cis-Regulatory elements for mesophyll-specific gene expression in the C4 plant Flaveria trinervia, the promoter of the C4 phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase gene

C(4) photosynthesis depends on the strict compartmentalization of CO(2) assimilatory enzymes. cis-regulatory mechanisms are described that ensure mesophyll-specific expression of the gene encoding the C(4) isoform of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (ppcA1) of the C(4) dicot Flaveria trinervia. To elucidate and understand the anatomy of the C(4) ppcA1 promoter, detailed promoter/reporter gene studies were performed in the closely related C(4) species F. bidentis, revealing that the C(4) promoter contains two regions, a proximal segment up to -570 and a distal part from -1566 to -2141, which are necessary but also sufficient for high mesophyll-specific expression of the beta-glucuronidase reporter gene. The distal region behaves as an enhancer-like expression module that can direct mesophyll-specific expression when inserted into the ppcA1 promoter of the C(3) plant F. pringlei. Mesophyll expression determinants were restricted to a 41-bp segment, referred to as mesophyll expression module 1 (Mem1). Evolutionary and functional studies identified the tetranucleotide sequence CACT as a key component of Mem1.     

The G protein-coupled receptor GPR4 suppresses ERK activation in a ligand-independent manner

The lysophospholipids, lysophosphatidic acid, sphingosine-1-phosphate, and sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC), are bioactive lipid molecules that regulate diverse biological processes. Although the specific G protein-coupled receptors for lysophosphatidic acid and sphingosine-1-phosphate have been well-characterized, much less is known of the SPC receptors. It has been reported that ovarian cancer G protein-coupled receptor 1 (OGR1) is a high affinity receptor for SPC, and its closely related homologue GPR4 is a high affinity receptor for SPC with low affinity for lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). However, in a functional assay to examine the specificity of ligand binding, we found that neither SPC nor LPC, or other related lysophospholipids, induced internalization of GPR4 from the plasma membrane. In agreement, these lysolipids also did not induce translocation of beta-arrestin2-GFP from the cytosol to the plasma membrane in GPR4 expressing cells. However, when these cells were cotransfected with G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2, in the absence of added ligands, beta-arrestin2-GFP accumulated in cytoplasmic vesicles, reminiscent of vesicular labeling usually observed after agonist stimulation of GPCRs. In addition, neither SPC nor LPC stimulated the binding of GTPgammaS to membranes prepared from GPR4 expressing cells and did not activate ERK1/2. Surprisingly, enforced expression of GPR4 inhibited activation of ERK1/2 induced by several stimuli, including SPC, sphingosine-1-phosphate, and even EGF. Collectively, our results suggest that SPC and LPC are not the ligands for GPR4 and that this receptor may constitutively inhibit ERK1/2 activation.     

Apocynin inhibits NADPH oxidase in phagocytes but stimulates ROS production in non-phagocytic cells

Apocynin is a naturally occurring methoxy-substituted catechol, experimentally used as an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase. Since it acts as a potent inhibitor in studies with neutrophils and macrophages, no inhibitory effect can often be found in non-phagocyte cells. In our experiments, apocynin even stimulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by vascular fibroblasts. Even when added to macrophages, apocynin initially caused an increase in ROS production. The inhibition of ROS formation followed, suggesting that in the presence of leukocyte myeloperoxidase and hydrogen peroxide, apocynin is converted to another compound. Apocynin pre-activated with H2O2 and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) inhibited ROS production immediately. In non-phagocytes, apocynin stimulated ROS production and no inhibition was observed even after 60 min. Apocynin treated with H2O2 and HRP, however, decreased ROS production in the same manner as in macrophages. The stimulatory effect on ROS production can be abolished by tiron and superoxide dismutase (SOD), suggesting that superoxide was the produced species. The effect of apocynin was inhibited by diphenylene iodinium (DPI), a non-scavenging NADPH oxidase inhibitor. It can be summarized that apocynin stimulates cell superoxide production. In the presence of peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide, however, it is converted into another compound that acts as an inhibitor of superoxide production. It strongly suggests that under conditions in vivo, apocynin can have opposite effects on phagocytes and non-phagocyte cells. It acts as an inhibitor of phagocyte NADPH oxidase but also as a ROS production stimulator in non-phagocyte cells.     

