Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene-deficient mice demonstrate marked retardation in postnatal bone formation, reduced bone volume, and defects in osteoblast maturation and activity

Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in the local regulation of bone metabolism. However, the contribution made by specific NO synthase (NOS) enzymes is unclear. Here we show that endothelial NOS gene knockout mice (eNOS-/-) have marked abnormalities in bone formation. Histomorphometric analysis of eNOS-/- femurs showed bone volume and bone formation rate was reduced by up to 45% (P: < 0.01) and 52% (P: < 0.01), respectively. These abnormalities were prevalent in young (6 to 9 weeks old) adults but by 12 to 18 weeks bone phenotype was restored toward wild-type. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry analysis confirmed the age-related bone abnormalities revealing significant reductions in femoral (P: < 0.05) and spinal bone mineral densities (P: < 0.01) at 8 weeks that were normalized at 12 weeks. Reduction in bone formation and volume was not related to increased osteoclast numbers or activity but rather to dysfunctional osteoblasts. Osteoblast numbers and mineralizing activity were reduced in eNOS-/- mice. In vitro, osteoblasts from calvarial explants showed retarded proliferation and differentiation (alkaline phosphatase activity and mineral deposition) that could be restored by exogenous administration of a NO donor. These cells were also unresponsive to 17ss-estradiol and had an attenuated chemotactic response to transforming growth factor-beta. In conclusion, eNOS is involved in the postnatal regulation of bone mass and lack of eNOS gene results in reduced bone formation and volume and this is related to impaired osteoblast function.

Hyperoxidant states cause microbial cell differentiation by cell isolation from dioxygen

A general theory giving an explanation of microbial cell differentiation is presented. Based on experimental results, an unstable hyperoxidant state is postulated to trigger differentiation. Simple rules, involving the reduction of dioxygen and the isolation from dioxygen by diverse mechanisms, are proposed to govern transitions between the growth state and the differentiated states. With this view, common features of microbial differentiation processes, dimorphic growth, cell differentiation in dioxygen evolving phototrophs and in anaerobes are analyzed. The theory could have implications for understanding cell differentiation in higher organisms.

Two divergent catalase genes are differentially regulated during Aspergillus nidulans development and oxidative stress

Catalases are ubiquitous hydrogen peroxide-detoxifying enzymes that are central to the cellular antioxidant response. Of two catalase activities detected in the fungus Aspergillus nidulans, the catA gene encodes the spore-specific catalase A (CatA). Here we characterize a second catalase gene, identified after probing a genomic library with catA, and demonstrate that it encodes catalase B. This gene, designated catB, predicts a 721-amino-acid polypeptide (CatB) showing 78% identity to an Aspergillus fumigatus catalase and 61% identity to Aspergillus niger CatR. Notably, similar levels of identity are found when comparing CatB to Escherichia coli catalase HPII (43%), A. nidulans CatA (40%), and the predicted peptide of a presumed catA homolog from A. fumigatus (38%). In contrast, the last two peptides share a 79% identity. The catalase B activity was barely detectable in asexual spores (conidia), disappeared after germination, and started to accumulate 10 h after spore inoculation, throughout growth and conidiation. The catB mRNA was absent from conidia, and its accumulation correlated with catalase activity, suggesting that catB expression is regulated at the transcription level. In contrast, the high CatA activity found in spores was lost gradually during germination and growth. In addition to its developmental regulation, CatB was induced by H2O2, heat shock, paraquat, or uric acid catabolism but not by osmotic stress. This pattern of regulation and the protective role against H2O2 offered by CatA and CatB, at different stages of the A. nidulans life cycle, suggest that catalase gene redundancy performs the function of satisfying catalase demand at the two different stages of metabolic and genetic regulation represented by growing hyphae versus spores. Alternative H2O2 detoxification pathways in A. nidulans were indicated by the fact that catA/catB double mutants were able to grow in substrates whose catabolism generates H2O2.

