Diarylheptanoids from Green Alder Bark and Their Potential for DNA Protection

Nine diarylheptanoids, 1 – 9 , catechin ( 11 ), and a phenolic glucoside, 10 , were isolated from the bark of green alder (Alnus viridis). Four of the isolated compounds, i.e., 2, 5, 8, 10 , are new. The structures of 1 – 11 were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their in vitro protective effects on chromosome aberrations in peripheral human lymphocytes using cytokinesis‐block micronucleus (CBMN) assay. Almost all of them exerted a pronounced effect of decreasing DNA damage of human lymphocytes, acting stronger than the known synthetic protector amifostine.     

Genome-Wide Analysis of Cold Adaptation in Indigenous Siberian Populations

Following the dispersal out of Africa, where hominins evolved in warm environments for millions of years, our species has colonised different climate zones of the world, including high latitudes and cold environments. The extent to which human habitation in (sub-)Arctic regions has been enabled by cultural buffering, short-term acclimatization and genetic adaptations is not clearly understood. Present day indigenous populations of Siberia show a number of phenotypic features, such as increased basal metabolic rate, low serum lipid levels and increased blood pressure that have been attributed to adaptation to the extreme cold climate. In this study we introduce a dataset of 200 individuals from ten indigenous Siberian populations that were genotyped for 730,525 SNPs across the genome to identify genes and non-coding regions that have undergone unusually rapid allele frequency and long-range haplotype homozygosity change in the recent past. At least three distinct population clusters could be identified among the Siberians, each of which showed a number of unique signals of selection. A region on chromosome 11 (chr11:66–69 Mb) contained the largest amount of clustering of significant signals and also the strongest signals in all the different selection tests performed. We present a list of candidate cold adaption genes that showed significant signals of positive selection with our strongest signals associated with genes involved in energy regulation and metabolism (CPT1A, LRP5, THADA) and vascular smooth muscle contraction (PRKG1). By employing a new method that paints phased chromosome chunks by their ancestry we distinguish local Siberian-specific long-range haplotype signals from those introduced by admixture.     

Fumaric Acid Esters Can Block Pro-Inflammatory Actions of Human CRP and Ameliorate Metabolic Disturbances in Transgenic Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Inflammation and oxidative stress have been implicated in the pathogenesis of metabolic disturbances. Esters of fumaric acid, mainly dimethyl fumarate, exhibit immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative effects. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that fumaric acid ester (FAE) treatment of an animal model of inflammation and metabolic syndrome, the spontaneously hypertensive rat transgenically expressing human C-reactive protein (SHR-CRP), will ameliorate inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic disturbances. We studied the effects of FAE treatment by administering Fumaderm, 10 mg/kg body weight for 4 weeks, to male SHR-CRP. Untreated male SHR-CRP rats were used as controls. All rats were fed a high sucrose diet. Compared to untreated controls, rats treated with FAE showed significantly lower levels of endogenous CRP but not transgenic human CRP, and amelioration of inflammation (reduced levels of serum IL6 and TNFα) and oxidative stress (reduced levels of lipoperoxidation products in liver, heart, kidney, and plasma). FAE treatment was also associated with lower visceral fat weight and less ectopic fat accumulation in liver and muscle, greater levels of lipolysis, and greater incorporation of glucose into adipose tissue lipids. Analysis of gene expression profiles in the liver with Affymetrix arrays revealed that FAE treatment was associated with differential expression of genes in pathways that involve the regulation of inflammation and oxidative stress. These findings suggest potentially important anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and metabolic effects of FAE in a model of inflammation and metabolic disturbances induced by human CRP.     

The analogs of oxytocin and D-homoarginine vasopressin with bulky substituted phenylalanine in position 2

Solid phase technique on p-methylbenzhydrylamine resin wasused for the synthesis of eight analogs of oxytocin and 8-D-homoarginine vasopressin with the non-coded amino acids L- or D-2,3,4,5,6-pentamethylphenylalanine and L- or D-4-phenylphenylalanine in position 2. The preparation of theabove mentioned non-coded amino acids is described as well.All eight analogs were found to be potent inhibitors ofoxytocin activity in the uterotonic in vitro test in theabsence of Mg²⁺ ions. In the uterotonic test invitro in the presence of Mg²⁺ and in the test invivo, their potency is strongly decreased or completelyabolished. The substances are also weak pressor inhibitors.The L or D configuration does not seem to influence theactivity significantly.     

