Isolation of zymogen granules from rat pancreas and characterization of their membrane proteins

A zymogen granule fraction has been isolated from rat pancreas, and its purity has been assessed by biochemical and morphological criteria. Specific activities of two marker enzymes, amylase and chymotrypsin, are increased by 4.6 and 5.4-fold, respectively, as compared to the homogenate. The purified fraction is devoid of detectable RNA, DNA and 5'-nucleotidase, glucose-6-phosphatase, and cytochrome c oxidase activities. Electron micrographs confirm the absence of mitochondria, lysosomes, and rough endoplasmic reticulum fragments. Zymogen granule membranes were isolated from this fraction on a sucrose gradient following lysis in alkaline buffer. Secretory contaminants were efficiently removed from the membranes as indicated by experiments in which labeled secretory proteins were added during the isolation procedure and secondly by measuring residual levels of amylase and chymotrypsin. Three enzyme activities were found in the membranes: thiamine pyrophosphatase, ATP-diphosphohydrolase, and low levels of acid phosphatase. Membrane proteins were solubilized by urea-Triton X-100 and separated in double-dimension (isoelectric focusing and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). Isoelectric point and molecular weight of each protein band were determined.     

Sequence composition similarities with the 7SL RNA are highly predictive of functional genomic features

Transposable elements derived from the 7SL RNA gene, such as Alu elements in primates, have had remarkable success in several mammalian lineages. The results presented here show a broad spectrum of functions for genomic segments that display sequence composition similarities with the 7SL RNA gene. Using thoroughly documented loci, we report that DNaseI-hypersensitive sites can be singled out in large genomic sequences by an assessment of sequence composition similarities with the 7SL RNA gene. We apply a root word frequency approach to illustrate a distinctive relationship between the sequence of the 7SL RNA gene and several classes of functional genomic features that are not presumed to be of transposable origin. Transposable elements that show noticeable similarities with the 7SL sequence include Alu sequences, as expected, but also long terminal repeats and the 5′-untranslated regions of long interspersed repetitive elements. In sequences masked for repeated elements, we find, when using the 7SL RNA gene as query sequence, distinctive similarities with promoters, exons and distal gene regulatory regions. The latter being the most notoriously difficult to detect, this approach may be useful for finding genomic segments that have regulatory functions and that may have escaped detection by existing methods.     

The ostrich pituitary contains a major peptide homologous to mammalian chromogranin A(1-76)

A major peptide related to the NH2-terminal fragment (position 1 to 76) of mammalian chromogranin A was isolated from ostrich adenohypophyses following acid-acetone extraction. The complete amino acid sequence of the homogenous peptide was deduced following automatic Edman degradation of the native peptide as well as of CNBr-, tryptic- and Lysobacter-derived peptides. The 76 amino acid sequence is strikingly homologous to bovine (80.3% sequence identity), porcine (79.0%), human (79.0%) and rat (72.4%) corresponding sequences, but much less so to human chromogranin B (22.4%). As this peptide is followed in bovine, porcine and human structure by a pair of basic residues (Lys-Lys), it could conceivably be produced during maturation in secretory granules. Finally, its structure appears to contain two potential amphipathic helices joined by the single disulfide bridge present in all chromogranin A and B molecules.     

Biotransformation of 2,4,6,8,10,12-Hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-Hexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20) by Denitrifying Pseudomonas sp. Strain FA1