Multiple catalase genes are differentially regulated in Aspergillus nidulans

Detoxification of hydrogen peroxide is a fundamental aspect of the cellular antioxidant responses in which catalases play a major role. Two differentially regulated catalase genes, catA and catB, have been studied in Aspergillus nidulans. Here we have characterized a third catalase gene, designated catC, which predicts a 475-amino-acid polypeptide containing a peroxisome-targeting signal. With a molecular mass of 54 kDa, CatC shows high similarity to other small-subunit monofunctional catalases and is most closely related to catalases from other fungi, Archaea, and animals. In contrast, the CatA (approximately 84 kDa) and CatB (approximately 79 kDa) enzymes belong to a family of large-subunit catalases, constituting a unique fungal and bacterial group. The catC gene displayed a relatively constant pattern of expression, not being induced by oxidative or other types of stress. Targeted disruption of catC eliminated a constitutive catalase activity not detected previously in zymogram gels. However, a catalase activity detected in catA catB mutant strains during late stationary phase was still present in catC and catABC null mutants, thus demonstrating the presence of a fourth catalase, here named catalase D (CatD). Neither catC nor catABC triple mutants showed any developmental defect, and both mutants grew as well as wild-type strains in H(2)O(2)-generating substrates, such as fatty acids, and/or purines as the sole carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. CatD activity was induced during late stationary phase by glucose starvation, high temperature, and, to a lesser extent, H(2)O(2) treatment. The existence of at least four differentially regulated catalases indicates a large and regulated capability for H(2)O(2) detoxification in filamentous fungi.

Starvation stress modulates the expression of the Aspergillus nidulans brlA regulatory gene

Expression of the Aspergillus nidulans brlA gene plays a fundamental role in the switch from vegetative growth to asexual reproduction. Using a media-shifting protocol to induce submerged sporulation and brlA-lacZ as an expression marker, it was shown that carbon and nitrogen starvation stress induced brlA transcription to different degrees. Glucose starvation induced briA rapidly to high levels and resulted in spore formation on reduced conidiophores, whereas nitrogen starvation induced brlA gradually to lower levels and sporulation occurred to a lesser extent but from more complex conidiophores. beta-Galactosidase activity paralleled brlA alpha and brlA beta mRNA. No clear qualitative differences between the two brlA transcripts were found in these starvation conditions, suggesting that the different patterns of sporulation could be explained by quantitative expression differences. Since brlA mRNA did not accumulate in the presence of a high glucose concentration, we investigated the role of other carbon sources on brlA expression. Non-repressing carbon sources such as glycerol, acetate and arabinose were as effective as glucose in preventing brlA mRNA accumulation, suggesting that the glucose effects on brlA expression could be explained as a response to nutrient starvation, rather than by carbon catabolite repression. Despite similar low levels of brlA transcripts being detected during growth in glucose or non-repressing carbon sources, conidiophores were formed only in medium containing glycerol, acetate or arabinose. When mycelia were not shifted to starvation conditions, sporulation was not observed in standard minimal medium even after glucose was exhausted, unless the medium was buffered.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Oat cell carcinoma of the gallbladder

Among 448 malignant epithelial tumors of the gallbladder, 19 were classified as oat cell carcinomas. Seventeen cases occurred in elderly women. Eighteen of the patients had cholelithiasis. The neoplasms were highly lethal, metastasizing early and causing death shortly after diagnosis. All 19 patients died as a direct result of the tumors, with liver, regional lymph node, and/or lung metastases. Combination chemotherapy produced objective responses in two patients, the longest survivors of the series (11 and 13 months). The salient morphologic features of oat cell carcinomas of the gallbladder include large size at the time of diagnosis, extensive necrosis, and propensity for submucosal growth. Histologically, these tumors are composed of variable proportions of two cell types, round and fusiform, arranged in solid sheets, cords, or festoons. In areas of necrosis, the deposition of DNA in vessel walls is seen occasionally. Four tumors contained neoplastic glands similar to those present in well-differentiated adenocarcinomas of the gallbladder. These tumors were considered to be a combined form of oat cell carcinoma. With the use of immunoperoxidase stains, focal carcinoembryonic antigen reactivity was demonstrated in three of 11 tumors. Electron microscopic examination revealed neurosecretory granules. Morphologically, these tumors resembled the oat cell carcinomas that occur at other sites.

