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Cocorocchio M, Baldwin AJ, Stewart B, Kim L, Harwood AJ, Thompson CRL, Andrews PLR, Williams RSB. Curcumin and derivatives function through protein phosphatase 2A and presenilin orthologues in Dictyostelium discoideum. Dis Model Mech 2018; 11:dmm.032375. [PMID: 29361519 PMCID: PMC5818083 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.032375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural compounds often have complex molecular structures and unknown molecular targets. These characteristics make them difficult to analyse using a classical pharmacological approach. Curcumin, the main curcuminoid of turmeric, is a complex molecule possessing wide-ranging biological activities, cellular mechanisms and roles in potential therapeutic treatment, including Alzheimer's disease and cancer. Here, we investigate the physiological effects and molecular targets of curcumin in Dictyostelium discoideum. We show that curcumin exerts acute effects on cell behaviour, reduces cell growth and slows multicellular development. We employed a range of structurally related compounds to show the distinct role of different structural groups in curcumin's effects on cell behaviour, growth and development, highlighting active moieties in cell function, and showing that these cellular effects are unrelated to the well-known antioxidant activity of curcumin. Molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of curcumin and one synthetic analogue (EF24) were then investigated to identify a curcumin-resistant mutant lacking the protein phosphatase 2A regulatory subunit (PsrA) and an EF24-resistant mutant lacking the presenilin 1 orthologue (PsenB). Using in silico docking analysis, we then showed that curcumin might function through direct binding to a key regulatory region of PsrA. These findings reveal novel cellular and molecular mechanisms for the function of curcumin and related compounds. Summary: To unlock the therapeutic potential of curcumin and related compounds, we employ a tractable model system to characterise their cellular and molecular effects and propose novel targets implicated in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Cocorocchio
- Centre of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, TW20 0EX UK
| | - Amy J Baldwin
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Balint Stewart
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Lou Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Adrian J Harwood
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Christopher R L Thompson
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Paul L R Andrews
- Division of Biomedical Science, St George's University of London, SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Robin S B Williams
- Centre of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, TW20 0EX UK
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2
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Frej AD, Clark J, Le Roy CI, Lilla S, Thomason PA, Otto GP, Churchill G, Insall RH, Claus SP, Hawkins P, Stephens L, Williams RSB. The Inositol-3-Phosphate Synthase Biosynthetic Enzyme Has Distinct Catalytic and Metabolic Roles. Mol Cell Biol 2016; 36:1464-79. [PMID: 26951199 PMCID: PMC4859692 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00039-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Revised: 02/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Inositol levels, maintained by the biosynthetic enzyme inositol-3-phosphate synthase (Ino1), are altered in a range of disorders, including bipolar disorder and Alzheimer's disease. To date, most inositol studies have focused on the molecular and cellular effects of inositol depletion without considering Ino1 levels. Here we employ a simple eukaryote, Dictyostelium discoideum, to demonstrate distinct effects of loss of Ino1 and inositol depletion. We show that loss of Ino1 results in an inositol auxotrophy that can be rescued only partially by exogenous inositol. Removal of inositol supplementation from the ino1(-) mutant resulted in a rapid 56% reduction in inositol levels, triggering the induction of autophagy, reduced cytokinesis, and substrate adhesion. Inositol depletion also caused a dramatic generalized decrease in phosphoinositide levels that was rescued by inositol supplementation. However, loss of Ino1 triggered broad metabolic changes consistent with the induction of a catabolic state that was not rescued by inositol supplementation. These data suggest a metabolic role for Ino1 that is independent of inositol biosynthesis. To characterize this role, an Ino1 binding partner containing SEL1L1 domains (Q54IX5) and having homology to mammalian macromolecular complex adaptor proteins was identified. Our findings therefore identify a new role for Ino1, independent of inositol biosynthesis, with broad effects on cell metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna D Frej
- Centre for Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan Clark
- The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline I Le Roy
- Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, The University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Sergio Lilla
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Bearsden, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Peter A Thomason
