A phenotypic and molecular characterization of the fmr1-tm1Cgr fragile X mouse

Fragile X Syndrome is the most common form of inherited mental retardation. It is also known for having a substantial behavioral morbidity, including autistic features. In humans, Fragile X Syndrome is almost always caused by inactivation of the X-linked FMR1 gene. A single knockout mouse model, fmr1-tm1Cgr, exists. In this report we further characterize the cognitive and behavioral phenotype of the fmr1-tm1Cgr Fragile X mouse through the use of F1 hybrid mice derived from two inbred strains (FVB/NJ and C57BL/6J). Use of F1 hybrids allows focus on the effects of the fmr1-tm1Cgr allele with reduced influence from recessive alleles present in the parental inbred strains. We find that the cognitive phenotype of fmr1-tm1Cgr mice, including measures of working memory and learning set formation that are known to be seriously impacted in humans with Fragile X Syndrome, are essentially normal. Further testing of inbred strains supports this conclusion. Thus, any fmr1-tm1Cgr cognitive deficit is surprisingly mild or absent. There is, however, clear support presented for a robust audiogenic seizure phenotype in all strains tested, as well as increased entries into the center of an open field. Finally, a molecular examination of the fmr1-tm1Cgr mouse shows that, contrary to common belief, it is not a molecular null. Implications of this finding for interpretation of the phenotype are discussed.     

Phylogeny of Prokaryotes and Chloroplasts Revealed by a Simple Composition Approach on All Protein Sequences from Complete Genomes Without Sequence Alignment

The complete genomes of living organisms have provided much information on their phylogenetic relationships. Similarly, the complete genomes of chloroplasts have helped to resolve the evolution of this organelle in photosynthetic eukaryotes. In this paper we propose an alternative method of phylogenetic analysis using compositional statistics for all protein sequences from complete genomes. This new method is conceptually simpler than and computationally as fast as the one proposed by Qi et al. (2004b) and Chu et al. (2004). The same data sets used in Qi et al. (2004b) and Chu et al. (2004) are analyzed using the new method. Our distance-based phylogenic tree of the 109 prokaryotes and eukaryotes agrees with the biologists tree of life based on 16S rRNA comparison in a predominant majority of basic branching and most lower taxa. Our phylogenetic analysis also shows that the chloroplast genomes are separated to two major clades corresponding to chlorophytes s.l. and rhodophytes s.l. The interrelationships among the chloroplasts are largely in agreement with the current understanding on chloroplast evolution.Reviewing Editor: Dr. John Oakeshott     

Osteogenic growth peptide enhances the rate of fracture healing in rabbits

The discovery of growth factors, such as osteogenic growth peptide (OGP), that stimulate bone formation led to experiments to discover whether they can accelerate fracture healing. To determine whether OGP enhances the rate of healing in rabbits, fractures were made in the tibiae of New Zealand White rabbits and immobilized with either a plastic plate (unstable mechanical conditions), or a dynamic compression plate (stable mechanical conditions). OGP was administered to experimental animals by intravenous injection from day 4 until the day before sacrifice; control animals were not injected. After treatment with OGP, callus development under unstable mechanical conditions was accelerated. At 7 days, the cartilage in the centre of the callus was covered by bone and endochondral ossification had started; these events occur at 10 days in control fractures. Subsequently, endochondral ossification is completed earlier which allows the invasion of the fracture gap by cells, so that cortical union is complete by 21 to 28 days. In control fractures, bone is only beginning to form in the gaps at 28 days. There was no increase in the size of the callus in any of the experimental fractures compared to the untreated controls. Treatment with OGP has no observable effect on the rate of healing of fractures under stable mechanical conditions. These observations suggest that under unstable mechanical conditions only, the rate of callus formation and subsequent cortical healing is enhanced by treatment with OGP, but that the size of the callus is determined by mechanical and other factors.     

Irreversible inactivation of diacylglycerol kinase-II requires a mediator.

Cytosolic diacylglycerol kinase was irreversibly inactivated by 5'-AMP since the enzyme remained less active after the removal of 5'-AMP by P-10 gel chromatography. The inactivation was time-dependent, suggesting the involvement of a covalent bond modification. A reconstitution experiment detected a rat brain cytosolic mediator for the effect of 5'-AMP. A protein kinase rich fraction prepared from rat liver was also capable of restoring the sensitivity of diacylglycerol kinase-II to 5'-AMP. We propose that 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase is the mediator which inactivates diacylglycerol kinase-II, possibly by phosphorylation.     

