Embryogenic suspension cultures of Pinus nigra Arn.: growth parameters and maturation ability

Suspension cultures have been established from embryogenic tissues of Pinus nigra initiated from immature zygotic embryos. The growth of tissues in liquid medium has been influenced by initial tissue weight used for the establishment of the cultures as well as by genotype. In most of the cases initial tissue weight 0.5 g was insufficient and the cultures showed poor growth and later degeneration. Higher amount of initial tissues (1 or 2.5 g) was more efficient for the establishment and proliferation of somatic embryos in liquid medium. The growth of suspension cultures was also cell line dependent. Somatic embryo maturation in liquid medium was very limited and no plantlet regeneration occurred. Cotyledonary somatic embryos developed and produced emblings when the suspension was plated on filter paper discs and cultured on solid maturation medium. Based on our experiments we can state that the embryogenic tissues are able to grow and proliferate in liquid medium but somatic embryo maturation and plantlet regeneration occur only on solid medium.     

Biological and structural characterization of new linear gomesin analogues with improved therapeutic indices

Gomesin (Gm) is a potent antimicrobial peptide isolated from the spider Acanthoscurria gomesiana. The two disulfide bridges Cys(2,15) and Cys(6,11) facilitate the folding of the molecule in a beta-hairpin structure, conferring on the peptide a high stability in human plasma. We report herein biological and structural features of new linear Gm analogues, obtained by combining the removal of both disulfide bridges and the incorporation of a D- or L-proline. Regarding their biological properties, two analogues, namely, [D-Thr(2,6,11,15), Pro(9)]-D-Gm and [Thr(2,6,11,15), D-Pro(9)]-Gm, are as potent as Gm against Candida albicans and only fourfold less against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In addition, at 100 microM they are approximately threefold less hemolytic than Gm. The best therapeutic indices were found for [D-Thr(2,6,11,15), Pro(9)]-D-Gm and for [(Des-pGlu(1), -Thr(2), -Arg(3)), Thr(6,11,15), D-Pro(9)]-Gm with a 32-fold increase of their activity against bacteria, and from 128- to 512-fold against yeast when compared with Gm. Regarding the stability, [D-Thr(2,6,11,15), Pro(9)]-D-Gm appeared to be the most resistant in human serum, along with [D-Thr(2,6,11,15), Pro(8)]-D-Gm and [Thr(2,6,11,15), D-Arg(4,16), D-Pro(9)]-Gm. When evaluating their conformation by CD spectroscopy in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), most linear analogues display beta-conformation characteristics. Moreover, considering its high therapeutic index and stability in serum, [D-Thr(2,6,11,15), Pro(9)]-D-Gm was further analyzed by NMR spectroscopy. (1)H NMR experiments in SDS micelles demonstrated that [D-Thr(2,6,11,15), Pro(9)]-D-Gm presents a conformation very similar to that of Gm. In our search for Gm analogues with enhanced potential for drug development, we demonstrated that designing cysteine-free analogues can improve the therapeutic index of Gm derivatives.     

The effect of chronic deafferentation on mental imagery: a case study

Visual- and motor imagery rely primarily on perceptual and motor processes, respectively. In healthy controls, the type of imagery used to solve a task depends on personal preference, task instruction, and task properties. But how does the chronic loss of proprioceptive and tactile sensory inputs from the body periphery influence mental imagery? In a unique case study, we investigated the imagery capabilities of the chronically deafferented patient IW when he was performing a mental rotation task. We found that IW''s motor imagery processes were impaired and that visual imagery processes were enhanced compared to controls. These results suggest that kinaesthetic afferent signals from the body periphery play a crucial role in enabling and maintaining central sensorimotor representations and hence the ability to incorporate kinaesthetic information into the imagery processes.     

