Biofilm stratification during simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) at a biocathode

The aeration of the cathode compartment of bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) was recently shown to promote simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND). This study investigates the cathodic metabolism under different operating conditions as well as the structural organization of the cathodic biofilm during SND. Results show that a maximal nitrogen removal efficiency of 86.9 ± 0.5%, and a removal rate of 3.39 ± 0.08 mg N L⁻¹ h⁻¹ could be achieved at a dissolved oxygen (DO) level of 5.73 ± 0.03 mg L⁻¹ in the catholyte. The DO levels used in this study are higher than the thresholds previously reported as detrimental for denitrification. Analysis of the cathodic half-cell potential during batch tests suggested the existence of an oxygen gradient within the biofilm while performing SND. FISH analysis corroborated this finding revealing that the structure of the biofilm included an outer layer occupied by putative nitrifying organisms, and an inner layer where putative denitrifying organisms were most dominant. To our best knowledge this is the first time that nitrifying and denitrifying microorganisms are simultaneously observed in a cathodic biofilm.     

Inhibitory role of TACE/ADAM17 cytotail in protein ectodomain shedding

AIM:To determine if the cytotail of the principal sheddase tumor necrosis factor-α converting enzyme (TACE;ADAM17) controls protein ectodomain shedding.METHODS:Site-directed mutagenesis was performed to derive TACE variants. The resulting TACE expression plasmids with amino acid substitutions in the extracel-lular,cysteine-rich disintegrin domain (CRD) and/or deleted cytotail,along with an expression vector for the enhanced green fluorescence protein were transfected into shedding-defective M1 mutants stably expressing transmembrane L-selectin or transforming growth factor (TGF)-α. The expression levels of the TACE substrates at the cell surface were determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS:Consistent with published data,a single point mutation (C600Y) in the CRD led to shedding defi-ciency. However,removal of the cytotail from the C600Y TACE variant partially restored ectodomain cleavage of TGF-α and L-selectin. Cytotail-deleted mutants with any other substituting amino acid residues in place of Cys600 displayed similar function compared with tail-less C600Y TACE.CONCLUSION:The cytotail plays an inhibitory role,which becomes evident when it is removed from an enzyme with another mutation that affects the enzyme function.     

An essential role for diet in exercise-mediated protection against dyslipidemia, inflammation and atherosclerosis in ApoE⁻/⁻ mice

Background

Diet and exercise promote cardiovascular health but their relative contributions to atherosclerosis are not fully known. The transition from a sedentary to active lifestyle requires increased caloric intake to achieve energy balance. Using atherosclerosis-prone ApoE-null mice we sought to determine whether the benefits of exercise for arterial disease are dependent on the food source of the additional calories.

Methods and Results

Mice were fed a high-fat diet (HF) for 4.5 months to initiate atherosclerosis after which time half were continued on HF while the other half were switched to a high protein/fish oil diet (HP). Half of each group underwent voluntary running. Food intake, running distance, body weight, lipids, inflammation markers, and atherosclerotic plaque were quantified. Two-way ANOVA tests were used to assess differences and interactions between groups. Exercised mice ran approximately 6-km per day with no difference between groups. Both groups increased food intake during exercise and there was a significant main effect of exercise F((1,44) = 9.86, p<0.01) without interaction. Diet or exercise produced significant independent effects on body weight (diet: F(1,52) = 6.85, p = 0.012; exercise: F(1,52) = 9.52, p<0.01) with no significant interaction. The combination of HP diet and exercise produced a greater decrease in total cholesterol (F(1, 46) = 7.9, p<0.01) and LDL (F(1, 46) = 7.33, p<0.01) with a large effect on the size of the interaction. HP diet and exercise independently reduced TGL and VLDL (p<0.05 and 0.001 respectively). Interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein were highest in the HF-sedentary group and were significantly reduced by exercise only in this group. Plaque accumulation in the aortic arch, a marker of cardiovascular events was reduced by the HP diet and the effect was significantly potentiated by exercise only in this group resulting in significant plaque regression (F1, 49 = 4.77, p<0.05).

Conclusion

In this model exercise is beneficial to combat dyslipidemia and protect from atherosclerosis only when combined with diet.     

