Protein Synthesis in the Developing Neocortex at Near-Atomic Resolution Reveals Ebp1-Mediated Neuronal Proteostasis at the 60S Tunnel Exit

1. Download : Download high-res image (238KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

     

Development of pancreatic acini in embryos of the grass snake Natrix natrix (Lepidosauria,Serpentes)

This study report about the differentiation of pancreatic acinar tissue in grass snake, Natrix natrix, embryos using light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and immuno-gold labeling. Differentiation of acinar cells in the embryonic pancreas of the grass snake is similar to that of other amniotes. Pancreatic acini occurred for the first time at Stage VIII, which is the midpoint of embryonic development. Two pattern of acinar cell differentiation were observed. The first involved formation of zymogen granules followed by cell migration from ducts. In the second, one zymogen granule was formed at the end of acinar cell differentiation. During embryonic development in the pancreatic acini of N. natrix, five types of zymogen granules were established, which correlated with the degree of their maturation and condensation. Within differentiating acini of the studied species, three types of cells were present: acinar, centroacinar, and endocrine cells. The origin of acinar cells as well as centroacinar cells in the pancreas of the studied species was the pancreatic ducts, which is similar as in other vertebrates. In the differentiating pancreatic acini of N. natrix, intermediate cells were not present. It may be related to the lack of transdifferentiation activity of acinar cells in the studied species. Amylase activity of exocrine pancreas was detected only at the end of embryonic development, which may be related to animal feeding after hatching from external sources that are rich in carbohydrates and presence of digestive enzymes in the egg yolk. Mitotic division of acinar cells was the main mechanism of expansion of acinar tissue during pancreas differentiation in the grass snake embryos.     

Ni-Supported Pd Nanoparticles with Ca Promoter: A New Catalyst for Low-Temperature Ammonia Cracking

In this paper we report a new nanometallic, self-activating catalyst, namely, Ni-supported Pd nanoparticles (Pd_NPs/Ni) for low temperature ammonia cracking, which was prepared using a novel approach involving the transfer of nanoparticles from the intermediate carrier, i.e. nano-spherical SiO₂, to the target carrier technical grade Ni (t-Ni) or high purity Ni (p-Ni) grains. The method that was developed allows a uniform nanoparticle size distribution (4,4±0.8 nm) to be obtained. Unexpectedly, the t-Ni-supported Pd NPs, which seemed to have a surface Ca impurity, appeared to be more active than the Ca-free (p-Ni) system. A comparison of the novel Pd_NPs/Ni catalyst with these reported in the literature clearly indicates the much better hydrogen productivity of the new system, which seems to be a highly efficient, flexible and durable catalyst for gas-phase heterogeneous ammonia cracking in which the TOF reaches a value of 2615 mmol_H2/g_Pd min (10,570 mol_NH3/mol_Pd(NP) h) at 600°C under a flow of 12 dm³/h (t-Ni).     

Synthesis of Novel 2′,3′-Didehydro-2′,3′-dideoxyinosine Phosphoramidate Prodrugs and Evaluation of their Anticancer Activity

An efficient synthesis of 4-chlorophenyl N-alkyl phosphoramidates of 2?′,3?′-didehydro-2?′,3?′-dideoxyinosine employing 4-chlorophenyl phosphoroditetrazolide as a phosphorylating agent is reported. Improved method for the synthesis of 2?′,3?′-didehydro-2?′,3?′-dideoxyinosine starting from inosine is also described. The synthesized phosphoramidates 11–18 were examined for their cytotoxic activity in three human cancer cell lines: cervical (HeLa), oral (KB), and breast (MCF-7) employing sulforhodamine B assay. The highest activity in all investigated cancer cell lines was displayed by phosphoramidate 13 with N-n-propyl substituent.     

