Multimodal analysis of metals in copper–zinc superoxide dismutase isoforms separated on electrophoresis gels

It has been suggested that copper–zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) isoforms of distinct isoelectric point (pI) could result from differences in their metallation state. Our aim was then to develop and validate analytical methods for the determination and understanding of metallation states in human CuZnSOD isoforms. To avoid metal losses during sample preparation steps, CuZnSOD isoforms were separated according to their pI using non-denaturing isoelectric focusing (IEF) gel electrophoresis. Metal quantification was directly performed in-gel. Cu/Zn ratios of CuZnSOD isoforms were quantified by Particle-Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) and Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Cu/Zn ratios were measured close to the value of 1 as expected from the known stoichiometry of CuZnSOD with slight, but statistically significant, differences between acidic and basic isoforms. Overall, this study demonstrates that metal quantification can be performed directly on metalloproteins separated on electrophoresis gels.     

Correction to: Imaging features of immune-mediated genitourinary disease

Neurochemical Research - The authors regret that they neglected to cite their conference report on the technical part of a ‘preliminary study’ presented at, and published in, the...     

Distribution of goblet and endocrine cells in the intestine: A comparative study in Amazonian freshwater Tambaqui and hybrid catfish

Goblet cells (GCs) and endocrine cells (ECs) play an important role in intestine physiology, and few studies currently exist for Amazonian fishes. This study aimed to quantify the distribution of GCs and ECs producing cholecystokinin-8 and neuropeptide Y, assessed by mucin histochemistry and peptides immunohistochemistry, in the intestine of two Amazonian species with different feeding habits Tambaqui (Colossosoma macropomum) and hybrid catfish (Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum × Leiarius marmoratus), an omnivore and carnivore, respectively. A systematic literature review correlating feeding habit and GC and EC distribution was also included to contribute to the comparative study. The results of this study provided novel information about the gut cells of Tambaqui and hybrid catfish. Both, GCs and ECs can be found sweeping the entire intestine of Tambaqui and hybrid catfish although the cells can be more concentrated in certain segments. The GCs and ECs in Tambaqui were more uniformly distributed in the midgut segments (T1, T2, and T3). Unlike, in hybrid catfish GCs were more concentrated in the hindgut (C4) and ECs mainly in the two midgut segments (C1 and C2) of hybrid catfish. Based on the comparison between Tambaqui, hybrid catfish, and other fishes in the literature review, we suggest that cell distribution can be partially explained by feeding habits, carnivorous vs. omnivorous.     

Floral rewards in someScrophularia species (Scrophulariaceae) from the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands

The genusScrophularia in the Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands comprises two sections,Scrophularia andCanina G. Don. Analyses were carried out on flower production, flower duration and their sexual phases, pollen and nectar production together with observations on their pollinators. Nectar production is correlated with corolla size and pollen production with anther size. The taxa of sect.Scrophularia show greater nectar and pollen production than those of sect.Canina. Also, those of the first section produce more ovules per ovary than those of the second group, production being correlated with the ovary size.Some observations on floral and reproductive biology in some species ofScrophularia from the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands. I.     

