Electron paramagnetic resonance studies and effects of vanadium in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Vanadium uptake by whole cells and isolated cell walls of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was studied. When orthovanadate was added to wild-type S. cerevisiae cells growing in rich medium, growth was inhibited as a function of the VO₄ ^3- concentration and the growth was completely arrested at a concentration of 20 mM of VO₄ ^3- in YEPD. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was used to obtain structural and dynamic information about the cell-associated paramagnetic vanadyl ion. The presence of EPR signals indicated that vanadate was reduced by whole cells to the vanadyl ion. On the contrary, no EPR signals were detected after interaction of vanadate with isolated cell walls. A mobile and an immobile species associated in cells with small chelates and with macromolecular sites, respectively, were identified. The value of rotational correlation time _r indicated the relative motional freedom at the macromolecular site. A strongly immobilized vanadyl species bound to polar sites mainly through coulombic attractions was detected after interaction of VO²⁺ ions with isolated cell walls.     

Studies on Leaf Surface Lipid of Tobacco I. Changes in Leaf Surface Lipid and Duvatrienediol during Growth,Senescence and Curing of Tobacco Leaves

Duvatrienediol is a diterpene specifically occurred in tobacco plants and thought to be a precursor of tobacco aroma. Green tobacco leaves contained 0.2~1% of duvatrienediol per dry weight and it was corresponded to 30~60% of leaf surface lipid. Leaves on upper stalk position contained more of leaf surface lipid and duvatrienediol. In leaves on each stalk position, leaf surface lipid and duvatrienediol contents increased with leaf growth and decreased by over-maturation. Production of leaf surface lipid and duvatrienediol was affected by soil conditions or applied amount of nitrogen fertilizer. Both leaf surface lipid and duvatrienediol were decreased during curing of tobacco leaves, but the change in the latter was more drastic. Comparing to leaf surface lipid, changes in cytoplasmic lipid were less during growth and senescence of tobacco leaves.     

Spin Trapping by Use of N-Tert-Butylhydroxylamine. Involvement of Fenton Reactions

Spin trapping of short-lived R. radicals is done by use of N-tert-butylhydroxylamine (1) and H²O². The hydroxylamine is oxidized to the radical t-BuN(O)H (2) which is converted into the spin trap 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane (3). Simultaneously, hydroxyl radicals. OH are formed from H²O². The latter radical species abstracts hydrogen atoms from suitable molecules HR to give R. radicals, which are trapped with the formation of aminooxyl radicals, i. e., t-BuN(O)R (4) detectable by EPR spectroscopy. The reaction is enhanced by the presence of iron ions. The cleavage of H²O² into. OH radicals is considered to involve both a radical-driven (t-BuN(O)H 2) and an iron-driven Fenton reaction.     

Biological implications of genetic variations in autism spectrum disorders from genomics studies

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition characterized by atypical social interaction and communication together with repetitive behaviors and restricted interests. The prevalence of ASD has been increased these years. Compelling evidence has shown that genetic factors contribute largely to the development of ASD. However, knowledge about its genetic etiology and pathogenesis is limited. Broad applications of genomics studies have revealed the importance of gene mutations at protein-coding regions as well as the interrupted non-coding regions in the development of ASD. In this review, we summarize the current evidence for the known molecular genetic basis and possible pathological mechanisms as well as the risk genes and loci of ASD. Functional studies for the underlying mechanisms are also implicated. The understanding of the genetics and genomics of ASD is important for the genetic diagnosis and intervention for this condition.     

Enhancement of YD spin relaxation by the CaMn4 cluster in photosystem II detected at room temperature: A new probe for the S-cycle

The long-lived, light-induced radical Y_D^• of the Tyr161 residue in the D2 protein of Photosystem II (PSII) is known to magnetically interact with the CaMn₄ cluster, situated ∼ 30 Å away. In this study we report a transient step-change increase in Y_D^• EPR intensity upon the application of a single laser flash to S₁ state-synchronised PSII-enriched membranes from spinach. This transient effect was observed at room temperature and high applied microwave power (100 mW) in samples containing PpBQ, as well as those containing DCMU. The subsequent decay lifetimes were found to differ depending on the additive used. We propose that this flash-induced signal increase was caused by enhanced spin relaxation of Y_D^• by the OEC in the S₂ state, as a consequence of the single laser flash turnover. The post-flash decay reflected S₂ → S₁ back-turnover, as confirmed by their correlations with independent measurements of S₂ multiline EPR signal and flash-induced variable fluorescence decay kinetics under corresponding experimental conditions. This flash-induced effect opens up the possibility to study the kinetic behaviour of S-state transitions at room temperature using Y_D^• as a probe.     

Using a dry electrode EEG device during balance tasks in healthy young-adult males: Test–retest reliability analysis

Abstract

Background: The analysis of brain activity during balance is an important topic in different fields of science. Given that all measurements involve an error that is caused by different agents, like the instrument, the researcher, or the natural human variability, a test–retest reliability evaluation of the electroencephalographic assessment is a needed starting point. However, there is a lack of information about the reliability of electroencephalographic measurements, especially in a new wireless device with dry electrodes.

Objective: The current study aims to analyze the reliability of electroencephalographic measurements from a wireless device using dry electrodes during two different balance tests.

Method: Seventeen healthy male volunteers performed two different static balance tasks on a Biodex Balance Platform: (a) with two feet on the platform and (b) with one foot on the platform. Electroencephalographic data was recorded using Enobio (Neuroelectrics). The mean power spectrum of the alpha band of the central and frontal channels was calculated. Relative and absolute indices of reliability were also calculated.