The microbial and enzymatic degradation of a new energetic compound, 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20), is not well understood. Fundamental knowledge about the mechanism of microbial degradation of CL-20 is essential to allow the prediction of its fate in the environment. In the present study, a CL-20-degrading denitrifying strain capable of utilizing CL-20 as the sole nitrogen source, Pseudomonas sp. strain FA1, was isolated from a garden soil. Studies with intact cells showed that aerobic conditions were required for bacterial growth and that anaerobic conditions enhanced CL-20 biotransformation. An enzyme(s) involved in the initial biotransformation of CL-20 was shown to be membrane associated and NADH dependent, and its expression was up-regulated about 2.2-fold in CL-20-induced cells. The rates of CL-20 biotransformation by the resting cells and the membrane-enzyme preparation were 3.2 ± 0.1 nmol h⁻¹ mg of cell biomass⁻¹ and 11.5 ± 0.4 nmol h⁻¹ mg of protein⁻¹, respectively, under anaerobic conditions. In the membrane-enzyme-catalyzed reactions, 2.3 nitrite ions (NO₂⁻), 1.5 molecules of nitrous oxide (N₂O), and 1.7 molecules of formic acid (HCOOH) were produced per reacted CL-20 molecule. The membrane-enzyme preparation reduced nitrite to nitrous oxide under anaerobic conditions. A comparative study of native enzymes, deflavoenzymes, and a reconstituted enzyme(s) and their subsequent inhibition by diphenyliodonium revealed that biotransformation of CL-20 is catalyzed by a membrane-associated flavoenzyme. The latter catalyzed an oxygen-sensitive one-electron transfer reaction that caused initial N denitration of CL-20.     

Synthesis of oligophosphoseryl sequences occurring in casein. Identification of beta-elimination during phosphorylation

The protected oligophosphoseryl peptides from bovine caseins, Z-Xxx-(Ser[PO(OPh)2])3-Glu(OBzl)-OBzl for Xxx = Ile, Val, Gly, Leu and Ph = phenyl, were synthesized in high yields by stepwise lengthening using Boc-Ser[PO(OPh)2]-OH as acylating carboxyl component and N-ethyl-N'-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide hydrochloride as coupling reagent. The hydrogenolytic deprotection (PtO2) was carried out with the valine derivative and with the tetrapeptide Ser[PO(OPh)2]3-Glu(OBz)-OBzl. Phosphorylation of oligoseryl peptides failed to give the expected products. Large scale phosphorylation of protected serine was carried out in the presence of triethylamine using absolute ether as a solvent. 2,2,2-Trichloroethyl group (Tc) was shown to be a useful phosphorus protecting moiety in phosphopeptide synthesis: Boc-Ser[PO(OTc)2]-OBzl, Z-Ser[PO(OTc)2]-OBzl and Boc-Glu(OBzl)-Ser[PO(OTc)2]-OBzl were synthesized in high yields using bis-(2,2,2-trichloroethyl) phosphochloridate.     

Radiation-induced risks at low dose: moving beyond controversy towards a new vision

The paper recently published by Mothersill and Seymour (Radiat Environ Biophys 2013, doi: 10.1007/s00411-013-0472-y) is commented upon by emphasizing on the recommendation not to confound the fields of radiation protection and radiobiological science as a source of controversy. Instead, these authors are proposing a new vision which suggests novel lines of scientific investigations to be addressed. At the moment, these include moving beyond the conceptual approach of DNA alteration through energy deposition in cells, and exploring the striking parallel currently existing between the ongoing individual/population debate in radioecology and that for cells/tissues in radiobiology. These interesting issues are briefly discussed and supported.     

Repeated oral administration of capsaicin increases anxiety-like behaviours with prolonged stress-response in rats

This study was conducted to examine the psycho-emotional effects of repeated oral exposure to capsaicin, the principal active component of chili peppers. Each rat received 1 mL of 0.02% capsaicin into its oral cavity daily, and was subjected to behavioural tests following 10 daily administrations of capsaicin. Stereotypy counts and rostral grooming were significantly increased, and caudal grooming decreased, in capsaicin-treated rats during the ambulatory activity test. In elevated plus maze test, not only the time spent in open arms but also the percent arm entry into open arms was reduced in capsaicin-treated rats compared with control rats. In forced swim test, although swimming duration was decreased, struggling increased in the capsaicin group, immobility duration did not differ between the groups. Repeated oral capsaicin did not affect the basal levels of plasma corticosterone; however, the stress-induced elevation of plasma corticosterone was prolonged in capsaicin treated rats. Oral capsaicin exposure significantly increased c-Fos expression not only in the nucleus tractus of solitarius but also in the paraventricular nucleus. Results suggest that repeated oral exposure to capsaicin increases anxiety-like behaviours in rats, and dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis may play a role in its pathophysiology.     

