Chemical Characterization of Five Tunisian Eucalyptus Essential Oils Species

Hydrodistillation of the dried leaves of five Eucalyptus species, E. alba Reinw. ex Blume , E. citriodora Hook ., E. paniculata Sm. , harvested from Choucha arboreta (region of Sejnane, northwest of Tunisia), E. pimpiniana Maiden from Mjez Elbab arboreta (north east of Tunisia) and E. bicolor A.Cunn ex Hook from Sidi Smail arboreta (center of Tunisia), in March 2017, afforded essential oils in yields varying from 1.3±0.2 to 6.0±0.9 % according to the species. E. citriodora provided the highest mean percentage of essential oil amongst all the species. Analysis by GC (RI) and GC/MS allowed the identification of 138 components representing 84.6–98.7 % of the total oil. The content of the different samples varied according to the species. The main components were citronellol, followed by 1,8‐cineole, α‐pinene, τ‐cadinol, 7‐epi‐α‐eudesmol, trans‐pinocarveol, spathulenol, aromadendrene, γ‐cadinene and δ‐cadinene. The principal components and the hierarchical cluster analyses separated the five leaf essential oils into three groups, each group constituted a chemotype.     

Biogenesis and speciation of nascent apoA-I-containing particles in various cell lines

It is generally thought that the large heterogeneity of human HDL confers antiatherogenic properties; however, the mechanisms governing HDL biogenesis and speciation are complex and poorly understood. Here, we show that incubation of exogenous apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) with fibroblasts, CaCo-2, or CHO-overexpressing ABCA1 cells generates only alpha-nascent apolipoprotein A-I-containing particles (alpha-LpA-I) with diameters of 8-20 nm, whereas human umbilical vein endothelial cells and ABCA1 mutant (Q597R) cells were unable to form such particles. Interestingly, incubation of exogenous apoA-I with either HepG2 or macrophages generates both alpha-LpA-I and prebeta1-LpA-I. Furthermore, glyburide inhibits almost completely the formation of alpha-LpA-I but not prebeta1-LpA-I. Similarly, endogenously secreted HepG2 apoA-I was found to be associated with both prebeta1-LpA-I and alpha-LpA-I; by contrast, CaCo-2 cells secreted only alpha-LpA-I. To determine whether alpha-LpA-I generated by fibroblasts is a good substrate for LCAT, isolated alpha-LpA-I as well as reconstituted HDL [r(HDL)] was reacted with LCAT. Although both particles had similar V(max) (8.4 vs. 8.2 nmol cholesteryl ester/h/microg LCAT, respectively), the K(m) value was increased 2-fold for alpha-LpA-I compared with r(HDL) (1.2 vs. 0.7 microM apoA-I). These results demonstrate that 1) ABCA1 is required for the formation of alpha-LpA-I but not prebeta1-LpA-I; and 2) alpha-LpA-I interacts efficiently with LCAT. Thus, our study provides direct evidence for a new link between specific cell lines and the speciation of nascent HDL that occurs by both ABCA1-dependent and -independent pathways.     

Interaction of U(VI) with Schizophyllum commune studied by microscopic and spectroscopic methods

Biosorption of actinides like uranium by fungal cells can play an important role in the mobilization or immobilization of these elements in nature. Sorption experiments of U(VI) with Schizophyllum commune at different initial uranium concentrations and varying metal speciation showed high uranium sorption capacities in the pH range of 4–7. A combination of high angle annular dark-field and scanning transmission electron microscopy analysis (HAADF-STEM) showed that living mycelium cells accumulate uranium at the cell wall and intracellular. For the first time the fluorescence properties of uranium accumulates were investigated by means of time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) beside the determination of corresponding structural parameters using X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS). While the oxidation state of uranium remained unchanged during sorption, uranium speciation changed significantly. Extra and intracellular phosphate groups are mainly responsible for uranium binding. TRLFS spectra clearly show differences between the emission properties of dissolved species in the initial mineral medium and of uranium species on fungi. The latter were proved to be organic and inorganic uranyl phosphates formed depending on the uranyl initial concentration and in some cases on pH.     

Reproductive cycle of the sea cucumber Holothuria (Platyperona) sanctori (Holothuroidea: Echinodermata) in the southwestern Mediterranean Sea: interpopulation variability

This study is a first contribution on the reproductive biology of Holothuria (Platyperona) sanctori from the Algerian coastline in the southwestern Mediterranean. Sampling was conducted at two sites in central Algeria, one (Ain Taggourait, w. Tipasa) where there is little anthropogenic influence and another (Tamentefoust, w. Alger) where there are two major sources of pollution from Oued el Harrach and Oued el Hamiz effluents which contain particulate organic matter. Significant differences in sea cucumber reproduction were observed between the two sites. This could be due to the difference in organic matter noted in the sediment of the two study sites. However, temporal similarities of the gonad index (GI) and the sexual maturity stages suggest that the reproductive cycle of H. (P.) sanctori is annual with the main spawning event taking place from June to October. Spawning is of high intensity in the Bay of Bou Ismail (Ain Taggourait) and spread out over time in the Bay of Algiers (Tamentefoust), reflecting an environment sufficiently rich in food to insure reproduction. We also show that gonad maturation of males and females was synchronized. Temperature is the most likely factor influencing the reproductive cycle and spawning. At the study sites, H. (P.) sanctori had a winter sexual resting phase, followed by maturation during spring, before spawning in summer. However, there was a slight lag to the start of spawning at the two study sites.     

