Activity and isoenzyme composition of peroxidase and esterase in fertile and male-sterile lines of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

A comparative study of the isoenzyme patterns of esterase and peroxidase and overall peroxidase activity in stamens of male-sterile (MS) lines of Pearson ms-35 and P ms-35aa and of the respective male-fertile (MF) tomato plants have been conducted. The study has been made at two stages of stamens development — tetrad and pollen. Higher activities of the esterase isoenzymes in the MF stamens than that of MS in both ontogeny stages have been found. The slow moving esterase isoenzymes both of the MF and the MS stamens are the major isoenzymes in the early stage and are connected with tapetum development while the fast moving esterase isoenzymes are connected with pollen formation in the later ontogeny stage. Overall peroxidase levels in the MS stamens were higher than those of MF. The peroxidase patterns of the MS lines are also characterized by the greater number of isoenzymes and also the presence of specific isoenzymes, the contrast between the MF and the MS stamens being more strongly expressed at the later stage of development. A strong similitude between esterase and peroxidase patterns behaviour in both MS lines has been found.     

mTORC1 activity is supported by spatial association with focal adhesions

The mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) integrates mitogenic and stress signals to control growth and metabolism. Activation of mTORC1 by amino acids and growth factors involves recruitment of the complex to the lysosomal membrane and is further supported by lysosome distribution to the cell periphery. Here, we show that translocation of lysosomes toward the cell periphery brings mTORC1 into proximity with focal adhesions (FAs). We demonstrate that FAs constitute discrete plasma membrane hubs mediating growth factor signaling and amino acid input into the cell. FAs, as well as the translocation of lysosome-bound mTORC1 to their vicinity, contribute to both peripheral and intracellular mTORC1 activity. Conversely, lysosomal distribution to the cell periphery is dispensable for the activation of mTORC1 constitutively targeted to FAs. This study advances our understanding of spatial mTORC1 regulation by demonstrating that the localization of mTORC1 to FAs is both necessary and sufficient for its activation by growth-promoting stimuli.     

Possible cytoskeletal structures of rainbow trout sperm revealed by electron microscopic observation after detergent extraction

Despite the considerable research interest in fish sperm ultrastructure, little is known about the functions of different sperm cell components. Our electron microscopic study was aimed at identifying possible tissue-specific cytoskeletal structures in spermatozoa of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Teleostei, Salmoniformes, Salmonidae; formerly Salmo gairdneri). Based on the known resistance of the cytoskeleton to nonionic detergents, we compared the ultrastructure of unextracted and Triton-extracted sperm cells. Besides the nucleus, the centrioles and the axoneme, there were also other structures preserved in Triton-treated spermatozoa: the lateral extensions (sidefins) and a thin layer corresponding in position to the membrane-like structure underlying the midpiece plasma membrane in intact cells. Because of their stability, it could be hypothesized that these cytoplasmic components are likely to have cytoskeletal nature. They are possibly analogous to the well known tissue-specific cytoskeletal components of mammalian spermatozoa with periaxonemal and submitochondrial localization.     

Proteomic identification of 14-3-3zeta as a mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase 2 substrate: role in dimer formation and ligand binding

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-activated protein kinase 2 (MAPKAPK2) mediates multiple p38 MAPK-dependent inflammatory responses. To define the signal transduction pathways activated by MAPKAPK2, we identified potential MAPKAPK2 substrates by using a functional proteomic approach consisting of in vitro phosphorylation of neutrophil lysate by active recombinant MAPKAPK2, protein separation by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and phosphoprotein identification by peptide mass fingerprinting with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) and protein database analysis. One of the eight candidate MAPKAPK2 substrates identified was the adaptor protein, 14-3-3zeta. We confirmed that MAPKAPK2 interacted with and phosphorylated 14-3-3zeta in vitro and in HEK293 cells. The chemoattractant formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) stimulated p38-MAPK-dependent phosphorylation of 14-3-3 proteins in human neutrophils. Mutation analysis showed that MAPKAPK2 phosphorylated 14-3-3zeta at Ser-58. Computational modeling and calculation of theoretical binding energies predicted that both phosphorylation at Ser-58 and mutation of Ser-58 to Asp (S58D) compromised the ability of 14-3-3zeta to dimerize. Experimentally, S58D mutation significantly impaired both 14-3-3zeta dimerization and binding to Raf-1. These data suggest that MAPKAPK2-mediated phosphorylation regulates 14-3-3zeta functions, and this MAPKAPK2 activity may represent a novel pathway mediating p38 MAPK-dependent inflammation.     

