Role of endothelin in alpha-adrenoceptor coronary vasoconstriction

It has been proposed that alpha-adrenoceptor vasoconstriction in coronary resistance vessels results not from alpha-adrenoceptors on coronary smooth muscle but from alpha-adrenoceptors on cardiac myocytes that stimulate endothelin (ET) release. The present experiments tested the hypothesis that the alpha-adrenoceptor-mediated coronary vasoconstriction that normally occurs during exercise is due to endothelin. In conscious dogs (n = 10), the endothelin ET(A)/ET(B) receptor antagonist tezosentan (1 mg/kg iv) increased coronary venous oxygen tension at rest but not during treadmill exercise. This result indicates that basal endothelin levels produce a coronary vasoconstriction at rest that is not observed during the coronary vasodilation during exercise. In contrast, the alpha-adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine increased coronary venous oxygen tension during exercise but not at rest. The difference between the endothelin blockade and alpha-adrenoceptor blockade results indicates that alpha-adrenoceptor coronary vasoconstriction during exercise is not due to endothelin. However, in anesthetized dogs, bolus intracoronary injections of the alpha-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine produced reductions in coronary blood flow that were partially antagonized by endothelin receptor blockade with tezosentan. These results are best explained if alpha-adrenoceptor-induced endothelin release requires high pharmacological concentrations of catecholamines that are not reached during exercise.     

Co-expression of mCysLT1 receptors and IK channels in Xenopus laevis oocytes elicits LTD4-stimulated IK current, independent of an increase in [Ca2+]i

Addition of LTD4 (10 nM) to Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing the mCysLT1 receptor together with hBK or hIK channels resulted in the activation of both channels secondary to an LTD4-induced increase in [Ca2+]i. In addition, the hIK channel is activated by low concentrations of LTD4 (<0.1 nM), which did not result in any increase in [Ca2+]i. Even though activation of hIK by low concentrations of LTD4 was independent of an increase in [Ca2+]i, a certain "permissive" level of [Ca2+]i was required for its activation, since buffering of intracellular Ca2+ by EGTA completely abolished the response to LTD4. Neither hTBAK1 nor hTASK2 was activated following stimulations with LTD4 (0.1 and 100 nM).     

Cytokine release of human NK cells solely triggered with Poly I:C

Natural killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in innate immunity as effectors against tumor cells and pathogen-infected cells. Our data show for the first time that NK cells produce high levels of cytokines interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in response to stimulation with the artificial RNA analogue Poly I:C without additional cytokines or contact to other types of immune cells. An incubation period of 48 h is necessary to induce cytokine release by Poly I:C. These data suggest Poly I:C as a competent direct activator and immunomodulator of NK cell functions.     

Responses of Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) to Supplemental UV-B Radiation and Selenium Under Field Conditions

In greenhouse experiments, selenium (Se) has been shown to defend plants against detrimental effects of heavy UV-B radiation stress. The aim of this study was to investigate whether this positive effect can be found in open-field conditions with enhancement of UV-B radiation. In the experiment, conducted with strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa, cultivars “Jonsok” and “Polka”) over two growing seasons, plants were exposed to UV-B radiation (including UV-A) and cultivated without Se or supplied with Se added at two levels (0.1 and 1.0 mg kg⁻¹). The plants were monitored for growth, flavonoids, chlorophyll fluorescence, net photosynthesis as well as tissue and cell structure. Photosystem II was observed to be sensitive to UV-B stress under field conditions. In the leaves, a decrease in F_v/F_m was seen at the end of the growing season, implying a cumulative effect of UV-B stress. Several parameters, especially cell and tissue structures, were affected by UV-B and UV-A treatments, which proves the need for UV-A control in outdoor UV-B supplementation studies. Addition of Se did not ameliorate the harmful effects of UV-B but the lower Se-increment level increased leaf growth. The effects of UV-B and Se differed during the two experimental years, indicating the need to repeat experiments during several growing seasons.     

