Identification of P‐glycoprotein co‐fractionating proteins and specific binding partners in rat brain microvessels

Drug delivery to the brain for the treatment of pathologies with a CNS component is a significant clinical challenge. P‐glycoprotein (PgP), a drug efflux pump in the endothelial cell membrane, is a major factor in preventing therapeutics from crossing the blood‐brain barrier (BBB). Identifying PgP regulatory mechanisms is key to developing agents to modulate PgP activity. Previously, we found that PgP trafficking was altered concomitant with increased PgP activity and disassembly of high molecular weight PgP‐containing complexes during acute peripheral inflammatory pain. These data suggest that PgP activity is post‐translationally regulated at the BBB. The goal of the current study was to identify proteins that co‐localize with PgP in rat brain microvessel endothelial cell membrane microdomains and use the data to suggest potential regulatory mechanisms. Using new density gradients of microvessel homogenates, we identified two unique pools (1,2) of PgP in membrane fractions. Caveolar constituents, caveolin1, cavin1, and cavin2, co‐localized with PgP in these fractions indicating the two pools contained caveolae. A chaperone (Hsc71), protein disulfide isomerase and endosomal/lysosomal sorting proteins (Rab5, Rab11a) also co‐fractionated with PgP in the gradients. These data suggest signaling pathways with a potential role in post‐translational regulation of PgP activity at the BBB.

     

Two new taxa of Achnanthidium and Encyonema (Bacillariophyceae) from the Yom River,Thailand, with special reference to the areolae occlusions implying ontogenetic relationship

We discovered two new taxa of Achnanthidium and Encyonema occurring with high abundance in the upstream of the Yom River, which is one of four major rivers in Northern Thailand. Achnanthidium pseudoconspicuum var. yomensis var. nov. closely resembles Achnanthidium pseudoconspicuum var. pseudoconspicuum in scanning electron microscopy (SEM), but has clearly different valve morphometry under the light microscopy (LM). Achnanthidium pseudoconspicuum var. yomensis is also similar to A. japonicum in valve morphology under LM, but differs to this species based on SEM observation. Encyonema yuwadeeanum sp. nov. shows similarities to Encyonema leei and Encyonema subkukenanum, but differs in valve shape and/or polar fissure shape. We discuss the possible valve ontogenetic relationship between Achnanthidium and Cymbellales based on the detailed areolae structures of these two new taxa.     

苜蓿属3种不同花色基因型的染色体核型分析

基于形态学的显著差异,对紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa L.)、黄花苜蓿(Medicago falcata L.)和白花苜蓿(Alfalfa with Cream flower)进行染色体核型分析,结果表明,3种类型的苜蓿材料在染色体核型方面有显著差别,白花苜蓿和黄花苜蓿都是随体染色体,其中,黄花苜蓿有2条为端部着丝点染色体,其核型公式分别为:紫花苜蓿2n=4x=24m+8sm、黄花苜蓿2n=4x=24m+6sm+2T(SAT)、白花苜蓿2n=4x=24m+8sm(SAT)。紫花苜蓿与白花苜蓿的染色体具有89%的相似性,只是在紫花苜蓿7号染色体和白花苜蓿15号染色体存在随体有无的区别;黄花苜蓿染色体具有独特性,显著区别于紫花苜蓿和白花苜蓿,但从其19号染色体来看,参与了紫花苜蓿或白花苜蓿的构建;白花苜蓿15号随体染色体与黄花苜蓿25号随体染色体和紫花苜蓿7号染色体有高度的相似性,但也存在随体有无的区别。