The MAP1B-LC1/UBE2L3 complex catalyzes degradation of cell surface CaV2.2 channels

We reported recently a new mechanism by which the neuronal N-type Ca²⁺ (Ca_V2.2) channel expression may be regulated by ubiquitination. This mechanism involves the interaction between the channel and the light chain (LC1) of the microtubule associated protein B (MAP1B). We also showed that MAP1B-LC1 could interact with the ubiquitin-conjugating E2 enzyme UBE2L3 and that the ubiquitination/degradation mechanism triggered by MAP1B-LC1 could be prevented by inhibiting the ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic pathway. We now report that MAP1B-LC1 can interact with the 2 main variants of the Ca_V2.2 channels (Ca_V2.2e37a and Ca_V2.2e37b) and that the MAP1B-LC1-mediated regulation most likely involves an internalization of the channels via a dynamin and clathrin-dependent pathway. In addition, here we propose that this novel mechanism of Ca_V channel regulation might be conserved among N-type and P/Q-type channels.     

Can novel genetic analyses help to identify low-dispersal marine invasive species?

Genetic methods can be a powerful tool to resolve the native versus introduced status of populations whose taxonomy and biogeography are poorly understood. The genetic study of introduced species is presently dominated by analyses that identify signatures of recent colonization by means of summary statistics. Unfortunately, such approaches cannot be used in low‐dispersal species, in which recently established populations originating from elsewhere in the species' native range also experience periods of low population size because they are founded by few individuals. We tested whether coalescent‐based molecular analyses that provide detailed information about demographic history supported the hypothesis that a sea squirt whose distribution is centered on Tasmania was recently introduced to mainland Australia and New Zealand through human activities. Methods comparing trends in population size (Bayesian Skyline Plots and Approximate Bayesian Computation) were no more informative than summary statistics, likely because of recent intra‐Tasmanian dispersal. However, IMa2 estimates of divergence between putatively native and introduced populations provided information at a temporal scale suitable to differentiate between recent (potentially anthropogenic) introductions and ancient divergence, and indicated that all three non‐Tasmanian populations were founded during the period of European settlement. While this approach can be affected by inaccurate molecular dating, it has considerable (albeit largely unexplored) potential to corroborate nongenetic information in species with limited dispersal capabilities.     

Deoxyribonucleases of non-pathogenic corynebacteria

Fourteen species of non-pathogenic corynebacteria have been examined for the presence of DNases. Seven of the species were found to be DNase positive when assayed in Toluidine Blue-DNA-containing agar whereas only one, Corynebacterium callunae, could be detectable as DNase positive when the test was performed in DNA-methyl green-containing agar. Electrophoretic patterns obtained from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels containing DNA showed the presence of one or two bands of nucleolytic activity in two species of Brevibacterium and of several bands in C. callunae. Degradation of DNases by cellular proteases seem to occur in this species.     

Nitric oxide induces apoptosis in a human colonic epithelial cell line, T84

Chronic inflammation is associated with inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in infiltrating and resident cells (epithelia, neurons) and an exaggerated release of nitric oxide. NO can induce apoptosis in macrophages and tumour cell lines. We investigated whether NO induced cell death in an epithelial (T84) cell fine via apoptosis. Culture T84 cells were exposed to a bolus of NO (40 or 80 muM) dissolved in Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS). After incubation for 4 h at 37( degrees )C in 5% CO(2), cells were either stained for DNA fragmentation with the TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labelling (TUNEL) method, or cytosolic DNA fragments quantified by a cell death detection ELISA assay. Nitric oxide induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner which preceded frank cell death (failure to exclude Trypan blue). These data suggest that epithelial cell death may be NO dependent and via apoptosis, in states of gut inflammation.     

Molecular evolution of mitochondrial 12S RNA and cytochrome b sequences in the pantherine lineage of Felidae

DNA sequence comparisons of two mitochondrial DNA genes were used to infer phylogenetic relationships among 17 Felidae species, notably 15 in the previously described pantherine lineage. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to generate sequences of 358 base pairs of the mitochondrial 12S RNA gene and 289 base pairs of the cytochrome b protein coding gene. DNA sequences were compared within and between 17 felid and five nonfelid carnivore species. Evolutionary trees were constructed using phenetic, cladistic, and maximum likelihood algorithms. The combined results suggested several phylogenetic relationships including (1) the recognition of a recently evolved monophyletic genus Panthera consisting of Panthera leo, P. pardus, P. onca, P. uncia, P. tigris, and Neofelis nebulosa; (2) the recent common ancestry of Acinonyx jubatus, the African cheetah, and Puma concolor, the American puma; and (3) two golden cat species, Profelis temmincki and Profelis aurata, are not sister species, and the latter is strongly associated with Caracal caracal. These data add to the growing database of vertebrate mtDNA sequences and, given the relatively recent divergence among the felids represented here (1-10 Myr), allow 12S and cytochrome b sequence evolution to be addressed over a time scale different from those addressed in most work on vertebrate mtDNA.      

Sea urchin Hox genes: insights into the ancestral Hox cluster

We describe the Hox cluster in the radially symmetric sea urchin and compare our findings to what is known from clusters in bilaterally symmetric animals. Several Hox genes from the direct-developing sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma are described. CHEF gel analysis shows that the Hox genes are clustered on a < or = 300 kilobase (kb) fragment of DNA, and only a single cluster is present, as in lower chordates and other nonvertebrate metazoans. Phylogenetic analyses of sea urchin, amphioxus, Drosophila, and selected vertebrate Hox genes confirm that the H. erythrogramma genes, and others previously cloned from other sea urchins, belong to anterior, central, and posterior groups. Despite their radial body plan and lack of cephalization, echinoderms retain at least one of the anterior group Hox genes, an orthologue of Hox3. The structure of the echinoderm Hox cluster suggests that the ancestral deuterostome had a Hox cluster more similar to the current chordate cluster than was expected Sea urchins have at least three Abd-B type genes, suggesting that Abd-B expansion began before the radiation of deuterostomes.