Sample records for zip8 hco3 dependent symporter

  1. Generation of a Slc39a8 hypomorph mouse: Markedly decreased ZIP8 Zn{sup 2+}/(HCO{sub 3}{sup -}){sub 2} transporter expression

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Wang, Bin; He, Lei; Dong, Hongbin

    2011-07-01

    Highlights: {yields} The mouse Slc39a8 gene encodes the ZIP8 transporter. {yields} ZIP8 functions endogenously as a electroneutral Zn{sup 2+}/(HCO{sub 3}{sup -}){sub 2} symporter. {yields} A Slc39a8(neo/neo) hypomorph mouse, due to retention of the neo mini-gene, has been created. {yields} ZIP8 expression in utero is {approx}90% decreased in all tissues examined. {yields} This mouse model will be useful for studying developmental and in utero physiological functions of ZIP8. -- Abstract: Previously this laboratory has identified the mouse Slc39a8 gene encoding the ZIP8 transporter, important in cadmium uptake. ZIP8 functions endogenously as a electroneutral Zn{sup 2+}/(HCO{sub 3}{sup -}){sub 2} symporter, moving bothmore » ions into the cell. The overall physiological importance of ZIP8 remains unclear. Herein we describe generation of a mouse line carrying the Slc39a8(neo) allele, containing the Frt-flanked neomycin-resistance (neo) mini-cassette in intron 3 and loxP sites in introns 3 and 6. Cre recombinase functions correctly in Escherichia coli and in adeno-Cre-infected mouse fetal fibroblasts, but does not function in the intact mouse for reasons not clear. Slc39a8(neo) is a hypomorphic allele, because Slc39a8(neo/neo) homozygotes exhibit dramatically decreased ZIP8 expression in embryo, fetus, and visceral yolk sac - in comparison to their littermate wild-type controls. This ZIP8 hypomorph will be instrumental in studying developmental and in utero physiological functions of the ZIP8 transporter.« less

  2. Tissue-Specific Induction of Mouse ZIP8 and ZIP14 Divalent Cation/Bicarbonate Symporters by, and Cytokine Response to, Inflammatory Signals

    PubMed Central

    Gálvez-Peralta, Marina; Wang, Zhifang; Bao, Shengying; Knoell, Daren L; Nebert, Daniel W

    2014-01-01

    Mouse Slc39a8 and Slc39a14 genes encode ZIP8 and ZIP14, respectively, which are ubiquitous divalent cation/(HCO3−)2 symporters responsible for uptake of Zn2+, Fe2+ and Mn2+ into cells. Cd2+ and other toxic nonessential metals can displace essential cations, thereby entering vertebrate cells. Whereas Slc39a8 encodes a single protein, Slc39a14 has two exons 4 which, via alternative splicing, give rise to ZIP14A and ZIP14B; why differences exist in cell-type-specific expression of ZIP14A and ZIP14B remains unknown. Inflammatory stimuli have been associated with ZIP8 and ZIP14 up-regulation, but a systematic study of many tissues simultaneously in a laboratory animal following inflammatory cytokine exposure has not yet been reported. Herein we show that C57BL/6J male mice—treated intraperitoneally with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or interleukin-6 (IL6)—exhibited quantatively very different, highly tissue-specific, and markedly time-dependent up- and down-regulation of ZIP8, ZIP14A and ZIP14B mRNA levels in twelve tissues. Magnitude of the inflammatory response was confirmed by measuring the proinflammatory cytokine TNF, IL6 and interleukin-1β (IL1B) mRNA levels in the same tissues of these animals. Our data suggest that most if not all tissues use ZIP8, ZIP14A and/or ZIP14B) for Zn2+ uptake, some tissues under basal conditions and others moreso when inflammatory stressors are present; collectively, this might lead to substantial alterations in plasma Zn2+ levels, due to Zn2+ redistribution not just in liver, but across many vital organs. In the context of cadmium-mediated toxicity, our data suggest that tissues other than liver, kidney and lung should also be considered. PMID:24728862

  3. ZIP8 expression in human proximal tubule cells, human urothelial cells transformed by Cd+2 and As+3 and in specimens of normal human urothelium and urothelial cancer

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Background ZIP8 functions endogenously as a Zn+2/HCO3- symporter that can also bring cadmium (Cd+2) into the cell. It has also been proposed that ZIP8 participates in Cd-induced testicular necrosis and renal disease. In this study real-time PCR, western analysis, immunostaining and fluorescent localization were used to define the expression of ZIP8 in human kidney, cultured human proximal tubule (HPT) cells, normal and malignant human urothelium and Cd+2 and arsenite (As+3) transformed urothelial cells. Results It was shown that in the renal system both the non-glycosylated and glycosylated form of ZIP8 was expressed in the proximal tubule cells with localization of ZIP8 to the cytoplasm and cell membrane; findings in line with previous studies on ZIP8. The studies in the bladder were the first to show that ZIP8 was expressed in normal urothelium and that ZIP8 could be localized to the paranuclear region. Studies in the UROtsa cell line confirmed a paranuclear localization of ZIP8, however addition of growth medium to the cells increased the expression of the protein in the UROtsa cells. In archival human samples of the normal urothelium, the expression of ZIP8 was variable in intensity whereas in urothelial cancers ZIP8 was expressed in 13 of 14 samples, with one high grade invasive urothelial cancer showing no expression. The expression of ZIP8 was similar in the Cd+2 and As+3 transformed UROtsa cell lines and their tumor transplants. Conclusion This is the first study which shows that ZIP8 is expressed in the normal urothelium and in bladder cancer. In addition the normal UROtsa cell line and its transformed counterparts show similar expression of ZIP8 compared to the normal urothelium and the urothelial cancers suggesting that the UROtsa cell line could serve as a model system to study the expression of ZIP8 in bladder disease. PMID:22550998

  4. Intracellular pH regulatory mechanism in human atrial myocardium: functional evidence for Na(+)/H(+) exchanger and Na(+)/HCO(3)(-) symporter.

    PubMed

    Loh, Shih-Hurng; Chen, Wei-Hwa; Chiang, Cheng-Hsien; Tsai, Chien-Sung; Lee, Guo-Chen; Jin, Jong-Shiaw; Cheng, Tzu-Hurng; Chen, Jin-Jer

    2002-01-01

    Intracellular pH (pH(i)) exerts considerable influence on cardiac contractility and rhythm. Over the last few years, extensive progress has been made in understanding the system that controls pH(i) in animal cardiomyocytes. In addition to the housekeeping Na(+)-H(+) exchanger (NHE), the Na(+)-HCO(3)(-) symporter (NHS) has been demonstrated in animal cardiomyocytes as another acid extruder. However, whether the NHE and NHS functions exist in human atrial cardiomyocytes remains unclear. We therefore investigated the mechanism of pH(i) recovery from intracellular acidosis (induced by NH(4)Cl prepulse) using intracellular 2',7'-bis(2-carboxethyl)-5(6)-carboxy-fluorescein fluorescence in human atrial myocardium. In HEPES (nominally HCO(3)(-)-free) Tyrode solution, pH(i) recovery from induced intracellular acidosis could be blocked completely by 30 microM 3-methylsulfonyl-4-piperidinobenzoyl, guanidine hydrochloride (HOE 694), a specific NHE inhibitor, or by removing extracellular Na(+). In 3% CO(2)-HCO(3)(-) Tyrode solution, HOE 694 only slowed the pH(i) recovery, while addition of HOE 694 together with 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (an NHS inhibitor) or removal of extracellular Na(+) inhibited the acid extrusion entirely. Therefore, in the present study, we provided evidence that two acid extruders involved in acid extrusion in human atrial myocytes, one which is HCO(3)(-) independent and one which is HCO(3)(-) dependent, are mostly likely NHE and NHS, respectively. When we checked the percentage of contribution of these two carriers to pH(i) recovery following induced acidosis, we found that the activity of NHE increased steeply in the acid direction, while that of NHS did not change. Our present data indicate for the first time that two acid extruders, NHE and NHS, exist functionally and pH(i) dependently in human atrial cardiomyocytes. Copyright 2002 National Science Council, ROC and S. Karger AG, Basel

  5. Direct uptake of HCO3- in the marine angiosperm Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile driven by a plasma membrane H+ economy.

    PubMed

    Rubio, Lourdes; García, Delia; García-Sánchez, María J; Niell, F Xavier; Felle, Hubert H; Fernández, José A

    2017-11-01

    Seagrasses access HCO 3 - for photosynthesis by 2 mechanisms, apoplastic carbonic anhydrase-mediated dehydration of HCO 3 - to CO 2 and direct HCO 3 - uptake. Here, we have studied plasma membrane energization and the mechanism for HCO 3 - import in Posidonia oceanica. Classical electrophysiology and ion-selective microelectrodes were used to measure the membrane potential, cytosolic pH, and the cytosolic concentrations of Na + and Cl - upon the addition of HCO 3 - . The photosynthetic response to HCO 3 - and to inhibitors was also measured. Results indicate that the primary pump of P. oceanica plasma membrane is a fusicoccin-sensitive H + -ATPase. Bicarbonate depolarizes the plasma membrane voltage and transiently acidifies the cytosol, indicating that HCO 3 - is transported into the cells by an H + -symport. Initial cytosolic acidification is followed by an alkalinization, suggesting an internal dehydration of HCO 3 - . The lack of cytosolic Na + and Cl - responses rules out the contribution of these ions to HCO 3 - transport. The energetics of nH + /HCO 3 - symport allows, for n = 1, an estimate of cytosolic accumulation of 0.22 mM HCO 3 - . Because this transporter could permit accumulation of HCO 3 - up to 100 times above the equilibrium concentration, it would be a significant component of a carbon-concentrating mechanism in this species. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  6. K(+)- and HCO3(-)-dependent acid-base transport in squid giant axons II. Base influx

    PubMed Central

    1995-01-01

    We used microelectrodes to determine whether the K/HCO3 cotransporter tentatively identified in the accompanying paper (Hogan, E. M., M. A. Cohen, and W. F. Boron. 1995. Journal of General Physiology. 106:821- 844) can mediate an increase in the intracellular pH (pHi) of squid giant axons. An 80-min period of internal dialysis increased pHi to 7.7, 8.0, or 8.3; the dialysis fluid was free of K+, Na+, and Cl-. Our standard artificial seawater (ASW), which also lacked Na+, K+, and Cl-, had a pH of 8.0. Halting dialysis unmasked a slow pHi decrease. Subsequently introducing an ASW containing 437 mM K+ and 0.5% CO2/12 mM HCO3- had two effects: (a) it caused membrane potential (Vm) to become very positive, and (b) it caused a rapid pHi decrease, because of CO2 influx, followed by a slower plateau-phase pHi increase, presumably because of inward cotransport of K+ and HCO3- ("base influx"). Only extracellular Rb+ substituted for K+ in producing the plateau-phase pHi increase in the presence of CO2/HCO3-. Mean fluxes with Na+, Li+, and Cs+ were not significantly different from zero, even though Vm shifts were comparable for all monovalent cations tested. Thus, unless K+ or Rb+ (but not Na+, Li+, or Cs+) somehow activates a conductive pathway for H+, HCO3-, or both, it is unlikely that passive transport of H+, HCO3-, or both makes the major contribution to the pHi increase in the presence of K+ (or Rb+) and CO2/HCO3-. Because exposing axons to an ASW containing 437 mM K+, but no CO2/HCO3-, produced at most a slow pHi increase, K-H exchange could not make a major contribution to base influx. Introducing an ASW containing CO2/HCO3-, but no K+ also failed to elicit base influx. Because we observed base influx when the ASW and DF were free of Na+ and Cl-, and because the disulfonic stilbene derivatives SITS and DIDS failed to block base influx, Na(+)-dependent Cl-HCO3 exchange also cannot account for the results. Rather, we suggest that the most straightforward explanation for

  7. Basolateral membrane Na/base cotransport is dependent on CO2/HCO3 in the proximal convoluted tubule

    PubMed Central

    1987-01-01

    The mechanism of basolateral membrane base transport was examined in the in vitro microperfused rabbit proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) in the absence and presence of ambient CO2/HCO3- by means of the microfluorometric measurement of cell pH. The buffer capacity of the cells measured using rapid NH3 washout was 42.8 +/- 5.6 mmol.liter-1.pH unit-1 in the absence and 84.6 +/- 7.3 mmol.liter-1.pH unit-1 in the presence of CO2/HCO3-. In the presence of CO2/HCO3-, lowering peritubular pH from 7.4 to 6.8 acidified the cell by 0.30 pH units and lowering peritubular Na from 147 to 0 mM acidified the cell by 0.25 pH units. Both effects were inhibited by peritubular 4-acetamido-4'- isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (SITS). In the absence of exogenous CO2/HCO3-, lowering peritubular pH from 7.4 to 6.8 acidified the cell by 0.25 pH units and lowering peritubular Na from 147 to 0 mM decreased cell pH by 0.20 pH units. Lowering bath pH from 7.4 to 6.8 induced a proton flux of 643 +/- 51 pmol.mm-1.min-1 in the presence of exogenous CO2/HCO3- and 223 +/- 27 pmol.mm-1.min-1 in its absence. Lowering bath Na from 147 to 0 mM induced proton fluxes of 596 +/- 77 pmol.mm-1.min-1 in its absence. The cell acidification induced by lowering bath pH or bath Na in the absence of CO2/HCO3- was inhibited by peritubular SITS or by acetazolamide, whereas peritubular amiloride had no effect. In the absence of exogenous CO2/HCO3-, cyanide blocked the cell acidification induced by bath Na removal, but was without effect in the presence of exogenous CO2/HCO3-. We reached the following conclusions. (a) The basolateral Na/base n greater than 1 cotransporter in the rabbit PCT has an absolute requirement for CO2/HCO3-. (b) In spite of this CO2 dependence, in the absence of exogenous CO2/HCO3-, metabolically produced CO2/HCO3- is sufficient to keep the transporter running at 30% of its control rate in the presence of ambient CO2/HCO3- . (c) There is no apparent amiloride-sensitive Na/H antiporter on

  8. K(+)- and HCO3(-)-dependent acid-base transport in squid giant axons. I. Base efflux

    PubMed Central

    1995-01-01

    We used microelectrodes to monitor the recovery (i.e., decrease) of intracellular pH (pHi) after using internal dialysis to load squid giant axons with alkali to pHi values of 7.7, 8.0, or 8.3. The dialysis fluid (DF) contained 400 mM K+ but was free of Na+ and Cl-. The artificial seawater (ASW) lacked Na+, K+, and Cl-, thereby eliminating effects of known acid-base transporters on pHi. Under these conditions, halting dialysis unmasked a slow pHi decrease caused at least in part by acid-base transport we refer to as "base efflux." Replacing K+ in the DF with either NMDG+ or TEA+ significantly reduced base efflux and made membrane voltage (Vm) more positive. Base efflux in K(+)-dialyzed axons was stimulated by decreasing the pH of the ASW (pHo) from 8 to 7, implicating transport of acid or base. Although postdialysis acidifications also occurred in axons in which we replaced the K+ in the DF with Li+, Na+, Rb+, or Cs+, only with Rb+ was base efflux stimulated by low pHo. Thus, the base effluxes supported by K+ and Rb+ appear to be unrelated mechanistically to those observed with Li+, Na+, or Cs+. The combination of 437 mM K+ and 12 mM HCO3- in the ASW, which eliminates the gradient favoring a hypothetical K+/HCO3- efflux, blocked pHi recovery in K(+)-dialyzed axons. However, the pHi recovery was not blocked by the combination of 437 mM Na+, veratridine, and CO2/HCO3- in the ASW, a treatment that inverts electrochemical gradients for H+ and HCO3- and would favor passive H+ and HCO3- fluxes that would have alkalinized the axon. Similarly, the recovery was not blocked by K+ alone or HCO3- alone in the ASW, nor was it inhibited by the K-H pump blocker Sch28080 nor by the Na-H exchange inhibitors amiloride and hexamethyleneamiloride. Our data suggest that a major component of base efflux in alkali-loaded axons cannot be explained by metabolism, a H+ or HCO3- conductance, or by a K-H exchanger. However, this component could be mediated by a novel K/HCO3- cotransporter

  9. Effective identification of (NH4)2CO3 and NH4HCO3 concentrations in NaHCO3 regeneration process from desulfurized waste.

    PubMed

    Govindan, Muthuraman; Karunakaran, Kannan; Nallasamy, Palanisami; Moon, Il Shik

    2015-01-01

    This work describes the quantitative analysis of (NH4)2CO3 and NH4HCO3 using a simple solution phase titration method. Back titration results at various (NH4)2CO3-NH4HCO3 ratios demonstrated that 6:4 ratio caused a 3% error in their differentiation, but very high errors were found at other ratios. A similar trend was observed for the double indicator method, especially when strong acid HCl was used as a titrant, where still less errors (2.5%) at a middle ratio of (NH4)2CO3-NH4HCO3 was found. Remaining ratios with low (NH4)2CO3 (2:8, 4:6) show high +ve error (found concentration is less) and high (NH4)2CO3 (7:3, 8:2, and 9:1) show high -ve error (found concentration is higher) and vice versa for NH4HCO3. In replacement titration using Na2SO4, at both higher end ratios of (NH4)2CO3-NH4HCO3 (2:8 and 9:1), both -ve and +ve errors were minimized to 75% by partial equilibrium arrest between (NH4)2CO3 and NH2COONH4, instead of more than 100% observed in back titration and only double indicator methods. In the presence of (NH4)2SO4 both -ve and +ve error% are completely reduced to 3±1 at ratios 2:8, 4:6, and 6:4 of (NH4)2CO3-NH4HCO3, which demonstrates that the equilibrium transformation between NH2COONH4 and (NH4)2CO3 is completely controlled. The titration conducted at lower temperature (5 °C) in the presence of (NH4)2SO4 at higher ratios of (NH4)2CO3-NH4HCO3 (7:3, 8:2,and 9:1) shows complete minimization of both -ve and +ve errors to 2±1%, which explains the complete arresting of equilibrium transformation. Finally, the developed method shows 2±1% error in differentiation of CO3(2-) and HCO3(-) in the regeneration process of NaHCO3 from crude desulfurized sample. The developed method is more promising to differentiate CO3(2-) and HCO3(-) in industrial applications. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  10. Bicarbonate-dependent and -independent intracellular pH regulatory mechanisms in rat hepatocytes. Evidence for Na+-HCO3- cotransport.

    PubMed Central

    Gleeson, D; Smith, N D; Boyer, J L

    1989-01-01

    Using the pH-sensitive dye 2,7-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxy-fluorescein and a continuously perfused subconfluent hepatocyte monolayer cell culture system, we studied rat hepatocyte intracellular pH (pHi) regulation in the presence (+HCO3-) and absence (-HCO3-) of bicarbonate. Baseline pHi was higher (7.28 +/- 09) in +HCO3- than in -HCO3- (7.16 +/- 0.14). Blocking Na+/H+ exchange with amiloride had no effect on pHi in +HCO3- but caused reversible 0.1-0.2-U acidification in -HCO3- or in +HCO3- after preincubation in the anion transport inhibitor 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-disulfonic acid stilbene (DIDS). Acute Na+ replacement in +HCO3- alos caused acidification which was amiloride independent but DIDS inhibitible. The recovery of pHi from an intracellular acid load (maximum H+ efflux rate) was 50% higher in +HCO3- than in -HCO3-. Amiloride inhibited H+ effluxmax by 75% in -HCO3- but by only 27% in +HCO3-. The amiloride-independent pHi recovery in +HCO3- was inhibited 50-63% by DIDS and 79% by Na+ replacement but was unaffected by depletion of intracellular Cl-, suggesting that Cl-/HCO3- exchange is not involved. Depolarization of hepatocytes (raising external K+ from 5 to 25 mM) caused reversible 0.05-0.1-U alkalinization, which, however, was neither Na+ nor HCO3- dependent, nor DIDS inhibitible, findings consistent with electroneutral HCO3- transport. We conclude that Na+-HCO3- cotransport, in addition to Na+/H+ exchange, is an important regulator of pHi in rat hepatocytes. PMID:2544626

  11. Secretin stimulates HCO3(-) and acetate efflux but not Na+/HCO3(-) uptake in rat pancreatic ducts.

    PubMed

    Novak, I; Christoffersen, B C

    2001-03-01

    Pancreatic ducts secrete HCO3(-), but transport mechanisms are unresolved and possibly vary between species. Our aim was to study the intracellular pH (pHi) regulation and thus H+/HCO3- transport in rat pancreatic ducts. Of particular interest was the Na+/HCO3(-) cotransporter, thought to be important in HCO3(-) -transporting epithelia. pHi was measured with BCECF in freshly isolated intralobular ducts. A reduction in extracellular Na+ concentration or application of HOE 694 (1 microM) decreased pHi by 0.1 to 0.6 pH units, demonstrating Na+/H+ exchanger activity. A reduction in extracellular Cl- concentration or addition of H2DIDS (10 microM) increased pHi by 0.1 to 0.5 pH units, demonstrating Cl-/ HCO(3)- (OH ) exchanger activity. In experimental acidosis, extracellular HCO3(-)/CO2 buffer did not increase the rate of pHi recovery, indicating that provision of HCO3(-) by the Na+/HCO3(-) cotransporter was not apparent. Most importantly, Na+/HCO3(-) cotransport was not stimulated by secretin (1 nM). In contrast, in experimental alkalosis the pHi recovery was increased in HCO3(-)/CO2 buffer, possibly due to Na+/HCO3(-) cotransport in the efflux mode. Secretin (1 nM) and carbachol (1 microM) stimulated HCO3(-) efflux, which can account for the observed HCO3(-) concentrations in rat pancreatic juice. Acetate and HCO3(-) buffers were handled similarly, indicating similar transport mechanisms in pancreatic ducts.

  12. Bioinformatic analyses implicate the collaborating meiotic crossover/chiasma proteins Zip2, Zip3, and Spo22/Zip4 in ubiquitin labeling

    PubMed Central

    Perry, Jason; Kleckner, Nancy; Börner, G. Valentin

    2005-01-01

    Zip2 and Zip3 are meiosis-specific proteins that, in collaboration with several partners, act at the sites of crossover-designated, axis-associated recombinational interactions to mediate crossover/chiasma formation. Here, Spo22 (also called Zip4) is identified as a probable functional collaborator of Zip2/3. The molecular roles of Zip2, Zip3, and Spo22/Zip4 are unknown. All three proteins are part of a small evolutionary cohort comprising similar homologs in four related yeasts. Zip3 is shown to contain a RING finger whose structural features most closely match those of known ubiquitin E3s. Further, Zip3 exhibits major domainal homologies to Rad18, a known DNA-binding ubiquitin E3. Also described is an approach to the identification and mapping of repeated protein sequence motifs, Alignment Based Repeat Annotation (ABRA), that we have developed. When ABRA is applied to Zip2 and Spo22/Zip4, they emerge as a 14-blade WD40-like repeat protein and a 22-unit tetratricopeptide repeat protein, respectively. WD40 repeats of Cdc20, Cdh1, and Cdc16 and tetratricopeptide repeats of Cdc16, Cdc23, and Cdc27, all components of the anaphase-promoting complex, are also analyzed. These and other findings suggest that Zip2, Zip3, and Zip4 act together to mediate a process that involves Zip3-mediated ubiquitin labeling, potentially as a unique type of ubiquitin-conjugating complex. PMID:16314568

  13. A novel Na+/HCO3--codependent choline transporter in the syncytial epithelium of the cestode Hymenolepis diminuta.

    PubMed

    Webb, R A; Xue, L

    1998-02-01

    Absorption of exogenous choline by the cestode Hymenolepis diminuta was found to be both Na+- and HCO3--dependent and, at pH 6 to 7, accounted for up to 65% of the total choline uptake. Na+/HCO3- dependent choline uptake was activated at approximately 6 mM HCO3- (EC50 approximately 9 mM), and, above 100 mM Na+, the rate of uptake was directly proportional to the Na+ concentration. Atempts to uncouple Na+-dependent uptake from HCO3--dependent uptake were not successful: K+-depolarization was without effect on HCO3--dependent choline uptake, and use of valinoomycin to hyperpolarize the brush-border membrane resulted in inhibition of uptake. Na-/HCO3--dependent choline uptake was not associated with solvent drag. The Na+/HCO3--dependent choline uptake displayed a Q10 of 6.4 (27 degrees to 37 degrees) and a relatively high activation energy of 126 kJ x mol(-1). At pH 6.0 and 7.0, Na-/HCO3--dependent choline uptake rates were similar, but Na+/HCO3--dependent choline uptake was reduced at pH 5.0. The Na+/HCO3--dependent choline uptake, at pH 7.0, displayed a Kt of approximately 500 microM and a Vmax of 4.01 pmol x mg wet weight(-1) x min(-1). The Na+/HCO3--dependent choline uptake was hemicholinium-3 sensitive, but not significantly inhibited by 200 microM bumetanide, 100 microM amiloride, benzamil, or EIPA or by 1 mM 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-stilbene disulfonate (DIDS) or 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocvanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (SITS). Although it remains to be shown that HCO3- uptake is coupled directly to both choline and Na+ uptake, the data suggest that choline up take occurs via choline/Na+/HCO3--co-trans porter.

  14. Two Cassava Basic Leucine Zipper (bZIP) Transcription Factors (MebZIP3 and MebZIP5) Confer Disease Resistance against Cassava Bacterial Blight.

    PubMed

    Li, Xiaolin; Fan, Shuhong; Hu, Wei; Liu, Guoyin; Wei, Yunxie; He, Chaozu; Shi, Haitao

    2017-01-01

    Basic domain-leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor, one type of conserved gene family, plays an important role in plant development and stress responses. Although 77 MebZIPs have been genome-wide identified in cassava, their in vivo roles remain unknown. In this study, we analyzed the expression pattern and the function of two MebZIPs ( MebZIP3 and MebZIP5 ) in response to pathogen infection. Gene expression analysis indicated that MebZIP3 and MebZIP5 were commonly regulated by flg22, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis ( Xam ), salicylic acid (SA), and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). Subcellular localization analysis showed that MebZIP3 and MebZIP5 are specifically located in cell nucleus. Through overexpression in tobacco, we found that MebZIP3 and MebZIP5 conferred improved disease resistance against cassava bacterial blight, with more callose depositions. On the contrary, MebZIP3- and MebZIP5 -silenced plants by virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) showed disease sensitive phenotype, lower transcript levels of defense-related genes and less callose depositions. Taken together, this study highlights the positive role of MebZIP3 and MebZIP5 in disease resistance against cassava bacterial blight for further utilization in genetic improvement of cassava disease resistance.

  15. Electroneutral, HCO3(-)-independent, pH gradient-dependent uphill transport of Cl- by ileal brush-border membrane vesicles. Possible role in the pathogenesis of chloridorrhea.

    PubMed Central

    Vasseur, M; Caüzac, M; Alvarado, F

    1989-01-01

    By applying a rapid filtration technique to isolated brush border membrane vesicles from guinea pig ileum, 36Cl uptake was quantified in the presence and absence of electrical, pH and alkali-metal ion gradients. A mixture of 20 mM-Hepes and 40 mM-citric acid, adjusted to the desired pH with Tris base, was found to be the most suitable buffer. Malate and Mes could be used to replace the citrate, but succinate, acetate and maleate proved to be unsuitable. In the absence of a pH gradient (pHout:pHin = 7.5:7.5), Cl- uptake increased slightly when an inside-positive membrane potential was applied, but uphill transport was never observed. A pH gradient (pHout:pHin = 5.0:7.5) induced both a 400% increase in the initial Cl- influx rate and a long-lasting (20 to 300 s) overshoot, indicating that a proton gradient can furnish the driving force for uphill Cl- transport. Under pH gradient conditions, initial Cl- entry rates had the following characteristics. (1) They were unaffected by cis-Na+ and/or -K+, indicating the absence of Cl-/K+, Cl-/Na+ or Cl-/K+/Na+ symport activity. (2) Inhibition by 20-100 mM-trans-Na+ and/or -K+ occurred, independent of the existence of an ion gradient. (3) Cl- entry was practically unaffected by short-circuiting the membrane potential with equilibrated potassium and valinomycin. (4) Carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone was strongly inhibitory and so, to a lesser extent, was 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid [(SITS)], independent of the sign and size of the membrane potential. (5) Cl- entry was negligibly increased (less than 30%) by either trans-Cl- or -HCO3-, indicating the absence of an obligatory Cl-/anion antiport activity. In contrast, the height of the overshoot at 60 s was increased by trans-Cl-, indicating time-dependent inhibition of 36Cl efflux. That competitive inhibition of 36Cl fluxes by anions is involved here is supported by initial influx rate experiments demonstrating: (1) the saturability of Cl

  16. Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange regulates Ca(2+)-dependent duodenal mucosal ion transport and HCO(3)(-) secretion in mice.

