Glucose starvation induces autophagy via ULK1-mediated activation of PIKfyve in an AMPK-dependent manner

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A structure-activity study on the bradykinin B1 antagonist desArg10-HOE 140: The alanine scan

Summary It has recently been shown that the biological activity of the second generation kinin B₁ receptor selective antagonist, desArg¹⁰ HOE 140, can be improved by specific amino acid substitutions. Starting from this observation, we undertook a systematic structure-activity relationship study of this antagonist, based on the alanine-scan technique, in order to obtain useful information for the rational design of more analogues. Our data indicate that the sequence of desArg¹⁰ HOE 140 does not tolerate the replacement by Ala of most of its residues, with the exception of Ser in position 7 and, to a lesser extent, D-Arg in position 1 and Hyp in position 4. The most critical residues appear to be Pro in position 3 and the C-terminal dipeptide Dtic-Oic; Ala replacement at these positions resultes in a total loss of activity. Moreover, replacement by Ala of Gly in position 5 reverts the activity of desArg¹⁰ HOE 140 to that of an agonist.     

Enterococcus seriolicida Is a Junior Synonym of Lactococcus garvieae,a Causative Agent of Septicemia and Meningoencephalitis in Fish

The reference strains of Enterococcus seriolicida (ATCC 49156^T) (T = type strain) and of Lactococcus garvieae (ATCC 43921^T) and 30 field strains of Gram-positive cocci isolated from diseased rainbow trout in Italy were found to be phenotypically (API 20 STREPT and API 50 CH) and genetically (DNA-DNA hybridization) similar. The high DNA-DNA homologies (70–100%) and the low ΔT_m(e) (less than 1.1°C) among these strains showed that Enterococcus seriolicida and Lactococcus garvieae are synonyms, describing a single bacterial species. E. seriolicida strains should be classified as L. garvieae, which must be considered as a major pathogen of freshwater and salt water fish with a world-wide distribution.     

Molecular evidence for hybridisation between the two living species of South American ratites: potential conservation implications

In a private wildlife research facility and rhea farm of Argentina, artificially incubated eggs of putative hybrid origin between the Greater Rhea (Rhea americana) and the Lesser Rhea (R. pennata) hatched and gave birth to healthy chicks. Molecular genotyping by the analysis of mitochondrial Cytochrome b (Cyt b) and nuclear Chromo-Helicase DNA binding (CHD1) gene sequences confirmed the hybrid origin of these chicks which were molecularly sexed as females. The possibility of hybridisation argues for careful management of captive populations of these species, especially if individuals are to be released in the wild for conservation purposes.