Incidence of transient neurologic symptoms after hyperbaric subarachnoid anesthesia with 5% lidocaine and 5% prilocaine

BACKGROUND

Hyperbaric 5% lidocaine has been associated with transient neurologic symptoms (TNSs) after spinal anesthesia. A prospective, masked, randomized study was conducted to compare the incidence of TNSs after spinal anesthesia with hyperbaric 5% lidocaine or 5% prilocaine to assess the utility of prilocaine as an alternative to lidocaine in patients having short surgical procedures.

METHODS

The number of patients to be enrolled (100 per group) was determined by power analysis (80%, P = 0.05) considering an incidence of TNSs after spinal anesthesia with lidocaine of at least 11% according to data reported in other studies. Two hundred patients scheduled for elective surgery expected to last <60 min were allocated at random to receive spinal anesthesia with hyperbaric 5% lidocaine or hyperbaric 5% prilocaine. Three to 5 days after spinal anesthesia, all patients were interviewed by an anesthesiologist who was blinded to the group assignment and details of the anesthetic and surgical technique using a standardized symptom checklist. Patients with symptoms underwent neurologic examination.

RESULTS

Both groups were comparable with regard to demographic data and details of the surgical and anesthetic procedures. The incidence of TNSs in both groups was low and differences were not found (4% in the lidocaine group and 1% in the prilocaine group). The mean age of patients with TNSs (58 yr) was higher than that of patients without TNSs (48 yr; P < 0.05). No relation with any of the other variables was found.

CONCLUSIONS

The low incidence of TNSs among lidocaine-anesthetized patients (4%) may account for the lack of significant differences between hyperbaric 5% lidocaine and 5% prilocaine and to the insufficient power of the study to exclude the possibility of a type II error.

Increased transformation frequency and tagging of developmental genes in Aspergillus nidulans by restriction enzyme-mediated integration (REMI)

We have used a plasmid containing the argB gene to transform an Aspergillus nidulans argB-deleted strain in the presence of restriction enzymes and show a 20- to 60-fold increase in transformation frequency via restriction enzyme-mediated integration (REMI). This procedure was used to try to tag new genes involved in the asexual development of this fungus. More than 2000 transformants isolated following electroporation of conidia and approximately 3700 transformants recovered following protoplast fusion were screened for sporulation defects. Unexpectedly, developmental mutants were obtained only when the protoplast fusion approach was used. Southern blot analysis of these mutants, and of randomly selected transformants obtained by electroporation, was consistent with the occurrence of single plasmid integration events in 33 and 65% of the cases, respectively. The argB marker was shown to be tightly linked to the mutant phenotype in only 62% of the mutants analyzed by sexual crosses. Partial DNA sequencing of a tagged gene, whose mutation delays asexual sporulation and results in a fluffy phenotype, showed no homology to previously reported sequences. Our results indicate that REMI can be used in A. nidulans to increase the transformation frequency and illustrate the advantages and potential problems when using REMI to tag genes of interest in this and other fungi.

Role of the 4-phosphopantetheinyl transferase of Trichoderma virens in secondary metabolism and induction of plant defense responses

Trichoderma virens is a ubiquitous soil fungus successfully used in biological control due to its efficient colonization of plant roots. In fungi, 4-phosphopantetheinyl transferases (PPTases) activate enzymes involved in primary and secondary metabolism. Therefore, we cloned the PPTase gene ppt1 from T. virens and generated PPTase-deficient (?ppt1) and overexpressing strains to investigate the role of this enzyme in biocontrol and induction of plant defense responses. The ?ppt1 mutants were auxotrophic for lysine, produced nonpigmented conidia, and were unable to synthesize nonribosomal peptides. Although spore germination was severely compromised under both low and high iron availability, mycelial growth occurred faster than the wild type, and the mutants were able to efficiently colonize plant roots. The ?ppt1 mutants were unable of inhibiting growth of phytopathogenic fungi in vitro. Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings co-cultivated with wild-type T. virens showed increased expression of pPr1a:uidA and pLox2:uidA markers, which correlated with enhanced accumulation of salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid, camalexin, and resistance to Botrytis cinerea. Co-cultivation of A. thaliana seedlings with ?ppt1 mutants compromised the SA and camalexin responses, resulting in decreased protection against the pathogen. Our data reveal an important role of T. virens PPT1 in antibiosis and induction of SA and camalexin-dependent plant defense responses.

