Effect of oxidative stress on in vivo ADP-ribosylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2

Different lines of evidence indicate that eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) can be ADP-ribosylated endogenously. The physiological significance of this reaction has, however, remained unclarified. In order to address this issue we investigated the in vivo ADP-ribosylation of eEF2 and the effect of oxidative stress thereon. The investigation revealed that the endogenous ADP-ribosylation of eEF2 is complex and can take place in K562 cell lysates either under the action of endogenous transferase from [adenosine-14C]NAD or by direct binding of free [14C]ADP-ribose. These two types of ADP-ribosylation were distinguished by use of different treatments based on the chemical stability of the respective bonds formed. Under standard culture conditions, in vivo labeling of eEF2 in the presence of [14C]adenosine was reversed to about 65% in the presence of diphtheria toxin and nicotinamide. This finding implied that the modification that took place under physiological circumstances was, mainly, of an enzymic nature. On the other hand, H2O2-promoted oxidative stress gave rise to a nearly two-fold increase in the extent of in vivo labeling of eEF2. This was accompanied by a loss of eEF2 activity in polypeptide chain elongation. Oxidative stress specifically inhibited the subsequent binding of free ADP-ribose to eEF2. The results thus provide evidence that endogenous ADP-ribosylation of eEF2 can also take place by the binding of free ADP-ribose. This nonenzymic reaction appears to account primarily for in vivo ADP-ribosylation of eEF2 under oxidative stress.     

Inhibition effects of pesticides on glutathione‐S‐transferase enzyme activity of Van Lake fish liver

Glutathione‐S‐transferases (GSTs) have a function in xenobiotic metabolism. They are a significant multifunctional family with a wide variety of catalytic activities. In the current study, we determined in vitro inhibition effects of 2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid dimethylamine salt (2,4‐D DMA), haloxyfop‐P‐methyl, glyphosate isopropylamine, dichlorvos, and λ‐cyhalothrin on purified GST. For this purpose, GST were purified from Van Lake fish (Chalcalburnus tarichii Pallas) liver with 29.25 EU mg^?1 specific activity and 10.76% yield using GSH–agarose affinity chromatographic method. The pesticides were tested at various concentrations on in vitro GST activity. K_i constants were calculated as 0.17 ± 0.01, 0.25 ± 0.05, 3.72 ± 0.32, 0.42 ± 0.06, and 0.025 ± 0.004 mM, for 2,4‐D DMA, haloxyfop‐P‐methyl, glyphosate isopropylamine, dichlorvos, and λ‐cyhalothrin, respectively. λ‐Cyhalothrin showed a better inhibitory effect compared to the other pesticides. The inhibition mechanisms of λ‐cyhalothrin were competitive, while the other pesticides were noncompetitive.     

Investigation of inflammation,oxidative stress,and DNA damage in COVID-19 patients

COVID-19 disease, which spreads worldwide, is a disease characterized by widespread inflammation and affects many organs, especially the lungs. The resulting inflammation can lead to reactive oxygen radicals, leading to oxidative DNA damage. The pneumonia severity of 95 hospitalized patients with positive RT-PCR test was determined and divided into three groups: mild, moderate, and severe/critical. Inflammation markers (neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio, serum reactive protein, procalcitonin, etc.) were determined, and IL-10 and IFN-γ measurements were analyzed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. In evaluating oxidative damage, total thiol, native thiol, disulfide, and ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) levels were determined by measuring spectrophotometrically. The comet assay method’s percentage of tail DNA obtained was used to determine oxidative DNA damage. As a result, when the mild and severe/critical groups were compared, we found that total thiol, native thiol, and disulfide levels decreased significantly in the severe/critical group due to the increase in inflammation markers and cytokine levels (p < 0.05). We could not detect any significance in IMA levels between the groups (p > 0.05). At the same time, we determined an increase in the tail DNA percent level, that is, DNA damage, due to the increased oxidative effect. As a result, we determined that inflammation and oxidative stress increased in patients with severe pneumonia, and there was DNA damage in these patients.     

Fuzzy rule-based Fine–Kinney risk assessment approach for rail transportation systems

Rail transportation is one of the most crucial public transportation types for big and crowded cities. In rail transportation systems, stakeholders face serious issues involved in workshops, stations, lines and their environments, and general office buildings. In order to reach an increased awareness and better occupational health and safety (OHS) management, a new risk assessment approach is proposed in this study. This approach includes a combination of Fine–Kinney method and a fuzzy rule-based expert system. It captures nonlinear causal relationships between Fine–Kinney parameters. Since there is a high level of vagueness involved in the OHS risk assessment data, the rule-based expert system is developed for probability (P), exposure (E), and consequence (C) for evaluating risk score. A case study is carried out in a rail transportation system in Istanbul/Turkey, and a comparison with the classical Fine–Kinney method is discussed. Results of the case study reveal risk clusters and corresponding control measures that should be taken into consideration. The study methodologically contributes to risk assessment in the knowledge, while case study in a real rail transportation system offers an insight into public transport industry in safety improvement.     