    PubMed

    Dong, Hui; Sellers, Zachary M; Smith, Anders; Chow, Jimmy Y C; Barrett, Kim E

    2005-03-01

    Stimulation of muscarinic receptors in duodenal mucosa raises intracellular Ca(2+), which regulates ion transport, including HCO(3)(-) secretion. However, the underlying Ca(2+) handling mechanisms are poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to determine whether Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX) plays a role in the regulation of duodenal mucosal ion transport and HCO(3)(-) secretion by controlling Ca(2+) homeostasis. Mouse duodenal mucosa was mounted in Ussing chambers. Net ion transport was assessed as short-circuit current (I(sc)), and HCO(3)(-) secretion was determined by pH-stat. Expression of NCX in duodenal mucosae was analyzed by Western blot, and cytosolic Ca(2+) in duodenocytes was measured by fura 2. Carbachol (100 muM) increased I(sc) in a biphasic manner: an initial transient peak within 2 min and a later sustained plateau starting at 10 min. Carbachol-induced HCO(3)(-) secretion peaked at 10 min. 2-Aminoethoxydiphenylborate (2-APB, 100 muM) or LiCl (30 mM) significantly reduced the initial peak in I(sc) by 51 or 47%, respectively, and abolished the plateau phase of I(sc) without affecting HCO(3)(-) secretion induced by carbachol. Ryanodine (100 muM), caffeine (10 mM), and nifedipine (10 muM) had no effect on either response to carbachol. In contrast, nickel (5 mM) and KB-R7943 (10-30 muM) significantly inhibited carbachol-induced increases in duodenal mucosal I(sc) and HCO(3)(-) secretion. Western blot analysis showed expression of NCX1 proteins in duodenal mucosae, and functional NCX in duodenocytes was demonstrated in Ca(2+) imaging experiments where Na(+) depletion elicited Ca(2+) entry via the reversed mode of NCX. These results indicate that NCX contributes to the regulation of Ca(2+)-dependent duodenal mucosal ion transport and HCO(3)(-) secretion that results from stimulation of muscarinic receptors.

  17. Involvement of a Na+/HCO-3 cotransporter in mouse sperm capacitation.

    PubMed

    Demarco, Ignacio A; Espinosa, Felipe; Edwards, Jennifer; Sosnik, Julian; De La Vega-Beltran, Jose Luis; Hockensmith, Joel W; Kopf, Gregory S; Darszon, Alberto; Visconti, Pablo E

    2003-02-28

    Mammalian sperm are incapable of fertilizing eggs immediately after ejaculation; they acquire fertilization capacity after residing in the female tract for a finite period of time. The physiological changes sperm undergo in the female reproductive tract that render sperm able to fertilize constitute the phenomenon of "sperm capacitation." We have demonstrated that capacitation is associated with an increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of a subset of proteins and that these events are regulated by an HCO(3)(-)/cAMP-dependent pathway involving protein kinase A. Capacitation is also accompanied by hyperpolarization of the sperm plasma membrane. Here we present evidence that, in addition to its role in the regulation of adenylyl cyclase, HCO(3)(-) has a role in the regulation of plasma membrane potential in mouse sperm. Addition of HCO(3)(-) but not Cl(-) induces a hyperpolarizing current in mouse sperm plasma membranes. This HCO(3)(-)-dependent hyperpolarization was not observed when Na(+) was replaced by the non-permeant cation choline(+). Replacement of Na(+) by choline(+) also inhibited the capacitation-associated increase in protein tyrosine phosphorylation as well as the zona pellucida-induced acrosome reaction. The lack of an increase in protein tyrosine phosphorylation was overcome by the presence of cAMP agonists in the incubation medium. The lack of a hyperpolarizing HCO(3)(-) current and the inhibition of the capacitation-dependent increase in protein tyrosine phosphorylation in the absence of Na(+) suggest that a Na(+)/HCO(3)(-) cotransporter is present in mouse sperm and is coupled to events regulating capacitation.

  18. Knockdown of zinc transporter ZIP8 expression inhibits neuroblastoma progression and metastasis in vitro.

    PubMed

    Mei, Zhengrong; Yan, Pengke; Wang, Ying; Liu, Shaozhi; He, Fang

    2018-05-02

    Neuroblastoma is one of the leading causes of cancer‑associated mortality worldwide, particularly in children, partially due to the absence of effective therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers. Therefore, novel molecular targets are critical to the development of therapeutic approaches for neuroblastoma. In the present study, the functions of zinc transporter ZIP8 (Zip8), a member of the zinc transporting protein family, were investigated as novel molecular targets in neuroblastoma cancer cells. The proliferation rates of neuroblastoma cancer cells were significantly decreased when Zip8 was knocked down by lentiviral‑mediated RNA interference. Study of the molecular mechanism suggested that Zip8 modulated the expression of key genes involved in the nuclear factor‑κB signaling pathway. Furthermore, Zip8 depletion suppressed the migratory potential of neuroblastoma cancer cells by reducing the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggested that Zip8 was an important regulator of neuroblastoma cell proliferation and migration, indicating that Zip8 may be a potential anticancer therapeutic target and a promising diagnostic biomarker for human neuroblastoma.

  19. Tryptophan-dependent auxin biosynthesis is required for HD-ZIP III-mediated xylem patterning.

    PubMed

    Ursache, Robertas; Miyashima, Shunsuke; Chen, Qingguo; Vatén, Anne; Nakajima, Keiji; Carlsbecker, Annelie; Zhao, Yunde; Helariutta, Ykä; Dettmer, Jan

    2014-03-01

    The development and growth of higher plants is highly dependent on the conduction of water and minerals throughout the plant by xylem vessels. In Arabidopsis roots the xylem is organized as an axis of cell files with two distinct cell fates: the central metaxylem and the peripheral protoxylem. During vascular development, high and low expression levels of the class III HD-ZIP transcription factors promote metaxylem and protoxylem identities, respectively. Protoxylem specification is determined by both mobile, ground tissue-emanating miRNA165/6 species, which downregulate, and auxin concentrated by polar transport, which promotes HD-ZIP III expression. However, the factors promoting high HD-ZIP III expression for metaxylem identity have remained elusive. We show here that auxin biosynthesis promotes HD-ZIP III expression and metaxylem specification. Several auxin biosynthesis genes are expressed in the outer layers surrounding the vascular tissue in Arabidopsis root and downregulation of HD-ZIP III expression accompanied by specific defects in metaxylem development is seen in auxin biosynthesis mutants, such as trp2-12, wei8 tar2 or a quintuple yucca mutant, and in plants treated with L-kynurenine, a pharmacological inhibitor of auxin biosynthesis. Some of the patterning defects can be suppressed by synthetically elevated HD-ZIP III expression. Taken together, our results indicate that polar auxin transport, which was earlier shown to be required for protoxylem formation, is not sufficient to establish a proper xylem axis but that root-based auxin biosynthesis is additionally required.

  20. Chaetomium thermophilum formate dehydrogenase has high activity in the reduction of hydrogen carbonate (HCO3 -) to formate.

    PubMed

    Aslan, Aşkın Sevinç; Valjakka, Jarkko; Ruupunen, Jouni; Yildirim, Deniz; Turner, Nicholas J; Turunen, Ossi; Binay, Barış

    2017-01-01

    While formate dehydrogenases (FDHs) have been used for cofactor recycling in chemoenzymatic synthesis, the ability of FDH to reduce CO 2 could also be utilized in the conversion of CO 2 to useful products via formate (HCOO - ). In this study, we investigated the reduction of CO 2 in the form of hydrogen carbonate (HCO 3 - ) to formate by FDHs from Candida methylica (CmFDH) and Chaetomium thermophilum (CtFDH) in a NADH-dependent reaction. The catalytic performance with HCO 3 - as a substrate was evaluated by measuring the kinetic rates and conducting productivity assays. CtFDH showed a higher efficiency in converting HCO 3 - to formate than CmFDH, whereas CmFDH was better in the oxidation of formate. The pH optimum of the reduction was at pH 7-8. However, the high concentrations of HCO 3 - reduced the reaction rate. CtFDH was modeled in the presence of HCO 3 - showing that it fits to the active site. The active site setting for hydride transfer in CO 2 reduction was modeled. The hydride donated by NADH would form a favorable contact to the carbon atom of HCO 3 - , resulting in a surplus of electrons within the molecule. This would cause the complex formed by hydrogen carbonate and the hydride to break into formate and hydroxide ions. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  1. Dissolution of aragonite-strontianite solid solutions in nonstoichiometric Sr (HCO3)2-Ca (HCO3)2-CO2-H2O solutions

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Plummer, Niel; Busenberg, E.; Glynn, P.D.; Blum, A.E.

    1992-01-01

    Synthetic strontianite-aragonite solid-solution minerals were dissolved in CO2-saturated non-stoichiometric solutions of Sr(HCO3)2 and Ca(HCO3)2 at 25??C. The results show that none of the dissolution reactions reach thermodynamic equilibrium. Congruent dissolution in Ca(HCO3)2 solutions either attains or closely approaches stoichiometric saturation with respect to the dissolving solid. In Sr(HCO3)2 solutions the reactions usually become incongruent, precipitating a Sr-rich phase before reaching stoichiometric saturation. Dissolution of mechanical mixtures of solids approaches stoichiometric saturation with respect to the least stable solid in the mixture. Surface uptake from subsaturated bulk solutions was observed in the initial minutes of dissolution. This surficial phase is 0-10 atomic layers thick in Sr(HCO3)2 solutions and 0-4 layers thick in Ca(HCO3)2 solutions, and subsequently dissolves and/or recrystallizes, usually within 6 min of reaction. The initial transient surface precipitation (recrystallization) process is followed by congruent dissolution of the original solid which proceeds to stoichiometric saturation, or until the precipitation of a more stable Sr-rich solid. The compositions of secondary precipitates do not correspond to thermodynamic equilibrium or stoichiometric saturation states. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements indicate the formation of solid solutions on surfaces of aragonite and strontianite single crystals immersed in Sr(HCO3)2 and Ca(HCO3)2 solutions, respectively. In Sr(HCO3)2 solutions, the XPS signal from the outer ~ 60 A?? on aragonite indicates a composition of 16 mol% SrCO3 after only 2 min of contact, and 14-18 mol% SrCO3 after 3 weeks of contact. The strontianite surface averages approximately 22 mol% CaCO3 after 2 min of contact with Ca(HCO3)2 solution, and is 34-39 mol% CaCO3 after 3 weeks of contact. XPS analysis suggests the surface composition is zoned with somewhat greater enrichment in the outer ~25

  2. Structure and Function of Na+-Symporters with Inverted Repeats

    PubMed Central

    Abramson, Jeff; Wright, Ernest M.

    2009-01-01

    Summary Symporters are membrane proteins that couple energy stored in electrochemical potential gradients to drive the cotransport of molecules and ions into cells. Traditionally, proteins are classified into gene families based on sequence homology and functional properties, e.g. the sodium glucose (SLC5 or Sodium Solute Symporter Family, SSS or SSF) and GABA (SLC6 or Neurotransmitter Sodium Symporter Family, NSS or SNF) symporter families [1-4]. Recently, it has been established that four Na+-symporter proteins with unrelated sequences have a common structural core containing an inverted repeat of 5 transmembrane (TM) helices [5-8]. Analysis of these four structures reveals that they reside in different conformations along the transport cycle providing atomic insight into the mechanism of sodium solute cotransport. PMID:19631523

  3. Involvement of the anion exchanger SLC26A6 in prostaglandin E2- but not forskolin-stimulated duodenal HCO3- secretion.

    PubMed

    Tuo, Biguang; Riederer, Brigitte; Wang, Zhaohui; Colledge, William H; Soleimani, Manoocher; Seidler, Ursula

    2006-02-01

    SLC26A6 is a recently identified apical Cl(-)/HCO(3)(-) exchanger with strong expression in murine duodenum. The present study was designed to examine the role of SLC26A6 in prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2))-, forskolin-, and carbachol-induced duodenal HCO(3)(-) secretion. Murine duodenal mucosal HCO(3)(-) secretion was examined in vitro in Ussing chambers and mucosal SLC26A6 expression levels were analyzed by semiquantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Basal HCO(3)(-) secretion was diminished by 20%, PGE(2)-stimulated HCO(3)(-) secretory response by 59%, and carbachol-stimulated response was reduced by 35% in SLC26A6-/- compared with +/+ duodenal mucosa, whereas the forskolin-stimulated HCO(3)(-) secretory response was not different. In Cl(-)-free solutions, PGE(2)- and carbachol-stimulated HCO(3)(-) secretion was reduced by 81% and 44%, respectively, whereas forskolin-stimulated HCO(3)(-) secretion was not altered significantly. PGE(2) and carbachol, but not forskolin, were able to elicit a Cl(-)-dependent HCO(3)(-) secretory response in the absence of short-circuit current changes in cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator knockout mice. In murine duodenum, PGE(2)-mediated HCO(3)(-) secretion is strongly SLC26A6 dependent and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator independent, whereas forskolin-stimulated HCO(3)(-) secretion is completely SLC26A6 independent and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator dependent. Carbachol-induced secretion is less pronounced, but occurs via both transport pathways. This suggests that PGE(2) and forskolin activate distinct HCO(3)(-) transport pathways in the murine duodenum.

  4. pH Regulation of Electrogenic Sugar/H+ Symport in MFS Sugar Permeases

    PubMed Central

    Bazzone, Andre; Madej, M. Gregor; Kaback, H. Ronald

    2016-01-01

    Bacterial sugar symporters in the Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS) use the H+ (and in a few cases Na+) electrochemical gradients to achieve active transport of sugar into the cell. Because a number of structures of MFS sugar symporters have been solved recently, molecular insight into the transport mechanism is possible from detailed functional analysis. We present here a comparative electrophysiological study of the lactose permease (LacY), the fucose permease (FucP) and the xylose permease (XylE), which reveals common mechanistic principles and differences. In all three symporters energetically downhill electrogenic sugar/H+ symport is observed. Comparison of the pH dependence of symport at symmetrical pH exhibits broad bell-shaped pH profiles extending over 3 to 6 pH units and a decrease at extremely alkaline pH ≥ 9.4 and at acidic to neutral pH = 4.6–7.5. The pH dependence can be described by an acidic to neutral apparent pK (pKapp) and an alkaline pKapp. Experimental evidence suggests that the alkaline pKapp is due to H+ depletion at the protonation site, while the acidic pKapp is due to inhibition of deprotonation. Since previous studies suggest that a single carboxyl group in LacY (Glu325) may be the only side chain directly involved in H+ translocation and a carboxyl side chain with similar properties has been identified in FucP (Asp46) and XylE (Asp27), the present results imply that the pK of this residue is switched during H+/sugar symport in all three symporters. PMID:27227677

  5. Extracellular HCO3- is sensed by mouse cerebral arteries: Regulation of tone by receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase γ

    PubMed Central

    Hansen, Kristoffer B; Boedtkjer, Donna MB; Aalkjaer, Christian; Boron, Walter F

    2015-01-01

    We investigate sensing and signaling mechanisms for H+, HCO3- and CO2 in basilar arteries using out-of-equilibrium solutions. Selectively varying pHo, [HCO3-]o, or pCO2, we find: (a) lowering pHo attenuates vasoconstriction and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) Ca2+-responses whereas raising pHo augments vasoconstriction independently of VSMC [Ca2+]i, (b) lowering [HCO3-]o increases arterial agonist-sensitivity of tone development without affecting VSMC [Ca2+]i but c) no evidence that CO2 has direct net vasomotor effects. Receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase (RPTP)γ is transcribed in endothelial cells, and direct vasomotor effects of HCO3o- are absent in arteries from RPTPγ-knockout mice. At pHo 7.4, selective changes in [HCO3-]o or pCO2 have little effect on pHi. At pHo 7.1, decreased [HCO3-]o or increased pCO2 causes intracellular acidification, which attenuates vasoconstriction. Under equilibrated conditions, anti-contractile effects of CO2/HCO3- are endothelium-dependent and absent in arteries from RPTPγ-knockout mice. With CO2/HCO3- present, contractile responses to agonist-stimulation are potentiated in arteries from RPTPγ-knockout compared to wild-type mice, and this difference is larger for respiratory than metabolic acidosis. In conclusion, decreased pHo and pHi inhibit vasoconstriction, whereas decreased [HCO3-]o promotes vasoconstriction through RPTPγ-dependent changes in VSMC Ca2+-sensitivity. HCO3o- serves dual roles, providing substrate for pHi-regulating membrane transporters and modulating arterial responses to acid–base disturbances. PMID:26661205

  6. Effect of glandular kallikrein on distal nephron HCO3- secretion in rats and on HCO3- secretion in MDCK cells.

    PubMed

    Vallés, P; Ebner, S; Manucha, W; Gutierrez, L; Marin-Grez, M

    1997-11-01

    Renal kallikrein is localized in the connecting tubule cells and secreted into the tubular fluid at late distal nephron segments. The present experiments were performed to further test the hypothesis that renal kallikrein reduces bicarbonate secretion of cortical collecting duct (CCD). The effect of orthograde injections of pig pancreatic kallikrein (1 or 3 micrograms/ml) into the renal tubular system was investigated. Urine fractions (Fr) were collected after a 2-min stop flow. Changes in the urine fraction with respect to those in free-flow urine samples (Ff) were related to the respective polyfructosan (Inutest) ratio. Renal kallikrein activity (Fr:Ff kallikrein/ Fr:Ff polyfructosan) increased significantly in the first two urine fractions collected after glandular kallikrein administration (kallikrein, 1 microgram/ml, P < 0.05; kallikrein, 3 micrograms/ml, P < 0.01). HCO3- secretion of collecting ducts was significantly reduced dose dependently by orthograde and also reduced by retrograde pig pancreatic kallikrein administration. Release of kinins into the fractions was not affected by the retrograde kallikrein injection, even though the kallikrein activity increased considerably (2.26 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.55 +/- 0.2, P < 0.05). Adequacy of retrograde injections for delivering substances to the CCD was demonstrated by injecting colloidal mercury and detecting the appearance of this mercury in the renal cortex by transmission electron microscopy. The integrity of the renal tissue after a retrograde ureteral injection was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. These results confirm and extend previous data (M. Marin-Grez and P. Vallés. Renal Physiol. Biochem. 17: 301-306, 1994; and M. Marin-Grez, P. Vallés, and P. Odigie. J. Physiol. 488: 163-170, 1995) showing that renal kallikrein reduces bicarbonate secretion at the CCD, probably by inhibiting HCO3- transported by a mechanism unrelated to its kininogenase activity. Support for this assessment was obtained in

  7. cAMP-dependent and cholinergic regulation of the electrogenic intestinal/pancreatic Na+/HCO3- cotransporter pNBC1 in human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells.

    PubMed

    Bachmann, Oliver; Franke, Kristin; Yu, Haoyang; Riederer, Brigitte; Li, Hong C; Soleimani, Manoocher; Manns, Michael P; Seidler, Ursula

    2008-12-22

    The renal (kNBC1) and intestinal (pNBC1) electrogenic Na+/HCO3- cotransporter variants differ in their primary structure, transport direction, and response to secretagogues. Previous studies have suggested that regulatory differences between the two subtypes can be partially explained by unique consensus phosphorylation sites included in the pNBC1, but not the kNBC1 sequence. After having shown activation of NBC by carbachol and forskolin in murine colon, we now investigated these pathways in HEK293 cells transiently expressing a GFP-tagged pNBC1 construct. Na+- and HCO3-dependent pHi recovery from an acid load (measured with BCECF) was enhanced by 5-fold in GFP-positive cells compared to the control cells in the presence of CO2/HCO3-. Forskolin (10(-5) M) had no effect in untransfected cells, but inhibited the pHi recovery in cells expressing pNBC1 by 62%. After preincubation with carbachol (10(-4) M), the pHi recovery was enhanced to the same degree both in transfected and untransfected cells, indicating activation of endogenous alkalizing ion transporters. Acid-activated Na+/HCO3- cotransport via pNBC1 expressed in renal cells is thus inhibited by cAMP and not affected by cholinergic stimulation, as opposed to the findings in native intestinal tissue. Regulation of pNBC1 by secretagogues appears to be not solely dependent on its primary structure, but also on properties of the cell type in which it is expressed.

  8. Electrophysiological analysis of bicarbonate permeation across the peritubular cell membrane of rat kidney proximal tubule. II. Exclusion of HCO3(-)-effects on other ion permeabilities and of coupled electroneutral HCO3(-)-transport.

    PubMed

    Burckhardt, B C; Cassola, A C; Frömter, E

    1984-05-01

    Cell membrane potentials of rat kidney proximal tubules were measured in response to peritubular ion substitutions in vivo with conventional and Cl- sensitive microelectrodes in order to test possible alternative explanations of the bicarbonate dependent cell potential transients reported in the preceding paper. Significant direct effects of bicarbonate on peritubular K+, Na+, and Cl- conductances could be largely excluded by blocking K+ permeability with Ba2+ and replacing all Na+ and Cl- by choline or respectively SO4(2-) isethionate, or gluconate. Under those conditions the cell membrane response to HCO3- was essentially preserved. In addition it was observed that peritubular Cl- conductance is negligibly small, that Cl-/HCO3- exchange - if present at all - is insignificant, and that rheogenic HCO3- flow with coupling to Na+ flow is also absent or insignificant. A transient disturbance of the Na+ pump or a transient unspecific increase of the membrane permeability was also excluded by experiments with ouabain and by the observation that SITS (4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyano-2,2' disulphonic stilbene) blocked the HCO3- response instantaneously. The data strongly support the notion that the potential changes in response to peritubular HCO3- concentration changes arise from passive rheogenic bicarbonate transfer across the peritubular cell membrane, and hence that this membrane has a high conductance for bicarbonate buffer.

  9. Basolateral LPS inhibits NHE3 and HCO3− absorption through TLR4/MyD88-dependent ERK activation in medullary thick ascending limb

    PubMed Central

    Watts, Bruns A.; George, Thampi; Sherwood, Edward R.

    2011-01-01

    Sepsis is associated with defects in renal tubule function, but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Recently, we demonstrated that Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inhibits HCO3− absorption in the medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL) through activation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Here, we examined the mechanisms responsible for inhibition of HCO3− absorption by basolateral LPS. Adding LPS to the bath decreased HCO3− absorption by 30% in rat and mouse MTALs perfused in vitro. The inhibition of HCO3− absorption was eliminated by the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK)/ERK inhibitors U0126 and PD98059. LPS induced a rapid (<15 min) and sustained (up to 60 min) increase in ERK phosphorylation in microdissected MTALs that was blocked by PD98059. The effects of basolateral LPS to activate ERK and inhibit HCO3− absorption were eliminated in MTALs from TLR4−/− and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)−/− mice but were preserved in MTALs from TIR (Toll/interleukin-1 receptor) domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β (Trif)−/− mice. Basolateral LPS decreased apical Na+/H+ exchanger 3 NHE3 activity through a decrease in maximal velocity (Vmax). The inhibition of NHE3 by LPS was eliminated by MEK/ERK inhibitors. LPS inhibited HCO3− absorption despite the presence of physiological stimuli that activate ERK in the MTAL. We conclude that basolateral LPS inhibits HCO3− absorption in the MTAL through activation of a TLR4/MyD88/MEK/ERK pathway coupled to inhibition of NHE3. These studies identify NHE3 as a target of TLR4 signaling in the MTAL and show that bacterial molecules can impair the absorptive functions of renal tubules through inhibition of this exchanger. The ERK pathway links TLR4 to downstream modulation of ion transport proteins and represents a potential target for treatment of sepsis-induced renal tubule dysfunction. PMID:21881005

  10. 3D modelling of HCO+ and its isotopologues in the low-mass proto-star IRAS16293-2422

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Quénard, D.; Bottinelli, S.; Caux, E.; Wakelam, V.

    2018-07-01

    Ions and electrons play an important role in various stages of the star formation process. By following the magnetic field of their environment and interacting with neutral species, they slow down the gravitational collapse of the proto-star envelope. This process (known as ambipolar diffusion) depends on the ionization degree, which can be derived from the HCO+ abundance. We present a study of HCO+ and its isotopologues (H13CO+ , HC18O+ , DCO+ , and D13CO+) in the low-mass proto-star IRAS16293-2422. The structure of this object is complex, and the HCO+emission arises from the contribution of a young NW-SE outflow, the proto-stellar envelope, and the foreground cloud. We aim at constraining the physical parameters of these structures using all the observed transitions. For the young NW-SE outflow, we derive Tkin= 180-220 K and n(H2) = (4-7)× 106 cm-3 with an HCO+abundance of (3-5)× 10-9. Following previous studies, we demonstrate that the presence of a cold (Tkin≤ 30 K) and low density [n(H2) ≤ 1 × 104 cm-3] foreground cloud is also necessary to reproduce the observed line profiles. We have used the gas-grain chemical code NAUTILUS to derive the HCO+ abundance profile across the envelope and the external regions where X(HCO+) ≳ 1 × 10-9 dominate the envelope emission. From this, we derive an ionization degree of 10-8.9 ≲ x( e) ≲ 10-7.9. The ambipolar diffusion time-scale is ˜5 times the free-fall time-scale, indicating that the magnetic field starts to support the source against gravitational collapse and the magnetic field strength is estimated to be 6-46μG.

  11. 3D modelling of HCO+ and its isotopologues in the low-mass proto-star IRAS16293-2422

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Quénard, D.; Bottinelli, S.; Caux, E.; Wakelam, V.

    2018-04-01

    Ions and electrons play an important role in various stages of the star formation process. By following the magnetic field of their environment and interacting with neutral species, they slow down the gravitational collapse of the proto-star envelope. This process (known as ambipolar diffusion) depends on the ionisation degree, which can be derived from the HCO+abundance. We present a study of HCO+and its isotopologues (H13CO+, HC18O+, DCO+, and D13CO+) in the low-mass proto-star IRAS16293-2422. The structure of this object is complex, and the HCO+emission arises from the contribution of a young NW-SE outflow, the proto-stellar envelope and the foreground cloud. We aim at constraining the physical parameters of these structures using all the observed transitions. For the young NW-SE outflow, we derive Tkin = 180 - 220 K and n(H2) = (4 - 7) × 106 cm-3 with an HCO+abundance of (3 - 5) × 10-9. Following previous studies, we demonstrate that the presence of a cold (Tkin≤30 K) and low density (n(H2) ≤ 1 × 104 cm-3) foreground cloud is also necessary to reproduce the observed line profiles. We have used the gas-grain chemical code NAUTILUS to derive the HCO+abundance profile across the envelope and the external regions where X(HCO+)≳ 1 × 10-9 dominate the envelope emission. From this, we derive an ionisation degree of 10-8.9 ≲ x(e) ≲ 10-7.9. The ambipolar diffusion timescale is ˜5 times the free-fall timescale, indicating that the magnetic field starts to support the source against gravitational collapse and the magnetic field strength is estimated to be 6 - 46 μG.

  12. Cloning, characterization, and chromosomal mapping of a human electroneutral Na(+)-driven Cl-HCO3 exchanger.

    PubMed

    Grichtchenko, I I; Choi, I; Zhong, X; Bray-Ward, P; Russell, J M; Boron, W F

    2001-03-16

    The electroneutral Na(+)-driven Cl-HCO3 exchanger is a key mechanism for regulating intracellular pH (pH(i)) in neurons, glia, and other cells. Here we report the cloning, tissue distribution, chromosomal location, and functional characterization of the cDNA of such a transporter (NDCBE1) from human brain (GenBank accession number AF069512). NDCBE1, which encodes 1044 amino acids, is 34% identical to the mammalian anion exchanger (AE2); approximately 50% to the electrogenic Na/HCO3 cotransporter (NBCe1) from salamander, rat, and humans; approximately 73% to mammalian electroneutral Na/HCO3 cotransporters (NBCn1); 71% to mouse NCBE; and 47% to a Na(+)-driven anion exchanger (NDAE1) from Drosophila. Northern blot analysis of NDCBE1 shows a robust approximately 12-kilobase signal in all major regions of human brain and in testis, and weaker signals in kidney and ovary. This human gene (SLC4A8) maps to chromosome 12q13. When expressed in Xenopus oocytes and running in the forward direction, NDCBE1 is electroneutral and mediates increases in both pH(i) and [Na(+)](i) (monitored with microelectrodes) that require HCO3(-) and are blocked by 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS). The pH(i) increase also requires extracellular Na(+). The Na(+):HCO3(-) stoichiometry is 1:2. Forward-running NDCBE1 mediates a 36Cl efflux that requires extracellular Na(+) and HCO3(-) and is blocked by DIDS. Running in reverse, NDCBE1 requires extracellular Cl(-). Thus, NDCBE1 encodes a human, electroneutral Na(+)-driven Cl-HCO3 exchanger.

  13. Stimulatory effect of Coca-Cola on gastroduodenal HCO3- secretion in rats.

    PubMed

    Sasaki, Y; Aihara, E; Ise, F; Kita, K; Takeuchi, K

    2007-10-01

    We examined the effect of various carbonated beverages, especially Coca-Cola, on the HCO3- secretion in the rat stomach and duodenum. Under urethane anaesthesia, a chambered stomach or a proximal duodenal loop was perfused with saline, and HCO3- secretion was measured at pH 7.0 using a pH-stat method and by adding 2 mM HCl. The amount of CO2 contained in these beverages was about 4-7 g/mL. Coca-Cola topically applied to the mucosa for 10 min significantly increased the HCO3- secretion in both the stomach and the duodenum. The HCO3- response in the duodenum was totally abolished by indomethacin and also partially inhibited by acetazolamide, an inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase. Likewise, the response in the stomach was also markedly inhibited by either acetazolamide or indomethacin. The mucosal application of Coca-Cola increased the PGE2 contents in both the stomach and the duodenum. Other carbonated beverages, such as sparkling water, Fanta Grape or cider, also increased the HCO3- secretion in these tissues. These results suggest that Coca-Cola induces HCO3- secretion in both the stomach and the duodenum, and these responses may be attributable to both the intracellular supply of HCO3- generated via carbonic anhydrase, and endogenous PGs, probably related to the acidic pH of the solution.