Spatial and temporal controls of the Aspergillus brlA developmental regulatory gene

The Aspergillus nidulans brlA gene encodes a transcriptional regulator of central importance in controlling conidiophore development. I have determined the effects of mutations in other developmental regulatory genes on expression of a brlA-lacZ fusion gene. Deletion of brlA reduced beta-galactosidase levels by half and led to delocalization of enzyme accumulation. The medA26 and abaA2 developmental mutations led to overexpression of the fusion gene without altering spatial specificity. In contrast, the stuA1 mutation did not affect the timing or levels of brlA expression during induction, but instead resulted in spatial derangement of expression. These results and the phenotypes of the mutants suggest a model in which subsets of morphogenetic loci are controlled by differing levels and combinations of regulatory gene products, which are themselves determined by interactions among the regulatory genes.

In vitro exposure of human fibroblasts to local anaesthetics impairs cell growth

Lidocaine, bupivacaine or ropivacaine are used routinely to manage perioperative pain. Sparse data exist evaluating the effects of local anaesthetics (LA) on fibroblasts, which are involved actively in wound healing. Therefore, we investigated the effects of the three LA to assess the survival, viability and proliferation rate of fibroblasts. Human fibroblasts were exposed to 0·3 mg/ml and 0·6 mg/ml of each LA for 2 days, followed by incubation with normal medium for another 1, 4 or 7 days (group 1). Alternatively, cells were incubated permanently with LA for 3, 6 or 9 days (group 2). Live cell count was assessed using trypan blue staining. Viability was measured by the tetrazolium bromide assay. Proliferation tests were performed with the help of the colorimetric bromodeoxyuridine assay. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was determined, measuring the oxidation of non-fluorescent-2,7'-dichlorofluorescin. Treatment of cells with the three LA showed a concentration-dependent decrease of live cells, mitochondrial activity and proliferation rate. Group arrangement played a significant role for cell count and proliferation, while exposure time influenced viability. Among the analysed LA, bupivacaine showed the most severe cytotoxic effects. Increased production of ROS correlated with decreased viability of fibroblasts in lidocaine- and bupivacaine-exposed cells, but not upon stimulation with ropivacaine. This study shows a concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect of lidocaine, bupivacaine and ropivacaine on fibroblasts in vitro, with more pronounced effects after continuous incubation. A possible mechanism of cell impairment could be triggered by production of ROS upon stimulation with lidocaine and bupivacaine.

Posttranscriptional control mediates cell type-specific localization of catalase A during Aspergillus nidulans development

Two differentially regulated catalase genes have been identified in the fungus Aspergillus nidulans. The catA gene belongs to a class whose transcripts are specifically induced during asexual sporulation (conidiation) and encodes a catalase accumulated in conidia. Using a developmental mutant affected in the brlA gene, which is unable to form conidia but capable of producing sexual spores (ascospores), we demonstrated that the catA mRNA accumulated during induction of conidiation but did not produce CatA protein. In contrast, high levels of catalase A activity were detected in the ascospores produced by this mutant, indicating that the catA gene is posttranscriptionally regulated. The same type of regulation was observed for a catA::lacZ translational gene fusion, suggesting that the catA message 5' untranslated region could be involved in translational control during development. In a wild-type strain, beta-galactosidase activity driven from the catA::lacZ gene fusion was low in hyphae and increased 50-fold during conidiation and 620-fold in isolated conidia. Consistent with this finding spatial expression of the reporter gene was restricted to metulae, phialides, and conidia. Conidium-associated expression was maintained in a stuA mutant, in which the conidiophore cell pattern is severely deranged. catA mRNA accumulation was also observed when vegetative mycelia was subject to oxidative, osmotic, and nitrogen or carbon starvation stress. Nevertheless, catalase A activity was restricted to the conidia produced under nutrient starvation. Our results provide support for a model in which translation of the catA message, accumulated during conidiation or in response to different types of stress, is linked to the morphogenetic processes involved in asexual and sexual spore formation. Our findings also indicate that brlA-independent mechanisms regulate the expression of genes encoding spore-specific products.

