Phylogeny and expression of carbonic anhydrase-related proteins

Background  

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are found in many organisms, in which they contribute to several important biological processes. The vertebrate α-CA family consists of 16 subfamilies, three of which (VIII, X and XI) consist of acatalytic proteins. These are named carbonic anhydrase related proteins (CARPs), and their inactivity is due to absence of one or more Zn-binding histidine residues. In this study, we analyzed and evaluated the distribution of genes encoding CARPs in different organisms using bioinformatic methods, and studied their expression in mouse tissues using immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative PCR.     

Cold hardiness of Lymantria monacha and L. dispar (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) eggs to extreme winter temperatures: implications for predicting climate change impacts

1. It has been predicted that temperature increases of 3.6–5.8 °C would shift the northern distribution limit of Lymantria monacha (Linnaeus) and Lymantria dispar (Linnaeus) by 500–700 km, but these predictions ignore the effects of minimum winter temperatures. It was hypothesised that winter cold can limit range expansion due to high egg mortality in cold temperatures. 2. The present study determined the supercooling points of overwintering eggs of these forest pests, and compared these with recent minimum winter temperatures in the areas of origin of three populations. Eggs from one L. monacha and one L. dispar population from the species' core distribution area in Germany were included, as well as L. monacha eggs from Finland, near the northern border of the species' distribution. 3. The median supercooling points of both species were more than 10 °C lower than the median minimum winter temperatures of their areas of origin, and the median supercooling points of Finnish and German L. monacha eggs did not differ significantly. The median supercooling point of German L. monacha eggs differed from that of German L. dispar eggs. 4. Previous literature on the topic is referenced, and translations of the old German and Russian sources are given. Based on these results, it is argued that the frequent claim that L. monacha eggs can survive cold down to ?40 °C is unsupported, with a value near ?30 °C being a more likely limit. 5. Winter cold alone can limit the predicted range shifts of these species to 200–300 km under 3.6–5.8 °C increase scenarios, which is less than half the value of earlier estimates.     

Activation of the β-carbonic anhydrase from the protozoan pathogen Trichomonas vaginalis with amines and amino acids

We report the first activation study of the β-class carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) encoded in the genome of the protozoan pathogen Trichomonas vaginalis, TvaCA1. Among 24 amino acid and amine activators investigated, derivatives incorporating a second carboxylic moiety, such as L-Asp, L- and D-Glu, were devoid of activating effects up to concentrations of 50 µM within the assay system, whereas the corresponding compounds with a CONH₂ moiety, i.e. L-Gln and L-Asn showed modest activating effects, with activation constants in the range of 26.9 − 32.5 µM. Moderate activation was observed with L- and D-DOPA, histamine, dopamine, serotonin, (2-Aminoethyl)pyridine/piperazine and morpholine (K_A‘s ranging between 8.3 and 14.5 µM), while the best activators were L-and D-Trp, L-and D-Tyr and 4-amino-Phe, which showed K_A‘s ranging between 3.0 and 5.1 µM. Understanding in detail the activation mechanism of β-CAs may be relevant for the design of enzyme activity modulators with potential clinical significance.     

Northward shift in temperature sum isoclines may favour Ips typographus outbreaks in European Russia

1. As the development of the eight‐toothed spruce bark beetle Ips typographus is temperature‐dependent, climate change may encourage development of its additional generations per year and facilitate mass outbreaks further north than previously known.
2. The aim of the study was to analyse historical changes in effective temperature sums (ETSs) and early season swarming weather for I. typographus in different forest zones of European Russia between 1960 and 2016. The difference in ETSs was analysed with linear regression using daily temperature data from the 30 meteorological stations. Historical data regarding the location of I. typographus outbreaks were examined and changes in their distribution during the entire study period were analysed.
3. There was a substantial increase in ETSs, especially in the latter half of the study period. Increased ETSs coincided with more favourable conditions for swarming of I. typographus. Areas with favourable ETSs for the complete development of bivoltine populations of I. typographus (>1500 DD) shifted northwards on average 450 km during the entire study period.
4. The northward shift of ETSs may enhance the transition from univoltine to bivoltine life cycles of I. typographus in the south and middle taiga and from bivoltine to trivoltine life cycles in conifer‐broadleaf forests.

     

Transfer factor immunotherapy of recurrent non-infiltrative papillary bladder tumours

Summary The effect of transfer factor (TF) immunotherapy on recurrent papillary bladder tumours (grade 0 papilloma and grade 1 and grade 2 carcinoma) has been studied. In a double blind study 27 patients received either TF derived from nonimmune normal donors or physiological saline. The follow-up period was 1 year. There was no difference between the two treatment groups with regard to clinical responses. Circulating immune complexes and responses to various skin test antigens were also analysed. Responses to skin test antigens and the level of circulating immune complexes did not correlate with clinical status, and TF had no effect on these parameters.     