Antidepressants stimulate hippocampal neurogenesis by inhibiting p21 expression in the subgranular zone of the hipppocampus

The relationships among hippocampal neurogenesis, depression and the mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs have generated a considerable amount of controversy. The cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p21(Cip1) (p21) plays a crucial role in restraining cellular proliferation and maintaining cellular quiescence. Using in vivo and in vitro approaches the present study shows that p21 is expressed in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus in early neuronal progenitors and in immature neurons, but not in mature neurons or astroglia. In vitro, proliferation is higher in neuronal progenitor cells derived from p21-/- mice compared to cells derived from wild-type mice. Proliferation is increased in neuronal progenitor cells after suppression of p21 using lentivirus expressing short hairpin RNA against p21. In vivo, chronic treatment with the non-selective antidepressant imipramine as well as the norepinephrine-selective reuptake inhibitor desipramine or the serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine all decrease p21 expression, and this was associated with increased neurogenesis. Chronic antidepressant treatment did not affect the expression of other Cdk inhibitors. Untreated p21-/- mice exhibit a higher degree of baseline neurogenesis and decreased immobility in the forced swim test. Although chronic imipramine treatment increased neurogenesis and reduced immobility in the forced swim test in wild-type mice, it reduced neurogenesis and increased immobility in p21-/- mice. These results demonstrate the unique role of p21 in the control of neurogenesis, and support the hypothesis that different classes of reuptake inhibitor-type antidepressant drugs all stimulate hippocampal neurogenesis by inhibiting p21 expression.     

Molecular phylogeny of funnel-eared bats (Chiroptera: Natalidae), with notes on biogeography and conservation

Two assumptions have framed previous systematic and biogeographic studies of the family Natalidae: that it comprises a few widespread species, and that extant lineages originated in Mexico and/or Central America. This study analyzes new sequence data from the mitochondrial cytochrome b and the nuclear Rag2, to clarify species boundaries and infer relationships among extant taxa. Fixed differences in cytochrome b coincide with published morphological characters, and show that the family includes at least eight species. One newly recognized species is known to live from a single locality in Jamaica, suggesting immediate conservation measures and underscoring the urgency of taxonomic revision. Among the three genera, Chilonatalus and Natalus form a clade, to the exclusion of Nyctiellus. This phylogeny and the geographic distribution of natalids, both extant and extinct, are hardly compatible with a Middle American origin for the group. Instead, extant natalids appear to have originated in the West Indies. The threat of Caribbean hurricanes early in their evolutionary history might account for the specialized cave roosting that characterizes all natalids, even continental species.     

Vitamin A deficiency induces prooxidant environment and inflammation in rat aorta

We evaluated whether nutritional vitamin A deficiency generates oxidative stress and inflammation in aorta. Wistar male rats (21 days old) were given free access to a control (8 mg retinol as retinyl palmitate/kg) or a vitamin A- deficient diet for three months. One group of deficient animals was fed with the control diet fifteen days before sacrifice. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and nitrite concentration where both analyzed in serum and aorta. Aorta Copper-Zinc Superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), Glutathion peroxidase (GPx) and Catalase (CAT) activities were measured. In addition, binding activity of the nuclear factor- kB (NF-kB), inducible and endothelial Nitric Oxide synthase (iNOS and eNOS, respectively) and Ciclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expressions were determinated in aorta. Rats fed the vitamin A- deficient diet were characterized by sub-clinical plasma retinol concentration and showed increased serum and aorta concentrations of TBARS compared to controls. Lower than control activities of CuZnSOD, GPx, and CAT were observed in aorta of the vitamin A- deficient group. The binding activity of NF- kB was higher in vitamin A- deficient animals than controls. In addition, NO production evaluated as nitrite concentration increased in aorta and serum, associated with a higher expression of iNOS, eNOS and COX-2 in aorta of vitamin A-deficient rats. The incorporation of vitamin A into the diet of vitamin A-deficient rats reverted the changes observed in TBARS level, CuZnSOD and GPx activities, nitrite concentration and also, iNOS, eNOS and COX-2 expression. Prooxidant environment and inflammation are induced by vitamin A deficiency in rat aorta.     

Mechanism of Aurora B activation by INCENP and inhibition by hesperadin

Aurora family serine/threonine kinases control mitotic progression, and their deregulation is implicated in tumorigenesis. Aurora A and Aurora B, the best-characterized members of mammalian Aurora kinases, are approximately 60% identical but bind to unrelated activating subunits. The structure of the complex of Aurora A with the TPX2 activator has been reported previously. Here, we report the crystal structure of Aurora B in complex with the IN-box segment of the inner centromere protein (INCENP) activator and with the small molecule inhibitor Hesperadin. The Aurora B:INCENP complex is remarkably different from the Aurora A:TPX2 complex. INCENP forms a crown around the small lobe of Aurora B and induces the active conformation of the T loop allosterically. The structure represents an intermediate state of activation of Aurora B in which the Aurora B C-terminal segment stabilizes an open conformation of the catalytic cleft, and a critical ion pair in the kinase active site is impaired. Phosphorylation of two serines in the carboxyl terminus of INCENP generates the fully active kinase.