Correlation between the regulation of sterigmatocystin biosynthesis and asexual and sexual sporulation in Emericella nidulans

We analyzed the regulation of sterigmatocystin biosynthesis in wild type and mutant strains of Emericella nidulans (= Aspergillus nidulans). A positive correlation between both asexual and sexual sporulation and synthesis of the mycotoxin was observed. Those conditions which favored sporulation stimulated sterigmatocystin formation, and vice versa. Both processes were stimulated by light in a veA+ genetic background. In contrast, they were inhibited by diaminobutanone, an inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase. The effect of this inhibitor was partially reverted by putrescine addition. Partial supplementation of specific requirements to auxotrophic mutants allowed normal vegetative growth, but interfered with asexual sporulation and sterigmatocystin biosynthesis. Synthesis of the mycotoxin was neither affected in a brlA mutant or in developmental mutants blocked at later steps in sporulation. As in wild type strain, diaminobutanone inhibited sterigmatocystin biosynthesis and cleisthotecia formation in the brlA mutant, and its effect was reverted by addition of putrescine. The inhibitor also affected the transcription of brlA. Our results indicate that sporulation and the synthesis of sterigmatocystin are co-regulated at a step previous to the brlA execution point.

Calcium movements during the release of catecholamines from the adrenal medulla: effects of methoxyverapamil and external cations

1. Cortex-free adrenal glands previously labelled with the isotope (45)Ca have been perfused with Locke or modified Locke solution to assess Ca(2+) movements under different conditions.2. Substitution of Na(+) by either sucrose or choline during perfusion with Ca(2+)-free Locke solution induced a significant and sustained decrease in the (45)Ca efflux. Concomitant with this effect there was an increase in the output of catecholamines from the perfused gland.3. In the presence of Ca(2+) (2.2 mM) in the perfusion fluid, Na(+) omission induced an increase in the (45)Ca efflux. This increase was significantly reduced if 3 x 10(-4)M methoxyverapamil (D-600) was present in the perfusion fluid. However, the increased catecholamine output in response to Na(+) deprivation remained unchanged.4. Excess of Mg(2+) (20 mM) in the extracellular medium blocked the increase in catecholamine output in response to Na(+) omission. However, the decrease in the (45)Ca efflux produced by Na(+) deprivation in the presence of this high concentration of Mg(2+) was similar to that observed in the presence of 1.2 mM-Mg(2+).5. In the absence of Mg(2+) in the extracellular medium, substitution of Na(+) by either sucrose or choline induced a sharp and transient increase in the (45)Ca efflux rate coefficient. This increased (45)Ca efflux, which has similar time course as the enhanced catecholamine output, was not affected by the presence of 3 x 10(-4)M methoxyverapamil.6. In the absence of Mg(2+), the graded substitution of Na(+) in the perfusion medium by sucrose enhanced the efflux of (45)Ca. This increase in the (45)Ca outward movement was linearly related to the logarithm of the extracellular Na(+) concentration.7. After perfusion of glands with Ca(2+)-free Locke solution, the reintroduction of Ca(2+) (2.2 mM) into the perfusion fluid produced an increase in the (45)Ca efflux. This was accompanied by a discharge of catecholamines.8. Although Mg(2+) (20 mM) was effective in blocking catecholamine release, this divalent cation did not modify the increase in the (45)Ca efflux produced by Ca(2+) reintroduction.9. In contrast to these later observations, methoxyverapamil (3 x 10(-4)M) was effective in inhibiting both increases in catecholamine output and (45)Ca efflux in response to Ca(2+) reintroduction.10. It is concluded from these experiments that (a) Ca(2+) movements in the adrenal medulla may involve both Na(+)-Ca(2+) and Ca(2+)-Ca(2+) exchange mechanisms; (b) the omission of Na(+) from the extracellular environment produces not only an increase in the output of catecholamines but it may increase the intracellular levels of Ca(2+) and that this may result in an increased Ca(2+) efflux when Mg(2+) is omitted from the perfusion fluids, and that (c) the competition between Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) during the secretory process may involve an intracellular site.