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Bearsden, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Grant P Otto
- Centre for Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Grant Churchill
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Robert H Insall
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Bearsden, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Sandrine P Claus
- Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, The University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Phillip Hawkins
- The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Len Stephens
- The Babraham Institute, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
| | - Robin S B Williams
- Centre for Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, United Kingdom
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Otto GP, Cocorocchio M, Munoz L, Tyson RA, Bretschneider T, Williams RSB. Employing Dictyostelium as an Advantageous 3Rs Model for Pharmacogenetic Research. Methods Mol Biol 2016; 1407:123-30. [PMID: 27271898 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3480-5_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Increasing concern regarding the use of animals in research has triggered a growing need for non-animal research models in a range of fields. The development of 3Rs (replacement, refinement, and reduction) approaches in research, to reduce the reliance on the use of animal tissue and whole-animal experiments, has recently included the use of Dictyostelium. In addition to not feeling pain and thus being relatively free of ethical constraints, Dictyostelium provides a range of distinct methodological advantages for researchers that has led to a number of breakthroughs. These methodologies include using cell behavior (cell movement and shape) as a rapid indicator of sensitivity to poorly characterized medicines, natural products, and other chemicals to help understand the molecular mechanism of action of compounds. Here, we outline a general approach to employing Dictyostelium as a 3Rs research model, using cell behavior as a readout to better understand how compounds, such as the active ingredient in chilli peppers, capsaicin, function at a cellular level. This chapter helps scientists unfamiliar with Dictyostelium to rapidly employ it as an advantageous model system for research, to reduce the use of animals in research, and to make paradigm shift advances in our understanding of biological chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant P Otto
- Centre for Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 OEX, UK
| | - Marco Cocorocchio
- Centre for Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 OEX, UK
| | - Laura Munoz
- Centre for Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 OEX, UK
| | - Richard A Tyson
- Warwick Systems Biology Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | | | - Robin S B Williams
- Centre for Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 OEX, UK.
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4
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Amaroli A, Ravera S, Parker S, Panfoli I, Benedicenti A, Benedicenti S. The protozoan, Paramecium primaurelia, as a non-sentient model to test laser light irradiation: The effects of an 808nm infrared laser diode on cellular respiration. Altern Lab Anim 2015; 43:155-62. [PMID: 26256394 DOI: 10.1177/026119291504300305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Photobiomodulation (PBM) has been used in clinical practice for more than 40 years. Unfortunately, conflicting literature has led to the labelling of PBM as a complementary or alternative medicine approach. However, past and ongoing clinical and research studies by reputable investigators have re-established the merits of PBM as a genuine medical therapy, and the technique has, in the last decade, seen an exponential increase in the numbers of clinical instruments available, and their applications. This resurgence has led to a clear need for appropriate experimental models to test the burgeoning laser technology being developed for medical applications. In this context, an ethical model that employs the protozoan, Paramecium primaurelia, is proposed. We studied the possibility of using the measure of oxygen consumption to test PBM by irradiation with an infrared or near-infrared laser. The results show that an 808nm infrared laser diode (1W; 64J/cm²) affects cellular respiration in P. primaurelia, inducing, in the irradiated cells, a significantly (p < 0.05) increased oxygen consumption of about 40%. Our findings indicate that Paramecium can be an excellent tool in biological assays involving infrared and near-infrared PBM, as it combines the advantages of in vivo results with the practicality of in vitro testing. This test represents a fast, inexpensive and straightforward assay, which offers an alternative to both traditional in vivo testing and more expensive mammalian cellular cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Amaroli
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences, Protistology Laboratory, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Silvia Ravera
- Department of Pharmacy, Biochemistry Laboratory, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Steven Parker
- Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Isabella Panfoli
