Contribution of connective tissue components, muscle fibres and marbling to beef tenderness variability in longissimus thoracis, rectus abdominis, semimembranosus and semitendinosus muscles

BACKGROUND

The present study aimed to identify relationships between components of intramuscular connective tissue, proportions of the different fiber types, intramuscular fat and sensory tenderness of beef cooked at 55 °C. Accordingly, four muscles differing in their metabolic and contractile properties, as well as in their collagen content and butcher value, were obtained from dairy and beef cattle of several ages and sexes and were then used to create variability.

RESULTS

Correlation analyses and/or stepwise regressions were applied on Z-scores to identify the existing and robust associations. Tenderness scores were further categorized into tender, medium and tough classes using unsupervised learning methods. The findings revealed a muscle-dependant role with respect to tenderness of total and insoluble collagen, cross-links, and type IIB + X and IIA muscle fibers. The longissimus thoracis and semitendinosus muscles that, in the present study, were found to be extreme in their tenderness potential were also very different from each other and from the rectus abdominis (RA) and semimembranosus (SM). RA and SM muscles were very similar regarding their relationship for muscle components and tenderness. A relationship between marbling and tenderness was only present when the results were analysed irrespective of all factors of variation of the experimental model relating to muscle and animal type.

CONCLUSION

The statistical approaches applied in the present study using Z-scores allowed identification of the robust associations between muscle components and sensory beef tenderness and also identified discriminatory variables of beef tenderness classes. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

DNA topoisomerase I in oncology: Dr Jekyll or Mr Hyde?

Mammalian DNA topoisomerase I is a multifunctional enzyme which is essential for embryonal development. In addition to its classical DNA nicking-closing activities which are needed for relaxation of supercoiled DNA, topoisomerase I can phosphorylate certain splicing factors. The enzyme is also involved in transcriptional regulation through its ability to associate with other proteins in the TFIID-, and possibly TFIIH-, transcription complexes, and is implicated in the recognition of DNA lesions. Finally, topoisomerase I is a recombinase which can mediate illegitimate recombination. A crucial reaction intermediate during relaxation of DNA is the formation of a DNA-topoisomerase I complex (the cleavable complex) where topoisomerase I is covalently linked to a 3 -end of DNA thereby creating a single stranded DNA break. Cleavable complexes are also formed in the vicinity of DNA lesions and in the presence of the antitumor agent, camptothecin. While formation of cleavable complexes may be necessary for the initial stages of the DNA damage response, these complexes are also potentially dangerous to the cell due to their ability to mediate illegitimate recombination, which can lead to genomic instability and oncogenesis. Thus the levels and stability of these complexes have to be strictly regulated. This is obtained by maintaining the enzyme levels relatively constant, by limiting the stability of the cleavable complexes through physical interaction with the oncogene suppressor protein p53 and by degradation of the topoisomerase I by the proteasome system. Emerging evidence suggest that these regulatory functions are perturbed in tumor cells, explaining at the same time why topoisomerase I activities so often are increased in certain human tumors, and why these cells are sensitized to the cytotoxic effects of camptothecins.

The interaction between p53 and DNA topoisomerase I is regulated differently in cells with wild-type and mutant p53

DNA topoisomerase I is a nuclear enzyme involved in transcription, recombination, and DNA damage recognition. Previous studies have shown that topoisomerase I interacts directly with the tumor-suppressor protein p53. p53 is a transcription factor that activates certain genes through binding to specific DNA sequences. We now report that topoisomerase I can be stimulated by both latent and activated wild-type p53 as well as by several mutant and truncated p53 proteins in vitro, indicating that sequence-specific DNA-binding and stimulation of topoisomerase I are distinct properties of p53. These assays also suggest that the binding site for topoisomerase I on p53 is between amino acids 302 and 321. In living cells, the interaction between p53 and topoisomerase I is strongly dependent on p53 status. In MCF-7 cells, which have wild-type p53, the association between the two proteins is tightly regulated in a spatial and temporal manner and takes place only during brief periods of genotoxic stress. In marked contrast, the two proteins are constitutively associated in HT-29 cells, which have mutant p53. These findings have important implications for both cellular stress response and genomic stability, given the ability of topoisomerase I to recognize DNA lesions as well as to cause illegitimate recombination.