CT findings of the main pathological conditions associated with horseshoe kidneys

Horseshoe kidney (HSK) is the most common renal fusion anomaly, with a prevalence of 0.25% among the general population. It consists of kidney fusion across the midline. HSK can be present as an isolated condition in 30%, but there is a wide variety of associated abnormalities. The most frequent include ureteropelvic obstruction, lithiasis and infections. There is also a higher risk of kidney lesions in trauma and an increased incidence of malignancies. Awareness of embryology and anatomy is essential to assess and understand the complications affecting HSK. CT is an excellent method for identification of its main findings.

c-Fos expression in supramammillary and medial mammillary nuclei following spatial reference and working memory tasks

To investigate brain substrates of spatial memory, neuronal expression of c-Fos protein was studied. Two groups of rats were trained in two spatial memory tasks in the Morris water maze, where the rats have to apply a reference memory rule or a working memory rule. In addition to the experimental groups, two control groups were used to study c-fos activation not specific to the memory processes studied. After immunohistochemical procedures, the number of c-Fos positive neuronal nuclei was quantified in the mammillary body (MB) region (medial mammillary nucleus [MMn] and supramammillary nucleus [SuM]). The results have shown that some MMn neurons expressed c-Fos nuclear immunoreactivity related to spatial working memory but not to spatial reference memory. The increased number of c-Fos immunoreactive neuronal nuclei in the SuM was related to spatial training but not to either working or reference memory demands of the tasks.

Centrally injected neuropeptide Y (13-36) produces vasopressor effects and antagonizes the vasodepressor action of neuropeptide Y (1-36) in the awake male rat

Intraventricular injections of the Y2 neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptor agonist porcine NPY (13-36) (pNPY (13-36); 25-3000 pmol) produced a dose-dependent increase (up to 14%; ED50 value of 0.3 nmol for overall effects and 0.97 nmol for the peak effects) in mean arterial blood pressure in the awake, unrestrained male rat without affecting heart rate. Furthermore, a subthreshold dose of pNPY (13-36) (25 pmol) counteracted the vasodepressor action of the parent compound pNPY (1-36) (75 pmol), which also acts at NPY receptors of the Y1 type. These results suggest that NPY receptors of the Y1 and Y2 type have opposing actions in central cardiovascular regulation.

Genetic Architecture of a Rice Nested Association Mapping Population

Describing the genetic diversity in the gene pool of crops will provide breeders with novel resources for varietal improvement. Nested Association Mapping (NAM) populations are uniquely suited for characterizing parental diversity through the shuffling and fixation of parental haplotypes. Here, we describe a set of 1879 rice NAM lines created through the selfing and single-seed descent of F1 hybrids derived from elite IR64 indica crossed with 10 diverse tropical japonica lines. Genotyping data indicated tropical japonica alleles were captured at every queried locus despite the presence of segregation distortion factors. Several distortion loci were mapped, both shared and unique, among the 10 populations. Using two-point and multi-point genetic map calculations, our datasets achieved the ∼1500 cM expected map size in rice. Finally, we highlighted the utility of the NAM lines for QTL mapping, including joint analysis across the 10 populations, by confirming known QTL locations for the trait days to heading.