The lectin-binding pattern of nucleolin and its interaction with endogenous galectin-3

Unlike nuclear nucleolin, surface-expressed and cytoplasmic nucleolin exhibit Tn antigen. Here, we show localization-dependent differences in the glycosylation and proteolysis patterns of nucleolin. Our results provide evidence for different paths of nucleolin proteolysis in the nucleus, in the cytoplasm, and on the cell surface. We found that full-length nucleolin and some proteolytic fragments coexist within live cells and are not solely the result of the preparation procedure. Extranuclear nucleolin undergoes N- and O-glycosylation, and unlike cytoplasmic nucleolin, membrane-associated nucleolin is not fucosylated. Here, we show for the first time that nucleolin and endogenous galectin-3 exist in the same complexes in the nucleolus, the cytoplasm, and on the cell surface of melanoma cells. Assessments of the interaction of nucleolin with galectin-3 revealed nucleolar co-localization in interphase, suggesting that galectin-3 may be involved in DNA organization and ribosome biogenesis.     

Arabidopsis suppressor mutant of abh1 shows a new face of the already known players: ABH1 (CBP80) and ABI4—in response to ABA and abiotic stresses during seed germination

Although the importance of abscisic acid (ABA) in plant development and response to abiotic and biotic stresses is well recognized, the molecular basis of the signaling pathway has not been fully elucidated. Mutants in genes related to ABA are widely used as a tool for gaining insight into the mechanisms of ABA signal transduction and ABA-dependent stress response. We used a genetic approach of a suppressor screening in order to decipher the interaction between ABH1 (CBP80) and other components of ABA signaling. ABH1 (CBP80) encodes a large subunit of CBC (CAP BINDING COMPLEX) and the abh1 mutant is drought-tolerant and hypersensitive to ABA during seed germination. The suppressor mutants of abh1 were generated after chemical mutagenesis. The mutant named soa1 (suppressor of abh1 hypersensitivity to ABA 1) displayed an ABA-insensitive phenotype during seed germination. The genetic analysis showed that the soa1 phenotype is dominant in relation to abh1 and segregates as a single locus. Based on soa1’s response to a wide spectrum of physiological assays during different stages of development, we used the candidate-genes approach in order to identify a suppressor gene. The molecular analysis revealed that mutation causing the phenotype of soa1 occurred in the ABI4 (ABA insensitive 4) gene. Analysis of pre-miR159 expression, whose processing depends on CBC, as well as targets of miR159: MYB33 and MYB101, which are positive regulators of ABA signaling, revealed a possible link between CBP80 (ABH1) and ABI4 presented here.     

Structural and ultrastructural differentiation of the thyroid gland during embryogenesis in the grass snake Natrix natrix L. (Lepidosauria, Serpentes)

The differentiation of the thyroid primordium of reptilian species is poorly understood. The present study reports on structural and ultrastructural studies of the developing thyroid gland in embryos of the grass snake Natrix natrix L. At the time of oviposition, the thyroid primordium occupied its final position in the embryos. Throughout developmental stages I-IV, the undifferentiated thyroid primordium contained cellular cords, and the plasma membranes of adjacent cells formed junctional complexes. Subsequently, the first follicular lumens started to form. The follicular lumens were of intracellular origin, as in other vertebrate species, but the mechanism of their formation is as yet unclear. At developmental stages V-VI, the thyroid anlage was composed of small follicles with lumens and cellular cords. Cells of the thyroid primordium divided, and follicles were filled with a granular substance. At developmental stage VI, the cells surrounding the follicular lumen were polarized, the apical cytoplasm contained dark granules and the Golgi complex and the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) developed gradually. Resorption of the colloid began at developmental stage VIII. At the end of this stage, the embryonic thyroid gland was surrounded by a definitive capsule. During developmental stages IX-X, the follicular cells contained granules and vesicles of different sizes and electron densities and a well-developed Golgi apparatus and RER. At developmental stage XI, most follicles were outlined by squamous epithelial cells and presented wide lumens filled with a light colloid. The Golgi complex and RER showed changes in their morphology indicating a decrease in the activity of the thyroid gland. At developmental stage XII, the activity of the embryonic thyroid gradually increased, and at the time of hatching, it exhibited the features of a fully active gland.     

