Screening method for detection of hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria in oil-contaminated water and soil specimens

Toxic action of crude oil on the living world and ecosystems in general is a global problem of both aquatic and terrestrial environments. Bearing in mind the possibility of biodegradation of this toxicant, the procedures of determining counts and activity of cultivable microorganisms, and especially of bacteria responsible for degradation processes, are of great significance. The aim of this work was to study the possibility of modifying some solid media by adding triphenyltetrazolium chloride reagent as an indicator of the dehydrogenase activity, to develop a simple screening method for a simultaneous assessment of the count and activity of cultivable hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria in the oil-contaminated environments. The modified method appeared to be rapid and very suitable for the intended purposes.     

A colorimetric microtiter plate method for assessment of phage effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm

Bacteriophages have a potential in biofilm control. The aim of the study was to develop a method for selection of the most effective Pseudomonas aeruginosa phages for inhibition of biofilm formation and its eradication. The microtiter plate method is based on crystal violet staining and measuring of optical density.     

Reinvestigation of the O-antigens of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis: revision of the O2c and confirmation of the O3 antigen structures

Structures of the O-antigens of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis O2c and O3 were reinvestigated by NMR spectroscopy, including 2D (1)H,(1)H COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, (1)H,(13)C HSQC, and HMBC experiments. The following revised structure of the O2c tetrasaccharide repeating unit was established, which differs from the structure proposed earlier in the glycosylation pattern of the mannose residue at the branching point: where Abe stands for 3,6-dideoxy-d-xylo-hexose. The structure of the Y. pseudotuberculosis O3 antigen reported earlier was confirmed.     

Overexpression of Spry1 in chondrocytes causes attenuated FGFR ubiquitination and sustained ERK activation resulting in chondrodysplasia

The FGF signaling pathway plays essential roles in endochondral ossification by regulating osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, chondrocyte proliferation, hypertrophy, and apoptosis. FGF signaling is controlled by the complementary action of both positive and negative regulators of the signal transduction pathway. The Spry proteins are crucial regulators of receptor tyrosine kinase-mediated MAPK signaling activity. Sprys are expressed in close proximity to FGF signaling centers and regulate FGFR-ERK-mediated organogenesis. During endochondral ossification, Spry genes are expressed in prehypertrophic and hypertrophic chondrocytes. Using a conditional transgenic approach in chondrocytes in vivo, the forced expression of Spry1 resulted in neonatal lethality with accompanying skeletal abnormalities resembling thanatophoric dysplasia II, including increased apoptosis and decreased chondrocyte proliferation in the presumptive reserve and proliferating zones. In vitro chondrocyte cultures recapitulated the inhibitory effect of Spry1 on chondrocyte proliferation. In addition, overexpression of Spry1 resulted in sustained ERK activation and increased expression of p21 and STAT1. Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that Spry1 expression in chondrocyte cultures resulted in decreased FGFR2 ubiquitination and increased FGFR2 stability. These results suggest that constitutive expression of Spry1 in chondrocytes results in attenuated FGFR2 degradation, sustained ERK activation, and up-regulation of p21Cip and STAT1 causing dysregulated chondrocyte proliferation and terminal differentiation.     

Distribution of RNA binding protein MOEP19 in the oocyte cortex and early embryo indicates pre-patterning related to blastomere polarity and trophectoderm specification

We report the cloning and characterization of MOEP19, a novel 19 kDa RNA binding protein that marks a defined cortical cytoplasmic domain in oocytes and provides evidence of mammalian oocyte polarity and a form of pre-patterning that persists in zygotes and early embryos through the morula stage. MOEP19 contains a eukaryotic type KH-domain, typical of the KH-domain type I superfamily of RNA binding proteins, and both recombinant and native MOEP19 bind polynucleotides. By immunofluorescence, MOEP19 protein was first detected in primary follicles throughout the ooplasm. As oocytes expanded in size during oogenesis, MOEP19 increased in concentration. MOEP19 localized in the ovulated egg and early zygote as a symmetrical spherical cortical domain underlying the oolemma, deep to the zone of cortical granules. MOEP19 remained restricted to a cortical cytoplasmic crescent in blastomeres of 2-, 4- and 8-cell embryos. The MOEP19 domain was absent in regions underlying cell contacts. In morulae, the MOEP19 domain was found at the apex of outer, polarized blastomeres but was undetectable in blastomeres of the inner cell mass. In early blastocysts, MOEP19 localized in both mural and polar trophectoderm and a subset of embryos showed inner cell mass localization. MOEP19 concentration dramatically declined in late blastocysts. When blastomeres of 4- to 8-cell stages were dissociated, the polarized MOEP19 domain assumed a symmetrically spherical localization, while overnight culture of dissociated blastomeres resulted in formation of re-aggregated embryos in which polarity of the MOEP19 domain was re-established at the blastomere apices. MOEP19 showed no evidence of translation in ovulated eggs, indicating that MOEP19 is a maternal effect gene. The persistence during early development of the MOEP19 cortical oocyte domain as a cortical crescent in blastomers suggests an intrinsic pre-patterning in the egg that is related to the apical-basolateral polarity of the embryo. Although the RNAs bound to MOEP19 are presently unknown, we predict that the MOEP19 domain directs RNAs essential for normal embryonic development to specific locations in the oocyte and early embryo.     

