Two novel loci for pollen sterility in hybrids between the weedy strain Ludao and the Japonica variety Akihikari of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Partial pollen sterility has been observed in hybrid progeny derived from a japonica cultivar, Akihikari and a weedy strain, Ludao, which naturally grows in Jiangsu province of east China. Cytological and histological analyses revealed that pollen abortion occurred largely at the bicellular pollen stage, primarily due to the gradual disaggregation of generative and vegetative cells. A genome-wide analysis was further carried out in a backcross population of Akihikari //Ludao/Akihikari using a total of 118 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and an expressed sequence tag (EST) marker distributed on the entire rice linkage map. Two loci controlling hybrid pollen sterility, designated as S33(t) and S34(t), were located on chromosomes 3 and 11, respectively. Both loci were putatively different from all the previously reported gametophyte genes and hybrid pollen sterility loci. Interaction between the Ludao and Akihikari alleles at each of the two loci resulted in reduction of fertility in the pollens carring the Ludao alleles. To map the precise location of the major locus, S33(t), we selected 165 plants of the backcross population with pollen fertility higher than 80.0%, and assayed the recombinant events surrounding the S33(t) locus using newly developed SSR markers. The S33(t) was delimited to an 86 kb region between SSR markers RM15621 and RM15627. Sequence analysis of this region indicated that there were ten open reading frames. These results will be valuable for cloning this gene and marker-assisted transferring of the corresponding neutral allele in rice breeding programs. Furthermore, the origin of the weedy strain Ludao is discussed.     

Subunit composition of a large xylanolytic complex (xylanosome) from Streptomyces olivaceoviridis E-86

A xylanolytic complex (xylanosome) was isolated from Streptomyces olivaceoviridis E-86 grown on corncob xylan. The isolated xylanosome exhibited a high molecular mass of approximately 3.8 x 10(7) Da (weight average) using size exclusion chromatography/multi-angle laser light scattering (SEC/MALLS), and was composed of at least 8 subunits with a mass range from 12 to 60 kDa. When a SDS-polyacrylamide gel zymogram was examined, the subunits of 47, 35, 32, and 23 kDa were found to have xylanase activity, while the 30-kDa subunit had CMCase activity. According to N-terminal sequence analyses, the 47- and 23-kDa subunits were found to be identical to the two reported xylanases, namely FXYN and GXYN, of S. olivaceoviridis E-86. Both the 35- and 32-kDa subunits were found to be truncated forms of the intact FXYN xylanase that possibly resulted from the degradation by proteases. The 15-kDa subunit consisted solely the xylan-binding domain of the FXYN xylanase. The purified xylanosome appeared to bind partially to xylan and poorly to Avicel.     

CXCR3+CD4+ T cells mediate innate immune function in the pathophysiology of liver ischemia/reperfusion injury

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), an innate immune-dominated inflammatory response, develops in the absence of exogenous Ags. The recently highlighted role of T cells in IRI raises a question as to how T lymphocytes interact with the innate immune system and function with no Ag stimulation. This study dissected the mechanism of innate immune-induced T cell recruitment and activation in rat syngeneic orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) model. Liver IRI was induced after cold storage (24-36 h) at 4 degrees C in University of Wisconsin solution. Gene products contributing to IRI were identified by cDNA microarray at 4-h posttransplant. IRI triggered increased intrahepatic expression of CXCL10, along with CXCL9 and 11. The significance of CXCR3 ligand induction was documented by the ability of neutralizing anti-CXCR3 Ab treatment to ameliorate hepatocellular damage and improve 14-day survival of 30-h cold-stored OLTs (95 vs 40% in controls; p < 0.01). Immunohistology analysis confirmed reduced CXCR3+ and CD4+ T cell infiltration in OLTs after treatment. Interestingly, anti-CXCR3 Ab did not suppress innate immune activation in the liver, as evidenced by increased levels of IL-1beta, IL-6, inducible NO synthase, and multiple neutrophil/monokine-targeted chemokine programs. In conclusion, this study demonstrates a novel mechanism of T cell recruitment and function in the absence of exogenous Ag stimulation. By documenting that the execution of innate immune function requires CXCR3+CD4+ T cells, it highlights the critical role of CXCR3 chemokine biology for the continuum of innate to adaptive immunity in the pathophysiology of liver IRI.     

Defective alloreactive CD8 T cell function and memory response in allograft recipients in the absence of CD4 help

We have shown that alloreactive CD8 T cell activation may proceed via CD4-dependent and CD4-independent pathways, and that CD8 T cell activation in Ag-primed animals is independent of CD154 costimulation. In this report, we further analyzed the activation and function of alloreactive CD8 CTL effectors in CD4 knockout (KO) skin/cardiac allograft recipients. FACS analysis showed that alloreactive CD8 T cells were activated at a significantly reduced level in CD4 KO mice. Importantly, these helpless CD8 T cells failed to develop CD154 blockade resistance following reactivation by the same alloantigen, indicative of defective memory formation. Only transient CD4 help was required, as short-term CD4 blockade at the time of first skin graft challenge only delayed alloreactive CD8 activation, without affecting the CD8 T cell memory response to a second skin graft. Moreover, postoperative CD4 blockade had no effect on alloreactive CD8 activation. Alloreactive CD8 cells generated in the absence of CD4 help exhibited decreased effector responses. Interestingly, intragraft induction of T cell-targeted chemokines early after transplant was also dependent on CD4 help, as the induction kinetics of CXCL9 and CCL5 in CD4 KO recipients was significantly delayed, coupled with similarly delayed infiltration by CD3/CD8 cells. Remarkably, helpless CD8 cells ultimately entering the graft still displayed significantly diminished T cell effector molecules (IFN-gamma, granzyme B). Thus, CD4 help is critical for alloreactive CD8 activation, function, and memory formation.     

