The unprocessed C-terminal dipeptide of recombinant beta-nerve growth factor determines three stable forms with distinct biological activities.

The processing of polypeptide neurotrophins in the nervous system is poorly understood. In this paper, we provide information on the effects of C-terminal processing of nerve growth factor. Three forms of recombinant mouse beta-nerve growth factor (rNGF) were produced and isolated from insect cells infected with a recombinant baculovirus. The three purified forms of rNGF exhibited distinct biological activities and differed in their abilities to compete with high affinity binding of mouse beta-nerve growth factor (mNGF). However, they were chemically and structurally indistinguishable from each other. All three forms of rNGF differed from mature mNGF from mouse submaxillary gland in that the C-terminal Arg-Gly dipeptide had not been proteolytically removed. Removal of the C-terminal dipeptide by gamma-NGF peptidase treatment converted the three forms into a single form identical with mature mNGF. The above results demonstrate that a single polypeptide of rNGF, due to the presence of a C-terminal dipeptide, exhibits three stable dimeric protein conformations with distinct biological activities. The apparent lack of gamma-NGF peptidase in the nervous system raises the possibility that the biologically significant form of NGF may differ from mature mNGF; such a difference may be of physiological relevance.     

Spatial d/h heterogeneity of leaf water

The mean δD value of petiole water of Pterocarpus indicus Willd (δD = −9.0 ± 2.5‰, n = 3) was not significantly different from the mean value of stem water (−8.3 ± 2.8‰, n = 3). δD values of main vein water ranged from −11.1 to + 12.0‰ (n = 14) and increased along the main vein from petiole to the tip of leaves. Mesophyll water was highly enriched in deuterium (mean δD = +32.0 ± 2.0‰, n = 19) when compared with stem, petiole, and vein water. δD values of mesophyll water for different areas of the lamina, however, were not homogenous and could differ by as much as 20‰.     

Alteration of Components of Leaf Water Potential and Water Content in Velvetleaf under the Effects of Long-Term Humidity Difference

Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medik.) was grown in growth chambers set at 45 or 85% relative humidity at 30°C, CO₂ 350 microliters per liter and 1000 micromoles per square meter per second of photosynthetically active radiation. Soil water potential was maintained at −0.05 megapascal by subirrigation with half strength Hoagland solution. The third, fourth, and fifth leaves from the base of 21- and 25-day-old plants were used for pressure-volume measurements. Components of leaf water status including water potential (osmotic and potential associated with the apoplast), leaf water content (apoplasmic and symplasmic water), and elastic modulus of leaf tissue were determined. Results indicate: (a) persistent dry air generated leaves with lower water potential at a given relative water content than did humid air; (b) the higher total leaf water content in plants grown in dry air was related to an increase in apoplasmic water, whereas symplasmic water remained similar in both humidity treatments; (c) difference in leaf water potential between low and high humidity treatments was related to decreased potential associated with the apoplast but not to a change in cell wall elasticity.     

In vitro expression and site-specific mutagenesis of the cloned human lipoprotein lipase gene. Potential N-linked glycosylation site asparagine 43 is important for both enzyme activity and secretion

Detailed structure-function information about human lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is unavailable because it is difficult to purify large amounts of the enzyme for study. To circumvent this problem, we constructed an in vitro LPL expression vector. Human LPL cDNA was cloned and inserted into the expression vector p91023(B). After transfection of COS M-6 cells with the human LPL cDNA construct, LPL enzyme activity was detected in cell extracts and culture medium. Purified human apolipoprotein C-II caused a 5-fold stimulation of the recombinant human LPL expressed in vitro. Using site-specific mutagenesis, Ala residues were substituted for Asn residues at two potential N-linked glycosylation sites (positions 43 and 359) and at a third unrelated Asn (position 257) in the LPL cDNA. RNA blot analysis demonstrated the presence of a single mRNA species in COS cells transfected with wild-type and mutant LPL expression vectors. Intracellular and secreted LPL activity was absent in the construct containing an Ala for Asn mutation at position 43, whereas the same substitutions at positions 257 and 359 did not appreciably affect activity. LPL activity was also absent in another construct containing a Gln for Asn mutation at position 43. Quantitation of LPL protein mass concomitant with measurement of enzyme activity showed that substitution of Ala or Gln for Asn at position 43 resulted in the production of an enzymatically inactive protein which accumulated intracellularly but was not secreted into the culture medium. Our report represents an initial documentation of the expression of cloned human LPL in vitro and of the importance of Asn-43 for both enzyme activity and secretion.     