Chronic suppression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 in beta-cells impairs insulin secretion via inhibition of glucose rather than lipid metabolism

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1) currently is being investigated as a target for treatment of obesity-associated dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. To investigate the effects of ACC1 inhibition on insulin secretion, three small interfering RNA (siRNA) duplexes targeting ACC1 (siACC1) were transfected into the INS-1-derived cell line, 832/13; the most efficacious duplex was also cloned into an adenovirus and used to transduce isolated rat islets. Delivery of the siACC1 duplexes decreased ACC1 mRNA by 60-80% in 832/13 cells and islets and enzyme activity by 46% compared with cells treated with a non-targeted siRNA. Delivery of siACC1 decreased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) by 70% in 832/13 cells and by 33% in islets. Surprisingly, siACC1 treatment decreased glucose oxidation by 49%, and the ATP:ADP ratio by 52%, accompanied by clear decreases in pyruvate cycling activity and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates. Exposure of siACC1-treated cells to the pyruvate cycling substrate dimethylmalate restored GSIS to normal without recovery of the depressed ATP:ADP ratio. In siACC1-treated cells, glucokinase protein levels were decreased by 25%, which correlated with a 36% decrease in glycogen synthesis and a 33% decrease in glycolytic flux. Furthermore, acute addition of the ACC1 inhibitor 5-(tetradecyloxy)-2-furoic acid (TOFA) to beta-cells suppressed [(14)C]glucose incorporation into lipids but had no effect on GSIS, whereas chronic TOFA administration suppressed GSIS and glucose metabolism. In sum, chronic, but not acute, suppression of ACC1 activity impairs GSIS via inhibition of glucose rather than lipid metabolism. These findings raise concerns about the use of ACC inhibitors for diabetes therapy.     

Up-regulation of vimentin expression in low-density malignant glioma cells as immediate and late effects under irradiation and temozolomide treatment

Nervous system tumors are one of the leading causes of cancer related death. Specific mechanisms facilitating the invasive behavior of gliomas remain obscure. Advanced simulation models of the in vivo response to therapy conditions should potentially improve malignant glioma treatment. Expressional profiling of vimentin––one of reliable pro-invasive tumor makers––in those simulation models was the goal of this study, in order to estimate a pro-invasive response of surviving malignant glioma cells under clinically relevant therapeutic conditions. Human U87-MG malignant glioma cells were used. These cells are characterized by the wild p53-phenotype, which is relevant for the majority of primary malignant glioblastomas. Experimental design foresaw the cells to undergo either irradiation or chemo-treatment with temozolomide alone, or combined treatment. Expression profiling of vimentin was performed by quantitative “Real-Time”-PCR under all treatment conditions simulating diverse tumor regions. Here we demonstrated that vimentin expression patterns in human malignant glioma cells strongly depend on cellular density, algorithms of drug delivery and chemo/radio treatment. Substantial differences were recognized between immediate and late therapy effects. Significant increase in vimentin expression levels was detected particularly in low-density cell cultures under durable treatment with constant concentration levels of temezolomide. Simulation of variable intratumoral regional conditions (central intratumoral regions vs. disseminated malignant cells in peripheral regions) demonstrated differential response of vimentin expression in malignant glioma cell cultures treated under clinically relevant conditions. Slight ebbing of expression levels as late effects of the treatment in confluent cultures may correspond to necrotic processes clinically observed in central intratumoral regions. Contrary, in disseminated malignant cells of peripheral regions therapy resulted in vimentin-inducing effects. This is in agreement with the clinical observations of an increased aggressiveness and malignancy grade of post-operatively chemo/radio-treated malignant gliomas.     

