Role of interleukin-7 in degenerative and inflammatory joint diseases

IL-7 is known foremost for its immunostimulatory capacities, including potent T cell-dependent catabolic effects on bone. In joint diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, IL-7, via immune activation, can induce joint destruction. Now it has been demonstrated that increased IL-7 levels are produced by human articular chondrocytes of older individuals and osteoarthritis patients. IL-7 stimulates production of proteases by IL-7 receptor-expressing chondrocytes and enhances cartilage matrix degradation. This indicates that IL-7, indirectly via immune activation, but also by a direct action on cartilage, contributes to joint destruction in rheumatic diseases.     

Cupin: A candidate molecular structure for the Nep1-like protein family

Background  

NEP1-like proteins (NLPs) are a novel family of microbial elicitors of plant necrosis. Some NLPs induce a hypersensitive-like response in dicot plants though the basis for this response remains unclear. In addition, the spatial structure and the role of these highly conserved proteins are not known.     

Preliminary evidence for genetic heterogeneity of the goby (Sufflogobius bibarbatus) in the Benguela ecosystem

PCR-RFLP analysis of mitochondrial DNA (NADH-3/4 gene and the control region) of the Benguelan bearded goby Sufflogobius bibarbatus revealed weak, but significant genetic differentiation (overall F_ST = 0.137) that could not be predicted by hydrodynamics alone, thus warranting further investigations to understand the forces behind population divergence within an ecosystem having complex dynamics.     

Hypoxic avoidance behaviour in cod (Gadus morhua L.): The effect of temperature and haemoglobin genotype

Hypoxia can influence fish growth, survival and on larger scales, population structure. These effects may be influenced by water temperature, and may vary intra-specifically with genotype. In Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.), the two haemoglobin homozygotes (Hb-I?11 and Hb-I?22) vary in oxygen affinity at different temperatures, which is thought to correspond to variation in hypoxia tolerance. We therefore tested if hypoxic avoidance behaviour in cod 1) depends on ambient temperature and 2) is modified by haemoglobin genotype. In a laminar flow choice box, we subjected juvenile cod to an initial phase of non-escapable hypoxia, and a subsequent recovery phase, where one habitat was kept at 20% O₂ saturation while the other was raised in steps to full saturation. The experiment was performed at 5 and 15 °C with Hb-I?11 and Hb-I?22 cod. Cod responded to inescapable hypoxia by reducing their overall swimming speed and then, at the initial levels of the recovery phase, avoiding the most hypoxic habitat, irrespective of temperature or genotype. Fish recovered quickly as O₂ levels increased, as evidenced by increased swimming speed and time spent in the most hypoxic habitat. The avoidance response depended strongly on temperature: the relative reduction in speed and avoidance of the most hypoxic habitat was more pronounced at 15 than at 5 °C. During the recovery phase, stressed fish initially maintained a higher swimming speed in the most hypoxic habitat. However, as O₂ increased, swimming speed in both habitats converged. This point of convergence occurred at a lower O₂ saturation at 5 °C. Fish ventilation rate in inescapable hypoxia was also higher at 15 °C. Haemoglobin genotype did not influence either ventilation rates or the nature of the hypoxic avoidance response at either temperature, but Hb-I?11 cod swam faster than Hb-I?22 cod in normoxia at 15 °C. Our results indicate that increased temperature limits the ability of cod of both haemoglobin genotypes to exploit hypoxic habitats. This may have negative future consequences for coastal cod stocks in light of increasing global temperatures and eutrophication in coastal waters.     

First records of reproductive behaviour and early development of the bearded goby Sufflogobius bibarbatus

Data on developmental characteristics from fertilization to 2 days post‐hatching during captivity of the anoxia tolerant bearded goby Sufflogobius bibarbatus, one of the keystone prey species for many of the commercial fish populations, sea mammals and birds in south‐west Africa, are presented.     

Biosynthesis of isoprenoids, polyunsaturated fatty acids and flavonoids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Industrial biotechnology employs the controlled use of microorganisms for the production of synthetic chemicals or simple biomass that can further be used in a diverse array of applications that span the pharmaceutical, chemical and nutraceutical industries. Recent advances in metagenomics and in the incorporation of entire biosynthetic pathways into Saccharomyces cerevisiae have greatly expanded both the fitness and the repertoire of biochemicals that can be synthesized from this popular microorganism. Further, the availability of the S. cerevisiae entire genome sequence allows the application of systems biology approaches for improving its enormous biosynthetic potential. In this review, we will describe some of the efforts on using S. cerevisiae as a cell factory for the biosynthesis of high-value natural products that belong to the families of isoprenoids, flavonoids and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. As natural products are increasingly becoming the center of attention of the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries, the use of S. cerevisiae for their production is only expected to expand in the future, further allowing the biosynthesis of novel molecular structures with unique properties.