Spermiogenesis in Three Species of Whitefly (Homoptera, Aleyrodidae)

Aflagellate and immotile spermatozoa of three species of whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, Dialeroudes citri and Trialeroudes vaporariorum (Aleyrodidae), are described. In these three species, axoneme and mitochondria are present in the early spermatid, but degenerate in the later stages. The acrosome has arborescent appendages that almost completely surround the spermatozoan. In D. citri the acrosomal projections are more elongated and branched than in T. vaporariorum and B. tabaci . Nuclear and cell elongation appear to occur in the absence of microtubules.     

Acetogenins from the aquatic plant Elodea canadensis

13-(2-furyl)-Tridec-12E-en-1-yne and (7S)-hydroxyhexadeca-8E,10Z,13Z-trienoic acid have been isolated from Elodea canadensis in addition to the already known 13-(2-furyl)-tridec-1-yne, hexadec-11Z-enoic, hexadeca-7Z,10Z,13Z-trienoic and (10R)-hydroxyhexadeca-7Z,11E,13Z-trienoic acids.     

Imidazole-containing ternary complexes of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-aminoacids. Crystal and molecular structure of bis(N-benzyloxycarbonyl-alaninato)bis-(N-methylimidazole)copper(II) ethanol solvate

Mixed ligand complexes of the type Cu(Z-aminoacidato)₂(B₂) (Z = benzyloxycarbonyl group, Z-aminoacidate = Z-glycinate (Zgly), Z-alaninate (Zala); Z-valinate (Zval), Z-leucinate (Zleu) ion, B = imidazole (Im), N-methylimidazole (MeIm)) were synthesized and characterized by means of electronic, infrared and EPR spectroscopies. For one of them, bis(Z-alaninato)bis(N-methylimidazole)copper(II) ethanol solvate, the crystal and molecular structure was also determined by the single crystal X-ray diffraction method. The complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c, with cell dimensions a = 11.1119(6), b = 18.8398(7), c = 8.9652(5) Å, β = 105.380(2)° and Z = 2. The structure was solved by conventional Patterson and Fourier methods and refined by full-matrix least-squares to an R value of 0.045. The complex has square-planar coordination via two centrosymmetric carboxylic oxygens and two N-methylimidazole nitrogens. The second carboxylate oxygen is 2.731(5) Å from the copper atom in an ‘out of plane’ position. Packing is mainly determined by hydrogen bondings between amide nitrogen and amide carboxyl oxygen. Electronic, infrared and EPR spectra are consistent with this type of coordination geometry for anhydrous complexes, while for hydrate complexes are suggestive of tetragonal bipyramidal geometry.     

The role of ethylene and cell wall modifying enzymes in raspberry (Rubus idaeus) fruit ripening

This study focuses on four raspberry ( Rubus idaeus ) genotypes from two different genetic backgrounds: cvs Glen Prosen and Glen Clova, bred at the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) and genotypes bred at Horticulture Research International (HRI), East Malling (EM), EM 4997 and EM 5007. The ripe fruit of each genotype pair were characterised subjectively by raspberry breeders as relatively firm or soft, respectively. Different stages of fruit development from each genotype were used to quantify fruit firmness, rates of ethylene evolution and ripening rate. Penetrometry data confirmed suspected firmness differences. Firmness correlated with rates of ethylene evolution. Rates of ethylene production also correlated with receptacle size. Storage of green fruits in 20 μl l⁻¹ ethylene reduced fruit firmness, enhanced respiration rate and colour (anthocyanin) development and stimulated the development of cell wall hydrolase activities. However, during natural ripening in the field, fruit respiration rate declined, which indicates a non-climacteric ripening pattern. In drupelets, the activities of polygalacturonase (PG), pectin methylesterase (PME), C x -cellulase (C x ) and β -galactosidase ( β -gal.) increased substantially as ripening progressed. More detailed studies with ripe fruit of cv. Glen Clova indicated major isoforms of PG at pIs 3.3, 8.6 and 10.1; of PME at pIs 7.2, 8.5, 8.7, 8.8; of C x at pI 2.4; and of β -gal. at pIs 6.3 and 6.7.     

A novel mechanism of phenotypic heterogeneity demonstrated by the effect of a polymorphism on a pathogenic mutation in the PRNP (prion protein gene)

Fatal familial insomnia (FFI) is a subacute dementing illness originally described in 1986. The phenotypic characteristics of this disease include progressive untreatable insomnia, dysautonomia, endocrine and motor disorders, preferential hypometabolism in the thalamus as determined by PET scanning, and selective thalamic atrophy. These characteristics readily distinguish FFI from other previously described neurodegenerative conditions. Recently, FFI was shown to be linked to a mutation in the prion protein gene (PRNP) at codon 178, which results in the substitution of asparagine for aspartic acid. As such, FFI represents the most recent addition to the growing family of prion protein-related diseases. The mutation that results in FFI had previously been linked to a subtype of familial Creutzfeld-Jakob disease (178^Asn CJD). The genotypic basis for the difference between FFI and 178^AsnCJD lies in a polymorphism at codon 129 of the mutant prion protein gene: 129^Met 178^Asn results in FFI, 129^Val 178^Asn in CJD. The finding that the combination of a polymorphism and a single pathogenic mutation result in two distinct conditions represents a singnificant advance in our understanding of phenotypic variability.     