- Department of Pharmacy, Biochemistry Laboratory, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Alberico Benedicenti
- Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Stefano Benedicenti
- Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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Kenward H, Pelligand L, Elliott J. Assessment of low-dose cisplatin as a model of nausea and emesis in beagle dogs, potential for repeated administration. Exp Brain Res 2014; 232:2685-97. [PMID: 24792501 PMCID: PMC4353862 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-014-3961-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2014] [Accepted: 04/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Cisplatin is a highly emetogenic cancer chemotherapy agent, which is often used to induce nausea and emesis in animal models. The cytotoxic properties of cisplatin also cause adverse events that negatively impact on animal welfare preventing repeated administration of cisplatin. In this study, we assessed whether a low (subclinical) dose of cisplatin could be utilized as a model of nausea and emesis in the dog while decreasing the severity of adverse events to allow repeated administration. The emetic, nausea-like behavior and potential biomarker response to both the clinical dose (70 mg/m2) and low dose (15 mg/m2) of cisplatin was assessed. Plasma creatinine concentrations and granulocyte counts were used to assess adverse effects on the kidneys and bone marrow, respectively. Nausea-like behavior and emesis was induced by both doses of cisplatin, but the latency to onset was greater in the low-dose group. No significant change in plasma creatinine was detected for either dose groups. Granulocytes were significantly reduced compared with baseline (P = 0.000) following the clinical, but not the low-dose cisplatin group. Tolerability of repeated administration was assessed with 4 administrations of an 18 mg/m2 dose cisplatin. Plasma creatinine did not change significantly. Cumulative effects on the granulocytes occurred, they were significantly decreased (P = 0.03) from baseline at 3 weeks following cisplatin for the 4th administration only. Our results suggest that subclinical doses (15 and 18 mg/m2) of cisplatin induce nausea-like behavior and emesis but have reduced adverse effects compared with the clinical dose allowing for repeated administration in crossover studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Kenward
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Herts, AL9 7TA, UK,
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Waheed A, Ludtmann MHR, Pakes N, Robery S, Kuspa A, Dinh C, Baines D, Williams RSB, Carew MA. Naringenin inhibits the growth of Dictyostelium and MDCK-derived cysts in a TRPP2 (polycystin-2)-dependent manner. Br J Pharmacol 2014; 171:2659-70. [PMID: 24116661 PMCID: PMC4009007 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2013] [Revised: 09/04/2013] [Accepted: 09/13/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Identifying and characterizing potential new therapeutic agents to target cell proliferation may provide improved treatments for neoplastic disorders such as cancer and polycystic diseases. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We used the simple, tractable biomedical model Dictyostelium to investigate the molecular mechanism of naringenin, a dietary flavonoid with antiproliferative and chemopreventive actions in vitro and in animal models of carcinogenesis. We then translated these results to a mammalian kidney model, Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) tubule cells, grown in culture and as cysts in a collagen matrix. KEY RESULTS Naringenin inhibited Dictyostelium growth, but not development. Screening of a library of random gene knockout mutants identified a mutant lacking TRPP2 (polycystin-2) that was resistant to the effect of naringenin on growth and random cell movement. TRPP2 is a divalent transient receptor potential cation channel, where mutations in the protein give rise to type 2 autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Naringenin inhibited MDCK cell growth and inhibited cyst growth. Knockdown of TRPP2 levels by siRNA in this model conferred partial resistance to naringenin such that cysts treated with 3 and 10 μM naringenin were larger following TRPP2 knockdown compared with controls. Naringenin did not affect chloride secretion. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The action of naringenin on cell growth in the phylogenetically diverse systems of Dictyostelium and mammalian kidney cells, suggests a conserved effect mediated by TRPP2 (polycystin-2). Further studies will investigate naringenin as a potential new therapeutic agent in ADPKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Waheed
- School of Pharmacy & Chemistry, Kingston UniversityKingston upon Thames, Surrey, UK
| | - M H R Ludtmann
- Centre for Biomedical Science, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of LondonEgham, Surrey, UK
| | - N Pakes
- Centre for Biomedical Science, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of LondonEgham, Surrey, UK
| | - S Robery
- Centre for Biomedical Science, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of LondonEgham, Surrey, UK
| | - A Kuspa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of MedicineHouston, TX, USA