Abamectin resistance in Drosophila is related to increased expression of P-glycoprotein via the dEGFR and dAkt pathways

Many insects have evolved resistance to abamectin but the mechanisms involved in this resistance have not been well characterized. P-glycoprotein (P-gp), an ATP-dependent drug-efflux pump transmembrane protein, may be involved in abamectin resistance. We investigated the role of P-gp in abamectin (ABM) resistance in Drosophila using an ABM-resistant strain developed in the laboratory. A toxicity assay, Western blotting analysis and a vanadate-sensitive ATPase activity assay all demonstrated the existence of a direct relationship between P-gp expression and ABM resistance in these flies. Our observations indicate that P-gp levels in flies' heads were higher than in their thorax and abdomen, and that both P-gp levels and LC₅₀ values were higher in resistant than in susceptible and P-gp-deficient strains. In addition, P-gp levels in the blood–brain barrier (BBB) of resistant flies were higher than in susceptible and P-gp-deficient flies, which is further evidence that a high level of P-gp in the BBB is related to ABM resistance. Furthermore, we found greater expression of Drosophila EGFR (dEGFR) in the resistant strain than in the susceptible strain, and that the level of Drosophila Akt (dAkt) was much higher in resistant than in susceptible flies, whereas that in P-gp-deficient flies was very low. Compared to susceptible flies, P-gp levels in the resistant strain were markedly suppressed by the dEGFR and dAkt inhibitors lapatinib and wortmannin. These results suggest that the increased P-gp in resistant flies was regulated by the dEGFR and dAkt pathways and that increased expression of P-gp is an important component of ABM resistance in insects.     

Psychometric properties of Youth Self-Rating Insomnia Scale (YSIS) in Chinese adolescents

Sleep and Biological Rhythms - Insomnia is prevalent in adolescents. Although several insomnia scales/questionnaires are available to assess insomnia symptoms and severity for adults, no insomnia...     

Tongxinluo Protects against Hypertensive Kidney Injury in Spontaneously-Hypertensive Rats by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Activating Forkhead Box O1 Signaling

Hypertension is an independent risk factor for the progression of chronic renal failure, and oxidative stress plays a critical role in hypertensive renal damage. Forkbox O1(FoxO1) signaling protects cells against oxidative stress and may be a useful target for treating oxidative stress-induced hypertension. Tongxinluo is a traditional Chinese medicine with cardioprotective and renoprotective functions. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effects of Tongxinluo in hypertensive renal damage in spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHRs)and elucidate the possible involvement of oxidative stress and FoxO1 signaling in its molecular mechanisms. SHRs treated with Tongxinluo for 12 weeks showed a reduction in systolic blood pressure. In addition to increasing creatinine clearance, Tongxinluo decreased urinary albumin excretion, oxidative stress injury markers including malondialdehyde and protein carbonyls, and expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase subunits and its activity in SHR kidneys. While decreasing phosphorylation of FoxO1, Tongxinluo also inhibited the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 and p38 and enhanced manganese superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in SHR kidneys. Furthermore, histology revealed attenuation of glomerulosclerosis and renal podocyte injury, while Tongxinluo decreased the expression of α-smooth muscle actin, extracellular matrixprotein, transforming growth factor β1 and small mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3,and improved tubulointerstitial fibrosis in SHR kidneys. Finally, Tongxinluo inhibited inflammatory cell infiltration as well as expression of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6. In conclusion, Tongxinluo protected SHRs against hypertension-induced renal injury by exerting antioxidant, antifibrotic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Moreover, the underlying mechanisms of these effects may involve inhibition of oxidative stress and functional activation of FoxO1 signaling.     

Genetic diversity of Lilium tsingtauense in China and Korea revealed by ISSR markers and morphological characters

To study the genetic diversity and population structure of Lilium tsingtauense Gilg (Qingdao Lily), we collected 648 samples from 12 sites in China and Korea, and analyzed their Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) molecular markers and morphological characters. ISSR data revealed a relatively high genetic diversity at the species level, with 72.31% polymorphic loci, effective numbers of alleles of 1.437, average expected heterozygosity of 0.231 and Shannon’s information index of 0.369. Considerable genetic differentiation among the natural populations (G_ST = 0.144) and the gene flow (N_m = 1.487) were detected. AMOVA analysis and UPGMA-dendrogram suggested a hierarchical regional structure among populations, and spatial autocorrelation analysis showed a micro-scaled spatial structure. Furthermore, there was a high correlation between morphological characters and genetic parameters obtained from ISSR parameters. There was only a low genetic differentiation among the different morphological types of L. tsingtauence in China. Based on these findings, we recommend in situ and ex situ conservation strategies for the preservation of L. tsingtauense.