Gene expression and the evolution of phenotypic diversity in social wasps

Background  

Organisms are capable of developing different phenotypes by altering the genes they express. This phenotypic plasticity provides a means for species to respond effectively to environmental conditions. One of the most dramatic examples of phenotypic plasticity occurs in the highly social hymenopteran insects (ants, social bees, and social wasps), where distinct castes and sexes all arise from the same genes. To elucidate how variation in patterns of gene expression affects phenotypic variation, we conducted a study to simultaneously address the influence of developmental stage, sex, and caste on patterns of gene expression in Vespula wasps. Furthermore, we compared the patterns found in this species to those found in other taxa in order to investigate how variation in gene expression leads to phenotypic evolution.     

Effect of Metalaxyl on the incidence and severity of Pearl millet downy mildew disease in Northern Nigeria

Pearl millet downy mildew (DM) incidence, severity and yield losses of two pearl millet varieties (local and improved) due to the disease were determined in the field. Significant differences in the disease incidence and severity were recorded in the plots sown with metalaxyl-treated seeds and those sown with non-treated seeds, indicating the efficacy of the fungicide on the fungus. Yield losses due to non-treatment of seeds with metalaxyl was 40.88 and 45.39% in a local variety and 43.00 and 18.60% in an improved variety in the 2000 and 2001 cropping seasons respectively. Significant differences between plots sown with metalaxyl-treated and those sown with non-treated seeds were obtained for other yield components such as 1000-grains weight, panicle length and weight.     

Crystal structure of human CD38 extracellular domain

Human CD38 is a multifunctional protein involved in diverse functions. As an enzyme, it is responsible for the synthesis of two Ca2+ messengers, cADPR and NAADP; as an antigen, it is involved in regulating cell adhesion, differentiation, and proliferation. Besides, CD38 is a marker of progression of HIV-1 infection and a negative prognostic marker of B-CLL. We have determined the crystal structure of the soluble extracellular domain of human CD38 to 1.9 A resolution. The enzyme's overall topology is similar to the related proteins CD157 and the Aplysia ADP-ribosyl cyclase, except with large structural changes at the two termini. The extended positively charged N terminus has lateral associations with the other CD38 molecule in the crystallographic asymmetric unit. The analysis of the CD38 substrate binding models revealed two key residues that may be critical in controlling CD38's multifunctionality of NAD hydrolysis, ADP-ribosyl cyclase, and cADPR hydrolysis activities.     

Phenotypic and functional effects of heat shock protein 90 inhibition on dendritic cell

The 90-kDa heat shock protein (Hsp90) plays an important role in conformational regulation of cellular proteins and thereby cellular signaling and function. As Hsp90 is considered a key component of immune function and its inhibition has become an important target for cancer therapy, we here evaluated the role of Hsp90 in human dendritic cell (DC) phenotype and function. Hsp90 inhibition significantly decreased cell surface expression of costimulatory (CD40, CD80, CD86), maturation (CD83), and MHC (HLA-A, B, C and HLA-DP, DQ, DR) markers in immature DC and mature DC and was associated with down-regulation of both RNA and intracellular protein expression. Importantly, Hsp90 inhibition significantly inhibited DC function. It decreased Ag uptake, processing, and presentation by immature DC, leading to reduced T cell proliferation in response to tetanus toxoid as a recall Ag. It also decreased the ability of mature DC to present Ag to T cells and secrete IL-12 as well as induce IFN-gamma secretion by allogeneic T cells. These data therefore demonstrate that Hsp90-mediated protein folding is required for DC function and, conversely, Hsp90 inhibition disrupts the DC function of significant relevance in the setting of clinical trials evaluating novel Hsp90 inhibitor therapy in cancer.     

