Calculation of Biodiesel Fuel Characteristics Based on the Fatty Acid Composition of the Lipids of Some Biotechnologically Important Microorganisms

The interdependences between the structure of fatty acid and biofuel characteristics obtained from these fatty acids were briefly reviewed. The fatty acid compositions of the lipids of yeasts and phototrophic microorganisms were analyzed. The main parameters of the biodiesel (iodine value, cetane number, and kinematic viscosity) that can be made from the lipids of these microorganisms were calculated based on the data and compared to the current standards. The lipids of the yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides VKPM Y-3349 were shown to be the most suitable for biofuel production due to the composition and content of fatty acid. The possibilities of a decrease in the prime cost of microbial lipids (along with plant oils) that would make them competitive raw material for biofuel production were considered.     

Role of IKK/NF-κB signaling in extinction of conditioned place aversion memory in rats

The inhibitor κB protein kinase/nuclear factor κB (IKK/NF-κB) signaling pathway is critical for synaptic plasticity. However, the role of IKK/NF-κB in drug withdrawal-associated conditioned place aversion (CPA) memory is unknown. Here, we showed that inhibition of IKK/NF-κB by sulphasalazine (SSZ; 10 mM, i.c.v.) selectively blocked the extinction but not acquisition or expression of morphine-induced CPA in rats. The blockade of CPA extinction induced by SSZ was abolished by sodium butyrate, an inhibitor of histone deacetylase. Thus, the IKK/NF-κB signaling pathway might play a critical role in the extinction of morphine-induced CPA in rats and might be a potential pharmacotherapy target for opiate addiction.     

Nanocrystalline ceria based materials—Perspectives for biomedical application

Nanocrystalline ceria possesses a unique complex of physical and chemical properties making it highly bioactive material. In this review, modern data on the action of nanocrystalline ceria on cells, micro- and macroorganisms are analyzed. Special attention is paid to the analysis of the factors affecting protective properties of CeO₂ with respect to the living systems.     

CDH1 -160C>A gene polymorphism is an ethnicity-dependent risk factor for gastric cancer

The associations between E-cadherin (CDH1) gene polymorphisms and gastric cancer (GC) susceptibility are still controversial. Given this uncertainty, we carried out a meta-analysis of published case-control studies to derive more precise estimations of these relationships. Relevant studies were identified from PubMed and EMBASE up to March 2011. Seventeen studies with 3511 GC cases and 4826 controls were selected. Crude odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to investigate the strength of the associations. No associations between CDH1 (+54T>C, -160C>A, -347G>GA, -616G>C, -2076C>T and -3159T>C) gene polymorphisms and GC risk for all genetic models were found. As for CDH1 -160C>A polymorphism, subgroup analyses by country, gender, study design, smoking status, Helicobacter pylori infection, and the Lauren classification of GC did not change the results. When stratified by ethnicity, we found the A allele carriers had a significantly increased risk of GC among Caucasians (AA vs. CA+CC: OR=1.50, 95% CI=1.03-2.19, P=0.03), but not among Asians (AA vs. CA+CC: OR=0.87, 95% CI=0.56-1.37, P=0.56). No publication bias was found in the present study. This meta-analysis suggests that CDH1 -160C>A gene polymorphism may contribute to increased risk of GC among Caucasians.     

Genetic polymorphism of glutathione S-transferase T1 and the risk of colorectal cancer: A meta-analysis

