The effects of alpha-tocopherol on site-specific lipid peroxidation induced by iron in charged micelles

alpha-Tocopherol inhibited H2O2-Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation of linoleic acid (LA) by scavenging OH radicals in tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB) micelles. The inhibiting ability of alpha-tocopherol was much greater than that of OH-radical scavengers mannitol and t-butanol. In contrast, alpha-tocopherol enhanced linoleic acid hydroperoxide (LOOH)-Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation through regeneration of Fe2+ in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles containing LA. alpha-Tocopherol was oxidized by Fenton's reagent (FeSO4 + H2O2) at a higher rate in SDS micelles than in TTAB micelles. The likely oxidants were OH radicals in the former and Fe3+ in the latter. Both reagents formed in the Fenton reaction. Ferrous ion catalyzed in a dose-dependent manner the decomposition of LOOH and conjugated diene compounds in SDS but not in TTAB micelles. alpha-Tocopherol and Fe3+ individually had no effect on the decomposition of LOOH, but together were quite effective. The rate of the decomposition was a function of the concentration of alpha-tocopherol. The mechanism of "site-specific" antioxidant action of alpha-tocopherol in charged micelles is discussed.     

Integrative genomic phylogeography reveals signs of mitonuclear incompatibility in a natural hybrid goby population

Hybridization between divergent lineages generates new allelic combinations. One mechanism that can hinder the formation of hybrid populations is mitonuclear incompatibility, that is, dysfunctional interactions between proteins encoded in the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of diverged lineages. Theoretically, selective pressure due to mitonuclear incompatibility can affect genotypes in a hybrid population in which nuclear genomes and mitogenomes from divergent lineages admix. To directly and thoroughly observe this key process, we de novo sequenced the 747‐Mb genome of the coastal goby, Chaenogobius annularis, and investigated its integrative genomic phylogeographics using RNA‐sequencing, RAD‐sequencing, genome resequencing, whole mitogenome sequencing, amplicon sequencing, and small RNA‐sequencing. Chaenogobius annularis populations have been geographically separated into Pacific Ocean (PO) and Sea of Japan (SJ) lineages by past isolation events around the Japanese archipelago. Despite the divergence history and potential mitonuclear incompatibility between these lineages, the mitogenomes of the PO and SJ lineages have coexisted for generations in a hybrid population on the Sanriku Coast. Our analyses revealed accumulation of nonsynonymous substitutions in the PO‐lineage mitogenomes, including two convergent substitutions, as well as signals of mitochondrial lineage‐specific selection on mitochondria‐related nuclear genes. Finally, our data implied that a microRNA gene was involved in resolving mitonuclear incompatibility. Our integrative genomic phylogeographic approach revealed that mitonuclear incompatibility can affect genome evolution in a natural hybrid population.     

Increase of Circulating CD11b+Gr1+ cells and Recruitment into the Synovium in Osteoarthritic Mice with Hyperlipidemia

Although recent studies suggest that hyperlipidemia is a risk factor for osteoarthritis (OA), the link between OA and hyperlipidemia is not fully understood. As the number of activated, circulating myeloid cells is increased during hyperlipidemia, we speculate that myeloid cells contribute to the pathology of OA. Here, we characterized myeloid cells in STR/Ort mice, a murine osteoarthritis model, under hyperlipidemic conditions. Ratios of myeloid cells in bone marrow, the spleen, and peripheral blood were determined by flow cytometry. To examine the influence of the hematopoietic environment, including abnormal stem cells, on the hematopoietic profile of STR/Ort mice, bone marrow transplantations were performed. The relationship between hyperlipidemia and abnormal hematopoiesis was examined by evaluating biochemical parameters and spleen weight of F₂ animals (STR/Ort x C57BL/6J). In STR/Ort mice, the ratio of CD11b⁺Gr1⁺ cells in spleens and peripheral blood was increased, and CD11b⁺Gr1⁺ cells were also present in synovial tissue. Splenomegaly was observed and correlated with the ratio of CD11b⁺Gr1⁺ cells. When bone marrow from GFP-expressing mice was transplanted into STR/Ort mice, no difference in the percentage of CD11b⁺Gr1⁺ cells was observed between transplanted and age-matched STR/Ort mice. Analysis of biochemical parameters in F₂ mice showed that spleen weight correlated with serum total cholesterol. These results suggest that the increase in circulating and splenic CD11b⁺Gr1⁺ cells in STR/Ort mice originates from hypercholesterolemia. Further investigation of the function of CD11b⁺Gr1⁺ cells in synovial tissue may reveal the pathology of OA in STR/Ort mice.     

