The fate of the fusarium mycotoxin zearalenone in maize cell suspension cultures

The fusarium mycotoxin zearalenone was transformed in cell suspension cultures of Zea mays giving α- and β-zearalenol and the β-D-glu cos ides of zearalenone and α- and β-zearalenol. The structure of zearalenone-4-β-D-glucopyranoside was determined by liquid — chromatography-mass spectrometry and specific hydrolysis with β-glucosidase. α- and β-zearalenol and their glucosides were identified by co chromatography using tic and HPLC and glucosidase — treatment Up to 50% of the mycotoxin added was bound to a non extractable or “bound” residue fraction. After treating this residue by a sequential cell wall fractionation procedure, zearalenone was found to be bound mainly to starch, hemicellulose, and lignin fractions.     

Gene transfer is a major factor in bacterial evolution

Lateral gene transfer in four strains of Salmonella enterica has been assessed using genomic subtraction. Strain LT2 (subspecies I serovar Typhimurium) chromosomal DNA was used as target and subtracted by three subspecies I strains of serovars Typhimurium (S21), Muenchen (S71), Typhi (M229), and a subspecies V strain (M321). Data from probing random cosmids of LT2 DNA with preparations of the residual LT2 DNA after subtraction were used to estimate the amounts of LT2 DNA not able to hybridize to strains S21, S71, M229, and M321 to be in the range of 84-106, 191-355, 305-629, and 778-1,286 kb, respectively. Several lines of evidence indicate that most of this DNA is from genes not present in strain M321 and not from genes that have diverged in sequence. The amounts correlate with the divergence of the four strains as revealed by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and sequence variation of housekeeping genes. Sequence of 39 of the fragments from the M321 subtracted residual LT2 DNA revealed only six inserts of known gene function with evidence of both gain and loss of genes during the development of S. enterica clones. Sixteen of the 39 segments have 45% or lower G+C content, below the species average, but over half are within the normal range for the species. We conclude that even within a species, clones may differ by up to 20% of chromosomal DNA, indicating a major role for lateral transfer, and that on the basis of G+C content, a significant proportion of the DNA is from distantly related species.      

Antiretroviral activity of mechanism-based irreversible inhibitors of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase.

S-Adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (AdoHcy-nase) is a key enzyme in transmethylation reactions. The objective of the present study was to examine the potential antiretroviral activities of novel mechanism-based irreversible AdoHcy-nase inhibitors. (Z)-4',5'-didehydro-5'-deoxy-5'-fluoroadenosine (ZDDFA), (E)-4',5'-didehydro-5'-deoxy-5'-fluoroadenosine (EDDFA), (Z)-4',5'-didehydro-5'-deoxy-5'-chloroadenosine (ZDDCA) and 5'-deoxy-5'-acetylenic adenosine (DAA) inhibited AdoHcy-nase activity with Ki values of 0.55, 1.04, greater than 10.0 and 3.30 microM, respectively. These four compounds were tested for antiviral activity in vitro against Moloney leukemia virus (MoLV) in the XC-plaque assay. MoLV replication in murine fibroblasts (SC-1) was inhibited by ZDDFA, EDDFA and DAA with IC50 values of 0.05, 0.25 and 3.30 micrograms/ml, respectively. ZDDCA did not inhibit MoLV infection at the concentrations tested. Antiviral activity correlated with the ability of the individual compounds to maintain sustained elevations in intracellular S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) concentrations in the SC-1 cells. ZDDFA, the most potent inhibitor of AdoHcy-nase and MoLV was also the most active in maintaining sustained elevations in intracellular AdoHcy levels. The antiviral activity of ZDDFA was also examined in murine C3H1OT1/2 fibroblasts which constitutively produce MoLV. Pretreatment with ZDDFA (1.0 microgram/ml) for 24 hr inhibited virus production by 88%. Similar to the SC-1 cells, and concomitant with enzyme inhibition, there was a 300-fold increase in AdoHcy levels in ZDDFA (1.0 microgram/ml) treated C3H1OT1/2 cells. Incorporation of a [3H]methyl group from tritiated S-adenosylmethionine into total RNA in C3H1OT1/2 cells was inhibited by ZDDFA without affecting cell viability. These results suggest that mechanism-based inhibitors of AdoHcy-nase, such as ZDDFA, may have potential as antiretroviral agents.     

Does small-sided-games’ court area influence metabolic,perceptual, and physical performance parameters of young elite basketball players?

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of court size on physiological responses and physical performance of young elite basketball players. Twelve male basketball players (18.6 ± 0.5 years; 88.8 ± 14.5 kg; 192.6 ± 6.5 cm) from an under-19 team performed two small-sided games (matches) with different court areas (28x15 m and 28x9 m; 28x15 and 28x9 protocols). The number of players (3x3) was kept the same in each protocol. The players performed a repeated-sprint ability (RSA) test before and after each match. Blood lactate concentration was collected before (pre) and after (post) the matches, and the session rating of perceived exertion (session-RPE) was determined 30 minutes after the match. Best and mean time in the RSA test were not different between the 28x15 and the 28x9 match protocols (p > 0.05). A significant difference was observed for lactate concentration from pre- to post-match (p < 0.05) in both protocols (28x15 and 28x9); however, there was no significant interaction between protocols. A similar session-RPE mean score (28x15: 7.2 ± 1.4 and 28x9: 6.6 ± 1.4) was detected for both protocols (p > 0.05, ES=0.41). In summary, the results of the current study suggest that the different court areas induced similar responses. Although there was no significant difference in effort perception, players tended to perceive a greater effort in the larger court size.     

Signatures of miR-181a on the Renal Transcriptome and Blood Pressure

MicroRNA-181a binds to the 3′ untranslated region of messenger RNA (mRNA) for renin, a rate-limiting enzyme of the renin-angiotensin system. Our objective was to determine whether this molecular interaction translates into a clinically meaningful effect on blood pressure and whether circulating miR-181a is a measurable proxy of blood pressure. In 200 human kidneys from the TRANScriptome of renaL humAn TissuE (TRANSLATE) study, renal miR-181a was the sole negative predictor of renin mRNA and a strong correlate of circulating miR-181a. Elevated miR-181a levels correlated positively with systolic and diastolic blood pressure in TRANSLATE, and this association was independent of circulating renin. The association between serum miR-181a and systolic blood pressure was replicated in 199 subjects from the Genetic Regulation of Arterial Pressure of Humans In the Community (GRAPHIC) study. Renal immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization showed that colocalization of miR-181a and renin was most prominent in collecting ducts where renin is not released into the systemic circulation. Analysis of 69 human kidneys characterized by RNA sequencing revealed that miR-181a was associated with downregulation of four mitochondrial pathways and upregulation of 41 signaling cascades of adaptive immunity and inflammation. We conclude that renal miR-181a has pleiotropic effects on pathways relevant to blood pressure regulation and that circulating levels of miR-181a are both a measurable proxy of renal miR-181a expression and a novel biochemical correlate of blood pressure.