Aqua bridge cleavage and metal ion extrusion by thiocyanate anions in a dicopper complex

Reaction of the imidazolidinyl phenolate-based ligand, H₃L [(2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3-bis[4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-azabut-3-enyl]-1,3-imidazolidine)] with Cu(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O produces an aqua-bridged cationic reactant complex [Cu₂(μ-H₂O)(μ-L)][ClO₄]·1.5H₂O (1·1.5H₂O). Solution phase interaction of 1·1.5H₂O with SCN⁻ anions in 1:1 molar ratio leads to [Cu₂(μ-L)(NCS)]·2H₂O (2·2H₂O) that does not possess anymore the reactive aqua bridge but instead a terminal SCN⁻ anion coordinated only to one Cu^II ion. Whereas in 1:2 molar ratio, partial extrusion of the Cu^II ions takes place to generate in situ [Cu(NCS)₃(OH₂)]⁻ anions. These complex anions then quantitatively replace anions in 1·1.5H₂O via ‘anion metathesis’ and concurrently remove the aqua bridge by coordination of linear MeCN to one of the Cu^II ions to give [Cu₂(μ-L)(CH₃CN)][Cu(NCS)₃(OH₂)] (3). The literature unknown [Cu(NCS)₃(OH₂)]⁻ anion forms an intimate H-bonded assembly with the cationic part of 3 to yield a novel [Cu₃] isosceles triangle. The precursor complex is known as antiferromagnetic whereas in 2·2H₂O, the Cu^II (S = 1/2) ions in a dinuclear entity exhibit ferromagnetic interactions (J/k_B = +15.0 K and g = 2.22) to yield an S_T = 1 spin ground state in good agreement with the M versus H data below 8 K.     

New template reactions of salicylaldehyde S-methyl-isothiosemicarbazone with 2-formylpyridine promoted by Ni(II) or Cu(II) metal ions

The template reaction between salicylaldehyde S-methyl-isothiosemicarbazone and 2-formylpyridine in presence of nickel(II) or copper(II) salts yields two new coordination compounds with general formula [NiL¹]₂(1) and [CuL²]₂(2) (L¹ = the dianionic (N¹-salicylidene)(N⁴-(hydroxy(pyridin-2-yl)methyl) S-methyl-isothiosemicarbazide) ligand and L² = the doubly deprotonated (N¹-salicylidene)(N⁴-(picolinoyl) S-methyl-isothiosemicarbazide) ligand). In the complex 1, the formed L¹ ligand appears as result of an addition reaction of the precursors, while for 2 a redox mechanism is implicated in the formation of L². Despite the fact that the initial organic precursors are the same, the resulting ligands obtained in the template reaction are different. In 1, the Ni(II) metal ion adopts a square-planar geometry and the [NiL¹] units are forming dimerized chains through weak Ni···Ni interactions (3.336 and 3.632 Å). In 2, the Cu(II) metal ions adopt a square-pyramidal geometry and form dinuclear species through weak Cu···O (phenoxo) interactions. The magnetic susceptibility measurements of the complexes reveal the diamagnetic nature of 1 as expected for a square planar Ni(II) complex and a paramagnetic behavior for 2 with weak intra-dimer antiferromagnetic interaction (J/k_B = −2.1(1) K).     

Fitness consequences of individual specialisation in resource use and trophic morphology in European eels

Individual specialisation can lead to the exploitation of different trophic and habitat resources and the production of morphological variability within a population. Although the ecological causes of this phenomenon are relatively well known, its consequences on individual fitness are less recognised. We have investigated the extent of individual specialisation in resource use and trophic morphology and its fitness consequences through a combination of tagging–recapture, stable isotope analyses and telemetry. The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) was the model species as it displays significant variability in head shape. Independent to their body length, individuals with broader heads displayed a significantly higher trophic position (δ¹⁵N) than individuals with narrower heads. This corresponded with a significantly higher proportion of prey fish in their diet compared with invertebrates and was associated with the use of a habitat niche located further from the river bank. The European eel therefore provides a rare empirical example of individual specialisation in resource use and trophic morphology in a natural population occurring at a very small spatial scale. Individuals with intermediate head morphology displayed lower body condition (a proxy of fitness) than individuals with extreme head morphology (i.e. narrower and broader headed individuals), demonstrating the existence of disruptive selection associated with individual specialisation.     

