Structural and functional differentiation of two clinally distributed glucosephosphate isomerase allelic isozymes from the teleost Fundulus heteroclitus

The teleost Fundulus heteroclitus (L.) possesses two loci, Gpi-A and Gpi-B, for the glycolytic enzyme, glucose-phosphate isomerase (GPI; D- glucose-6-phosphate ketol-isomerase; E.C. 5.3.1.9). The Gpi-B locus is polymorphic in Fundulus, with two common alleles, Gpi-Bb and Gpi-Bc, distributed in a clinal manner in populations along the east coast of North America. Since this clinal distribution is strongly correlated with a temperature gradient, we asked whether the GPI-B2 allozymes were functionally adapted to the thermal environment in which a given phenotype predominated. The two major GPI-B2 allozymes were purified to homogeneity and were characterized as to molecular weight, isoelectric pH, thermal denaturation, and kinetic parameters. Both GPI-Bb2 and GPI- Bc2 allozymes have molecular masses of 110 kD, and they have isoelectric pHs of 6.4 and 6.6, respectively. The GPI-Bb2 allozyme was more stable to thermal denaturation than was the GPI-Bc2 enzyme. Kinetic properties of the allelic isozymes were investigated both as a function of pH and as a function of temperature. At 25 degrees C, over the pH range considered, there were no significant differences between allozymes, either in Km for fructose-6-phosphate or in Ki for 6- phosphogluconate, but apparent Vmax values differed between pH 7.5 and pH 8.5. All steady-state kinetic parameters showed strong temperature dependence, but the allozymes differed only in the Ki for 6- phosphogluconate at temperatures greater than 30 degrees C. On the basis of the observed structural and functional differences alluded to above, the hypothesis that the major allelic isozymes of the Gpi-B locus were functionally equivalent was rejected. However, it is not yet known whether these structural and functional differences have any significance at higher levels of biological organization.      

Echocardiographic assessment and percutaneous closure of multiple atrial septal defects

Percutaneous coronary intervention can be associated with distal embolization of thrombotic material causing myocardial necrosis and infarction. We discuss the role of intravascular imaging to guide the use of a distal protection device by describing the outcome of a young woman presenting with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography demonstrated an isolated minor stenosis in the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery with slight haziness beyond the lesion. Intravascular ultrasound confirmed an extensive thrombus overlying a bulky atherosclerotic plaque. A distal filter wire was therefore successfully used to reduce the risk of distal embolization. The use of intravascular ultrasound in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome may reveal large thrombi that are difficult to image using conventional angiographic techniques. Intravascular ultrasound can therefore be used as a tool to select lesions requiring distal protection.     

Influence of host use adaptation on the dispersal propensity of Callosobruchus maculatus

Local adaptation can lead to significant differences in host use that may influence population growth and spread. Here, we test the potential for adaptation of one behavioural component (host acceptance) to lead to cross‐adaptation for a separate behavioural component (dispersal propensity) using the cowpea seed beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus. C. maculatus originating from the same source population were subjected to selection for host use by rearing them for over 40 generations on either the preferred host of the ancestral population, Vigna radiata, or a marginal host for the ancestral population, Cicer arietinum. Host acceptance was then assayed using four choice and no‐choice oviposition assays including a low‐quality host, Lens culinaris, a marginal host, C. arietinum, and two high‐quality hosts, V. radiata and V. unguiculata. Dispersal was assayed in interconnected arenas containing one of three different hosts: V. radiata, V. unguiculata or C. arietinum. As expected, differences in host acceptance were present, in this case consisting of greater acceptance of the lower quality hosts in the C. arietinum population, but no significant differences in host preference hierarchy. Dispersal propensity in the C. arietinum population was significantly lower than in the V. radiata population, despite the absence of any difference in selection pressures for dispersal. Furthermore, significant differences in dispersal propensity in arenas containing different hosts were present in the V. radiata population, but not in the C. arietinum population. Results highlight the need to consider local adaptation when developing management recommendations, even for behaviours for which selection pressures are not directly apparent.     

Altered brain-derived neurotrophic factor blood levels and gene variability are associated with anorexia and bulimia

Murine models and association studies in eating disorder (ED) patients have shown a role for the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in eating behavior. Some studies have shown association of BDNF -270C/T single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with bulimia nervosa (BN), while BDNF Val66Met variant has been shown to be associated with both BN and anorexia nervosa (AN). To further test the role of this neurotrophin in humans, we screened 36 SNPs in the BDNF gene and tested for their association with ED and plasma BDNF levels as a quantitative trait. We performed a family-based association study in 106 ED nuclear families and analyzed BDNF blood levels in 110 ED patients and in 50 sib pairs discordant for ED. The rs7124442T/rs11030102C/rs11030119G haplotype was found associated with high BDNF levels (mean BDNF TCG haplotype carriers = 43.6 ng/ml vs. mean others 23.0 ng/ml, P = 0.016) and BN (Z = 2.64; P recessive = 0.008), and the rs7934165A/270T haplotype was associated with AN (Z =-2.64; P additive = 0.008). The comparison of BDNF levels in 50 ED discordant sib pairs showed elevated plasma BDNF levels for the ED group (mean controls = 41.0 vs. mean ED = 52.7; P = 0.004). Our data strongly suggest that altered BDNF levels modulated by BDNF gene variability are associated with the susceptibility to ED, providing physiological evidence that BDNF plays a role in the development of AN and BN, and strongly arguing for its involvement in eating behavior and body weight regulation.     

Combination of diffusion tensor and functional magnetic resonance imaging during recovery from the vegetative state

Background  

The rate of recovery from the vegetative state (VS) is low. Currently, little is known of the mechanisms and cerebral changes that accompany those relatively rare cases of good recovery. Here, we combined functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to study the evolution of one VS patient at one month post-ictus and again twelve months later when he had recovered consciousness.     

Exploring alternative hapten tethering sites for high-affinity anti-picoxystrobin antibody generation

The relevance of the linker tethering site in haptens was investigated for antibody generation and immunoassay development. Three derivatives of the strobilurin fungicide picoxystrobin were synthesized with the same functionalized spacer arm located at three different positions. Protein conjugates of those haptens were employed as immunogens, and novel polyclonal antibodies were produced and characterized. All haptens afforded highly specific antibodies, but different affinities to the free analyte were observed among the obtained antisera. Next, competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were studied in several formats, and site heterology was confirmed as an effective strategy for detectability improvement. An indirect heterologous immunoassay was eventually selected and optimized, showing a limit of detection for picoxystrobin of 0.02 μg/L and a working range between 0.03 and 1.30 μg/L. Finally, the developed extraction and analytical procedures revealed a practical limit of quantification of 5 μg/kg for this fungicide in soybean sprouts, well below the maximum residue limits in the European Union.