| | - C Dinh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of MedicineHouston, TX, USA
| | - D Baines
- Biomedical Sciences, St George's University of LondonLondon, UK
| | - R S B Williams
- Centre for Biomedical Science, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of LondonEgham, Surrey, UK
| | - M A Carew
- School of Pharmacy & Chemistry, Kingston UniversityKingston upon Thames, Surrey, UK
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Andrews PL, Sanger GJ. Nausea and the quest for the perfect anti-emetic. Eur J Pharmacol 2014; 722:108-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2013.09.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2013] [Revised: 09/18/2013] [Accepted: 09/22/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Robery S, Tyson R, Dinh C, Kuspa A, Noegel AA, Bretschneider T, Andrews PLR, Williams RSB. A novel human receptor involved in bitter tastant detection identified using Dictyostelium discoideum. J Cell Sci 2013; 126:5465-76. [PMID: 24006265 PMCID: PMC4376016 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.136440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Detection of substances tasting bitter to humans occurs in diverse organisms including the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. To establish a molecular mechanism for bitter tastant detection in Dictyostelium, we screened a mutant library for resistance to a commonly used bitter standard, phenylthiourea. This approach identified a G-protein-coupled receptor mutant, grlJ(-), which showed a significantly increased tolerance to phenylthiourea in growth, survival and movement. This mutant was not resistant to a structurally dissimilar potent bitter tastant, denatonium benzoate, suggesting it is not a target for at least one other bitter tastant. Analysis of the cell-signalling pathway involved in the detection of phenylthiourea showed dependence upon heterotrimeric G protein and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity, suggesting that this signalling pathway is responsible for the cellular effects of phenylthiourea. This is further supported by a phenylthiourea-dependent block in the transient cAMP-induced production of phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PIP3) in wild-type but not grlJ(-) cells. Finally, we have identified an uncharacterized human protein γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) type B receptor subunit 1 isoform with weak homology to GrlJ that restored grlJ(-) sensitivity to phenylthiourea in cell movement and PIP3 regulation. Our results thus identify a novel pathway for the detection of the standard bitter tastant phenylthiourea in Dictyostelium and implicate a poorly characterized human protein in phenylthiourea-dependent cell responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Robery
- Centre for Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK
| | - Richard Tyson
- Warwick Systems Biology Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Christopher Dinh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Adam Kuspa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Angelika A. Noegel
- Institute of Biochemistry I, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Till Bretschneider
- Warwick Systems Biology Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Paul L. R. Andrews
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, St George's University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Robin S. B. Williams
- Centre for Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK
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Pakes NK, Veltman DM, Rivero F, Nasir J, Insall R, Williams RSB. The Rac GEF ZizB regulates development, cell motility and cytokinesis in Dictyostelium. J Cell Sci 2012; 125:2457-65. [PMID: 22366457 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.100966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Dock (dedicator of cytokinesis) proteins represent a family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) that include the well-studied Dock180 family and the poorly characterised zizimin family. Our current understanding of Dock180 function is that it regulates Rho small GTPases and thus has a role in a number of cell processes, including cell migration, development and division. Here, we use a tractable model for cell motility research, Dictyostelium discoideum, to help elucidate the role of the related zizimin proteins. We show that gene ablation of zizA causes no change in development, whereas ablation of zizB gives rise to an aberrant developmental morphology and a reduction in cell directionality and velocity, and altered cell shape. Fluorescently labelled ZizA protein associates with the microtubule-organising centre (MTOC), whereas ZizB is enriched in the cortex. Overexpression of ZizB also causes an increase in the number of filopodia and a partial inhibition of cytokinesis. Analysis of ZizB protein binding partners shows that it interacts with Rac1a and a range of actin-associated proteins. In conclusion, our work provides insight into the molecular and cellular functions of zizimin GEF proteins, which are shown to have a role in cell movement, filopodia formation and cytokinesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholl K Pakes
- Centre for Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK
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