Possible role of metal ionophore against zinc induced cognitive dysfunction in <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d-</Emphasis>galactose senescent mice

Metal ionophores are considered as potential anti-dementia agents, and some are currently undergoing clinical trials. Many metals are known to accumulate and distribute abnormally in the aging brain. Alterations in zinc metal homeostasis in the glutaminergic synapse could contribute to ageing and the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The present study was designed to investigate the effect of metal ionophores on long term administration of zinc in D-galactose induced senescent mice. The ageing model was established by combined administration of zinc and D-galactose to mice for 6 weeks. A novel metal ionophore, PBT-2 was given daily to zinc-induced d-galactose senescent mice. The cognitive behaviour of mice was monitored using the Morris Water Maze. The anti-oxidant status and amyloidogenic activity in the ageing mouse was measured by determining mito-oxidative parameters and deposition of amyloid β (Aβ) in the brain. Systemic administration of both zinc and D-galactose significantly produced memory deficits, mito-oxidative damage, heightened acetylcholinesterase enzymatic activity and deposition of amyloid-β. Treatment with PBT-2 significantly improved behavioural deficits, biochemical profiles, cellular damage, and curbed the deposition of APP in zinc-induced senescent mice. These findings suggest that PBT-2, acting as a metal protein attenuating compound, may be helpful in the prevention of AD or alleviation of ageing.     

Characterization and partial purification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Candida albicans</Emphasis> Secretory IL-12 Inhibitory Factor

Background  

We have previously shown that supernatant from Candida albicans (CA) culture contains a Secretory Interleukin (IL)-12 Inhibitory Factor (CA-SIIF), which inhibits IL-12 production by human monocytes. However, the effect of CA-SIIF on secretion of other cytokines by monocytes is unknown, and detailed characterization of this factor has not been performed.     

Intracellular regulation of cell signaling cascades: how location makes a difference

Organelles such as endosomes and the Golgi apparatus play a critical role in regulating signal transmission to the nucleus. Recent experiments have shown that appropriate positioning of these organelles within the intracellular space is critical for effective signal regulation. To understand the mechanism behind this observation, we consider a reaction-diffusion model of an intracellular signaling cascade and investigate the effect on the signaling of intracellular regulation in the form of a small release of phosphorylated signaling protein, kinase, and/or phosphatase. Variational analysis is applied to characterize the most effective regions for the localization of this intracellular regulation. The results demonstrate that signals reaching the nucleus are most effectively regulated by localizing the release of phosphorylated substrate protein and kinase near the nucleus. Phosphatase release, on the other hand, is nearly equally effective throughout the intracellular space. The effectiveness of the intracellular regulation is affected strongly by the characteristics of signal propagation through the cascade. For signals that are amplified as they propagate through the cascade, reactions in the upstream levels of the cascade exhibit much larger sensitivities to regulation by release of phosphorylated substrate protein and kinase than downstream reactions. On the other hand, for signals that decay through the cascade, downstream reactions exhibit larger sensitivity than upstream reactions. For regulation by phosphatase release, all reactions within the cascade show large sensitivity for amplified signals but lose this sensitivity for decaying signals. We use the analysis to develop a simple model of endosome-mediated regulation of cell signaling. The results demonstrate that signal regulation by the modeled endosome is most effective when the endosome is positioned in the vicinity of the nucleus. The present findings may explain at least in part why endosomes in many cell types localize near the nucleus.     

Ticks (Acari:Ixodidae) of the Blue and White Nile ecosystems in the Sudan with particular reference to theRhipicephalus sanguineus group

Twenty-four adult ixodid tick species, infesting livestock and some wildlife hosts along the Blue and White Nile in the Sudan, were identified. Three species,Boophilus geigyi, Rhipicephalus camicasi andR. bergeoni, were recorded for the first time from the Sudan. Tick numbers on indigenous breeds of cattle (Bos indicus) were relatively low, ranging between 17.1 and 40.5 per animal. Young cattle grazing with the herd carried significantly fewer ticks than older animals. With the exception ofB. annulatus andR. simus, which have extended their distribution further north into Blue Nile, Gezira and Khartoum Provinces, the distribution patterns of the most important cattle ticks have been relatively unchanged over the past 30 years.TheRhicicephalus sanguineus group was represented by six species.R. camicasi was the only species present on cattle, sheep and goats in the north in Kassala and Khartoum Provinces, whereas this species occurred sympatrically withR. guilhoni andR. turanicus further south in Gezira and Blue Nile Provinces. In the Southern Region of the Sudan onlyR. turanicus andR. guilhoni were present, the latter being by far the predominant species, with peak activity towards the end of the rains in the Jonglei Canal Area.R. bergeoni was collected once, from cattle near the Ethiopian border in Blue Nile Province, whereasR. sanguineus sensu stricto was collected throughout the study area, from domestic dogs only. Finally,R. sulcatus was found once on a hare.The distributions of the common tick species are correlated with the occurrence of tick-borne diseases of domestic animals and recommendations for the control of tick-borne diseases and their vectors in the Sudan are given.     