Normosmic congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism due to TAC3/TACR3 mutations: characterization of neuroendocrine phenotypes and novel mutations

Context

TAC3/TACR3 mutations have been reported in normosmic congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (nCHH) (OMIM #146110). In the absence of animal models, studies of human neuroendocrine phenotypes associated with neurokinin B and NK3R receptor dysfunction can help to decipher the pathophysiology of this signaling pathway.

Objective

To evaluate the prevalence of TAC3/TACR3 mutations, characterize novel TACR3 mutations and to analyze neuroendocrine profiles in nCHH caused by deleterious TAC3/TACR3 biallelic mutations.

Results

From a cohort of 352 CHH, we selected 173 nCHH patients and identified nine patients carrying TAC3 or TACR3 variants (5.2%). We describe here 7 of these TACR3 variants (1 frameshift and 2 nonsense deleterious mutations and 4 missense variants) found in 5 subjects. Modeling and functional studies of the latter demonstrated the deleterious consequence of one missense mutation (Tyr267Asn) probably caused by the misfolding of the mutated NK3R protein.We found a statistically significant (p<0.0001) higher mean FSH/LH ratio in 11 nCHH patients with TAC3/TACR3 biallelic mutations than in 47 nCHH patients with either biallelic mutations in KISS1R, GNRHR, or with no identified mutations and than in 50 Kallmann patients with mutations in KAL1, FGFR1 or PROK2/PROKR2. Three patients with TAC3/TACR3 biallelic mutations had an apulsatile LH profile but low-frequency alpha-subunit pulses. Pulsatile GnRH administration increased alpha-subunit pulsatile frequency and reduced the FSH/LH ratio.

Conclusion

The gonadotropin axis dysfunction associated with nCHH due to TAC3/TACR3 mutations is related to a low GnRH pulsatile frequency leading to a low frequency of alpha-subunit pulses and to an elevated FSH/LH ratio. This ratio might be useful for pre-screening nCHH patients for TAC3/TACR3 mutations.     

Diversity of Sterol Composition in Tunisian Pistacia lentiscus Seed Oil

Pistacia lentiscus L. seed oil is used in some Mediterranean forest area for culinary and medicinal purposes. In this study, we aim to examine, for the first time, the effect of growing area on sterol content of Pistacia lentiscus seed oil. Fruits were harvested from 13 different sites located in northern and central Tunisia. Gas chromatography‐flame‐ionization detection (GC‐FID) was used to quantify sterols and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to identify them. The major sterol identified was β‐sitosterol with a value ranging from 854.12 to 1224.09 mg/kg of oil, thus making up more than 54% of the total sterols. The other two main sterols were cycloartenol (11%) and 24‐methylene‐cycloartenol (5%). Statistical results revealed that growing location significantly (P < 0.001) affected phytosterol levels in these oils.     

Ubiquitin- and ATP-independent proteolytic turnover of p21 by the REGgamma-proteasome pathway

We previously demonstrated that the proteasome activator REGgamma directs degradation of the steroid receptor coactivator SRC-3 by the 20S proteasome in an ATP- and ubiquitin-independent manner. Our efforts to identify additional endogenous direct targets of the REGgamma proteasome revealed that p21(Waf/Cip1), a central cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, is another endogenous target. Gain-of-function analysis, RNAi knockdown, REGgamma-deficient MEF analysis, and pulse-chase experiments substantiate that REGgamma promotes degradation of unbound p21. Cell-free proteasome proteolysis assays using purified REGgamma, p21, and the 20S proteasome confirm that REGgamma directly mediates degradation of free p21 in an ATP- and ubiquitin-independent manner. Depletion of REGgamma in a thyroid carcinoma cell line results in cell-cycle and proliferative alterations. Our study reveals that, in addition to degrading the SRC-3 growth coactivator, REGgamma also has a role in the regulation of the cell cycle through its ability to influence the level of a cell-cycle regulator(s).     

Variation in volatile leaf oils of seven eucalyptus species harvested from Zerniza arboreta (Tunisia)

Leaves of seven species of the genus Eucalyptus L'Hér., viz., E. cladocalyx F. Muell., E. citriodora Hook., E. diversicolor F. Muell., E. fasciculosa F. Muell., E. grandis W. Hill, E. ovata Labill., and E. botryoides Sm., were harvested from Zerniza arboreta (region of Sejnene, northwest of Tunisia) in June 2007. Of the latter species, leaves were collected from trees having two origins, Morocco and Italy. Hydrodistillation of the dried leaves provided essential oils in yields varying from 0.4±0.0 to 3.3±0.1%, according to the species. E. citriodora had the highest mean percentage of essential oil amongst the species examined, whereas the lowest one was obtained for E. botryoides originating from Morocco. Analysis by GC (RI) and GC/MS allowed the identification of 140 compounds, representing 92.5 to 99.4% of the total oil composition. The contents of the different samples varied according to the species. The main components were 1,8-cineole (2), followed by α-pinene (1), p-cymene, borneol, α-terpineol, cryptone, spathulenol, trans-pinocarveol (4), bicyclogermacrene (5), caryophyllene oxide, and β-phellandrene. Principal components analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis separated the eight Eucalyptus leaf essential oils into five groups, each constituting a chemotype.