The role of environmental factors in the composition of anuran species in several ponds under the influence of coal mining in southern Brazil

Environmental pollution caused by the disposal of chemicals or toxins into the environment represent a great threat to amphibians. In this study, it was evaluated which environmental factors of ponds under the influence of coal-mining influence the composition of anuran species. For this purpose, anuran samples were performed in ponds in coal extraction areas in southern Brazil. Physical and chemical characteristics of water, sediment and structural characteristics of the ponds were determined. The content of copper in the sediments of the ponds was the main variable to explain the composition of pond species. Besides copper, it is evident the relevance of number of vegetation strata at pond border and pond area on the composition of anurans. It is shown that the composition of species in ponds under the influence of mineral coal mining activity may be a result of historical perturbations, remaining only the most tolerant towards colonization. From the results obtained in this work it can be suggested that there is a synergistic interaction between environmental factors and the coal mining effects on the anurans fauna of impacted ponds. Thus, efforts should be directed to elucidate the effects of pollutants exposure levels on the species, the understanding of sub-lethal and lethal effects of each pollutant on each species, as well as how local populations can be maintained through recruiting rates of larvae and anurans of the impacted ponds.     

Simultaneous increase in cellular content and volumetric concentration of lipids in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bracteacoccus bullatus</Emphasis> cultivated at reduced nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations

Manipulation of the nutrient concentration is an inexpensive and efficient method for increasing lipid and TAG accumulation in algal cells. However, high volumetric production requires finding a proper balance between the decrease of biomass production and the increase in the total lipid content. We isolated a strain of green microalga Bracteacoccus bullatus and increased its lipid content from 17 to 59% of biomass dry weight by manipulating of nitrogen and phosphorus content in the medium. The 10-fold reduction of the nitrogen and phosphorus concentration in the medium was the most efficient method of the lipid induction compared to nutrient deplete and high nutrient conditions. The oleic (48–64% mass of total fatty acids) and linoleic (14–24% mass of total fatty acids) acids dominated in the fatty acid profile, thus making this strain a suitable candidate for biodiesel production.     

Structure of the carboxypeptidase B complex with N-sulfamoyl-L-phenylalanine – a transition state analog of non-specific substrate

Carboxypeptidase B (EC 3.4.17.2) (CPB) is commonly used in the industrial insulin production and as a template for drug design. However, its ability to discriminate substrates with hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and charged side chains is not well understood. We report structure of CPB complex with a transition state analog N-sulfamoyl-L-phenylalanine solved at 1.74Å. The study provided an insight into structural basis of CPB substrate specificity. Ligand binding is affected by structure-depended conformational changes of Asp255 in S1’-subsite, interactions with Asn144 and Arg145 in C-terminal binding subsite, and Glu270 in the catalytic center. Side chain of the non-specific substrate analog SPhe in comparison with that of specific substrate analog SArg (reported earlier) not only loses favorable electrostatic interactions and two hydrogen bonds with Asp255 and three fixed water molecules, but is forced to be in the unfavorable hydrophilic environment. Thus, Ser207, Gly253, Tyr248, and Asp255 residues play major role in the substrate recognition by S1’-subsite.     

Natural Killer Cells Control Tumor Growth by Sensing a Growth Factor

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Zinc-regulating proteins, ZnT-1, and metallothionein I/II are present in different cell populations in the mouse testis.

Zinc ions play an important role in testis development and spermatogenesis. Thus, nutritional zinc deficiency leads to aberrant testicular development, reduced spermatogenesis, and male sterility. The precise actions of zinc in mediating these functions and the mechanisms by which zinc is itself regulated in the testis, however, have not been adequately elucidated. We have assessed the distribution of the zinc-regulating proteins ZnT-1 and metallothionein I/II (MT I/II) in the mouse seminiferous tubule. Co-labeling for ZnT-1 and MT I/II demonstrated unique patterns of distribution for these proteins, with ZnT-1 present in Sertoli cells in addition to luminal spermatozoa and MT I/II restricted to spermatocytes. These findings were confirmed by dual-label immunofluorescence for ZnT-1 and the Sertoli cell marker, vimentin, and by immunoelectron microscopy. The differential expression patterns of ZnT-1 and MTs support the hypothesis that ZnT-1 and MTs play different roles in the regulation of intracellular zinc in this organ. The specific expression of ZnT-1 in the Sertoli cells, moreover, is consistent with their role in maintaining a nurturing, closely regulated environment for spermatogenesis.     

