Functional identification of galactosyltransferases (SCGs) required for species-specific modifications of the lipophosphoglycan adhesin controlling Leishmania major-sand fly interactions

Lipophosphoglycan (LPG) is an abundant surface molecule that plays key roles in the infectious cycle of Leishmania major. The dominant feature of LPG is a polymer of phosphoglycan (PG) (6Galbeta1,4Manalpha1-PO(4)) repeating units. In L. major these are extensively substituted with Gal(beta1,3) side chains, which are required for binding to midgut lectins and survival. We utilized evolutionary polymorphisms in LPG structure and cross-species transfections to recover genes encoding the LPG side chain beta1,3-galactosyltransferases (betaGalTs). A dispersed family of six SCG genes was recovered, whose predicted proteins exhibited characteristics of eukaryotic GalTs. At least four of these proteins showed significant LPG side chain betaGalT activity; SCG3 exhibited initiating GalT activity whereas SCG2 showed both initiating and elongating GalT activity. However, the activity of SCG2 was context-dependent, being largely silent in its normal genomic milieu, and different strains show considerable variation in the extent of LPG galactosylation. Thus the L. major genome encodes a family of SCGs with varying specificity and activity, and we propose that strain-specific LPG galactosylation patterns reflect differences in their expression.     

Lactobacillus reuteri CRL1098 produces cobalamin

We found that Lactobacillus reuteri CRL1098, a lactic acid bacterium isolated from sourdough, is able to produce cobalamin. The sugar-glycerol cofermentation in vitamin B(12)-free medium showed that this strain was able to reduce glycerol through a well-known cobalamin-dependent reaction with the formation of 1,3-propanediol as a final product. The cell extract of L. reuteri corrected the coenzyme B12 requirement of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis ATCC 7830 and allowed the growth of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (metE cbiB) and Escherichia coli (metE) in minimal medium. Preliminary genetic studies of cobalamin biosynthesis genes from L. reuteri allowed the identification of cob genes which encode the CobA, CbiJ, and CbiK enzymes involved in the cobalamin pathway. The cobamide produced by L. reuteri, isolated in its cyanide form by using reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography, showed a UV-visible spectrum identical to that of standard cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12).     

Tethered-function analysis reveals that elF4E can recruit ribosomes independent of its binding to the cap structure

The cap-binding complex elF4F is involved in ribosome recruitment during the initiation phase of translation and is composed of three subunits: elF4E, -4G, and -4A. The m7GpppN cap-binding subunit eIF4E binds the N-terminal region of eIF4G, which in turn contacts eIF4A through its central and C-terminal regions. We have previously shown, through a tethered-function approach in transfected HeLa cells, that the binding of eIF4G to an mRNA is sufficient to drive productive translation (De Gregorio et al., EMBO J, 1999, 18:4865-4874). Here we exploit this approach to assess which of the other subunits of elF4F can exert this function. eIF4AI or mutant forms of eIF4E were fused to the RNA-binding domain of the lambda phage antiterminator protein N to generate the chimeric proteins lambda4A, lambda4E-102 (abolished cap binding), and lambda4E-73-102 (impaired binding to both, the cap and eIF4G). The fusion proteins were directed to a bicistronic reporter mRNA by means of interaction with a specific lambda-N binding site (boxB) in the intercistronic space. We show that lambda4E-102, but neither the double mutant lambda4E-73-102 nor lambda4A, suffices to promote translation of the downstream gene in this assay. Coimmunoprecipitation analyses confirmed that all lambda-fusion proteins are capable of interacting with the appropriate endogenous eIF4F subunits. These results reveal that eIF4E, as well as eIF4G, can drive ribosome recruitment independent of a physical link to the cap structure. In spite of its interaction with endogenous eIF4G, lambda4A does not display this property. eIF4A thus appears to supply an essential auxiliary function to eIF4F that may require its ability to cycle into and out of this complex.     

Synthesis and antiparasitic activity of 1H-benzimidazole derivatives

Compounds 1-18 have been synthesized and tested in vitro against the protozoa Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica and the helminth Trichinella spiralis. Inhibition of rat brain tubulin polymerization was also measured and compared for each compound. Results indicate that most of the compounds tested were more active as antiprotozoal agents than Metronidazole and Albendazole. None of the compounds was as active as Albendazole against T. spiralis. Although only compounds 3, 9 and 15 (2-methoxycarbonylamino derivatives) inhibited tubulin polymerization, these were not the most potent antiparasitic compounds.     