Sponge systematics by starfish: predators distinguish cryptic sympatric species of Caribbean fire sponges, Tedania ignis and Tedania klausi n. sp. (Demospongiae, Poecilosclerida)

Tedania ignis (Duchassaing and Michelotti, 1864), the fire sponge, is common throughout the tropical western Atlantic, and is a popular species for studies of ecology, larval biology, and chemistry. T. ignis is readily consumed by seagrass-dwelling starfish, and so finding sponges similar to this species in a seagrass meadow provoked closer scrutiny. A variety of ecological, morphological, and molecular traits consistently and unambiguously distinguish T. ignis from a cryptic sympatric congener, here described as Tedania klausi, n. sp. Starfish that consume T. ignis reject T. klausi, and angelfish consume T. klausi less quickly. In Belize, T. ignis individuals transplanted to a seagrass meadow inhabited by T. klausi were consumed by starfish, and individuals of T. klausi transplanted to a mangrove-lined creek in which T. ignis flourishes, died. In Panama, many individuals of T. klausi were diseased in May 2004, while adjacent individuals of T. ignis were unaffected. Spicule types are the same in the two forms, and sizes overlap; but within individuals, the relative sizes of styles and tylotes differ in a pattern that distinguishes the two forms. Comparison of DNA sequences for mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) revealed that 8 single nucleotide mutations consistently differ between the two forms regardless of habitat (seagrass vs. mangrove) and geographically separated sites (Belize vs. Panama).     

Detecting un-authorized genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and derived materials

Genetically modified plants, in the following referred to as genetically modified organisms or GMOs, have been commercially grown for almost two decades. In 2010 approximately 10% of the total global crop acreage was planted with GMOs (James, 2011). More than 30 countries have been growing commercial GMOs, and many more have performed field trials. Although the majority of commercial GMOs both in terms of acreage and specific events belong to the four species: soybean, maize, cotton and rapeseed, there are another 20 + species where GMOs are commercialized or in the pipeline for commercialization. The number of GMOs cultivated in field trials or for commercial production has constantly increased during this time period. So have the number of species, the number of countries involved, the diversity of novel (added) genetic elements and the global trade. All of these factors contribute to the increasing complexity of detecting and correctly identifying GMO derived material. Many jurisdictions, including the European Union (EU), legally distinguish between authorized (and therefore legal) and un-authorized (and therefore illegal) GMOs. Information about the developments, field trials, authorizations, cultivation, trade and observations made in the official GMO control laboratories in different countries around the world is often limited, despite several attempts such as the OECD BioTrack for voluntary dissemination of data. This lack of information inevitably makes it challenging to detect and identify GMOs, especially the un-authorized GMOs. The present paper reviews the state of the art technologies and approaches in light of coverage, practicability, sensitivity and limitations. Emphasis is put on exemplifying practical detection of un-authorized GMOs. Although this paper has a European (EU) bias when examples are given, the contents have global relevance.     

NADPH-dependent thioredoxin reductase and 2-Cys peroxiredoxins are needed for the protection of Mg-protoporphyrin monomethyl ester cyclase

The chloroplast-localized NADPH-dependent thioredoxin reductase (NTRC) has been found to be able to reduce hydrogen peroxide scavenging 2-Cys peroxiredoxins. We show that the Arabidopsis ntrc mutant is perturbed in chlorophyll biosynthesis and accumulate intermediates preceding protochlorophyllide formation. A specific involvement of NTRC during biosynthesis of protochlorophyllide is indicated from in vitro aerobic cyclase assays in which the conversion of Mg-protoporhyrin monomethyl ester into protochlorophyllide is stimulated by addition of the NTRC/2-Cys peroxiredoxin system. These findings support the hypothesis that this NADPH-dependent hydrogen peroxide scavenging system is particularly important during periods with limited reducing power from photosynthesis, e.g. under chloroplast biogenesis.     

Nitric oxide degradation by potato tuber mitochondria: evidence for the involvement of external NAD(P)H dehydrogenases

The mechanisms of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis in plants have been extensively investigated. NO degradation can be just as important as its synthesis in controlling steady-state levels of NO. Here, we examined NO degradation in mitochondria isolated from potato tubers and the contribution of the respiratory chain to this process. NO degradation was faster in mitochondria energized with NAD(P)H than with succinate or malate. Oxygen consumption and the inner membrane potential were transiently inhibited by NO in NAD(P)H-energized mitochondria, in contrast to the persistent inhibition seen with succinate. NO degradation was abolished by anoxia and superoxide dismutase, which suggested that NO was consumed by its reaction with superoxide anion (O2(-)). Antimycin-A stimulated and myxothiazol prevented NO consumption in succinate- and malate-energized mitochondria. Although favored by antimycin-A, NAD(P)H-mediated NO consumption was not abolished by myxothiazol, indicating that an additional site of O2(-) generation, besides complex III, stimulated NO degradation. Larger amounts of O2(-) were generated in NAD(P)H- compared to succinate- or malate-energized mitochondria. NAD(P)H-mediated NO degradation and O2(-) production were stimulated by free Ca2+ concentration. Together, these results indicate that Ca2+-dependent external NAD(P)H dehydrogenases, in addition to complex III, contribute to O2(-) production that favors NO degradation in potato tuber mitochondria.