Interactions of an anionic antimicrobial peptide with Staphylococcus aureus membranes

The antimicrobial activity of the anionic peptide, AP1 (GEQGALAQFGEWL), was investigated. AP1 was found to kill Staphylococcus aureus with an MLC of 3 mM and to induce maximal surface pressure changes of 3.8 mN m⁻¹ over 1200 s in monolayers formed from lipid extract of S. aureus membranes. FTIR spectroscopy showed the peptide to be α-helical (100%) in the presence of vesicles formed from this lipid extract and to induce increases in their fluidity (Δν circa 0.5 cm⁻¹). These combined data show that AP1 is able to function as an α-helical antimicrobial peptide against Gram-positive bacteria and suggest that the killing mechanism used by the peptide involves interactions with the membrane lipid headgroup region. Moreover, this killing mechanism differs strongly from that previously reported for AP1 against Gram-negative bacteria, indicating the importance of considering the effects of membrane lipid composition when investigating the structure/function relationships of antimicrobial peptides.     

微囊藻毒素与自然水体中细菌VIVIFORM状态的相关性

细菌VIVIFORM状态是直接关系到自然水体水质评价和环境保护的生态现象 ,其形成机理相当复杂 ,但环境胁迫是主要诱因。通过人为改变湖水中的微囊藻毒素 (MC LR)水平 ,对水体中蓝藻毒素与细菌VIVIFORM状态之间的相关性进行了分析。结果表明 ,较高的毒素水平对水体中细菌种群总量没有明显的影响 ,但能刺激VIVIFORM细菌转化成可培养状态 ,从而证实了自然水体中蓝藻毒素与水细菌VIVIFORM状态之间存在直接的相关性。     

饲料中添加裂殖壶菌粉对凡纳滨对虾脂质沉积和血清生化成分的影响

以健康的凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus Vannamei)[初重(5.810.24) g]为研究对象,研究裂殖壶菌粉(Extracted-and-dried microfungi Schizochytrium sp.,EDMS)对凡纳滨对虾脂质转运、沉积以及血清生化成分的影响。在饲料中分别添加0、0.5%、1.0%、1.5%和2.0%的裂殖壶菌粉,制成5组(基础组、EMDS05、EMDS10、EMDS15、EMDS20)等氮等能饲料。将750尾健康的凡纳滨对虾随机分成5组(为每组3个平行,每个平行45尾虾),养殖时间45d。结果表明,随着饲料中DHA水平的提高,肌肉中水分、粗脂肪和粗蛋白质含量均无显著改变(P0.05),但灰分随着添加量的增加呈现上升趋势,且EMDS20组显著高于基础组和EMDS05组(P0.05);肌肉和肝胰脏中高不饱和脂肪酸(HUFA)含量显著升高(P0.05),血清总甘油三酯(TG)含量显著升高(P0.05),总胆固醇(TC)含量保持稳定(P0.05),EDMS15组高/低密度脂蛋白(HDL/LDL)显著高于其他各组(P0.05);超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)呈现先下降后升高的趋势,其中EMDS10组(1.0%添加组)显著低于其他各组(P0.05);丙二醛(MDA)含量显著升高(P0.05)。综上所述,饲料中添加EDMS促进了凡纳滨对虾肌肉中n-3 HUFA的沉积,同时也提高了虾体脂质过氧化压力。     

Lipophilic ionophore complexes as superoxide dismutase mimetics

A wide range of metal ion complexes exhibit superoxide dismutase like activities as detected by inhibition of nitroblue tetrazolium reduction. Mn(II) and Cu(II) complexes of EDTA, EHPG, and EGTA exhibit SOD like activities commensurate with many of the purpose-built SOD mimics. Here, we report analogous lipophilic chelators that localise metal ions (Cu(II), Mn(II), and Fe(III)) in the lipid membranes and lipoproteins to protect them from superoxide mediated oxidative damage. Spectroscopic titrations and Jobs method confirm that both 1:1 and 2:1 metal ion monensin complexes form. The cupric complexes are the most active exhibiting IC(50) values of 0.09 and 0.18 microM for 2Cu(II)-monensin and Cu(II)-monensin, respectively, for superoxide destruction. In addition, the IC(50) value for Mn(II)-monensin is 0.31 microM. In conclusion, Mn(II) and Cu(II) complexes of the ionophore monensin exhibit considerable superoxide scavenging activities and represent a novel class of catalytic antioxidants for the protection of lipid structures.     

Patterns of peroxidative ethane emission from submerged rice seedlings indicate that damage from reactive oxygen species takes place during submergence and is not necessarily a post-anoxic phenomenon

Using ethane as a marker for peroxidative damage to membranes by reactive oxygen species (ROS) we examined the injury of rice seedlings during submergence in the dark. It is often expressed that membrane injury from ROS is a post-submergence phenomenon occurring when oxygen is re-introduced after submergence-induced anoxia. We found that ethane production, from rice seedlings submerged for 24–72 h, was stimulated to 4–37 nl gFW⁻¹, indicating underwater membrane peroxidation. When examined a week later the seedlings were damaged or had died. On de-submergence in air, ethane production rates rose sharply, but fell back to less than 0.1 nl gFW⁻¹ h⁻¹ after 2 h. We compared submergence-susceptible and submergence-tolerant cultivars, submergence starting in the morning (more damage) and in the afternoon (less damage) and investigated different submergence durations. The seedlings showed extensive fatality whenever total ethane emission exceeded about 15 nl gFW⁻¹. Smaller amounts of ethane emission were linked to less extensive injury to leaves. Partial oxygen shortage (O₂ levels <1%) imposed for 2 h in gas phase mixtures also stimulated ethane production. In contrast, seedlings under anaerobic gas phase conditions produced no ethane until re-aerated: then a small peak was observed followed by a low, steady ethane production. We conclude that damage during submergence is not associated with extensive anoxia. Instead, injury is linked to membrane peroxidation in seedlings that are partially oxygen deficient while submerged. On return to air, further peroxidation is suppressed within about 2 h indicating effective control of ROS production not evident during submergence itself.     

