An oxygenase from guinea-pig liver which catalyses sulphoxidation

A mono-oxygenase catalysing the conversion of 2-ethyl-4-thioisonicotinamide (ethionamide) into its sulphoxide was purified from guinea-pig liver homogenates. The enzyme required stoicheiometric amounts of oxygen and NADPH for the sulphoxidation reaction. The purified protein is homogeneous by electrophoretic, antigenic and chromatographic criteria. The enzyme has mol.wt. 85000 and it contains 1g-atom of iron and 1mol of FAD per mol, but not cytochrome P-450. The enzyme shows maximal activity at pH7.4 in a number of different buffer systems and the K(m) values calculated for the substrate and NADPH are 6.5x10(-5)m and 2.8x10(-5)m respectively. The activation energy of the reaction was calculated to be 36kJ/mol. Under optimal conditions, the molecular activity of the enzyme (mol of substrate oxidized/min per mol of enzyme) is calculated to be 2.1. The oxygenase belongs to the class of general drug-metabolizing enzymes and it may act on different compounds which can undergo sulphoxidation. The mechanism of sulphoxidation was shown to be mediated by superoxide anions.     

Kinetic analysis of75selenium uptake by mitochondria of germinating vigna radiata of different selenium status

Earlier studies in our laboratory demonstrated the beneficial role of Se inVigna radiata, a Se-deficient legume, during germination, as reflected in growth-related parameters and specific uptake of⁷⁵Se. Uptake of Na₂ ⁷⁵SeO₃, added in vitro by mitochondria isolated from seedlings germinated in control (without Se), and Se-supplemented groups (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 ppm Se) indicated a proportional increase in the uptake with added Na₂ ⁷⁵SeO₃, in concentrations up to 25 γM. The uptake of⁷⁵Se, increased linearly with time up to 15 min and a definite efflux followed at 30 min. The results were indicative of cooperative effects during Se transport. Kinetic analyses of the uptake of⁷⁵Se during time intervals of 15 and 30 min were carried out both in the whole mitochondria and the mitochondrial protein fractions. Graphical analyses using Lineweaver-Burk plot, Hill plot, log [v] vs log [A] and Scatchard plot confirmed the existence of negative cooperativity during⁷⁵Se uptake. Hill coefficient (nH) values were estimated to be around 0.7–0.8. Scatchard plots for⁷⁵Se uptake were biphasic, suggesting the probable presence of two classes of binding sites. The number of high and low affinity binding sites were estimated to be around 4–7 and 26–30 nmol/mg protein, respectively. Studies with mitochondrial respiratory inhibitors indicated about 10–20% of the total⁷⁵Se uptake to be energy dependent. Inhibition of⁷⁵Se uptake by about 60–70% by sulfate and sulfite (5–25 γM) implies the involvement of dicarboxylate port in Se transport. A decrease in the uptake of⁷⁵Se by 40–60% effected by CdCl₂, HgCl₂, mersalyl, and NEM confirmed the interaction of thiols in the process. Evidence for the regulatory nature of⁷⁵Se uptake by mitochondria ofV. radiata emerges from the present study.     

Subcellular distribution of selenium during uptake and its influence on mitochondrial oxidations in germinatingVigna radiata L

The metabolic significance of Se in plants is not well documented, though the presence of many selenoenzymes in bacteria and the essentiality of Se in higher animals is established. Since germination is an active process in plant growth and metabolism, the effect of Se was investigated in germinatingVigna radiata L, a nonaccumulating Sedeficient legume. Growth and protein were enhanced in seedlings supplemented with selenium (Se) as sodium selenite in the medium up to 1 μg/mL. The pattern of uptake of⁷⁵Se in the differentiating tissues and the subcellular distribution were investigated. The percentage of incorporation of⁷⁵Se was greater in the mitochondria at the lowest level (0.5 μg/mL) of Se supplementation compared to higher levels of Se exposure. Proteins precipitated from the postmitochondrial supernatant fractions, when separated by means of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), indicated a major selenoprotein in the seedlings germinated at 2.0 μg/mL Se. In seedlings grown with supplemented Se, enhanced respiratory control ratio and succinate dehydrogenase activity were observed in the mitochondria of tissues, indicative of a role for Se in mitochondrial membrane functions.     

Breast MRI in nonpalpable breast lesions: a randomized trial with diagnostic and therapeutic outcome – MONET – study

Background

In orthodontic treatment, anchorage control is a fundamental aspect. Usually conventional mechanism for orthodontic anchorage control can be either extraoral or intraoral that is headgear or intermaxillary elastics. Their use are combined with various side effects such as tipping of occlusal plane or undesirable movements of teeth. Especially in cases, where key-teeth are missing, conventional anchorage defined as tooth-borne anchorage will meet limitations. Therefore, the use of endosseous implants for anchorage purposes are increasingly used to achieve positional stability and maximum anchorage.