  14. Reassessment of the transport mechanism of the human zinc transporter SLC39A2.

    PubMed

    Franz, Marie Christine; Pujol-Gimenez, Jonai; Montalbetti, Nicolas; Fernandez-Tenorio, Miguel; DeGrado, Timothy R; Niggli, Ernst; Romero, Michael F; Hediger, Matthias A

    2018-05-23

    The human zinc transporter SLC39A2, also known as ZIP2, was shown to mediate zinc transport that could be inhibited at pH values below 7.0 and stimulated by HCO3-, suggesting a Zn2+/HCO3- cotransport mechanism (1). In contrast, recent experiments in our laboratory indicated that the functional activity of ZIP2 increases at acidic pH (2). The present study was therefore designed to reexamine the findings on the pH-dependence and to extend the functional characterization of ZIP2. Our current results show that ZIP2-mediated transport is modulated by extracellular pH, but independent of the H+ driving force. Also, in our experiments, ZIP2-mediated transport is not modulated by extracellular HCO3-. Moreover, high extracellular [K+], which induces depolarization, inhibited ZIP2-mediated transport, indicating that the transport mechanism is voltage-dependent. We also show that ZIP2-mediates the uptake of Cd2+ (Km~ 1.57 µM) in a pH-dependent manner (KH+ of ~66 nM). Cd2+ transport is inhibited by extracellular [Zn2+] (IC50~ 0.32 µM), [Cu2+] (IC50~ 1.81 µM) and to a lower extend by [Co2+], but not by [Mn2+] or [Ba2+]. Fe2+ is not transported by ZIP2. Accordingly, the substrate selectivity of ZIP2 decreases in the order Zn2+ > Cd2+ ≥ Cu2+ > Co2+. Altogether, we propose that ZIP2 is a facilitated divalent metal ion transporter that can be modulated by extracellular pH and membrane potential. Given that ZIP2 expression has been reported in acidic environments (3-5), we suggest that the herein described H+-mediated regulatory mechanism might be important to determine the velocity and direction of the transport process.

  15. Vibrio cholerae ACE stimulates Ca(2+)-dependent Cl(-)/HCO(3)(-) secretion in T84 cells in vitro.

    PubMed

    Trucksis, M; Conn, T L; Wasserman, S S; Sears, C L

    2000-09-01

    ACE, accessory cholera enterotoxin, the third enterotoxin in Vibrio cholerae, has been reported to increase short-circuit current (I(sc)) in rabbit ileum and to cause fluid secretion in ligated rabbit ileal loops. We studied the ACE-induced change in I(sc) and potential difference (PD) in T84 monolayers mounted in modified Ussing chambers, an in vitro model of a Cl(-) secretory cell. ACE added to the apical surface alone stimulated a rapid increase in I(sc) and PD that was concentration dependent and immediately reversed when the toxin was removed. Ion replacement studies established that the current was dependent on Cl(-) and HCO(3)(-). ACE acted synergistically with the Ca(2+)-dependent acetylcholine analog, carbachol, to stimulate secretion in T84 monolayers. In contrast, the secretory response to cAMP or cGMP agonists was not enhanced by ACE. The ACE-stimulated secretion was dependent on extracellular and intracellular Ca(2+) but was not associated with an increase in intracellular cyclic nucleotides. We conclude that the mechanism of secretion by ACE involves Ca(2+) as a second messenger and that this toxin stimulates a novel Ca(2+)-dependent synergy.

  16. Molecular Mechanism of Pancreatic and Salivary Glands Fluid and HCO3− Secretion

    PubMed Central

    Lee, Min Goo; Ohana, Ehud; Park, Hyun Woo; Yang, Dongki; Muallem, Shmuel

    2013-01-01

    Fluid and HCO3− secretion is a vital function of all epithelia and is required for the survival of the tissue. Aberrant fluid and HCO3− secretion is associated with many epithelial diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, pancreatitis, Sjögren’s syndrome and other epithelial inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Significant progress has been made over the last 20 years in our understanding of epithelial fluid and HCO3− secretion, in particular by secretory glands. Fluid and HCO3− secretion by secretory glands is a two step process. Acinar cells secrete isotonic fluid in which the major salt is NaCl. Subsequently, the duct modifies the volume and electrolyte composition of the fluid to absorb the Cl− and secrete HCO3−. The relative volume secreted by acinar and duct cells and modification of electrolyte composition of the secreted fluids varies among secretory glands to meet their physiological functions. In the pancreas, acinar cells secrete small amount of NaCl-rich fluid, while the duct absorbs the Cl− and secretes HCO3− and the bulk of the fluid in the pancreatic juice. Fluid secretion appears to be driven by active HCO3− secretion. In the salivary glands, acinar cells secrete the bulk of the fluid in the saliva that contains high concentrations of Na+ and Cl− and fluid secretion is mediated by active Cl− secretion. The salivary glands duct absorbs both the Na+ and Cl− and secretes K+ and HCO3−. In this review, we focus on the molecular mechanism of fluid and HCO3− secretion by the pancreas and salivary glands, to highlight the similarities of the fundamental mechanisms of acinar and duct cell functions, and point the differences to meet glands specific secretions. PMID:22298651

  17. Differential activation of the HCO3− conductance through the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator anion channel by genistein and forskolin in murine duodenum

    PubMed Central

    Tuo, Biguang; Wen, Guorong; Seidler, Ursula

    2009-01-01

    Background and purpose: Many cystic fibrosis (CF)-associated mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) anion channels affect CFTR-activated HCO3− transport more than Cl− transport. Targeting the CFTR HCO3− conductance, if possible, may therefore be of major therapeutic benefit. In the present study, we examined the effects of genistein and forskolin on duodenal mucosal HCO3− and Cl− secretion. Experimental approach: Murine duodenal mucosal HCO3− and Cl− secretions were examined in vitro in Ussing chambers by the pH stat and short circuit current (Isc) techniques. Key results: Genistein markedly stimulated duodenal HCO3− secretion and Isc in a dose-dependent manner in CFTR wild-type mice, but not in CFTR null mice. CFTRinh-172, a highly specific CFTR inhibitor, inhibited genistein-stimulated duodenal HCO3− secretion and Isc in wild-type mice. Genistein induced 59% net HCO3− increase and 123% net Isc increase over basal value, whereas forskolin, an activator of adenylate cyclase, induced 94% net HCO3− increase and 507% net Isc increase, indicating that, compared with forskolin, genistein induced a relatively high HCO3−/Isc ratio. Further data showed that CFTR HCO3−/Cl− conductance ratio was 1.05 after genistein stimulation, whereas after forskolin stimulation, the CFTR HCO3−/Cl− conductance ratio was 0.27. Conclusions and implications: Genistein stimulates duodenal HCO3− and Cl− secretion through CFTR, and has a relatively high selectivity for the CFTR HCO3− conductance, compared with forskolin. This may indicate the feasibility of selective targeting of the HCO3− conductance of the CFTR channels. PMID:19788494

  18. Strong shift from HCO3 (-) to CO 2 uptake in Emiliania huxleyi with acidification: new approach unravels acclimation versus short-term pH effects.

    PubMed

    Kottmeier, Dorothee M; Rokitta, Sebastian D; Tortell, Philippe D; Rost, Björn

    2014-09-01

    Effects of ocean acidification on Emiliania huxleyi strain RCC 1216 (calcifying, diploid life-cycle stage) and RCC 1217 (non-calcifying, haploid life-cycle stage) were investigated by measuring growth, elemental composition, and production rates under different pCO2 levels (380 and 950 μatm). In these differently acclimated cells, the photosynthetic carbon source was assessed by a (14)C disequilibrium assay, conducted over a range of ecologically relevant pH values (7.9-8.7). In agreement with previous studies, we observed decreased calcification and stimulated biomass production in diploid cells under high pCO2, but no CO2-dependent changes in biomass production for haploid cells. In both life-cycle stages, the relative contributions of CO2 and HCO3 (-) uptake depended strongly on the assay pH. At pH values ≤ 8.1, cells preferentially used CO2 (≥ 90 % CO2), whereas at pH values ≥ 8.3, cells progressively increased the fraction of HCO3 (-) uptake (~45 % CO2 at pH 8.7 in diploid cells; ~55 % CO2 at pH 8.5 in haploid cells). In contrast to the short-term effect of the assay pH, the pCO2 acclimation history had no significant effect on the carbon uptake behavior. A numerical sensitivity study confirmed that the pH-modification in the (14)C disequilibrium method yields reliable results, provided that model parameters (e.g., pH, temperature) are kept within typical measurement uncertainties. Our results demonstrate a high plasticity of E. huxleyi to rapidly adjust carbon acquisition to the external carbon supply and/or pH, and provide an explanation for the paradoxical observation of high CO2 sensitivity despite the apparently high HCO3 (-) usage seen in previous studies.

  19. DNA Methylation Influences Chlorogenic Acid Biosynthesis in Lonicera japonica by Mediating LjbZIP8 to Regulate Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase 2 Expression.

    PubMed

    Zha, Liangping; Liu, Shuang; Liu, Juan; Jiang, Chao; Yu, Shulin; Yuan, Yuan; Yang, Jian; Wang, Yaolong; Huang, Luqi

    2017-01-01

    The content of active compounds differ in buds and flowers of Lonicera japonica (FLJ) and L. japonica var. chinensis (rFLJ). Chlorogenic acid (CGAs) were major active compounds of L. japonica and regarded as measurements for quality evaluation. However, little is known concerning the formation of active compounds at the molecular level. We quantified the major CGAs in FLJ and rFLJ, and found the concentrations of CGAs were higher in the buds of rFLJ than those of FLJ. Further analysis of CpG methylation of CGAs biosynthesis genes showed differences between FLJ and rFLJ in the 5'-UTR of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase 2 ( PAL2 ). We identified 11 LjbZIP proteins and 24 rLjbZIP proteins with conserved basic leucine zipper domains, subcellular localization, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that the transcription factor LjbZIP8 is a nuclear-localized protein that specifically binds to the G-box element of the LjPAL2 5'-UTR. Additionally, a transactivation assay and LjbZIP8 overexpression in transgenic tobacco indicated that LjbZIP8 could function as a repressor of transcription. Finally, treatment with 5-azacytidine decreased the transcription level of LjPAL2 and CGAs content in FLJ leaves. These results raise the possibility that DNA methylation might influence the recruitment of LjbZIP8, regulating PAL2 expression level and CGAs content in L. japonica .

  20. DNA Methylation Influences Chlorogenic Acid Biosynthesis in Lonicera japonica by Mediating LjbZIP8 to Regulate Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase 2 Expression

    PubMed Central

    Zha, Liangping; Liu, Shuang; Liu, Juan; Jiang, Chao; Yu, Shulin; Yuan, Yuan; Yang, Jian; Wang, Yaolong; Huang, Luqi

    2017-01-01

    The content of active compounds differ in buds and flowers of Lonicera japonica (FLJ) and L. japonica var. chinensis (rFLJ). Chlorogenic acid (CGAs) were major active compounds of L. japonica and regarded as measurements for quality evaluation. However, little is known concerning the formation of active compounds at the molecular level. We quantified the major CGAs in FLJ and rFLJ, and found the concentrations of CGAs were higher in the buds of rFLJ than those of FLJ. Further analysis of CpG methylation of CGAs biosynthesis genes showed differences between FLJ and rFLJ in the 5′-UTR of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase 2 (PAL2). We identified 11 LjbZIP proteins and 24 rLjbZIP proteins with conserved basic leucine zipper domains, subcellular localization, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that the transcription factor LjbZIP8 is a nuclear-localized protein that specifically binds to the G-box element of the LjPAL2 5′-UTR. Additionally, a transactivation assay and LjbZIP8 overexpression in transgenic tobacco indicated that LjbZIP8 could function as a repressor of transcription. Finally, treatment with 5-azacytidine decreased the transcription level of LjPAL2 and CGAs content in FLJ leaves. These results raise the possibility that DNA methylation might influence the recruitment of LjbZIP8, regulating PAL2 expression level and CGAs content in L. japonica. PMID:28740500

  1. Removing polysaccharides-and saccharides-related coloring impurities in alkyl polyglycosides by bleaching with the H2O2/TAED/NaHCO3 system.

    PubMed

    Yanmei, Liu; Jinliang, Tao; Jiao, Sun; Wenyi, Chen

    2014-11-04

    The effect of H2O2/TAED/NaHCO3 system, namely NaHCO3 as alkaline agent with the (tetra acetyl ethylene diamine (TAED)) TAED-activated peroxide system, bleaching of alkyl polyglycosides solution was studied by spectrophotometry. The results showed that the optimal bleaching conditions about H2O2/TAED/NaHCO3 system bleaching of alkyl polyglycosides solution were as follows: molar ratio of TAED to H2O2 was 0.06, addition of H2O2 was 8.6%, addition of NaHCO3 was 3.2%, bleaching temperature of 50-65 °C, addition of MgO was 0.13%, and bleaching time was 8h. If too much amount of NaHCO3 was added to the system and maintained alkaline pH, the bleaching effect would be greatly reduced. Fixing molar ratio of TAED to H2O2 and increasing the amount of H2O2 were beneficial to improve the whiteness of alkyl polyglycosides, but adding too much amount of H2O2 would reduce the transparency. In the TAED-activated peroxide system, NaHCO3 as alkaline agent and buffer agent, could overcome the disadvantage of producing black precipitates when NaOH as alkaline agent. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. Wide temperature range (T = 295 K and 770-1305 K) study of the kinetics of the reactions HCO + NO and HCO + NO2 using frequency modulation spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Dammeier, J; Colberg, M; Friedrichs, G

    2007-08-21

    The rate constants for , HCO + NO --> HNO + CO, and , HCO + NO(2)--> products, have been measured at temperatures between 770 K < T < 1305 K behind reflected shock waves and, for the purpose of a consistency check, in a slow flow reactor at room temperature. HCO radicals were generated by 193 nm excimer laser photolysis of diluted gas mixtures containing glyoxal, (CHO)(2), and NO or NO(2) in argon and were monitored using frequency modulation (FM) absorption spectroscopy. Kinetic simulations based on a comprehensive reaction mechanism showed that the rate constants for the title reactions could be sensitively extracted from the measured HCO profiles. The determined high temperature rate constants are k(1)(769-1307 K) = (7.1 +/- 2.7) x 10(12) cm(3) mol(-1) s(-1) and k(2)(804-1186 K) = (3.3 +/- 1.8) x 10(13) cm(3) mol(-1) s(-1). The room temperature values were found to be in very good agreement with existing literature data and show that both reactions are essentially temperature independent. The weak temperature dependence of can be explained by the interplay of a dominating direct abstraction pathway and a complex-forming mechanism. Both pathways yield the products HNO + CO. In contrast to , no evidence for a significant contribution of a direct high temperature abstraction channel was found for . Here, the observed temperature independent overall rate constant can be described by a complex-forming mechanism with several product channels. Detailed information on the strongly temperature dependent channel branching ratios is provided. Moreover, the high temperature rate constant of , OH + (CHO)(2), has been determined to be k(7) approximately 1.1 x 10(13) cm(3) mol(-1) s(-1).

  3. Sucrose-mediated transcriptional regulation of sucrose symporter activity in the phloem.

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Matt Vaughn Greg Harrington Daniel R Bush

    2002-08-06

    This project was based on our discovery that sucrose acts as a signaling molecule that regulates the activity of a proton-sucrose symporter in sugar beet leaf tissue. A major objective here was determining how sucrose transporter activity is being regulated. When sucrose accumulates in the phloem sucrose transport activity drops dramatically. Western blots of plasma membrane proteins isolated from sucrose treated leaves showed that the loss of sucrose transport activity was proportional to a decline in symporter abundance, demonstrating that sucrose transport is regulated by changes in the amount of BvSUT1 protein. BvSUT1 transcript levels decreased in parallel with themore » loss of sucrose transport activity. Nuclear run-on experiments demonstrated that BvSUT1 gene transcription was repressed significantly in nuclei from leaves fed 100 mM exogenous sucrose, showing that sucrose-dependent modulation of BvSUT1 mRNA levels is mediated by changes in transcription. To identify which secondary messenger systems might be involved in regulating symporter activity, we used a variety of pharmacological agents to probe for a role of calcium or protein phosphorylation in sucrose signaling. In a detailed analysis, only okadaic acid altered sucrose transport activity. These results suggest a protein phosphatase is involved. We hypothesized that protein kinase inhibitors would have a neutral affect or increase symporter transcription. Transpirational feeding of the protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine had no impact on sucrose transport while calphostin C, an inhibitor of protein kinase C, caused a 60% increase. These data provided good evidence that protein phosphorylation plays a central role in regulating sucrose symporter expression and sucrose transport activity. To determine whether protein phosphorylation is involved in sucrose regulation of proton-sucrose symporter activity, we pre-fed leaves with staurosporine for 4 h and then fed the treated leaves water or 100 m

  4. H2S-induced HCO3- secretion in the rat stomach--involvement of nitric oxide, prostaglandins, and capsaicin-sensitive sensory neurons.

    PubMed

    Takeuchi, Koji; Ise, Fumitaka; Takahashi, Kento; Aihara, Eitaro; Hayashi, Shusaku

    2015-04-30

    Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is known to be an important gaseous mediator that affects various functions under physiological and pathological conditions. We examined the effects of NaHS, a H2S donor, on HCO3(-) secretion in rat stomachs and investigated the mechanism involved in this response. Under urethane anesthesia, rat stomachs were mounted on an ex vivo chamber and perfused with saline. Acid secretion had been inhibited by omeprazole. The secretion of HCO3(-) was measured at pH 7.0 using a pH-stat method and by the addition of 10 mM HCl. NaHS (0.5-10 mM) was perfused in the stomach for 5 min. Indomethacin or L-NAME was administered s.c. before NaHS treatment, while glibenclamide (a KATP channel blocker), ONO-8711 (an EP1 antagonist), or propargylglycine (a cystathionine γ-lyase inhibitor) was given i.p. before. The mucosal perfusion of NaHS dose-dependently increased the secretion of HCO3(-), and this effect was significantly attenuated by indomethacin, L-NAME, and sensory deafferentation, but not by glibenclamide or ONO-8711. The luminal output of nitric oxide, but not the mucosal production of prostaglandin E2, was increased by the perfusion of NaHS. Mucosal acidification stimulated HCO3(-) secretion, and this response was inhibited by sensory deafferentation, indomethacin, L-NAME, and ONO-8711, but not by propargylglycine. These results suggested that H2S increased HCO3(-) secretion in the stomach, and this effect was mediated by capsaicin-sensitive afferent neurons and dependent on nitric oxide and prostaglandins, but not ATP-sensitive K(+) channels. Further study is needed to define the role of endogenous H2S in the mechanism underlying acid-induced gastric HCO3(-) secretion. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. Secretagogue stimulation enhances NBCe1 (electrogenic Na(+)/HCO(3)(-) cotransporter) surface expression in murine colonic crypts.

    PubMed

    Yu, Haoyang; Riederer, Brigitte; Stieger, Nicole; Boron, Walter F; Shull, Gary E; Manns, Michael P; Seidler, Ursula E; Bachmann, Oliver

    2009-12-01

    A Na(+)/HCO(3)(-) cotransporter (NBC) is located in the basolateral membrane of the gastrointestinal epithelium, where it imports HCO(3)(-) during stimulated anion secretion. Having previously demonstrated secretagogue activation of NBC in murine colonic crypts, we now asked whether vesicle traffic and exocytosis are involved in this process. Electrogenic NBCe1-B was expressed at significantly higher levels than electroneutral NBCn1 in colonic crypts as determined by QRT-PCR. In cell surface biotinylation experiments, a time-dependent increase in biotinylated NBCe1 was observed, which occurred with a peak of +54.8% after 20 min with forskolin (P < 0.05) and more rapidly with a peak of +59.8% after 10 min with carbachol (P < 0.05) and which corresponded well with the time course of secretagogue-stimulated colonic bicarbonate secretion in Ussing chamber experiments. Accordingly, in isolated colonic crypts pretreated with forskolin and carbachol for 10 min, respectively, and subjected to immunohistochemistry, the NBCe1 signal showed a markedly stronger colocalization with the E-cadherin signal, which was used as a membrane marker, compared with the untreated control. Cytochalasin D did not change the observed increase in membrane abundance, whereas colchicine alone enhanced NBCe1 membrane expression without an additional increase after carbachol or forskolin, and LY294002 had a marked inhibitory effect. Taken together, our results demonstrate a secretagogue-induced increase of NBCe1 membrane expression. Vesicle traffic and exocytosis might thus represent a novel mechanism of intestinal NBC activation by secretagogues.

  6. Abscisic-acid-dependent basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors in plant abiotic stress.

    PubMed

    Banerjee, Aditya; Roychoudhury, Aryadeep

    2017-01-01

    One of the major causes of significant crop loss throughout the world is the myriad of environmental stresses including drought, salinity, cold, heavy metal toxicity, and ultraviolet-B (UV-B) rays. Plants as sessile organisms have evolved various effective mechanism which enable them to withstand this plethora of stresses. Most of such regulatory mechanisms usually follow the abscisic-acid (ABA)-dependent pathway. In this review, we have primarily focussed on the basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors (TFs) activated by the ABA-mediated signalosome. Upon perception of ABA by specialized receptors, the signal is transduced via various groups of Ser/Thr kinases, which phosphorylate the bZIP TFs. Following such post-translational modification of TFs, they are activated so that they bind to specific cis-acting sequences called abscisic-acid-responsive elements (ABREs) or GC-rich coupling elements (CE), thereby influencing the expression of their target downstream genes. Several in silico techniques have been adopted so far to predict the structural features, recognize the regulatory modification sites, undergo phylogenetic analyses, and facilitate genome-wide survey of TF under multiple stresses. Current investigations on the epigenetic regulation that controls greater accessibility of the inducible regions of DNA of the target gene to the bZIP TFs exclusively under stress situations, along with the evolved stress memory responses via genomic imprinting mechanism, have been highlighted. The potentiality of overexpression of bZIP TFs, either in a homologous or in a heterologous background, in generating transgenic plants tolerant to various abiotic stressors have also been addressed by various groups. The present review will provide a coherent documentation on the functional characterization and regulation of bZIP TFs under multiple environmental stresses, with the major goal of generating multiple-stress-tolerant plant cultivars in near future.

  7. H2CO3 forms via HCO3- in water.

    PubMed

    Stirling, András; Pápai, Imre

    2010-12-23

    According to the generally accepted picture of CO(2) dissolution in water, the formation of H(2)CO(3) proceeds in a single step that involves the attack of a water oxygen on the CO(2) carbon in concert with a proton transfer to a CO(2) oxygen. In the present work, a series of ab initio molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out along with the metadynamics technique which reveals a stepwise mechanism: the reaction of a water molecule with CO(2) yields HCO(3)(-) as an intermediate and a hydronium ion, whereas the protonation of the CO(2) moiety occurs in a separate step representing a well-defined activation barrier toward the H(2)CO(3) molecule. This alternative scenario was already taken into consideration decades ago, but subsequent experiments and calculations have given preference to the concerted mechanism. Employing extended periodic models of the CO(2)-water system that mimic the bulk aqueous environment, the present simulations yield the complete free energy profile of the stepwise mechanism and provide a detailed microscopic mechanism of the elementary steps. HCO(3)(-) formation is found to be the rate-determining step of the entire CO(2) hydration process.

  8. Essential role of carbonic anhydrase XII in secretory gland fluid and HCO3 (-) secretion revealed by disease causing human mutation.

    PubMed

    Hong, Jeong Hee; Muhammad, Emad; Zheng, Changyu; Hershkovitz, Eli; Alkrinawi, Soliman; Loewenthal, Neta; Parvari, Ruti; Muallem, Shmuel

    2015-12-15

    Fluid and HCO3 (-) secretion is essential for all epithelia; aberrant secretion is associated with several diseases. Carbonic anhydrase XII (CA12) is the key carbonic anhydrase in epithelial fluid and HCO3 (-) secretion and works by activating the ductal Cl(-) -HCO3 (-) exchanger AE2. Delivery of CA12 to salivary glands increases salivation in mice and of the human mutation CA12(E143K) markedly inhibits it. The human mutation CA12(E143K) causes disease due to aberrant CA12 glycosylation, and misfolding resulting in loss of AE2 activity. Aberrant epithelial fluid and HCO3 (-) secretion is associated with many diseases. The activity of HCO3 (-) transporters depends of HCO3 (-) availability that is determined by carbonic anhydrases (CAs). Which CAs are essential for epithelial function is unknown. CA12 stands out since the CA12(E143K) mutation causes salt wasting in sweat and dehydration in humans. Here, we report that expression of CA12 and of CA12(E143K) in mice salivary glands respectively increased and prominently inhibited ductal fluid secretion and salivation in vivo. CA12 markedly increases the activity and is the major HCO3 (-) supplier of ductal Cl(-) -HCO3 (-) exchanger AE2, but not of NBCe1-B. The E143K mutation alters CA12 glycosylation at N28 and N80, resulting in retention of the basolateral CA12 in the ER. Knockdown of AE2 and of CA12 inhibited pancreatic and salivary gland ductal AE2 activity and fluid secretion. Accordingly, patients homozygous for the CA12(E143K) mutation have a dry mouth, dry tongue phenotype. These findings reveal an unsuspected prominent role of CA12 in epithelial function, explain the disease and call for caution in the use of CA12 inhibitors in cancer treatment. © 2015 The Authors. The Journal of Physiology © 2015 The Physiological Society.

  9. A ZIP6-ZIP10 heteromer controls NCAM1 phosphorylation and integration into focal adhesion complexes during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

    PubMed

    Brethour, Dylan; Mehrabian, Mohadeseh; Williams, Declan; Wang, Xinzhu; Ghodrati, Farinaz; Ehsani, Sepehr; Rubie, Elizabeth A; Woodgett, James R; Sevalle, Jean; Xi, Zhengrui; Rogaeva, Ekaterina; Schmitt-Ulms, Gerold

    2017-01-18

    The prion protein (PrP) evolved from the subbranch of ZIP metal ion transporters comprising ZIPs 5, 6 and 10, raising the prospect that the study of these ZIPs may reveal insights relevant for understanding the function of PrP. Building on data which suggested PrP and ZIP6 are critical during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), we investigated ZIP6 in an EMT paradigm using ZIP6 knockout cells, mass spectrometry and bioinformatic methods. Reminiscent of PrP, ZIP6 levels are five-fold upregulated during EMT and the protein forms a complex with NCAM1. ZIP6 also interacts with ZIP10 and the two ZIP transporters exhibit interdependency during their expression. ZIP6 contributes to the integration of NCAM1 in focal adhesion complexes but, unlike cells lacking PrP, ZIP6 deficiency does not abolish polysialylation of NCAM1. Instead, ZIP6 mediates phosphorylation of NCAM1 on a cluster of cytosolic acceptor sites. Substrate consensus motif features and in vitro phosphorylation data point toward GSK3 as the kinase responsible, and interface mapping experiments identified histidine-rich cytoplasmic loops within the ZIP6/ZIP10 heteromer as a novel scaffold for GSK3 binding. Our data suggests that PrP and ZIP6 inherited the ability to interact with NCAM1 from their common ZIP ancestors but have since diverged to control distinct posttranslational modifications of NCAM1.

  10. High sodium intake increases HCO3− absorption in medullary thick ascending limb through adaptations in basolateral and apical Na+/H+ exchangers

    PubMed Central

    George, Thampi; Watts, Bruns A.

    2011-01-01

    A high sodium intake increases the capacity of the medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL) to absorb HCO3−. Here, we examined the role of the apical NHE3 and basolateral NHE1 Na+/H+ exchangers in this adaptation. MTALs from rats drinking H2O or 0.28 M NaCl for 5–7 days were perfused in vitro. High sodium intake increased HCO3− absorption rate by 60%. The increased HCO3− absorptive capacity was mediated by an increase in apical NHE3 activity. Inhibiting basolateral NHE1 with bath amiloride eliminated 60% of the adaptive increase in HCO3− absorption. Thus the majority of the increase in NHE3 activity was dependent on NHE1. A high sodium intake increased basolateral Na+/H+ exchange activity by 89% in association with an increase in NHE1 expression. High sodium intake increased apical Na+/H+ exchange activity by 30% under conditions in which basolateral Na+/H+ exchange was inhibited but did not change NHE3 abundance. These results suggest that high sodium intake increases HCO3− absorptive capacity in the MTAL through 1) an adaptive increase in basolateral NHE1 activity that results secondarily in an increase in apical NHE3 activity; and 2) an adaptive increase in NHE3 activity, independent of NHE1 activity. These studies support a role for NHE1 in the long-term regulation of renal tubule function and suggest that the regulatory interaction whereby NHE1 enhances the activity of NHE3 in the MTAL plays a role in the chronic regulation of HCO3− absorption. The adaptive increases in Na+/H+ exchange activity and HCO3− absorption in the MTAL may play a role in enabling the kidneys to regulate acid-base balance during changes in sodium and volume balance. PMID:21613418

  11. HCO3(-) secretion by murine nasal submucosal gland serous acinar cells during Ca2+-stimulated fluid secretion.

    PubMed

    Lee, Robert J; Harlow, Janice M; Limberis, Maria P; Wilson, James M; Foskett, J Kevin

    2008-07-01

    )(-) during Ca(2+)-evoked fluid secretion by a mechanism that involves the apical membrane secretory Cl(-) channel, with HCO(3)(-) secretion sustained by activation of NHE1 in the basolateral membrane. In addition, other Na(+)-dependent pH(i) regulatory mechanisms exist, as evidenced by stronger inhibition of alkalinization in Na(+)-free media.