Results: In general terms, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values of all the assessed channels can be classified as excellent (>0.90). The percentage standard error of measurement oscillated from 0.54% to 1.02% and the percentage smallest real difference ranged from 1.50% to 2.82%.

Conclusion: Electroencephalographic assessment through an Enobio device during balance tasks has an excellent reliability. However, its utility was not demonstrated because responsiveness was not assessed.     

Resveratrol prevents alcohol-induced cognitive deficits and brain damage by blocking inflammatory signaling and cell death cascade in neonatal rat brain

Human prenatal ethanol exposure that occurs during a period of increased synaptogenesis known as the 'brain growth spurt' has been associated with significant impairments in attention, learning and memory. Recent studies have shown that administration of ethanol to infant rats during the synaptogenesis period (first 2 weeks after birth) triggers extensive apoptotic neurodegeneration throughout many regions of the developing brain and results in cognitive dysfunctions as the animal matures. The present study was designed with an aim to investigate the effect of resveratrol, a polyphenolic phytoalexin (trans-3,5,4-trihydroxy stilbene) present in red wine on alcohol-induced cognitive deficits and neuronal apoptosis in rat pups postnatally exposed to ethanol. Pups were administered ethanol (5 g/kg, 12% v/v) by intragastric intubation on postnatal days 7, 8, and 9. Ethanol-exposed pups showed impaired memory performance in both Morris water maze elevated plus maze task recorded by using computer tracking with EthoVision software. Behavioral deficit in ethanol-exposed pups was associated with enhanced acetylcholinesterase activity, increased oxidative-nitrosative stress, cytokine (TNF-α, IL-1β and TGF-β), nuclear factor kappa beta and caspase 3 levels in both cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Chronic treatment with resveratrol (10 and 20 mg/kg) significantly attenuated all the behavioral, biochemical and molecular changes in different brain regions of ethanol administered pups. The major finding of the study is that resveratrol blocks activation of nuclear factor kappa beta pathway and apoptotic signaling and prevents cognitive deficits in rats postnatally exposed to ethanol.     

EPR detection of a cryogenically photogenerated intermediate in photosynthetic oxygen evolution

In Photosystem II preparations at low temperature we were able to generate and trap an intermediate state between the S₁ and S₂ states of the Kok scheme for photosynthetic oxygen evolution. Illumination of dark-adapted, oxygen-evolving Photosystem II preparations at 140 K produces a 320-G-wide EPR signal centered near g = 4.1 when observed at 10 K. This signal is superimposed on a 5-fold larger and somewhat narrower background signal; hence, it is best observed in difference spectra. Warming of illuminated samples to 190 K in the dark results in the disappearance of the light-induced g = 4.1 feature and the appearance of the multiline EPR signal associated with the S₂ state. Low-temperature illumination of samples prepared in the S₂ state does not produce the g = 4.1 signal. Inhibition of oxygen evolution by incubation of PS II preparations in 0.8 M NaCl buffer or by the addition of 400 μM NH₂OH prevents the formation of the g = 4.1 signal. Samples in which oxygen evolution is inhibited by replacement of Cl^? with F^? exhibit the g = 4.1 signal when illuminated at 140 K, but subsequent warming to 190 K neither depletes the amplitude of this signal nor produces the multiline signal. The broad signal at g = 4.1 is typical for a $\text{S =}\text{5}\text{2}$ spin system in a rhombic environment, suggesting the involvement of non-heme Fe in photosynthetic oxygen evolution.     

乌头及其同属近缘种的SSR指纹图谱研究

乌头(Aconitum carmichaeli Debx.)为中国重要的药用植物,种质资源丰富,同属近缘种繁多。该研究采用SSR分子标记技术对采自17个种群的51份乌头样本和13个同属近缘种的65份样本进行扩增和聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳检测,分析了乌头及其同属近缘种的遗传多样性、遗传分化和系统发育关系,筛选出稳定性好、多态性高的SSR引物构建乌头及其近缘种的指纹图谱。结果表明:(1)11对乌头微卫星引物均表现出高的多态性,共检测出109个复等位基因,平均每个位点9.91。(2)乌头在物种水平上遗传多样性丰富(A=3.090 9,I=0.889 7,h=0.540 2),种群间的遗传分化显著(Gst=0.277 4);乌头属14种植物表现出了较高的遗传多样性(A=9.909 1,I=1.526 2,h=0.690 5),物种间遗传分化显著(Fst=0.437),基因流微弱(Nm=0.451 8)。(3)聚类分析表明,同一种群的乌头样本首先聚在一起各自形成小支,17个小支聚为一支;13个乌头近缘种材料中,相同物种的样本分别聚为一支;乌头属14个物种聚为5个大支,与形态分类结果一致。(4)利用基因型丰富、多态性高的6对SSR引物(Tchin03、Tchin04Tchin20、Tchin26、Tchin29、Tchin32)可有效区分14种乌头属植物,并以此建立了乌头种质资源和近缘种的DNA指纹图谱。该研究为乌头的种质资源鉴定及混伪品鉴定提供了重要的技术支撑。     

Preservation and computer-aided microscopic analysis of planktonic Protozoa and algae

Samples of microplankton and larger nanoplankton (5 to 200 m) are preserved with a combination of Lugol's solution and DaFano's fixative. Organisms are then settled on a gelatin-coated slide, dried and embedded in 40 percent glycerin. Counting and sizing is performed under a microscope using a drawing tube, which facilitates measuring the organisms with a microcomputer-interfaced caliper. An interactive computer program, written in BASIC, allows for estimating the volumes of cells in up to 40 shape/species categories. The program then saves data on a disk, retrieves them, and calculates the results either for individual species (abundance, biomass, and mean cell volume) or as a pooled size spectrum of all organisms measured.