Protein Kinase D Promotes Airway Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction and Permeability through Down-regulation of Claudin-1

At the interface between host and external environment, the airway epithelium serves as a major protective barrier. In the present study we show that protein kinase D (PKD) plays an important role in the formation and integrity of the airway epithelial barrier. Either inhibition of PKD activity or silencing of PKD increased transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), resulting in a tighter epithelial barrier. Among the three PKD isoforms, PKD3 knockdown was the most efficient one to increase TEER in polarized airway epithelial monolayers. In contrast, overexpression of PKD3 wild type, but not PKD3 kinase-inactive mutant, disrupted the formation of apical intercellular junctions and their reassembly, impaired the development of TEER, and increased paracellular permeability to sodium fluorescein in airway epithelial monolayers. We further found that overexpression of PKD, in particular PKD3, markedly suppressed the mRNA and protein levels of claudin-1 but had only minor effects on the expression of other tight junctional proteins (claudin-3, claudin-4, claudin-5, occludin, and ZO-1) and adherent junctional proteins (E-cadherin and β-catenin). Immunofluorescence study revealed that claudin-1 level was markedly reduced and almost disappeared from intercellular contacts in PKD3-overexpressed epithelial monolayers and that claudin-4 was also restricted from intercellular contacts and tended to accumulate in the cell cytosolic compartments. Last, we found that claudin-1 knockdown prevented TEER elevation by PKD inhibition or silencing in airway epithelial monolayers. These novel findings indicate that PKD negatively regulates human airway epithelial barrier formation and integrity through down-regulation of claudin-1, which is a key component of tight junctions.     

Enzymatic processing of angiotensin peptides by human glomerular endothelial cells

The intraglomerular renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is linked to the pathogenesis of progressive glomerular diseases. Glomerular podocytes and mesangial cells play distinct roles in the metabolism of angiotensin (ANG) peptides. However, our understanding of the RAS enzymatic capacity of glomerular endothelial cells (GEnCs) remains incomplete. We explored the mechanisms of endogenous cleavage of ANG substrates in cultured human GEnCs (hGEnCs) using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and isotope-labeled peptide quantification. Overall, hGEnCs metabolized ANG II at a significantly slower rate compared with podocytes, whereas the ANG I processing rate was comparable between glomerular cell types. ANG II was the most abundant fragment of ANG I, with lesser amount of ANG-(1-7) detected. Formation of ANG II from ANG I was largely abolished by an ANG-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, whereas ANG-(1-7) formation was decreased by a prolylendopeptidase (PEP) inhibitor, but not by a neprilysin inhibitor. Cleavage of ANG II resulted in partial conversion to ANG-(1-7), a process that was attenuated by an ACE2 inhibitor, as well as by an inhibitor of PEP and prolylcarboxypeptidase. Further fragmentation of ANG-(1-7) to ANG-(1-5) was mediated by ACE. In addition, evidence of aminopeptidase N activity (APN) was demonstrated by detecting amelioration of conversion of ANG III to ANG IV by an APN inhibitor. While we failed to find expression or activity of aminopeptidase A, a modest activity attributable to aspartyl aminopeptidase was detected. Messenger RNA and gene expression of the implicated enzymes were confirmed. These results indicate that hGEnCs possess prominent ACE activity, but modest ANG II-metabolizing activity compared with that of podocytes. PEP, ACE2, prolylcarboxypeptidase, APN, and aspartyl aminopeptidase are also enzymes contained in hGEnCs that participate in membrane-bound ANG peptide cleavage. Injury to specific cell types within the glomeruli may alter the intrarenal RAS balance.     

Dibenzocyclooctadiene-type lignans from Magnolia pyramidata

Eight dibenzocyclooctadiene-type lignans, pyramidatin A-H, were isolated from the leaves of Magnolia pyramidata. Their structures were established by spectral methods, mainly 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques, which involved combined applications of COSY, DEPT. 1H, 13C correlations, COLOC, INAPT and long-range inverse 1H, 13C NMR correlations. The molecular structures of pyramidatin A and B were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The absolute configurations of all eight lignans were derived from CD spectral correlations with structurally related dibenzocyclooctadienes of known absolute configuration.     

Stem cells, vascular smooth muscle cells and atherosclerosis

Stem cells have the ability to differentiate into a variety of cells to replace dead cells or to repair tissue. Recently, accumulating evidence indicates that mechanical forces, cytokines and other factors can influence stem cell differentiation into vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). In developmental process, SMCs originate from several sources, which show a great heterogenicity in different vessel walls. In adult vessels, SMCs display a less proliferative nature, but are altered in response to risk factors for atherosclerosis. Traditional view on SMC origins in atherosclerotic lesions is challenged by the recent findings that stem cells and smooth muscle progenitors contribute to the development of atherosclerotic lesions. Vascular progenitor cells circulating in human blood and the presence of adventitia in animals are recent discoveries, but the source of these cells is still unknown. The present review gives an update on the progress of stem cell and SMC research in atherosclerosis, and discusses possible mechanisms of stem/progenitor cell differentiation that contribute to the disease process.     

Direct detection of beta-1,3-glucanase isozymes on polyacrylamide electrophoresis and isoelectrofocusing gels

A procedure to assay isozymes of beta-1,3-glucanase directly on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and isoelectrofocusing (IEF) gels by using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride is described. The reagent reacts with reducing sugars released by beta-1,3-glucanases from the substrate laminarin. Acidic and neutral isozymes of beta-1,3-glucanase were detected and quantified on 17.5% native PAGE gels run with an anodic buffer system. A significant linear relationship (alpha = less than 0.01, R = 0.991) was observed between amounts of beta-1,3-glucanase loaded and intensity of bands stained with the reagent on native PAGE gels. A full isozyme pattern was obtained on 7.5% IEF gels with a pH range of 3.5-9.5. The IEF gels were heated in a microwave oven during the staining process to minimize diffusion.