Genetic Diversity of the Cryptococcus gattii Species Complex in Mato Grosso State,Brazil

Mycopathologia - Cryptococcosis is caused by fungi of the genus Cryptococcus. Owing to its importance, this study aimed to analyze the genetic diversity of C. gattii isolates from animals, humans,...     

Early calcium handling imbalance in pressure overload-induced heart failure with nearly normal left ventricular ejection fraction

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a common clinical syndrome associated with high morbidity and mortality. Therapeutic options are limited due to a lack of knowledge of the pathology and its evolution. We investigated the cellular phenotype and Ca²⁺ handling in hearts recapitulating HFpEF criteria. HFpEF was induced in a portion of male Wistar rats four weeks after abdominal aortic banding. These animals had nearly normal ejection fraction and presented elevated blood pressure, lung congestion, concentric hypertrophy, increased LV mass, wall stiffness, impaired active relaxation and passive filling of the left ventricle, enlarged left atrium, and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Left ventricular cell contraction was stronger and the Ca²⁺ transient larger. Ca²⁺ cycling was modified with a RyR2 mediated Ca²⁺ leak from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and impaired Ca²⁺ extrusion through the Sodium/Calcium exchanger (NCX), which promoted an increase in diastolic Ca²⁺. The Sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ ATPase (SERCA2a) and NCX protein levels were unchanged. The phospholamban (PLN) to SERCA2a ratio was augmented in favor of an inhibitory effect on the SERCA2a activity. Conversely, PLN phosphorylation at the calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII)-specific site (PLN-Thr17), which promotes SERCA2A activity, was increased as well, suggesting an adaptive compensation of Ca²⁺ cycling. Altogether our findings show that cardiac remodeling in hearts with a HFpEF status differs from that known for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. These data also underscore the interdependence between systolic and diastolic “adaptations” of Ca²⁺ cycling with complex compensative interactions between Ca²⁺ handling partner and regulatory proteins.     

Dual function of eIF3j/Hcr1p in processing 20 S pre-rRNA and translation initiation

eIF3j/Hcr1p, a protein associated with eIF3, was shown to bind to, and stabilize, the multifactor complex containing eIFs 1, 2, 3, and 5 and Met-tRNA(i)(Met), whose formation is required for an optimal rate of translation initiation. Here we present evidence that eIF3j/Hcr1p is an RNA binding protein that enhances a late step in 40 S ribosome maturation involving cleavage of the 20 S precursor of 18 S rRNA in the cytoplasm. Immunofluorescence staining shows that eIF3j/Hcr1p is localized predominantly in the cytoplasm. The hcr1Delta mutant exhibits a decreased amount of 40 S subunits, hypersensitivity to paromomycin, and increased levels of 20 S pre-rRNA. Combining the hcr1Delta mutation with drs2Delta or rps0aDelta, deletions of two other genes involved in the same step of 40 S subunit biogenesis, produced a synthetic growth defect. p35, the human ortholog of eIF3j/Hcr1p, partially complemented the slow growth phenotype conferred by hcr1Delta when overexpressed in yeast. heIF3j/p35 was found physically associated with yeast eIF3 and 43 S initiation complexes in vitro and in vivo. Because it did not complement the 40 S biogenesis defect of hcr1Delta, it appears that heIF3j can substitute for eIF3j/Hcr1p only in translation initiation. We conclude that eIF3j/Hcr1p is required for rapid processing of 20 S to 18 S rRNA besides its role in translation initiation, providing an intriguing link between ribosome biogenesis and translation.     

Changes in steroid hormone profiles and ovarian histology during salmon pituitary-induced vitellogenesis and ovulation in female New Zealand longfinned eels, Anguilla dieffenbachii gray