A novel role for PA28gamma-proteasome in nuclear speckle organization and SR protein trafficking

In eukaryotic cells, proteasomes play an essential role in intracellular proteolysis and are involved in the control of most biological processes through regulated degradation of key proteins. Analysis of 20S proteasome localization in human cell lines, using ectopic expression of its CFP-tagged α7 subunit, revealed the presence in nuclear foci of a specific and proteolytically active complex made by association of the 20S proteasome with its PA28γ regulator. Identification of these foci as the nuclear speckles (NS), which are dynamic subnuclear structures enriched in splicing factors (including the SR protein family), prompted us to analyze the role(s) of proteasome-PA28γ complexes in the NS. Here, we show that knockdown of these complexes by small interfering RNAs directed against PA28γ strongly impacts the organization of the NS. Further analysis of PA28γ-depleted cells demonstrated an alteration of intranuclear trafficking of SR proteins. Thus, our data identify proteasome-PA28γ complexes as a novel regulator of NS organization and function, acting most likely through selective proteolysis. These results constitute the first demonstration of a role of a specific proteasome complex in a defined subnuclear compartment and suggest that proteolysis plays important functions in the precise control of splicing factors trafficking within the nucleus.     

Phenylethyl-substituted pyrimido[2,1-f]purinediones and related compounds: structure-activity relationships as adenosine A(1) and A(2A) receptor ligands

The synthesis of N-(un)substituted-phenylalkylpyrimido[2,1-f]purinediones was performed starting with 7-(3-chloropropyl)-8-bromotheophylline and 7-(3-chloropropyl)-8-bromo-1,3-dipropylxanthine. Compounds with unsubstituted or substituted ethylene spacer to an aromatic ring were synthesized. Additionally variations in the spacer-elongation of the linker containing more than two atoms, introduction of a double bond or heteroatoms were performed. Physicochemical properties of the synthesized compounds were described. The obtained compounds envisaged as sterically fixed and configurationally stable analogs of 8-styrylxanthines, were evaluated for their affinity to adenosine A(1) and A(2A) receptors, the receptor subtypes that are predominant in the brain. Selected compounds were also investigated for the affinity to the A(2B) and A(3) receptor subtypes. It was stated that phenylethyl pyrimido[2,1-f]purinediones and their analogs with variations of the ethylene spacer (substituted or extended) exhibit micromolar or submicromolar affinity for A(2A) ARs (adenosine receptors); for example compound 2Ac with p-hydroxy substituent displayed a K(i) value of 0.23 microM at the rat A(2A) receptor. In comparison to the previously obtained phenyl and benzyl pyrimido[2,1-f]purinediones compounds with a shorter spacer, phenethyl derivatives were optimal for A(2A) AR. The kind of substituent at the aromatic ring was important for the affinity. Oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the spacer resulted frequently in a slight decrease of the A(2A) AR affinity, introduction of more heteroatoms into the spacer-in carbamates-caused distinctly negative effect on the activity. In this series of compounds more frequently the adenosine A(1) activity was observed, also in submicromolar range as for dipropyl derivative 2Ba with K(i) value of 0.62 microM at the rat A(2A) AR. 3D-QSAR models were developed for the compounds presented in this paper as well as in the previous publications showing activity at adenosine A(1) and A(2A) ARs. It was concluded that for the activity at adenosine A(1) and A(2A) receptors lipophilicity, steric effects along with the molecule's electrostatic surface properties had greatest value. Chosen compounds were evaluated in vivo as anticonvulsants in MES, scMet tests and examined for neurotoxicity. Contrary to previously obtained phenyl and benzyl pyrimido[2,1-f]purinediones, all tested compounds were inactive as anticonvulsants.