  12. LiZIP3 is a cellular zinc transporter that mediates the tightly regulated import of zinc in Leishmania infantum parasites

    PubMed Central

    Carvalho, Sandra; da Silva, Rosa Barreira; Shawki, Ali; Castro, Helena; Lamy, Márcia; Eide, David; Costa, Vítor; Mackenzie, Bryan; Tomás, Ana M.

    2016-01-01

    Summary Cellular zinc homeostasis ensures that the intracellular concentration of this element is kept within limits that enable its participation in critical physiological processes without exerting toxic effects. We report here the identification and characterization of the first mediator of zinc homeostasis in Leishmania infantum, LiZIP3, a member of the ZIP family of divalent metal-ion transporters. The zinc transporter activity of LiZIP3 was first disclosed by its capacity to rescue the growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains deficient in zinc acquisition. Subsequent expression of LiZIP3 in Xenopus laevis oocytes was shown to stimulate the uptake of a broad range of metal ions, among which Zn2+ was the preferred LiZIP3 substrate (K0.5 ≈ 0.1 μM). Evidence that LiZIP3 functions as a zinc importer in L. infantum came from the observations that the protein locates to the cell membrane and that its overexpression leads to augmented zinc internalization. Importantly, expression and cell-surface location of LiZIP3 are lost when parasites face high zinc bioavailability. LiZIP3 decline in response to zinc is regulated at the mRNA level in a process involving (a) short-lived protein(s). Collectively, our data reveal that LiZIP3 enables L. infantum to acquire zinc in a highly regulated manner, hence contributing to zinc homeostasis. PMID:25644708

  13. The Balance of HCO3- Secretion vs. Reabsorption in the Endometrial Epithelium Regulates Uterine Fluid pH

    PubMed Central

    Xie, Zhang-Dong; Guo, Yi-Min; Ren, Mei-Juan; Yang, Jichun; Wang, Shao-Fang; Xu, Tong-Hui; Chen, Li-Ming; Liu, Ying

    2018-01-01

    Uterine fluid contains a high concentration of HCO3- which plays an essential role in sperm capacitation and fertilization. In addition, the HCO3- concentration in uterine fluid changes periodically during the estrous cycle. It is well-known that the endometrial epithelium contains machineries involving the apical SLC26 family anion exchangers for secreting HCO3- into the uterine fluid. In the present study, we find for the first time that the electroneutral Na+/HCO3- cotransporter NBCn1 is expressed at the apical membrane of the endometrial epithelium. The protein abundance of the apical NBCn1 and that of the apical SLC26A4 and SLC26A6 are reciprocally regulated during the estrous cycle in the uterus. NBCn1 is most abundant at diestrus, whereas SLC26A4/A6 are most abundant at proestrus/estrus. In the ovariectomized mice, the expression of uterine NBCn1 is inhibited by β-estradiol, but stimulated by progesterone, whereas that of uterine SLC26A4/A6 is stimulated by β-estradiol. In vivo perfusion studies show that the endometrial epithelium is capable of both secreting and reabsorbing HCO3-. Moreover, the activity for HCO3- secretion by the endometrial epithelium is significantly higher at estrus than it is at diestrus. The opposite is true for HCO3- reabsorption. We conclude that the endometrial epithelium simultaneously contains the activity for HCO3- secretion involving the apical SLC26A4/A6 and the activity for HCO3- reabsorption involving the apical NBCn1, and that the acid-base homeostasis in the uterine fluid is regulated by the finely-tuned balance of the two activities. PMID:29422866

  14. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors modify intracellular pH transients and contractions of rat middle cerebral arteries during CO2/HCO3- fluctuations.

    PubMed

    Rasmussen, Jacob K; Boedtkjer, Ebbe

    2018-03-01

    The CO 2 /HCO 3 - buffer minimizes pH changes in response to acid-base loads, HCO 3 - provides substrate for Na + ,HCO 3 - -cotransporters and Cl - /HCO 3 - -exchangers, and H + and HCO 3 - modify vasomotor responses during acid-base disturbances. We show here that rat middle cerebral arteries express cytosolic, mitochondrial, extracellular, and secreted carbonic anhydrase isoforms that catalyze equilibration of the CO 2 /HCO 3 - buffer. Switching from CO 2 /HCO 3 - -free to CO 2 /HCO 3 - -containing extracellular solution results in initial intracellular acidification due to hydration of CO 2 followed by gradual alkalinization due to cellular HCO 3 - uptake. Carbonic anhydrase inhibition decelerates the initial acidification and attenuates the associated transient vasoconstriction without affecting intracellular pH or artery tone at steady-state. Na + ,HCO 3 - -cotransport and Na + /H + -exchange activity after NH 4 + -prepulse-induced intracellular acidification are unaffected by carbonic anhydrase inhibition. Extracellular surface pH transients induced by transmembrane NH 3 flux are evident under CO 2 /HCO 3 - -free conditions but absent when the buffer capacity and apparent H + mobility increase in the presence of CO 2 /HCO 3 - even after the inhibition of carbonic anhydrases. We conclude that (a) intracellular carbonic anhydrase activity accentuates pH transients and vasoconstriction in response to acute elevations of pCO 2 , (b) CO 2 /HCO 3 - minimizes extracellular surface pH transients without requiring carbonic anhydrase activity, and (c) carbonic anhydrases are not rate limiting for acid-base transport across cell membranes during recovery from intracellular acidification.

  15. Evidence for the role of a Na(+)/HCO(3)(-) cotransporter in trout hepatocyte pHi regulation.

    PubMed

    Furimsky, M; Moon, T W; Perry, S F

    2000-07-01

    The mechanisms of intracellular pH (pHi) regulation were examined in hepatocytes of the rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. pHi was monitored using the pH-sensitive fluorescent dye BCECF, and the effects of various media and pharmacological agents were examined for their influence on baseline pHi and recovery rates from acid and base loading. Rates of Na(+) uptake were measured using (22)Na, and changes in membrane potential were examined using the potentiometric fluorescent dye Oxonol VI. The rate of proton extrusion following acid loading was diminished by the blockade of either Na(+)/H(+) exchange (using amiloride) or anion transport (using DIDS). The removal of external HCO(3)(-) and the abolition of outward K(+) diffusion by the channel blocker Ba(2+) also decreased the rate of proton extrusion following acid load. Depolarization of the cell membrane with 50 mmol l(-)(1) K(+), however, did not affect pHi. The rate of recovery from base loading was significantly diminished by the blockade of anion transport, removal of external HCO(3)(-) and, to a lesser extent, by blocking Na(+)/H(+) exchange. The blockade of K(+) conductance had no effect. The decrease in Na(+) uptake rate observed in the presence of the anion transport blocker DIDS and the DIDS-sensitive hyperpolarization of membrane potential during recovery from acid loading suggest that a Na(+)-dependent electrogenic transport system is involved in the restoration of pHi after intracellular acidification. The effects on baseline pHi indicate that the different membrane exchangers are tonically active in the maintenance of steady-state pHi. This study confirms the roles of a Na(+)/H(+) exchanger and a Cl(-)/HCO(3)(-) exchanger in the regulation of trout hepatocyte pHi and provides new evidence that a Na(+)/HCO(3)(-) cotransporter contributes to pHi regulation.

  16. HIV-1 Vpr Induces the Degradation of ZIP and sZIP, Adaptors of the NuRD Chromatin Remodeling Complex, by Hijacking DCAF1/VprBP

    PubMed Central

    Maudet, Claire; Sourisce, Adèle; Dragin, Loïc; Lahouassa, Hichem; Rain, Jean-Christophe; Bouaziz, Serge; Ramirez, Bertha Cécilia; Margottin-Goguet, Florence

    2013-01-01

    The Vpr protein from type 1 and type 2 Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV-1 and HIV-2) is thought to inactivate several host proteins through the hijacking of the DCAF1 adaptor of the Cul4A ubiquitin ligase. Here, we identified two transcriptional regulators, ZIP and sZIP, as Vpr-binding proteins degraded in the presence of Vpr. ZIP and sZIP have been shown to act through the recruitment of the NuRD chromatin remodeling complex. Strikingly, chromatin is the only cellular fraction where Vpr is present together with Cul4A ubiquitin ligase subunits. Components of the NuRD complex and exogenous ZIP and sZIP were also associated with this fraction. Several lines of evidence indicate that Vpr induces ZIP and sZIP degradation by hijacking DCAF1: (i) Vpr induced a drastic decrease of exogenously expressed ZIP and sZIP in a dose-dependent manner, (ii) this decrease relied on the proteasome activity, (iii) ZIP or sZIP degradation was impaired in the presence of a DCAF1-binding deficient Vpr mutant or when DCAF1 expression was silenced. Vpr-mediated ZIP and sZIP degradation did not correlate with the growth-related Vpr activities, namely G2 arrest and G2 arrest-independent cytotoxicity. Nonetheless, infection with HIV-1 viruses expressing Vpr led to the degradation of the two proteins. Altogether our results highlight the existence of two host transcription factors inactivated by Vpr. The role of Vpr-mediated ZIP and sZIP degradation in the HIV-1 replication cycle remains to be deciphered. PMID:24116224

  17. HCO3− Secretion by Murine Nasal Submucosal Gland Serous Acinar Cells during Ca2+-stimulated Fluid Secretion

    PubMed Central

    Lee, Robert J.; Harlow, Janice M.; Limberis, Maria P.; Wilson, James M.; Foskett, J. Kevin

    2008-01-01

    secretion by a mechanism that involves the apical membrane secretory Cl− channel, with HCO3− secretion sustained by activation of NHE1 in the basolateral membrane. In addition, other Na+-dependent pHi regulatory mechanisms exist, as evidenced by stronger inhibition of alkalinization in Na+-free media. PMID:18591422

  18. Essential role of the electroneutral Na+-HCO3- cotransporter NBCn1 in murine duodenal acid-base balance and colonic mucus layer build-up in vivo.

    PubMed

    Singh, Anurag Kumar; Xia, Weiliang; Riederer, Brigitte; Juric, Marina; Li, Junhua; Zheng, Wen; Cinar, Ayhan; Xiao, Fang; Bachmann, Oliver; Song, Penghong; Praetorius, Jeppe; Aalkjaer, Christian; Seidler, Ursula

    2013-04-15

    Duodenal epithelial cells need efficient defence strategies during gastric acidification of the lumen, while colonic mucosa counteracts damage by pathogens by building up a bacteria-free adherent mucus layer. Transport of HCO3(-) is considered crucial for duodenal defence against acid as well as for mucus release and expansion, but the transport pathways involved are incompletely understood. This study investigated the significance of the electroneutral Na(+)-HCO3(-) cotransporter NBCn1 for duodenal defence against acid and colonic mucus release. NBCn1 was localized to the basolateral membrane of duodenal villous enterocytes and of colonic crypt cells, with predominant expression in goblet cells. Duodenal villous enterocyte intracellular pH was studied before and during a luminal acid load by two-photon microscopy in exteriorized, vascularly perfused, indicator (SNARF-1 AM)-loaded duodenum of isoflurane-anaesthetized, systemic acid-base-controlled mice. Acid-induced HCO3(-) secretion was measured in vivo by single-pass perfusion and pH-stat titration. After a luminal acid load, NBCn1-deficient duodenocytes were unable to recover rapidly from intracellular acidification and could not respond adequately with protective HCO3(-) secretion. In the colon, build-up of the mucus layer was delayed, and a decreased thickness of the adherent mucus layer was observed, suggesting that basolateral HCO3(-) uptake is essential for optimal release of mucus. The electroneutral Na(+)-HCO3(-) cotransporter NBCn1 displays a differential cellular distribution in the murine intestine and is essential for HCO3(-)-dependent mucosal protective functions, such as recovery of intracellular pH and HCO3(-) secretion in the duodenum and secretion of mucus in the colon.

  19. The TAED/H2O2/NaHCO3 system as an approach to low-temperature and near-neutral pH bleaching of cotton.

    PubMed

    Long, Xiaoxia; Xu, Changhai; Du, Jinmei; Fu, Shaohai

    2013-06-05

    A low-temperature and near-neutral pH bleaching system was conceived for cotton by incorporating TAED, H2O2 and NaHCO3. The TAED/H2O2/NaHCO3 system was investigated and optimized for bleaching of cotton using a central composite design (CCD) combined with response surface methodology (RSM). CCD experimental data were fitted to create a response surface quadratic model (RSQM) describing the degree of whiteness of bleached cotton fabric. Analysis of variance for the RSQM revealed that temperature was the most significant variable, followed by [TAED] and time, while [NaHCO3] was insignificant. An effective system was conducted by adding 5.75 g L(-1) TAED together with H2O2 and NaHCO3 at a molar ratio of 1:2.4:2.8 and applied to bleaching of cotton at 70 °C for 40 min. Compared to a commercial bleaching method, the TAED/H2O2/NaHCO3 system provided cotton with comparable degree of whiteness, slightly inferior water absorbency and acceptable dyeability, but had competitive advantage in protecting cotton from severe chemical damage in bleaching. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Stable carbon isotopes of HCO3- in oil-field waters-implications for the origin of CO2

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Carothers, W.W.; Kharaka, Y.K.

    1980-01-01

    The ??13C values of dissolved HCO3- in 75 water samples from 15 oil and gas fields (San Joaquin Valley, Calif., and the Houston-Galveston and Corpus Christi areas of Texas) were determined to study the sources of CO2 of the dissolved species and carbonate cements that modify the porosity and permeability of many petroleum reservoir rocks. The reservoir rocks are sandstones which range in age from Eocene through Miocene. The ??13C values of total HCO3- indicate that the carbon in the dissolved carbonate species and carbonate cements is mainly of organic origin. The range of ??13C values for the HCO3- of these waters is -20-28 per mil relative to PDB. This wide range of ??13C values is explained by three mechanisms. Microbiological degradation of organic matter appears to be the dominant process controlling the extremely low and high ??13C values of HCO3- in the shallow production zones where the subsurface temperatures are less than 80??C. The extremely low ??13C values (< -10 per mil) are obtained in waters where concentrations of SO42- are more than 25 mg/l and probably result from the degradation of organic acid anions by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SO42- + CH3COO- ??? 2HCO3- + HS-). The high ??13C values probably result from the degradation of these anions by methanogenic bacteria (CH3COO- + H2O ai HCO3- + CH4). Thermal decarboxylation of short-chain aliphatic acid anions (principally acetate) to produce CO2 and CH4 is probably the major source of CO2 for production zones with subsurface temperatures greater than 80??C. The ??13C values of HCO3- for waters from zones with temperatures greater than 100??C result from isotopic equilibration between CO2 and CH4. At these high temperatures, ??13C values of HCO3- decrease with increasing temperatures and decreasing concentrations of these acid anions. ?? 1980.

  1. Acquisition of Ca2+ and HCO3−/CO32− for shell formation in embryos of the common pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis

    PubMed Central

    O’Donnell, Michael J.; Grosell, Martin

    2010-01-01

    Embryos of the freshwater common pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis develop to hatch within 10 days under control conditions (22°C, Miami-Dade tap water) and this development is impaired by removal of ambient calcium. In contrast, embryos did not exhibit dependence upon an ambient HCO3−/CO32− source, developing and hatching in HCO3−/CO32−-free water at rates comparable to controls. Post-metamorphic, shell-laying embryos exhibited a significant saturation-type calcium uptake as a function of increasing ambient calcium concentration. However, changes in ambient bicarbonate concentration did not influence calcium or apparent titratable alkalinity uptake. There was a distinct shift from no significant flux in pre-metamorphic embryos to net uptake of calcium in post-metamorphic stages as indicated by an increased uptake from the micro-environment surrounding the egg mass and increased net uptake in 24-h, whole egg mass flux measurements. Furthermore, HCO3−/CO32− acquisition as measured by titratable alkalinity flux is at least partially attributable to an endogenous carbonate source that is associated with acid extrusion. Thus, calcium requirements for embryonic shell formation are met via uptake but HCO3−/CO32−, which is also necessary for shell formation is acquired in part from endogenous sources with no detectable correlation to ambient HCO3−/CO32− availability. PMID:20361194

  2. The effects of hypoxic bradycardia and extracellular HCO3(-)/CO2 on hypoxic performance in the eel heart.

    PubMed

    Joyce, William; Simonsen, Maj; Gesser, Hans; Wang, Tobias

    2016-02-01

    During hypoxia, fishes exhibit a characteristic hypoxic bradycardia, the functional significance of which remains debated. Here, we investigated the hypothesis that hypoxic bradycardia primarily safeguards cardiac performance. In preparations from the European eel (Anguilla anguilla), a decrease in stimulation frequency from 40 to 15 beats min(-1), which replicates hypoxic bradycardia in vivo, vastly improved cardiac performance during hypoxia in vitro. As eels display dramatic shifts in extracellular HCO3(-)/CO2, we further investigated the effect this has upon hypoxic cardiac performance. Elevations from 10 mmol l(-1) HCO3(-)/1% CO2 to 40 mmol l(-1) HCO3(-)/4% CO2 had few effects on performance; however, further, but still physiologically relevant, increases to 70 mmol l(-1) HCO3(-)/7% CO2 compromised hypoxia tolerance. We revealed a four-way interaction between HCO3(-)/CO2, contraction frequency, hypoxia and performance over time, whereby the benefit of hypoxic bradycardia was most prolonged at 10 mmol l(-1) HCO3(-)/1% CO2. Together, our data suggest that hypoxic bradycardia greatly benefits cardiac performance, but its significance may be context specific. © 2016. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

  3. HCO3− secretion and CaCO3 precipitation play major roles in intestinal water absorption in marine teleost fish in vivo

    PubMed Central

    Cooper, Christopher A.; Wilson, Rod W.

    2010-01-01

    The intestine of marine teleosts must effectively absorb fluid from ingested seawater to avoid dehydration. This fluid transport has been almost exclusively characterized as driven by NaCl absorption. However, an additional feature of the osmoregulatory role of the intestine is substantial net HCO3− secretion. This is suggested to drive additional fluid absorption directly (via Cl−/HCO3− exchange) and indirectly by precipitating ingested Ca2+ as CaCO3, thus creating the osmotic gradient for additional fluid absorption. The present study tested this hypothesis by perfusing the intestine of the European flounder in vivo with varying [Ca2+]: 10 (control), 40, and 90 mM. Fractional fluid absorption increased from 47% (control) to 73% (90 mM Ca2+), where almost all secreted HCO3− was excreted as CaCO3. This additional fluid absorption could not be explained by NaCl cotransport. Instead, a significant positive relationship between Na+-independent fluid absorption and total HCO3− secretion was consistent with the predicted roles for anion exchange and CaCO3 precipitation. Further analysis suggested that Na+-independent fluid absorption could be accounted for by net Cl− and H+ absorption (from Cl−/HCO3− exchange and CO2 hydration, respectively). There was no evidence to suggest that CaCO3 alone was responsible for driving fluid absorption. However, by preventing the accumulation of luminal Ca2+ it played a vital role by dynamically maintaining a favorable osmotic gradient all along the intestine, which permits substantially higher rates of solute-linked fluid absorption. To overcome the resulting hyperosmotic and highly acidic absorbate, it is proposed that plasma HCO3− buffers the absorbed H+ (from HCO3− production), and consequently reduces the osmolarity of the absorbed fluid entering the body. PMID:20130226

  4. Abscisic acid-dependent regulation of small rubber particle protein gene expression in Taraxacum brevicorniculatum is mediated by TbbZIP1.

    PubMed

    Fricke, Julia; Hillebrand, Andrea; Twyman, Richard M; Prüfer, Dirk; Schulze Gronover, Christian

    2013-04-01

    Natural rubber is a high-molecular-mass biopolymer found in the latex of >2,500 plant species, including Hevea brasiliensis, Parthenium argentatum and Taraxacum spp. The active sites of rubber biosynthesis are rubber particles, which comprise a hydrophobic rubber core surrounded by a phospholipid monolayer membrane containing species-dependent lipids and associated proteins. Small rubber particle proteins are the most abundant rubber particle-associated proteins in Taraxacum brevicorniculatum (TbSRPPs) and may promote rubber biosynthesis by stabilizing the rubber particle architecture. We investigated the transcriptional regulation of genes encoding SRPPs and identified a bZIP transcription factor (TbbZIP.1) similar to the Arabidopsis thaliana ABI5-ABF-AREB subfamily, which is thought to include downstream targets of ABA and/or abiotic stress-inducible protein kinases. The TbbZIP.1 gene was predominantly expressed in laticifers and regulates the expression of TbSRPP genes in an ABA-dependent manner. The individual TbSRPP genes showed distinct induction profiles, suggesting diverse roles in rubber biosynthesis and stress adaptation. The potential involvement of TbSRPPs in the adaptation of T. brevicorniculatum plants to environmental stress is discussed based on our current knowledge of the stress-response roles of SRPPs and their homologs, and the protective function of latex and rubber against pathogens. Our data suggest that TbSRPPs contribute to stress tolerance in T. brevicorniculatum and that their effects are mediated by TbbZIP.1.

  5. Sulphate transport by H+ symport and by the dicarboxylate carrier in mitochondria.

    PubMed Central

    Saris, N E

    1980-01-01

    1. Swelling of mitochondria was induced in non-respiring mitochondria by 30 mM or more Na2SO4 or by respiration in the presence of K2SO4. Respiration-drive swelling resulted in loss of respiratory control. Sulphate, when present at 10 mM concentration, promoted the release of accumulated Ca2+. 2. Swelling was prevented by N-ethylmaleimide and formaldehyde, known inhibitors of the phosphate carrier. Sulphate-induced swelling was more sensitive to the inhibitors than was phosphate-induced swelling. At lower concentration of sulphate, 5 mM, an alkalinisation of the medium was observed in addition of sulphate, indicating H+-sulphate symport. There was competition between sulphate and phosphate for transport by this mechanism. It is suggested that sulphate may be transported, though at a comparatively slow rate, by the phosphate carrier. 3. Uptake of sulphate was stimulated when preceded by energy-dependent accumulation of Ba2+, especially when acetate was also present, indicating precipitation of BaSO4 in the matrix. Using this system the influx of sulphate was studied at lower concentrations, 10 mM or less. the contributions of the H+ symporter (sensitive to N-ethylmaleimide) and the dicarboxylate carrier (sensitive to butylmalonate) could then be studied. The dicarboxylate carrier had a lower Km and was mainly responsible for sulphate transport at lower concentration range. At 10 mM-sulphate the transport rates by the two systems appeared to be similar; at still higher concentrations the H+ symporter may become more important. PMID:7236245

  6. The role of ZIP transporters and group F bZIP transcription factors in the Zn-deficiency response of wheat (Triticum aestivum).

    PubMed

    Evens, Nicholas P; Buchner, Peter; Williams, Lorraine E; Hawkesford, Malcolm J

    2017-10-01

    Understanding the molecular basis of zinc (Zn) uptake and transport in staple cereal crops is critical for improving both Zn content and tolerance to low-Zn soils. This study demonstrates the importance of group F bZIP transcription factors and ZIP transporters in responses to Zn deficiency in wheat (Triticum aestivum). Seven group F TabZIP genes and 14 ZIPs with homeologs were identified in hexaploid wheat. Promoter analysis revealed the presence of Zn-deficiency-response elements (ZDREs) in a number of the ZIPs. Functional complementation of the zrt1/zrt2 yeast mutant by TaZIP3, -6, -7, -9 and -13 supported an ability to transport Zn. Group F TabZIPs contain the group-defining cysteine-histidine-rich motifs, which are the predicted binding site of Zn 2+ in the Zn-deficiency response. Conservation of these motifs varied between the TabZIPs suggesting that individual TabZIPs may have specific roles in the wheat Zn-homeostatic network. Increased expression in response to low Zn levels was observed for several of the wheat ZIPs and bZIPs; this varied temporally and spatially suggesting specific functions in the response mechanism. The ability of the group F TabZIPs to bind to specific ZDREs in the promoters of TaZIPs indicates a conserved mechanism in monocots and dicots in responding to Zn deficiency. In support of this, TabZIPF1-7DL and TabZIPF4-7AL afforded a strong level of rescue to the Arabidopsis hypersensitive bzip19 bzip23 double mutant under Zn deficiency. These results provide a greater understanding of Zn-homeostatic mechanisms in wheat, demonstrating an expanded repertoire of group F bZIP transcription factors, adding to the complexity of Zn homeostasis. © 2017 The Authors The Plant Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Society for Experimental Biology.

  7. Ingestion of Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3) Following a Fatiguing Bout of Exercise Accelerates Postexercise Acid-Base Balance Recovery and Improves Subsequent High-Intensity Cycling Time to Exhaustion.

    PubMed

    Gough, Lewis A; Rimmer, Steven; Osler, Callum J; Higgins, Matthew F

    2017-10-01

    This study evaluated the ingestion of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3 ) on postexercise acid-base balance recovery kinetics and subsequent high-intensity cycling time to exhaustion. In a counterbalanced, crossover design, nine healthy and active males (age: 23 ± 2 years, height: 179 ± 5 cm, body mass: 74 ± 9 kg, peak mean minute power (W peak ) 256 ± 45 W, peak oxygen uptake (V̇O 2peak ) 46 ± 8 ml.kg -1 .min -1 ) performed a graded incremental exercise test, two familiarization and two experimental trials. Experimental trials consisted of cycling to volitional exhaustion (T LIM1 ) at 100% W PEAK on two occasions (T LIM1 and T LIM2 ) interspersed by a 90 min passive recovery period. Using a double-blind approach, 30 min into a 90 min recovery period participants ingested either 0.3 g.kg -1 body mass sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3 ) or a placebo (PLA) containing 0.1 g.kg -1 body mass sodium chloride (NaCl) mixed with 4 ml.kg -1 tap water and 1 ml.kg -1 orange squash. The mean differences between T LIM2 and T LIM1 was larger for PLA compared with NaHCO 3 (-53 ± 53 vs. -20 ± 48 s; p = .008, d = 0.7, CI =-0.3, 1.6), indicating superior subsequent exercise time to exhaustion following NaHCO 3 . Blood lactate [Bla - ] was similar between treatments post T LIM1 , but greater for NaHCO 3 post T LIM2 and 5 min post T LIM2 . Ingestion of NaHCO 3 induced marked increases (p < .01) in both blood pH (+0.07 ± 0.02, d = 2.6, CI = 1.2, 3.7) and bicarbonate ion concentration [HCO 3 - ] (+6.8 ± 1.6 mmo.l -1 , d = 3.4, CI = 1.8, 4.7) compared with the PLA treatment, before T LIM2 . It is likely both the acceleration of recovery, and the marked increases of acid-base after T LIM1 contributed to greater T LIM2 performance compared with the PLA condition.

  8. Characterization of a putative grapevine Zn transporter, VvZIP3, suggests its involvement in early reproductive development in Vitis vinifera L

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Background Zinc (Zn) deficiency is one of the most widespread mineral nutritional problems that affect normal development in plants. Because Zn cannot passively diffuse across cell membranes, it must be transported into intracellular compartments for all biological processes where Zn is required. Several members of the Zinc-regulated transporters, Iron-regulated transporter-like Protein (ZIP) gene family have been characterized in plants, and have shown to be involved in metal uptake and transport. This study describes the first putative Zn transporter in grapevine. Unravelling its function may explain an important symptom of Zn deficiency in grapevines, which is the production of clusters with fewer and usually smaller berries than normal. Results We identified and characterized a putative Zn transporter from berries of Vitis vinifera L., named VvZIP3. Compared to other members of the ZIP family identified in the Vitis vinifera L. genome, VvZIP3 is mainly expressed in reproductive tissue - specifically in developing flowers - which correlates with the high Zn accumulation in these organs. Contrary to this, the low expression of VvZIP3 in parthenocarpic berries shows a relationship with the lower Zn accumulation in this tissue than in normal seeded berries where its expression is induced by Zn. The predicted protein sequence indicates strong similarity with several members of the ZIP family from Arabidopsis thaliana and other species. Moreover, VvZIP3 complemented the growth defect of a yeast Zn-uptake mutant, ZHY3, and is localized in the plasma membrane of plant cells, suggesting that VvZIP3 has the function of a Zn uptake transporter. Conclusions Our results suggest that VvZIP3 encodes a putative plasma membrane Zn transporter protein member of the ZIP gene family that might play a role in Zn uptake and distribution during the early reproductive development in Vitis vinifera L., indicating that the availability of this micronutrient may be relevant for

  9. Characterization of a putative grapevine Zn transporter, VvZIP3, suggests its involvement in early reproductive development in Vitis vinifera L.

