A Genetic Analysis of Mancozeb Resistance in Typhlodromus Pyri (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

A field population of Typhlodromus pyri (Acari: Phytoseiidae) tolerant to mancozeb was selected in the laboratory. After 10 mancozeb selections the LC₅₀ value for mancozeb was 73 times higher in the selected-10 strain compared to the standard susceptible strain. A genetic analysis using reciprocal crosses and backcrosses of female F₁ progeny found no maternal effect. Resistance in the selected-10 strain was codominant in expression, dominance value was about −0.1. Backcrosses between F₁ females and the susceptible strain indicate that the resistance to mancozeb could be principally conferred by a predominant gene, but additional factors would also be involved.     

ADAM12 and alpha9beta1 integrin are instrumental in human myogenic cell differentiation

Knowledge on molecular systems involved in myogenic precursor cell (mpc) fusion into myotubes is fragmentary. Previous studies have implicated the a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) family in most mammalian cell fusion processes. ADAM12 is likely involved in fusion of murine mpc and human rhabdomyosarcoma cells, but it requires yet unknown molecular partners to launch myogenic cell fusion. ADAM12 was shown able to mediate cell-to-cell attachment through binding alpha9beta1 integrin. We report that normal human mpc express both ADAM12 and alpha9beta1 integrin during their differentiation. Expression of alpha9 parallels that of ADAM12 and culminates at time of fusion. alpha9 and ADAM12 coimmunoprecipitate and participate to mpc adhesion. Inhibition of ADAM12/alpha9beta1 integrin interplay, by either ADAM12 antisense oligonucleotides or blocking antibody to alpha9beta1, inhibited overall mpc fusion by 47-48%, with combination of both strategies increasing inhibition up to 62%. By contrast with blockade of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1/alpha4beta1, which also reduced fusion, exposure to ADAM12 antisense oligonucleotides or anti-alpha9beta1 antibody did not induce detachment of mpc from extracellular matrix, suggesting specific involvement of ADAM12-alpha9beta1 interaction in the fusion process. Evaluation of the fusion rate with regard to the size of myotubes showed that both ADAM12 antisense oligonucleotides and alpha9beta1 blockade inhibited more importantly formation of large (> or =5 nuclei) myotubes than that of small (2-4 nuclei) myotubes. We conclude that both ADAM12 and alpha9beta1 integrin are expressed during postnatal human myogenic differentiation and that their interaction is mainly operative in nascent myotube growth.     

The interaction between the adaptor protein APS and Enigma is involved in actin organisation

APS (adaptor protein with PH and SH2 domains) is an adaptor protein phosphorylated by several tyrosine kinase receptors including the insulin receptor. To identify novel binding partners of APS, we performed yeast two-hybrid screening. We identified Enigma, a PDZ and LIM domain-containing protein that was previously shown to be associated with the actin cytoskeleton. In HEK 293 cells, Enigma interacted specifically with APS, but not with the APS-related protein SH2-B. This interaction required the NPTY motif of APS and the LIM domains of Enigma. In NIH-3T3 cells that express the insulin receptor, Enigma and APS were partially co-localised with F-actin in small ruffling structures. Insulin increased the complex formation between APS and Enigma and their co-localisation in large F-actin containing ruffles. While in NIH-3T3 and HeLa cells the co-expression of both Enigma and APS did not modify the actin cytoskeleton organisation, expression of Enigma alone led to the formation of F-actin clusters. Similar alteration in actin cytoskeleton organisation was observed in cells expressing both Enigma and APS with a mutation in the NPTY motif. These results identify Enigma as a novel APS-binding protein and suggest that the APS/Enigma complex plays a critical role in actin cytoskeleton organisation.     

Validation study of a method for assaying DE-310, a macromolecular carrier conjugate containing an anti-tumor camptothecin derivative, and the free drug in human plasma by HPLC and LC/MS/MS

DE-310 is a macromolecular carrier conjugate containing an anti-tumor camptothecin derivative, DX-8951, conjugated to a water-soluble polymer by means of a peptide spacer. New assay methods have been developed to determine the polymer-bonded DX-8951 conjugate, free DX-8951, and Glycyl-DX-8951 in human plasma. Solid-phase extraction was used to extract free DX-8951 and Glycyl-DX-8951 from plasma, and LC/MS/MS (Method I) was used to determine the amount of each analyte. Protein precipitation was used to extract Conjugated DX-8951, which was then digested with thermolysin. HPLC (Method II) was used to determine the productive compound (Phenylalanyl-Glycyl-DX-8951). The lower limit of quantitation of DX-8951 was 50 pg/ml, of Glycyl-DX-8951 was 80 pg/ml, and of Conjugated DX-8951 was 100 ng/ml (as DX-8951 equivalent). Both methods showed satisfactory sensitivity, precision, and accuracy.     

A role for the neuronal protein collapsin response mediator protein 2 in T lymphocyte polarization and migration

The semaphorin-signaling transducer collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) has been identified in the nervous system where it mediates Sema3A-induced growth cone navigation. In the present study, we provide first evidence that CRMP2 is present in the immune system and plays a critical role in T lymphocyte function. CRMP2 redistribution at the uropod in polarized T cells, a structural support of lymphocyte motility, suggests that it may regulate T cell migration. This was evidenced in primary T cells by small-interfering RNA-mediated CRMP2 gene silencing and blocking Ab, as well as CRMP2 overexpression in Jurkat T cells tested in a chemokine- and semaphorin-mediated transmigration assay. Expression analysis in PBMC from healthy donors showed that CRMP2 is enhanced in cell subsets bearing the activation markers CD69+ and HLA-DR+. Heightened expression in T lymphocytes of patients suffering from neuroinflammatory disease with enhanced T cell-transmigrating activity points to a role for CRMP2 in pathogenesis. The elucidation of the signals and mechanisms that control this pathway will lead to a better understanding of T cell trafficking in physiological and pathological situations.     

Amylin inhibits bone resorption while the calcitonin receptor controls bone formation in vivo

Amylin is a member of the calcitonin family of hormones cosecreted with insulin by pancreatic beta cells. Cell culture assays suggest that amylin could affect bone formation and bone resorption, this latter function after its binding to the calcitonin receptor (CALCR). Here we show that Amylin inactivation leads to a low bone mass due to an increase in bone resorption, whereas bone formation is unaffected. In vitro, amylin inhibits fusion of mononucleated osteoclast precursors into multinucleated osteoclasts in an ERK1/2-dependent manner. Although Amylin +/- mice like Amylin-deficient mice display a low bone mass phenotype and increased bone resorption, Calcr +/- mice display a high bone mass due to an increase in bone formation. Moreover, compound heterozygote mice for Calcr and Amylin inactivation displayed bone abnormalities observed in both Calcr +/- and Amylin +/- mice, thereby ruling out that amylin uses CALCR to inhibit osteoclastogenesis in vivo. Thus, amylin is a physiological regulator of bone resorption that acts through an unidentified receptor.     

Borna disease virus blocks potentiation of presynaptic activity through inhibition of protein kinase C signaling

Infection by Borna disease virus (BDV) enables the study of the molecular mechanisms whereby a virus can persist in the central nervous system and lead to altered brain function in the absence of overt cytolysis and inflammation. This neurotropic virus infects a wide variety of vertebrates and causes behavioral diseases. The basis of BDV-induced behavioral impairment remains largely unknown. Here, we investigated whether BDV infection of neurons affected synaptic activity, by studying the rate of synaptic vesicle (SV) recycling, a good indicator of synaptic activity. Vesicular cycling was visualized in cultured hippocampal neurons synapses, using an assay based on the uptake of an antibody directed against the luminal domain of synaptotagmin I. BDV infection did not affect elementary presynaptic functioning, such as spontaneous or depolarization-induced vesicular cycling. In contrast, infection of neurons with BDV specifically blocked the enhancement of SV recycling that is observed in response to stimuli-induced synaptic potentiation, suggesting defects in long-term potentiation. Studies of signaling pathways involved in synaptic potentiation revealed that this blockade was due to a reduction of the phosphorylation by protein kinase C (PKC) of proteins that regulate SV recycling, such as myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) and Munc18-1/nSec1. Moreover, BDV interference with PKC-dependent phosphorylation was identified downstream of PKC activation. We also provide evidence suggesting that the BDV phosphoprotein interferes with PKC-dependent phosphorylation. Altogether, our results reveal a new mechanism by which a virus can cause synaptic dysfunction and contribute to neurobehavioral disorders.