The Wnt signaling regulator R-spondin 3 promotes angioblast and vascular development

The vertebrate embryonic vasculature develops from angioblasts, which are specified from mesodermal precursors and develop in close association with blood cells. The signals that regulate embryonic vasculogenesis and angiogenesis are incompletely understood. Here, we show that R-spondin 3 (Rspo3), a member of a novel family of secreted proteins in vertebrates that activate Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, plays a key role in these processes. In Xenopus embryos, morpholino antisense knockdown of Rspo3 induces vascular defects because Rspo3 is essential for regulating the balance between angioblast and blood cell specification. In mice, targeted disruption of Rspo3 leads to embryonic lethality caused by vascular defects. Specifically in the placenta, remodeling of the vascular plexus is impaired. In human endothelial cells, R-spondin signaling promotes proliferation and sprouting angiogenesis in vitro, indicating that Rspo3 can regulate endothelial cells directly. We show that vascular endothelial growth factor is an immediate early response gene and a mediator of R-spondin signaling. The results identify Rspo3 as a novel, evolutionarily conserved angiogenic factor in embryogenesis.     

RPA repair recognition of DNA containing pyrimidines bearing bulky adducts

Recognition of new DNA nucleotide excision repair (NER) substrate analogs, 48-mer ddsDNA (damaged double-stranded DNA), by human replication protein A (hRPA) has been analyzed using fluorescence spectroscopy and photoaffinity modification. The aim of the present work was to find quantitative characteristics of RPA-ddsDNA interaction and RPA subunits role in this process. The designed DNA structures bear bulky substituted pyrimidine nitrogen bases at the inner positions of duplex forming DNA chains. The photoreactive 4-azido-2,5-difluoro-3- pyridin-6-yl (FAP) and fluorescent antracenyl, pyrenyl (Antr, Pyr) groups were introduced via different linker fragments into exo-4N of deoxycytidine or 5C of deoxyuridine. J-dU-containing DNA was used as a photoactive model of undamaged DNA strands. The reporter group was a fluorescein residue, introduced into the 5'-phosphate end of one duplex-forming DNA strand. RPA-dsDNA association constants and the molar RPA/dsDNA ratio have been calculated based on fluorescence anisotropy measurements under conditions of a 1:1 RPA/dsDNA molar ratio in complexes. The evident preference for RPA binding to ddsDNA over undamaged dsDNA distinctly depends on the adduct type and varies in the following way: undamaged dsDNA < Antr-dC-ddsDNA < mmdsDNA < FAPdU-, Pyr-dU-ddsDNA < FAP-dC-ddsDNA (K(D) = 68 +/- 1; 25 +/- 6; 13 +/- 1; 8 +/- 2, and 3.5 +/- 0.5 nM correspondingly) but weakly depends on the chain integrity. Interestingly the bulkier lesions not in all cases have a greater effect on RPA affinity to ddsDNA. The experiments on photoaffinity modification demonstrated only p70 of compactly arranged RPA directly interacting with dsDNA. The formation of RPA-ddsDNA covalent adducts was drastically reduced when both strands of DNA duplex contained virtually opposite located FAP-dC and Antr-dC. Thus RPA requires undamaged DNA strand presence for the effective interaction with dsDNA bearing bulky damages and demonstrates the early NER factors characteristic features underlying strand discrimination capacity and poor activity of the NER system toward double damaged DNA.     

SP-A permeabilizes lipopolysaccharide membranes by forming protein aggregates that extract lipids from the membrane

Surfactant protein A (SP-A) is known to cause bacterial permeabilization. The aim of this work was to gain insight into the mechanism by which SP-A induces permeabilization of rough lipopolysaccharide (Re-LPS) membranes. In the presence of calcium, large interconnected aggregates of fluorescently labeled TR-SP-A were observed on the surface of Re-LPS films by epifluorescence microscopy. Using Re-LPS monolayer relaxation experiments at constant surface pressure, we demonstrated that SP-A induced Re-LPS molecular loss by promoting the formation of three-dimensional lipid-protein aggregates in Re-LPS membranes. This resulted in decreased van der Waals interactions between Re-LPS acyl chains, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry, which rendered the membrane leaky. We also showed that the coexistence of gel and fluid lipid phases within the Re-LPS membrane conferred susceptibility to SP-A-mediated permeabilization. Taken together, our results seem to indicate that the calcium-dependent permeabilization of Re-LPS membranes by SP-A is related to the extraction of LPS molecules from the membrane due to the formation of calcium-mediated protein aggregates that contain LPS.