Upstream Regulators and Downstream Effectors of NADPH Oxidases as Novel Therapeutic Targets for Diabetic Kidney Disease

Oxidative stress has been linked to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, the complication of diabetes in the kidney. NADPH oxidases of the Nox family, and in particular the homologue Nox4, are a major source of reactive oxygen species in the diabetic kidney and are critical mediators of redox signaling in glomerular and tubulointerstitial cells exposed to the diabetic milieu. Here, we present an overview of the current knowledge related to the understanding of the role of Nox enzymes in the processes that control mesangial cell, podocyte and tubulointerstitial cell injury induced by hyperglycemia and other predominant factors enhanced in the diabetic milieu, including the renin-angiotensin system and transforming growth factor-β. The nature of the upstream modulators of Nox enzymes as well as the downstream targets of the Nox NADPH oxidases implicated in the propagation of the redox processes that alter renal biology in diabetes will be highlighted.     

On the name Stormbergia dangershoeki Butler

Imperfection in the formation of the name Stormbergia dangershoeki Butler is taken as an example so as to warn future taxon authors to repeat it.     

Identification and characterization of a pituitary corticotropin-releasing factor binding protein by chemical cross-linking

A corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) binding protein has been identified based on the chemical cross-linking of ovine [Nle21,m-125I-Tyr32]CRF (125I-oCRF) to bovine anterior pituitary membranes using disuccinimidyl suberate (DSS). The apparent molecular weight of the cross-linked complex determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by autoradiography was approximately 75,000 and was slightly decreased in its nonreduced state, suggesting the presence of intramolecular disulfide bonds. Subtracting the molecular weight of 125I-oCRF, the binding protein appeared to have a molecular weight of approximately 70,000. The cross-linking was specific since an excess (1 microM) of an unrelated peptide (insulin) did not affect the appearance of the Mr 75,000 band. The concentration of CRF required to inhibit cross-linking by 50% was found to be similar to that determined for bovine pituitary CRF receptors by radioreceptor assay. The nonhydrolyzable GTP analogue 5'-guanylylimidodiphosphate dose dependently inhibited the cross-linking of 125I-oCRF to the Mr 70,000 protein. 50 nM of the inactive CRF analogue, [Ala14]oCRF, had no effect on the cross-linking, an observation which is consistent with this compound's low potencies in bioassays and radioreceptor assays. These results strongly suggest that this Mr 70,000 protein is the biological bovine anterior pituitary CRF receptor.     

Directional fixation of mutations in vertebrate evolution

Summary We have made pairwise comparisons between the coding sequences of 21 genes from coldblooded vertebrates and 41 homologous sequences from warm-blooded vertebrates. In the case of 12 genes, GC levels were higher, especially in third codon positions, in warm-blooded vertebrates compared to cold-blooded vertebrates. Six genes showed no remarkable difference in GC level and three showed a lower level. In the first case, higher GC levels appear to be due to a directional fixation of mutations, presumably under the influence of body temperature (see Bernardi and Bernardi 1986b). These GC-richer genes of warm-blooded vertebrates were located, in all cases studied, in isochores higher in GC than those comprising the homologous genes of cold-blooded vertebrates. In the third case, increases appear to be due to a limited formation of GC-rich isochores which took place in some cold-blooded vertebrates after the divergence of warm-blooded vertebrates. The directional changes in the GC content of coding sequences and the evolutionary conservation of both increased and unchanged GC levels are in keeping with the existence of compositional constraints on the genome.     

Species specificity of bacterial palindromic units

We described previously a family of dispersed palindromic sequences highly repeated in Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium genomes. These sequences, called PU (palindromic units), are located outside structural genes. We report here observations suggesting that PU may have a role in bacterial speciation.     

CpG and TpA frequencies in the plant system.

Higher plant nuclear sequences reveal avoidance of CpG and TpA doublets. Chloroplast sequences avoid the TpA doublet in all codon positions. The chloroplast genome is not methylated but codon positions II-III and untranslated regions avoid CpG. The mitochondrial genome, also unmethylated, avoids CpG in all codon positions. We therefore deduce that methylation is not sufficient to explain CpG avoidance in the higher plant systems. Other factors must be taken into account such as amino acid composition, codon choices and perhaps stability of the DNA helix.     

Genotype of Yupik Eskimos with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency

Summary An A-to-G transition in the second intron was the sole mutation detected in four Yupik Eskimo patients with salt-wasting congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency. Allele-specific hybridization should be an efficient means of performing prenatal diagnosis of the disease in this highly inbred population.