    PubMed

    Gainza-Cortés, Felipe; Pérez-Dïaz, Ricardo; Pérez-Castro, Ramón; Tapia, Jaime; Casaretto, José A; González, Sebastián; Peña-Cortés, Hugo; Ruiz-Lara, Simón; González, Enrique

    2012-07-23

    Zinc (Zn) deficiency is one of the most widespread mineral nutritional problems that affect normal development in plants. Because Zn cannot passively diffuse across cell membranes, it must be transported into intracellular compartments for all biological processes where Zn is required. Several members of the Zinc-regulated transporters, Iron-regulated transporter-like Protein (ZIP) gene family have been characterized in plants, and have shown to be involved in metal uptake and transport. This study describes the first putative Zn transporter in grapevine. Unravelling its function may explain an important symptom of Zn deficiency in grapevines, which is the production of clusters with fewer and usually smaller berries than normal. We identified and characterized a putative Zn transporter from berries of Vitis vinifera L., named VvZIP3. Compared to other members of the ZIP family identified in the Vitis vinifera L. genome, VvZIP3 is mainly expressed in reproductive tissue - specifically in developing flowers - which correlates with the high Zn accumulation in these organs. Contrary to this, the low expression of VvZIP3 in parthenocarpic berries shows a relationship with the lower Zn accumulation in this tissue than in normal seeded berries where its expression is induced by Zn. The predicted protein sequence indicates strong similarity with several members of the ZIP family from Arabidopsis thaliana and other species. Moreover, VvZIP3 complemented the growth defect of a yeast Zn-uptake mutant, ZHY3, and is localized in the plasma membrane of plant cells, suggesting that VvZIP3 has the function of a Zn uptake transporter. Our results suggest that VvZIP3 encodes a putative plasma membrane Zn transporter protein member of the ZIP gene family that might play a role in Zn uptake and distribution during the early reproductive development in Vitis vinifera L., indicating that the availability of this micronutrient may be relevant for reproductive development.

  10. Bicarbonate-dependent chloride transport drives fluid secretion by the human airway epithelial cell line Calu-3

    PubMed Central

    Shan, Jiajie; Liao, Jie; Huang, Junwei; Robert, Renaud; Palmer, Melissa L; Fahrenkrug, Scott C; O'Grady, Scott M; Hanrahan, John W

    2012-01-01

    Anion and fluid secretion are both defective in cystic fibrosis (CF); however, the transport mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, Cl− and HCO3− secretion was measured using genetically matched CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-deficient and CFTR-expressing cell lines derived from the human airway epithelial cell line Calu-3. Forskolin stimulated the short-circuit current (Isc) across voltage-clamped monolayers, and also increased the equivalent short-circuit current (Ieq) calculated under open-circuit conditions. Isc was equivalent to the HCO3− net flux measured using the pH-stat technique, whereas Ieq was the sum of the Cl− and HCO3− net fluxes. Ieq and HCO3− fluxes were increased by bafilomycin and ZnCl2, suggesting that some secreted HCO3− is neutralized by parallel electrogenic H+ secretion. Ieq and fluid secretion were dependent on the presence of both Na+ and HCO3−. The carbonic anhydrase inhibitor acetazolamide abolished forskolin stimulation of Ieq and HCO3− secretion, suggesting that HCO3− transport under these conditions requires catalysed synthesis of carbonic acid. Cl− was the predominant anion in secretions under all conditions studied and thus drives most of the fluid transport. Nevertheless, 50–70% of Cl− and fluid transport was bumetanide-insensitive, suggesting basolateral Cl− loading by a sodium–potassium–chloride cotransporter 1 (NKCC1)-independent mechanism. Imposing a transepithelial HCO3− gradient across basolaterally permeabilized Calu-3 cells sustained a forskolin-stimulated current, which was sensitive to CFTR inhibitors and drastically reduced in CFTR-deficient cells. Net HCO3− secretion was increased by bilateral Cl− removal and therefore did not require apical Cl−/HCO3− exchange. The results suggest a model in which most HCO3− is recycled basolaterally by exchange with Cl−, and the resulting HCO3−-dependent Cl− transport provides an osmotic driving force for

  11. Amino acid sequence and the cellular location of the Na(+)-dependent D-glucose symporters (SGLT1) in the ovine enterocyte and the parotid acinar cell.

    PubMed Central

    Tarpey, P S; Wood, I S; Shirazi-Beechey, S P; Beechey, R B

    1995-01-01

    The Na(+)-dependent D-glucose symporter has been shown to be located on the basolateral domain of the plasma membrane of ovine parotid acinar cells. This is in contrast to the apical location of this transporter in the ovine enterocyte. The amino acid sequences of these two proteins have been determined. They are identical. The results indicated that the signals responsible for the differential targeting of these two proteins to the apical and the basal domains of the plasma membrane are not contained within the primary amino acid sequence. Images Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 PMID:7492327

  12. Abnormal duodenal [HCO3-] following secretin stimulation develops sooner than endocrine insufficiency in minimal change chronic pancreatitis.

    PubMed

    Pelley, Joshua R; Gordon, Stuart R; Gardner, Timothy B

    2012-04-01

    Direct pancreatic function tests (PFTs) are often used to diagnose chronic pancreatitis (CP). We aimed to determine the temporal relationship between an abnormal PFT result, cross-sectional imaging, and clinical symptoms. All patients referred for endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and PFT for suspected CP at our medical center from 2008 to 2010 were included. Each subject underwent EUS and PFT on the same day using secretin stimulation. Seventeen patients had duodenal HCO3 values of less than 80 mEq/L and were labeled as abnormal; the 25 other patients had at least 1 duodenal HCO3 values of 80 mEq/L or greater. Patients with abnormal PFTs had more parenchymal (2.0 vs 0.92, P = 0.012), ductal (1.18 vs 0.6, P = 0.036), and total features (3.18 vs 1.52, P = 0.009) than those with normal PFTs on EUS examination. There was no difference in regard to the frequency of abnormal CT scans (25% vs 15%, P = 0.139), diarrhea (67% vs 60%, P = 0.463), fat-soluble vitamin deficiency (33% vs 26%, P = 0.315), or diabetes (10% vs 4%, P = 0.066). Patients with equivocal imaging and abnormally low duodenal HCO3 have more EUS features of CP than do patients with normal duodenal HCO3 values, suggesting that low duodenal HCO3 values are among the first measurable abnormalities in CP.

  13. Effects of CO2/HCO3- in perilymph on the endocochlear potential in guinea pigs.

    PubMed

    Nimura, Yoshitsugu; Mori, Yoshiaki; Inui, Takaki; Sohma, Yoshiro; Takenaka, Hiroshi; Kubota, Takahiro

    2007-02-01

    The effect of CO(2)/HCO(3)(-) on the endocochlear potential (EP) was examined by using both ion-selective and conventional microelectrodes and the endolymphatic or perilymphatic perfusion technique. The main findings were as follows: (i) A decrease in the EP from approximately +75 to approximately +35 mV was produced by perilymphatic perfusion with CO(2)/HCO(3)(-)-free solution, which decrease was accompanied by an increase in the endolymphatic pH (DeltapH(e), approximately 0.4). (ii) Perilymphatic perfusion with a solution containing 20 mM NH(4)Cl produced a decrease in the EP (DeltaEP, approximately 20 mV) with an increase in the pH(e) (DeltapH(e), approximately 0.2), whereas switching the perfusion solution from the NH(4)Cl solution to a 5% CO(2)/25 mM HCO(3)(-) solution produced a gradual increase in the EP to the control level with the concomitant recovery of the pH(e). (iii) The perfusion with a solution of high or low HCO(3)(-) with a constant CO(2) level within 10 min produced no significant changes in the EP. (iv) Perfusion of the perilymph with 10 microg/ml nifedipine suppressed the transient asphyxia-induced decrease in EP slightly, but not significantly. (v) By contrast, the administration of 1 microg/ml nifedipine via the endolymph inhibited significantly the reduction in the EP induced by transient asphyxia or perilymphatic perfusion with CO(2)/HCO(3)(-)-free or 20 mM NH(4)Cl solution. These findings suggest that the effect of CO(2) removal from perilymphatic perfusion solution on the EP may be mediated by an increase in cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration induced by an elevation of cytosolic pH in endolymphatic surface cells.

  14. Thermodynamic description of Tc(iv) solubility and carbonate complexation in alkaline NaHCO3-Na2CO3-NaCl systems.

    PubMed

    Baumann, A; Yalçıntaş, E; Gaona, X; Polly, R; Dardenne, K; Prüßmann, T; Rothe, J; Altmaier, M; Geckeis, H

    2018-03-28

    The solubility of 99 Tc(iv) was investigated in dilute to concentrated carbonate solutions (0.01 M ≤ C tot ≤ 1.0 M, with C tot = [HCO 3 - ] + [CO 3 2- ]) under systematic variation of ionic strength (I = 0.3-5.0 M NaHCO 3 -Na 2 CO 3 -NaCl-NaOH) and pH m (-log[H + ] = 8.5-14.5). Strongly reducing conditions (pe + pH m ≈ 2) were set with Sn(ii). Carbonate enhances the solubility of Tc(iv) in alkaline conditions by up to 3.5 log 10 -units compared to carbonate-free systems. Solvent extraction and XANES confirmed that Tc was kept as +IV during the timeframe of the experiments (≤ 650 days). Solid phase characterization performed by XAFS, XRD, SEM-EDS, chemical analysis and TG-DTA confirmed that TcO 2 ·0.6H 2 O(am) controls the solubility of Tc(iv) under the conditions investigated. Slope analysis of the solubility data in combination with solid/aqueous phase characterization and DFT calculations indicate the predominance of the species Tc(OH) 3 CO 3 - at pH m ≤ 11 and C tot ≥ 0.01 M, for which thermodynamic and activity models are derived. Solubility data obtained above pH m ≈ 11 indicates the formation of previously unreported Tc(iv)-carbonate species, possibly Tc(OH) 4 CO 3 2- , although the likely formation of additional complexes prevents deriving a thermodynamic model valid for this pH m -region. This work provides the most comprehensive thermodynamic dataset available for the system Tc 4+ -Na + -Cl - -OH - -HCO 3 - -CO 3 2- -H 2 O(l) valid under a range of conditions relevant for nuclear waste disposal.

  15. Expression Profile Analysis of Zinc Transporters (ZIP4, ZIP9, ZIP11, ZnT9) in Gliomas and their Correlation with IDH1 Mutation Status.

    PubMed

    Kang, Xing; Chen, Rong; Zhang, Jie; Li, Gang; Dai, Peng-Gao; Chen, Chao; Wang, Hui-Juan

    2015-01-01

    Zinc transporters have been considered as essential regulators in many cancers; however, their mechanisms remain unknown, especially in gliomas. Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1(IDH1) mutation is crucial to glioma. This study aimed to investigate whether zinc transporters are correlated with glioma grade and IDH1 mutation status. IDH1 mutation status and mRNA expression of four zinc transporters (ZIP4, ZIP9, ZIP11, and ZnT9) were determined by subjecting a panel of 74 glioma tissue samples to quantitative real-time PCR and pyrosequencing. The correlations between the expression levels of these zinc transporter genes and the grade of glioma, as well as IDH1 mutation status, were investigated. Among the four zinc transporter genes, high ZIP4 expression and low ZIP11 expression were significantly associated with higher grade (grades III and IV) tumors compared with lower grade (grades I and II) counterparts (p<0.0001). However, only ZIP11 exhibited weak correlation with IDH1 mutation status (p=0.045). Samples with mutations in IDH1 displayed higher ZIP11 expression than those without IDH1 mutations. This finding indicated that zinc transporters may interact with IDH1 mutation by direct modulation or action in some shared pathways or genes to promote the development of glioma. Zinc transporters may play an important role in glioma. ZIP4 and ZIP11 are promising molecular diagnostic markers and novel therapeutic targets. Nevertheless, the detailed biological function of zinc transporters and the mechanism of the potential interaction between ZIP11 and IDH1 mutation in gliomagenesis should be further investigated.

  16. On the gas-phase formation of the HCO radical: accurate quantum study of the H+CO radiative association

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stoecklin, Thierry; Halvick, Philippe; Yu, Hua-Gen; Nyman, Gunnar; Ellinger, Yves

    2018-04-01

    We present the first quantum study of the radiative association of H and CO to form the HCO molecule within a time-independent approach. We use a recently published 3D potential energy surface of spectroscopic accuracy and two 3D dipole moment surfaces, which were calculated for this study. We discuss the variation of the radiative association cross-section as a function of both the rotational angular momentum of CO and the total angular momentum and use the uniform J-shifting approach to obtain the global radiative association rate coefficient. The effect of the saddle point separating the HCO molecule from the H+CO reactants and the main features of the radiative association cross-sections are analysed and discussed. The calculated rate coefficient is below 10-23 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 for temperatures lower than 30 K, and increases up to 5 × 10-20 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 at T = 300 K. These results demonstrate that the gas-phase H+CO radiative association cannot be the process at the origin of the sequence leading to the formation of methanol in a cold interstellar medium.

  17. High-mobility group box 1 inhibits HCO3− absorption in medullary thick ascending limb through a basolateral receptor for advanced glycation end products pathway

    PubMed Central

    George, Thampi; Watts, Bruns A.

    2015-01-01

    High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a damage-associated molecule implicated in mediating kidney dysfunction in sepsis and sterile inflammatory disorders. HMGB1 is a nuclear protein released extracellularly in response to infection or injury, where it interacts with Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and other receptors to mediate inflammation. Previously, we demonstrated that LPS inhibits HCO3- absorption in the medullary thick ascending limb (MTAL) through a basolateral TLR4-ERK pathway (Watts BA III, George T, Sherwood ER, Good DW. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 301: C1296–C1306, 2011). Here, we examined whether HMGB1 could inhibit HCO3- absorption through the same pathway. Adding HMGB1 to the bath decreased HCO3− absorption by 24% in isolated, perfused rat and mouse MTALs. In contrast to LPS, inhibition by HMGB1 was preserved in MTALs from TLR4−/− mice and was unaffected by ERK inhibitors. Inhibition by HMGB1 was eliminated by the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) antagonist FPS-ZM1 and by neutralizing anti-RAGE antibody. Confocal immunofluorescence showed expression of RAGE in the basolateral membrane domain. Inhibition of HCO3−absorption by HMGB1 through RAGE was additive to inhibition by LPS through TLR4 and to inhibition by Gram-positive bacterial molecules through TLR2. Bath amiloride, which selectively prevents inhibition of MTAL HCO3− absorption mediated through Na+/H+ exchanger 1 (NHE1), eliminated inhibition by HMGB1. We conclude that HMGB1 inhibits MTAL HCO3− absorption through a RAGE-dependent pathway distinct from TLR4-mediated inhibition by LPS. These studies provide new evidence that HMGB1-RAGE signaling acts directly to impair the transport function of renal tubules. They reveal a novel paradigm for sepsis-induced renal tubule dysfunction, whereby exogenous pathogen-associated molecules and endogenous damage-associated molecules act directly and independently to inhibit MTAL HCO3− absorption through different receptor

  18. A Member of the Sugar Transporter Family, Stl1p Is the Glycerol/H+ Symporter in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

    PubMed Central

    Ferreira, Célia; van Voorst, Frank; Martins, António; Neves, Luisa; Oliveira, Rui; Kielland-Brandt, Morten C.; Lucas, Cândida; Brandt, Anders

    2005-01-01

    Glycerol and other polyols are used as osmoprotectants by many organisms. Several yeasts and other fungi can take up glycerol by proton symport. To identify genes involved in active glycerol uptake in Saccharomyces cerevisiae we screened a deletion mutant collection comprising 321 genes encoding proteins with 6 or more predicted transmembrane domains for impaired growth on glycerol medium. Deletion of STL1, which encodes a member of the sugar transporter family, eliminates active glycerol transport. Stl1p is present in the plasma membrane in S. cerevisiae during conditions where glycerol symport is functional. Both the Stl1 protein and the active glycerol transport are subject to glucose-induced inactivation, following identical patterns. Furthermore, the Stl1 protein and the glycerol symporter activity are strongly but transiently induced when cells are subjected to osmotic shock. STL1 was heterologously expressed in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, a yeast that does not contain its own active glycerol transport system. In S. pombe, STL1 conferred the ability to take up glycerol against a concentration gradient in a proton motive force-dependent manner. We conclude that the glycerol proton symporter in S. cerevisiae is encoded by STL1. PMID:15703210

  19. Characterization of pollen-expressed bZIP protein interactions and the role of ATbZIP18 in the male gametophyte.

    PubMed

    Gibalová, Antónia; Steinbachová, Lenka; Hafidh, Said; Bláhová, Veronika; Gadiou, Zuzana; Michailidis, Christos; Műller, Karel; Pleskot, Roman; Dupľáková, Nikoleta; Honys, David

    2017-03-01

    KEY MESSAGE : bZIP TF network in pollen. Transcriptional control of gene expression represents an important mechanism guiding organisms through developmental processes and providing plasticity towards environmental stimuli. Because of their sessile nature, plants require effective gene regulation for rapid response to variation in environmental and developmental conditions. Transcription factors (TFs) provide such control ensuring correct gene expression in spatial and temporal manner. Our work reports the interaction network of six bZIP TFs expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana pollen and highlights the potential functional role for AtbZIP18 in pollen. AtbZIP18 was shown to interact with three other pollen-expressed bZIP TFs-AtbZIP34, AtbZIP52, and AtbZIP61 in yeast two-hybrid assays. AtbZIP18 transcripts are highly expressed in pollen, and at the subcellular level, an AtbZIP18-GFP fusion protein was located in the nucleus and cytoplasm/ER. To address the role of AtbZIP18 in the male gametophyte, we performed phenotypic analysis of a T-DNA knockout allele, which showed slightly reduced transmission through the male gametophyte. Some of the phenotype defects in atbzip18 pollen, although observed at low penetrance, were similar to those seen at higher frequency in the T-DNA knockout of the interacting partner, AtbZIP34. To gain deeper insight into the regulatory role of AtbZIP18, we analysed atbzip18/- pollen microarray data. Our results point towards a potential repressive role for AtbZIP18 and its functional redundancy with AtbZIP34 in pollen.

  20. A Ramie bZIP Transcription Factor BnbZIP2 Is Involved in Drought, Salt, and Heavy Metal Stress Response.

    PubMed

    Huang, Chengjian; Zhou, Jinghua; Jie, Yucheng; Xing, Hucheng; Zhong, Yingli; Yu, Weilin; She, Wei; Ma, Yushen; Liu, Zehang; Zhang, Ying

    2016-12-01

    bZIP transcription factors play key roles in plant growth, development, and stress signaling. A bZIP gene BnbZIP2 (GenBank accession number: KP642148) was cloned from ramie. BnbZIP2 has a 1416 base pair open reading frame, encoding a 471 amino acid protein containing a characteristic bZIP domain and a leucine zipper. BnbZIP2 shares high sequence similarity with bZIP factors from other plants. The BnbZIP2 protein is localized to both nuclei and cytoplasm. Transcripts of BnbZIP2 were found in various tissues in ramie, with significantly higher levels in female and male flowers. Its expression was induced by drought, high salinity, and abscisic acid treatments. Analysis of the cis-elements in promoters of BnbZIP2 identified cis-acting elements involved in growth, developmental processes, and a variety of stress responses. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants' overexpression of BnbZIP2 exhibited more sensitivity to drought and heavy metal Cd stress during seed germination, whereas more tolerance to high-salinity stress than the wild type during both seed germination and plant development. Thus, BnbZIP2 may act as a positive regulator in plants' response to high-salinity stress and be an important candidate gene for molecular breeding of salt-tolerant plants.

  1. Functional analysis RaZIP1 transporter of the ZIP family from the ectomycorrhizal Zn-accumulating Russula atropurpurea.

    PubMed

    Leonhardt, Tereza; Sácký, Jan; Kotrba, Pavel

    2018-04-01

    A search of R. atropurpurea transcriptome for sequences encoding the transporters of the Zrt-, Irt-like Protein (ZIP) family, which are in eukaryotes integral to Zn supply into cytoplasm, allowed the identification of RaZIP1 cDNA with a predicted product belonging to ZIP I subfamily; it was subjected to functional studies in mutant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains. The expression of RaZIP1, but not RaZIP1 H208A or RaZIP1 H232A mutants lacking conserved-among-ZIPs transmembrane histidyls, complemented Zn uptake deficiency in zrt1Δzrt2Δ yeasts. RaZIP1 substantially increased cellular Zn uptake in this strain and added to Zn sensitivity in zrc1Δcot1Δ mutant. The Fe uptake deficiency in ftr1Δ strain was not rescued and Mn uptake was insufficient for toxicity in Mn-sensitive pmr1Δ yeasts. By contrast, RaZIP1 increased Cd sensitivity in yap1Δ strain and conferred Cd transport activity in yeasts, albeit with substantially lower efficiency compared to Zn transport. In metal uptake assays, the accumulation of Zn in zrt1Δzrt2Δ strain remained unaffected by Cd, Fe, and Mn present in 20-fold molar excess over Zn. Immunofluorescence microscopy detected functional hemagglutinin-tagged HA::RaZIP1 on the yeast cell protoplast periphery. Altogether, these data indicate that RaZIP1 is a high-affinity plasma membrane transporter specialized in Zn uptake, and improve the understanding of the cellular and molecular biology of Zn in R. atropurpurea that is known for its ability to accumulate remarkably high concentrations of Zn.

  2. The bZIP transcription factor PfZipA regulates secondary metabolism and oxidative stress response in the plant endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis fici.

    PubMed

    Wang, Xiuna; Wu, Fan; Liu, Ling; Liu, Xingzhong; Che, Yongsheng; Keller, Nancy P; Guo, Liyun; Yin, Wen-Bing

    2015-08-01

    The bZIP transcription factors are conserved in all eukaryotes and play critical roles in organismal responses to environmental challenges. In filamentous fungi, several lines of evidence indicate that secondary metabolism (SM) is associated with oxidative stress mediated by bZIP proteins. Here we uncover a connection with a bZIP protein and oxidative stress induction of SM in the plant endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis fici. A homology search of the P. fici genome with the bZIP protein RsmA, involved in SM and the oxidative stress response in Aspergillus nidulans, identified PfZipA. Deletion of PfzipA resulted in a strain that displayed resistant to the oxidative reagents tert-butylhydroperoxide (tBOOH), diamide, and menadione sodium bisulfite (MSB), but increased sensitivity to H2O2 as compared to wild type (WT). Secondary metabolite production presented a complex pattern dependent on PfzipA and oxidative reagents. Without oxidative treatment, the ΔPfzipA strain produced less isosulochrin and ficipyroneA than WT; addition of tBOOH further decreased production of iso-A82775C and pestaloficiol M in ΔPfzipA; diamide treatment resulted in equivalent production of isosulochrin and ficipyroneA in the two strains; MSB treatment further decreased production of RES1214-1 and iso-A82775C but increased pestaloficiol M production in the mutant; and H2O2 treatment resulted in enhanced production of isosulochrin, RES1214-1 and pestheic acid but decreased ficipyroneA and pestaloficiol M in ΔPfzipA compared to WT. Our results suggest that PfZipA regulation of SM is modified by oxidative stress pathways and provide insights into a possible role of PfZipA in mediating SM synthesis in the endophytic lifestyle of P. fici. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  3. High-mobility group box 1 inhibits HCO3− absorption in the medullary thick ascending limb through RAGE-Rho-ROCK-mediated inhibition of basolateral Na+/H+ exchange

    PubMed Central

    Watts, Bruns A.; George, Thampi; Badalamenti, Andrew

    2016-01-01

    High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a nuclear protein released extracellularly in response to infection or injury, where it activates immune responses and contributes to the pathogenesis of kidney dysfunction in sepsis and sterile inflammatory disorders. Recently, we demonstrated that HMGB1 inhibits HCO3− absorption in perfused rat medullary thick ascending limbs (MTAL) through a basolateral receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE)-dependent pathway that is additive to Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-ERK-mediated inhibition by LPS (Good DW, George T, Watts BA III. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 309: F720–F730, 2015). Here, we examined signaling and transport mechanisms that mediate inhibition by HMGB1. Inhibition of HCO3− absorption by HMGB1 was eliminated by the Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y27632 and by a specific inhibitor of Rho, the major upstream activator of ROCK. HMGB1 increased RhoA and ROCK1 activity. HMGB1-induced ROCK1 activation was eliminated by the RAGE antagonist FPS-ZM1 and by inhibition of Rho. The Rho and ROCK inhibitors had no effect on inhibition of HCO3− absorption by bath LPS. Inhibition of HCO3− absorption by HMGB1 was eliminated by bath amiloride, 0 Na+ bath, and the F-actin stabilizer jasplakinolide, three conditions that selectively prevent inhibition of MTAL HCO3− absorption mediated through NHE1. HMGB1 decreased basolateral Na+/H+ exchange activity through activation of ROCK. We conclude that HMGB1 inhibits HCO3− absorption in the MTAL through a RAGE-RhoA-ROCK1 signaling pathway coupled to inhibition of NHE1. The HMGB1-RAGE-RhoA-ROCK1 pathway thus represents a potential target to attenuate MTAL dysfunction during sepsis and other inflammatory disorders. HMGB1 and LPS inhibit HCO3− absorption through different receptor signaling and transport mechanisms, which enables these pathogenic mediators to act directly and independently to impair MTAL function. PMID:27358052

  4. Anaerobic biodegradation of PAHs in mangrove sediment with amendment of NaHCO3.

    PubMed

    Li, Chun-Hua; Wong, Yuk-Shan; Wang, Hong-Yuan; Tam, Nora Fung-Yee

    2015-04-01

    Mangrove sediment is unique in chemical and biological properties. Many of them suffer polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination. However, the study on PAH biological remediation for mangrove sediment is deficient. Enriched PAH-degrading microbial consortium and electron acceptor amendment are considered as two effective measures. Compared to other electron acceptors, the study on CO2, which is used by methanogens, is still seldom. This study investigated the effect of NaHCO3 amendment on the anaerobic biodegradation of four mixed PAHs, namely fluorene (Fl), phenanthrene (Phe), fluoranthene (Flua) and pyrene (Pyr), with or without enriched PAH-degrading microbial consortium in mangrove sediment slurry. The trends of various parameters, including PAH concentrations, microbial population size, electron-transport system activities, electron acceptor and anaerobic gas production were monitored. The results revealed that the inoculation of enriched PAH-degrading consortium had a significant effect with half lives shortened by 7-13 days for 3-ring PAHs and 11-24 days for 4-ring PAHs. While NaHCO3 amendment did not have a significant effect on the biodegradation of PAHs and other parameters, except that CO2 gas in the headspace of experimental flasks was increased. One of the possible reasons is that mangrove sediment contains high concentrations of other electron acceptors which are easier to be utilized by anaerobic bacteria, the other one is that the anaerobes in mangrove sediment can produce enough CO2 gas even without adding NaHCO3. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  5. Change in the activity of Cl-,HCO3(-)-ATPase in microsome fraction during early development of the sea urchin, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus.

    PubMed

    Mitsunaga, K; Fujino, Y; Yasumasu, I

    1986-12-01

    In sea urchin embryos, primary mesenchyme cells, descendants from micromeres produced at the 16-cell stage, form spicules or CaCO3 deposits in their skeletal vacuoles, at the post-gastrula stage. Micromeres isolated at the 16-cell stage also differentiate into spicule-forming cells during their culture at the same time schedule as in the embryos. The present study was planned to observe change in the activity of Cl-,HCO3(-)-ATPase, which was expected to contribute to the carbonate supply for CaCO3 deposition, during development. ATP-hydrolysis in the microsome fraction, obtained from embryos of the sea urchin, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus, and from micromere-derived cells in culture was stimulated by Cl- and HCO3- in the presence of ouabain and EGTA. The ATP-hydrolysis was inhibited by ethacrynic acid, an inhibitor of Cl-,HCO3(-)-ATPase. The activity of Cl-,HCO3(-)-ATPase in embryos and in micromere-derived cells increased during development, keeping pace with the rate of calcium deposition in spicules. Formation of calcified spicules in the cultured micromere-derived cells was inhibited by ethacrynic acid. These results indicate that Cl-,HCO3(-)-ATPase plays an important role in the mechanism of CaCO3 deposition in the primary mesenchyme cells.

  6. Effects of chronic NaHCO3 ingestion during interval training on changes to muscle buffer capacity, metabolism, and short-term endurance performance.

