Enhanced expression of a cloned and sequenced Ciona intestinalis TNFα-like (CiTNFα) gene during the LPS-induced inflammatory response

A tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα)-like gene from Ciona intestinalis (CiTNFα-like) body wall challenged with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was cloned and sequenced 4 h after LPS inoculation. An open reading frame of 936 bp encoding a propeptide of 312 amino acids (35.4 kDa) displaying a transmembrane domain from positions 7 to 29, a TACE cleavage site, and a mature peptide domain of 185 amino acids (20.9 kDa), was determined with a predicted isoelectric point of 9.4. The phylogenetic tree based on deduced amino acid sequences of invertebrate TNF-like protein and vertebrate TNFs supported the divergence between the ascidian and vertebrate TNF families, whereas D. melanogaster Eiger A and B TNF-like sequences were distinctly separated from the chordate TNFs. Thus, the ascidian TNFα-like cytokine was upregulated by in vivo LPS challenge supporting its pro-inflammatory role. In the pharynx, increased expression levels were found following analysis by real-time polymerase chain reaction, whereas in situ hybridization assay showed positive hemocytes both in the tissue and in circulating hemocytes. Finally, Western blot with monoclonal antibodies disclosed human TNFα epitopes in a 15-kDa protein component of the hemolymph serum and in a 43-kDa protein contained in the hemocyte lysate supernatant prepared in the presence of detergents. Both soluble and hemocyte-bound CiTNFα-like protein therefore appeared to be modulated by the LPS challenge. This work was supported by a research grant from the Italian Ministry of University and Scientific Research (PRIN 2006 to N. Parrinello), co-funded by the University of Palermo.     

Reduction screening with endophytic fungi: Synthesis of homochiral secondary alcohols

Twelve strains of endophytic fungi, isolated from various plants (i.e. Eugenia hallii, Schinus molle, Crataegus monogyna, Juniperus communis and Sambucus nigra) sampled in Amazonian forest and in Italy, were screened for their reduction activity with a cocktail of ketones 1–4. The four most active strains [i.e. Phomopsis (FE86 and FE290), Pestalotia and Epicoccum] were chosen for the reduction of 5-hexen-2-one 1, acetophenone 2, cis-bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-2-en-6-one 3, 2-methylcyclohexanone 4, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one 5, 2-furyl methyl ketone 6, 1-indanone 7, and 2,4,4-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one 8 and in all cases the S-alcohols were obtained with variable yields and enantiomeric excesses depending on the strains.     

Spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type 1: Clinical phenotypes,molecular pathogenesis and therapeutic insights

Spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type 1 (SMARD1) is a rare autosomal recessive neuromuscular disorder caused by mutations in the IGHMBP2 gene, which encodes immunoglobulin μ‐binding protein 2, leading to progressive spinal motor neuron degeneration. We review the data available in the literature about SMARD1. The vast majority of patients show an onset of typical symptoms in the first year of life. The main clinical features are distal muscular atrophy and diaphragmatic palsy, for which permanent supportive ventilation is required. No effective treatment is available yet, but novel therapeutic approaches, such as gene therapy, have shown encouraging results in preclinical settings and thus represent possible methods for treating SMARD1. Significant advancements in the understanding of both the SMARD1 clinical spectrum and its molecular mechanisms have allowed the rapid translation of preclinical therapeutic strategies to human patients to improve the poor prognosis of this devastating disease.     

Unfolding of the chromatin fiber driven by overexpression of noninteracting bridging factors

Nuclear molecules control the functional properties of the chromatin fiber by shaping its morphological properties. The biophysical mechanisms controlling how bridging molecules compactify chromatin are a matter of debate. On the one side, bridging molecules could cross-link faraway sites and fold the fiber through the formation of loops. Interacting bridging molecules could also mediate long-range attractions by first tagging different locations of the fiber and then undergoing microphase separation. Using a coarse-grained model and Monte Carlo simulations, we study the conditions leading to compact configurations both for interacting and noninteracting bridging molecules. In the second case, we report on an unfolding transition at high densities of the bridging molecules. We clarify how this transition, which disappears for interacting bridging molecules, is universal and controlled by entropic terms. In general, chains are more compact in the case of interacting bridging molecules because interactions are not valence limited. However, this result is conditional on the ability of our simulation methodology to relax the system toward its ground state. In particular, we clarify how, unless using reaction dynamics that change the length of a loop in a single step, the system is prone to remain trapped in metastable, compact configurations featuring long loops.     

