Specific Labeling of the Phosphate Translocator in C(3) and C(4) Mesophyll Chloroplasts by Tritiated Dihydro-DIDS (1,2-Ditritio-1,2-[2,2' -Disulfo-4,4' -Diisothiocyano] Diphenylethane)

The phosphate translocator protein of C₃ and C₄ mesophyll chloroplast envelopes was specifically labeled using the anion exchange inhibitor, 1,2-ditritio-1,2-(2,2′ -disulfo-4,4′ -diisothiocyano) diphenylethane ([³H]₂-DIDS). Intact mesophyll chloroplasts were isolated from the C₃ plants, Spinacia oleracea L. (spinach) and Pisum sativum L. (pea), and the C₄ plant, Zea mays L. (corn). Chloroplasts were incubated with 5 to 50 μm [³H]₂-DIDS and, in addition, pea chloroplasts were also incubated with pyridoxal phosphate/tritiated sodium borohydride. The chloroplasts were washed, the envelopes isolated and solubilized. Following sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, label from bound [³H]₂-DIDS was detected only in the 28- to 30-kilodalton protein (proposed C₃ phosphate translocator) for both C₃ and C₄ chloroplasts, as demonstrated by fluorography. In contrast, when pyridoxal phosphate/tritiated sodium borohydride was used to label pea chloroplasts, radioactivity was detected in several other bands in addition to the 29-kilodalton polypeptide. These findings suggest that DIDS is a much more specific inhibitor than reagents previously employed to study the phosphate translocator and could be used to isolate and characterize the differences in the C₃ and C₄ phosphate translocator protein(s).     

Thermolysin is a suitable protease for probing the surface of intact pea chloroplasts

Several proteases, i.e., pronase, a mixture of trypsin and chymotrypsin, and thermolysin were screened as potential surface probes of isolated intact pea (Pisum sativum var Laxton's Progress No. 9) chloroplasts. Of these, only thermolysin met the criteria of a suitable probe. Thermolysin destroyed outer envelope polypeptides, but did not affect inner envelope polypeptides, envelope permeability properties or such chloroplast activities as metabolite transport and O₂ evolution.     

The binding of precursor proteins to chloroplasts requires nucleoside triphosphates in the intermembrane space.

Protein import into chloroplasts is initiated by a binding interaction between a precursor protein and the surface of the outer envelope. The binding step was previously shown to be energy-dependent (Olsen, L. J., Theg, S. M., Selman, B. R., and Keegstra, K. (1989) J. Biol. Chem. 264, 6724-6729). We took advantage of the broad nucleotide specificity of the energy requirement for binding to investigate the site of the nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) requirement. GTP supported precursor binding to chloroplasts. It was not converted to ATP, as determined by direct ATP measurements, and was not transported across the inner envelope. Thus, GTP supported binding from either the intermembrane space or outside the outer membrane. To distinguish between an intermembrane space and an external NTP requirement, we experimentally manipulated the NTP levels inside and outside chloroplasts. Internally generated ATP was able to support binding in the presence of an external membrane-impermeant ATP trap. Therefore, since GTP supported binding from either the intermembrane space or outside the chloroplast, and ATP supported binding from either the intermembrane space or the stroma, we concluded that the site of NTP utilization for precursor binding to chloroplasts was the intermembrane space between the two envelope membranes.     

Differences in methylation profiles between HPV-positive and HPV-negative oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma: A systematic review

Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is associated with human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV-positive OPSCC is considered a distinct molecular entity with a better prognosis than HPV-negative cases of OPSCC. However, the exact pathogenic mechanisms underlying the differences in clinical and molecular behavior between HPV-positive and HPV-negative OPSCC remain poorly understood. Epigenetic events play an important role in the development of cancer. Hypermethylation of DNA in promoter regions and global hypomethylation are 2 epigenetic changes that have been frequently observed in human cancers. It is suggested that heterogeneous epigenetic changes play a role in the clinical and biological differences between HPV-positive and HPV-negative tumors. Unraveling the differences in methylation profiles of HPV-associated OPSCC may provide for promising clinical applications and may pave the road for personalized cancer treatment. This systematic review aims to assess the current state of knowledge regarding differences in promoter hypermethylation and global methylation between HPV-positive and HPV-negative OPSCC.     

