Mitochondrial dysfunction in perinatal asphyxia: role in pathogenesis and potential therapeutic interventions

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Perinatal asphyxia (PA)-induced brain injury may present as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in the neonatal period, and long-term sequelae such as spastic...     

Preface

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry -     

Clinal variation in carapace shape in the South American freshwater crab,Aegla uruguayana (Anomura: Aeglidae)

South America has been influenced by different geoclimatic events ever since its separation from Africa. The inland water fauna has evolved in response to the changing landscape. Currently, there are indications of variations in populations, occurring to different degrees that would indicate a clinal pattern in morphology. Among South America's fauna, the freshwater anomuran, Aegla, is an enigmatic group as a result of its endemicity and is composed of only one genus. Of all the species in this family, Aegla uruguayana has the broadest distribution. Its native habitats have been influenced by several marine transgressions during the Miocene–Quaternary Periods; thus, it is likely that their current distribution has been more recent. Its habitat spreads across a number of isolated basins and sub‐basins that display distinct degrees of isolation/connection, making clinal variation patterns in the morphology of this species possible. The present study aimed to evaluate the pattern of carapace shape variation in A. uruguayana and how it relates to the isolation and/or connection of populations from different basins and sub‐basins, allowing the determination of any extant clinal patterns. The specimens studied belong to 25 separate populations, representing all areas in which the species currently exists. A total of 523 crabs were analyzed. We identified 13 landmarks and four semi‐landmarks in the carapace. The aeglids were divided into seven size intervals to avoid an allometry effect. In each size category, shape relationships analyzed by principal component analysis suggest a geographical pattern corresponding to the distribution of the populations studied. An evaluation of covariation between body shape and geographical coordinates reveals a strong pattern and shows that population distribution had a significant effect on species morphology. Additionally, according to covariance analysis, the variation in shape was not associated with the environmental variables studied. We observed a clinal pattern throughout the species distribution, which could be attributed to genetic drift. It is possible that this process is being amplified by the geographical isolation of the basins, differences in environmental characteristics, and low dispersal ability. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 113 , 914–930.     

Sister-chromatid exchange and chromosome aberrations for 4 aliphatic epoxides in mice

Sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) and chromosome aberrations (CA) in bone marrow cells were analyzed after in vivo exposure in mice to 4 aliphatic epoxides, namely 1-naphthyl glycidyl ether (NGE), 1-naphthyl propylene oxide (NPO), 4-nitrophenyl glycidyl ether (NPGE) and trichloropropylene oxide (TCPO). These compounds were selected as being among the most mutagenic aliphatic epoxides in our previous structure-mutagenicity studies with the Ames test. There were significant dose-related increases in SCE and CA results for all 4 epoxides. The order of genotoxicity as established through SCE was NGE greater than NPO greater than NPGE approximately equal to TCPO greater than solvent control. It is of interest that Ames Salmonella results are consistent with in vivo genotoxicity for these compounds. However, only the plate test version of the Ames procedure is consistent with this order of in vivo genotoxicity and neither preincubation Ames testing results nor chemical alkylation rates would have predicted this order.     

Simultaneous saccharification and protein enrichment fermentation of sugar beet pulp

Summary A product with 40 % protein content was obtained from sugar beet pulp (1.25–2.0 mm) in 48 h one stage (simultaneous) saccharification/fermentation process under optimized conditions using a specific enzyme mixture andCandida tropicalis strain, also saving about 40 % enzymes in comparison to a 2-stage process.     

Cross reactivity and enzyme sensitivity of immunoaffinity purified Sm/RNP antigens

Immunoaffinity purified Sm/RNP antigens from buffalo and goat liver were studied to determine the role of RNA and proteins towards the antigenicity of Sm and RNP antigens. A more direct approach using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on nylon beads has been utilized to look into the problem. The effect of enzyme treatment and the role of RNA and protein fractions in influencing antigenicity have been described. RNA seems to be involved in the maintenance of RNP specific polypeptides in suitable conformation so as to keep them in solution. Removal of RNA leads to insolubilization of RNP specific polypeptides. Antibodies to Sm and RNP antigens have been shown to cross react with poly A containing heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein with no cross reactivity with thymus RNA or DNA.