Effects of stump extraction on the carbon sequestration in Norway spruce forest ecosystems under varying thinning regimes with implications for fossil fuel substitution

The overall aim of this work was to assess the effects of stump and root extraction on the long‐term carbon sequestration and average carbon storage in the integrated production of energy biomass and stemwood (pulpwood and sawlogs) under different thinning options (unthinned, current thinning and 30% increased thinning thresholds from current thresholds). The growth and development of Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst.) stands on a fertile site (Oxalis‐myrtillus) in central Finland (Joensuu region: 62?39?N, 29?37?E) was simulated for two consecutive rotation periods (80 + 80 years/160 years). Stemwood and energy biomass production, carbon sequestration, and average storage and emission dynamics related to the entire production process of biomass were assessed. The assessment was done by employing a life cycle assessment tool, which combines simulation outputs from an ecosystem model and the related technosystem emissions. It was found that stump and root harvesting constituted 21–36% of the total biomass production (energy biomass and stemwood) depending on the thinning regimes and rotation period. No considerable effect was found in stemwood production when stump and root extraction was compared to the regime in which stumps and roots were left at the site. Stump and root extraction did not affect carbon sequestration on the following rotation and, in fact, an increase in forest growth was found for the unthinned and 30% increased thresholds compared to the first rotation. The results also showed that if current thinning threshold is increased, win‐win situations are possible, especially when climate change mitigation is the main concern. The substitution of coal with energy biomass is possible without reducing carbon storage in the forest ecosystem. The utilization of energy biomass, including stumps and roots, instead of coal could reduce up to 33% of emissions over two rotation periods depending on the thinning regimes. Even if stumps and roots were excluded, a maximum of 19% carbon emissions could be reduced by using only logging residues.     

Promoting blood vessel growth in ischemic diseases: challenges in translating preclinical potential into clinical success

Angiogenic therapy, which involves the use of an exogenous stimulus to promote blood vessel growth, is an attractive approach for the treatment of ischemic diseases. It has been shown in animal models that the stimulation of blood vessel growth leads to the growth of the whole vascular tree, improvement of ischemic tissue perfusion and improved muscle aerobic energy metabolism. However, very few positive results have been gained from Phase 2 and 3 clinical angiogenesis trials. Many reasons have been given for the failures of clinical trials, including poor transgene expression (in gene-therapy trials) and instability of the vessels induced by therapy. In this Review, we discuss the selection of preclinical models as one of the main reasons why clinical translation has been unsuccessful thus far. This issue has received little attention, but could have had dramatic implications on the expectations of clinical trials. We highlight crucial differences between human patients and animal models with regards to blood flow and pressure, as well as issues concerning the chronic nature of ischemic diseases in humans. We use these as examples to demonstrate why the results from preclinical trials might have overestimated the efficacy of angiogenic therapies developed to date. We also suggest ways in which currently available animal models of ischemic disease could be improved to better mimic human disease conditions, and offer advice on how to work with existing models to avoid overestimating the efficacy of new angiogenic therapies.     

Wintertime changes in the ultrastructure and metabolism of the microsporangiate strobili of the Scotch pine

Terminal buds of Pinus silvestris L. containing microsporangiate strobilus primordia were collected once a month throughout the winter. The electron microscopic studies indicated that in October and December, the cells of the strobili contained a large number of vacuoles, a portion of which was supposedly autophagic, and stacked rough endoplasmic reticulum. By February, the amount of these had decreased, and instead, a large population of dense bodies was visible. Additional phenomena, characteristic at this state, were the occurrences of highly uneven contours of the plasmalemma and of inclusions of various kinds between the plasmalemma and the cell wall. In March, autolysis was visible in a portion of cells outside the sporangia. In the sporangia the ground cytoplasm was thin but the number of organelles was increasing. In the April collections, cell divisions were visible. The amount of protein per dry weight increased during the winter reaching a peak in February. The activity of RNases, having optima of pH 5.0 and pH 7.5, was measured in two successive years. Both series showed a period of high activity during the middle of the winter. The exact timing of this period depended on the year in question. On the basis of these observations, the dormant period of the microsporangiate strobili of the Seotch pine is divided into three sub-periods. It is also suggested that the definition of dormancy of these structures should include a mentioning of alterations in the metabolical machinery of the cells.Abbreviations CH chromosome - CW cell wall - D dictyosome - ER endoplasmic reticulum - L lipid spherule - M mitochondrion - N nucleus - NE nuclear envelope - P plasma membrane - Pp proplastid - RER rough ER - V vacuole