To assess whether induced vitellogenesis in longfinned eels mimics that in naturally maturing conspecifics, female eels were artificially matured and steroid hormone status and oocyte cytology during oogenesis were evaluated. Successful induction of vitellogenesis was evident from the presence of yolk granules in the ooplasm of salmon pituitary homogenate (SPH)-injected, but not saline-, 17-hydroxyprogesterone-, and/or gonadotropin-releasing hormone-treated fish. In SPH-treated females, the migratory nucleus stage was reached after 33-53 days, followed by ovulation around 30 hours after induction of final maturation and ovulation. Only a portion of the germ cells matured, although resumption of vitellogenesis was seen in the majority of oocytes. In contrast, in ovaries of saline-injected controls, the most advanced oocytes were early vitellogenic. Atretic follicles were observed in ovaries of all eels, but abundance was greater in controls than in SPH-treated fish. SPH injections elevated plasma levels of estradiol-17beta and androgens, but not pregnenes, from within three days of treatment. Our results indicate that sex steroid levels in midvitellogenic hormone-treated females are similar to those in wild midvitellogenic females. In contrast, differences in yolk morphology of midvitellogenic follicles were seen between SPH-treated and wild females, especially in the second crop of midvitellogenic-sized oocytes measuring 300-400 microm in diameter. We discuss whether the observed differences affect egg quality, and perhaps explain the short life span of captive-bred eel larvae. J. Exp. Zool. 289:119-129, 2001.     

High expression level of a gene coding for a chloroplastic amino acid selective channel protein is correlated to cold acclimation in cereals

A cold-regulated gene (cor tmc-ap3) coding for a putative chloroplastic amino acid selective channel protein was isolated from cold-treated barley leaves combining the differential display and the 5-RACE techniques. Cor tmc-ap3 is expressed at low level under normal growing temperature, and its expression is strongly enhanced after cold treatment. A positive correlation between the expression of cor tmc-ap3 and frost tolerance was found both among barley cultivars and among cereal species. The COR TMC-AP3 protein was expressed in vitro, purified and used to raise a polyclonal antibody. Western analysis showed that the cor tmc-ap3 gene product is localized to the chloroplastic outer envelope fraction, supporting its putative function. The frost-resistant winter cultivar Onice accumulated COR TMC-AP3 more rapidly and at a higher level than the frost-susceptible spring cultivar Gitane. After 28 days of cold acclimation the winter cultivar had about 2-fold more protein than the spring genotype. All these results suggest that an increased amount of a chloroplastic amino acid selective channel protein could be required for cold acclimation in cereals. Hypotheses about the role of COR TMC-AP3 during the hardening process are discussed.     

Vanadate induces apoptosis in epidermal JB6 Pplus cells via hydrogen peroxide-mediated reactions

Apoptosis is a physiological mechanism for the control of DNA integrity in mammalian cells. Vanadium induces both DNA damage and apoptosis. It is suggested that vanadium-induced apoptosis serves to eliminate DNA-damaged cells. This study is designed to clarify a role of reactive oxygen species in the mechanism of apoptosis induced by vanadium. We established apoptosis model with murine epidermal JB6 P⁺ cells in the response to vanadium stimulation. Apoptosis was detected by a cell death ELISA assay and morphological analysis. The result shows that apoptosis induced by vanadate is dose-dependent, reaching its saturation level at a concentration of 100 M vanadate. Vanadyl (IV) can also induce apoptosis albeit with lesser potency. A role of reactive oxygen species was analyzed by multiple reagents including specific scavengers of different reactive oxygen species. The result shows that vanadate-induced apoptosis is enhanced by NADPH, superoxide dismutase and sodium formate, but was inhibited by catalase and deferoxamine. Cells exposed to vanadium consume more molecular oxygen and at the same time, produce more H₂O₂ as measured by the change in fluorescence of scopoletin in the presence of horseradish peroxidase. This change in oxygen consumption and H₂O₂ production is enhanced by NADPH. Taken together, these results show that vanadate induces apoptosis in epidermal cells and H₂O₂ induced by vanadate plays a major role in this process.     

Essential role for ADAM19 in cardiovascular morphogenesis

Congenital heart disease is the most common form of human birth defects, yet much remains to be learned about its underlying causes. Here we report that mice lacking functional ADAM19 (mnemonic for a disintegrin and metalloprotease 19) exhibit severe defects in cardiac morphogenesis, including a ventricular septal defect (VSD), abnormal formation of the aortic and pulmonic valves, leading to valvular stenosis, and abnormalities of the cardiac vasculature. During mouse development, ADAM19 is highly expressed in the conotruncus and the endocardial cushion, structures that give rise to the affected heart valves and the membranous ventricular septum. ADAM19 is also highly expressed in osteoblast-like cells in the bone, yet it does not appear to be essential for bone growth and skeletal development. Most adam19(-/-) animals die perinatally, likely as a result of their cardiac defects. These findings raise the possibility that mutations in ADAM19 may contribute to human congenital heart valve and septal defects.