TECPR2 Associated Neuroaxonal Dystrophy in Spanish Water Dogs

Clinical, pathological and genetic examination revealed an as yet uncharacterized juvenile-onset neuroaxonal dystrophy (NAD) in Spanish water dogs. Affected dogs presented with various neurological deficits including gait abnormalities and behavioral deficits. Histopathology demonstrated spheroid formation accentuated in the grey matter of the cerebral hemispheres, the cerebellum, the brain stem and in the sensory pathways of the spinal cord. Iron accumulation was absent. Ultrastructurally spheroids contained predominantly closely packed vesicles with a double-layered membrane, which were characterized as autophagosomes using immunohistochemistry. The family history of the four affected dogs suggested an autosomal recessive inheritance. SNP genotyping showed a single genomic region of extended homozygosity of 4.5 Mb in the four cases on CFA 8. Linkage analysis revealed a maximal parametric LOD score of 2.5 at this region. By whole genome re-sequencing of one affected dog, a perfectly associated, single, non-synonymous coding variant in the canine tectonin beta-propeller repeat-containing protein 2 (TECPR2) gene affecting a highly conserved region was detected (c.4009C>T or p.R1337W). This canine NAD form displays etiologic parallels to an inherited TECPR2 associated type of human hereditary spastic paraparesis (HSP). In contrast to the canine NAD, the spinal cord lesions in most types of human HSP involve the sensory and the motor pathways. Furthermore, the canine NAD form reveals similarities to cases of human NAD defined by widespread spheroid formation without iron accumulation in the basal ganglia. Thus TECPR2 should also be considered as candidate gene for human NAD. Immunohistochemistry and the ultrastructural findings further support the assumption, that TECPR2 regulates autophagosome accumulation in the autophagic pathways. Consequently, this report provides the first genetic characterization of juvenile canine NAD, describes the histopathological features associated with the TECPR2 mutation and provides evidence to emphasize the association between failure of autophagy and neurodegeneration.     

Structural determinants stabilizing the axial channel of ClpP for substrate translocation

Acyldepsipeptides (ADEPs) antibiotics bind to Escherichia coli ClpP mimicking the interactions that the IGL/F loops in ClpA or ClpX ATPases establish with the hydrophobic pockets surrounding the axial pore of the tetradecamer that the protease forms. ADEP binding induces opening of the gates blocking the axial channel of ClpP and allowing protein substrates to be translocated and hydrolysed in the degradation chamber. To identify the structural determinants stabilizing the open conformation of the axial channel for efficient substrate translocation, we constructed ClpP variants with amino acid substitutions in the N‐terminal region that forms the axial gates. We found that adoption of a β‐hairpin loop by this region and the integrity of the hydrophobic cluster at the base of this loop are necessary elements for the axial gate to efficiently translocate protein substrates. Analysis of ClpP variants from Bacillus subtilis suggested that the identified structural requirements of the axial channel for efficient translocation are conserved between Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. These findings provide mechanistic insights into the activation of ClpP by ADEPs as well as the gating mechanism of the protease in the context of the ClpAP and ClpXP complexes.     

Enabling Iron‐Based Highly Effective Electrochemical Water‐Splitting and Selective Oxygenation of Organic Substrates through In Situ Surface Modification of Intermetallic Iron Stannide Precatalyst

A strategy to overcome the unsatisfying catalytic performance and the durability of monometallic iron‐based materials for the electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is provided by heterobimetallic iron–metal systems. Monometallic Fe catalysts show limited performance mostly due to poor conductivity and stability. Here, by taking advantage of the structurally ordered and highly conducting FeSn₂ nanostructure, for the first time, an intermetallic iron material is employed as an efficient anode for the alkaline OER, overall water‐splitting, and also for selective oxygenation of organic substrates. The electrophoretically deposited FeSn₂ on nickel foam (NF) and fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO) electrodes displays remarkable OER activity and durability with substantially low overpotentials of 197 and 273 mV at 10 mA cm^?2, respectively, which outperform most of the benchmarking NiFe‐based catalysts. The resulting superior activity is attributed to the in situ generation of α‐FeO(OH)@FeSn₂ where α‐FeO(OH) acts as the active site while FeSn₂ remains the conductive core. When the FeSn₂ anode is coupled with a Pt cathode for overall alkaline water‐splitting, a reduced cell potential (1.53 V) is attained outperforming that of noble metal‐based catalysts. FeSn₂ is further applied as an anode to produce value‐added products through selective oxygenation reactions of organic substrates.     

