Microbial transformation of zearalenone to a zearalenone sulfate.

The conversion of zearalenone by various microorganisms was studied. A new polar metabolite was formed in addition to alpha- and beta-zearalenols. The structure of the new metabolite was determined as zearalenone-4-O-sulfate conjugate on the basis of enzymatic and acid hydrolysis, followed by mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance, and infrared spectroscopic analysis. The results obtained demonstrate that Rhizopus arrhizus catalyzes sulfation of zearalenone at the C-4 hydroxyl group.     

Insights into phylogeny,sex function and age of Fragaria based on whole chloroplast genome sequencing

The cultivated strawberry is one of the youngest domesticated plants, developed in France in the 1700s from chance hybridization between two western hemisphere octoploid species. However, little is known about the evolution of the species that gave rise to this important fruit crop. Phylogenetic analysis of chloroplast genome sequences of 21 Fragaria species and subspecies resolves the western North American diploid F. vesca subsp. bracteata as sister to the clade of octoploid/decaploid species. No extant tetraploids or hexaploids are directly involved in the maternal ancestry of the octoploids.There is strong geographic segregation of chloroplast haplotypes in subsp. bracteata, and the gynodioecious Pacific Coast populations are implicated as both the maternal lineage and the source of male-sterility in the octoploid strawberries. Analysis of sexual system evolution in Fragaria provides evidence that the loss of male and female function can follow polyploidization, but does not seem to be associated with loss of self-incompatibility following genome doubling. Character-state mapping provided insight into sexual system evolution and its association with loss of self-incompatibility and genome doubling/merger. Fragaria attained its circumboreal and amphitropical distribution within the past one to four million years and the rise of the octoploid clade is dated at 0.372–2.05 million years ago.     

Germline Mutations in NFKB2 Implicate the Noncanonical NF-κB Pathway in the Pathogenesis of Common Variable Immunodeficiency

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a heterogeneous disorder characterized by antibody deficiency, poor humoral response to antigens, and recurrent infections. To investigate the molecular cause of CVID, we carried out exome sequence analysis of a family diagnosed with CVID and identified a heterozygous frameshift mutation, c.2564delA (p.Lys855Serfs^∗7), in NFKB2 affecting the C terminus of NF-κB2 (also known as p100/p52 or p100/p49). Subsequent screening of NFKB2 in 33 unrelated CVID-affected individuals uncovered a second heterozygous nonsense mutation, c.2557C>T (p.Arg853^∗), in one simplex case. Affected individuals in both families presented with an unusual combination of childhood-onset hypogammaglobulinemia with recurrent infections, autoimmune features, and adrenal insufficiency. NF-κB2 is the principal protein involved in the noncanonical NF-κB pathway, is evolutionarily conserved, and functions in peripheral lymphoid organ development, B cell development, and antibody production. In addition, Nfkb2 mouse models demonstrate a CVID-like phenotype with hypogammaglobulinemia and poor humoral response to antigens. Immunoblot analysis and immunofluorescence microscopy of transformed B cells from affected individuals show that the NFKB2 mutations affect phosphorylation and proteasomal processing of p100 and, ultimately, p52 nuclear translocation. These findings describe germline mutations in NFKB2 and establish the noncanonical NF-κB signaling pathway as a genetic etiology for this primary immunodeficiency syndrome.     

Body composition in Egyptian Turner syndrome girls

OBJECTIVE:

This cross-sectional study was undertaken to construct the new body fat % curve and provide body composition reference data for adolescent girls with Turner syndrome (TS). They diagnosed cytogenetically by blood karyotyping and not treated with growth hormone (GH).

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The study included 70 TS girls from age 13 years to age 17 years. Body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance. Smoothed centile charts were derived by using the least mean square (LMS) method.

RESULTS:

The new body fat curves reflect the increase of body fat mass (FM) from age 13 years to age 17 years. Body FM % of Egyptian TS girls was lower when compared with age-matched American untreated TS girls.

CONCLUSION:

This study presents the new body fat curves and reference values of body composition for untreated Egyptian TS adolescent girls. The present charts can be used for direct assessment of body FM % for Egyptian TS girls and evaluation for cases on GH treatment or other growth promoting therapy.     

Acylated flavonol diglucosides from Lotus polyphyllos

Three acylated flavonol diglucosides, kaempferol 3-O-β-(6″-O-E-p-coumaroylglucoside)-7-O-β-glucoside; quercetin 3-O-β-(6″-O-E-p-coumaroylglucoside)-7-O-β-glucoside; isorhamnetin 3-O-β-(6″-O-E-p-coumaroylglucoside)-7-O-β-glucoside were isolated from the whole plant aqueous alcohol extract of Lotus polyphyllos. The known 3,7-di-O-glucosides of the aglycones kaempferol, quercetin and isorhamnetin were also characterized. All structures were established on the basis of chemical and spectral evidence.     

The human leukocyte antigen class I genes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma risk

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a virally associated cancer which is highly prevalent in Southeast Asia and North Africa. Several linkage analysis studies suggested the association of susceptibility HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) alleles and haplotypes with NPC development. The HLA system is very polymorphic and according to the ethnic group studied, it has been found to have the capacity to confer susceptibility or resistance to NPC. Our aim was to review the most important described genetic associations of HLA class I in NPC and to comment on the inconsistent associations found in the different NPC incidence areas. We believe that the mechanisms of these associations may involve HLA genes through the differential capacity of each allele to present antigens. However, because HLA genes contain various linked candidate genes, HLA-NPC associations should be carefully interpreted.     

紫贻贝长期暴露于亚致死剂量的林丹和阿特拉津下的组织学反应

为开发快速、敏感的生物标记物以监测海洋贝类生物中是否存在农药,我们检测了双壳动物紫贻贝长期暴露在亚致死剂量的丙体六氯环乙烷(林丹,γ-HCH)和2-氯4-乙胺基-6异丙胺基-1,3,5-三氮苯(阿特拉津)下的组织学变化。紫贻贝容易积累环境中的杀虫剂,因此,本研究旨在阐明农药的生物积累与组织病理学效应之间的关系。利用GC/MSD分析法定期对贻贝和水样中的林丹与阿特拉津含量进行测定。将贻贝在实验室中培养21天,以使其代谢适应于带有水质控制的封闭式不间断流动系统。随后,30只贝暴露于亚致死剂量的林丹(0.9 mg/L)或阿特拉津(3.583 mg/L)溶液中56天。实验期间,控制重要的参数,比如温度和盐度分别控制在18℃和34‰。在处理28天和56天后取样,检测组织学损坏及吸收的农药量。暴露的紫贻贝每克干重分别能聚集约304.8-372.0μg/g林丹和83.3-137.4μg/g阿特拉津。组织学改变高度集中在鳃的上皮和外套膜组织;上皮与相邻的组织形成分离状态。组织病理学结果显示,抗性机制的激活使紫贻贝能在亚致死压力下存活。组织病理效应范围从浸润反应到以血淋巴细胞出现间质细胞反应为特征。因此,在农药聚集部位的组织学和超微结构的改变是敏感的,并与农药的生物积累具有正相关关系,说明这些改变可能作为农药暴露的生物标记物。