Lipid raft redistribution and morphological cell polarization are separable processes providing a basis for hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell migration

Freshly isolated human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) are small and round cells which upon cultivation adopt a polarized morphology and redistribute certain cell surface antigens. To functionally dissect this polarization process, we addressed impacts of protein synthesis, HSPC trafficking, cytoskeleton organization or lipid raft integrity on the establishment and maintenance of the cell polarity of human HSPCs. Effects on the morphology, sub-cellular distribution of lipid raft-associated molecular polarization markers (Flotillin-1, Flotillin-2, ICAM-3) and in vitro migration capabilities of treated cells were studied. We could distinguish two levels of cellular polarization, a molecular and a morphological level. Our data suggest that protein synthesis, lipid raft integrity and enzymatic activities of PI3K and aPKC are required to organize the molecular cell polarity. The morphological cell polarization process, however, also depends on actin polymerization and rho-GTPase activities. In summary, our data qualify HSPC polarization processes as new pharmaceutical target to interfere with migratory and with homing capabilities of HSPCs.     

Structural Basis for Auto-Inhibition of the NDR1 Kinase Domain by an Atypically Long Activation Segment

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Management of root-knot nematode in tomato Lycopersicon esculentum,Mill, with biogas slurry

The effect of biogas slurry application on the severity of root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, attack on tomato cv. Co-1, was tested in the green house with two levels of biogas slurry: 5% and 10% (w/w) added to soil. Both the number (3 fruits/plant) and fruit yield (35.2 g/plant) of tomato increased significantly with 10% (w/w) biogas slurry. The plants amended with biogas slurry put up more vegetative growth and tended to flower and fruit much earlier than did those of the control. The nematode population in the soil decreased thus decreasing the severity of nematode attack.     

An improved HPLC method for determination of carotenoids in human serum

An HPLC method was developed to determine the various carotenoids in human serum. A C-30 column and a mobile phase of 100% methanol (A) and 100% methylene chloride (B) with the following gradient elution were used: 90% A and 10% B in the beginning, maintained for 5 min, decreased to 78% A at 15 min, 62% A at 30 min, 52% A at 40 min, 41% A at 50 min, 38% A at 55 min, maintained for 3 min, and returned to 100% A at 65 min. A total of 21 carotenoids, including all-trans forms of lutein, zeaxanthin, alpha-cryptoxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and lycopene, as well as their 14 cis-isomers were resolved within 51 min at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and detection at 476 nm. all-trans-beta-Carotene was found to be present in highest amount (256.3-864.2 ng/mL), followed by all-trans-lycopene (64.4-569.2 ng/mL), all-trans-lutein (137.9-450.3 ng/mL), all-trans-alpha-cryptoxanthin (55.7-188.2 ng/mL), all-trans-beta-cryptoxanthin (43.1-134.5 ng/mL), all-trans-alpha-carotene (20.0-122.1 ng/mL) and all-trans-zeaxanthin (9.1-21.3 ng/mL). Similar trend was observed for cis-isomers of carotenoids.     

Biodegradation of pyridine raffinate by two bacterial co-cultures of Bacillus cereus (DQ435020) and Alcaligenes faecalis (DQ435021)

This study deals with the optimization of bacterial degradation of pyridine raffinate by previously isolated two aerobic bacteria ITRCEM1 (Bacillus cereus) and ITRCEM2 (Alcaligens faecalis) with accession number DQ4335020 and DQ435021, respectively. The degradation of pyridine raffinate was studied by axenic and mixed bacterial consortium at different nutritional and environmental conditions after the removal of formaldehyde from pyridine raffinate (FPPR). Results revealed that the optimum degradation of pyridine raffinate was observed by mixed bacterial culture in presence of glucose (1% w/v) and peptone (0.2% w/v) at 20% FPPR, pH 7.0, temperature 30°C and 120 rpm at 168 h incubation period . The HPLC analysis of degraded pyridine raffinate samples has indicated the complete removal of α, β and γ picoline. Further, the GC–MS analysis of FPPR pyridine raffinate has shown the presence of pyrazine acetonitrile (6.74), 1,3-dioxepin (8.68), 2-pyridine carboxaldehyde (11.26), propiolactone (12.06), 2-butanol (13.10), benzenesulfonic acid (16.22) and 1,4-dimethyl pyperadine while phenol (17.64) and 3,4-dimethyl benzaldehyde as metabolic products of FPPR.