    PubMed

    Edge, Johann; Bishop, David; Goodman, Carmel

    2006-09-01

    This study determined the effects of altering the H(+) concentration during interval training, by ingesting NaHCO(3) (Alk-T) or a placebo (Pla-T), on changes in muscle buffer capacity (beta m), endurance performance, and muscle metabolites. Pre- and posttraining peak O(2) uptake (V(O2 peak)), lactate threshold (LT), and time to fatigue at 100% pretraining V(O2 peak) intensity were assessed in 16 recreationally active women. Subjects were matched on the LT, were randomly placed into the Alk-T (n = 8) or Pla-T (n = 8) groups, and performed 8 wk (3 days/wk) of six to twelve 2-min cycle intervals at 140-170% of their LT, ingesting NaHCO(3) or a placebo before each training session (work matched between groups). Both groups had improvements in beta m (19 vs. 9%; P < 0.05) and V(O2 peak) (22 vs. 17%; P < 0.05) after the training period, with no differences between groups. There was a significant correlation between pretraining beta m and percent change in beta m (r = -0.70, P < 0.05). There were greater improvements in both the LT (26 vs. 15%; P = 0.05) and time to fatigue (164 vs. 123%; P = 0.05) after Alk-T, compared with Pla-T. There were no changes to pre- or postexercise ATP, phosphocreatine, creatine, and intracellular lactate concentrations, or pH(i) after training. Our findings suggest that training intensity, rather than the accumulation of H(+) during training, may be more important to improvements in beta m. The group ingesting NaHCO(3) before each training session had larger improvements in the LT and endurance performance, possibly because of a reduced metabolic acidosis during training and a greater improvement in muscle oxidative capacity.

  7. Homology of pendrin, sodium-iodide symporter and apical iodide transporter.

    PubMed

    Benvenga, Salvatore; Guarneri, Fabrizio

    2018-06-01

    We observed local homology between human pendrin and sodium/iodide symporter (NIS), that was absent in the NIS-homologous sodium/monocarboxylate transporter or apical iodide transporter (AIT) which, however, does not transport iodide. Thus, we analyzed the full proteins. They shared 63 identical and 66 similar residues (overall homology 14.4%, but 21% when omitting intervening sequences of 15 or more residues). Pendrin was more homologous to NIS (25%) than AIT (20%), particularly in the STAS domain (sulfate transporter and antisigma factor antagonist). Homology was concentrated in 11 segments, with 3/11 involving the STAS domain. In 9/11, homology was greater with NIS (45-58.3%) than with AIT (8.3-42.3%); in 4 of these 9 segments, homology was comparable to or greater than that between NIS and AIT (8.3-52.6%). Pendrin residues which are mutated in Pendred's syndrome are identical to those in the aligned position of NIS and AIT. Hypothyroidism-associated pendrin mutations almost always fall within 4/11 segments. These are the first data that show homology between pendrin and NIS, and topographic relationships between pendrin mutations and the hypothyroid phenotype of PDS.

  8. One for two: conversion of waste chicken feathers to carbon microspheres and (NH4)HCO3.

    PubMed

    Gao, Lei; Hu, Haibo; Sui, Xuelin; Chen, Changle; Chen, Qianwang

    2014-06-03

    Pyrolysis of 1 g of waste chicken feathers (quills and barbs) in supercritical carbon dioxide (sc-CO2) system at 600 °C for 3 h leads to the formation of 0.25 g well-shaped carbon microspheres with diameters of 1-5 μm and 0.26 g ammonium bicarbonate ((NH4)HCO3). The products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Raman spectroscopic, FT-IR spectrum, X-ray electron spectroscopy (XPS), and N2 adsorption/desorption measurements. The obtained carbon microspheres displayed great superhydrophobicity as fabric coatings materials, with the water contact angle of up to 165.2±2.5°. The strategy is simple, efficient, does not require any toxic chemicals or catalysts, and generates two valuable materials at the same time. Moreover, other nitrogen-containing materials (such as nylon and amino acids) can also be converted to carbon microspheres and (NH4)HCO3 in the sc-CO2 system. This provides a simple strategy to extract the nitrogen content from natural and man-made waste materials and generate (NH4)HCO3 as fertilizer.

  9. Electrical and thermal investigations of the phase transition in sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Abdel-Kader, M. M.; Fadly, M.; Abutaleb, M.; El-Tanahy, Z. H.; Eldehemy, K.; Ali, A. I.

    1995-09-01

    This paper reports on a structural phase transition in sodium hydrogen carbonate, NaHCO3 as revealed by the investigations of some electrical and thermal parameters. Measurements of d.c. electric conductivity (σ) and relative premittivity (epsilon) of polycrystalline samples of NaHCO3 as a function of temperature in the interval 300 < T < 400 K reveal the existence of a structural phase transition around 365 K. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were also performed in the same temperature range. The (DTA) results confirm the existence of a structural phase transition at cong 365 K whereas the (TGA) results show the absence of any actual loss in weight in the transition temperature region. The data are correlated to the crystal structure including the hydrogen bonding system.

  10. Zipping dielectric elastomer actuators: characterization, design and modeling

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Maffli, L.; Rosset, S.; Shea, H. R.

    2013-10-01

    We report on miniature dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) operating in zipping mode with an analytical model that predicts their behavior. Electrostatic zipping is a well-known mechanism in silicon MEMS to obtain large deformations and forces at lower voltages than for parallel plate electrostatic actuation. We extend this concept to DEAs, which allows us to obtain much larger out-of-plane displacements compared to silicon thanks to the softness of the elastomer membrane. We study experimentally the effect of sidewall angles and elastomer prestretch on 2.3 mm diameter actuators with PDMS membranes. With 15° and 22.5° sidewall angles, the devices zip in a bistable manner down 300 μm to the bottom of the chambers. The highly tunable bistable behavior is controllable by both chamber geometry and membrane parameters. Other specific characteristics of zipping DEAs include well-controlled deflected shape, tunable displacement versus voltage characteristics to virtually any shape, including multi-stable modes, sealing of embedded holes or channels for valving action and the reduction of the operating voltage. These properties make zipping DEAs an excellent candidate for applications such as integrated microfluidics actuators or Braille displays.

  11. Anion exchanger 2 is critical for CD8(+) T cells to maintain pHi homeostasis and modulate immune responses.

    PubMed

    Concepcion, Axel R; Salas, January T; Sarvide, Sarai; Sáez, Elena; Ferrer, Alex; López, María; Portu, Ainhoa; Banales, Jesús M; Hervás-Stubbs, Sandra; Oude Elferink, Ronald P J; Prieto, Jesús; Medina, Juan F

    2014-05-01

    Mitogenic stimulation of lymphocytes involves alkalinization of intracellular pH (pHi ). Subsequent pHi regulation may involve HCO3 (-) extrusion through Cl(-) /HCO3 (-) exchangers and/or Na(+) -HCO3 (-) co-transporters with acid-loading capability. Abnormalities in these mechanisms could result in immune dysfunctions, as suggested by the CD8(+) T-cell expansion encountered in mice lacking Ae2 (a widely expressed acid loader with electroneutral and Na(+) -independent Cl(-) /HCO3 (-) anion-exchange activity). Here we report that CD8(+) T cells but not CD4(+) T cells or other lymphocyte populations, are crucially dependent on Ae2 for pHi regulation. While total lymphocytes (including isolated CD4(+) T cells) exhibit Ae1 expression and Na(+) -HCO3 (-) co-transport with acidifying potential, CD8(+) T cells lack these acid-loading mechanisms. In Ae2-KO mice, CD4(+) but not CD8(+) T cells upregulate these potential Ae2 surrogates. As a consequence, Ae2-KO CD8(+) T cells exhibit alkalinized pHi , and dramatically increase their pHi upon CD3 stimulation. Moreover, stimulated Ae2-deficient CD8(+) T cells show enhanced intracellular production of IL-2 and membrane expression of its receptor IL-2Rα, together with increased cell proliferation and activation. These findings demonstrate that CD8(+) T cells are critically dependent on Ae2 for pHi homeostasis and tuning of cell proliferation and activation. Ae2 thus constitutes a novel target to modulate CD8(+) T-cell responses. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  12. Dehydrogenation of formic acid catalyzed by magnesium hydride anions, HMgL2- (L = Cl and HCO2)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Khairallah, George N.; O'Hair, Richard A. J.

    2006-08-01

    A two step gas-phase catalytic cycle for the dehydrogenation of formic acid was established using a combination of experiments carried out on a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer and DFT calculations. The catalysts are the magnesium hydride anions HMgL2- (L = Cl and HCO2), which are formed from the formate complexes, HCO2MgL2-, via elimination of carbon dioxide under conditions of collision induced dissociation. This is followed by an ion-molecule reaction between HMgL2- and formic acid, which yields hydrogen and also reforms the formate complex, HCO2MgL2-. A kinetic isotope effect in the range 2.3-2.9 was estimated for the rate determining decarboxylation step by carrying out CID on the (HCO2)(DCO2)MgCl2- and subjecting the resultant mixture of (H)(DCO2)MgCl2- and (HCO2)(D)MgCl2- ions at m/z 106 to ion-molecule reactions. DFT calculations (at the B3LYP/6-31 + G* level of theory) were carried out on the HMgCl2- system and revealed that: (i) the decarboxylation of HCO2MgCl2- is endothermic by 47.8 kcal mol-1, consistent with the need to carry out CID to form the HMgCl2-; (ii) HMgCl2- can react with formic acid via either a four centred transition state or a six centred transition state. The former reaction is favoured by 7.8 kcal mol-1.

  13. Genome-Wide Investigation and Expression Profiling of HD-Zip Transcription Factors in Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica L.).

    PubMed

    Chai, Wenbo; Si, Weina; Ji, Wei; Qin, Qianqian; Zhao, Manli; Jiang, Haiyang

    2018-01-01

    HD-Zip proteins represent the major transcription factors in higher plants, playing essential roles in plant development and stress responses. Foxtail millet is a crop to investigate the systems biology of millet and biofuel grasses and the HD-Zip gene family has not been studied in foxtail millet. For further investigation of the expression profile of the HD-Zip gene family in foxtail millet, a comprehensive genome-wide expression analysis was conducted in this study. We found 47 protein-encoding genes in foxtail millet using BLAST search tools; the putative proteins were classified into four subfamilies, namely, subfamilies I, II, III, and IV. Gene structure and motif analysis indicate that the genes in one subfamily were conserved. Promotor analysis showed that HD-Zip gene was involved in abiotic stress. Duplication analysis revealed that 8 (~17%) hdz genes were tandemly duplicated and 28 (58%) were segmentally duplicated; purifying duplication plays important roles in gene expansion. Microsynteny analysis revealed the maximum relationship in foxtail millet-sorghum and foxtail millet-rice. Expression profiling upon the abiotic stresses of drought and high salinity and the biotic stress of ABA revealed that some genes regulated responses to drought and salinity stresses via an ABA-dependent process, especially sihdz29 and sihdz45. Our study provides new insight into evolutionary and functional analyses of HD-Zip genes involved in environmental stress responses in foxtail millet.

  14. Sodium bicarbonate secretion indicated by ultrastructural cytochemical localization of HCO3(-), Cl-, and Na+ ions on rat bile duct brush cells.

    PubMed

    Ogata, Takuro

    2005-12-01

    Brush cells are widely distributed in the digestive and respiratory apparatus, but their function is still unknown. Because brush cells (BC) are found in organs secreting NaHCO3, it was hypothesized that these cells may secrete NaHCO3. To test this possibility, rat common bile duct epithelia were examined by ultrastructural cytochemical methods for localizing HCO3(-), Cl-, and Na+ ions. All three ion precipitates were few in or on BCs of rats without stimulation. Lead carbonate precipitates, which localized HCO3(-) ions by the lead nitrate-osmium method, increased markedly on the surface of the microvilli (MV) of BCs after secretin or meal stimulation, but similar precipitates were few on the luminal surface of principal cells (PCs). Silver chloride precipitates, which indicate the presence of Cl- ions by the silver-osmium method, increased in the apical cytoplasm and in MV of BCs after secretin or meal stimulation, but they were few in PCs. Sodium pyroantimonate precipitates, which localize Na+ ions by the potassium pyroantimonate-osmium method, increased on the surface of the MV, along the basolateral membrane, and in the apical cytoplasm of BCs after secretin or meal stimulation, but they were few in PCs. These results strongly suggest that BCs may be a significant source of NaHCO3 secretion.

  15. Sodium Solute Symporter and Cadherin Proteins Act as Bacillus thuringiensis Cry3Ba Toxin Functional Receptors in Tribolium castaneum*

    PubMed Central

    Contreras, Estefanía; Schoppmeier, Michael; Real, M. Dolores; Rausell, Carolina

    2013-01-01

    Understanding how Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins interact with proteins in the midgut of susceptible coleopteran insects is crucial to fully explain the molecular bases of Bt specificity and insecticidal action. In this work, aminopeptidase N (TcAPN-I), E-cadherin (TcCad1), and sodium solute symporter (TcSSS) have been identified by ligand blot as putative Cry3Ba toxin-binding proteins in Tribolium castaneum (Tc) larvae. RNA interference knockdown of TcCad1 or TcSSS proteins resulted in decreased susceptibility to Cry3Ba toxin, demonstrating the Cry toxin receptor functionality for these proteins. In contrast, TcAPN-I silencing had no effect on Cry3Ba larval toxicity, suggesting that this protein is not relevant in the Cry3Ba toxin mode of action in Tc. Remarkable features of TcSSS protein were the presence of cadherin repeats in its amino acid sequence and that a TcSSS peptide fragment containing a sequence homologous to a binding epitope found in Manduca sexta and Tenebrio molitor Bt cadherin functional receptors enhanced Cry3Ba toxicity. This is the first time that the involvement of a sodium solute symporter protein as a Bt functional receptor has been demonstrated. The role of this novel receptor in Bt toxicity against coleopteran insects together with the lack of receptor functionality of aminopeptidase N proteins might account for some of the differences in toxin specificity between Lepidoptera and Coleoptera insect orders. PMID:23645668

  16. Ca2+-driven intestinal HCO(3)(-) secretion and CaCO3 precipitation in the European flounder in vivo: influences on acid-base regulation and blood gas transport.

    PubMed

    Cooper, Christopher A; Whittamore, Jonathan M; Wilson, Rod W

    2010-04-01

    Marine teleost fish continuously ingest seawater to prevent dehydration and their intestines absorb fluid by mechanisms linked to three separate driving forces: 1) cotransport of NaCl from the gut fluid; 2) bicarbonate (HCO(3)(-)) secretion and Cl(-) absorption via Cl(-)/HCO(3)(-) exchange fueled by metabolic CO(2); and 3) alkaline precipitation of Ca(2+) as insoluble CaCO(3), which aids H(2)O absorption). The latter two processes involve high rates of epithelial HCO(3)(-) secretion stimulated by intestinal Ca(2+) and can drive a major portion of water absorption. At higher salinities and ambient Ca(2+) concentrations the osmoregulatory role of intestinal HCO(3)(-) secretion is amplified, but this has repercussions for other physiological processes, in particular, respiratory gas transport (as it is fueled by metabolic CO(2)) and acid-base regulation (as intestinal cells must export H(+) into the blood to balance apical HCO(3)(-) secretion). The flounder intestine was perfused in vivo with salines containing 10, 40, or 90 mM Ca(2+). Increasing the luminal Ca(2+) concentration caused a large elevation in intestinal HCO(3)(-) production and excretion. Additionally, blood pH decreased (-0.13 pH units) and plasma partial pressure of CO(2) (Pco(2)) levels were elevated (+1.16 mmHg) at the highest Ca perfusate level after 3 days of perfusion. Increasing the perfusate [Ca(2+)] also produced proportional increases in net acid excretion via the gills. When the net intestinal flux of all ions across the intestine was calculated, there was a greater absorption of anions than cations. This missing cation flux was assumed to be protons, which vary with an almost 1:1 relationship with net acid excretion via the gill. This study illustrates the intimate link between intestinal HCO(3)(-) production and osmoregulation with acid-base balance and respiratory gas exchange and the specific controlling role of ingested Ca(2+) independent of any other ion or overall osmolality in marine

  17. Carotid body chemoreception: the importance of CO2-HCO3- and carbonic anhydrase. (review).

    PubMed

    Iturriaga, R

    1993-01-01

    The current hypotheses of carotid body (CB) chemoreception regard the glomus cells as the initial site of stimulus transduction. The consensus is that the transduction of chemical stimulus is coupled with the release of transmitter(s) from the glomus cells, which in turn generates action potentials in the afferent nerve terminals. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is present in the glomus cells of the CB. Inhibition of CA activity in the CB in situ reduces the carotid chemosensory responses to CO2 and to O2, suggesting a common mechanism of chemosensing for both stimuli. However, CA inhibitors also block the red blood cell enzyme. Thus, the CO2 hydration reaction does not come to completion within the transit time of the blood from the lung to the CB. A steady-state reaction is not reached until later and so the PCO2 and pH levels in arterial blood samples are not the same as those sensed by the CB. Experiments in vitro using cat CB perfused and superfused with cell-free solutions, which had been pre-equilibrated with respiratory gases, strongly support the proposition that the CA activity in CB cells is essential for the speed and amplitude of the initial response to CO2 and for its subsequent adaptation. The immediate response to hypoxia also is delayed, but the late steady-state was less dependent on CA activity. In the nominal absence of CO2-HCO3- from the perfusate, hypoxic chemoreception persisted and its magnitude is not affected by CA inhibition, except for a delay which may be due to the initial alkaline pH of the glomus cells. Recent experiments performed in isolated glomus cells and in the whole CB show that hypoxia does not modify significantly the intracellular pH. By its simple catalytic function, CA can speed up the approach of the CO2 hydration reaction to equilibrium. However, CA may also contribute in the steady-state to the regulation of pHi by providing a continuous supply of H+ and HCO3-. Furthermore, CA performs a facilitatory role in the physiological

  18. Arabidopsis HD-Zip II transcription factors control apical embryo development and meristem function.

    PubMed

    Turchi, Luana; Carabelli, Monica; Ruzza, Valentino; Possenti, Marco; Sassi, Massimiliano; Peñalosa, Andrés; Sessa, Giovanna; Salvi, Sergio; Forte, Valentina; Morelli, Giorgio; Ruberti, Ida

    2013-05-01

    The Arabidopsis genome encodes ten Homeodomain-Leucine zipper (HD-Zip) II proteins. ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA HOMEOBOX 2 (ATHB2), HOMEOBOX ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA 1 (HAT1), HAT2, HAT3 and ATHB4 are regulated by changes in the red/far red light ratio that induce shade avoidance in most of the angiosperms. Here, we show that progressive loss of HAT3, ATHB4 and ATHB2 activity causes developmental defects from embryogenesis onwards in white light. Cotyledon development and number are altered in hat3 athb4 embryos, and these defects correlate with changes in auxin distribution and response. athb2 gain-of-function mutation and ATHB2 expression driven by its promoter in hat3 athb4 result in significant attenuation of phenotypes, thus demonstrating that ATHB2 is functionally redundant to HAT3 and ATHB4. In analogy to loss-of-function mutations in HD-Zip III genes, loss of HAT3 and ATHB4 results in organ polarity defects, whereas triple hat3 athb4 athb2 mutants develop one or two radialized cotyledons and lack an active shoot apical meristem (SAM). Consistent with overlapping expression pattern of HD-Zip II and HD-Zip III gene family members, bilateral symmetry and SAM defects are enhanced when hat3 athb4 is combined with mutations in PHABULOSA (PHB), PHAVOLUTA (PHV) or REVOLUTA (REV). Finally, we show that ATHB2 is part of a complex regulatory circuit directly involving both HD-Zip II and HD-Zip III proteins. Taken together, our study provides evidence that a genetic system consisting of HD-Zip II and HD-Zip III genes cooperates in establishing bilateral symmetry and patterning along the adaxial-abaxial axis in the embryo as well as in controlling SAM activity.

  19. Overexpression of a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) bZIP transcription factor gene, TabZIP6, decreased the freezing tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis seedlings by down-regulating the expression of CBFs.

    PubMed

    Cai, Wangting; Yang, Yaling; Wang, Weiwei; Guo, Guangyan; Liu, Wei; Bi, Caili

    2018-03-01

    The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) proteins play important roles against abiotic stress in plants, including cold stress. However, most bZIPs involved in plant freezing tolerance are positive regulators. Only a few bZIPs function negatively in cold stress response. In this study, TabZIP6, a Group C bZIP transcription factor gene from common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), was cloned and characterized. The transcript of TabZIP6 was strongly induced by cold treatment (4 °C). TabZIP6 is a nuclear-localized protein with transcriptional activation activity. Arabidopsis plants overexpressing TabZIP6 showed decreased tolerance to freezing stress. Microarray as well as quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that CBFs and some key COR genes, including COR47 and COR15B, were down-regulated by cold treatment in TabZIP6-overexpressing Arabidopsis lines. TabZIP6 was capable of binding to the G-box motif and the CBF1 and CBF3 promoters in yeast cells. A yeast two-hybrid assay revealed that TabZIP6, as well as the other two Group S bZIP proteins involved in cold stress tolerance in wheat, Wlip19 and TaOBF1, can form homodimers by themselves and heterodimers with each other. These results suggest that TabZIP6 may function negatively in the cold stress response by binding to the promoters of CBFs, and thereby decreasing the expression of downstream COR genes in TabZIP6-overexpressing Arabidopsis seedlings. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.

  20. Cl sup minus -HCO sub 3 sup minus exchange is present with Na sup + -K sup + -Cl sup minus cotransport in rabbit parotid acinar basolateral membranes

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Turner, R.J.; George, J.N.

    1988-03-01

    The presence of a sodium-independent electroneutral Cl{sup {minus}}-anion exchanger in a basolateral membrane vesicle preparation from the rabbit parotid is demonstrated. This exchanger is shared by HCO{sub 3}{sup {minus}}, NO{sub 3}{sup {minus}}, Br{sup {minus}}, F{sup {minus}}, and formate, but not by thiocyanate, acetate, methylsulfate, gluconate, or hydroxyl ions. In order of relative potency, the exchanger is inhibited by SITS {ge} phloretin > furosemide > bumetanide {ge} phlorizin. A Na{sup +}-K{sup +}-dependent component of chloride flux, presumably due to the Na{sup +}-K{sup +}-Cl{sup {minus}} cotransporter already characterized in this preparation, was also observed. {sup 36}Cl uptake into vesicles loaded with KClmore » exhibited an overshoot of intravesicular ({sup 36}Cl) due to {sup 36}Cl-Cl exchange. However, when vesicles were loaded with both KCl and NaCl the height of the overshoot was considerably decreased indicating a Na{sup +}-K{sup +}-dependent dissipation of the intravesicular to extravesicular chloride gradient. This experiment provides strong evidence that the Na{sup +}-K{sup +}Cl{sup {minus}} cotransporter and the Cl{sup {minus}} HCO{sub 3}{sup {minus}} exchange are present in the same membrane vesicles. These results indicate that Cl{sup {minus}}-HCO{sub 3}{sup {minus}} exchange is present in the basolateral membrane of parotid acinar cells and thus that this transporter may play a significant role in salivary secretion.« less

  1. Genome-wide analysis of the homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-ZIP) gene family in peach (Prunus persica).

    PubMed

    Zhang, C H; Ma, R J; Shen, Z J; Sun, X; Korir, N K; Yu, M L

    2014-04-08

    In this study, 33 homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-ZIP) genes were identified in peach using the HD-ZIP amino acid sequences of Arabidopsis thaliana as a probe. Based on the phylogenetic analysis and the individual gene or protein characteristics, the HD-ZIP gene family in peach can be classified into 4 subfamilies, HD-ZIP I, II, III, and IV, containing 14, 7, 4, and 8 members, respectively. The most closely related peach HD-ZIP members within the same subfamilies shared very similar gene structure in terms of either intron/exon numbers or lengths. Almost all members of the same subfamily shared common motif compositions, thereby implying that the HD-ZIP proteins within the same subfamily may have functional similarity. The 33 peach HD-ZIP genes were distributed across scaffolds 1 to 7. Although the primary structure varied among HD-ZIP family proteins, their tertiary structures were similar. The results from this study will be useful in selecting candidate genes from specific subfamilies for functional analysis.

  2. Structure and decomposition of the silver formate Ag(HCO{sub 2})

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Puzan, Anna N., E-mail: anna_puzan@mail.ru; Baumer, Vyacheslav N.; Mateychenko, Pavel V.

    Crystal structure of the silver formate Ag(HCO{sub 2}) has been determined (orthorhombic, sp.gr. Pccn, a=7.1199(5), b=10.3737(4), c=6.4701(3)Å, V=477.88(4) Å{sup 3}, Z=8). The structure contains isolated formate ions and the pairs Ag{sub 2}{sup 2+} which form the layers in (001) planes (the shortest Ag–Ag distances is 2.919 in the pair and 3.421 and 3.716 Å between the nearest Ag atoms of adjacent pairs). Silver formate is unstable compound which decompose spontaneously vs time. Decomposition was studied using Rietveld analysis of the powder diffraction patterns. It was concluded that the diffusion of Ag atoms leads to the formation of plate-like metal particlesmore » as nuclei in the (100) planes which settle parallel to (001) planes of the silver formate matrix. - Highlights: • Silver formate Ag(HCO{sub 2}) was synthesized and characterized. • Layered packing of Ag-Ag pairs in the structure was found. • Decomposition of Ag(HCO{sub 2}) and formation of metal phase were studied. • Rietveld-refined micro-structural characteristics during decomposition reveal the space relationship between the matrix structure and forming Ag phase REPLACE with: Space relationship between the matrix structure and forming Ag phase.« less

  3. A Novel Wheat C-bZIP Gene, TabZIP14-B, Participates in Salt and Freezing Tolerance in Transgenic Plants

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Lina; Zhang, Lichao; Xia, Chuan; Gao, Lifeng; Hao, Chenyang; Zhao, Guangyao; Jia, Jizeng; Kong, Xiuying

    2017-01-01

    The group C-bZIP transcription factors (TFs) are involved in diverse biological processes, such as the regulation of seed storage protein (SSP) production and the responses to pathogen challenge and abiotic stress. However, our knowledge of the abiotic functions of group C-bZIP genes in wheat remains limited. Here, we present the function of a novel TabZIP14-B gene in wheat. This gene belongs to the group C-bZIP TFs and contains six exons and five introns; three haplotypes were identified among accessions of tetraploid and hexaploid wheat. A subcellular localization analysis indicated that TabZIP14-B was targeted to the nucleus of tobacco epidermal cells. A transactivation assay demonstrated that TabZIP14-B showed transcriptional activation ability and was capable of binding the abscisic acid (ABA) responsive element (ABRE) in yeast. RT-qPCR revealed that TabZIP14-B was expressed in the roots, stems, leaves, and young spikes and was up-regulated by exogenous ABA, salt, low-temperature, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) stress treatments. Furthermore, Arabidopsis plants overexpressing TabZIP14-B exhibited enhanced tolerance to salt, freezing stresses and ABA sensitivity. Overexpression of TabZIP14-B resulted in increased expression of the AtRD29A, AtCOR47, AtRD20, AtGSTF6, and AtRAB18 genes and changes in several physiological characteristics. These results suggest that TabZIP14-B could function as a positive regulator in mediating the abiotic stress response. PMID:28536588

  4. Ca2+-driven intestinal HCO3− secretion and CaCO3 precipitation in the European flounder in vivo: influences on acid-base regulation and blood gas transport

    PubMed Central

    Cooper, Christopher A.; Whittamore, Jonathan M.

    2010-01-01

    Marine teleost fish continuously ingest seawater to prevent dehydration and their intestines absorb fluid by mechanisms linked to three separate driving forces: 1) cotransport of NaCl from the gut fluid; 2) bicarbonate (HCO3−) secretion and Cl− absorption via Cl−/HCO3− exchange fueled by metabolic CO2; and 3) alkaline precipitation of Ca2+ as insoluble CaCO3, which aids H2O absorption). The latter two processes involve high rates of epithelial HCO3− secretion stimulated by intestinal Ca2+ and can drive a major portion of water absorption. At higher salinities and ambient Ca2+ concentrations the osmoregulatory role of intestinal HCO3− secretion is amplified, but this has repercussions for other physiological processes, in particular, respiratory gas transport (as it is fueled by metabolic CO2) and acid-base regulation (as intestinal cells must export H+ into the blood to balance apical HCO3− secretion). The flounder intestine was perfused in vivo with salines containing 10, 40, or 90 mM Ca2+. Increasing the luminal Ca2+ concentration caused a large elevation in intestinal HCO3− production and excretion. Additionally, blood pH decreased (−0.13 pH units) and plasma partial pressure of CO2 (Pco2) levels were elevated (+1.16 mmHg) at the highest Ca perfusate level after 3 days of perfusion. Increasing the perfusate [Ca2+] also produced proportional increases in net acid excretion via the gills. When the net intestinal flux of all ions across the intestine was calculated, there was a greater absorption of anions than cations. This missing cation flux was assumed to be protons, which vary with an almost 1:1 relationship with net acid excretion via the gill. This study illustrates the intimate link between intestinal HCO3− production and osmoregulation with acid-base balance and respiratory gas exchange and the specific controlling role of ingested Ca2+ independent of any other ion or overall osmolality in marine teleost fish. PMID:20130227

  5. Protective effect of HOE642, a selective blocker of Na+-H+ exchange, against the development of rigor contracture in rat ventricular myocytes.