Insulin receptor processing and lipid composition of erythrocyte membrane in patients with hyperlipidemia

The aim of this study was to determine whether the common forms of dyslipidemia could affect either the lipid composition or insulin receptor processing (down-regulation) of erythrocytes. The study included 22 patients with type IIa hypercholesterolemia, 15 patients with type IV hypertriglyceridemia and 12 patients with type IIb hyperlipidemia. Ten normolipidemic subjects were used as controls. Their erythrocyte membranes were analyzed for lipid composition and insulin receptor down-regulation. The results show that all the hyperlipidemias investigated were characterized by significant increases in the cholesterol to phospholipid molar ratio (0.56±0.08 in controls and 1.11±0.13, 1.09±0.14, 1.04±0.15, p<0.001, in types IIa, IIb and IV, respectively). Surface insulin receptors of type IIa and IIb patients did not appear to down-regulate when compared to normal subjects, but rather up-regulated (+65.2% in controls, –1.0% and –8.7%, p<0.001, in type IIa and IIb patients, respectively). Patients with type IV hypertriglyceridemia showed a residual capacity for insulin receptor internalization (10.7% down-regulation). Membranes of all the patients contained a higher proportion of phosphatidylethanolamine; the molar ratio of sphingomyelin to phosphatidylcholine was significantly higher in types IIb than in controls (1.22±0.11 and 1.12±0.10, p<0.05, respectively); all the patients showed a lower content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the major glycerophospholipid classes. However, type IV hypertriglyceridemics showed less variations, especially in the phosphatidylserine fraction. These results indicate that the alterations in lipoprotein pattern may affect both the lipid membrane equilibria and the processing ability of surface insulin receptors.     

Lithium Induces Apoptosis in Immature Cerebellar Granule Cells but Promotes Survival of Mature Neurons

Lithium (Li⁺) has been used in the treatment of manic—depressive disorders for several decades. More recently, Li⁺ has been shown to affect the signaling pathway of various neurotransmitters and growth/neurotrophic factors. We examined the effect of Li⁺ on the survival of cerebellar granule neurons in culture. Treatment of immature granule cells with Li⁺ resulted in programmed cell death (apoptosis). The death process is accompanied by DNA fragmentation, a hallmark of apoptosis. Following maturation in vitro, granule neurons are dependent on elevated concentrations of extracellular potassium ([K⁺]_o) for survival. Lowering of [K⁺]_o to physiological levels induces apoptosis. Surprisingly, Li⁺ prevents death of mature neurons caused by low [K⁺]_o. Moreover, the concentration range at which Li⁺ exerts its protective effect is the same as that at which it induces apoptosis in immature neurons. Thus, a single agent under similar extracellular conditions has opposing effects on survival, depending on the developmental status of the neuron.     

TRANS-SULPHURATION IN PRIMATE BRAIN: REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION OF CYSTATHIONINE SYNTHASE, CYSTATHIONINE AND TAURINE IN THE BRAIN OF THE RHESUS MONKEY AT VARIOUS STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

—The regional distributions of cystathionine synthase, cystathionine and taurine in the brain of the Rhesus monkey were determined at various stages of foetal and postnatal development. Activity of cystathionine synthase was highest in cerebellum, cortical grey areas and globus pallidus, and lowest in subcortical white matter and corpus callosum. There was no marked change in activity in any area during development from the first-trimester foetus to the juvenile animal. In the brain of the juvenile monkey concentrations of cystathionine were highest in subcortical white matter, corpus callosum, and globus pallidus, and lowest in cortical grey matter. There was a sharp increase in concentration between late foetal life and the first 2 weeks of postnatal life and a subsequent more gradual increase during the next 2 years. Concentrations of taurine were highest in lateral cerebellum and neostriatum and lowest in brain stem areas and spinal cord. During the first 6 months of postnatal life, there was a marked decrease in concentration as the brain matured. The regional distribution of cystathionine in brain suggests that this compound may be synthesized in the perikaryon of the nerve cell and transported down axons into white matter. The changes during development suggest the further possibility that cystathionine may have some relationship to myelin and/or myelination.     

CRISPR‐Cas9‐modified pfmdr1 protects Plasmodium falciparum asexual blood stages and gametocytes against a class of piperazine‐containing compounds but potentiates artemisinin‐based combination therapy partner drugs

Emerging resistance to first‐line antimalarial combination therapies threatens malaria treatment and the global elimination campaign. Improved therapeutic strategies are required to protect existing drugs and enhance treatment efficacy. We report that the piperazine‐containing compound ACT‐451840 exhibits single‐digit nanomolar inhibition of the Plasmodium falciparum asexual blood stages and transmissible gametocyte forms. Genome sequence analyses of in vitro‐derived ACT‐451840‐resistant parasites revealed single nucleotide polymorphisms in pfmdr1, which encodes a digestive vacuole membrane‐bound ATP‐binding cassette transporter known to alter P. falciparum susceptibility to multiple first‐line antimalarials. CRISPR‐Cas9 based gene editing confirmed that PfMDR1 point mutations mediated ACT‐451840 resistance. Resistant parasites demonstrated increased susceptibility to the clinical drugs lumefantrine, mefloquine, quinine and amodiaquine. Stage V gametocytes harboring Cas9‐introduced pfmdr1 mutations also acquired ACT‐451840 resistance. These findings reveal that PfMDR1 mutations can impart resistance to compounds active against asexual blood stages and mature gametocytes. Exploiting PfMDR1 resistance mechanisms provides new opportunities for developing disease‐relieving and transmission‐blocking antimalarials.