Evolutionarily conserved thermal biology across continents: The North American lizard Plestiodon gilberti (Scincidae) compared to Asian Plestiodon

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The lizard genus Plestiodon (Scincidae; formerly Eumeces) is widespread in North America and Asia, but the thermal biology of only a few species has been studied.     

Some properties of levansucrase of Bacillus natto stabilized with periodate oxidized yeast glucomannan

It was observed that levansucrase from Bacillus natto became unstable and was easily inactivated when the salts were removed from the enzyme solution, while the enzyme was stable for long time in a buffered saline. After modification with periodate oxidized yeast glucomannan, the enzyme increased thermal stability up to 45°C, in which it conserved more than 90% of its activity after 15 min treatement. The optimum temperature was also shifted from 40°C in the case of original enzyme to 50°C for the modified enzyme after 10 min reaction time. The half-life time increased significantly from 9 min to 55 min at 50°C, however it increased from 30 min and 22 min respectively at 40°C and 45°C to more than 1 h at the same temperature. The content of carbohydrates of modified enzyme was 25% that increases the molecular weight from 57 KDa to 80 KDa. The products from sucrose by the modified enzyme were the same as the case using original enzyme. Namely, the products confirmed were levan and 3 kestoses (6-, 1-, and neo-kestose).     

Ligand-specific recycling profiles determine distinct potential for chronic analgesic tolerance of delta-opioid receptor (DOPr) agonists

δ-opioid receptor (DOPr) agonists have analgesic efficacy in chronic pain models but development of tolerance limits their use for long-term pain management. Although agonist potential for inducing acute analgesic tolerance has been associated with distinct patterns of DOPr internalization, the association between trafficking and chronic tolerance remains ill-defined. In a rat model of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic neuropathy, deltorphin II and TIPP produced sustained analgesia  following daily (intrathecal) i.t. injections over six days, whereas similar treatment with SNC-80 or SB235863 led to progressive tolerance and loss of the analgesic response. Trafficking assays in murine neuron cultures showed no association between the magnitude of ligand-induced sequestration and development of chronic tolerance. Instead, ligands that supported DOPr recycling were also the ones producing sustained analgesia over 6-day treatment. Moreover, endosomal endothelin-converting enzyme 2 (ECE2) blocker 663444 prevented DOPr recycling by deltorphin II and TIPP and precipitated tolerance by these ligands. In conclusion, agonists, which support DOPr recycling, avoid development of analgesic tolerance over repeated administration.     

Genetic variation of salt-stressed durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum Desf.) genotypes under field conditions and gynogenetic capacity

Agriculture has new challenges against the climate change: the preservation of genetic resources and the rapid creation of new varieties better adapted to abiotic stress, specially salinity. In this context, the agronomic performance of 25 durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum Desf.) genotypes (nineteen landraces and six improved varieties), cultivated in two semi-arid regions in the center area of Tunisia, were assessed. These sites (Echbika, 2.2?g?l^?1; Barrouta, 4.2?g?l^?1) differ by their degree of salinity of the water irrigation. The results showed that most of the agronomic traits (e.g. spike per meter square, thousand kernels weight and grain yield) were reduced by salinity. Durum wheat landraces, Mahmoudi and Hmira, and improved varieties, Maali and Om Rabia showed the widest adaptability to different quality of irrigation water. Genotypes including Jneh Kotifa and Arbi were estimated as stable genotypes under adverse conditions. Thereafter, salt-tolerant (Hmira and Jneh Khotifa) and the most cultivated high-yielding (Karim, Razzak and Khiar) genotypes were tested for their gynogenetic ability to obtain haploids and doubled haploid lines. Genotypes with good induction capacity had not necessarily a good capacity of regeneration of haploid plantlets. In our conditions, Hmira and Khiar exhibited the best gynogenetic ability (3.1% and 2.9% of haploid plantlets, respectively).     

The β3‐integrin endothelial adhesome regulates microtubule‐dependent cell migration

Integrin β3 is seen as a key anti‐angiogenic target for cancer treatment due to its expression on neovasculature, but the role it plays in the process is complex; whether it is pro‐ or anti‐angiogenic depends on the context in which it is expressed. To understand precisely β3's role in regulating integrin adhesion complexes in endothelial cells, we characterised, by mass spectrometry, the β3‐dependent adhesome. We show that depletion of β3‐integrin in this cell type leads to changes in microtubule behaviour that control cell migration. β3‐integrin regulates microtubule stability in endothelial cells through Rcc2/Anxa2‐driven control of active Rac1 localisation. Our findings reveal that angiogenic processes, both in vitro and in vivo, are more sensitive to microtubule targeting agents when β3‐integrin levels are reduced.     

Genetic variation among Saudi tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) landraces studied using SDS-PAGE and SRAP markers

Genetic diversity among seven Saudi tomato landraces collected from different regions of the country was assessed using SDS-PAGE and molecular (sequence-related amplified polymorphism- SRAP) markers. A total of 19 alternative protein bands with different mobility rates were identified within a molecular weight range of 9.584–225?KDa, with 53% polymorphism. Specific protein bands were observed in the “Hail 548” and “Qatif 565” landraces. Genetic similarity based on Jaccard’s coefficient ranged from 0.53 to 1.00, with an average of 0.72. For molecular evaluation, 143 amplicons (fragments) were generated using 27 SRAP primer pair combinations, of which 88 were polymorphic across all the landraces. The PIC values ranged from 0.46 to 0.90, with an average of 0.76. All landraces showed an average of 0.66 similarity coefficient value. The UPGMA dendrogram supported by principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) revealed clusters of the landraces that almost corresponded to their geographical origin. Thus, seed storage protein profiling based on SDS-PAGE and SRAP markers can efficiently be used to assess genetic variability among tomato germplasms. The information obtained in the analysis will be of great interest in the management of ex situ collections for utilization in breeding programs or for direct use in quality markets.