Signal processing, glycosylation, and secretion of mutant hemagglutinins of a human influenza virus by Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We investigated the nature of signal recognition, transport, and secretion of mutant hemagglutinins (HAs) of a human influenza virus by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The cDNA sequences encoding variant forms of influenza HA were expressed in S. cerevisiae. The HA polypeptides (HA500 and HA325) that were synthesized with their N-terminal signal peptides were correctly targeted to the membrane compartment where they were glycosylated. In contrast, the HA polypeptides (HA484 and HA308) lacking the signal peptide were expressed in the cytoplasm and did not undergo any glycosidic modification, demonstrating the importance of the heterologous signal sequence in the early steps of translocation in S. cerevisiae. The analysis of the N-terminal amino acid sequence of HA500 and HA325 polypeptides demonstrated the correct cleavage of the signal peptide, indicating the structural compatibility of a heterologous signal peptide for efficient recognition and processing by the yeast translocation machinery. The membrane-sequestered and glycosylated HA polypeptides were relatively stable in S. cerevisiae compared with the signal-minus, nonglycosylated HA molecules. Although both the anchor-minus HA (HA500) and HA1 (HA325) polypeptides were targeted efficiently to the membrane, their glycosylation and transport patterns were shown to be different. During pulse-chase, the HA500 remained cell-associated with no detectable secretion into the extracellular medium, whereas the HA325 secreted into the medium. Furthermore, only the cell-associated and secreted forms of HA325 and not HA500 appeared to have undergone hyperglycosylation with the extensive addition of high-molecular-weight outer-chain mannans. Possible reasons for the observed phenotypic behavior of these two mutant HAs are discussed.     

Compatability of Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae with chemical pesticides

The effects of various insecticides on the mycelial growth, sporulation and conidial germination of Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae isolate E₉ were studied in the laboratory. Chlorpyrifos was the most toxic organophosphate to mycelial growth and sporulation at all concentrations. Temephos, malathion and leptophos were highly toxic to sporulation while malathion was the most inhibitory to germination. The carbamates, carbofuran, methomyl and oxamyl were moderately toxic to mycelial growth and sporulation while oxamyl had an adverse effect on germination. The pyrethroids (pyrethrin, permethrin and resmethrin) and the insect growth regulators (diflubenzuron and methoprene) were not inhibitory to the various developmental stages of isolate E₉. The chlorinated hydrocarbons (chlordane, lindane and toxaphene) were more deleterious than all other insecticide groups tested. Among the fungicides, benomyl and maneb produced the greatest inhibition.     

18-Substituted steroids. Part 15. 6 beta-Hydroxylation of aldosterone by liver

6 beta-Hydroxyaldosterone and 6 beta-hydroxy-17-isoaldosterone, characterized by high-field NMR studies, are among the major polar metabolites formed from aldosterone by incubation with rat liver slices or microsomal fraction. It is uncertain at present whether the 17-iso product results from an enzymatic or a chemical inversion of configuration. Periodate degradation of the 6 beta-hydroxyaldosterone gave 6 beta-hydroxyaldosterone gamma-lactone, identical with a synthetic sample.     

A genetic linkage map of 96 loci on the short arm of human chromosome 3.

We constructed a genetic map of 96 loci on the short arm of human chromosome 3 (3p) in 59 families provided by the Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humaine (CEPH). Twenty-nine continuously linked loci were placed on the map with likelihood support of at least 1000:1; one locus, D3S213, was placed on the map with likelihood support of 871:1; D3Z1, an alpha satellite centromeric repeat probe, was placed on the map with likelihood support of 159:1; 65 loci were assigned regional locations. The average heterozygosity of the uniquely ordered markers was 49%. The map extends from 3p26, the terminal band of 3p, to the centromere (from D3S211 to D3Z1). Multipoint linkage analysis indicated that the male, female, and sex-averaged maps extend for 102, 147, and 116 cM, respectively. The mean genetic distance between uniquely ordered loci on the sex-averaged map was 4.0 cM. Probe density was greatest for the region of 3p between D3F15S2e and the telomere. The sex-averaged map contained two intervals greater than 10 cM. Seventeen probes were localized by fluorescence in situ hybridization. The loci described in this report will be useful in building an integrated genetic and physical map of this chromosome.