Binding of [3H]estradiol- and [3H]H1285-receptor complexes to rabbit uterine chromatin

In the present study we investigated the binding characteristics of estrogen and antiestrogen-receptor complexes to rabbit uterine chromatin. Activated or nonactivated estrogen receptors were partially purified by DEAE-cellulose chromatography using low (1 mM) or high (10 mM) concentrations of sodium molybdate. Activated [³H]estradiol-receptor complexes showed enhanced binding to chromatin acceptor sites unmasked by 1 M, 4 M and 6 M guanidine hydrochloride. We also examined the chromatin-binding characteristics of the estrogen receptors when bound by the high-affinity triphenylethylene antiestrogen, H1285. The acceptor site activity for the [³H]H1285-receptor complexes was markedly decreased at sites unmasked by 4 M and 6 M guanidine hydrochloride. Further, the nonactivated receptor complexes showed very low binding to deproteinized chromatin. The estrogen-receptor chromatin-acceptor sites were tissue specific and saturable. These chromatin acceptor sites differ in their affinity and capacity (number of binding sites per cell) for the estrogen- and antiestrogen-receptor complexes. Thus, we suggest that the differences in the physiological and physicochemical properties of estrogens and antiestrogens may be related to their differential interaction with uterine chromatin subfractions.     

Cultured hepatoma cells for the study of enzyme regulation: Induction of ornithine decarboxylase by insulin and asparagine

Summary The induction and decay of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) by insulin and asparagine in cultures of H4-II-EC3 (H35) hepatoma cells was studied in a modified Waymouth medium in the presence of fetal bovine serum (FBS) and in serum-free media. The insulin response was enhanced by the presence of asparagine although the effect of asparagine was not so much on the initial increase as it was on a slowing of the decline after the maximum was reached at 6 to 8 h after the supplements were added together with fresh medium. In all cases the initial ODC activity was zero at zero time for addition of media and supplements, and, after reaching the maximum, activity declined to near zero by 24 h. Fetal bovine serum gave induction that followed a similar time course but was inferior to the combintion, of insulin plus asparagine and, in fact, FBS inhibited the latter response. Putrescine (the product formed from ornithine by ODC), at 10⁻⁵ M, markedly inhibited the induction of ODC by insulin or FBS, but the inhibition was less when asparagine was present. This work was supported in part by Grants CA-07175, CA-22484, and CA-17334 from the National Cancer Institute. D. P. G. is a Predoctoral Fellow at the Food Research Institute, supported by a fellowship from the Monsanto Fund and by NIH Grant R01-AI 15693 to Prof. Michael W. Pariza, Food Research Institute, University of Wisconsin, Madison.     

Antiestrogen action: Differential nuclear retention and extractability of the estrogen receptor

Since there is a much longer uterine nuclear retention of the U-11,100A (antiestrogen) receptor complex (UARC) than of the estradiol receptor complex (ERC) at 4–12 hrs after injection, experiments were designed to determine if there is a difference between the relative nuclear affinities for the two RCs as determined by extraction with various ionic strength mediums. Although the UARC was retained longer in the nuclear fraction $\text{in}$$\text{vivo}$, the UARC was completely extractable with 0.3M KC1 or 50mM spermine, whereas the ERC demonstrates a saltresistant form. This suggests that the ERC is more tightly bound to nuclear components through this salt-resistant form of the receptor. In addition, various intercalating agents were used to distinguish the different nuclear chromatin DNA sites where the UARC and ERC may be binding. With actinomycin D (50 uM) more ERC than UARC was retained in the nuclear fraction. However, with ethidium bromide (100uM) less ERC than UARC was retained. Also, the ERC selectively released by ethidium bromide is precisely that fraction not released by salt. These results indicate that the UARC and ERC bind to different chromatin loci.     

Characterizing the normal proteome of human ciliary body

Background

The ciliary body is the circumferential muscular tissue located just behind the iris in the anterior chamber of the eye. It plays a pivotal role in the production of aqueous humor, maintenance of the lens zonules and accommodation by changing the shape of the crystalline lens. The ciliary body is the major target of drugs against glaucoma as its inhibition leads to a drop in intraocular pressure. A molecular study of the ciliary body could provide a better understanding about the pathophysiological processes that occur in glaucoma. Thus far, no large-scale proteomic investigation has been reported for the human ciliary body.

