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 -     

An initial top-down proteomic analysis of the standard cuprizone mouse model of multiple sclerosis

An initial proteomic analysis of the cuprizone mouse model to characterise the breadth of toxicity by assessing cortex, skeletal muscle, spleen and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Cuprizone treated vs. control mice for an initial characterisation. Select tissues from each group were pooled, analysed in triplicate using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) and deep imaging and altered protein species identified using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Forty-three proteins were found to be uniquely detectable or undetectable in the cuprizone treatment group across the tissues analysed. Protein species identified in the cortex may potentially be linked to axonal damage in this model, and those in the spleen and peripheral blood mononuclear cells to the minimal peripheral immune cell infiltration into the central nervous system during cuprizone mediated demyelination. Primary oligodendrocytosis has been observed in type III lesions in multiple sclerosis. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Cuprizone treatment results in oligodendrocyte apoptosis and secondary demyelination. This initial analysis identified proteins likely related to axonal damage; these may link primary oligodendrocytosis and secondary axonal damage. Furthermore, this appears to be the first study of the cuprizone model to also identify alterations in the proteomes of skeletal muscle, spleen and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Notably, protein disulphide isomerase was not detected in the cuprizone cohort; its absence has been linked to reduced major histocompatibility class I assembly and reduced antigen presentation. Overall, the results suggest that, like experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, results from the standard cuprizone model should be carefully considered relative to clinical multiple sclerosis.     

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.     

Effects on pregnancy in mice of passive immunization against ovine LH and human chorionic gonadotrophin

Mice given daily i.p. injections of immunoglobulins against ovine LH on Days 3-7 of pregnancy were devoid of implantation sites on Day 8 whereas mice treated with antibodies to hCG had embryos of normal number and appearance on Day 8. These antibody treatments reduced the mean +/- s.d. serum progesterone concentrations from 65.4 +/- 15.3 ng/ml (control globulins) to 8.6 +/- 4.9 ng/ml (anti-LH) and 9.2 +/- 3.1 ng/ml (anti-hCG) on Day 8 and had no differential effect on serum oestrogen levels on Day 4. However, the mice treated with anti-hCG did not litter; resorption of the embryos took place between Days 10 and 14 of pregnancy. Indirect immunofluorescence and quantitative immunoenzymic assays showed the presence of anti-ovine LH and anti-hCG reacting antigens in the mouse feto-placental unit. On Day 6, the values of reacting antigens (mean +/- s.d. absorbance units/10 micron section of embryo) were 0.050 +/- 0.002 with control globulins, 0.059 +/- 0.002 with anti-hCG-Ig and 0.196 +/- 0.018 with anti-LH-Ig; the corresponding values on Day 12 were 0.075 +/- 0.009, 0.402 +/- 0.02 and 0.416 +/- 0.015. The quantitative disposition of the reacting antigens to the two types of anti-gonadotrophins seems to bear a temporal relationship to their respective antifertility action. The pregnancy terminating action of immunoglobulins to ovine LH (Days 6, 7 & 8) and hCG (Days 8, 9 & 10) was counteracted by administration of 2 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate on Days 6, 9 and 12, indicating the importance of progesterone in the maintenance of pregnancy in the mouse.     

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.     

‘Leaf tip hooding’ — an induced mutation inN. Tabacum,var. Delcrest

A leaf tip hooded mutant was isolated in the progenies of the irradiated seeds of a commercial tobacco variety, namely Delcrest. The mutant character was determined as monogenic recessive. Along with leaf tip hooding, certain other characters such as increase in size of leaves, number and clasping arrangement of leaves on stem, and delayed flowering, were found to be closely associated and this was attributed to the pleiotropic effect of the leaf tip hooding gene.     

Solid state fermentation for L-glutamic acid production using Brevibacterium sp.

Summary Solid state fermentation system was used to cultivate Brevibacterium sp. on sugar cane bagasse impregnated with a medium containing glucose, urea, mineral salts and vitamins for producing L-glutamic acid. Maximum yields (80 mg glutamic acid per g dry bagasse with biomass and substrate - mg/gds) were obtained when bagasse of mixed particle size was moistened at 85–90 % mositure level with the medium containing 10 % glucose. This is the first report on the cultivation of Brevibacterium sp. in solid cultures for production of glutamic acid.     

Analysis of woody vegetation of Corbett National Park,India

The heterogeneous vegetation mosaic of the South Turkana region of north Kenya is associated with diversity in the region's physical environment. The abundance and distribution of the dominant species are related to gradients in those abiotic factors that influence water availability, including precipitation, soil texture, and topographic relief. Research focused on three Acacia species that are a major component of the Turkana vegetation; A. tortilis, A. senegal, and A. reficiens. These species each exhibit a different response to variations in abiotic factors. Consequently, species abundance varies independently across the landscape, creating a continuum of intergrading populations. Community types can be identified within the mosaic of intergrading populations. Although community borders are not discrete due to continual change in species abundance, types are identifiable and are repeated in areas with similar environmental conditions. The landscape patterns are representative of Whittaker's (1953) climaxas-pattern, with communities created by individual patterns of populations responding to environmental gradients, creating a continuum of community change across the landscape.