Medicinal ethnobotany in Huacareta (Chuquisaca, Bolivia)

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to document the types of diseases treated by the use of medicinal plants, their main applications and also to have a report of the major diseases treated at the Hospital of St. Paul of Huacareta (Chuquisaca Bolivia). METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews on the use medicinal plants with 10 local informants, and categorized the kinds of diseases treated by traditional medicine. We obtained reports of cases treated at the Hospital of Huacareta in order to compare the use frequency of traditional medicine and allopathic medicine for the treatment of recurrent diseases in the area. RESULTS: Our survey identified 258 traditional medicine uses, spanning a total of 13 diseases categories and including 91 native and exotic plant species and one unidentified sample plant type. Gastrointestinal disorders (55%) were most frequently treated with medicinal plants, followed by afflictions of the musculoskeletal system (25%) and dermatological disorders (24%). Hospital information indicates that the most common diseases are acute respiratory infections (47%) and acute diarrheal diseases (37%). The herbal remedies were mostly used in the form of teas and decoctions. The informants used mainly native plant species, although exotic species has been introduced to the pharmacopoeia. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of gastrointestinal disorders is the primary objective of the medical ethnobotany of the inhabitants of Huacareta, while respiratory system diseases are mostly treated in the hospital. Looking at the data from the Hospital records we can infer that gastrointestinal disorders are among the most common diseases in the study area. For most respondents, traditional medicine is a reliable choice for the care of their illnesses. However, the preference of the population for either traditional medicine or allopathic medicine needs to be clarified in future comparative studies to obtain more convincing results. The results presented can be used as a base for subsequent work related to traditional medicine and its contribution to allopathic medicine in San Pablo de Huacareta. Introduccion El objetivo del presente estudio fue documentar los tipos de enfermedades tratadas mediante el uso de plantas medicinales, sus aplicaciones principales y tambien tener un reporte de las enfermedades mayormente atendidas en el Hospital de San Pablo de Huacareta (Chuquisaca, Bolivia). Metodos Se realizaron encuestas semiestructuradas a 10 informantes locales anotando los usos atribuidos a sus plantas medicinales, se agruparon las plantas por categorias de enfermedades tratadas en la medicina tradicional. Se obtuvieron reportes de casos tratados en el Hospital de Huacareta para poder relacionar el tratamiento de enfermedades recurrentes en la zona entre la medicina tradicional y la medicina occidental. Resultados Se reportaron 91 especies nativas y exoticas, ademas de un especimen indeterminado exotico que intervienen en un total de 258 aplicaciones medicinales, las cuales son empleadas en un total de 13 categorias de enfermedades. Los desordenes gastrointestinales (55%) son mayormente tratados mediante plantas medicinales, seguidas de las afecciones al sistema esqueleto-muscular (25%) y enfermedades dermatologicas (24%). La informacion del Hospital indica que las enfermedades mas frecuentes son Infecciones Respiratorias Agudas (47%) y Enfermedades Diarreicas Agudas (37%). Los remedios vegetales se emplean en forma de infusiones y cocciones principalmente. Se emplean mayormente plantas nativas, tambien se introdujo en la farmacopea medica el uso de plantas exoticas al lugar. Conclusiones El tratamiento de trastornos gastrointestinales constituye el objetivo primordial de la etnobotanica medica de los habitantes de Huacareta, las enfermedades del sistema respiratorio, son mayormente tratadas en el Hospital. Observando los datos del libro de consultas del Hospital, se puede inferir que los desordenes gastrointestinales estan entre las enfermedades mas frecuentes en el area estudiada. Para la mayoria de los entrevistados, la medicina tradicional es una opcion confiable para la atencion de sus enfermedades. Sin embargo, la preferencia de los habitantes entre la medicina tradicional y la medicina alopatica podria ser clarificada a partir de futuros estudios comparativos que permitan obtener resultados mas convincentes. Los resultados expuestos pueden ser usados como una base de datos para posteriores trabajos relacionados a la medicina tradicional y su contribucion con la medicina alopatica en San Pablo de Huacareta.