DNA topoisomerases as repair enzymes: mechanism(s) of action and regulation by p53

DNA topoisomerases regulate the organization of DNA and are important targets for many clinically used antineoplastic agents. In addition, DNA topoisomerases modulate the cellular sensitivity toward a number of DNA damaging agents. Increased topoisomerase II activities were shown to contribute to the resistance of both nitrogen mustard- and cisplatin-resistant cells. Similarly, cells with decreased topoisomerase II levels show increased sensitivity to cisplatin, carmustine, mitomycin C and nitrogen mustard. Recent studies propose that topoisomerases may be involved in damage recognition and DNA repair at several different levels including: 1) the initial recognition of DNA lesions; 2) DNA recombination; and 3) regulation of DNA structure. The stress-activated oncogene suppressor protein p53 can modulate the activity of at least three different human topoisomerases, either directly by molecular associations or by transcriptional regulation. Since DNA topoisomerases have considerable recombinase activities, inappropriately activated topoisomerases in tumor cells lacking functional p53 may contribute to the genetic instability of these cells.

DNA topoisomerases as repair enzymes: mechanism(s) of action and regulation by p53

DNA topoisomerases regulate the organization of DNA and are important targets for many clinically used antineoplastic agents. In addition, DNA topoisomerases modulate the cellular sensitivity toward a number of DNA damaging agents. Increased topoisomerase II activities were shown to contribute to the resistance of both nitrogen mustard- and cisplatin-resistant cells. Similarly, cells with decreased topoisomerase II levels show increased sensitivity to cisplatin, carmustine, mitomycin C and nitrogen mustard. Recent studies propose that topoisomerases may be involved in damage recognition and DNA repair at several different levels including: 1) the initial recognition of DNA lesions; 2) DNA recombination; and 3) regulation of DNA structure. The stress-activated oncogene suppressor protein p53 can modulate the activity of at least three different human topoisomerases, either directly by molecular associations or by transcriptional regulation. Since DNA topoisomerases have considerable recombinase activities, inappropriately activated topoisomerases in tumor cells lacking functional p53 may contribute to the genetic instability of these cells.

Modulation of DNA topoisomerase I activity by p53

The tumor suppressor protein p53 plays a central role in the cellular response to genotoxic lesions and has been shown to be activated by most anticancer agents such as mitomycin C. We here show that mitomycin C treatment of human MCF7 breast adenocarcinoma cells results in increased topoisomerase I activity as measured by relaxation of supercoiled DNA and by phosphorylation of SR protein splicing factor. The increase in catalytic activity occurs in parallel with the nuclear accumulation of p53, resulting in detectable activation of topoisomerase I within less than 1 h of drug treatment. Furthermore, topoisomerase I co-immunoprecipitates with nuclear p53, suggesting that the activation of topoisomerase I may be a result of a direct interaction between the two proteins. In vitro experiments with purified recombinant proteins show that p53 increases the catalytic activities of topoisomerase I as measured by relaxation of supercoiled DNA, stabilization of the covalent topoisomerase I-DNA complex (in the presence of camptothecin), and phosphorylation of SR protein splicing factor ASF/SF2. Furthermore, topoisomerase I sediments at a higher molecular weight in the presence of p53 as revealed by sucrose density gradient analysis in the absence of DNA. Finally, p53 modifies the thermal stability of topoisomerase I, protecting it from heat denaturation. Taken together, our results show that topoisomerase I and p53 form molecular complexes in vitro as in vivo, and we suggest that the p53-mediated response to DNA damage may, at least in part, involve activation of topoisomerase I.

Pharmacokinetics of the trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole combination in the elderly

The pharmacokinetics of a co-trimoxazole preparation (Bactrim Forte) containing trimethoprim (TMP) 160 mg and sulphamethoxazole (SMZ) 800 mg were determined in six young adults (29.3 +/- 4.4 s.d. years) and six elderly people (78.6 +/- 6.6 s.d. years). Following oral administration of a single dose, the pharmacokinetic parameters of SMZ and its N4-acetylated metabolite (N4SMZ) were similar in both groups. However Cmax of TMP was greater (2.06 +/- 0.29 s.d. vs 1.57 +/- 0.32 s.d. mg l-1; P less than 0.01) and its area under the curve was larger (34.30 +/- 6.98 s.d. vs 23.87 +/- 3.82 s.d. mg l-1 h; P less than 0.001) in elderly people than in younger subjects. Total clearance (CL/F) of TMP normalized to body weight was not significantly different in the two groups. There was no significant difference in serum protein binding of TMP and SMZ between the two groups. Urinary excretion of TMP, SMZ and N4SMZ was reduced by about 50% in the elderly compared to the young subjects. Renal clearance of TMP was significantly lower in the elderly group (19 +/- 10 s.d. vs 55 +/- 14 s.d. ml h-1 kg-1; P less than 0.001). Renal clearance of SMZ was not significantly different in the two groups. A study of plasma concentrations of TMP, SMZ and N4SMZ during continuous dosing in seven elderly patients treated for urinary or respiratory infections showed that steady state was reached after 3 days of treatment and that plasma drug concentrations were about two to three times higher than those observed after a single dose.