Methods/Design

The intended study is designed as a prospective, multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT), comparing and contrasting the effect of early loading of palatal implant therapy versus implant loading after 12 weeks post implantation using the new ortho-implant type II anchor system device (Orthosystem Straumann, Basel, Switzerland). 124 participants, mainly adult males or females, whose diagnoses require temporary stationary implant-based anchorage treatment will be randomized 1:1 to one of two treatment groups: group 1 will receive a loading of implant standard therapy after a healing period of 12 week (gold standard), whereas group 2 will receive an early loading of orthodontic implants within 1 week after implant insertion. Participants will be at least followed for 12 months after implant placement. The primary endpoint is to investigate the behavior of early loaded palatal implants in order to find out if shorter healing periods might be justified to accelerate active orthodontic treatment. Secondary outcomes will focus e.g. on achievement of orthodontic treatment goals and quantity of direct implant-bone interface of removed bone specimens. As tertiary objective, a histologic and microtomography evaluation of all retrieved implants will be performed to obtain data on the performance of the SLA surface in human bone evaluation of all retrieved implants. Additionally, resonance frequency analysis (RFA, Osstell? mentor) will be used at different times for clinically monitoring the implant stability and for histological comparison in order to measure the reliability of the resonance frequency measuring device.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN97142521.     

Successful immunotherapy with matrix metalloproteinase-derived peptides in adjuvant arthritis depends on the timing of peptide administration

We have recently found that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are targets for T-cell and B-cell reactivity in experimental arthritis. In the present article, we investigate whether modulation of MMP-specific T-cell responses could influence the course of adjuvant arthritis (AA). Lewis rats were treated nasally with MMP peptides prior to or after AA induction. Administration of the MMP-10 or the MMP-16 peptide prior to AA induction reduced the arthritic symptoms. In contrast, administration of the MMP-10 peptide after AA induction aggravated the arthritic symptoms. The present study shows the possible usefulness of MMP peptides for immunotherapy. However, a clear understanding of proper timing of peptide administration is crucial for the development of such therapies.     

Regulation of BRCC, a holoenzyme complex containing BRCA1 and BRCA2, by a signalosome-like subunit and its role in DNA repair

We have isolated a holoenzyme complex termed BRCC containing BRCA1, BRCA2, and RAD51. BRCC not only displays increased association with p53 following DNA damage but also ubiquitinates p53 in vitro. BRCC36 and BRCC45 are novel components of the complex with sequence homology to a subunit of the signalosome and proteasome complexes. Reconstitution of a recombinant four-subunit complex containing BRCA1/BARD1/BRCC45/BRCC36 revealed an enhanced E3 ligase activity compared to that of BRCA1/BARD1 heterodimer. In vivo, depletion of BRCC36 and BRCC45 by the small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) resulted in increased sensitivity to ionizing radiation and defects in G2/M checkpoint. BRCC36 shows aberrant expression in sporadic breast tumors. These findings identify BRCC as a ubiquitin E3 ligase complex that enhances cellular survival following DNA damage.     

Selective removal of the selenocysteine tRNA [Ser]Sec gene (Trsp) in mouse mammary epithelium

Mice homozygous for an allele encoding the selenocysteine (Sec) tRNA [Ser]Sec gene (Trsp) flanked by loxP sites were generated. Cre recombinase-dependent removal of Trsp in these mice was lethal to embryos. To investigate the role of Trsp in mouse mammary epithelium, we deleted this gene by using transgenic mice carrying the Cre recombinase gene under control of the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) long terminal repeat or the whey acidic protein promoter. While both promoters target Cre gene expression to mammary epithelium, MMTV-Cre is also expressed in spleen and skin. Sec tRNA [Ser]Sec amounts were reduced by more than 70% in mammary tissue with either transgene, while in skin and spleen, levels were reduced only with MMTV-Cre. The selenoprotein population was selectively affected with MMTV-Cre in breast and skin but not in the control tissue, kidney. Moreover, within affected tissues, expression of specific selenoproteins was regulated differently and often in a contrasting manner, with levels of Sep15 and the glutathione peroxidases GPx1 and GPx4 being substantially reduced. Expression of the tumor suppressor genes BRCA1 and p53 was also altered in a contrasting manner in MMTV-Cre mice, suggesting greater susceptibility to cancer and/or increased cell apoptosis. Thus, the conditional Trsp knockout mouse allows tissue-specific manipulation of Sec tRNA and selenoprotein expression, suggesting that this approach will provide a useful tool for studying the role of selenoproteins in health.