Background: Studies investigating the association between genetic polymorphism of glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) and risk of colorectal cancer have reported conflicting results. In order to clarify the effect of GSTT1 polymorphism on the risk of developing colorectal cancer, we carried out a meta-analysis using published data to obtain more precise estimates of risk. Methods: Electronic searches of PubMed and EMBASE were conducted to select studies for this meta-analysis. Papers were included if they were observational studies investigating the association between GSTT1 polymorphism and colorectal cancer risk. The principal outcome measure was the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for the risk of colorectal cancer associated with GSTT1 null genotype. Results: We identified 30 eligible studies, which included 7635 cases and 12,911 controls. The combined results based on all studies showed that there was a statistically significant link between GSTT1 null genotype and colorectal cancer risk (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.03–1.40). In the analysis of ethnic groups, we observed distinct differences associated with GSTT1 null genotype, the pooled odds ratios for the GSTT1 polymorphism were 1.32 in Caucasians (95% CI = 1.09–1.58) and 1.03 in Asians (95% CI = 0.81–1.32). As far as concerned the interaction between GSTT1 genotype and colorectal cancer risk in relation to smoking history, there was no increase in risk for smokers or nonsmokers with the GSTT1 null genotype (smokers: OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 0.80–1.60, nonsmokers: OR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.71–1.38). When stratifying by the location of colorectal cancer, we found that there was a statistically significant link in rectal cancer (OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.09–2.07), but not in colon cancer (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 0.94–1.88). No associations could be detected between null GSTT1 polymorphism and age, sex, tumor stage and differentiation. Conclusion: Our current study demonstrates that GSTT1 null genotype is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer, specifically, among Caucasians.     

Acid Ceramidase Promotes Nuclear Export of PTEN through Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Mediated Akt Signaling

The tumor suppressor PTEN is now understood to regulate cellular processes at the cytoplasmic membrane, where it classically regulates PI3K signaling, as well as in the nucleus where multiple roles in controlling cell cycle and genome stability have been elucidated. Mechanisms that dictate nuclear import and, less extensively, nuclear export of PTEN have been described, however the relevance of these processes in disease states, particularly cancer, remain largely unknown. We investigated the impact of acid ceramidase on the nuclear-cytoplasmic trafficking of PTEN. Immunohistochemical analysis of a human prostate tissue microarray revealed that nuclear PTEN was lost in patients whose tumors had elevated acid ceramidase. We found that acid ceramidase promotes a reduction in nuclear PTEN that is dependent upon sphingosine 1-phosphate-mediated activation of Akt. We were further able to show that sphingosine 1-phosphate promotes formation of a complex between Crm1 and PTEN, and that leptomycin B prevents acid ceramidase and sphingosine 1-phosphate mediated loss of nuclear PTEN, suggesting an active exportin-mediated event. To investigate whether the tumor promoting aspects of acid ceramidase in prostate cancer depend upon its ability to export PTEN from the nucleus, we used enforced nuclear expression of PTEN to study docetaxel-induced apoptosis and cell killing, proliferation, and xenoengraftment. Interestingly, while acid ceramidase was able to protect cells expressing wild type PTEN from docetaxel, promote proliferation and xenoengraftment, acid ceramidase had no impact in cells expressing PTEN-NLS. These findings suggest that acid ceramidase, through sphingosine 1-phosphate, promotes nuclear export of PTEN as a means of promoting tumor formation, cell proliferation, and resistance to therapy.     

Molecular cloning, characterization and expression of a C-type lectin cDNA in Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis

C-type lectins are pattern-recognition proteins which are functionally important for pathogen recognition and immune regulation in vertebrates and invertebrates. In this study, a lectin cDNA named as Es-Lectin was cloned and characterized from the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis. The full-length sequence of this Es-Lectin cDNA was 651 bp, including an open reading frame of 483 bp encoding 160 amino acids. The predicted molecular weight of the Es-Lectin was 11.8 kDa. A typical signal peptide of 21 amino acids was deduced at the N-terminus of the predicted protein. This Es-Lectin belongs to a C-type lectin and contains six cysteines, a conserved EPN motif (Glu-Pro-Asn) and an imperfect WND (Trp-Asn-Asp) motif (FND, Phe-Asn-Asp). This Es-Lectin had 55% and 32% identity with other two C-type lectins in E. sinensis, and 29-36% homology with decapods. Although the Es-Lectin was also expressed in gill, hepatopancreas, intestine, muscle and stomach, its expression in haemocytes was the greatest. The expression of Es-Lectins in haemocytes increased at 1.5 h after the Aeromonas hydrophila challenge. After a slight decrease, the Es-Lectin expression in haemocytes significantly increased at 48 h post-challenge. The diverse distribution of Es-Lectin and its enhancement by bacterial challenge indicate that C-type lectins are important in the innate immune response to bacterial infection, and can be activated for innate immune response in crab at the initial stage after pathogen infection.