Suppression of Hepcidin Expression and Iron Overload Mediate Salmonella Susceptibility in Ankyrin 1 ENU-Induced Mutant

Salmonella, a ubiquitous Gram-negative intracellular bacterium, is a food borne pathogen that infects a broad range of hosts. Infection with Salmonella Typhimurium in mice is a broadly recognized experimental model resembling typhoid fever in humans. Using a N-ethyl-N-nitrosurea (ENU) mutagenesis recessive screen, we report the identification of Ity16 (Immunity to Typhimurium locus 16), a locus responsible for increased susceptibility to infection. The position of Ity16 was refined on chromosome 8 and a nonsense mutation was identified in the ankyrin 1 (Ank1) gene. ANK1 plays an important role in the formation and stabilization of the red cell cytoskeleton. The Ank1^Ity16/Ity16 mutation causes severe hemolytic anemia in uninfected mice resulting in splenomegaly, hyperbilirubinemia, jaundice, extramedullary erythropoiesis and iron overload in liver and kidneys. Ank1^Ity16/Ity16 mutant mice demonstrated low levels of hepcidin (Hamp) expression and significant increases in the expression of the growth differentiation factor 15 (Gdf15), erythropoietin (Epo) and heme oxygenase 1 (Hmox1) exacerbating extramedullary erythropoiesis, tissue iron deposition and splenomegaly. As the infection progresses in Ank1^Ity16/Ity16, the anemia worsens and bacterial load were high in liver and kidneys compared to wild type mice. Heterozygous Ank1^+/Ity16 mice were also more susceptible to Salmonella infection although to a lesser extent than Ank1^Ity16/Ity16 and they did not inherently present anemia and splenomegaly. During infection, iron accumulated in the kidneys of Ank1^+/Ity16 mice where bacterial loads were high compared to littermate controls. The critical role of HAMP in the host response to Salmonella infection was validated by showing increased susceptibility to infection in Hamp-deficient mice and significant survival benefits in Ank1 ^+/Ity16 heterozygous mice treated with HAMP peptide. This study illustrates that the regulation of Hamp and iron balance are crucial in the host response to Salmonella infection in Ank1 mutants.     

The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS): A Three-Factor Model of Psychopathology in Marginally Housed Persons with Substance Dependence and Psychiatric Illness

Rates of psychopathology are elevated in marginalized and unstably housed persons, underscoring the need for applicable clinical measures for these populations. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) is a clinical instrument principally developed for use in schizophrenia to identify the presence and severity of psychopathology symptoms. The current study investigates whether a reliable and valid PANSS factor structure emerges in a marginally housed, heterogeneous sample recruited from the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver where substance use disorders and psychiatric illness are pervasive. Participants (n = 270) underwent structured clinical assessments including the PANSS and then were randomly assigned to either exploratory (EFA) or confirmatory factor analytic (CFA) subsamples. EFA pointed to a novel three factor PANSS. This solution was supported by CFA. All retained items (28 out of 30) load significantly upon hypothesized factors and model goodness of fit analyses are in the acceptable to good range. Each of the three first-order factor constructs, labeled Psychosis/Disorganized, Negative Symptoms/Hostility, and Insight/Awareness, contributed significantly to measurement of a higher-order psychopathology construct. Further, the latent structure of this 3-factor solution appears temporally consistent over one-year. This PANSS factor structure appears valid and reliable for use in persons with multimorbidity, including substance use disorders. The structure is somewhat distinct from existing solutions likely due to the unique characteristics of this marginally housed sample.