The impact of human conflict on the genetics of Mastomys natalensis and Lassa virus in West Africa

Environmental changes have been shown to play an important role in the emergence of new human diseases of zoonotic origin. The contribution of social factors to their spread, especially conflicts followed by mass movement of populations, has not been extensively investigated. Here we reveal the effects of civil war on the phylogeography of a zoonotic emerging infectious disease by concomitantly studying the population structure, evolution and demography of Lassa virus and its natural reservoir, the rodent Mastomys natalensis, in Guinea, West Africa. Analysis of nucleoprotein gene sequences enabled us to reconstruct the evolutionary history of Lassa virus, which appeared 750 to 900 years ago in Nigeria and only recently spread across western Africa (170 years ago). Bayesian demographic inferences revealed that both the host and the virus populations have gone recently through severe genetic bottlenecks. The timing of these events matches civil war-related mass movements of refugees and accompanying environmental degradation. Forest and habitat destruction and human predation of the natural reservoir are likely explanations for the sharp decline observed in the rodent populations, the consequent virus population decline, and the coincident increased incidence of Lassa fever in these regions. Interestingly, we were also able to detect a similar pattern in Nigeria coinciding with the Biafra war. Our findings show that anthropogenic factors may profoundly impact the population genetics of a virus and its reservoir within the context of an emerging infectious disease.     

Publication bias in laboratory animal research: a survey on magnitude, drivers, consequences and potential solutions

Context

Publication bias jeopardizes evidence-based medicine, mainly through biased literature syntheses. Publication bias may also affect laboratory animal research, but evidence is scarce.

Objectives

To assess the opinion of laboratory animal researchers on the magnitude, drivers, consequences and potential solutions for publication bias. And to explore the impact of size of the animals used, seniority of the respondent, working in a for-profit organization and type of research (fundamental, pre-clinical, or both) on those opinions.

Design

Internet-based survey.

Setting

All animal laboratories in The Netherlands.

Participants

Laboratory animal researchers.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Median (interquartile ranges) strengths of beliefs on 5 and 10-point scales (1: totally unimportant to 5 or 10: extremely important).

Results

Overall, 454 researchers participated. They considered publication bias a problem in animal research (7 (5 to 8)) and thought that about 50% (32–70) of animal experiments are published. Employees (n = 21) of for-profit organizations estimated that 10% (5 to 50) are published. Lack of statistical significance (4 (4 to 5)), technical problems (4 (3 to 4)), supervisors (4 (3 to 5)) and peer reviewers (4 (3 to 5)) were considered important reasons for non-publication (all on 5-point scales). Respondents thought that mandatory publication of study protocols and results, or the reasons why no results were obtained, may increase scientific progress but expected increased bureaucracy. These opinions did not depend on size of the animal used, seniority of the respondent or type of research.

Conclusions

Non-publication of “negative” results appears to be prevalent in laboratory animal research. If statistical significance is indeed a main driver of publication, the collective literature on animal experimentation will be biased. This will impede the performance of valid literature syntheses. Effective, yet efficient systems should be explored to counteract selective reporting of laboratory animal research.     

Catalase −262C>T polymorphisms in Hungarian vitiligo patients and in controls: further acatalasemia mutations in Hungary

Catalase is the main regulator of hydrogen peroxide metabolism. In vitiligo patients there are conflicting data on its activity and no data on the effect of −262C>T polymorphism in the catalase gene. Blood catalase activity, −262C>T polymorphism and acatalasemia mutations were examined in 75 vitiligo patients and in 162 controls, in Hungary. We measured blood catalase activity and conducted analyses with PCR-SSCP, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining in combination with RFLP and nucleotide sequencing. Comparison of the wild (CC) genotype and the mutant (TT) genotype in the vitiligo patients revealed a non significant (P > 0.19) increase in blood catalase. Male controls with the CT genotype had significantly (P < 0.04) lower blood catalase activity than CC genotype controls. Female vitiligo patients with CC genotype had lower (P < 0.04) blood catalase than female controls. The frequency of wild genotype (CC) and C alleles is significantly (P < 0.04) decreased in Hungarian controls when compared to controls in Slovenia, Morocco, UK, Greece, Turkey, USA, China. The detection of a novel acatalasemia mutation (37C>T in exon 9) and the 113G>A (exon 9) mutation in Hungary are further proofs of genetic heterogeneity origin of acatalasemia mutations. In conclusion, the −262 C>T polymorphism has a reverse effect on blood catalase in vitiligo patients and in controls. In controls the mutant genotypes and alleles are more frequent in Hungary than in several other populations. The new acatalasemia mutations are further examples of heterogeneity of acatalasemia.     