The purinergic receptor P2X7 triggers alpha-secretase-dependent processing of the amyloid precursor protein

The amyloid precursor protein (APP) is cleaved by β- and γ-secretases to generate the β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides, which are present in large amounts in the amyloid plaques of Alzheimer disease (AD) patient brains. Non-amyloidogenic processing of APP by α-secretases leads to proteolytic cleavage within the Aβ peptide sequence and shedding of the soluble APP ectodomain (sAPPα), which has been reported to be endowed with neuroprotective properties. In this work, we have shown that activation of the purinergic receptor P2X7 (P2X7R) stimulates sAPPα release from mouse neuroblastoma cells expressing human APP, from human neuroblastoma cells and from mouse primary astrocytes or neural progenitor cells. sAPPα shedding is inhibited by P2X7R antagonists or knockdown of P2X7R with specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) and is not observed in neural cells from P2X7R-deficient mice. P2X7R-dependent APP-cleavage is independent of extracellular calcium and strongly inhibited by hydroxamate-based metalloprotease inhibitors, TAPI-2 and GM6001. However, knockdown of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase-9 (ADAM9), ADAM10 and ADAM17 by specific siRNA, known to have α-secretase activity, does not block the P2X7R-dependent non-amyloidogenic pathway. Using several specific pharmacological inhibitors, we demonstrate that the mitogen-activated protein kinase modules Erk1/2 and JNK are involved in P2X7R-dependent α-secretase activity. Our study suggests that P2X7R, which is expressed in hippocampal neurons and glial cells, is a potential therapeutic target in AD.     

Association of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat (CRISPR) Elements with Specific Serotypes and Virulence Potential of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains (n = 194) representing 43 serotypes and E. coli K-12 were examined for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) arrays to study genetic relatedness among STEC serotypes. A subset of the strains (n = 81) was further analyzed for subtype I-E cas and virulence genes to determine a possible association of CRISPR elements with potential virulence. Four types of CRISPR arrays were identified. CRISPR1 and CRISPR2 were present in all strains tested; 1 strain also had both CRISPR3 and CRISPR4, whereas 193 strains displayed a short, combined array, CRISPR3-4. A total of 3,353 spacers were identified, representing 528 distinct spacers. The average length of a spacer was 32 bp. Approximately one-half of the spacers (54%) were unique and found mostly in strains of less common serotypes. Overall, CRISPR spacer contents correlated well with STEC serotypes, and identical arrays were shared between strains with the same H type (O26:H11, O103:H11, and O111:H11). There was no association identified between the presence of subtype I-E cas and virulence genes, but the total number of spacers had a negative correlation with potential pathogenicity (P < 0.05). Fewer spacers were found in strains that had a greater probability of causing outbreaks and disease than in those with lower virulence potential (P < 0.05). The relationship between the CRISPR-cas system and potential virulence needs to be determined on a broader scale, and the biological link will need to be established.     

A Model for Visual Memory Encoding

Memory encoding engages multiple concurrent and sequential processes. While the individual processes involved in successful encoding have been examined in many studies, a sequence of events and the importance of modules associated with memory encoding has not been established. For this reason, we sought to perform a comprehensive examination of the network for memory encoding using data driven methods and to determine the directionality of the information flow in order to build a viable model of visual memory encoding. Forty healthy controls ages 19–59 performed a visual scene encoding task. FMRI data were preprocessed using SPM8 and then processed using independent component analysis (ICA) with the reliability of the identified components confirmed using ICASSO as implemented in GIFT. The directionality of the information flow was examined using Granger causality analyses (GCA). All participants performed the fMRI task well above the chance level (>90% correct on both active and control conditions) and the post-fMRI testing recall revealed correct memory encoding at 86.33±5.83%. ICA identified involvement of components of five different networks in the process of memory encoding, and the GCA allowed for the directionality of the information flow to be assessed, from visual cortex via ventral stream to the attention network and then to the default mode network (DMN). Two additional networks involved in this process were the cerebellar and the auditory-insular network. This study provides evidence that successful visual memory encoding is dependent on multiple modules that are part of other networks that are only indirectly related to the main process. This model may help to identify the node(s) of the network that are affected by a specific disease processes and explain the presence of memory encoding difficulties in patients in whom focal or global network dysfunction exists.     

Topography and Land Cover of Watersheds Predicts the Distribution of the Environmental Pathogen Mycobacterium ulcerans in Aquatic Insects

Background

An understanding of the factors driving the distribution of pathogens is useful in preventing disease. Often we achieve this understanding at a local microhabitat scale; however the larger scale processes are often neglected. This can result in misleading inferences about the distribution of the pathogen, inhibiting our ability to manage the disease. One such disease is Buruli ulcer, an emerging neglected tropical disease afflicting many thousands in Africa, caused by the environmental pathogen Mycobacterium ulcerans. Herein, we aim to describe the larger scale landscape process describing the distribution of M. ulcerans.