Evaluating scoring functions for docking and designing beta-secretase inhibitors

Several simple scoring methods were examined for 2 series of beta-secretase (BACE-1) inhibitors to identify a docking/scoring protocol which could be used to design BACE-1 inhibitors in a drug discovery program. Both the PLP1 score and MMFFs interaction energy (E(inter)) performed as well or better than more computationally intensive methods for a set of substrate-based inhibitors, while the latter performed well for both sets of inhibitors.     

Prognostic significance of CHAC1 expression in breast cancer

Molecular Biology Reports - An emerging component of Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) pathway, cation transport regulator homolog 1 (CHAC1) has been conferred with the ability to degrade...     

Structure and Function of the Hypertension Variant A486V of G Protein-coupled Receptor Kinase 4

G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) kinases (GRKs) bind to and phosphorylate GPCRs, initiating the process of GPCR desensitization and internalization. GRK4 is implicated in the regulation of blood pressure, and three GRK4 polymorphisms (R65L, A142V, and A486V) are associated with hypertension. Here, we describe the 2.6 Å structure of human GRK4α A486V crystallized in the presence of 5′-adenylyl β,γ-imidodiphosphate. The structure of GRK4α is similar to other GRKs, although slight differences exist within the RGS homology (RH) bundle subdomain, substrate-binding site, and kinase C-tail. The RH bundle subdomain and kinase C-terminal lobe form a strikingly acidic surface, whereas the kinase N-terminal lobe and RH terminal subdomain surfaces are much more basic. In this respect, GRK4α is more similar to GRK2 than GRK6. A fully ordered kinase C-tail reveals interactions linking the C-tail with important determinants of kinase activity, including the αB helix, αD helix, and the P-loop. Autophosphorylation of wild-type GRK4α is required for full kinase activity, as indicated by a lag in phosphorylation of a peptide from the dopamine D₁ receptor without ATP preincubation. In contrast, this lag is not observed in GRK4α A486V. Phosphopeptide mapping by mass spectrometry indicates an increased rate of autophosphorylation of a number of residues in GRK4α A486V relative to wild-type GRK4α, including Ser-485 in the kinase C-tail.     

Design and synthesis of pyridone inhibitors of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase

Next generation NNRTIs are sought which possess both broad spectrum antiviral activity against key mutant strains and a high genetic barrier to the selection of new mutant viral strains. Pyridones were evaluated as an acyclic conformational constraint to replace the aryl ether core of MK-4965 (1) and the more rigid indazole constraint of MK-6186 (2). The resulting pyridone compounds are potent inhibitors of HIV RT and have antiviral activity in cell culture that is superior to other next generation NNRTI’s.     

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in healthy goats in India: occurrence and virulence properties

AIMS: To describe the occurrence and virulence gene pattern of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) in healthy goats of Jammu and Kashmir, India. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 220 E. coli strains belonging to 60 different 'O' serogroups was isolated from 206 local (nonmigratory) and 69 migratory goats. All the 220 strains were screened for the presence of stx(1), stx(2), eaeA and hlyA genes. Twenty-eight E. coli (75.6%) strains from local and nine (24.3%) strains from migratory goats belonging to 18 different serogroups showed at least presence of one virulence gene studied. Twenty-eight strains (16.47%) (belonging to 13 different serogroups) from local goats carried stx(1) gene alone or in combination with stx(2) gene, while as only one strain (2%) from migratory goats possessed stx(2) gene alone. Interestingly in the present study none of the STEC strains carried eaeA gene. Similarly, none of the strains from local goats possessed eaeA and none of the migratory goats possessed stx(1) gene. Eight strains (16%) (belonging to four different serogroups) from migratory goats carried eaeA gene. Twenty-five (14.7%) and seven (14%) strains from local and migratory goats harboured hlyA gene respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Healthy goats of Jammu and Kashmir state serve as a reservoir of STEC and EPEC. Further studies in this direction are needed to work out whether or not they are transmitted to humans in this part of world. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study is the first report of isolation of STEC and EPEC strains from healthy goats in Jammu and Kashmir State of India, which could be a source of infection to humans.