Implication of the nucleus in excitation contraction coupling of heart cells

In the present study, Fluo-3 Ca²⁺ measurement and confocal microscopy techniques were used in order to localize cytosolic [ ]_c and nuclear [ ]_n free Ca²⁺ distribution in resting and spontaneously contracting single heart cells from 10-day-old chick embryos. In resting single cells, the concentration of Ca²⁺ in the cytoplasm was lower than that in the nucleus. Increasing cytosolic free Ca²⁺ from 100–1600 nM gradually increased [Ca²⁺]_n with a maximum capacity near 1200 nM. Results from Fura-2 microfluorometry and Fluo-3 confocal microscopy suggest a potential cross talk between the increase of cytosolic free Ca²⁺ and the uptake and release of Ca²⁺ by the nucleus during spontaneous contraction of single myocytes. Calcium waves in spontaneously contracting cells were found to spread from one cell to the next with the nucleus acting as a fluorescent beacon in which Ca²⁺ levels remained elevated for several milliseconds even after cytosolic Ca²⁺ had returned to near basal values. These results strongly suggest that the nucleus plays a negative and positive feedback role in controlling cytosolic free Ca²⁺ concentration during excitation-contraction coupling in heart cells.     

Ligand-mediated metal-metal interactions in (ν:ν-fulvalene) bis (dicarbonylcobalt) and rhodium complexes

Gas phase photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) is used to investigate the bonding and electronic structure in (fv) [M(CO)₂]₂ (fv = fulvalene, η⁵:η⁵-C₁₀H₈²⁻; M = Co, Rh). The results for these bimetallic complexes are also compared to those for the analogous monometallic complexes CpM(CO)₂ (Cp = η⁵−C₅H₅⁻; M = Co, Rh) which have been reported previously. The low valence ionization patterns observed for CpCo(CO)₂ and (fv)[Co(CO)₂]₂ are very similar, indicating that there is little electronic interaction between the two metals of the dicobalt complex. The spectrum of (fv)[Rh(CO)₂]₂ also is very similar to the spectrum of CpRh(CO)₂, except that the first metal ionizations in the bimetallic rhodium compound show a significant splitting (0.45 eV). This splitting is due to electronic interaction between the two metal centers which occurs via communication through the fulvalene π system. The differences in electronic structure are compared to the differences in electrochemical behavior of the Co and Rh fulvalene complexes.     

Vertical and seasonal variations of inorganic carbon allocation into macromolecules by phytoplankton population in a brown-colored and a clear-water lake

The aim of this study was to asses vertical and seasonal variations of inorganic carbon allocation into macromolecules by phytoplankton population in an humic and acidic lake (Lake Vassivière) and in a clearwater lake (Lake Pavin). Biochemical fractionation was done by consecutive differential extractions in order to separate proteins, polysaccharides, lipids and low molecular weight compounds (LMW) by virtue of their relative solubilities in different extraction solvents.Independent of depth and season, the principal photosynthetic end products were polysaccharides followed by proteins, LMW and lipids. However, inorganic carbon allocation into macromolecules varied, in these two lakes, with depth and with the taxonomic composition of phytoplankton. Carbon allocation into polysaccharides decreased with increasing depth, especially in the brown-colored humic lake, and Diatoms, showed high C incorporation into polysaccharides.     

Growth of a thermotolerant ethanol-producing strain of Kluyveromyces marxianus on cellobiose containing media

Summary The thermotolerant yeast strain, Kluyveromyces marxianus 1MB 3, was shown to be capable of limited growth on cellobiose containing media at 45°C. Growth, sugar utilization and ethanol production were shown to increase in the presence of exogenously added thermostable fungal -glucosidase. During active growth of the organism on cellobiose-containing media, -glucosidase activity was detected in cell lysate preparations with only minor amounts of activity present in the extracellular culture filtrate. The results suggest that limitations in ethanol production by this organism during growth on cellobiose containing media may be overcome by addition of exogenously added -glucosidase which results in increased substrate access to the biocatalytic unit.     

Biochemical Differentiation of the Enterobacteriaceae with the Aid of Lysine-Iron-Agar

A procedure is described for identifying members of the family Enterobacteriaceae isolated from clinical specimens. The methods are based on primary differentiation of the various groups of bacteria by the use of Kligler Iron Agar and lysine-iron-agar. For identification of Salmonella, Shigella, and Arizona group organisms from stools, Triple Sugar Iron Agar and lysine-iron-agar are employed. The usefulness of this schema for diagnostic bacteriology laboratories is discussed. It is not intended to replace methods used in reference or research laboratories.     

