Comparative Ni tolerance and accumulation potentials between Mesembryanthemum crystallinum (halophyte) and Brassica juncea: Metal accumulation,nutrient status and photosynthetic activity

Saline soils often constitute sites of accumulation of industrial and urban wastes contaminated by heavy metals. Halophytes, i.e. native salt-tolerant species, could be more suitable for heavy metal phytoextraction from saline areas than glycophytes, most frequently used so far. In the framework of this approach, we assess here the Ni phytoextraction potential in the halophyte Mesembryanthemum crystallinum compared with the model species Brassica juncea. Plants were hydroponically maintained for 21 days at 0, 25, 50, and 100 μM NiCl₂. Nickel addition significantly restricted the growth activity of both species, and to a higher extent in M. crystallinum, which did not, however, show Ni-related toxicity symptoms on leaves. Interestingly, photosynthesis activity, chlorophyll content and photosystem II integrity assessed by chlorophyll fluorescence were less impacted in Ni-treated M. crystallinum as compared to B. juncea. The plant mineral nutrition was differently affected by NiCl₂ exposure depending on the element, the species investigated and even the organ. In both species, roots were the preferential sites of Ni²⁺ accumulation, but the fraction translocated to shoots was higher in B. juncea than in M. crystallinum. The relatively good tolerance of M. crystallinum to Ni suggests that this halophyte species could be used in the phytoextraction of moderately polluted saline soils.     

FAK dimerization controls its kinase‐dependent functions at focal adhesions

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) controls adhesion‐dependent cell motility, survival, and proliferation. FAK has kinase‐dependent and kinase‐independent functions, both of which play major roles in embryogenesis and tumor invasiveness. The precise mechanisms of FAK activation are not known. Using x‐ray crystallography, small angle x‐ray scattering, and biochemical and functional analyses, we show that the key step for activation of FAK's kinase‐dependent functions—autophosphorylation of tyrosine‐397—requires site‐specific dimerization of FAK. The dimers form via the association of the N‐terminal FERM domain of FAK and are stabilized by an interaction between FERM and the C‐terminal FAT domain. FAT binds to a basic motif on FERM that regulates co‐activation and nuclear localization. FAK dimerization requires local enrichment, which occurs specifically at focal adhesions. Paxillin plays a dual role, by recruiting FAK to focal adhesions and by reinforcing the FAT:FERM interaction. Our results provide a structural and mechanistic framework to explain how FAK combines multiple stimuli into a site‐specific function. The dimer interfaces we describe are promising targets for blocking FAK activation.     

Trichoplaxin — A new membrane-active antimicrobial peptide from placozoan cDNA

A method based on the use of signal peptide sequences from antimicrobial peptide (AMP) precursors was used to mine a placozoa expressed sequence tag database and identified a potential antimicrobial peptide from Trichoplax adhaerens. This peptide, with predicted sequence FFGRLKSVWSAVKHGWKAAKSR is the first AMP from a placozoan species, and was named trichoplaxin. It was chemically synthesized and its structural properties, biological activities and membrane selectivity were investigated. It adopts an α-helical structure in contact with membrane-like environments and is active against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial species (including MRSA), as well as yeasts from the Candida genus. The cytotoxic activity, as assessed by the haemolytic activity against rat erythrocytes, U937 cell permeabilization to propidium iodide and MCF7 cell mitochondrial activity, is significantly lower than the antimicrobial activity. In tests with membrane models, trichoplaxin shows high affinity for anionic prokaryote-like membranes with good fit in kinetic studies. Conversely, there is a low affinity for neutral eukaryote-like membranes and absence of a dose dependent response. With high selectivity for bacterial cells and no homologous sequence in the UniProt, trichoplaxin is a new potential lead compound for development of broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs.     

Changes in content and fatty acid profiles of total lipids of two halophytes: Sesuvium portulacastrum and Mesembryanthemum crystallinum under cadmium stress

Changes in lipid content and fatty acid composition were determined in leaves of two halophytes: Sesuvium portulacastrum and Mesembryanthemum crystallinum exposed to cadmium (Cd). Experiments were carried out using young small-sized plants grown hydroponically (S. portulacastrum) or aseptically germinated seeds (M. crystallinum). Cd treatment was applied at different concentrations (0, 50, 100 and 200microM) for 30 days. At high cadmium doses (200microM), contents of total lipids (TL) and lipid fractions including galactolipids (GL), phospholipids (PL) and neutral lipids (NL) decreased more in M. crystallinum leaves than in S. portulacastrum leaves. Moreover, there were no significant changes in the total fatty acid composition of S. portulacastrum leaves during metal treatment. In contrast, M. crystallinum leaves showed a decrease in the percentage of the tri-unsaturated fatty acid (C18:3), and a corresponding increase in the percentage of di-unsaturated fatty acid (C18:2). These different responses suggested that S. portulacastrum seems to be more feasible for phytoremediation.     

