Study of the mitotic and meiotic chromosomes of sotol (<i>Dasylirion cedrosanum</i> Trel.)

The genus Dasylirion is a group of plants typically present in the Chihuahuan Desert, perennial, with a dioecious sexual behavior and commonly called sotoles. This genus has been little studied from the biological point of view, and the bases of its reproductive response remain unknown. In this work we studied the chromosome number and meiotic response of Dasylirion cedrosanum in the county of Saltillo, Coahuila, located at the North East of Mexico. For the preparation of mitotic chromosomes, we used a technique based on enzymatic treatment with pectolyase and cellulase, as well as staining with acetocarmin dye. For the study of meiosis, male flower buds were collected, fixed and stained for analysis with the same dye. As a result, the gametic (n = x = 19) and somatic chromosome (2n = 38) numbers of D. cedrosanum are reported for the first time, being consistent with previous findings in other Dasylirion species, which points to a constant ploidy level across the genus. Variation was observed in the morphology and size of the somatic chromosomes, with types ranging from submetacentric to subtelocentric, and sizes oscillating in a range of 4.43 µm, with an average total length of 112.38 µm for the diploid chromosome complement. This shows that the chromosome complement of D. cedrosanom would belong to a 3B classification of Stebins, with a medium variation between chromosome lengths and low chromosome asymmetry. This variation indicates the feasibility of constructing a chromosome ideotype for this species. The meiotic chromosome pairing showed a chromosome behavior consistent with a disomic inheritance characteristic of a diploid species, with prevalence of ring and chain bivalents, typically without pairing abnormalities. Bivalent configurations in all cases were symmetrical.The normal and symmetrical meiotic pairing indicates a balanced production of gametes, and suggests the absence of heteromorphic sex determination.     

Eye Irritation Test (EIT) for Hazard Identification of Eye Irritating Chemicals using Reconstructed Human Cornea-like Epithelial (RhCE) Tissue Model

To comply with the Seventh Amendment to the EU Cosmetics Directive and EU REACH legislation, validated non-animal alternative methods for reliable and accurate assessment of ocular toxicity in man are needed. To address this need, we have developed an eye irritation test (EIT) which utilizes a three dimensional reconstructed human cornea-like epithelial (RhCE) tissue model that is based on normal human cells. The EIT is able to separate ocular irritants and corrosives (GHS Categories 1 and 2 combined) and those that do not require labeling (GHS No Category). The test utilizes two separate protocols, one designed for liquid chemicals and a second, similar protocol for solid test articles. The EIT prediction model uses a single exposure period (30 min for liquids, 6 hr for solids) and a single tissue viability cut-off (60.0% as determined by the MTT assay). Based on the results for 83 chemicals (44 liquids and 39 solids) EIT achieved 95.5/68.2/ and 81.8% sensitivity/specificity and accuracy (SS&A) for liquids, 100.0/68.4/ and 84.6% SS&A for solids, and 97.6/68.3/ and 83.1% for overall SS&A. The EIT will contribute significantly to classifying the ocular irritation potential of a wide range of liquid and solid chemicals without the use of animals to meet regulatory testing requirements. The EpiOcular EIT method was implemented in 2015 into the OECD Test Guidelines as TG 492.     

HIV Drug Resistance Mutations in Proviral DNA from a Community Treatment Program

Background

Drug resistance mutations archived in resting memory CD4+ cells may persist despite suppression of HIV RNA to <50 copies/ml. We sequenced pol gene from proviral DNA among viremic and suppressed patients to identify drug resistance mutations.

Methods

The Peninsula AIDS Research Cohort study enrolled and followed over 2 years 120 HIV infected patients from San Mateo and San Francisco Counties. HIV-1 pol genotyping by bulk sequencing was performed on 38 DNA and RNA from viremic patients and DNA only among 82 suppressed patients at baseline. Antiretroviral susceptibility was predicted by HIVDB.stanford.edu.

Results

Among 120 subjects, 81% were on antiretroviral therapy and had been treated for a median time of 7 years. Thirty-two viremic patients showed concordant RNA and DNA genotypes (84%); the discordant profiles were mainly observed in patients with low-level viremia. Among suppressed patients, 21 had drug resistance mutations in proviral DNA (26%) with potential resistance to one, two or three ARV classes in 16, 4 and 1 samples respectively.

