Red wine polyphenols correct vascular function injured by chronic carbon tetrachloride intoxication

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of red wine polyphenols extract Provinols? on the development of cardiovascular injury in the model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) intoxication. We followed the thoracic aorta vasoactivity and left ventricle nitric oxide (NO) synthase activity in male Wistar rats. In the preventive experiment lasting for 12 weeks the control group, the group receiving CCl4 (0.5 ml/kg) two times a week subcutaneously, the group receiving Provinols? (30 mg/kg/day) in drinking water and the group receiving CCl4+Provinols? was used. In the recovery experiment, the initial 12 weeks of CCl4 treatment were followed by 3 weeks of spontaneous recovery or recovery with Provinols?. CCl4-intoxication resulted in the injury of vasoactivity which was demonstrated by the inhibition of acetylcholine-induced relaxation as well as noradrenaline-induced contraction. In the preventive as well as recovery experiment administration of polyphenols refreshed endothelium-dependent relaxant response and normalized inhibited contraction to adrenergic stimuli. Provinols? treatment significantly increased NO-synthase activity in all groups. The results revealed beneficial effects of red wine polyphenols on vascular function injured by chronic CCl4 intoxication. The correction of endothelial function seems to be attributed to the activation of NO pathway by polyphenols.     

BROTHER OF FT AND TFL1 (BFT), a member of the FT/TFL1 family,shows distinct pattern of expression during the vegetative growth of Arabidopsis

Transition to the flowering stage is precisely controlled by a few classes of regulatory molecules. BROTHER OF FT AND TFL1 (BFT) is a member of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT)/TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1) family, an important class of flower development regulators with unidentified biochemical function. BFT has a TFL1-like activity and plays a role in axillary inflorescence development. To elucidate the expression pattern of BFT, we analyzed the subcellular localization and conditional expression of BFT in this study. We generated 35S::BFT:GFP plants to investigate the subcellular localization of BFT protein. 35S::BFT:GFP plants showed late flowering, similarly as did 35S::BFT plants. BFT:GFP fusion protein was localized in the nucleus and the plasma membrane, which was different from the localization pattern of FT and TFL1. BFT expression was induced by abiotic stress conditions. ABA, drought, and osmotic stress treatments induced BFT expression, whereas cold, salt, and heat stress conditions did not, suggesting that BFT plays a role in regulating flowering time and inflorescence structure under drought conditions. The induction pattern of BFT was different from those of other FT/TFL1 family genes. Our studies indicated that BFT showed a distinct expression pattern from its homologous genes during the vegetative growth in Arabidopsis.Key words: flowering time, flowering locus T, terminal flower 1, brother of FT and TFL1, abiotic stress, subcellullar localizationThe FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT)/TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1) family is a small gene family whose members play a pivotal role in flower development in Arabidopsis. The family includes FT, TFL1, TWIN SISTER OF FT (TSF), Arabidopsis thaliana CENTRORADIALIS homologue (ATC), MOTHER OF FT AND TFL1 (MFT) and BROTHER OF FT AND TFL1 (BFT).^{3,5,6,9,15,17} FT is a floral promoter that integrates signal inputs from various pathways that regulate flowering time in Arabidopsis.^5,6 TFL1 plays an antagonistic role to that of FT, functioning as a floral inhibitor. Unlike FT, TFL1 also plays an important role in controlling plant architecture by regulating the expression of LEAFY (LFY) and APETALA1 (AP1), two important floral meristem identity genes in the shoot apical meristem (SAM).^3,7 TSF regulates flowering by a mechanism similar to that of FT, although a lesion in TSF does not have an apparent effect on the determination of flowering time. MFT has a weak FT-like activity.¹⁷ ATC acts as a floral repressor, and its role is similar to that of TFL1.⁹ Finally, BFT has a TFL1-like activity, in spite of its amino acid homology to FT,^2,4,16 and functions redundantly with TFL1 in inflorescence meristem development in Arabidopsis.¹⁶ Although genetic studies elucidated an intricate role of the FT/TFL1 family genes, not much is known about the expression pattern of the remaining members except FT and TFL1. Here, we report that BFT expression showed a distinct pattern from its homologous genes during the vegetative phase. BFT:GFP fusion protein was detected in the nucleus and the plasma membrane. BFT expression was induced by abiotic stress conditions, distinct from other FT/TFL1 family genes, raising the possibility that BFT plays a role in regulating flowering time and inflorescence structure under drought conditions.     

Classification and prediction of clinical Alzheimer's diagnosis based on plasma signaling proteins

A molecular test for Alzheimer's disease could lead to better treatment and therapies. We found 18 signaling proteins in blood plasma that can be used to classify blinded samples from Alzheimer's and control subjects with close to 90% accuracy and to identify patients who had mild cognitive impairment that progressed to Alzheimer's disease 2-6 years later. Biological analysis of the 18 proteins points to systemic dysregulation of hematopoiesis, immune responses, apoptosis and neuronal support in presymptomatic Alzheimer's disease.     