DNA barcoding survey of Trichoderma diversity in soil and litter of the Colombian lowland Amazonian rainforest reveals Trichoderma strigosellum sp. nov. and other species

The diversity of Trichoderma (Hypocreales, Ascomycota) colonizing leaf litter as well as the rhizosphere of Garcinia macrophylla (Clusiaceae) was investigated in primary and secondary rain forests in Colombian Amazonia. DNA barcoding of 107 strains based on the internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 (ITS1 and 2) of the ribosomal RNA gene cluster and the partial sequence of the translation elongation factor 1 alpha (tef1) gene revealed that the diversity of Trichoderma was dominated (71 %) by three common cosmopolitan species, namely Trichoderma harzianum sensu lato (41 %), Trichoderma spirale (17 %) and Trichoderma koningiopsis (13 %). Four ITS 1 and 2 phylotypes (13 strains) could not be identified with certainty. Multigene phylogenetic analysis and phenotype profiling of four strains with an ITS1 and 2 phylotype similar to Trichoderma strigosum revealed a new sister species of the latter that is described here as Trichoderma strigosellum sp. nov. Sequence similarity searches revealed that this species also occurs in soils of Malaysia and Cameroon, suggesting a pantropical distribution.     

Development of a chitosan nanofibrillar scaffold for skin repair and regeneration

The final goal of the present study was the development of a 3-D chitosan dressing that would shorten the healing time of skin wounds by stimulating migration, invasion, and proliferation of the relevant cutaneous resident cells. Three-dimensional chitosan nanofibrillar scaffolds produced by electrospinning were compared with evaporated films and freeze-dried sponges for their biological properties. The nanofibrillar structure strongly improved cell adhesion and proliferation in vitro. When implanted in mice, the nanofibrillar scaffold was colonized by mesenchymal cells and blood vessels. Accumulation of collagen fibrils was also observed. In contrast, sponges induced a foreign body granuloma. When used as a dressing covering full-thickness skin wounds in mice, chitosan nanofibrils induced a faster regeneration of both the epidermis and dermis compartments. Altogether our data illustrate the critical importance of the nanofibrillar structure of chitosan devices for their full biocompatibility and demonstrate the significant beneficial effect of chitosan as a wound-healing biomaterial.     

Global genetic diversity,lineage distribution,and Wolbachia infection of the alfalfa weevil Hypera postica (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica) is a well‐known example of a worldwide‐distributed pest with high genetic variation. Based on the mitochondrial genes, the alfalfa weevil clusters into two main mitochondrial lineages. However, there is no clear picture of the global diversity and distribution of these lineages; neither the drivers of its diversification are known. However, it appears likely that historic demographic events including founder effects played a role. In addition, Wolbachia, a widespread intracellular parasite/symbiont, likely played an important role in the evolution of the species. Wolbachia infection so far was only detected in the Western lineage of H. postica with no information on the infecting strain, its frequency, and its consequences on the genetic diversity of the host. We here used a combination of mitochondrial and nuclear sequences of the host and sequence information on Wolbachia to document the distribution of strains and the degree of infection. The Eastern lineage has a higher genetic diversity and is found in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and eastern America, whereas the less diverse Western lineage is found in Central Europe and the western America. Both lineages are infected with the same common strain of Wolbachia belonging to Supergroup B. Based on neutrality tests, selection tests, and the current distribution and diversification of Wolbachia in H. postica, we suggested the Wolbachia infection did not shape genetic diversity of the host. The introduced populations in the United States are generally genetically less diverse, which is in line with founder effects.     

Monoclonal antibody against a cell wall marker protein for embryogenic potential of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dactylis glomerata</Emphasis> L. suspension cultures

We identified and isolated a monoclonal antibody (MAb 3G2) raised against extracellular proteins from microcluster cells of orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) embryogenic suspension culture. MAb 3G2 recognized with high specificity an antigen ionically bound within the primary cell wall and in the culture medium of microcluster cells. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel analysis and blotting of proteins on PVDF membrane showed that MAb 3G2 detected a single polypeptide of apparent molecular mass of 48 kDa and an isoelectric point (pI) of 5.2, designated EP48. A transient expression during somatic embryogenesis was observed for EP48. Indirect immunofluorescence showed that this protein highly accumulated in the cell walls of some single cells, microclusters and partly in proembryogenic masses (PEMs), but not in globular embryos of the embryogenic cell line and microclusters from the non-embryogenic cell line. Signal intensity varied between individual cells of the same population and in successive stages of somatic embryo development. Screening of several D. glomerata L. embryogenic and non-embryogenic cell lines with MAb 3G2 indicated the presence of ECP48 in only embryogenic suspension cultures at early stages of embryo development long before morphological changes have taken place and thus it could serve as an early marker for embryogenic potential in D. glomerata L. suspension cultures.