Conclusions

The high level of genotype concordance between DNA and RNA in viremic patients suggested that DNA genotyping might be used to assess drug resistance in resource-limited settings, and further investigation of extracted DNA from dried blood spots is needed. Drug resistance mutations in proviral DNA in 26% of subjects with less than 50 copies/ml pose a risk for the transmission of drug resistant virus with virologic failure, treatment interruption or decreased adherence.     

The von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Gene Inhibits Hepatocyte Growth Factor/Scatter Factor-Induced Invasion and Branching Morphogenesis in Renal Carcinoma Cells

Loss of function in the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene occurs in familial and most sporadic renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). VHL has been linked to the regulation of cell cycle cessation (G(0)) and to control of expression of various mRNAs such as for vascular endothelial growth factor. RCC cells express the Met receptor tyrosine kinase, and Met mediates invasion and branching morphogenesis in many cell types in response to hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF). We examined the HGF/SF responsiveness of RCC cells containing endogenous mutated (mut) forms of the VHL protein (VHL-negative RCC) with that of isogenic cells expressing exogenous wild-type (wt) VHL (VHL-positive RCC). We found that VHL-negative 786-0 and UOK-101 RCC cells were highly invasive through growth factor-reduced (GFR) Matrigel-coated filters and exhibited an extensive branching morphogenesis phenotype in response to HGF/SF in the three-dimensional (3D) GFR Matrigel cultures. In contrast, the phenotypes of A498 VHL-negative RCC cells were weaker, and isogenic RCC cells ectopically expressing wt VHL did not respond at all. We found that all VHL-negative RCC cells expressed reduced levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP-2) relative to the wt VHL-positive cells, implicating VHL in the regulation of this molecule. However, consistent with the more invasive phenotype of the 786-0 and UOK-101 VHL-negative RCC cells, the levels of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were reduced and levels of the matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 were elevated compared to the noninvasive VHL-positive RCC cells. Moreover, recombinant TIMPs completely blocked HGF/SF-mediated branching morphogenesis, while neutralizing antibodies to the TIMPs stimulated HGF/SF-mediated invasion in vitro. Thus, the loss of the VHL tumor suppressor gene is central to changes that control tissue invasiveness, and a more invasive phenotype requires additional genetic changes seen in some but not all RCC lines. These studies also demonstrate a synergy between the loss of VHL function and Met signaling.     

Guanine nucleotides modulate the effects of brefeldin A in semipermeable cells: regulation of the association of a 110-kD peripheral membrane protein with the Golgi apparatus

The release of a 110-kD peripheral membrane protein from the Golgi apparatus is an early event in brefeldin A (BFA) action, preceding the movement of Golgi membrane into the ER. ATP depletion also causes the reversible redistribution of the 110-kD protein from Golgi membrane into the cytosol, although no Golgi disassembly occurs. To further define the effects of BFA on the association of the 110-kD protein with the Golgi apparatus we have used filter perforation techniques to produce semipermeable cells. All previously observed effects of BFA, including the rapid redistribution of the 110-kD protein and the movement of Golgi membrane into the ER, could be reproduced in the semipermeable cells. The role of guanine nucleotides in this process was investigated using the nonhydrolyzable analogue of GTP, GTP gamma S. Pretreatment of semipermeable cells with GTP gamma S prevented the BFA-induced redistribution of the 110-kD protein from the Golgi apparatus and movement of Golgi membrane into the ER. GTP gamma S could also abrogate the observed release of the 110-kD protein from Golgi membranes which occurred in response to ATP depletion. Additionally, when the 110-kD protein had first been dissociated from Golgi membranes by ATP depletion, GTP gamma S could restore Golgi membrane association of the 110-kD protein, but not if BFA was present. All of these effects observed with GTP gamma S in semipermeable cells could be reproduced in intact cells treated with AlF4-. These results suggest that guanine nucleotides regulate the dynamic association/dissociation of the 110-kD protein with the Golgi apparatus and that BFA perturbs this process by interfering with the association of the 110-kD protein with the Golgi apparatus.