Crucial Residue Involved in L-Lactate Recognition by Human Monocarboxylate Transporter 4 (hMCT4)

Background

Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) transport monocarboxylates such as lactate, pyruvate and ketone bodies. These transporters are very attractive therapeutic targets in cancer. Elucidations of the functions and structures of MCTs is necessary for the development of effective medicine which targeting these proteins. However, in comparison with MCT1, there is little information on location of the function moiety of MCT4 and which constituent amino acids govern the transport function of MCT4. The aim of the present work was to determine the molecular mechanism of L-lactate transport via hMCT4.

Experimental approach

Transport of L-lactate via hMCT4 was determined by using hMCT4 cRNA-injected Xenopus laevis oocytes. hMCT4 mediated L-lactate uptake in oocytes was measured in the absence and presence of chemical modification agents and 4,4′-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2′-disulphonate (DIDS). In addition, L-lactate uptake was measured by hMCT4 arginine mutants. Immunohistochemistry studies revealed the localization of hMCT4.

Results

In hMCT4-expressing oocytes, treatment with phenylglyoxal (PGO), a compound specific for arginine residues, completely abolished the transport activity of hMCT4, although this abolishment was prevented by the presence of L-lactate. On the other hand, chemical modifications except for PGO treatment had no effect on the transport activity of hMCT4. The transporter has six conserved arginine residues, two in the transmembrane-spanning domains (TMDs) and four in the intracellular loops. In hMCT4-R278 mutants, the uptake of L-lactate is void of any transport activity without the alteration of hMCT4 localization.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that Arg-278 in TMD8 is a critical residue involved in substrate, L-lactate recognition by hMCT4.     

miR-146a Polymorphism (rs2910164) Predicts Colorectal Cancer Patients’ Susceptibility to Liver Metastasis

miR-146a plays important roles in cancer as it directly targets NUMB, an inhibitor of Notch signaling. miR-146a is reportedly regulated by a G>C polymorphism (SNP; rs2910164). This polymorphism affects various cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the clinical significance of miR-146a polymorphism in CRC remains unclear. A total of 59 patients with CRC were divided into 2 groups: a CC/CG genotype (n = 32) and a GG genotype (n = 27), based on the miR-146a polymorphism. cDNA microarray analysis was performed using 59 clinical samples. Significantly enriched gene sets in each genotype were extracted using GSEA. We also investigated the association between miR-146a polymorphism and miR-146a, NUMB expression or migratory response in CRC cell lines. The CC/CG genotype was associated with significantly more synchronous liver metastasis (p = 0.007). A heat map of the two genotypes showed that the expression profiles were clearly stratified. GSEA indicated that Notch signaling and JAK/STAT3 signaling were significantly associated with the CC/CG genotype (p = 0.004 and p = 0.023, respectively). CRC cell lines with the pre-miR-146a/C revealed significantly higher miR-146a expression (p = 0.034) and higher NUMB expression and chemotactic activity. In CRC, miR-146a polymorphism is involved in liver metastasis. Identification of this polymorphism could be useful to identify patients with a high risk of liver metastasis in CRC.     

Dissecting in vivo steady-state dynamics of karyopherin-dependent nuclear transport

Karyopherin-dependent molecular transport through the nuclear pore complex is maintained by constant recycling pathways of karyopherins coupled with the Ran-dependent cargo catch-and-release mechanism. Although many studies have revealed the bidirectional dynamics of karyopherins, the entire kinetics of the steady-state dynamics of karyopherin and cargo is still not fully understood. In this study, we used fluorescence recovery after photobleaching and fluorescence loss in photobleaching on live cells to provide convincing in vivo proof that karyopherin-mediated nucleocytoplasmic transport of cargoes is bidirectional. Continuous photobleaching of the cytoplasm of live cells expressing NLS cargoes led to progressive decrease of nuclear fluorescence signals. In addition, experimentally obtained kinetic parameters of karyopherin complexes were used to establish a kinetic model to explain the entire cargo import and export transport cycles facilitated by importin β. The results strongly indicate that constant shuttling of karyopherins, either free or bound to cargo, ensures proper balancing of nucleocytoplasmic distribution of cargoes and establishes effective regulation of cargo dynamics by RanGTP.     

Activation of silent biosynthetic pathways and discovery of novel secondary metabolites in actinomycetes by co-culture with mycolic acid-containing bacteria

Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology - Bacterial secondary metabolites (SM) are rich sources of drug leads, and in particular, numerous metabolites have been isolated from...     

Comparison of oocyte-activating agents for mouse cloning

Since somatic cell components are unable to activate oocytes following injection or fusion, enucleated oocytes receiving adult somatic cells during the cloning process must be activated artificially for their development. We compared the efficiency of four types of oocyte-activating agents: strontium, ethanol, single electric pulse, and spermatozoa. Although strontium was the best in supporting preimplantation development of reconstructed mouse oocytes, there was no significant difference among the four agents with respect to the rate of postimplantation embryo development and the birth of live offspring.