Different signaling pathways involved in glucose- and cell swelling-induced insulin secretion by rat pancreatic islets in vitro.

BACKGROUND: The objective was to compare signal transduction pathways exploited by glucose and cell swelling in stimulating insulin secretion. METHODS: Isolated rat (Wistar) pancreatic islets were stimulated in vitro by 20 mmol/l glucose or 30% hypotonic medium (202 mOsm/kg) in various experimental conditions. RESULTS: Glucose did not stimulate insulin release in calcium free medium. Cell swelling-induced insulin release in calcium free medium, even in the presence of the membrane permeable calcium chelator BAPTA/AM (10 micromol/l). Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide VIII (1 micromol/l) abolished the stimulation of insulin secretion by glucose but did not affect the swelling-induced insulin release. PKC activator phorbol 12-13-dibutyrate (1 micromol/l) stimulated insulin secretion in medium containing Ca2+ and did not potentiate insulin secretion stimulated by hypotonic extracellular fluid. Dilution of the medium (10-30%) had an additive effect on the glucose-induced insulin secretion. Noradrenaline (1 micromol/l) abolished glucose-induced insulin secretion but did not inhibit hypotonic stimulation either in presence or absence of Ca2+. CONCLUSION: Glucose- and swelling-induce insulin secretion through separate signal transduction pathways. Hyposmotic stimulation is independent from both the extracellular and intracellular Ca2+, does not involve PKC activation, and could not be inhibited by noradrenaline. These data indicate a novel signaling pathway for stimulation of insulin secretion exploited by cell swelling.     

Interaction of ACTH synthetic fragments with rat adrenal cortex membranes.

Synthetic peptide, corresponding to the amino acid sequence 11-24 of human adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), was labeled with tritium (specific activity of 22 Ci/mmol). [(3)H]ACTH (11-24) was found to bind to rat adrenal cortex membranes with high affinity and specificity (K(d) = 1.8 +/- 0.1 nM). Twenty nine fragments of ACTH (11-24) have been synthesized and their ability to inhibit the specific binding of [(3)H]ACTH (11-24) to adrenocortical membranes has been investigated. Unlabeled fragment ACTH 15-18 (KKRR) was found to replace in a concentration-dependent manner [(3)H]ACTH (11-24) in the receptor-ligand complex (K(i) = 2.3 +/- 0.2 nM). ACTH (15-18) was labeled with tritium (specific activity of 20 Ci/mmol). [(3)H]ACTH (15-18) was found to bind to rat adrenal cortex membranes with high affinity (K(d) = 2.1 +/- 0.1 nM). The specific binding of [(3)H]ACTH (15-18) was inhibited by unlabeled ACTH (11-24) (K(i) = 2.2 +/- 0.1 nM). ACTH (15-18) at the concentration range of 1-1000 nM did not affect the adenylate cyclase activity in adrenocortical membranes.     

Pituitaries of rats neonatally treated with oestrogen

Summary Pituitaries of male and female rats neonatally treated with oestradiol dipropionate were examined with light and electron microscopy, disc electrophoresis and in vitro C¹⁴-leucine incorporation.Single dose of oestradiol administered shortly after birth to male rats has an prolonged stimulative effect on LTH synthesis and release. This is expressed in the cell hypertrophy, proliferation of ER, increase of corresponding band density and higher rate of ¹⁴C-leucine incorporation. In females this effect was less pronounced.STH cell in the treated male pituitaries were degranulated, corresponding hormone band density significantly lowered and incorporation of ¹⁴C-leucine was reduced. This could be considered as an inhibitory effect of oestradiol on STH synthesis and release. Such effect was more expressed two than four months after treatment and is more pronounced in male than in female rats.The technical assistence of Slobodanka Selimovi is gratefully acknowledged.     

Differentiation ofCorynebacterium diphtheriae of theMitis type found in diphtheria and ozaena

Summary The purpose of this study was to find out whether there existed any difference betweenC. diphtheriae typemitis always present in the nasal cavity of ozaena patients (the so-calledC. belfanti) andC. diphtheriae of themitis type found in diphtheria patients or carriers. Studying in details all the morphological, cultural and biochemical properties, a difference was found to exist in the reduction of nitrates. This test was investigated in 55 strains ofC. belfanti and 45 strains of themitis type ofC. diphtheriae. All the strains ofC. belfanti yielded negative results in the reduction of nitrates, while all strains ofC. diphtheriae typemitis reduced nitrates within 24 hours. The value of this observation was shorty discussed.