    PubMed

    Ruiz-Meana, M; Garcia-Dorado, D; Juliá, M; Inserte, J; Siegmund, B; Ladilov, Y; Piper, M; Tritto, F P; González, M A; Soler-Soler, J

    2000-01-01

    The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Na+-H+ exchange (NHE) and HCO3--Na+ symport inhibition on the development of rigor contracture. Freshly isolated adult rat cardiomyocytes were subjected to 60 min metabolic inhibition (MI) and 5 min re-energization (Rx). The effects of perfusion of HCO3- or HCO3--free buffer with or without the NHE inhibitor HOE642 (7 microM) were investigated during MI and Rx. In HCO3--free conditions, HOE642 reduced the percentage of cells developing rigor during MI from 79 +/- 1% to 40 +/- 4% (P < 0.001) without modifying the time at which rigor appeared. This resulted in a 30% reduction of hypercontracture during Rx (P < 0.01). The presence of HCO3- abolished the protective effect of HOE642 against rigor. Cells that had developed rigor underwent hypercontracture during Rx independently of treatment allocation. Ratiofluorescence measurement demonstrated that the rise in cytosolic Ca2+ (fura-2) occurred only after the onset of rigor, and was not influenced by HOE642. NHE inhibition did not modify Na+ rise (SBFI) during MI, but exaggerated the initial fall of intracellular pH (BCEFC). In conclusion, HOE642 has a protective effect against rigor during energy deprivation, but only when HCO3--dependent transporters are inhibited. This effect is independent of changes in cytosolic Na+ or Ca2+ concentrations.

  6. Early memory formation disrupted by atypical PKC inhibitor ZIP in the medial prefrontal cortex but not hippocampus

    PubMed Central

    Evuarherhe, Obaro; Barker, Gareth R. I.; Savalli, Giorgia; Warburton, Elizabeth C.; Brown, Malcolm W.

    2014-01-01

    Atypical isoforms of protein kinase C (aPKCs; particularly protein kinase M zeta: PKMζ) have been hypothesised to be necessary and sufficient for the maintenance of long-term potentiation (LTP) and long term memory by maintaining postsynaptic AMPA receptors via the GluR2 subunit. A myristoylated PKMζ pseudosubstrate peptide (ZIP) blocks PKMζ activity. We examined the actions of ZIP in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and hippocampus in associative recognition memory in rats during early memory formation and memory maintenance. ZIP infusion in either hippocampus or mPFC impaired memory maintenance. However, early memory formation was impaired by ZIP in mPFC but not hippocampus; and blocking GluR2-dependent removal of AMPA receptors did not affect this impairment caused by ZIP in the mPFC. The findings indicate: (i) a difference in the actions of ZIP in hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex, and (ii) a GluR2-independent target of ZIP (possibly PKCλ) in the mPFC during early memory formation. PMID:24729442

  7. A conserved proline residue in the leucine zipper region of AtbZIP34 and AtbZIP61 in Arabidopsis thaliana interferes with the formation of homodimer.

    PubMed

    Shen, Huaishun; Cao, Kaiming; Wang, Xiping

    2007-10-19

    Two putative Arabidopsis E group bZIP transcript factors, AtbZIP34 and AtbZIP61, are nuclear-localized and their transcriptional activation domain is in their N-terminal region. By searching GenBank, we found other eight plant homologues of AtbZIP34 and AtbZIP61. All of them have a proline residue in the third heptad of zipper region. Yeast two-hybrid assay and EMSA showed that AtbZIP34 and AtbZIP61 could not form homodimer while their mutant forms, AtbZIP34m and AtbZIP61m, which the proline residue was replaced by an alanine residue in the zipper region, could form homodimer and bind G-box element. These results suggest that the conserved proline residue interferes with the homodimer formation. However, both AtbZIP34 and AtbZIP61 could form heterodimers with members of I group and S group transcription factors in which some members involved in vascular development. So we speculate that AtbZIP34 and AtbZIP61 may participate in plant development via interacting with other group bZIP transcription factors.

  8. Soybean extracts increase cell surface ZIP4 abundance and cellular zinc levels: a potential novel strategy to enhance zinc absorption by ZIP4 targeting.

    PubMed

    Hashimoto, Ayako; Ohkura, Katsuma; Takahashi, Masakazu; Kizu, Kumiko; Narita, Hiroshi; Enomoto, Shuichi; Miyamae, Yusaku; Masuda, Seiji; Nagao, Masaya; Irie, Kazuhiro; Ohigashi, Hajime; Andrews, Glen K; Kambe, Taiho

    2015-12-01

    Dietary zinc deficiency puts human health at risk, so we explored strategies for enhancing zinc absorption. In the small intestine, the zinc transporter ZIP4 functions as an essential component of zinc absorption. Overexpression of ZIP4 protein increases zinc uptake and thereby cellular zinc levels, suggesting that food components with the ability to increase ZIP4 could potentially enhance zinc absorption via the intestine. In the present study, we used mouse Hepa cells, which regulate mouse Zip4 (mZip4) in a manner indistinguishable from that in intestinal enterocytes, to screen for suitable food components that can increase the abundance of ZIP4. Using this ZIP4-targeting strategy, two such soybean extracts were identified that were specifically able to decrease mZip4 endocytosis in response to zinc. These soybean extracts also effectively increased the abundance of apically localized mZip4 in transfected polarized Caco2 and Madin-Darby canine kidney cells and, moreover, two apically localized mZip4 acrodermatitis enteropathica mutants. Soybean components were purified from one extract and soyasaponin Bb was identified as an active component that increased both mZip4 protein abundance and zinc levels in Hepa cells. Finally, we confirmed that soyasaponin Bb is capable of enhancing cell surface endogenous human ZIP4 in human cells. Our results suggest that ZIP4 targeting may represent a new strategy to improve zinc absorption in humans. © 2015 Authors; published by Portland Press Limited.

  9. SlbZIP38, a Tomato bZIP Family Gene Downregulated by Abscisic Acid, Is a Negative Regulator of Drought and Salt Stress Tolerance

    PubMed Central

    Pan, Yanglu; Hu, Xin; Li, Chunyan; Xu, Xing; Su, Chenggang; Li, Jinhua; Song, Hongyuan; Zhang, Xingguo; Pan, Yu

    2017-01-01

    The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors have crucial roles in plant stress responses. In this study, the bZIP family gene SlbZIP38 (GenBank accession No: XM004239373) was isolated from a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Ailsa Craig) mature leaf cDNA library. The DNA sequence of SlbZIP38 encodes a protein of 484 amino acids, including a highly conserved bZIP DNA-binding domain in the C-terminal region. We found that SlbZIP38 was differentially expressed in various organs of the tomato plant and was downregulated by drought, salt stress, and abscisic acid (ABA). However, overexpression of SlbZIP38 significantly decreased drought and salt stress tolerance in tomatoes (Ailsa Craig). The findings that SlbZIP38 overexpression reduced the chlorophyll and free proline content in leaves but increased the malondialdehyde content may explain the reduced drought and salt tolerance observed in these lines. These results suggest that SlbZIP38 is a negative regulator of drought and salt resistance that acts by modulating ABA signaling. PMID:29261143

  10. ALMA HCN AND HCO{sup +} J  = 3 − 2 OBSERVATIONS OF OPTICAL SEYFERT AND LUMINOUS INFRARED GALAXIES: CONFIRMATION OF ELEVATED HCN-TO-HCO{sup +} FLUX RATIOS IN AGNS

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Imanishi, Masatoshi; Nakanishi, Kouichiro; Izumi, Takuma, E-mail: masa.imanishi@nao.ac.jp

    We present the results of our ALMA observations of three active galactic nucleus (AGN)-dominated nuclei in optical Seyfert 1 galaxies (NGC 7469, I Zw 1, and IC 4329 A) and eleven luminous infrared galaxies (LIRGs) with various levels of infrared estimated energetic contributions by AGNs at the HCN and HCO{sup +} J  = 3 − 2 emission lines. The HCN and HCO{sup +} J  = 3 − 2 emission lines are clearly detected at the main nuclei of all sources, except for IC 4329 A. The vibrationally excited ( v {sub 2} = 1f) HCN J  = 3 − 2 and HCO{sup +} J  = 3 − 2 emission lines are simultaneouslymore » covered, and HCN v {sub 2} = 1f J  = 3 − 2 emission line signatures are seen in the main nuclei of two LIRGs, IRAS 12112+0305 and IRAS 22491–1808, neither of which shows clear buried AGN signatures in the infrared. If the vibrational excitation is dominated by infrared radiative pumping, through the absorption of infrared 14 μ m photons, primarily originating from AGN-heated hot dust emission, then these two LIRGs may contain infrared-elusive, but (sub)millimeter-detectable, extremely deeply buried AGNs. These vibrationally excited emission lines are not detected in the three AGN-dominated optical Seyfert 1 nuclei. However, the observed HCN v {sub 2} = 1f to v  = 0 flux ratios in these optical Seyferts are still consistent with the intrinsic flux ratios in LIRGs with detectable HCN v {sub 2} = 1f emission lines. The observed HCN-to-HCO{sup +} J  = 3 − 2 flux ratios tend to be higher in galactic nuclei with luminous AGN signatures compared with starburst-dominated regions, as previously seen at J  = 1 − 0 and J  = 4 − 3.« less

  11. Sodium bicarbonate causes dose-dependent increases in cerebral blood flow in infants and children with single ventricle physiology

    PubMed Central

    Buckley, Erin M.; Naim, Maryam Y.; Lynch, Jennifer M.; Goff, Donna A.; Schwab, Peter J.; Diaz, Laura K.; Nicolson, Susan C.; Montenegro, Lisa M.; Lavin, Natasha A.; Durduran, Turgut; Spray, Thomas L.; Gaynor, J. William; Putt, Mary E.; Yodh, A.G.; Fogel, Mark A.; Licht, Daniel J.

    2013-01-01

    Background Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) is a common treatment for metabolic acidemia, however little definitive information exists regarding its treatment efficacy and cerebral hemodynamic effects. This pilot observational study quantifies relative changes in cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and oxy and deoxy-hemoglobin concentrations (ΔHbO2 and ΔHb) due to bolus administration of NaHCO3 in patients with mild base deficits. Methods Infants and children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) were recruited prior to cardiac surgery. NaHCO3 was given as needed for treatment of base deficit. Diffuse optical spectroscopies were employed for 15 minutes post-injection to non-invasively monitor ΔHb, ΔHbO2 and rCBF relative to baseline prior to NaHCO3 administration. Results Twenty-two anesthetized and mechanically ventilated HLHS patients (1 day to 4 years old) received a median (interquartile range) dose of 1.1 (0.8, 1.8) mEq/kg NaHCO3 administered intravenously over 10–20 seconds to treat a base deficit of −4 (−6, −3) mEq/l. NaHCO3 caused significant dose-dependent increases in rCBF, however population averaged ΔHb or Δ4HbO2 compared to controls were not significant. Conclusions Dose-dependent increases in cerebral blood flow (CBF) caused by bolus NaHCO3 are an important consideration in vulnerable populations wherein risk of rapid CBF fluctuations does not outweigh the benefit of treating a base deficit. PMID:23403802

  12. Downregulation of the Cl-/HCO3-Exchanger Pendrin in Kidneys of Mice with Cystic Fibrosis: Role in the Pathogenesis of Metabolic Alkalosis.

    PubMed

    Varasteh Kia, Mujan; Barone, Sharon; McDonough, Alicia A; Zahedi, Kamyar; Xu, Jie; Soleimani, Manoocher

    2018-01-01

    Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are prone to the development of metabolic alkalosis; however, the pathogenesis of this life threatening derangement remains unknown. We hypothesized that altered acid base transport machinery in the kidney collecting duct underlies the mechanism of impaired bicarbonate elimination in the CF kidney. Balance studies in metabolic cages were performed in WT and CFTR knockout (CF) mice with the intestinal rescue in response to bicarbonate loading or salt restriction, and the expression levels and cellular distribution of acid base and electrolyte transporters in the proximal tubule, collecting duct and small intestine were examined by western blots, northern blots and/or immunofluorescence labeling. Baseline parameters, including acid-base and systemic vascular volume status were comparable in WT and CF mice, as determined by blood gas, kidney renin expression and urine chloride excretion. Compared with WT animals, CF mice demonstrated a significantly higher serum HCO3- concentration (22.63 in WT vs. 26.83 mEq/l in CF mice; n=4, p=0.013) and serum pH (7.33 in WT vs. 7.42 in CF mice; n=4, p=0.00792) and exhibited impaired kidney HCO3- excretion (urine pH 8.10 in WT vs. 7.35 in CF mice; n=7, p=0.00990) following a 3-day oral bicarbonate load. When subjected to salt restriction, CF mice developed a significantly higher serum HCO3- concentration vs. WT animals (29.26 mEq/L in CF mice vs. 26.72 in WT; n=5, p=0.0291). Immunofluorescence labeling demonstrated a profound reduction in the apical expression of the Cl-/HCO3- exchanger pendrin in cortical collecting duct cells and western and northern blots indicated diminished plasma membrane abundance and mRNA expression of pendrin in CF kidneys. We propose that patients with cystic fibrosis are prone to the development of metabolic alkalosis secondary to the inactivation of the bicarbonate secreting transporter pendrin, specifically during volume depletion, which is a common occurrence in CF

  13. Analysis of expressed sequence tags from a NaHCO(3)-treated alkali-tolerant plant, Chloris virgata.

    PubMed

    Nishiuchi, Shunsaku; Fujihara, Kazumasa; Liu, Shenkui; Takano, Tetsuo

    2010-04-01

    Chloris virgata Swartz (C. virgata) is a gramineous wild plant that can survive in saline-alkali areas in northeast China. To examine the tolerance mechanisms of C. virgata, we constructed a cDNA library from whole plants of C. virgata that had been treated with 100 mM NaHCO(3) for 24 h and sequenced 3168 randomly selected clones. Most (2590) of the expressed sequence tags (ESTs) showed significant similarity to sequences in the NCBI database. Of the 2590 genes, 1893 were unique. Gene Ontology (GO) Slim annotations were obtained for 1081 ESTs by BLAST2GO and it was found that 75 genes of them were annotated with GO terms "response to stress", "response to abiotic stimulus", and "response to biotic stimulus", indicating these genes were likely to function in tolerance mechanism of C. virgata. In a separate experiment, 24 genes that are known from previous studies to be associated with abiotic stress tolerance were further examined by real-time RT-PCR to see how their expressions were affected by NaHCO(3) stress. NaHCO(3) treatment up-regulated the expressions of pathogenesis-related gene (DC998527), Win1 precursor gene (DC998617), catalase gene (DC999385), ribosome inactivating protein 1 (DC999555), Na(+)/H(+) antiporter gene (DC998043), and two-component regulator gene (DC998236). Copyright 2010 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  14. RNA SEQ Analysis Indicates that the AE3 Cl-/HCO3- Exchanger Contributes to Active Transport-Mediated CO2 Disposal in Heart.

    PubMed

    Vairamani, Kanimozhi; Wang, Hong-Sheng; Medvedovic, Mario; Lorenz, John N; Shull, Gary E

    2017-08-04

    Loss of the AE3 Cl - /HCO 3 - exchanger (Slc4a3) in mice causes an impaired cardiac force-frequency response and heart failure under some conditions but the mechanisms are not known. To better understand the functions of AE3, we performed RNA Seq analysis of AE3-null and wild-type mouse hearts and evaluated the data with respect to three hypotheses (CO 2 disposal, facilitation of Na + -loading, and recovery from an alkaline load) that have been proposed for its physiological functions. Gene Ontology and PubMatrix analyses of differentially expressed genes revealed a hypoxia response and changes in vasodilation and angiogenesis genes that strongly support the CO 2 disposal hypothesis. Differential expression of energy metabolism genes, which indicated increased glucose utilization and decreased fatty acid utilization, were consistent with adaptive responses to perturbations of O 2 /CO 2 balance in AE3-null myocytes. Given that the myocardium is an obligate aerobic tissue and consumes large amounts of O 2 , the data suggest that loss of AE3, which has the potential to extrude CO 2 in the form of HCO 3 - , impairs O 2 /CO 2 balance in cardiac myocytes. These results support a model in which the AE3 Cl - /HCO 3 - exchanger, coupled with parallel Cl - and H + -extrusion mechanisms and extracellular carbonic anhydrase, is responsible for active transport-mediated disposal of CO 2 .

  15. K-bZIP Mediated SUMO-2/3 Specific Modification on the KSHV Genome Negatively Regulates Lytic Gene Expression and Viral Reactivation

    PubMed Central

    Yang, Wan-Shan; Hsu, Hung-Wei; Campbell, Mel; Cheng, Chia-Yang; Chang, Pei-Ching

    2015-01-01

    SUMOylation is associated with epigenetic regulation of chromatin structure and transcription. Epigenetic modifications of herpesviral genomes accompany the transcriptional switch of latent and lytic genes during the virus life cycle. Here, we report a genome-wide comparison of SUMO paralog modification on the KSHV genome. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation in conjunction with high-throughput sequencing, our study revealed highly distinct landscape changes of SUMO paralog genomic modifications associated with KSHV reactivation. A rapid and widespread deposition of SUMO-2/3, compared with SUMO-1, modification across the KSHV genome upon reactivation was observed. Interestingly, SUMO-2/3 enrichment was inversely correlated with H3K9me3 mark after reactivation, indicating that SUMO-2/3 may be responsible for regulating the expression of viral genes located in low heterochromatin regions during viral reactivation. RNA-sequencing analysis showed that the SUMO-2/3 enrichment pattern positively correlated with KSHV gene expression profiles. Activation of KSHV lytic genes located in regions with high SUMO-2/3 enrichment was enhanced by SUMO-2/3 knockdown. These findings suggest that SUMO-2/3 viral chromatin modification contributes to the diminution of viral gene expression during reactivation. Our previous study identified a SUMO-2/3-specific viral E3 ligase, K-bZIP, suggesting a potential role of this enzyme in regulating SUMO-2/3 enrichment and viral gene repression. Consistent with this prediction, higher K-bZIP binding on SUMO-2/3 enrichment region during reactivation was observed. Moreover, a K-bZIP SUMO E3 ligase dead mutant, K-bZIP-L75A, in the viral context, showed no SUMO-2/3 enrichment on viral chromatin and higher expression of viral genes located in SUMO-2/3 enriched regions during reactivation. Importantly, virus production significantly increased in both SUMO-2/3 knockdown and KSHV K-bZIP-L75A mutant cells. These results indicate that SUMO-2/3 modification

  16. Structure and function of homodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) proteins.

    PubMed

    Elhiti, Mohamed; Stasolla, Claudio

    2009-02-01

    Homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) proteins are transcription factors unique to plants and are encoded by more than 25 genes in Arabidopsis thaliana. Based on sequence analyses these proteins have been classified into four distinct groups: HD-Zip I-IV. HD-Zip proteins are characterized by the presence of two functional domains; a homeodomain (HD) responsible for DNA binding and a leucine zipper domain (Zip) located immediately C-terminal to the homeodomain and involved in protein-protein interaction. Despite sequence similarities HD-ZIP proteins participate in a variety of processes during plant growth and development. HD-Zip I proteins are generally involved in responses related to abiotic stress, abscisic acid (ABA), blue light, de-etiolation and embryogenesis. HD-Zip II proteins participate in light response, shade avoidance and auxin signalling. Members of the third group (HD-Zip III) control embryogenesis, leaf polarity, lateral organ initiation and meristem function. HD-Zip IV proteins play significant roles during anthocyanin accumulation, differentiation of epidermal cells, trichome formation and root development.

  17. Searching for Correlations with the HCO+ 4-3 Molecular Spectra of Protostars

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Acikgoz, Ogulcan; Basturk, Seda

    The assignment is based on HCO+ J=4-3 spectral line molecular observations of protostars from the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, which has the 15 m diameter dish and located in Mauna Kea, Hawaii, USA. Data of 20 protostars are taken from the public LOMASS database and analyzed. We looked for correlations between a few observational quantities. We thank Dr Umut Yildiz (NASA/JPL-Caltech) for providing data and his comments and support to our research project.

  18. The Cholangiocyte Glycocalyx Stabilizes the 'Biliary HCO3 Umbrella': An Integrated Line of Defense against Toxic Bile Acids.

    PubMed

    Maillette de Buy Wenniger, Lucas J; Hohenester, Simon; Maroni, Luca; van Vliet, Sandra J; Oude Elferink, Ronald P; Beuers, Ulrich

    2015-01-01

    Destruction of cholangiocytes is the hallmark of chronic cholangiopathies such as primary biliary cirrhosis. Under physiologic conditions, cholangiocytes display a striking resistance to the high, millimolar concentrations of toxic bile salts present in bile. We recently showed that a 'biliary HCO3(-) umbrella', i.e. apical cholangiocellular HCO3(-) secretion, prevents cholangiotoxicity of bile acids, and speculated on a role for extracellular membrane-bound glycans in the stabilization of this protective layer. This paper summarizes published and thus far unpublished evidence supporting the role of the glycocalyx in stabilizing the 'biliary HCO3(-) umbrella' and thus preventing cholangiotoxicity of bile acids. The apical glycocalyx of a human cholangiocyte cell line and mouse liver sections were visualized by electron microscopy. FACS analysis was used to characterize the surface glycan profile of cultured human cholangiocytes. Using enzymatic digestion with neuraminidase the cholangiocyte glycocalyx was desialylated to test its protective function. Using lectin assays, we demonstrated that the main N-glycans in human and mouse cholangiocytes were sialylated biantennary structures, accompanied by high expression of the H-antigen (α1-2 fucose). Apical neuraminidase treatment induced desialylation without affecting cell viability, but lowered cholangiocellular resistance to bile acid-induced toxicity: both glycochenodeoxycholate and chenodeoxycholate (pKa ≥4), but not taurochenodeoxycholate (pKa <2), displayed cholangiotoxic effects after desialylation. A 24-hour reconstitution period allowed cholangiocytes to recover to a pretreatment bile salt susceptibility pattern. Experimental evidence indicates that an apical cholangiocyte glycocalyx with glycosylated mucins and other glycan-bearing membrane glycoproteins stabilizes the 'biliary HCO3(-) umbrella', thus aiding in the protection of human cholangiocytes against bile acid toxicity. 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  19. Carbonate mineral solubility at low temperatures in the Na-K-Mg-Ca-H-Cl-SO 4-OH-HCO 3-CO 3-CO 2-H 2O system

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Marion, Giles M.

    2001-06-01

    Carbonate minerals have played an important role in the geochemical evolution of Earth, and may have also played an important role in the geochemical evolution of Mars and Europa. Several models have been published in recent years that describe chloride and sulfate mineral solubilities in concentrated brines using the Pitzer equations. Few of these models are parameterized for subzero temperatures, and those that are do not include carbonate chemistry. The objectives of this work are to estimate Pitzer-equation bicarbonate-carbonate parameters and carbonate mineral solubility products and to incorporate them into the FREZCHEM model to predict carbonate mineral solubilities in the Na-K-Mg-Ca-H-Cl-SO 4-OH-HCO 3-CO 3-CO 2-H 2O system at low temperatures (≤25°C) with a special focus on subzero temperatures. Most of the Pitzer-equation parameters and equilibrium constants are taken from the literature and extrapolated into the subzero temperature range. Solubility products for 14 sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium bicarbonate and carbonate minerals are included in the model. Most of the experimental data are at temperatures ≥ -8°C; only for the NaHCO 3-NaCl-H 2O and Na 2CO 3-NaCl-H 2O systems are there bicarbonate and carbonate data to temperatures as low as -21.6°C. In general, the fit of the model to the experimental data is good. For example, calculated eutectic temperatures and compositions for NaHCO 3, Na 2CO 3, and their mixtures with NaCl and Na 2SO 4 salts are in good agreement with experimental data to temperatures as low as -21.6°C. Application of the model to eight saline, alkaline carbonate waters give predicted pHs ranging from 9.2 to 10.2, in comparison with measured pHs that range from 8.7 to 10.2. The model suggests that the CaCO 3 mineral that precipitates during seawater freezing is probably calcite and not ikaite. The model demonstrates that a proposed salt assemblage for the icy surface of Europa consisting of highly hydrated MgSO 4

  20. PSD-Zip70 Deficiency Causes Prefrontal Hypofunction Associated with Glutamatergic Synapse Maturation Defects by Dysregulation of Rap2 Activity.

    PubMed

    Mayanagi, Taira; Yasuda, Hiroki; Sobue, Kenji

    2015-10-21

    Dysregulation of synapse formation and plasticity is closely related to the pathophysiology of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is particularly important for executive functions such as working memory, cognition, and emotional control, which are impaired in the disorders. PSD-Zip70 (Lzts1/FEZ1) is a postsynaptic density (PSD) protein predominantly expressed in the frontal cortex, olfactory bulb, striatum, and hippocampus. Here we found that PSD-Zip70 knock-out (PSD-Zip70KO) mice exhibit working memory and cognitive defects, and enhanced anxiety-like behaviors. These abnormal behaviors are caused by impaired glutamatergic synapse transmission accompanied by tiny-headed immature dendritic spines in the PFC, due to aberrant Rap2 activation, which has roles in synapse formation and plasticity. PSD-Zip70 modulates the Rap2 activity by interacting with SPAR (spine-associated RapGAP) and PDZ-GEF1 (RapGEF) in the postsynapse. Furthermore, suppression of the aberrant Rap2 activation in the PFC rescued the behavioral defects in PSD-Zip70KO mice. Our data demonstrate a critical role for PSD-Zip70 in Rap2-dependent spine synapse development in the PFC and underscore the importance of this regulation in PFC-dependent behaviors. PSD-Zip70 deficiency causes behavioral defects in working memory and cognition, and enhanced anxiety due to prefrontal hypofunction. This study revealed that PSD-Zip70 plays essential roles in glutamatergic synapse maturation via modulation of the Rap2 activity in the PFC. PSD-Zip70 interacts with both SPAR (spine-associated RapGAP) and PDZ-GEF1 (RapGEF) and modulates the Rap2 activity in postsynaptic sites. Our results provide a novel Rap2-specific regulatory mechanism in synaptic maturation involving PSD-Zip70. Copyright © 2015 the authors 0270-6474/15/3514327-14$15.00/0.

  1. Memory Retrieval Has a Dynamic Influence on the Maintenance Mechanisms That Are Sensitive to ζ-Inhibitory Peptide (ZIP).

    PubMed

    Levitan, David; Fortis-Santiago, Yaihara; Figueroa, Joshua A; Reid, Emily E; Yoshida, Takashi; Barry, Nicholas C; Russo, Abigail; Katz, Donald B

    2016-10-12

    In neuroscientists' attempts to understand the long-term storage of memory, topics of particular importance and interest are the cellular and system mechanisms of maintenance (e.g., those sensitive to ζ-inhibitory peptide, ZIP) and those induced by memory retrieval (i.e., reconsolidation). Much is known about each of these processes in isolation, but less is known concerning how they interact. It is known that ZIP sensitivity and memory retrieval share at least some molecular targets (e.g., recycling α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid, AMPA, receptors to the plasma membrane); conversely, the fact that sensitivity to ZIP emerges only after consolidation ends suggests that consolidation (and by extension reconsolidation) and maintenance might be mutually exclusive processes, the onset of one canceling the other. Here, we use conditioned taste aversion (CTA) in rats, a cortically dependent learning paradigm, to test this hypothesis. First, we demonstrate that ZIP infusions into gustatory cortex begin interfering with CTA memory 43-45 h after memory acquisition-after consolidation ends. Next, we show that a retrieval trial administered after this time point interrupts the ability of ZIP to induce amnesia and that ZIP's ability to induce amnesia is reengaged only 45 h after retrieval. This pattern of results suggests that memory retrieval and ZIP-sensitive maintenance mechanisms are mutually exclusive and that the progression from one to the other are similar after acquisition and retrieval. They also reveal concrete differences between ZIP-sensitive mechanisms induced by acquisition and retrieval: the latency with which ZIP-sensitive mechanisms are expressed differ for the two processes. Memory retrieval and the molecular mechanisms that are sensitive to ζ-inhibitory peptide (ZIP) are the few manipulations that have been shown to effect memory maintenance. Although much is known about their effect on maintenance separately, it is unknown how they

  2. The bZIP repressor proteins, c-Jun dimerization protein 2 and activating transcription factor 3, recruit multiple HDAC members to the ATF3 promoter.

    PubMed

    Darlyuk-Saadon, Ilona; Weidenfeld-Baranboim, Keren; Yokoyama, Kazunari K; Hai, Tsonwin; Aronheim, Ami

    2012-01-01

    JDP2, is a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) protein displaying a high degree of homology with the stress inducible transcription factor, ATF3. Both proteins bind to cAMP and TPA response elements and repress transcription by multiple mechanisms. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) play a key role in gene inactivation by deacetylating lysine residues on histones. Here we describe the association of JDP2 and ATF3 with HDACs 1, 2-6 and 10. Association of HDAC3 and HDAC6 with JDP2 and ATF3 occurs via direct protein-protein interactions. Only part of the N-terminal bZIP motif of JDP2 and ATF3 basic domain is necessary and sufficient for the interaction with HDACs in a manner that is independent of coiled-coil dimerization. Class I HDACs associate with the bZIP repressors via the DAC conserved domain whereas the Class IIb HDAC6 associates through its C-terminal unique binder of ubiquitin Zn finger domain. Both JDP2 and ATF3 are known to bind and repress the ATF3 promoter. MEF cells treated with histone deacetylase inhibitor, trichostatin A (TSA) display enhanced ATF3 transcription. ATF3 enhanced transcription is significantly reduced in MEF cells lacking both ATF3 and JDP2. Collectively, we propose that the recruitment of multiple HDAC members to JDP2 and ATF3 is part of their transcription repression mechanism. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  3. HCO3(-) formation from CO2 at high pH: ab initio molecular dynamics study.