Molecular validation of Sarcodon quercinofibulatus, a species of the S. imbricatus complex associated with Fagaceae, and notes on Sarcodon

Morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed that Italian and Mexican collections of an unknown Sarcodon species of the S. imbricatus complex associated with Fagaceae (Castanea and Quercus), were assignable to Sarcodon quercinofibulatus, a species recently described from Spain. The species, characterized by a light brown-hazelnut coloured pileus surface eventually breaking into large and coarse scales, was recognized as independent from Sarcodon imbricatus and S. squamosus. S. aspratus, usually synonymized with S. imbricatus, is a different species. S. squamosus collections from montane and Mediterranean pine woodlands were shown to be conspecific. Four sections of Sarcodon (Sarcodon, Violacei, Squamiceps and Scabrosi) established by Maas Geesteranus (Verh K ned Akad Wet III, 65: 1–127, 1975) only on morphological basis, are here confirmed as monophyletic.     

Generation and application of signaling pathway reporter lines in zebrafish

In the last years, we have seen the emergence of different tools that have changed the face of biology from a simple modeling level to a more systematic science. The transparent zebrafish embryo is one of the living models in which, after germline transformation with reporter protein-coding genes, specific fluorescent cell populations can be followed at single-cell resolution. The genetically modified embryos, larvae and adults, resulting from the transformation, are individuals in which time lapse analysis, digital imaging quantification, FACS sorting and next-generation sequencing can be performed in specific times and tissues. These multifaceted genetic and cellular approaches have permitted to dissect molecular interactions at the subcellular, intercellular, tissue and whole-animal level, thus allowing integration of cellular and developmental genetics with molecular imaging in the resulting frame of modern biology. In this review, we describe a new step in the zebrafish road to system biology, based on the use of transgenic biosensor animals expressing fluorescent proteins under the control of signaling pathway-responsive cis-elements. In particular, we provide here the rationale and details of this powerful tool, trying to focus on its huge potentialities in basic and applied research, while also discussing limits and potential technological evolutions of this approach.     

Curcuma longa L. as a Therapeutic Agent in Intestinal Motility Disorders. 2: Safety Profile in Mouse

Background

Curcuma extract exerts a myorelaxant effect on the mouse intestine. In view of a possible use of curcuma extract in motor functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, a safety profile study has been carried out in the mouse.

Methods

Thirty mice were used to study the in vitro effect of curcuma on gallbladder, bladder, aorta and trachea smooth muscular layers and hearth inotropic and chronotropic activity. The myorelaxant effect on the intestine was also thoroughly investigated. Moreover, curcuma extract (200 mg/Kg/day) was orally administered to twenty mice over 28 days and serum liver and lipids parameters were evaluated. Serum, bile and liver bile acids qualitative and quantitative composition was were also studied.

Results

In the intestine, curcuma extract appeared as a not competitive inhibitor through cholinergic, histaminergic and serotoninergic receptors and showed spasmolytic effect on K⁺ induced contraction at the level of L type calcium channels. No side effect was observed on bladder, aorta, trachea and heart when we used a dose that is effective on the intestine. An increase in gallbladder tone and contraction was observed. Serum liver and lipids parameters were normal, while a slight increase in serum and liver bile acids concentration and a decrease in bile were observed.

Conclusions

Although these data are consistent with the safety of curcuma extract as far as its effect on the smooth muscular layers of different organs and on the heart, the mild cholestatic effect observed in absence of alteration of liver function tests must be further evaluated and the effective dose with minimal side effects considered.