Synthesis, DNA-binding ability and evaluation of antitumour activity of triazolo[1,2,4]benzothiadiazine linked pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine conjugates

A series of triazolobenzothiadiazine-pyrrolobenzodiazepine conjugates linked through different alkane spacers have been prepared. These compounds have exhibited significant cytotoxicity against most of the cell lines examined. Compound 5a displays GI(50) values from 1.83 to 2.38 microM against seven human tumour cell lines, and is identified as a promising lead compound from this series. Their DNA thermal denaturation studies have also been carried out, and one of the compounds 5c elevates the DNA helix melting temperature of the CT-DNA by 2.6 degrees C after incubation for 36 h.     

Striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) could be suitable for coastal aquaculture

Salinity intrusion in the coastal freshwater rivers due to climate change and construction of the dam in the upstream rivers are alarming in aquaculture. Hence, an experiment was conducted to know the effects of salinity on growth performance, hemato‐biochemical parameters and erythrocytes structure in a commercially cultivable catfish species, striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus). Firstly, median lethal concentration (LC₅₀) of salinity for striped catfish was determined and then the fish were exposed to three salinity conditions (4, 8 and 12‰) and a control (0‰). Fish were sacrificed at day 7, 14, 28 and 56 after the start of salinity exposure. The 96 hr LC₅₀ value was found to be 14.87‰. Salinity levels from freshwater to 8‰ showed optimal conditions with high survival rate and good growth performances of fish in terms of weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR). Interestingly, the lowest food conversion ratio (FCR) was found in 4‰ group. The hemoglobin (Hb) level and number of red blood cells (RBCs) were found to be decreased significantly in 8 and 12‰ compared to 0 and 4‰ at the initial days of exposure, while number of white blood cells (WBCs) and glucose level showed opposite scenario. Frequencies of ENA (erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities) and ECA (erythrocytic cellular abnormalities) were significantly increased with increasing salinities in the initial days of exposure. Overall, findings of the present study revealed that striped catfish might be suitable fish species for culture in the brackish water containing salinity up to 10‰.     

Record of Blue tilapia Oreochromis aureus (Steindachner, 1864) in the Eerste River catchment,Western Cape province,South Africa

Oreochromis aureus was imported from Israel into South Africa in 1959 but data on its current status in South Africa are lacking. Genomic DNA was extracted and the COI gene amplified at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity. The identity of the sequences and specimens was determined using the Barcode of Life Data Systems and GenBank. Morphological and genetic assessment demonstrated that 11 specimens collected from two farm dams in the Eerste River System, Western Cape province, were Oreochromis aureus. A MaxEnt model compiled using global distribution, rainfall and temperature data predicted that large areas of southern Africa were climatically suitable for this species, indicating considerable invasion debt in southern Africa. As a result, surveys to assess for the extent of the invasion in South Africa and eradication of existing populations, if feasible, are recommended management actions.     

Effects of age,replicative lifespan and growth rate of human nucleus pulposus cells on selecting age range for cell-based biological therapies for degenerative disc diseases

Autologous disc cell implantation, growth factors and gene therapy appear to be promising therapies for disc regeneration. Unfortunately, the replicative lifespan and growth kinetics of human nucleus pulposus (NP) cells related to host age are unclear. We investigated the potential relations among age, replicative lifespan and growth rate of NP cells, and determined the age range that is suitable for cell-based biological therapies for degenerative disc diseases. We used NP tissues classified by decade into five age groups: 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. The mean cumulative population doubling level (PDL) and population doubling rate (PDR) of NP cells were assessed by decade. We also investigated correlations between cumulative PDL and age, and between PDR and age. The mean cumulative PDL and PDR decreased significantly in patients in their 60s. The mean cumulative PDL and PDR in the younger groups (30s, 40s and 50s) were significantly higher than those in the older groups (60s and 70s). There also were significant negative correlations between cumulative PDL and age, and between PDR and age. We found that the replicative lifespan and growth rate of human NP cells decreased with age. The replicative potential of NP cells decreased significantly in patients 60 years old and older. Young individuals less than 60 years old may be suitable candidates for NP cell-based biological therapies for treating degenerative disc diseases.     

Identified taste bud cell proliferation in the perihatching chick [published erratum appears in Chem Senses 1998 Aug;23(4):459]

Developing taste buds in the anterior mandibular floor of perihatching chicks were studied by high voltage electron microscopic autoradiography in order to identify proliferating gemmal cell types. Montaged profiles of 29 taste buds in five cases euthanized between embryonic day 21 and posthatching day 2 were analyzed after a single [3H]thymidine injection administered on embryonic day 16, 17 or 18. Results showed that dark cells comprised 55% of identified (n = 900 cells) and 62% of labeled (n = 568 cells) gemmal cells as compared with light, intermediate, basal or perigemmal bud cells. Dark cells had both a greater (P < 0.05) number of labeled cells and a greater amount of label (grains/nucleus) than the other four bud cell types, irrespective of injection day. The nuclear area (micron 2) of dark cells was not significantly larger (P > 0.05) than that of the other gemmal cell types and therefore cannot account for the greater amount for label in the dark cells. Interestingly, only dark cells showed a positive correlation (P < 0.003) between amount of label and nuclear area. Results suggest that, during the perihatching period of robust cell proliferation, dividing dark cells may give rise primarily, but not exclusively, to dark cell progeny.      

Plasma membranes from normal and chronic myeloid leukemic granulocytes: isolation and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis

Normal human granulocytes obtained by Ficoll-Hypaque sedimentation were subjected to mild hypotonic shock and disruption by shear. The homogenate was fractionated by differential centrifugation and equilibrium ultracentrifugation to yield a plasma membrane preparation constituting 1% of the total cellular protein and enriched fifteen- and six-fold in alkaline phosphatase and Mg2+-adenosine triphosphatase activities, respectively. Granulocytes obtained from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) were identically processed. The protein constituents of both the normal and CML granulocyte plasma membranes were resolved by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Comparison of the stained gels revealed CML-associated quantitative changes in four out of the fifteen protein spots examined. Thus, this analysis has permitted identification of those protein moieties that deserve attention for further isolation and purification.     

The receptor for IgG on human normal and chronic myeloid leukemic granulocytes: functional and biochemical characterization

Receptor mediated endocytosis of fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated heat-aggregated IgG (Fl-HAIgG) via the receptor for IgG (Fc gamma R) was studied using granulocytes from normal donors and patients suffering from chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Within 15 min of incubation at 37 degrees C, 75% of the normal granulocytes internalized the ligand, while only 13% of the CML granulocytes could internalize the ligand in the same time. This functional defect was seen in all the CML patients analyzed. To elucidate the reason for this defective endocytosis, the Fc gamma R was isolated from normal and leukemic granulocytes and biochemically characterized, by gel electrophoresis, high pressure liquid chromatography, and one- and two-dimensional peptide mapping. Our results show that the molecule from the two cell types is very similar. The defective endocytosis must therefore be due to events which occur after ligand-receptor binding.