Results

In this study, we have carried out an in-depth LC-MS/MS-based proteomic analysis of normal human ciliary body and have identified 2,815 proteins. We identified a number of proteins that were previously not described in the ciliary body including importin 5 (IPO5), atlastin-2 (ATL2), B-cell receptor associated protein 29 (BCAP29), basigin (BSG), calpain-1 (CAPN1), copine 6 (CPNE6), fibulin 1 (FBLN1) and galectin 1 (LGALS1). We compared the plasma proteome with the ciliary body proteome and found that the large majority of proteins in the ciliary body were also detectable in the plasma while 896 proteins were unique to the ciliary body. We also classified proteins using pathway enrichment analysis and found most of proteins associated with ubiquitin pathway, EIF2 signaling, glycolysis and gluconeogenesis.

Conclusions

More than 95% of the identified proteins have not been previously described in the ciliary body proteome. This is the largest catalogue of proteins reported thus far in the ciliary body that should provide new insights into our understanding of the factors involved in maintaining the secretion of aqueous humor. The identification of these proteins will aid in understanding various eye diseases of the anterior segment such as glaucoma and presbyopia.     

Ala54Thr Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 2 (FABP2) Polymorphism in Recurrent Depression: Associations with Fatty Acid Concentrations and Waist Circumference

Background

Fatty acid (FA)-alterations may mediate the mutual association between Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, etiology of observed FA-alterations in MDD and CVD remains largely unclear. An interesting candidate may be a mutation in the fatty acid–binding protein 2 (FABP2)-gene, because it regulates dietary FA-uptake. Therefore, we aimed to test the hypotheses that in MDD-patients the FABP2 Ala54Thr-polymorphism would be (I) more prevalent than in sex- and age-matched controls, (II) associated with observed alterations in FA-metabolism, and (III) associated with CVD-risk factor waist circumference.

Methods

We measured concentrations of 29 different erythrocyte FAs, FABP2-genotype, and waist circumference in recurrent MDD-patients and matched never-depressed controls.

Results

FABP2-genotype distribution did not significantly differ between the 137 MDD-patients and 73 matched controls. However, patients with the Ala54Thr-polymorphism had (I) higher concentrations of especially eicosadienoic acid (C20:2ω6; P=.009) and other 20-carbon FAs, and associated (II) lower waist circumference (P=.019). In addition, FABP2-genotype effects on waist circumference in patients seemed (I) mediated by its effect on C20:2ω6, and (II) different from controls.

Conclusions

Although Ala54Thr-polymorphism distribution was not associated with recurrent MDD, our results indicate that FABP2 may play a role in the explanation of observed FA-alterations in MDD. For Ala54Thr-polymorphism patients, potentially adaptive conversion of increased bioavailable dietary precursors into eicosadienoic acid instead of arachidonic acid might be related to a low waist circumference. Because this is the first investigation of these associations, replication is warranted, preferably by nutrigenetic studies applying lipidomics and detailed dietary assessment.     

A power analysis for future clinical trials on the potential adverse effects of SSRIs on amygdala reactivity

Treatment of adolescents with antidepressants may induce an increased risk for suicidality in this population. The activity of the amygdala during processing of emotional faces with functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) is a well-known measure of emotional dysregulation. Based upon data of our prematurely ended randomized clinical trial with fluoxetine (NTR3103) in anxious and or depressed girls (12–14 years of age) we calculated that with the found effect size of r = 0.66, compared to placebo, only 8 subjects are needed to demonstrate increased amygdala activity following 16 weeks of treatment with fluoxetine.     

Environmental filtering determines community patterns in temporary wetlands: a multi-taxon approach

Climate characteristics appear to play a key role in filtering organisms based on their biological traits. If this trait filtering by climate indeed occurs, it should have effects on the composition, dynamics, taxonomic relatedness and co-occurrence patterns of local assemblages, regardless of the taxonomic group considered. This preliminary study aimed to assess the extent to which environmental variables might determine these patterns in local communities and to evaluate whether the ultimate cross-taxon congruence relationships are consistent across, or dependent on, the selected region. To this end, we studied the bryophyte, macrophyte, macroinvertebrate, and amphibian communities in two clusters of temporary wetlands on the NE Iberian Peninsula under mesothermal and semiarid climates. We observed effects of environmental filtering, with the communities differing between the climatic regions not only in their compositions but also in their dynamics and taxonomic relatedness patterns. Although the cross-taxon congruence in terms of species richness was high in the mesothermal climate, most of the congruent relationships were disrupted in the semiarid environment. Overall, because climate-dependent patterns appear to prevail over climate-consistent ones, we suggest that the use of surrogate taxa may be of limited value when aiming to assess wetland biodiversity across large areas.