X-Ray Pelvimetry

The results of x-ray pelvimetry performed on 66 pregnant women, with a view to predicting the outcome of pregnancy, were reviewed. It was concluded that such pelvimetry was most valuable in cases in which it indicated a normal pelvis or gross bony disproportion. It was least effective in those with a “borderline” pelvis, in which the correct management of the patient requires an adequate trial of labour. The authors believe that pelvimetry in the later stages of pregnancy has no ill effects on the unborn baby or the mother.Indications for use of x-ray pelvimetry in obstetrics, the technique employed, the various types of female pelvis and the relation of these to the course of labour are considered. Pelvimetry findings are compared with the eventual outcome of labour in women with suspected cephalopelvic disproportion. It is emphasized that the pelvic assessment should be made jointly by the radiologist and obstetrician.     

Parasites driving host diversity: Incidence of disease correlated with Daphnia clonal turnover*

According to the Red Queen hypothesis, clonal diversity in asexual populations could be maintained by negative frequency‐dependant selection by coevolving parasites. If common clones are selected against and rare clones gain a concomitant advantage, we expect that clonal turnover should be faster during parasite epidemics than between them. We tested this hypothesis exploring field data of the Daphnia–Caullerya host–parasite system. The clonal make‐up and turnover of the Daphnia host population was tracked with high temporal resolution from 1998 until 2013, using first allozyme and later microsatellite markers. Significant differences in the clonal composition between random and infected subsamples of Daphnia populations were detected on six of seven tested occasions, confirming genetic specificity of the host–parasite interaction in this system. We used time series analysis to compare the rates of host clonal turnover to the incidence of parasitism, and found that Caullerya prevalence was significantly associated with microsatellite‐based clonal turnover. As alternate hypotheses, we further tested whether turnover was related to a variety of biotic, abiotic, and host demographic parameters. Other significant correlates of turnover were cyanobacterial biomass and (weakly) temperature. Overall, parasitism seems to be a strong driver of host clonal turnover, in support of the Red Queen hypothesis.     

High-level expression of the HIV entry inhibitor griffithsin from the plastid genome and retention of biological activity in dried tobacco leaves

Key message

The potent anti-HIV microbicide griffithsin was expressed to high levels in tobacco chloroplasts, enabling efficient purification from both fresh and dried biomass, thus providing storable material for inexpensive production and scale-up on demand.

Abstract

The global HIV epidemic continues to grow, with 1.8 million new infections occurring per year. In the absence of a cure and an AIDS vaccine, there is a pressing need to prevent new infections in order to curb the disease. Topical microbicides that block viral entry into human cells can potentially prevent HIV infection. The antiviral lectin griffithsin has been identified as a highly potent inhibitor of HIV entry into human cells. Here we have explored the possibility to use transplastomic plants as an inexpensive production platform for griffithsin. We show that griffithsin accumulates in stably transformed tobacco chloroplasts to up to 5% of the total soluble protein of the plant. Griffithsin can be easily purified from leaf material and shows similarly high virus neutralization activity as griffithsin protein recombinantly expressed in bacteria. We also show that dried tobacco provides a storable source material for griffithsin purification, thus enabling quick scale-up of production on demand.

     

Prazosin induced lysosomal tubulation interferes with cytokinesis and the endocytic sorting of the tumour antigen CD98hc

The quinazoline based drug prazosin (PRZ) is a potent inducer of apoptosis in human cancer cells. We recently reported that PRZ enters cells via endocytosis and induces tubulation of the endolysosomal system. In a proteomics approach aimed at identifying potential membrane proteins with binding affinity to quinazolines, we detected the oncoprotein CD98hc. We confirmed shuttling of CD98hc towards lysosomes and upregulation of CD98hc expression in PRZ treated cells. Gene knockout (KO) experiments revealed that endocytosis of PRZ still occurs in the absence of CD98hc - suggesting that PRZ does not enter the cell via CD98hc but misroutes the protein towards tubular lysosomes. Lysosomal tubulation interfered with completion of cytokinesis and provoked endoreplication. CD98hc KO cells showed reduced endoreplication capacity and lower sensitivity towards PRZ induced apoptosis than wild type cells. Thus, loss of CD98hc does not affect endocytosis of PRZ and lysosomal tubulation, but the ability for endoreplication and survival of cells. Furthermore, we found that glutamine, lysomototropic agents – namely chloroquine and NH₄Cl – as well as inhibition of v-ATPase, interfere with the intracellular transport of CD98hc. In summary, our study further emphasizes lysosomes as target organelles to inhibit proliferation and to induce cell death in cancer. Most importantly, we demonstrate for the first time that the intracellular trafficking of CD98hc can be modulated by small molecules. Since CD98hc is considered as a potential drug target in several types of human malignancies, our study possesses translational significance suggesting, that old drugs are able to act on a novel target.