Embryotoxicity and fetotoxicity following intraperitoneal administrations of hexavalent chromium to pregnant rats

Heavy metals are omnipresent in the environment, and industrial use has greatly increased their presence in soil, water and air. Their inevitable transfer to the human food chain remains an important environmental issue as many heavy metals cause a range of toxic effects, including developmental toxicity. Administration of chromium VI (1 and 2 mg/kg as potassium dichromate) through intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection during organogenesis (days 6 to 15 of gestation) in rats revealed embryo- and fetotoxic effects. Reduced fetal weight, retarded fetal development, number of fetuses per mother and high incidences of dead fetuses and resorptions in treated mothers were also observed. Gross morphological abnormalities, such as displayed form of edema, facial defect, lack of tail, hypotrophy, severs subdermal haemorrhage patches and hypotrophy of placenta were observed in fetuses after chromium VI-treated mothers. A skeletal development of fetuses presented an incomplete ossification in nasal, cranium, abdominal or caudal bones in rats treated with 1 mg/kg of chromium, whereas rats treated with 2 mg/kg showed ossification and absence of the sacral vertebrae compared with the control. At a higher dose of chromium, histological changes were found in fetuses with atrophy of theirs vital organs. Placental histological observations revealed a pronounced morphological alteration, with atrophy of decidual cells, a degenerated of chorionic villi and hypertrophy of blood lacuna. The present study suggests a risk to the developing embryo when the mother is exposed to a high concentration of chromium VI during organogenesis.     

Effects of hexavalent chromium on reproductive functions of male adult rats

Hexavalent chromium is an environmental contaminant which may be associated with reproductive abnormalities in male rats. In the present study, we examined the effect of hexavalent chromium on male reproductive function of rats. Male Wistar rats received a daily intraperitoneal injection of potassium dichromate (1 or 2 mg/kg body weight) for fifteen consecutive days. A decrease in testis weight and an increase in seminal vesicles and prostate weights were demonstrated after chromium treatment. Moreover, a dose-dependent increase in blood and testis chromium levels as well as an increase in FSH and a decrease in LH and testosterone serum levels were detected in treated rats. Histological analysis revealed pronounced morphological alterations with enlarged intracellular spaces, tissue loosening and dramatic loss of gametes in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules of treated rats. In addition, a decreased sperm motility and number of epididymal spermatozoa together with an increased sperm abnormality rate was found in chromium-treated rats in comparison to controls. In rats receiving the higher chromium dose, histological images presented considerably increased areas filled with seminal vesicle and prostate secretions. The mucosal crypts of seminal vesicles and the typical invaginations of prostate were altered. The results suggest that subacute treatment of potassium dichromate promotes reproductive system toxicity and affects testicular function of adult male rats.     

Effect of Action Verbs on the Performance of a Complex Movement

The interaction between language and motor action has been approached by studying the effect of action verbs, kinaesthetic imagery and mental subtraction upon the performance of a complex movement, the squat vertical jump (SVJ). The time of flight gave the value of the height of the SVJ and was measured with an Optojump® and a Myotest® apparatuses. The results obtained by the effects of the cognitive stimuli showed a statistically significant improvement of the SVJ performance after either loudly or silently pronouncing, hearing or reading the verb saute (jump in French language). Action verbs specific for other motor actions (pince = pinch, lèche = lick) or non-specific (bouge = move) showed no or little effect. A meaningless verb for the French subjects (tiáo = jump in Chinese) showed no effect as did rêve (dream), tombe (fall) and stop. The verb gagne (win) improved significantly the SVJ height, as did its antonym perds (lose) suggesting a possible influence of affects in the subjects’ performance. The effect of the specific action verb jump upon the heights of SVJ was similar to that obtained after kinaesthetic imagery and after mental subtraction of two digits numbers from three digits ones; possibly, in the latter, because of the intervention of language in calculus. It appears that the effects of the specific action verb jump did seem effective but not totally exclusive for the enhancement of the SVJ performance. The results imply an interaction among language and motor brain areas in the performance of a complex movement resulting in a clear specificity of the corresponding action verb. The effect upon performance may probably be influenced by the subjects’ intention, increased attention and emotion produced by cognitive stimuli among which action verbs.     

Screening for Ligninolytic Enzyme Production by Diverse Fungi from Tunisia

Summary This work represents the first report on the ability of autochthonous fungi from Tunisia to produce ligninolytic enzymes. Three hundred and fifteen fungal strains were isolated from different Tunisian biotopes. These fungal strains were firstly screened on solid media containing Poly R-478 or ABTS as indicator compounds that enabled the detection of lignin-modifying enzymes as specific color reactions. Of the 315 tested strains, 49 exhibited significant ABTS-oxidation activity expressed within the first week of incubation and only 18 strains decolorized the Poly R-478. Liquid cultivations and laccase, manganese peroxidase and lignin peroxidase activity assays of positive strains confirmed that eight efficient enzyme producers were found in the screening. These strains were attributed to the most closely related species using PCR amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer ‘ITS’ regions of the ribosomal DNA. The identification results showed fungal genera such as Oxyporus, Stereum and Trichoderma which have been only rarely reported as ligninolytic enzyme producers in the literature. Culture conditions and medium composition were optimized for the laccase producer Trametes trogii CTM 10156. This optimization resulted in high laccase production, 367 times more than in non-optimized conditions and which reached 110 U ml^-1 within 15 days of incubation.