    PubMed

    Stirling, András

    2011-12-15

    Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations have been performed to study the dissolution of CO2 in water at high pH. The CO2 + OH(-) --> HCO3(-) forward and the HCO3(-) --> CO2 + OH(-) reverse paths have been simulated by employing the metadynamics technics. We have found that the free energy barrier along the forward direction is predominantly hydration related and significantly entropic in origin, whereas the backward barrier is primarily enthalpic. The main motifs in the forward mechanism are the structural diffusion of the hydroxyl ion to the first hydration sphere of CO2, its desolvation, and the C-O bond formation in concert with the CO2 bending within the hydrate cavity. In the reverse reaction, the origin of the barrier is the rupture of the strong C-O(H) bond. The present findings support the notion that the free energy barrier of the bicarbonate formation is strongly solvation related but provide also additional mechanistic details at the molecular level.

  4. Integrated responses of Na+/HCO3- cotransporters and V-type H+-ATPases in the fish gill and kidney during respiratory acidosis.

    PubMed

    Perry, S F; Furimsky, M; Bayaa, M; Georgalis, T; Shahsavarani, A; Nickerson, J G; Moon, T W

    2003-12-30

    Using degenerate primers, followed by 3' and 5' RACE and "long" PCR, a continuous 4050-bp cDNA was obtained and sequenced from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) gill. The cDNA included an open reading frame encoding a deduced protein of 1088 amino acids. A BLAST search of the GenBank protein database demonstrated that the trout gene shared high sequence similarity with several vertebrate Na(+)/HCO(3)(-) cotransporters (NBCs) and in particular, NBC1. Protein alignment revealed that the trout NBC is >80% identical to vertebrate NBC1s and phylogenetic analysis provided additional evidence that the trout NBC is indeed a homolog of NBC1. Using the same degenerate primers, a partial cDNA (404 bp) for NBC was obtained from eel (Anguilla rostrata) kidney. Analysis of the tissue distribution of trout NBC, as determined by Northern blot analysis and real-time PCR, indicated high transcript levels in several absorptive/secretory epithelia including gill, kidney and intestine and significant levels in liver. NBC mRNA was undetectable in eel gill by real-time PCR. In trout, the levels of gill NBC1 mRNA were increased markedly during respiratory acidosis induced by exposure to hypercarbia; this response was accompanied by a transient increase in branchial V-type H(+)-ATPase mRNA levels. Assuming that the branchial NBC1 is localised to basolateral membranes of gill cells and operates in the influx mode (HCO(3)(-) and Na(+) entry into the cell), it would appear that in trout, the expression of branchial NBC1 is transcriptionally regulated to match the requirements of gill pHi regulation rather than to match trans-epithelial HCO(3)(-) efflux requirements for systemic acid-base balance. By analogy with mammalian systems, NBC1 in the kidney probably plays a role in the tubular reabsorption of both Na(+) and HCO(3)(-). During periods of respiratory acidosis, levels of renal NBC1 mRNA increased (after a transient reduction) in both trout and eel, presumably to increase HCO(3

  5. Cellulose Deficiency Is Enhanced on Hyper Accumulation of Sucrose by a H+-Coupled Sucrose Symporter1[OPEN

    PubMed Central

    Yeats, Trevor H.; Sorek, Hagit

    2016-01-01

    In order to understand factors controlling the synthesis and deposition of cellulose, we have studied the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) double mutant shaven3 shaven3-like1 (shv3svl1), which was shown previously to exhibit a marked cellulose deficiency. We discovered that exogenous sucrose (Suc) in growth medium greatly enhances the reduction in hypocotyl elongation and cellulose content of shv3svl1. This effect was specific to Suc and was not observed with other sugars or osmoticum. Live-cell imaging of fluorescently labeled cellulose synthase complexes revealed a slowing of cellulose synthase complexes in shv3svl1 compared with the wild type that is enhanced in a Suc-conditional manner. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance confirmed a cellulose deficiency of shv3svl1 but indicated that cellulose crystallinity was unaffected in the mutant. A genetic suppressor screen identified mutants of the plasma membrane Suc/H+ symporter SUC1, indicating that the accumulation of Suc underlies the Suc-dependent enhancement of shv3svl1 phenotypes. While other cellulose-deficient mutants were not specifically sensitive to exogenous Suc, the feronia (fer) receptor kinase mutant partially phenocopied shv3svl1 and exhibited a similar Suc-conditional cellulose defect. We demonstrate that shv3svl1, like fer, exhibits a hyperpolarized plasma membrane H+ gradient that likely underlies the enhanced accumulation of Suc via Suc/H+ symporters. Enhanced intracellular Suc abundance appears to favor the partitioning of carbon to starch rather than cellulose in both mutants. We conclude that SHV3-like proteins may be involved in signaling during cell expansion that coordinates proton pumping and cellulose synthesis. PMID:27013021

  6. The ZIP family zinc transporters support the virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans

    PubMed Central

    Do, Eunsoo; Hu, Guanggan; Caza, Mélissa; Kronstad, James W.; Jung, Won Hee

    2016-01-01

    Zinc is an essential element in living organisms and a cofactor for various metalloproteins. To disseminate and survive, a pathogenic microbe must obtain zinc from the host, which is an environment with extremely limited zinc availability. In this study, we investigated the roles of the ZIP family zinc transporters Zip1 and Zip2 in the human pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans. Zip1 and Zip2 are homologous to Zrt1 and Zrt2 of the model fungus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, respectively. We found that the expression of ZIP1 was regulated by the zinc concentration in the environment. Furthermore, the mutant lacking ZIP1 displayed a severe growth defect under zinc-limited conditions, while the mutant lacking ZIP2 displayed normal growth. Inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy analysis showed that the absence of Zip1 expression significantly reduced total cellular zinc levels relative to that in the wild type, while overexpression of Zip1 was associated with increased cellular zinc levels. These findings suggested that Zip1 plays roles in zinc uptake in C. neoformans. We also constructed a Zip1-FLAG fusion protein and found, by immunofluorescence, not only that the protein was localized to the periphery implying it is a membrane transporter, but also that the protein was N-glycosylated. Furthermore, the mutant lacking ZIP1 showed attenuated virulence in a murine inhalation model of cryptococcosis and reduced survival within murine macrophages. Overall, our data suggest that Zip1 plays essential roles in zinc transport and the virulence of C. neoformans. PMID:27118799

  7. In vivo binding of hot pepper bZIP transcription factor CabZIP1 to the G-box region of pathogenesis-related protein 1 promoter

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lee, Boo-Ja; Park, Chang-Jin; Kim, Sung-Kyu

    2006-05-26

    We find that salicylic acid and ethephon treatment in hot pepper increases the expression of a putative basic/leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor gene, CabZIP1. CabZIP1 mRNA is expressed ubiquitously in various organs. The green fluorescent protein-fused transcription factor, CabZIP1::GFP, can be specifically localized to the nucleus, an action that is consistent with the presence of a nuclear localization signal in its protein sequence. Transient overexpression of the CabZIP1 transcription factor results in an increase in PR-1 transcripts level in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation, we demonstrate that CabZIP1 binds to the G-box elements in native promoter of the hotmore » pepper pathogenesis-related protein 1 (CaPR-1) gene in vivo. Taken together, our results suggest that CabZIP1 plays a role as a transcriptional regulator of the CaPR-1 gene.« less

  8. Functional Analysis of Maize Silk-Specific ZmbZIP25 Promoter.

    PubMed

    Li, Wanying; Yu, Dan; Yu, Jingjuan; Zhu, Dengyun; Zhao, Qian

    2018-03-12

    ZmbZIP25 ( Zea mays bZIP (basic leucine zipper) transcription factor 25) is a function-unknown protein that belongs to the D group of the bZIP transcription factor family. RNA-seq data showed that the expression of ZmbZIP25 was tissue-specific in maize silks, and this specificity was confirmed by RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction). In situ RNA hybridization showed that ZmbZIP25 was expressed exclusively in the xylem of maize silks. A 5' RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) assay identified an adenine residue as the transcription start site of the ZmbZIP25 gene. To characterize this silk-specific promoter, we isolated and analyzed a 2450 bp (from -2083 to +367) and a 2600 bp sequence of ZmbZIP25 (from -2083 to +517, the transcription start site was denoted +1). Stable expression assays in Arabidopsis showed that the expression of the reporter gene GUS driven by the 2450 bp ZmbZIP25 5'-flanking fragment occurred exclusively in the papillae of Arabidopsis stigmas. Furthermore, transient expression assays in maize indicated that GUS and GFP expression driven by the 2450 bp ZmbZIP25 5'-flanking sequences occurred only in maize silks and not in other tissues. However, no GUS or GFP expression was driven by the 2600 bp ZmbZIP25 5'-flanking sequences in either stable or transient expression assays. A series of deletion analyses of the 2450 bp ZmbZIP25 5'-flanking sequence was performed in transgenic Arabidopsis plants, and probable elements prediction analysis revealed the possible presence of negative regulatory elements within the 161 bp region from -1117 to -957 that were responsible for the specificity of the ZmbZIP25 5'-flanking sequence.

  9. Functional Analysis of Maize Silk-Specific ZmbZIP25 Promoter

    PubMed Central

    Li, Wanying; Yu, Dan; Yu, Jingjuan; Zhu, Dengyun; Zhao, Qian

    2018-01-01

    ZmbZIP25 (Zea mays bZIP (basic leucine zipper) transcription factor 25) is a function-unknown protein that belongs to the D group of the bZIP transcription factor family. RNA-seq data showed that the expression of ZmbZIP25 was tissue-specific in maize silks, and this specificity was confirmed by RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction). In situ RNA hybridization showed that ZmbZIP25 was expressed exclusively in the xylem of maize silks. A 5′ RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) assay identified an adenine residue as the transcription start site of the ZmbZIP25 gene. To characterize this silk-specific promoter, we isolated and analyzed a 2450 bp (from −2083 to +367) and a 2600 bp sequence of ZmbZIP25 (from −2083 to +517, the transcription start site was denoted +1). Stable expression assays in Arabidopsis showed that the expression of the reporter gene GUS driven by the 2450 bp ZmbZIP25 5′-flanking fragment occurred exclusively in the papillae of Arabidopsis stigmas. Furthermore, transient expression assays in maize indicated that GUS and GFP expression driven by the 2450 bp ZmbZIP25 5′-flanking sequences occurred only in maize silks and not in other tissues. However, no GUS or GFP expression was driven by the 2600 bp ZmbZIP25 5′-flanking sequences in either stable or transient expression assays. A series of deletion analyses of the 2450 bp ZmbZIP25 5′-flanking sequence was performed in transgenic Arabidopsis plants, and probable elements prediction analysis revealed the possible presence of negative regulatory elements within the 161 bp region from −1117 to −957 that were responsible for the specificity of the ZmbZIP25 5′-flanking sequence. PMID:29534529

  10. Bioinformatic Analyses of Subgroup-A Members of the Wheat bZIP Transcription Factor Family and Functional Identification of TabZIP174 Involved in Drought Stress Response

    PubMed Central

    Li, Xueyin; Feng, Biane; Zhang, Fengjie; Tang, Yimiao; Zhang, Liping; Ma, Lingjian; Zhao, Changping; Gao, Shiqing

    2016-01-01

    Extensive studies in Arabidopsis and rice have demonstrated that Subgroup-A members of the bZIP transcription factor family play important roles in plant responses to multiple abiotic stresses. Although common wheat (Triticum aestivum) is one of the most widely cultivated and consumed food crops in the world, there are limited investigations into Subgroup A of the bZIP family in wheat. In this study, we performed bioinformatic analyses of the 41 Subgroup-A members of the wheat bZIP family. Phylogenetic and conserved motif analyses showed that most of the Subgroup-A bZIP proteins involved in abiotic stress responses of wheat, Arabidopsis, and rice clustered in Clade A1 of the phylogenetic tree, and shared a majority of conserved motifs, suggesting the potential importance of Clade-A1 members in abiotic stress responses. Gene structure analysis showed that TabZIP genes with close phylogenetic relationships tended to possess similar exon–intron compositions, and the positions of introns in the hinge regions of the bZIP domains were highly conserved, whereas introns in the leucine zipper regions were at variable positions. Additionally, eleven groups of homologs and two groups of tandem paralogs were also identified in Subgroup A of the wheat bZIP family. Expression profiling analysis indicated that most Subgroup-A TabZIP genes were responsive to abscisic acid and various abiotic stress treatments. TabZIP27, TabZIP74, TabZIP138, and TabZIP174 proteins were localized in the nucleus of wheat protoplasts, whereas TabZIP9-GFP fusion protein was simultaneously present in the nucleus, cytoplasm, and cell membrane. Transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing TabZIP174 displayed increased seed germination rates and primary root lengths under drought treatments. Overexpression of TabZIP174 in transgenic Arabidopsis conferred enhanced drought tolerance, and transgenic plants exhibited lower water loss rates, higher survival rates, higher proline, soluble sugar, and leaf chlorophyll

  11. Genome-wide analyses of the bZIP family reveal their involvement in the development, ripening and abiotic stress response in banana

    PubMed Central

    Hu, Wei; Wang, Lianzhe; Tie, Weiwei; Yan, Yan; Ding, Zehong; Liu, Juhua; Li, Meiying; Peng, Ming; Xu, Biyu; Jin, Zhiqiang

    2016-01-01

    The leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors play important roles in multiple biological processes. However, less information is available regarding the bZIP family in the important fruit crop banana. In this study, 121 bZIP transcription factor genes were identified in the banana genome. Phylogenetic analysis showed that MabZIPs were classified into 11 subfamilies. The majority of MabZIP genes in the same subfamily shared similar gene structures and conserved motifs. The comprehensive transcriptome analysis of two banana genotypes revealed the differential expression patterns of MabZIP genes in different organs, in various stages of fruit development and ripening, and in responses to abiotic stresses, including drought, cold, and salt. Interaction networks and co-expression assays showed that group A MabZIP-mediated networks participated in various stress signaling, which was strongly activated in Musa ABB Pisang Awak. This study provided new insights into the complicated transcriptional control of MabZIP genes and provided robust tissue-specific, development-dependent, and abiotic stress-responsive candidate MabZIP genes for potential applications in the genetic improvement of banana cultivars. PMID:27445085

  12. Identification of a Second Substrate-binding Site in Solute-Sodium Symporters*

    PubMed Central

    Li, Zheng; Lee, Ashley S. E.; Bracher, Susanne; Jung, Heinrich; Paz, Aviv; Kumar, Jay P.; Abramson, Jeff; Quick, Matthias; Shi, Lei

    2015-01-01

    The structure of the sodium/galactose transporter (vSGLT), a solute-sodium symporter (SSS) from Vibrio parahaemolyticus, shares a common structural fold with LeuT of the neurotransmitter-sodium symporter family. Structural alignments between LeuT and vSGLT reveal that the crystallographically identified galactose-binding site in vSGLT is located in a more extracellular location relative to the central substrate-binding site (S1) in LeuT. Our computational analyses suggest the existence of an additional galactose-binding site in vSGLT that aligns to the S1 site of LeuT. Radiolabeled galactose saturation binding experiments indicate that, like LeuT, vSGLT can simultaneously bind two substrate molecules under equilibrium conditions. Mutating key residues in the individual substrate-binding sites reduced the molar substrate-to-protein binding stoichiometry to ∼1. In addition, the related and more experimentally tractable SSS member PutP (the Na+/proline transporter) also exhibits a binding stoichiometry of 2. Targeting residues in the proposed sites with mutations results in the reduction of the binding stoichiometry and is accompanied by severely impaired translocation of proline. Our data suggest that substrate transport by SSS members requires both substrate-binding sites, thereby implying that SSSs and neurotransmitter-sodium symporters share common mechanistic elements in substrate transport. PMID:25398883

  13. Validity and reliability of the Fitbit Zip as a measure of preschool children’s step count

    PubMed Central

    Sharp, Catherine A; Mackintosh, Kelly A; Erjavec, Mihela; Pascoe, Duncan M; Horne, Pauline J

    2017-01-01

    Objectives Validation of physical activity measurement tools is essential to determine the relationship between physical activity and health in preschool children, but research to date has not focused on this priority. The aims of this study were to ascertain inter-rater reliability of observer step count, and interdevice reliability and validity of Fitbit Zip accelerometer step counts in preschool children. Methods Fifty-six children aged 3–4 years (29 girls) recruited from 10 nurseries in North Wales, UK, wore two Fitbit Zip accelerometers while performing a timed walking task in their childcare settings. Accelerometers were worn in secure pockets inside a custom-made tabard. Video recordings enabled two observers to independently code the number of steps performed in 3 min by each child during the walking task. Intraclass correlations (ICCs), concordance correlation coefficients, Bland-Altman plots and absolute per cent error were calculated to assess the reliability and validity of the consumer-grade device. Results An excellent ICC was found between the two observer codings (ICC=1.00) and the two Fitbit Zips (ICC=0.91). Concordance between the Fitbit Zips and observer counts was also high (r=0.77), with an acceptable absolute per cent error (6%–7%). Bland-Altman analyses identified a bias for Fitbit 1 of 22.8±19.1 steps with limits of agreement between −14.7 and 60.2 steps, and a bias for Fitbit 2 of 25.2±23.2 steps with limits of agreement between −20.2 and 70.5 steps. Conclusions Fitbit Zip accelerometers are a reliable and valid method of recording preschool children’s step count in a childcare setting. PMID:29081984

  14. Transcriptome-Wide Survey and Expression Profile Analysis of Putative Chrysanthemum HD-Zip I and II Genes

    PubMed Central

    Song, Aiping; Li, Peiling; Xin, Jingjing; Chen, Sumei; Zhao, Kunkun; Wu, Dan; Fan, Qingqing; Gao, Tianwei; Chen, Fadi; Guan, Zhiyong

    2016-01-01

    The homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) transcription factor family is a key transcription factor family and unique to the plant kingdom. It consists of a homeodomain and a leucine zipper that serve in combination as a dimerization motif. The family can be classified into four subfamilies, and these subfamilies participate in the development of hormones and mediation of hormone action and are involved in plant responses to environmental conditions. However, limited information on this gene family is available for the important chrysanthemum ornamental species (Chrysanthemum morifolium). Here, we characterized 17 chrysanthemum HD-Zip genes based on transcriptome sequences. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that 17 CmHB genes were distributed in the HD-Zip subfamilies I and II and identified two pairs of putative orthologous proteins in Arabidopsis and chrysanthemum and four pairs of paralogous proteins in chrysanthemum. The software MEME was used to identify 7 putative motifs with E values less than 1e-3 in the chrysanthemum HD-Zip factors, and they can be clearly classified into two groups based on the composition of the motifs. A bioinformatics analysis predicted that 8 CmHB genes could be targeted by 10 miRNA families, and the expression of these 17 genes in response to phytohormone treatments and abiotic stresses was characterized. The results presented here will promote research on the various functions of the HD-Zip gene family members in plant hormones and stress responses. PMID:27196930

  15. Mm-size bistable zipping dielectric elastomer actuators for integrated microfluidics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Maffli, Luc; Rosset, Samuel; Shea, Herbert R.

    2013-04-01

    We report on a new structure of Dielectric Elastomer Actuators (DEAs) called zipping DEAs, which have a set of unique characteristics that are a good match for the requirements of electrically-powered integrated microfluidic pumping and/or valving units as well as Braille displays. The zipping DEAs operate by pulling electrostatically an elastomer membrane in contact with the rigid sidewalls of a sloped chamber. In this work, we report on fully functional mm-size zipping DEAs that demonstrate a complete sealing of the chamber sidewalls and a tunable bistable behavior, and compare the measurements with an analytical model. Compared to our first generation of devices, we are able vary the sidewall angle and benefit therefore from more flexibility to study the requirements to make fully functional actuators. In particular, we show that with Nusil CF19 as membrane material (1.2 MPa Young's modulus), it is possible to zip completely 2.3 mm diameter chambers with 15° and 21° sidewalls angle equibiaxially prestretched to λ0=1.12 and 15° chambers with λ0=1.27.

  16. Mechanism of anion selectivity and stoichiometry of the Na+/I- symporter (NIS).

    PubMed

    Paroder-Belenitsky, Monika; Maestas, Matthew J; Dohán, Orsolya; Nicola, Juan Pablo; Reyna-Neyra, Andrea; Follenzi, Antonia; Dadachova, Ekaterina; Eskandari, Sepehr; Amzel, L Mario; Carrasco, Nancy

    2011-11-01

    I(-) uptake in the thyroid, the first step in thyroid hormone biosynthesis, is mediated by the Na(+)/I(-) symporter (NIS) with an electrogenic 2Na(+):1I(-) stoichiometry. We have obtained mechanistic information on NIS by characterizing the congenital I(-) transport defect-causing NIS mutant G93R. This mutant is targeted to the plasma membrane but is inactive. Substitutions at position 93 show that the longer the side chain of the neutral residue at this position, the higher the K(m) for the anion substrates. Unlike WT NIS, which mediates symport of Na(+) and the environmental pollutant perchlorate electroneutrally, G93T/N/Q/E/D NIS, strikingly, do it electrogenically with a 21 stoichiometry. Furthermore, G93E/Q NIS discriminate between anion substrates, a discovery with potential clinical relevance. A 3D homology model of NIS based on the structure of the bacterial Na(+)/galactose transporter identifies G93 as a critical player in the mechanism of the transporter: the changes from an outwardly to an inwardly open conformation during the transport cycle use G93 as a pivot.

  17. Different rate-limiting activities of intracellular pH regulators for HCO3- secretion stimulated by forskolin and carbachol in rat parotid intralobular ducts.

    PubMed

    Ueno, Kaori; Hirono, Chikara; Kitagawa, Michinori; Shiba, Yoshiki; Sugita, Makoto

    2016-11-01

    Intracellular pH (pH i ) regulation fundamentally participates in maintaining HCO 3 - release from HCO 3 - -secreting epithelia. We used parotid intralobular ducts loaded with BCECF to investigate the contributions of a carbonic anhydrase (CA), anion channels and a Na + -H + exchanger (NHE) to pH i regulation for HCO 3 - secretion by cAMP and Ca 2+ signals. Resting pH i was dispersed between 7.4 and 7.9. Forskolin consistently decreased pH i showing the dominance of pH i -lowering activities, but carbachol gathered pH i around 7.6. CA inhibition suppressed the forskolin-induced decrease in pH i , while it allowed carbachol to consistently increase pH i by revealing that carbachol prominently activated NHE via Ca 2+ -calmodulin. Under NHE inhibition, forskolin and carbachol induced the remarkable decreases in pH i , which were slowed predominantly by CA inhibition and by CA or anion channel inhibition, respectively. Our results suggest that forskolin and carbachol primarily activate the pH i -lowering CA and pH i -raising NHE, respectively, to regulate pH i for HCO 3 - secretion.

  18. Genome-Wide Analysis of bZIP-Encoding Genes in Maize

    PubMed Central

    Wei, Kaifa; Chen, Juan; Wang, Yanmei; Chen, Yanhui; Chen, Shaoxiang; Lin, Yina; Pan, Si; Zhong, Xiaojun; Xie, Daoxin

    2012-01-01

    In plants, basic leucine zipper (bZIP) proteins regulate numerous biological processes such as seed maturation, flower and vascular development, stress signalling and pathogen defence. We have carried out a genome-wide identification and analysis of 125 bZIP genes that exist in the maize genome, encoding 170 distinct bZIP proteins. This family can be divided into 11 groups according to the phylogenetic relationship among the maize bZIP proteins and those in Arabidopsis and rice. Six kinds of intron patterns (a–f) within the basic and hinge regions are defined. The additional conserved motifs have been identified and present the group specificity. Detailed three-dimensional structure analysis has been done to display the sequence conservation and potential distribution of the bZIP domain. Further, we predict the DNA-binding pattern and the dimerization property on the basis of the characteristic features in the basic and hinge regions and the leucine zipper, respectively, which supports our classification greatly and helps to classify 26 distinct subfamilies. The chromosome distribution and the genetic analysis reveal that 58 ZmbZIP genes are located in the segmental duplicate regions in the maize genome, suggesting that the segment chromosomal duplications contribute greatly to the expansion of the maize bZIP family. Across the 60 different developmental stages of 11 organs, three apparent clusters formed represent three kinds of different expression patterns among the ZmbZIP gene family in maize development. A similar but slightly different expression pattern of bZIPs in two inbred lines displays that 22 detected ZmbZIP genes might be involved in drought stress. Thirteen pairs and 143 pairs of ZmbZIP genes show strongly negative and positive correlations in the four distinct fungal infections, respectively, based on the expression profile and Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis. PMID:23103471

  19. The Helix Nebula Viewed in HCO+: Large-scale Mapping of the J = 1 → 0 Transition

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zeigler, N. R.; Zack, L. N.; Woolf, N. J.; Ziurys, L. M.

    2013-11-01

    The J = 1 → 0 transition of HCO+ at 89 GHz has been mapped across the Helix Nebula (NGC 7293) with 70'' spatial resolution (1.68 km s-1 velocity resolution) using the Arizona Radio Observatory 12 m telescope. This work is the first large-scale mapping project of a dense gas tracer (n(H2) ~ 105 cm-3) in old planetary nebulae. Observations of over 200 positions encompassing the classical optical image were conducted with a 3σ noise level of ~20 mK. HCO+ was detected at most positions, often exhibiting multiple velocity components indicative of complex kinematic structures in dense gas. The HCO+ spectra suggest that the Helix is composed of a bipolar, barrel-like structure with red- and blue-shifted halves, symmetric with respect to the central star and oriented ~10° east from the line of sight. A second bipolar, higher velocity outflow exists as well, situated along the direction of the Helix "plumes." The column density of HCO+ across the Helix is N tot ~ 1.5 × 1010-5.0 × 1011 cm-2, with an average value N ave ~ 1 × 1011 cm-2, corresponding to an abundance, relative to H2, of f ~ 1.4 × 10-8. This value is similar to that observed in young PN, and contradicts chemical models, which predict that the abundance of HCO+ decreases with nebular age. This study indicates that polyatomic molecules readily survive the ultraviolet field of the central white dwarf, and can be useful in tracing nebular morphology in the very late stages of stellar evolution.

  20. Iodine Symporter Targeting with 124I/131I Theranostics.

    PubMed

    Nagarajah, James; Janssen, Marcel; Hetkamp, Philipp; Jentzen, Walter

    2017-09-01

    Theranostics, a modern approach combining therapeutics and diagnostics, is among the most promising concepts in nuclear medicine for optimizing and individualizing treatments for many cancer entities. Theranostics has been used in clinical routines in nuclear medicine for more than 60 y-as 131 I for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in thyroid diseases. In this minireview, we provide a survey of the use of 2 different radioiodine isotopes for targeting the sodium-iodine symporter in thyroid cancer and nonthyroidal neoplasms as well as a brief summary of theranostics for neuroendocrine neoplasms and metastatic castration-refractory prostate cancer. In particular, we discuss the role of 124 I-based dosimetry in targeting of the sodium-iodine symporter and describe the clinical application of 124 I dosimetry in a patient who had radioiodine-refractory thyroid cancer and who underwent a redifferentiation treatment with the mitogen-activated extracellular signal-related kinase kinase inhibitor trametinib. © 2017 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.

  1. Investigations on the properties of NH4HCO3 filled natural rubber based magnetorheological elastomers (MREs)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fan, Lili; Wang, Guoping; Wang, Wenju; Shi, Guanxin; Yang, Fufeng; Rui, Xiaoting

    2018-04-01

    Various anisotropic magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) were synthesized using the rubber mixing technique. Magnetic and temperature distributions of the experimental equipment and test instruments were analyzed by the ANSYS. NH4HCO3 was filled in the natural rubber matrix to modify properties of MREs. Microstructures and compositions of samples were studied by the scanning electron microscope (SEM), the energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) analysis and x-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Via vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and density functional theory (DFT) method, the magnetic property of carbonyl iron (CI) was illuminated. The shear storage modulus and MR effect of MREs were investigated by the dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA). It indicated that distributions of magnetic and temperature in the experimental and testing devices were uniform. Before vulcanization, CI particles were uniformly distributed in the matrix, while a CI chain structure was formed and embedded in the matrix after the vulcanization process. Moderate addition of NH4HCO3 accelerated the rubber vulcanization and enhanced the MR effect.

  2. The Zinc Concentration in the Diet and the Length of the Feeding Period Affect the Methylation Status of the ZIP4 Zinc Transporter Gene in Piglets

    PubMed Central

    Karweina, Diana; Kreuzer-Redmer, Susanne; Müller, Uwe; Franken, Tobias; Pieper, Robert; Baron, Udo; