Luteolin confers renoprotection against ischemia–reperfusion injury via involving Nrf2 pathway and regulating miR320

Molecular Biology Reports - This work aims to evaluate the renoprotective effect of luteolin on expression of Nrf2 and miR320 in ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. Thirty rats were...     

Genome wide cloning of maize meiotic recombinase Dmc1 and its functional structure through molecular phylogeny

The development of meiotic division and associated genetic recombination paved the way for evolutionary changes. However, the secondary and tertiary structure and functional domains of many of the proteins involved in genetic recombination have not been studied in detail. We used the human Dmc1 gene product along with secondary and tertiary domain structures of Escherichia coli RecA protein to help determine the molecular structure and function of maize Dmc1, which is required for synaptonemal complex formation and cell cycle progression. The maize recombinase Dmc1 gene was cloned and characterized, using rice Dmc1 cDNA as an orthologue. The deduced amino acid sequence was used for elaborating its 3-D structure, and functional analysis was made with the CDD software, showing significant identity of the Dmc1 gene product in Zea mays with that of Homo sapiens. Based on these results, the domains and motives of WalkerA and WalkerB as ATP binding sites, a multimer site (BRC) interface, the putative ssDNA binding L1 and L2 loops, the putative dsDNA binding helix-hairpin-helix, a polymerization motif, the subunit rotation motif, and a small N-terminal domain were proposed for maize recombinase Dmc1.     

Phosphotyrosyl peptides and analogues as substrates and inhibitors of purple acid phosphatases

Purple acid phosphatases are metal-containing hydrolases. While their precise biological role(s) is unknown, the mammalian enzyme has been linked in a variety of biological circumstances (e.g., osteoporosis) with increased bone resorption. Inhibition of the human enzyme is a possible strategy for the treatment of bone-resorptive diseases such as osteoporosis. Previously, we determined the crystal structure of pig purple acid phosphatase to 1.55A and we showed that it is a good model for the human enzyme. Here, a study of the pH dependence of its kinetic parameters showed that the pig enzyme is most efficient at pH values similar to those encountered in the osteoclast resorptive space. Based on the observation that phosphotyrosine-containing peptides are good substrates for pig purple acid phosphatase, peptides containing a range of phosphotyrosine mimetics were synthesized. Kinetic analysis showed that they act as potent inhibitors of mammalian and plant purple acid phosphatases, with the best inhibitors exhibiting low micromolar inhibition constants at pH 3-5. These compounds are thus the most potent organic inhibitors yet reported for the purple acid phosphatases.     

The Association Between Breeding System and Transposable Element Dynamics in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Daphnia Pulex</Emphasis>

Transposable elements (TEs) are major sources of genetic variation, and mating systems are believed to play a significant role in their dynamics. For example, insertion number is expected to be higher in sexual than in asexual organisms due to the inability of TEs to colonize new genomes in the absence of sex. The goal of this study was to determine the impact of the loss of sexual reproduction on TE load. Daphnia pulex has two reproductive modes, obligate and cyclical parthenogenesis, which differ with respect to the production of diapausing eggs. Cyclical parthenogens produce them meiotically, while obligate parthenogens produce them clonally. Pokey is a TTAA-specific DNA transposon, and is a stable component of Daphnia genomes. We used a PCR-based approach, TE-Display, to estimate the number of Pokey insertions in 22 cyclic and 22 obligate isolates of D. pulex. As expected, the copy number of Pokey insertions is significantly higher in cyclic than in obligate isolates. However, the distribution of elements among isolates within each breeding system is similar, which is congruent with the recent establishment of obligate lineages from a cyclic ancestor. We also assayed 46 isolates from eight cyclic populations and found that very few Pokey insertions were observed in more than one isolate, suggesting that Pokey has been active recently. Sequencing of PCR products from the TE-Display analysis shows that Pokey inserts into both coding and noncoding regions of the genome. However, there is no obvious similarity among sequences downstream of the TTAA Pokey insertion site.     

Field observations of the effect of Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum on the saxaul locust,Dericorys albidula Serville (Orthoptera: Dericorythidae)

Dericorys albidula Serville (Orthoptera: Dericorythidae) is a major pest of Haloxylon ammodendron and other saxaul plant species in the Qom province, Iran. Using fungal insecticides can be an alternative method for chemical insecticides. Effect of insecticide fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum, on the various nymphs of D. albidula was studied in the field through 2005 and 2006. Fixed concentrations of fungi (10⁶, 10⁷, 10⁸, 10⁹, 10¹⁰ and 10¹³ spore mL^?1) were prepared as gasoline formulation and were sprayed on the locusts on H. ammodendron trees, and mortality percentage was recorded 15 days after treatment. The results showed that various concentrations significantly affected on the second, third, fourth and fifth nymphal instars of D. albidula compared to control in 2006, although this effect was lower in 2005 on nymphs. Mortality of the highest concentration (10¹³ spore mL^?1) was higher (17.6–24%) than other concentrations in all tests, but these values were not notable. The results of this study showed that using M. anisopliae var. acridum diluted in gasoline can be effective on nymphal instars of locust, D. albidula, in two continuous years.     

Impaired spermatogenesis associated with changes in spatial arrangement of Sertoli and spermatogonial cells following induced diabetes

The current study was conducted to assess the relationship between testicular cells in spermatogenesis, through which the production of healthy and mature sperm is essential. However, it seems necessary to obtain more information about the three-dimensional pattern of the testis cells arrangement, which is directly related to the function of the testis after induction of diabetes. Twelve adult mice (28-30 g) were assigned into two experimental groups: (1) control and (2) diabetic (40 mg/kg STZ). The epididymal sperm collected from the tail of the epididymis and testes samples were taken for stereology, immunocytochemistry and RNA extraction. Our data showed that diabetes could notably decrease the number of testicular cells, together with a reduction of total sperm count. In addition, the results from the second-order stereology indicated the significant changes in the spatial arrangement of Sertoli cells and spermatogonial cells in the diabetic groups, in comparison with the control (P < .05). Moreover, the immunohistochemistry results showed a significant reduction in Sex-determining Region Y (SRY) box 9 gene (SOX9), vimentin, occludin, and connexin-43 positive cells in the diabetic groups compared with the control (P < .05). Furthermore, our data showed that the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and peripheral benzodiazepine receptor peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) was significantly reduced in the diabetic groups, in comparison with the control (P < .05). These findings suggest that structural and functional changes of testis cells after induction of diabetes cause the alterations in the spatial arrangement of Sertoli and spermatogonial cells, ultimately influencing the normal spermatogenesis in mice.     

The Effects of Feeding Clinoptilolite on Hematology,Performance, and Health of Newborn Lambs

The effects of feeding clinoptilolite on hematology, performance, and health of newborn Balouchi lambs were evaluated in this experiment. In a completely randomized design, 30 newborn lambs were allocated to three groups and fed by basal diet (C0; without clinoptilolite) and C1 and C2 (the basal diet plus 1.5% and 3% clinoptilolite, respectively, for 6 weeks (3 weeks before and 3 weeks after weaning)). Blood samples were taken from all lambs, at the time when the animals were allocated to the experimental diet and at the end of each week of experiment, and analyzed for hematology, plasma fibrinogen, and total protein. Performance and health of all lambs were measured. Fecal consistency score and diarrhea severity were evaluated. There was no difference between lambs in case of hematological parameters. Lambs fecal consistency score and severity of diarrhea were lowest (P < 0.05) for lambs on C1 and C2 and highest for lambs on C0. Dry matter intake and feed conservation ratio were similar between the groups of lambs fed by different diets, but daily gain of lambs differed significantly (P < 0.05) and was higher in C2. It was concluded that addition of 3% clinoptilolite to starter diet of newborn lamb can reduce incidence and severity of diarrhea, although its effect on hematology and performance was negligible.     

Novel Predicted B-Cell Epitopes of PSMA for Development of Prostate Cancer Vaccine

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers around the world. Vaccines are a new hope for prevention of this cancer. In the case...     

Fusion to elastin-like polypeptide increases production of bioactive human IFN-γ in tobacco

Transgenic Research - The plant-based expression systems are now accredited as bioreactors for the high production of various biopharmaceuticals. However, low levels of agglomeration and the...     

Zero-Lag Synchronization Despite Inhomogeneities in a Relay System

A novel proposal for the zero-lag synchronization of the delayed coupled neurons, is to connect them indirectly via a third relay neuron. In this study, we develop a Poincaré map to investigate the robustness of the synchrony in such a relay system against inhomogeneity in the neurons and synaptic parameters. We show that when the inhomogeneity does not violate the symmetry of the system, synchrony is maintained and in some cases inhomogeneity enhances synchrony. On the other hand if the inhomogeneity breaks the symmetry of the system, zero lag synchrony can not be preserved. In this case we give analytical results for the phase lag of the spiking of the neurons in the stable state.