Visfatin Levels in Subclinical Hypothyroidism

Alterations in thyroid function are associated with changes in body weight, metabolism, and low-grade inflammation abnormal thyroid function may be associated with disturbances in the production of adipokines also. Although there have been studies showing changes in visfatin levels in thyroid dysfunction, exact relationship between them was still unclear. Our aim was to evaluate serum concentrations of visfatin in patients with subclinical thyroid dysfunction before and after normalization of thyroid function tests. The study included 43 patients (mean age 50.1 ± 10.6 years) with subclinical hypothyroidism. Serum insulin, visfatin, TSH, free T4 (FT4) and free T3 (FT3) levels of subjects were analyzed. Visfatin levels were measured in all patients before starting therapy and after normalization of thyroid function. Serum visfatin levels of subclinical hypothyroid patients were 0.99 ± 0.45 and they were similar after normalization of thyroid function (p = 0.394). Serum visfatin levels were negatively correlated with FT4 levels before treatment (r = ?0.329 p < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between serum levels of visfatin and the serum levels of TSH and FT3. Serum visfatin levels did not correlate with insulin, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In this study, it was shown visfatin levels did not change after replacement therapy in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. Subclinical hypothyroid state may be an earlier stage regarding the changes of adipocytokines specifically the visfatin secretion as seen in overt hypothyroidism.     

Non-native Fish Occurrence and Biomass in 1943 Western Palearctic Lakes and Reservoirs and their Abiotic and Biotic Correlates

Invasion of non-native species is considered a major threat to global biodiversity. Here we present a comprehensive overview of the occurrence, richness and biomass contribution of non-native fish species in 1943 standing water bodies from 14 countries of the Western Palearctic, based on standardised fish catches by multi-mesh gillnetting. We expected strong geographical gradients to emerge in the occurrence of non-natives. We further hypothesised that the contribution by non-natives to the local fish community biomass was correlated with local richness and the trophic level of native and non-native species. Non-native fish species occurred in 304 of 1943 water bodies (16%). If the average number of occupied water bodies per country was weighted by number of water bodies per country, the grand mean occurrence of non-natives in Western Palearctic water bodies was 10%. Exotic (non-native to the Palearctic) and translocated (non-native only to parts of the Palearctic) species were found in 164 (8.4%) or 235 (12.1%) of the water bodies, respectively. The occurrence and local richness of non-native fish species increased with temperature, precipitation and lake area and were substantially higher in reservoirs than in natural lakes. High local biomass contributions of non-native species were strongly correlated with low richness of native species and high richness of non-native species, whereas the trophic level of the fish species had only a weak effect. Single non-native species rarely dominated community biomass, but high biomass contributions and thus strong community and ecosystem impacts can be expected if several non-native species accumulate in a water body.     

Red bone marrow dose estimation using several internal dosimetry models for prospective dosimetry-oriented radioiodine therapy

The aim of the present study was to review the available models developed for calculating red bone marrow dose in radioiodine therapy using clinical data. The study includes 18 patients (12 females and six males) with metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer. Radioiodine tracer of 73?±?16 MBq ¹³¹I was orally administered, followed by blood sampling (2 ml) and whole-body scans (WBSs) done at several time points (2, 6, 24, 48, 72, and ≥?96 h). Red bone marrow dose was estimated using the OLINDA/EXM 1.0, IDAC-Dose 2.1, and EANM models, the models developed by Shen and co-workers, Keizer and co-workers and Siegel and co-workers, and Traino and co-workers, as well as the single measurement model (SMM). The results were then compared to the standard reference model Revised Sgouros Model (RSM) reported by Wessels and co-workers. The mean dose deviations of the Traino, Siegel, Shen, Keizer, OLINDA/EXM, EANM, SMM, and IDAC-Dose 2.1 models from the RSM were ??17%, ??24%, 6%, ??29%, ??15%, 40%, 48%, and ??8%, respectively. The statistical analysis demonstrated no significant difference between the results obtained with the RSM and with those obtained with the Shen, Traino, OLINDA/EXM, and IDAC-Dose 2.1 models (t test; p_value > 0.05). However, a significant difference was found between RSM doses and those obtained with the EANM, SMM, and Keizer models (t test; p_value < 0.05). The correlation between red marrow dose from the SMM and EANM models was modest (R²?=?0.65), while the crossfire dose calculated with the OLINDA/EXM and IDAC-Dose 2.1 models were in good agreement with each other and with the reference model. The findings obtained indicate that most of the dosimetry models can be used for a reliable dosimetry, and the calculated total body doses can be considered as a reliable non-invasive option for a conservative activity planning. In addition, the excellent performance of the IDAC-Dose 2.1 model will be of particular importance for a practical and accurate dosimetry, with the advantages of allowing for the use of realistic advanced phantoms and updated dose fractions, and of providing information about the blood dose contribution to the red bone marrow.     

Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria enhanced leaf organic acids,FC-R activity and Fe nutrition of apple under lime soil conditions

Iron chlorosis in the calcareous soils is one most important stress factors worldwide that limits photosynthesis and decreases fruit yield and quality. Certain soil rhizobacteria produce organic compounds such as plant acids and they may reduce the soil rhizosphere pH and affect ferric chelate reductase (FC-R) activity in root. However, there is no knowledge regarding changes in organic acids content and FC-R activities of leaf due to rhizobacterial root inoculation. Therefore, the efficiency of six plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) were tested on apple cv. Braeburn on M9 and MM106 rootstocks. The results of the experiment showed leaf organic acid contents, iron quantity of soil, root and leaf and root and leaf FC-R activity were significantly affected via rhizobacteria applications in apple plants. In MM106 and M9, there was a remarkable increase in Fe in M3 inoculated soil by 95 and 89%, respectively, compared to control. Average increases in citric, malic, malonic, butyric and lactic acid in the leaf were obtained from rhizobacterial root inoculations of 25.1, 21.8, 29.6, 18.0 and 18.2% in Braeburn/MM106, respectively. In Braeburn/M9, MFDCa1 application increased all organic acid concentrations compared to the control. MFDCa2 treatment caused the maximum leaf FC-R activity in Braeburn on M9 and MM106 (60.9 and 50.3 nmol Fe⁺² g^?1 FW h^?1, respectively) while the least values were determined in the control (33.5 and 29.9 nmol Fe⁺² g^?1 FW h^?1, respectively). This study showed the bacterial strains tested in our study may be used as a biofertilizer instead of Fe fertilizers.     

Bala wāsṭa: aspirant professionals,class-making,and moral narratives of social mobility in Lebanon

While there is a growing anthropological interest in professionals as experts and powerful actors, there is little ethnographic inquiry into invocations of professionalism by less privileged communities. This article examines how professionalism in Lebanon was increasingly appropriated by low-income communities in ways not referring to any particular profession or occupational domain. As a locally defined category, professionalism indexed an urban middle-class subjectivity of performing specific sets of symbolic capital, moral dispositions, and cross-sectarian relationalities. Lebanese civil society, led by middle-class cultural elites, promoted professionalism as a moral alternative to reliance on wāsṭa (intermediary connections through family or kinship), a practice associated with a corrupt sectarian political system. What I call aspirant professionals – young, low-income, university-educated Lebanese – increasingly participated in empowerment NGOs to learn professionalism in pursuit of social mobility and respectability. Aspirant professionals did not simply emulate the middle-class culture of professionalism; rather, their class-making process generated its own moralities, subjectivities, and practices. Through a critical examination of aspirant professional subjectivity, this article contributes to anthropological studies on professionalism, NGOs, and class.     

Differences in activities of antioxidant superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and prooxidant xanthine oxidoreductase/xanthine oxidase in the normal corneal epithelium of various mammals

Under normal conditions, antioxidants at the corneal surface are balanced with the production of reactive oxygen species without any toxic effects. Danger from oxidative stress appears when natural antioxidants are overwhelmed leading to antioxidant/prooxidant imbalance. The aim of the present study was to examine the activities of enzymes contributing to the antioxidant/prooxidant balance in normal corneal epithelium of various mammals. The enzyme activities of antioxidant superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, as well as prooxidant xanthine oxidoreductase/xanthine oxidase were examined using biochemical methods. Results show that superoxide dismutase activity is high in rabbits and guinea pigs, whereas in pigs the activity is low and in cows it is nearly absent. In contrast, glutathione peroxidase activity is high in cows, pigs and rabbits, whereas in guinea pigs the activity is low. As far as prooxidant enzymes are concerned, elevated xanthine oxidoreductase/xanthine oxidase activities were found in rabbits, lower activities in guinea pigs, very low activity in cows and no activity in pigs. In conclusion, the above results demonstrate inter-species variations in activities of enzymes participating in antioxidant/prooxidant balance in the corneal epithelium. It is suggested that the levels of antioxidant and prooxidant enzymes studied in the corneal epithelium might be associated with the diurnal or nocturnal activity of animals. UV rays decompose hydrogen peroxide to damaging hydroxyl radicals and perhaps for this reason large animals with diurnal activity (cow, pig) require more effective peroxide removal (high glutathione peroxidase activity) together with the suppression of peroxide production (low superoxide dismutase activity, low xanthine oxidoreductase activity).