to PTRH, the λ_em get shift to 608 nm was accompanied by a pale yellow to pink colour (under visible light) and green to pinkish red fluorescence emission (under UV light) due to ring opening of the spirolactam moiety in the PTRH ligand. Spectral overlap of the donor emission band and the absorption band of the ring opened form of the acceptor moiety contributed towards the fluorescence resonance energy transfer ON mechanism for Zn²⁺ ion detection. The PTRH sensor had the lowest detection limit for Zn²⁺, found to be 2.89 × 10^?8 M. The sensor also demonstrated good sensing application with minimum toxicity for in vitro analyses using HeLa cells.     

MicroRNAs: a new class of regulatory genes affecting metabolism

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression by binding to target mRNAs, which leads to reduced protein synthesis and sometimes decreased steady-state mRNA levels. Although hundreds of miRNAs have been identified, much less is known about their biological function. Several studies have provided evidence that miRNAs affect pathways that are fundamental for metabolic control in higher organisms such as adipocyte and skeletal muscle differentiation. Furthermore, some miRNAs have been implicated in lipid, amino acid, and glucose homeostasis. These studies open the possibility that miRNAs may contribute to common metabolic diseases and point to novel therapeutic opportunities based on targeting of miRNAs.     

The phlebotomine fauna (Diptera: Psychodidae) of Guaraí, state of Tocantins,with an emphasis on the putative vectors of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural settlement and periurban areas

Phlebotomine sandflies were captured in rural settlement and periurbanareas of the municipality of Guaraí in the state of Tocantins (TO), an endemicarea of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL). Forty-three phlebotomine specieswere identified, nine of which have already been recognised as ACL vectors.Eleven species were recorded for the first time in TO. Nyssomyiawhitmani was the most abundant species, followed byEvandromyia bourrouli, Nyssomyia antunesiand Psychodopygus complexus. The Shannon-Wiener diversity indexand the evenness index were higher in the rural settlement area than in theperiurban area. The evaluation of different ecotopes within the rural areashowed the highest frequencies of Ev. bourrouli and Ny.antunesi in chicken coops, whereas Ny. whitmanipredominated in this ecotope in the periurban area. In the rural settlementarea, Ev. bourrouli was the most frequently captured species inautomatic light traps and Ps. complexus was the most prevalentin Shannon trap captures. The rural settlement environment exhibited greaterphlebotomine biodiversity than the periurban area. Ps.complexus and Psychodopygus ayrozai naturallyinfected with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis wereidentified. The data identified Ny. whitmani as a potential ACLvector in the periurban area, whereas Ps. complexus was moreprevalent in the rural environment associated with settlements.     

Carbazole–azine based fluorescence ‘off–on’ sensor for selective detection of Cu2+ and its live cell imaging

A new carbazole–azine based fluorescent sensor was synthesized and characterized. The selectivity of the sensor for Cu²⁺ over other counter ions in a dimethyl sulfoxide/H₂O mixture was shown through enhancement in fluorescence – an off to on transformation. The specificity of the probe towards Cu²⁺ was evident in ultraviolet/visible, fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared and mass studies. Application of the probe in the cell imaging and cytotoxicity of living cells is illustrated.     

Dynamics of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Replication in Vertically Infected Infants

Plasma human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) turnover and kinetics were studied in children aged 15 days to 2 years following the initiation of a triple antiretroviral drug regimen consisting of zidovudine, lamivudine, and nevirapine. HIV-1 turnover was at least as rapid as that previously described in adults; turnover rates were more rapid in infants and children aged 3 months to 2 years than in infants less than 3 months of age. These data confirm the central role of HIV-1 replication in the pathogenesis of vertical HIV-1 infection and reinforce the importance of early, potent combination therapies for the long-term control of HIV-1 replication.     

A point mutation at the X-chromosomal proteolipid protein locus in Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease leads to disruption of myelinogenesis.

A group of inherited neurological disorders are the X-chromosome linked dysmyelinoses, in which myelin membranes of the CNS are missing or perturbed due to a strongly reduced number of differentiated oligodendrocytes. In animal dysmyelinoses (jimpy mouse, msd-mouse, md rat, shaking pup) mutations of the main integral myelin membrane protein, proteolipid protein, have been identified. Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD) or sudanophilic leucodystrophy is an X-linked dysmyelinosis in humans. We report here on the molecular basis of the defect of affected males of a PMD kindred. Rearrangements of the PLP gene were excluded by Southern blot hybridisation analysis and PCR amplification of overlapping domains of the PLP gene. Sequence analysis revealed one single C----T transition in exon IV, which leads to a threonine----isoleucine substitution within a hydrophobic intramembrane domain. The impact of this amino-acid exchange on the structure of PLP in the affected cis membrane domain is discussed. A space filling model of this domain suggests a tight packing of the alpha-helices of the loop which is perturbed by the amino-acid substitution in this PMD exon IV mutant. The C----T transition in exon IV abolishes a Hph I restriction site. This mutation at the recognition site for Hph I (RFLP) and allele-specific primers have been used for mutation screening the PMD kindred.