Cellulose-bound Peptide Arrays: Preparation and Applications

Spatial organization of metabolic enzymes may represent a general cellular mechanism to regulate metabolic flux. One recent example of this type of cellular phenomenon is the purinosome, a newly discovered multi-enzyme metabolic assembly that includes all of the enzymes within the de novo purine biosynthetic pathway. Our understanding of the components and regulation of purinosomes has significantly grown in recent years. This paper reviews the purine de novo biosynthesis pathway and its regulation, and presents the evidence supporting the purinosome assembly and disassembly processes under the control of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling. This paper also discusses the implications of purinosome and GPCR regulation in drug discovery.     

Resistance of early midgut stages of natural Plasmodium falciparum parasites to high temperatures in experimentally infected Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae)

We studied the effects of high temperature, 30 and 32 versus 27 C on early Plasmodium falciparum development in Anopheles gambiae experimentally infected with gametocytes from 30 volunteers with mean density of 264.1 gametocytes/microl blood (range: 16-1,536/microl). From several batches of mosquitoes, fed by membrane feeding, midguts of individual mosquitoes were dissected at 24 hr for ookinete enumeration and at 7 days to quantify oocysts. There were temperature-related differences in mean ookinete intensity per mosquito midgut, with 9.71 +/- 1.6 at 27 C, 9.85 +/- 2.32 at 30 C, and 3.89 +/- 0.81 at 32 C. The prevalence of oocyst infection decreased with an increase in temperatures from 15.9 to 8.5 to 6.4% at 27, 30, and 32 C, respectively. The average oocyst intensities for the infected mosquitoes increased with temperatures from 2.9 at 27 C to 3.5 at 30 C, and to 3.3 at 32 C. However, the success of infections was reduced at 30 and 32 C, and resulted in greater losses during consecutive inter-stage parasite development. The most significant impact of high temperatures occurred at the transition between macrogametocytes and ookinetes, whereas the transition between ookinetes and oocysts apparently was not affected. In contrast to other reports, exposure of mosquitoes infected with natural parasites to high temperatures did not eliminate preoocyst stages, as has been observed from laboratory studies using the NF-54 strain of P. falciparum. This observation of parasite resistance to high temperatures is consistent with the natural situation in tropical environments where perennial malaria transmission occurs during hot dry seasons.     

One-step refolding and purification of disulfide-containing proteins with a C-terminal MESNA thioester

Background  

Expression systems based on self-cleavable intein domains allow the generation of recombinant proteins with a C-terminal thioester. This uniquely reactive C-terminus can be used in native chemical ligation reactions to introduce synthetic groups or to immobilize proteins on surfaces and nanoparticles. Unfortunately, common refolding procedures for recombinant proteins that contain disulfide bonds do not preserve the thioester functionality and therefore novel refolding procedures need to be developed.     

Stress and coping among mothers of twins in rural southwestern Nigeria.

High rates of twinning have been reported in Africa. This study sought to learn whether mothers of twins experience different stress levels than those who have only singletons. Both twin mothers (101) and singleton mothers (101) were interviewed. Using a scale of 15 stressors the researchers found that the mean stress score was significantly higher for twin mothers than singleton mothers. Higher stress scores were also associated with parity and perceptions of problems in caring for children and inversely related to perceived levels of social support. Confronting stressors or simply accepting them were the two main ways that mothers coped with their problems.     

Ca2+ dependence of transverse tubule-mediated calcium release in skinned skeletal muscle fibers

Isometric force and 45Ca efflux from the sarcoplasmic reticulum were measured at 19 degrees C in frog skeletal muscle fibers skinned by microdissection. After Ca2+ loading, application of the ionophores monensin, an Na+(K+)/H+ exchanger, or gramicidin D, an H+ greater than K+ greater than Na+ channel-former, evoked rapid force development and stimulated release of approximately 30% of the accumulated 45Ca within 1 min, whereas CCCP (carbonyl cyanide pyruvate p-trichloromethoxyphenylhydrazone), a protonophore, and valinomycin, a neutral, K+-specific ionophore, did not. When monensin was present in all bathing solutions, i.e., before and during Ca2+ loading, subsequent application failed to elicit force development and to stimulate 45Ca efflux. 5 min pretreatment of the skinned fibers with 50 microM digitoxin, a permeant glycoside that specifically inhibits the Na+,K+ pump, inhibited monensin and gramicidin D stimulation of 45Ca efflux; similar pretreatment with 100 microM ouabain, an impermeant glycoside, was ineffective. Monensin stimulation of 45Ca efflux was abolished by brief pretreatment with 5 mM EGTA, which chelates myofilament-space calcium. These results suggest that: monensin and gramicidin D stimulate Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum that is mediated by depolarization of the transverse tubules, which seal off after sarcolemma removal and form closed compartments; a transverse tubule membrane potential (myofilament space-negative) is maintained and/or established by the operation of the Na+,K+ pump in the transverse tubule membranes and is sensitive to the permeant inhibitor digitoxin; the transverse tubule-mediated stimulation of 45Ca efflux appears to be entirely Ca2+ dependent.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dunaliella salina</Emphasis> organelle genomes: large sequences,inflated with intronic and intergenic DNA

Background  

Dunaliella salina Teodoresco, a unicellular, halophilic green alga belonging to the Chlorophyceae, is among the most industrially important microalgae. This is because D. salina can produce massive amounts of β-carotene, which can be collected for commercial purposes, and because of its potential as a feedstock for biofuels production. Although the biochemistry and physiology of D. salina have been studied in great detail, virtually nothing is known about the genomes it carries, especially those within its mitochondrion and plastid. This study presents the complete mitochondrial and plastid genome sequences of D. salina and compares them with those of the model green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Volvox carteri.     

Caregiver burden in Buruli ulcer disease: Evidence from Ghana

BackgroundBuruli ulcer disease (BUD) results in disabilities and deformities in the absence of early medical intervention. The extensive role of caregiving in BUD is widely acknowledged, however, associated caregiver burden is poorly understood. In this paper we assessed the burden which caregivers experience when supporting patients with BUD in Ghana.Method/ principal findingsThis qualitative study was conducted in 3 districts in Ghana between August and October 2019. 13 semi-structured interviews were conducted on caregivers of BUD patients in the local language of Twi. Data was translated into English, coded into broad themes, and direct content analysis approach was used to analyse results. The results show the caregivers face financial, psychological and health issues as a consequence of their caregiving role.Conclusion/ significanceThis study found significant caregiver burden on family members. It also highlighted the psychological burden caregivers experience and the limited knowledge of the disease within endemic communities. Further research is needed to quantify the caregiver burden of BUD at different economic levels in order to better understand the impact of possible caregiver interventions on patient outcomes.