Microalgal lipids biochemistry and biotechnological perspectives

In the last few years, there has been an intense interest in using microalgal lipids in food, chemical and pharmaceutical industries and cosmetology, while a noteworthy research has been performed focusing on all aspects of microalgal lipid production. This includes basic research on the pathways of solar energy conversion and on lipid biosynthesis and catabolism, and applied research dealing with the various biological and technical bottlenecks of the lipid production process. In here, we review the current knowledge in microalgal lipids with respect to their metabolism and various biotechnological applications, and we discuss potential future perspectives.     

Diglyceride kinase from Escherichia coli: Modulation of enzyme activity by glycosphingolipids

Diglyceride kinase was purified from membranes of Escherichia coli K-12 using organic solvents. The enzyme apoprotein depended on lipids, such as cardiolipin (diphosphatidylglycerol), phosphatidylcholine or 1-monooleoylglycerol, for activity with 1,2-dipalmitoylglycerol. Mixed brain cerebrosides and gangliosides as well as defined ganglioside fractions and synthetic lactocerebroside were devoid of lipid cofactor activity. However, all these glycosphingolipids were strong inhibitors of activation by phosphatidylcholine. When cardiolipin was used as lipid activator with the detergent, Triton X-100, as solubilizing agent, the addition of mixed or purified gangliosides first (at about 0.4 mM) resulted in additional activation, but higher ganglioside concentrations were strongly inhibitory. Both effects were absolutely dependent on the presence of lipid-bound sialic acid and were not given by cerebrosides, by free sialic acid or by sialyl-lactose. The stimulating and inhibitory effects of glycosphingolipids could also be demonstrated when 1-monooleoylglycerol was used as substrate, lipid activator and solubilizing agent at the same time. The modulation of kinase activity by glycosphingolipids is discussed at the level of lipid/protein interactions.     

Design of novel lipidated peptidomimetic conjugates for targeting EGFR heterodimerization in HER2 + cancer

The human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family is known to be involved in cell signaling pathways. The extracellular domain of EGFR consists of four domains, of which domain II and domain IV are known to be involved in the dimerization process. Overexpression of these receptors is known to play a significant role in heterodimerization of these receptors leading to the development of cancer. We have designed peptidomimetic molecules to inhibit the EGFR heterodimerization interaction that have shown antiproliferative activity and specificity for HER2-positive cancer cell lines. Among these, a peptidomimetic, compound 5, exhibited antiproliferative activity at low nanomolar concentrations in HER2-overexpressing cancer cell lines. To improve the stability of this peptidomimetic, we have designed and synthesized a novel conjugate of peptidomimetic compound 5 with a lipid, stearic acid. The antiproliferative activity of this conjugate was evaluated in HER2-positive cancer cell lines. Results suggested that the conjugate exhibited selective antiproliferative activity in HER2-overexpressing breast and lung cancer cell lines and was able to block HER2:HER3 heterodimerization. Also, the conjugate showed improved stability with a half-life of 5?h in human serum compared to the half-life of 2?h for parent compound 5. The binding affinity of the conjugate to HER2 protein was evaluated by SPR analysis, and the mode of binding of the lipid conjugate to domain IV of HER2 protein was demonstrated by docking analysis. Thus, this novel lipid conjugate can be used to target HER2-overexpressing cancers.     

Yarrowia lipolytica: A model and a tool to understand the mechanisms implicated in lipid accumulation

The oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica is known to inhabit various lipid-containing environments. One of the most striking features in this yeast is the presence of several multigene families involved in the metabolic pathways of hydrophobic substrate utilization. The complexity and the multiplicity of these genes give Y. lipolytica a wide capability range towards hydrophobic substrate (HS) utilization and storage. The combination of the increasing knowledge of this yeast's metabolism and the development of more efficient genetic tools is offering new perspectives in using Y. lipolytica as a model organism to study the mechanisms involved in lipid metabolism associated to fat uptake, storage, deposition, mobilization and regulation. Nutrient status and culture conditions seem to play a major role in obesity.     

不同组织分离期对大圆头蛹虫草菌种性能的影响

为明确大圆头蛹虫草组织分离最佳分离时期,以大圆头蛹虫草优良母种为母本,采用组织分离法制备子代母种,以优良母种为对照,通过对不同组织分离期（35、40、45、50 d）子代母种平板培养、液体培养及栽培实验,考察不同组织分离期对子代母种培养性状及子实体形成能力的影响。结果表明,不同组织分离期大圆头蛹虫草子代母种培养性状存在较大的差异,其子实体形成能力与子代母种培养性状具有显著相关性,以组织分离期为40 d的子代母种性能表现最优,优良菌种筛选率最高（48%）,45 d次之（44%）,50 d最低（32%）。 明确大圆头蛹虫草优良菌种选育组织分离最佳时期为40 d,试验结果为大圆头蛹虫草优质菌种选育、复壮提供参考。