The US Department of Energy Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center: Midwestern Biomass as a Resource for Renewable Fuels

The Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center is one of three Bioenergy Research Centers establish by the US Department of Energy and the only one based at an academic institution. The Center’s mission is to perform basic and applied science to enable economically and environmentally sustainable production of liquid fuels derived from biomass. The research is focused on converting plant biomass into soluble sugars and the sugars into fuels. A large group focused on sustainability informs and guides the applied research to ensure that new technology will provide the required environmental benefits.     

The musculature of Squatinella rostrum (Milne, 1886) (Rotifera: Lepadellidae) as revealed by confocal laser scanning microscopy with additional new data on its trophi and overall morphology

Wilts, E.F., Wulfken, D., Ahlrichs, W.H. and Martínez Arbizu, P. 2012. The musculature of Squatinella rostrum (Milne, 1886) (Rotifera: Lepadellidae) as revealed by confocal laser scanning microscopy with additional new data on its trophi and overall morphology.—Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 93 : 14–27. The monogonont rotifer Squatinella rostrum was investigated with light, scanning electron and confocal laser scanning microscopy to reveal new morphological data on its inner and outer anatomy. In total, the visualized somatic musculature displays five paired longitudinal muscles (musculi longitudinales I–V) and nine circular muscles (musculi circulares I–IX). Compared to other species, S. rostrum is characterized by the absence of several longitudinal and circular muscles (e.g. musculus longitudinalis capitis, corona sphincter and pars coronalis). A reconstruction of the mastax musculature revealed a total number of seven paired and two unpaired mastax muscles. Possibly homologous somatic and mastax muscles in other, thus far investigated rotifers are discussed. Moreover, we provide a phylogenetic evaluation of the revealed morphological characters and suggest possible autapomorphic characters supporting Squatinella and Lepadellidae. Finally, we refer to some striking similarities in the morphology, ecology and way of movement of Squatinella and Bryceella that may indicate a closer relationship of both taxa.     

Functional inactivation of a fraction of excitatory synapses in mice deficient for the active zone protein bassoon

Mutant mice lacking the central region of the presynaptic active zone protein Bassoon were generated to establish the role of this protein in the assembly and function of active zones as sites of synaptic vesicle docking and fusion. Our data show that the loss of Bassoon causes a reduction in normal synaptic transmission, which can be attributed to the inactivation of a significant fraction of glutamatergic synapses. At these synapses, vesicles are clustered and docked in normal numbers but are unable to fuse. Phenotypically, the loss of Bassoon causes spontaneous epileptic seizures. These data show that Bassoon is not essential for synapse formation but plays an essential role in the regulated neurotransmitter release from a subset of glutamatergic synapses.     

Structural characterization of outer membrane components of the type IV pili system in pathogenic Neisseria

Structures of the type IV pili secretin complexes from Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis, embedded in outer membranes were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. Single particle averaging revealed additional domains not observed previously. Secretin complexes of N. gonorrhoeae showed a double ring structure with a 14-15-fold symmetry in the central ring, and a 14-fold symmetry of the peripheral ring with 7 spikes protruding. In secretin complexes of N. meningitidis, the spikes were absent and the peripheral ring was partly or completely lacking. When present, it had a 19-fold symmetry. The structures of the complexes in several pil mutants were determined. Structures obtained from the pilC1/C2 adhesin and the pilW minor pilin deletion strains were similar to wild-type, whereas deletion of the homologue of N. meningitidis PilW resulted in the absence of secretin structures. Remarkably, the pilE pilin subunit and pilP lipoprotein deletion mutants showed a change in the symmetry of the peripheral ring from 14 to 19 and loss of spikes. The pilF ATPase mutant also lost the spikes, but maintained 14-fold symmetry. These results show that secretin complexes contain previously unidentified large and flexible extra domains with a probable role in stabilization or assembly of type IV pili.