The efficacy of cisapride vs. placebo and diet in patients with chronic constipation

The effects of cisapride (10 mg three times daily) on the stool evacuation characteristics, laxative consumption (symptom diary) and motility pattern (rectoanal manometry) were assessed in patients with chronic idiopathic constipation who fulfilled Rome II criteria. After a 14-day basal period on a diet rich in fiber (phase I), patients were treated with placebo (n = 20) or cisapride (n = 19) (phase II). Anorectal manometry was performed at the end of each phase. The study was controlled, randomized and double blind. Side effects related to the use of cisapride were noted and found to be mild. Cisapride and placebo increased stool frequency from 4 (1-11) to 7 (14-12) (p < 0.001) and from 4 (2-10) to 6 (2-11) (p < 0.05) per week, respectively. Straining was decreased from 69.0% to 39.7% in the cisapride (p < 0.0001) group, and from 79% to 35% (p < 0.0001) in the placebo group. Both cisapride and placebo decreased the feeling of incomplete evacuation from 91.7% to 37.5% (p < 0.0001) and from 82.7% to 39.2% (p < 0.0001), respectively. Cisapride reduced the need of laxatives and showed a tendency to normalize stool consistency but did not influence any other symptom or bowel motility parameter.     

Stimulation of human DNA polymerase epsilon by MDM2

The human DNA polymerase ε catalytic subunit consists of a 140-kDa N‐terminal domain that contains the catalytic activity and a 120-kDa C-terminal domain that binds to the other subunits and to exogenous peptides, including PCNA and MDM2. We report here that recombinant human MDM2 purified from insect cells or Escherichia coli stimulated the activity of DNA polymerase ε up to 10- and 40-fold, respectively, but not those of DNA polymerase β or Klenow fragment of E.coli DNA polymerase I. Kinetic studies indicated that MDM2 increased the maximum velocity of the reaction, but did not change substrate affinities. The stimulation depended upon the interaction of the N‐terminal 166 amino acid residues of MDM2 with the C-terminal domain of the full-length catalytic subunit, since the deletion of 166 amino acids from N‐terminal of MDM2 or the removal of the C-terminal domain of DNA polymerase ε by trypsin digestion or competition for binding to it by the addition of excess C-terminal fragment eliminated the stimulation. Since DNA polymerase ε appears to be involved in DNA replication, recombination and repair synthesis, we suggest that MDM2 binding to DNA polymerase ε might be part of a reconfiguration process that allows DNA polymerase ε to associate with repair/recombination proteins in response to DNA damage.     

Susceptibility to Declarative Memory Interference is Pronounced in Primary Insomnia

Sleep has been shown to stabilize memory traces and to protect against competing interference in both the procedural and declarative memory domain. Here, we focused on an interference learning paradigm by testing patients with primary insomnia (N = 27) and healthy control subjects (N = 21). In two separate experimental nights with full polysomnography it was revealed that after morning interference procedural memory performance (using a finger tapping task) was not impaired in insomnia patients while declarative memory (word pair association) was decreased following interference. More specifically, we demonstrate robust associations of central sleep spindles (in N3) with motor memory susceptibility to interference as well as (cortically more widespread) fast spindle associations with declarative memory susceptibility. In general the results suggest that insufficient sleep quality does not necessarily show up in worse overnight consolidation in insomnia but may only become evident (in the declarative memory domain) when interference is imposed.     

Conformational Studies on Two FtsZ Targeting Cyclic Peptides

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Two FtsZ targeting cyclic peptides 1 (Ac-[Orn-Leu-Met-Asp]-Ala-Phe-Arg-Ser-NH2) and 2 (Ac-Ser-Leu-Met-[Asp-Ala-Phe-Arg-Orn]-NH2) were...     

