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.      

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.     

Expression of aromatase,androgen and estrogen receptors in peripheral target tissues in diabetes

Our previous studies have shown that diabetes in the male streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat is characterized by a decrease in circulating testosterone and concomitant increase in estradiol levels. Interestingly, this increase in estradiol levels persists even after castration, suggesting extra-testicular origins of estradiol in diabetes. The aim of the present study was to examine whether other target organs of diabetes may be sources of estradiol. The study was performed in male Sprague–Dawley non-diabetic (ND), STZ-induced diabetic (D) and STZ-induced diabetic castrated (Dcas) rats (n = 8–9/group). 14 weeks of diabetes was associated with decreased testicular (ND, 26.3 ± 4.19; D, 18.4 ± 1.54; P < 0.05), but increased renal (ND, 1.83 ± 0.92; D, 7.85 ± 1.38; P < 0.05) and ocular (D, 23.4 ± 3.66; D, 87.1 ± 28.1; P < 0.05) aromatase activity. This increase in renal (Dcas, 6.30 ± 1.25) and ocular (Dcas, 62.7 ± 11.9) aromatase activity persisted after castration. The diabetic kidney also had increased levels of tissue estrogen (ND, 0.31 ± 0.01; D, 0.51 ± 0.11; Dcas, 0.45 ± 0.08) as well as estrogen receptor alpha protein expression (ND, 0.63 ± 0.09; D, 1.62 ± 0.28; Dcas, 1.38 ± 0.20). These data suggest that in male STZ-induced diabetic rats, tissues other than the testis may become sources of estradiol. In particular, the diabetic kidney appears to produce estradiol following castration, a state that is associated with a high degree or renal injury. Overall, our data provides evidence for the extra-testicular source of estradiol that in males, through an intracrine mechanism, may contribute to the development and/or progression of end-organ damage associated with diabetes.     

Strength, flexibility, and balance characteristics of highly proficient golfers

Despite the emergence of golf-specific training programs and training aids, relatively little research has been conducted examining the physical characteristics that are important to golf performance. We studied the strength, flexibility, and balance characteristics of golfers across 3 proficiency levels based on handicap index (HCP) (<0, 1-9, and 10-20) to determine the physical characteristics unique to highly proficient golfers. A total of 257 (age: 45.5 +/- 12.8 years, height: 180.6 +/- 6.5 cm, weight: 87.9 +/- 12.6 kg) healthy, male golfers participated in the study. Testing included an assessment of strength (torso, shoulder, and hip), flexibility (torso, shoulder, and hip), and single-leg balance. Golfers in the highest proficiency group (HCP < 0) had significantly (p < 0.05) greater hip strength, torso strength, shoulder strength, shoulder flexibility, hip flexibility, torso flexibility, and balance (eyes open) than golfers in the lowest proficiency group (HCP 10-20). The results of this study demonstrate that better golfers possess unique physical characteristics that are important to greater proficiency. These characteristics have also been demonstrated to be modifiable through golf-specific training programs.     

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.     

Plant responses to elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> concentration at different scales: leaf,whole plant,canopy, and population

Elevated CO₂ enhances photosynthesis and growth of plants, but the enhancement is strongly influenced by the availability of nitrogen. In this article, we summarise our studies on plant responses to elevated CO₂. The photosynthetic capacity of leaves depends not only on leaf nitrogen content but also on nitrogen partitioning within a leaf. In Polygonum cuspidatum, nitrogen partitioning among the photosynthetic components was not influenced by elevated CO₂ but changed between seasons. Since the alteration in nitrogen partitioning resulted in different CO₂-dependence of photosynthetic rates, enhancement of photosynthesis by elevated CO₂ was greater in autumn than in summer. Leaf mass per unit area (LMA) increases in plants grown at elevated CO₂. This increase was considered to have resulted from the accumulation of carbohydrates not used for plant growth. With a sensitive analysis of a growth model, however, we suggested that the increase in LMA is advantageous for growth at elevated CO₂ by compensating for the reduction in leaf nitrogen concentration per unit mass. Enhancement of reproductive yield by elevated CO₂ is often smaller than that expected from vegetative growth. In Xanthium canadense, elevated CO₂ did not increase seed production, though the vegetative growth increased by 53%. As nitrogen concentration of seeds remained constant at different CO₂ levels, we suggest that the availability of nitrogen limited seed production at elevated CO₂ levels. We found that leaf area development of plant canopy was strongly constrained by the availability of nitrogen rather than by CO₂. In a rice field cultivated at free-air CO₂ enrichment, the leaf area index (LAI) increased with an increase in nitrogen availability but did not change with CO₂ elevation. We determined optimal LAI to maximise canopy photosynthesis and demonstrated that enhancement of canopy photosynthesis by elevated CO₂ was larger at high than at low nitrogen availability. We also studied competitive asymmetry among individuals in an even-aged, monospecific stand at elevated CO₂. Light acquisition (acquired light per unit aboveground mass) and utilisation (photosynthesis per unit acquired light) were calculated for each individual in the stand. Elevated CO₂ enhanced photosynthesis and growth of tall dominants, which reduced the light availability for shorter subordinates and consequently increased size inequality in the stand.     

Equol is a novel anti-androgen that inhibits prostate growth and hormone feedback

Equol (7-hydroxy-3[4'hydroxyphenyl]-chroman) is the major metabolite of the phytoestrogen daidzein, one of the main isoflavones found abundantly in soybeans and soy foods. Equol may be an important biologically active molecule based on recent studies demonstrating that equol can modulate reproductive function. In this study, we examined the effects of equol on prostate growth and LH secretion and determined some of the mechanisms by which it might act. Administration of equol to intact male rats for 4-7 days reduced ventral prostate and epididymal weight and increased circulating LH levels. Using binding assays, we determined that equol specifically binds 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT), but not testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, or estrogen with high affinity. Equol does not bind the prostatic androgen receptor, and has a modest affinity for recombinant estrogen receptor (ER) beta, and no affinity for ERalpha. In castrated male rats treated with DHT, concomitant treatment with equol blocked DHT's trophic effects on the ventral prostate gland growth and inhibitory feedback effects on plasma LH levels without changes in circulating DHT. Therefore, equol can bind circulating DHT and sequester it from the androgen receptor, thus altering growth and physiological hormone responses that are regulated by androgens. These data suggest a novel model to explain equol's biological properties. The significance of equol's ability to specifically bind and sequester DHT from the androgen receptor have important ramifications in health and disease and may indicate a broad and important usage for equol in the treatment of androgen-mediated pathologies.