Wada basins and chaotic invariant sets in the Hénon-Heiles system

The Hénon-Heiles Hamiltonian is investigated in the context of chaotic scattering, in the range of energies where escaping from the scattering region is possible. Special attention is paid to the analysis of the different nature of the orbits, and the the invariant sets, such as the stable and unstable manifolds and the chaotic saddle. Furthermore, a discussion on the average decay time associated to the typical chaotic transients, which are present in this problem, is presented. The main goal of this paper is to show, by using various computational methods, that the corresponding exit basins of this open Hamiltonian are not only fractal, but they also verify the more restrictive property of Wada. We argue that this property is verified by typical open Hamiltonian systems with three or more escapes.

Intracisternally injected galanin-(1-15) modulates the cardiovascular responses of galanin-(1-29) and the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT

In view of the demonstration of specific binding sites for [125I]galanin-(1-15) in several brain areas including the nucleus of the solitary tract, possibly indicating the existence of multiple galanin receptor subtypes, the effects of intracisternal injections of galanin-(1-15) on cardiovascular parameters were studied. The effects of co-injections of galanin-(1-15) and galanin-(1-29) and co-injections of galanin-(1-15) and the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) were also evaluated. Galanin-(1-15) produced a significant increase in mean arterial blood pressure (maximum effect 10% at 3 nmol of galanin-(1-15)) and in heart rate (maximum effect 12% at 1 nmol). When threshold doses of galanin-(1-15) (0.1 nmol) and galanin-(1-29) (3 nmol) were injected simultaneously they elicited an increase in mean arterial blood pressure. The vasodepressor response induced by an ED50 dose of 8-OH-DPAT (6 nmol) was not modulated by a threshold dose of galanin-(1-15), but the increase in heart rate area induced by galanin-(1-15) alone was no longer observed. When threshold doses of both galanin-(1-15) and 8-OH-DPAT (0.3 nmol) were co-injected a vasodepressor response developed and on heart rate a tachycardic response was seen in the peak effects and the overall tachycardic response induced by galanin-(1-15) was sustained. The results show a different role for galanin-(1-15) as compared with galanin-(1-29) in central cardiovascular control.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Enzyme inactivation related to a hyperoxidant state during conidiation of Neurospora crassa

The conidiation process of Neurospora crassa is characterized by three morphogenetic steps: hyphal adhesion, aerial hyphal formation, and production of conidia. Previous data indicated the occurrence of a hyperoxidant state at the onset of all three morphogenetic steps. Because glutamine synthetase (GS) and the biosynthetic glutamate dehydrogenase [GDH(NADP)] enzymes are susceptible to inactivation by reactive oxygen species, we followed these enzyme activities during conidiation and under different physiological conditions and related them to the hyperoxidant states and morphogenesis. Loss of GS activity occurred prior to all three morphogenetic steps, coinciding with an increase in total protein oxidation. Oxidized GS polypeptides were detected during hyphal adhesion. Loss of GDH(NADP) activity also occurred during hyphal adhesion and before aerial hyphal formation; the enzyme polypeptide and activity decreased in the adhered hyphae to low values and no GDH(NADP) was detected in aerial hyphae. The catabolic GDH [GDH(NAD)] behaved in an opposite manner, increasing its activity during hyphal adhesion and aerial hyphae development. These results are discussed with regard to cell differentiation and the conidiation process in N. crassa.

Genome-wide analysis of wall associated kinase (WAK) gene family in barley

In plants, wall associated kinases (WAKs) form a unique subfamily of receptor like-kinases (RLKs). In Arabidopsis thaliana, WAK-RLKs are known to regulate biotic stress, cell expansion, and metal tolerance, but their detailed characterization in barley is lacking. In this study, we identified a total of 91 WAK genes in the barley genome and classified them into five groups. Evolutionary analysis of HvWAKs with AtWAKs revealed their species-specific expansion. The maximum number (19 to 20) of WAK genes were located on chromosomes 3, 5 and 6. WAK proteins exhibited similar types of motif distribution in their group. Characterization of a Ds transposon insertion mutant of the wak1 revealed differences in the root length. Further, HvSPL23 transcription factor was identified as a positive co-expressing gene with HvWAK1, suggesting its possible upstream regulator. Taken together, our study provides a base for the functional characterization of WAK family members in the future.