Molecular underpinnings of centromere identity and maintenance

Centromeres direct faithful chromosome inheritance at cell division but are not defined by a conserved DNA sequence. Instead, a specialized form of chromatin containing the histone H3 variant, CENP-A, epigenetically specifies centromere location. We discuss current models where CENP-A serves as the marker for the centromere during the entire cell cycle in addition to generating the foundational chromatin for the kinetochore in mitosis. Recent elegant experiments have indicated that engineered arrays of CENP-A-containing nucleosomes are sufficient to serve as the site of kinetochore formation and for seeding centromeric chromatin that self-propagates through cell generations. Finally, recent structural and dynamic studies of CENP-A-containing histone complexes - before and after assembly into nucleosomes - provide models to explain underlying molecular mechanisms at the centromere.     

Structural mechanism for substrate inhibition of the adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate kinase domain of human 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate synthetase 1 and its ramifications for enzyme regulation

In mammals, the universal sulfuryl group donor molecule 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) is synthesized in two steps by a bifunctional enzyme called PAPS synthetase. The APS kinase domain of PAPS synthetase catalyzes the second step in which APS, the product of the ATP-sulfurylase domain, is phosphorylated on its 3'-hydroxyl group to yield PAPS. The substrate APS acts as a strong uncompetitive inhibitor of the APS kinase reaction. We generated truncated and point mutants of the APS kinase domain that are active but devoid of substrate inhibition. Structural analysis of these mutant enzymes reveals the intrasubunit rearrangements that occur upon substrate binding. We also observe intersubunit rearrangements in this dimeric enzyme that result in asymmetry between the two monomers. Our work elucidates the structural elements required for the ability of the substrate APS to inhibit the reaction at micromolar concentrations. Because the ATP-sulfurylase domain of PAPS synthetase influences these elements in the APS kinase domain, we propose that this could be a communication mechanism between the two domains of the bifunctional enzyme.     

Characterisation of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase fromBacillus circulans ATCC 21783 in terms of cyclodextrin production

Cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase, EC 2.4.1.19) fromBacillus circulans ATCC 21783 was purified by ultrafiltration and a consecutive starch adsorption. Total enzyme yield of 75.5% and purification factor of 13.7 were achieved. CGTase was most active at 65°C, possessed two clearly revealed pH-optima at 6.0 and 8.6 and retained from 75 to 100% of its initial activity in a wide range of pH, between 5.0 and 11.0. The cyclising activity was enhanced by 1 mM CaCl₂ or 4 mM CoCl₂. The enzyme was thermostable up to 70°C, and 64% of the original activity remained at 70°C after 30 min heat treatment. Up to 41% conversion into cyclodextrins was obtained from 40 g l^?1 starch without using any additives. This CGTase produced two types of cyclodextrins, beta and gamma, in a ratio 73:27 after 4 h reaction time at 65°C. This feature of the enzyme could be of interest for industrial cyclodextrin production.     

High bioreactor production and emulsifying activity of an unusual exopolymer by Chromohalobacter canadensis 28

Unusual composition of an exopolymer (EP) from an obligate halophilic bacterium Chromohalobacter canadensis 28 has triggered an interest in development of an effective bioreactor process for its production. Its synthesis was investigated in 2‐L bioreactor at agitation speeds at interval 600‐1000 rpm, at a constant air flow rate of 0.5 vvm; aeration rates of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 vvm were tested at constant agitation rate of 900 rpm. EP production was affected by both, agitation and aeration. As a result twofold increase of EP yield was observed and additionally increased up to 3.08 mg/mL in a presence of surfactants. For effective scale‐up of bioreactors mass transfer parameters were estimated and lowest values of K_La obtained for the highest productivity fermentation was established. Emulsification activity of EP exceeded that of trade hydrocolloids xanthan, guar gum, and cellulose. A good synergism between EP and commercial cellulose proved its potential exploration as an enhancer of emulsifying properties of trade emulsions. A pronounced lipophilic effect of EP was established toward olive oil and liquid paraffin. Cultivation of human keratinocyte cells (HaCaT) with crude EP and purified γ‐polyglutamic acid (PGA) showed higher viability than control group.