Paraquat (1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium), a widely used non-selective herbicide, is a redox cycling agent with adverse effects on dopamine systems. Epidemiological data have shown that exposure to paraquat is one of the several risk factors for Parkinson's disease. We have already shown that cyclo(His-Pro), an endogenous cyclic dipeptide produced by the cleavage of the thyrotropin releasing hormone, has a cytoprotective effect through a mechanism involving Nrf2 activation that decreases production of reactive oxygen species and increases glutathione synthesis. Using primary neuronal cultures and PC12 cells as targets of paraquat neurotoxicity, we addressed whether and how cyclo(His-Pro) causes cellular protective response against paraquat-mediated cell death. We found that cyclo(His-Pro) attenuated reactive oxygen species production, and prevented glutathione depletion by up-regulating Nrf2 gene expression, triggering its nuclear accumulation and activating the expression of heme oxygenase1. These protective effects were abolished by RNA interference-mediated Nrf2 knock down whereas were unaffected by RNA interference-mediated Keap1 knock down. Inhibition of heme oxygenase activity decreased cyclo(His-Pro)-induced neuroprotection. These results suggest that cyclo(His-Pro), acting as a selective activator of the brain modulable Nrf2 pathway, may be a promising candidate as neuroprotective agent that act through induction of phase II genes. 相似文献
Populations of the Oriental White-backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) have declined by over 95% within the past decade. This decline is largely due to incidental consumption of the non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory veterinary pharmaceutical diclofenac, commonly used to treat domestic livestock. The conservation status
of other Gyps vultures in southern Asia is also of immediate concern, given the lack of knowledge regarding status of their populations
and the continuing existence of taxonomic uncertainties. In this study, we assess phylogenetic relationships for all recognized
species and the majority of subspecies within the genus Gyps. The continuing veterinary use of diclofenac is an unknown but potential risk to related species with similar feeding habits
to Gyps bengalensis. Therefore, an accurate assessment of the phylogenetic relationships among Gyps vultures should aid in their conservation by clarifying taxonomic uncertainties, and enabling inference of their respective
relatedness to susceptible G. bengalensis. 相似文献
alpha 1-Proteinase inhibitor (alpha 1-PI), a member of the serine
proteinase inhibitor superfamily, has a primary role in controlling
neutrophil elastase activity within the mammalian circulation. Several
studies have indicated that the reactive center region of alpha 1-PI, the
amino acid sequence of which is critical to recognition of and binding to
target proteinases, is highly divergent within and among species. This
appears to be a consequence of accelerated rates of evolution that may have
been driven by positive Darwinian selection. In order to examine this and
other features of alpha 1-PI evolution in more detail, we have isolated and
sequenced cDNAs representing alpha 1- PI mRNAs of the mouse species Mus
saxicola and Mus minutoides and have compared these with a number of other
mammalian alpha 1-PI mRNAs. Relative to other mammalian mRNAs, the extent
of nonsynonymous substitution is generally high throughout the alpha 1-PI
mRNA molecule, indicating greater overall rates of amino acid substitution.
Within and among mouse species, the 5'-half of the mRNA, but not the
3'-half, has been homogenized by concerted evolution. Finally, the reactive
center is under diversifying or positive Darwinian selection in murid
rodents (rats, mice) and guinea pigs yet is under purifying selection in
primates and artiodactyls. The significance of these findings to alpha 1-PI
function and the possible selective forces driving evolution of serpins in
general are discussed.
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Abstract The expression of nitrite reductase has been tested in a wild-type strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pao1) as a function of nitrate concentration under anaerobic and aerobic conditions. Very low levels of basal expression are shown under non-denitrifying conditions (i.e. absence of nitrate, in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions); anaerobiosis is not required for high levels of enzyme production in the presence of nitrate. A Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain, mutated in the nitrite reductase gene, has been obtained by gene replacement. This mutant, the first of this species described up to now, is unable to grow under anaerobic conditions in the presence of nitrate. The anaerobic growth can be restored by complementation with the wild-type gene. 相似文献
Patterns of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation were examined in 133
mole-rats constituting all four chromosomal species (2n = 52, 2n = 54, 2n =
58, and 2n = 60) of the Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies in Israel, as well
as the peripheral isolates of 2n = 60. In the main range of the complex, a
total of 28 mtDNA haplotypes were found in 64 mole-rats, with most
haplotypes being unique to either a single chromosomal species or
population. mtDNA divergence increased from low to high diploid number in a
north-to-south direction in Israel. Overall levels of mtDNA diversity were
unexpectedly the highest in the 2n = 60, the youngest species of the
complex. The mtDNA haplotypes can be separated into two major groups, 2n =
52-54 and 2n = 58-60, and a phylogenetic analysis for each group revealed
evidence of a few haplotypes not sorted by diploid number. The overall
patterns of mtDNA divergence seen within and among the four chromosomal
species are consistent with the parapatric mode of speciation as suggested
from previous studies of allozyme and DNA hybridization. In a separate data
set the patterns of mtDNA variation were examined across the main
geographic range and across peripheral semi-isolates and isolates of the 2n
= 60 chromosomal species. Fifteen haplotypes were found in 69 mole-rats.
High levels of mtDNA diversity characterized the main range, semi-isolated,
and even some desert isolated populations. The peripheral isolates contain
much mtDNA diversity, including novel haplotypes.
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Mutations in nuclear-encoded protein subunits of the mitochondrial ribosome are an increasingly recognised cause of oxidative phosphorylation system (OXPHOS) disorders. Among them, mutations in the MRPL44 gene, encoding a structural protein of the large subunit of the mitochondrial ribosome, have been identified in four patients with OXPHOS defects and early-onset hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with or without additional clinical features. A 23-year-old individual with cardiac and skeletal myopathy, neurological involvement, and combined deficiency of OXPHOS complexes in skeletal muscle was clinically and genetically investigated. Analysis of whole-exome sequencing data revealed a homozygous mutation in MRPL44 (c.467 T?>?G), which was not present in the biological father, and a region of homozygosity involving most of chromosome 2, raising the possibility of uniparental disomy. Short-tandem repeat and genome-wide SNP microarray analyses of the family trio confirmed complete maternal uniparental isodisomy of chromosome 2. Mitochondrial ribosome assembly and mitochondrial translation were assessed in patient derived-fibroblasts. These studies confirmed that c.467 T?>?G affects the stability or assembly of the large subunit of the mitochondrial ribosome, leading to impaired mitochondrial protein synthesis and decreased levels of multiple OXPHOS components. This study provides evidence of complete maternal uniparental isodisomy of chromosome 2 in a patient with MRPL44-related disease, and confirms that MRLP44 mutations cause a mitochondrial translation defect that may present as a multisystem disorder with neurological involvement.
Abstract Benthic marine flora of Tuscan Archipelago has been studied. Several samples were collected along five islands and some rocks. This paper is a compendium of new and already published data, in which 267 species, varieties, forms and stadia of algae and seagrasses are listed: 5 Bangiophyceae, 182 Florideophyceae, 45 Phaeophyceae, 6 Chlorophyceae, 28 Bryopsidophyceae, 1 Angiospermae. 相似文献