Mobility of the von Hippel-Lindau tumour suppressor protein is regulated by kinesin-2

The von Hippel-Lindau tumour suppressor protein (pVHL) participates in many cellular processes including oxygen sensing, microtubule stability and primary cilia regulation. Recently, we identified ATP-dependent motor complex kinesin-2 to endogenously bind the full-length variant of VHL (pVHL30) in primary kidney cells, and mediate its association to microtubules. Here we show that pVHL also endogenously binds the neuronal kinesin-2 complex, which slightly differs from renal kinesin-2. To investigate the role of kinesin-2 in pVHL mobility, we performed fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) experiments in neuroblastoma cells. We observe that pVHL30 is a highly mobile cytoplasmic protein, which becomes an immobile centrosomal protein after ATP-depletion in living cells. This response to ATP-depletion is independent of GSK3beta-dependent phosphorylation of pVHL30. Furthermore, VHL variant alleles with reduced binding to kinesin-2 fail to respond to ATP-depletion. Accordingly, interfering with pVHL30-KIF3A interaction by either overexpressing a dominant negative construct or by reducing endogenous cellular levels of KIF3A by RNAi abolishes pVHL's response to ATP-depletion. From these data we suggest that mobility of a subcellular pool of pVHL is regulated by the ATP-dependent kinesin-2 motor. Kinesin-2 driven mobility of cytoplasmic pVHL might enable pVHL to function as a tumour suppressor.     

Effects of rs769217 and rs1001179 polymorphisms of catalase gene on blood catalase, carbohydrate and lipid biomarkers in diabetes mellitus

Abstract Oxidative stress and deficiency of the enzyme catalase, which is the primary scavenger of the oxidant H(2)O(2), may contribute to diabetes. The current study examined two polymorphisms in the catalase gene, -262C>nT in the promoter and 111C>T in exon 9, and their effects on blood catalase activity as well as on concentrations of blood glucose, haemoglobin A1c, triglyceride, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, ApoA-I and ApoB. Subjects were type-1 and type-2 diabetics. We evaluated PCR-single strand conformational polymorphism for 111C>T and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism for -?262C>T. TT genotype frequency of 111C>T polymorphism was increased in type-1 diabetes. Type-2 diabetics with the CC or CT genotypes had decreased catalase and increased glucose, hemoglobinA1c and ApoB. Type-2 diabetics who have TT genotype in -262C>T may have elevated risk for diabetes complications; these patients had the lowest mean catalase and HDL, as well as the highest glucose, haemoglobin A1c, cholesterol and ApoB.     

Polarisation, key to good localisation

Polarisation of cells is crucial for vectorial transport of ions and solutes. In literature, however, proteins specifically targeted to the apical or basolateral membrane are often studied in non-polarised cells. To investigate whether these data can be extrapolated to expression in polarised cells, we studied several membrane-specific proteins. In polarised MDCK cells, the Aquaporin-2 water channel resides in intracellular vesicles and apical membrane, while the vasopressin-type 2 receptor, anion-exchanger 1 (AE1) protein and E-Cadherin mainly localise to the basolateral membrane. In non-polarised MDCK cells, however, Aquaporin-2 localises, besides plasma membrane, mainly in the Golgi complex, while the others show a dispersed staining throughout the cell. Moreover, while AQP2 mutants in dominant nephrogenic diabetes insipidus are missorted to different organelles in polarised cells, they all predominantly localise to the Golgi complex in non-polarised MDCK cells. Additionally, the maturation of V2R, and likely its missorting, is affected in transiently-transfected compared to stably-transfected cells. In conclusion, we show that the use of stably-transfected polarised cells is crucial in interpreting the processing and the localisation of membrane targeted proteins.     

Electron microscopy of the paracervical (Frankenhäuser) ganglion of the adult rat

Summary The ultrastructure of the paracervical (Frankenhäuser) ganglion in the rat was studied after immersion or perfusion fixation with glutaraldehyde followed by post-osmification. This ganglion is located at the uterovaginal junction in the vicinity of arteria uterina and contains three neuronal cell types. (1) Principal neurons have a fine structure mainly similar to the ganglion cells of other autonomic ganglia. (2) Small granule-containing cells occur in clusters often close to fenestrated capillaries. They are divided into two subgroups according to the size of their cytoplasmic granules; those containing only small granulated vesicles of 800 to 1400 Å in diameter and those having also large granulated vesicles of 2000 to 3000 Å in diameter. (3) Vacuolated nerve cells are large cells that resemble the principal neurons in their cytoplasmic components, except that they contain one to ten vacuoles with corpuscles of different size and shape. The possible physiological significance of the small, granule-containing cells in the uterine function is discussed.