Methodology

Following extensive sampling of the community of aquatic macroinvertebrates in Cameroon, we select the 5 dominant insect Orders, and conduct an ecological niche model to describe how the distribution of M. ulcerans positive insects changes according to land cover and topography. We then explore the generalizability of the results by testing them against an independent dataset collected in a second endemic region, French Guiana.

Principal Findings

We find that the distribution of the bacterium in Cameroon is accurately described by the land cover and topography of the watershed, that there are notable seasonal differences in distribution, and that the Cameroon model does not predict the distribution of M. ulcerans in French Guiana.

Conclusions/Significance

Future studies of M. ulcerans would benefit from consideration of local structure of the local stream network in future sampling, and further work is needed on the reasons for notable differences in the distribution of this species from one region to another. This work represents a first step in the identification of large-scale environmental drivers of this species, for the purposes of disease risk mapping.     

First Detection of Mycobacterium ulcerans DNA in Environmental Samples from South America

The occurrences of many environmentally-persistent and zoonotic infections are driven by ecosystem changes, which in turn are underpinned by land-use modifications that alter the governance of pathogen, biodiversity and human interactions. Our current understanding of these ecological changes on disease emergence however remains limited. Buruli ulcer is an emerging human skin disease caused by the mycobacterium, Mycobacterium ulcerans, for which the exact route of infection remains unclear. It can have a devastating impact on its human host, causing extensive necrosis of the skin and underlying tissue, often leading to permanent disability. The mycobacterium is associated with tropical aquatic environments and incidences of the disease are significantly higher on floodplains and where there is an increase of human aquatic activities. Although the disease has been previously diagnosed in South America, until now the presence of M. ulcerans DNA in the wild has only been identified in Australia where there have been significant outbreaks and in western and central regions of Africa where the disease is persistent. Here for the first time, we have identified the presence of the aetiological agent''s DNA in environmental samples from South America. The DNA was positively identified using Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) on 163 environmental samples, taken from 23 freshwater bodies in French Guiana (Southern America), using primers for both IS2404 and for the ketoreductase-B domain of the M. ulcerans mycolactone polyketide synthase genes (KR). Five samples out of 163 were positive for both primers from three different water bodies. A further nine sites had low levels of IS2404 close to a standard CT of 35 and could potentially harbour M. ulcerans. The majority of our positive samples (8/14) came from filtered water. These results also reveal the Sinnamary River as a potential source of infection to humans.     

Translation conditional models for protein coding sequences.

A coding sequence is defined as a DNA sequence coding the primary structure of a protein (a polypeptide). Such a sequence must satisfy a specific constraint, which consists in coding a functional protein. As the genetic code is degenerated, there exists, for a given polypeptide, a set of synonymous sequences which would code the same polypeptide. Translation conditional models are being defined on such sets. The aim of this paper is to give a common formalism. Besides the codon bias model, a few other conditional models will be defined. Statistical estimators and comparison methods will be briefly presented. These models can be used for gene classification, or to find out, in a real sequence, remarkable features. An example will be presented on Escherichia coli genes.     

Molecular basis of the attenuated phenotype of human APOBEC3B DNA mutator enzyme

The human APOBEC3A and APOBEC3B genes (A3A and A3B) encode DNA mutator enzymes that deaminate cytidine and 5-methylcytidine residues in single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). They are important sources of mutations in many cancer genomes which show a preponderance of CG->TA transitions. Although both enzymes can hypermutate chromosomal DNA in an experimental setting, only A3A can induce double strand DNA breaks, even though the catalytic domains of A3B and A3A differ by only 9% at the protein level. Accordingly we sought the molecular basis underlying A3B attenuation through the generation of A3A-A3B chimeras and mutants. It transpires that the N-terminal domain facilitates A3B activity while a handful of substitutions in the catalytic C-terminal domain impacting ssDNA binding serve to attenuate A3B compared to A3A. Interestingly, functional attenuation is also observed for the rhesus monkey rhA3B enzyme compared to rhA3A indicating that this genotoxic dichotomy has been selected for and maintained for some 38 million years. Expression of all human ssDNA cytidine deaminase genes is absent in mature sperm indicating they contribute to somatic mutation and cancer but not human diversity.