Pharmacokinetics of ketoprofen in the elderly

Pharmacokinetic constants of ketoprofen (Orodis, Profenid) were determined in 10 young adults (24.9 +/- 1.3 years) and seven elderly patients (86.3 +/- 2.4). Following oral administration of a 150 mg dose of ketoprofen, no difference in tmax was observed between the two groups. However, compared with younger subjects elderly patients showed a significant increase in t1/2,z (2.72 +/- 0.22 vs 1.77 +/- 0.16 h; P less than 0.01) and AUC (70.4 +/- 6.4 vs 29.13 +/- 2.02 mg l-1 h; P less than 0.001), a non-significant reduction of Vd/F per kg bodyweight (0.145 +/- 0.016 vs 0.213 +/- 0.028 l kg-1) and a decrease in total clearance CLT/F (0.037 +/- 0.002 vs 0.071 +/- 0.004 l h-1 kg-1, P less than 0.05). These results suggest that the glucuroconjugation of ketoprofen is slowed down by age.

Vestibuloocular reflex, optokinetic response, and their interactions in the alert cat

Ocular movements of alert cats were recorded by classical electronystagmography techniques during (a) vestibular stimulation (sinusoidal rotation of the cat in complete darkness), (b) optokinetic stimulation (sinusoidal rotation of the visual surroundings around the stationary cat), (c) additive visual-vestibular stimulation (sinusoidal rotation of the cat inside the stationary lighted surroundings), and (d) conflicting visual-vestibular stimulation (sinusoidal rotation of the cat together with the visual surroundings in phase and at the same speed). The stimulus amplitudes and frequencies ranged from 3 to 20 degrees and from 0.025 to 1 Hz, respectively. When tested in darkness, the vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) gain was about 0.9 at 1 Hz. At lower frequencies, this gain was a bit lower and a phase lead was observed. The VOR system was nearly linear. The optokinetic response (OKR) gain was about 1 at lower frequencies but strongly decreased at higher frequencies. A phase lag paralleled that decrease in gain. Furthermore, the smaller the amplitude of the visual stimulus, the better the effectiveness of OKR stabilization. When working in the light, the VOR was in phase with the stimulus and its gain was nearly 1, whatever the frequency and the amplitude. The VOR inhibition was more effective at lower frequencies. In these conditions the system was markedly amplitude-dependent for both gain and phase.

Pharmacokinetic studies of rifampicin in the elderly

The pharmacokinetics of rifampicin (RMP) and its principal active metabolite desacetylrifampicin (DA-RMP) were studied in six subjects, ranging in age from 78 to 95 years, after single oral doses of 10 mg/kg RMP. The maximal plasma concentrations (Cmax) and the elimination half-lives (t 1/2 beta) of RMP are 8.83 +/- 1.72 mg L-1 and 4.09 +/- 2.59 h, respectively. They are comparable to those reported in young adults. The same applies to the Cmax value (1.93 +/- 0.53 mg L-1) and t 1/2 beta value (4.65 +/- 2.61 h) of DA-RMP. However, the renal clearance of RMP (0.0075 +/- 0.0036 L h-1) and the amounts of RMP (20.7 +/- 9.9 mg) and DA-RMP (13.3 +/- 5.6 mg) excreted in the urine during a 24-h period are lower than those reported in young adults. The renal excretion of RMP and DA-RMP, therefore, is reduced in the elderly. But since the drug is also excreted through the liver to such an extent that serum levels are the same as in young adults, for therapeutic purposes the metabolism of RMP may be globally considered as unaltered in elderly patients.

Adaptive change of the vestibulo-ocular reflex in the cat: the effects of a long-term frequency-selective procedure

Ocular movements of naive and adapted cats were recorded by classical electronystagmography techniques during: (1) sinusoidal vestibular stimulation, (2) sinusoidal optokinetic stimulation, (3) sinusoidal additive visual-vestibular stimulation, and (4) sinusoidal conflicting visual-vestibular stimulation. Adaptation of the horizontal vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) was produced in adult cats by sustained combined sinusoidal rotation of the cat and its surroundings (fixed-field conditions). This procedure was applied for four hours for four consecutive days. On the fifth day the VOR in darkness, the OKR, the VOR in the light and the visual suppression of the VOR were studied. VOR gain decreased from day to day and some relative frequency-specificity emerged. The gain of the visually inhibited VOR also diminished after training. This change was also frequency-specific. OKN gain, tested by a set of sinusoidal rotations, was found to be virtually unchanged. In the naive cat, VOR modified by the visual stimulus (fixed or moving) could be computed by an algebraic summation of the VOR and OKR eye movement compensations. After training, the gain of the VOR in situations where the VOR was interacting with the OKR remained easily predictable by the algebraic summation of the isolated VOR and OKR compensations.