Untersuchungen Über faktoren,die sich bei folgekultivierung der pflanzen geltend machen

V práci byla sledována mo?nost allelopatického ovlivňování následných rostlin p?edplodinami p?i kultivaoi v odstupňovaných ?asových intervalech po sobě v té?e zemině u tě chto kombinací: mák — cukrovka, ho??ice — je?men, konopí — ?ito, cibule — ?epka. Pokusy byly prováděny v kvítiná?ích s kompostovou zeminou, umístěných během pokusu na zahradě a zapu? těných do p?dy. Byl sledován r?st p?edplodin a následných rostlin v po?áte?ních fá zích r?stu. P?ed vysetím následných rostlin byla stanovena u odebraných vzork? zemin intensita respirace, okam?itá vlhkost a obsah fyziologicky p?ístupného dusíku, fosforu a draslíku. Ve v?ech zkou?ených kombinacích byly následné rostliny ovlivněny kultivací p?edplodiny a následným ulo?ením zeminy. Změny r?stu následných rostlin ?áste? ně korelovaly s obsahem fyziologicky p?ístupného dusíku v zemině. Podle jejich charakteru v?ak bylo té? patrno, ?e se na nich podílely i allelopatické faktory. Zna?ně inhibi?ně p?sobil mák na cukrovku, mé ně inhibi?ně p?sobila ho??ice na je?men a cibule na ?epku. ??inek konopí na ?ito byl promě nný s dobou ulo?ení zeminy. Změny v obsahu fyziologicky p?ístupného dusíku, fosforu a draslíku v pokusné zemině neodpovídaly . mno?ství narostlé p?edplodiny, co? bylo podmíněno pou?itou kultiva?ní metodikou. Poměrně rychlé doplňování p?edplodinou vy?erpaných dusi?nan? v pokusné zemině s dobou jejího ulo?ení bylo pravděpodobně podmíněno nitrifikacními procesy. Podle stanovených změn intensity respirace pokusné zeminy se na allelopatickém ovlivnění mohla podílet i pudní mikroflora.     

Some new taxa inLotus corniculatus L.

Four new taxa in the variable speciesLotus corniculatus L. has been described: var.alandicus Chrtková-?ertová, var.norvegicus Chrtková-?ertová, var.fallax Chrtková-?ertová and var.posoniensis Chrtková-?ertová.     

Analysis of replication region of the cryptic plasmid pAG20 from Acetobacter aceti 3620

The DNA sequence of small cryptic plasmid pAG20 in Acetobacter aceti was determined at 3064 bp with 51.6% GC pairs. The plasmid encoded a 186 amino acid protein which is important for plasmid replication in Gram-negative bacteria except Escherichia coli. Two 21 bp large direct repeat sequence 1 and two 13 bp direct repeat sequence 2 were determined in the regulation region upstream from gene encoded Rep protein. Vector pAG24 with kanamycin gene and two deletion derivatives pAG25 and pAG26 without rep gene from plasmid pAG20 were constructed. Plasmid pAG24 was replicated in a broad host range like E. coli, Acetobacter pasteurianus, A. aceti, Comanomonas spp., Serratia marcescens, and Shigella spp.     

Bacterial DNA detected on pathologically changed heart valves using 16S rRNA gene amplification

Nowadays, dental diseases are one of the most common illnesses in the world. Some of them can lead to translocation of oral bacteria to the bloodstream causing intermittent bacteraemia. Therefore, a potential association between oral infection and cardiovascular diseases has been discussed in recent years as a result of adhesion of oral microbes to the heart valves. The aim of this study was to detect oral bacteria on pathologically changed heart valves not caused by infective endocarditis. In the study, patients with pathologically changed heart valves were involved. Samples of heart valves removed during heart valve replacement surgery were cut into two parts. One aliquot was cultivated aerobically and anaerobically. Bacterial DNA was extracted using Ultra-Deep Microbiome Prep (Molzym GmbH, Bremen, Germany) followed by a 16S rRNA gene PCR amplification using Mastermix 16S Complete kit (Molzym GmbH, Bremen, Germany). Positive PCR products were sequenced and the sequences were analyzed using BLAST database (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih/BLAST). During the study period, 41 samples were processed. Bacterial DNA of the following bacteria was detected in 21 samples: Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes) (n?=?11; 52.38% of patients with positive bacterial DNA detection), Staphylococcus sp. (n?=?9; 42.86%), Streptococcus sp. (n?=?1; 4.76%), Streptococcus sanguinis (n?=?4; 19.05%), Streptococcus oralis (n?=?1; 4.76%), Carnobacterium sp. (n?=?1; 4.76%), Bacillus sp. (n?=?2; 9.52%), and Bergeyella sp. (n?=?1; 4.76%). In nine samples, multiple bacteria were found. Our results showed significant appearance of bacteria on pathologically changed heart valves in patients with no symptoms of infective endocarditis.