Enterocin M-Producing Enterococcus faecium CCM 8558 Demonstrating Probiotic Properties in Horses

The effects of non-authochtonous Enterococcus faecium AL41 = CCM 8558, enterocin M-producing and probiotic strain were tested on the microbiota, phagocytic activity, hydrolytic enzymes, biochemical parameters and dry matter in horses based on its previous benefits demonstrated in other animals. E. faecium CCM 8558 sufficiently colonized the digestive tract of horses. At day 14, its counts reached 2.35 ± 0.70 CFU/g (log 10) on average. The identity of CCM 8558 was confirmed by means of PCR after its re-isolation from horse faeces. The inhibition activity of CCM 8558 was demonstrated against Gram-negative aeromonads, counts of which were significantly reduced (P < 0.001). After 14 days application of CCM 8558, a tendency towards increased phagocytic activity (PA) was measured; PA value was 73.13% ± 8.55 on average at day 0/1; at day 14, it was 75.11 ± 8.66%. Cellulolytic, xylanolytic and pectinolytic activity in horse faeces was significantly increased (P < 0.001) at day 14 (after CCM 8558 application) and amylolytic activity as well (P < 0.01) compared to day 0/1. Inulolytic activity increased with mathematical difference 1.378. Dry matter value reached 20.81 ± 2.29% on average at day 0/1; at day 14, it was 20.77 ± 2.59% (P = 0.9725). Biochemical parameters were influenced mostly in the physiological range. These results achieved after application of CCM 8558 in horses are original, giving us further opportunity to continue these studies, to measure additional parameters and to show the benefits of CCM 8558 application in horses.

     

Identification of the reactive cysteine residues in oligopeptidase B from Trypanosoma brucei

Oligopeptidase B (OpdB) from Trypanosoma brucei is a candidate therapeutic target in African trypanosomiasis. OpdB is an atypical serine peptidase, since activity is inhibited by thiol-blocking reagents and enhanced by reducing agents. We have identified C256 as the reactive cysteine residue that mediates OpdB inhibition by N-ethylmaleimide and iodoacetic acid. Modeling studies suggest that C256 adducts occlude the P(1) substrate-binding site, preventing substrate binding. We further demonstrate that C559 and C597 are responsible for the thiol-enhancement of OpdB activity. These studies may facilitate the development of specific OpdB inhibitors with therapeutic potential, by exploiting these unique properties of this enzyme.     

Ocean-bottom krill sex

For the first time the entire sequence of the mating behaviour of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) in the wild is captured on underwater video. This footage also provides evidence that mating can take place near the seafloor at depths of 400-700 m. This observation challenges the generally accepted concept of the pelagic lifestyle of krill. The mating behaviour observed most closely resembles the mating behaviour reported for a decapod shrimp (Penaeus). The implications of the new observation are also discussed.     

Prolonged exposure to palmitate impairs fatty acid oxidation despite activation of AMP-activated protein kinase in skeletal muscle cells

The aim of this study was to investigate the chronic effects of palmitate on fatty acid (FA) oxidation, AMPK/ACC phosphorylation/activation, intracellular lipid accumulation, and the molecular mechanisms involved in these processes in skeletal muscle cells. Exposure of L6 myotubes for 8 h to 200, 400, 600, and 800 microM of palmitate did not affect cell viability but significantly reduced FA oxidation by approximately 26.5%, approximately 43.5%, approximately 50%, and approximately 47%, respectively. Interestingly, this occurred despite significant increases in AMPK ( approximately 2.5-fold) and ACC ( approximately 3-fold) phosphorylation and in malonyl-CoA decarboxylase activity ( approximately 38-60%). Low concentrations of palmitate (50-100 microM) caused an increase ( approximately 30%) in CPT-1 activity. However, as the concentration of palmitate increased, CPT-1 activity decreased by approximately 32% after exposure for 8 h to 800 microM of palmitate. Although FA uptake was reduced ( approximately 35%) in cells exposed to increasing palmitate concentrations, intracellular lipid accumulation increased in a dose-dependent manner, reaching values approximately 2.3-, approximately 3-, and 4-fold higher than control in muscle cells exposed to 400, 600, and 800 microM palmitate, respectively. Interestingly, myotubes exposed to 400 microM of palmitate for 1 h increased basal glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis by approximately 40%. However, as time of incubation in the presence of palmitate progressed from 1 to 8 h, these increases were abolished and a time-dependent inhibition of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake ( approximately 65%) and glycogen synthesis ( approximately 30%) was observed in myotubes. These findings may help explain the dysfunctional adaptations that occur in glucose and FA metabolism in skeletal muscle under conditions of chronically elevated circulating levels of non-esterified FAs, such as in obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.