Effects of Acetylcholine, Cytochalasin B and Amiprophosmethyl on Phloem Transport in Radish （Raphanus sativas）

We investigated the role of the ＂sieve tube-companion cell complex＂ lining the tube periphery, particularly the microfilament and microtubule, in assisting the pushing of phloem sap flow. We made a simple phloem transport system with a living radish plant, in which the conducting channel was exposed for local treatment with chemicals that are effective in modulating protoplasmic movement （acetylcholine, （ACh） a neurotransmitter in animals and insects; cytochalasin B, （CB） a specific inhibitor of many cellular responses that are mediated by microfilament systems and amiprophos-methyl, （APM） a specific inhibitor of many cellular responses that are mediated by microtubule systems）. Their effects on phloem transport were estimated by two experimental devices： （i） a comparison of changes in the amount of assimilates in terms of carbohydrates and ^14C-labeled photosynthetic production that is left in the leaf blade of treated plants; and （ii） distribution patterns of ^14C-labeled leaf assimilates in the phloem transport system. The results indicate that CB and APM markedly inhibited the transfer of photosynthetic product from leaf to root via the leaf vein, while ACh enhanced the transfer of photosynthetic product in low concentrations （5.0×10^-4 mol/L） but inhibited it in higher concentrations （2.0×10^-3 mol/L） from leaf to root via the leaf vein. Autoradiograph imaging clearly reveals that ACh treatment is more effective than the control, and both CB and APM treatments effectively inhibit the passage of radioactive assimilates. All of the results support the postulation that the peripheral protoplasm in the sieve tube serves not only as a passive semi-permeable membrane, but is also directly involved in phloem transport.     

Sensitive quantification of rifaximin in human plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method (LC-MS/MS) for the quantitative determination of rifaximin in human plasma was developed and validated. In the developed procedure, metoprolol was added to human plasma as an internal standard (IS) and acetonitrile was used to precipitate the plasma proteins before LC-MS/MS analysis. Chromatographic separation was obtained on a RESTEK Pinnacle C18 column (50 mm x 2.1mm, 5 microm) with a mobile phase consisted of ammonium acetate solution (15 mM, pH 4.32) as buffer A and methanol as mobile phase B. Quantification was performed in positive mode using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) of the transitions m/z 786.1-->754.1 for rifaximin and m/z 268.3-->116.1 for the IS. The assay has been validated over the concentration range of 0.5-10 ng/ml (r=0.9992) based on the analysis of 0.2 ml of plasma. The assay accuracy was between 98.2% and 109%. The within-day and between-day precision was better than 3.9% and 8.9% at three concentration levels. The freeze-thaw stability was also investigated and it was found that both rifaximin and the IS were quite stable. This method provides a rapid, sensitive, specific and robust tool for the quantitative determination of rifaximin in human plasma, which is especially useful for the pharmacokinetic study of rifaximin.     

Two stochastic processes shape diverse senescence patterns in a single‐cell organism

Despite advances in aging research, a multitude of aging models, and empirical evidence for diverse senescence patterns, understanding of the biological processes that shape senescence is lacking. We show that senescence of an isogenic Escherichia coli bacterial population results from two stochastic processes. The first process is a random deterioration process within the cell, such as generated by random accumulation of damage. This primary process leads to an exponential increase in mortality early in life followed by a late age mortality plateau. The second process relates to the stochastic asymmetric transmission at cell fission of an unknown factor that influences mortality. This secondary process explains the difference between the classical mortality plateaus detected for young mothers’ offspring and the near nonsenescence of old mothers’ offspring as well as the lack of a mother–offspring correlation in age at death. We observed that lifespan is predominantly determined by underlying stochastic stage dynamics. Surprisingly, our findings support models developed for metazoans that base their arguments on stage‐specific actions of alleles to understand the evolution of senescence. We call for exploration of similar stochastic influences that shape aging patterns beyond simple organisms.     

Biodiesel production from high acid value waste frying oil catalyzed by superacid heteropolyacid

Transesterification of waste cooking oil with high acid value and high water contents using heteropolyacid H3PW12O40 x 6H2O (PW12) as catalyst was investigated. The hexahydrate form of PW(12) was found to be the most promising catalyst which exhibited highest ester yield 87% for transesterification of waste cooking oil and ester yield 97% for esterification of long-chain palmitic acid, respectively. The PW12 acid catalyst shows higher activity under the optimized reaction conditions compared with conventional homogeneous catalyst sulfuric acid, and can easily be separated from the products by distillation of the excess methanol and can be reused more times. The most important feature of this catalyst is that the catalytic activity is not affected by the content of free fatty acids (FFAs) and the content of water in the waste cooking oil and the transesterification can occur at a lower temperature (65 degrees C), a lower methanol oil ratio (70:1) and be finished within a shorter time. The results illustrate that PW12 acid is an excellent water-tolerant and environmentally benign acid catalyst for production of biodiesel from waste cooking oil.     

Characterization of a Novel Phosphoinositide-Specific Phospholipase C from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> and its Expression in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis>

A cDNA encoding a phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) has been isolated from Zea mays by screening a cDNA library. The cDNA, designated ZmPLC, encodes a polypeptide of 586 amino acids, containing the catalytic X, Y and C2 domains found in all PI-PLCs from plants. Northern blot analysis showed that the expression of the ZmPLC gene in roots is up-regulated under conditions of high salt, dehydration, cold or low osmotic stress conditions. Recombinant ZmPLC protein was expressed in Esch- erichia coli, purified and used to produce polyclonal antibody, this polyclonal antibody is important for further studies to assess the ultimate function of the ZmPLC gene in plants.