Homocysteine modifies development of neurulation and dorsal root ganglia in chick embryos

BACKGROUND: The formation of the neural tube (neurulation) involves two mechanisms: primary and secondary neurulation. In chicks, there is also an overlap zone, where both mechanisms work together. Homocysteine (Hcy) may have an important teratogenic role in neural tube defects (NTD) when folic acid levels are considered normal. Recently, Hcy capability to generate NTD and modify neural crest cell migration has been demonstrated in chick embryos. This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of Hcy on neurulation and the development of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). METHODS: Chick embryos were treated with L-Hcy thiolactone 20 micromol to produce the highest rate of survival with embryos carrying neural tube defect (NTD) in the spine. Embryos at stages (st) 3-10 were treated and harvested at st 18-23. Only externally normal embryos or those carrying spinal NTD embryos were considered. RESULTS: Histological sections of Hcy-treated embryos showed: open spina bifida (39% of embryos), more than one tube forming the spinal cord (26%), disorganized spinal cord (26%), always affecting lumbosacral regions, probably in the overlap zone. Additionally, 32% of embryos had small and continuous DRG, associated with a slimmed roof plate. Three-dimensional reconstruction showed unsegmented DRG until the C8 ganglion level. There was a 75% reduction of C3 DRG cells in treated embryos in comparison to untreated ganglia. CONCLUSION: Hcy teratogenicity in avian embryos affected the neural tube in the overlap zone, secondary neurulation and the cervical DRG.     

The cardiac mechanical stretch sensor machinery involves a Z disc complex that is defective in a subset of human dilated cardiomyopathy

Muscle cells respond to mechanical stretch stimuli by triggering downstream signals for myocyte growth and survival. The molecular components of the muscle stretch sensor are unknown, and their role in muscle disease is unclear. Here, we present biophysical/biochemical studies in muscle LIM protein (MLP) deficient cardiac muscle that support a selective role for this Z disc protein in mechanical stretch sensing. MLP interacts with and colocalizes with telethonin (T-cap), a titin interacting protein. Further, a human MLP mutation (W4R) associated with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) results in a marked defect in T-cap interaction/localization. We propose that a Z disc MLP/T-cap complex is a key component of the in vivo cardiomyocyte stretch sensor machinery, and that defects in the complex can lead to human DCM and associated heart failure.     

Tobacco-smoke exposure indicators and urinary mutagenicity

The protective effect of calcium given orally by gavage with two doses (40 and 80mg/kg body weight) was evaluated against clastogenecity induced by lead acetate with two concentrations (200 and 400mg/kg diet) on bone marrow and spermatocyte cells of mice in vivo. The parameter screened was percentage of chromosomal aberrations with and without gaps and sperm abnormalities. Statistical analyses indicated the protection efficacy of calcium with the high dose rather than the other in both types of mouse cells.The observation from the laboratory tests, dealing that lead acetate can be considered as an environmental genotoxic material. We recommended that it must be administered of calcium (as calcium chloride) as a protective agent to reduce the genotoxic effect of lead in the somatic and germ cells.     

New palladacyclopentadiene complexes containing an N,P-donor setting. Crystal structure of [Pd{C4(COOMe)4}(o-Ph2PC6H4CHNPr)]

The synthesis of palladacyclopentadiene derivatives with the mixed-donor bidentate ligands o-Ph₂PC₆H₄CHNR (N^∧P) has been achieved. The new complexes of general formula [Pd{C₄(COOMe)₄}(o-Ph₂PC₆H₄CHNR)] [R=Me (1), Et (2), ⁱPr (3), ^tBu (4), NHMe (5)] have been prepared by reaction between the precursor [Pd{C₄(COOMe)₄}]_n and the corresponding iminophosphine. The polymer complex [Pd{C₄(COOMe)₄}]_n also reacts with pyridazine (C₄H₄N₂) to give the insoluble dinuclear complex [Pd{C₄(COOMe)₄}(μ-C₄H₄N₂)]₂ (6), which has been successfully employed as precursor in the synthesis of pyridazine-based palladacyclopentadiene complexes. The reaction of 6 with tertiary phosphines yielded complexes containing an N,P-donor setting of formula [Pd{C₄(COOMe)₄}(C₄H₄N₂)(L)] (L=PPh₃ (7), PPh₂Me (8), P(p-MeOC₆H₄)₃ (9), P(p-FC₆H₄)₃ (10)). The new complexes were characterized by partial elemental analyses and spectroscopic methods (IR, ¹H, ¹⁹F and ³¹P NMR). The molecular structure of complex 3 has been determined by a single-crystal diffraction study, showing that the iminophosphine acts as chelating ligand with coordination around the palladium atom slightly distorted from the square-planar geometry.