1,8-Anilinonaphthalene sulfonate binds to central cavity of human hemoglobin

Binding of 1,8-anilinonaphthalene sulfonate (1,8-ANS) to main (HbA(1)) and glycosylated (HbA(1C)) forms of human oxyhemoglobin in the presence/absence of inositolhexaphosphate (IHP) in 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, was studied by time-correlated single photon counter with subnanosecond time resolution. The redistribution of contributions of the most long-lived and the most short-lived fluorescent decay components in the presence of IHP provides an evidence of the probe binding within oxyhemoglobin central cavity, namely DPG-binding site. Finally, it was shown that the fluorescent probe is extremely sensitive for hemoglobin central cavity modification, provided by the carbohydrate moiety in case of 1,8-ANS interactions with HbA(1C).     

The distribution and evolutionary history of the PRP8 intein

Background  

We recently described a mini-intein in the PRP8 gene of a strain of the basidiomycete Cryptococcus neoformans, an important fungal pathogen of humans. This was the second described intein in the nuclear genome of any eukaryote; the first nuclear encoded intein was found in the VMA gene of several saccharomycete yeasts. The evolution of eukaryote inteins is not well understood. In this report we describe additional PRP8 inteins (bringing the total of these to over 20). We compare and contrast the phylogenetic distribution and evolutionary history of the PRP8 intein and the saccharomycete VMA intein, in order to derive a broader understanding of eukaryote intein evolution. It has been suggested that eukaryote inteins undergo horizontal transfer and the present analysis explores this proposal.     

Synthesis And Spectral Properties of Uric Acid Ribosides

Abstract

Ribosylation of trimethylsilyl uric acid by tetra O-acetyl-β-D-ribofuranose in the presence of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate as the condensing agent was studied at various ratio of the reactants. As a result uric acid N₇-monoriboside and N₇, N₇, N₇-diriboside were obtained and their spectral properties examined.     

QTLs for early vigor of tropical maize

A strong photosynthetic performance and rapid leaf development, are important indicators of vigorous early growth. The aim of this study was to (1) evaluate the tropical maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines CML444 and SC-Malawi for their photosynthetic performance at different growth stages and (2) assess quantitative trait loci (QTL) of photosynthesis-related traits in their 236 recombinant inbred lines at the heterotrophic growth stage. CML444 had a higher leaf chlorophyll (SPAD) content than SC-Malawi. Ten QTLs were found for the quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Φ_PSII; four), SPAD (three) and the specific leaf area (SLA; three). The relevance of seedling QTLs for Φ_PSII, SPAD and SLA for yield formation is emphasized by seven collocations (bins 5.01, 7.03, 8.05) with QTLs for kernel number and grain yield under field conditions. QTLs for SPAD at the V2 and at the reproductive stage did not collocate, indicating differences in the genetic control of SPAD at different growth stages. Knowing which loci affect SLA, SPAD and Φ_PSII simultaneously and which do not will help to optimize light harvest by the canopy.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">ScreenMill</Emphasis>: A freely available software suite for growth measurement,analysis and visualization of high-throughput screen data

Background  

Many high-throughput genomic experiments, such as Synthetic Genetic Array and yeast two-hybrid, use colony growth on solid media as a screen metric. These experiments routinely generate over 100,000 data points, making data analysis a time consuming and painstaking process. Here we describe ScreenMill, a new software suite that automates image analysis and simplifies data review and analysis for high-throughput biological experiments.     

Evolutionary patterns in early tetrapods. I. Rapid initial diversification followed by decrease in rates of character change

Although numerous studies have examined morphological diversification during major radiations of marine taxa, much less attention has been paid to terrestrial radiations. Here, we examine rates of character change over phylogeny and over time for Palaeozoic limbed tetrapods. Palaeozoic tetrapods show significant decreases in rates of character change whether the rate is measured per sampled cladistic branch or per million years along phylogeny. Given changes per branch, rates decrease significantly from the Devonian through the Pennsylvanian, but not from the Pennsylvanian through the Permian. Given changes per million years, rates decrease significantly over each boundary, although the decrease is least significant over the Pennsylvanian-Permian boundary. Decreasing rates per million years through the Permian might be an artefact of the method being able to ascribe longer durations to Permian branches than to Carboniferous ones; however, it is difficult to ascribe the general pattern of decreasing rates of change over time to sampling biases or methodological biases. Thus, the results implicate biological explanations for this pattern.     

Decoding the signaling of a GPCR heteromeric complex reveals a unifying mechanism of action of antipsychotic drugs

Atypical antipsychotic drugs, such as clozapine and risperidone, have a high affinity for the serotonin 5-HT(2A) G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), the 2AR, which signals via a G(q) heterotrimeric G protein. The closely related non-antipsychotic drugs, such as ritanserin and methysergide, also block 2AR function, but they lack comparable neuropsychological effects. Why some but not all 2AR inhibitors exhibit antipsychotic properties remains unresolved. We now show that a heteromeric complex between the?2AR and the G(i)-linked GPCR, metabotropic glutamate 2 receptor (mGluR2), integrates ligand input,?modulating signaling output and behavioral changes. Serotonergic and glutamatergic drugs bind the mGluR2/2AR heterocomplex, which then balances Gi- and Gq-dependent signaling. We find that the mGluR2/2AR-mediated changes in Gi and Gq activity predict the psychoactive behavioral effects of a variety of pharmocological compounds. These observations provide mechanistic insight into antipsychotic action that may advance therapeutic strategies for disorders including schizophrenia and dementia.     

Gene Polymorphisms of Micrornas in Helicobacter pylori-Induced High Risk Atrophic Gastritis and Gastric Cancer

Background and aims

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known for their function as translational regulators of tumor suppressor or oncogenes. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in miRNAs related genes have been shown to affect the regulatory capacity of miRNAs and were linked with gastric cancer (GC) and premalignant gastric conditions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate potential associations between miRNA-related gene polymorphisms (miR-27a, miR-146a, miR-196a-2, miR-492 and miR-608) and the presence of GC or high risk atrophic gastritis (HRAG) in European population.

Methods

Gene polymorphisms were analyzed in 995 subjects (controls: n = 351; GC: n = 363; HRAG: n = 281) of European descent. MiR-27a T>C (rs895819), miR-146a G>C (rs2910164), miR-196a-2 C>T (rs11614913), miR-492 G>C (rs2289030) and miR-608 C>G (rs4919510) SNPs were genotyped by RT-PCR.

Results

Overall, SNPs of miRNAs were not associated with the presence of GC or HRAG. We observed a tendency for miR-196a-2 CT genotype to be associated with higher risk of GC when compared to CC genotype, however, the difference did not reach the adjusted P-value (odds ratio (OR) - 1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-2.07, P = 0.032). MiR-608 GG genotype was more frequent in GC when compared to controls (OR −2.34, 95% CI 1.08–5.04), but significance remained marginal (P = 0.029). A similar tendency was observed in a recessive model for miR-608, where CC + CG vs GG genotype comparison showed a tendency for increased risk of GC with OR of 2.44 (95% CI 1.14–5.22, P = 0.021). The genotypes and alleles of miR-27a, miR-146a, miR-196a-2, miR-492 and miR-608 SNPs had similar distribution between histological subtypes of GC and were not linked with the presence of diffuse or intestinal-type GC.

Conclusions

Gene polymorphisms of miR-27a, miR-146a, miR-196a-2, miR-492, miR-492a and miR-608 were not associated with the presence of HRAG, GC or different histological subtypes of GC in European subjects.