Genetic Diversity Among Turkish Native Chickens, Denizli and Gerze, Estimated by Microsatellite Markers

The genetic diversity of the Turkish native chicken breeds Denizli and Gerze was evaluated with 10 microsatellite markers. We genotyped a total of 125 individuals from five subpopulations. Among loci, the mean number of alleles was 7.5, expected heterozygosity (H (e)) was 0.665, PIC value was 0.610, and Wright's fixation index was 0.301. H (e) was higher in the Denizli breed (0.656) than in the Gerze breed (0.475). The PIC values were 0.599 and 0.426 for Denizli and Gerze, respectively. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using genetic distance and the neighbor-joining method. Its topology reflects the general pattern of genetic differentiation among the Denizli and Gerze breeds. The present study suggests that Denizli and Gerze subpopulations have a rich genetic diversity. The information about Denizli and Gerze breeds estimated by microsatellite analysis may also be useful as an initial guide in defining objectives for designing future investigations of genetic variation and developing conservation strategies.     

Endogenous ADP-ribosylation for eukaryotic elongation factor 2: evidence of two different sites and reactions

Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 can undergo ADP-ribosylation in the absence of diphtheria toxin under the action of an endogenous transferase. The investigation which aimed to gain insight into the nature of endogenous ADP-ribosylation revealed that this reaction may be, in some cases, due to covalent binding of free ADP-ribose to elongation factor 2. Binding of free ADP-ribose, and NAD- and endogenous transferase-dependent ADP-ribosylation were suggested to be distinct reactions by different findings. Free ADP-ribose could bind to elongation factor 2 previously subjected to ADP-ribosylation by diphtheria toxin or endogenous transferase. The binding of free ADP-ribose was inhibited by neutral NH2OH, L-lysine and picrylsulfonate, whereas endogenous ADP-ribosyltransferase was inhibited by NAD glycohydrolase inhibitors and L-arginine. The ADP-ribosyl-elongation factor 2 adduct which formed upon binding of free ADP-ribose was resistant to neutral NH2OH, but decomposed almost completely upon treatment with NaOH. The product of endogenous transferase-dependent ADP- ribosylation was partially resistant to NH2OH and NaOH treatment. Moreover, this reaction was reversed in the presence of diphtheria toxin and nicotinamide. Both types of endogenous ADP-ribosylation gave rise to inhibition of polyphenylalanine synthesis. This study thus provides evidence for the presence of two different types of endogenous ADP-ribosylation of eukaryotic elongation factor 2. The respective sites involved in these reactions are distinct from one another as well as from diphthamide, the site of attack by diphtheria toxin.     

Biomimetic synthesis of acid-sensitive (-)- and (+)-caparrapi oxides, (-)- and (+)-8-epicaparrapi oxides, and (+)-dysifragin induced by artificial cyclases

Asymmetric total syntheses of acid-sensitive (-)- and (+)-caparrapi oxides (1) and (+)-8-epicaparrapi oxide (2) from farnesol (10) are achieved using Sharpless-Katsuki epoxidation and Lewis acid-assisted chiral Br?nsted acid (chiral LBA)-induced polyene cyclization as key steps. The relative configuration of (+)-dysifragin (4) is determined by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction and its total synthesis is accomplished by the diastereoselective epoxidation of (+)-1. Furthermore, (-)-1 can be directly synthesized from (S)-nerolidol (3) and (R)-LBA with 88% ds by reagent control, which overcame substrate control, while (-)-2 is obtained from (R)-3 and (R)-LBA with >99% ds by the double asymmetric induction.     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibition and cytotoxicity studies of Mannich base derivatives of thymol

Mannich bases of thymol were synthesized. The aminomethylation reaction was realised in the ortho position of the phenol for compounds 2 (dipropylamine), 3 (benzylamine), and 4 (dibenzylamine) while it was from para position for 1 (dimethylamine), 5 (piperidine), 6 (morpholine) and 7 (N-methylpiperazine). The carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitory effects of the compounds were asssessed against hCA I and hCA II. All compounds moderately inhibited hCA I and hCA II. The cytotoxicity of the compounds against four human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines were compared those against three normal oral cells. Tumor specificity values were about 2 or slightly more for the compounds 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Compound 2 showed cytostatic activity against OSCC cell lines at 16 to 32-fold lower concentrations as compared with normal cells. This suggests that compound 2 can be considered as cytotoxicity enhancing drug candidate for further investigations.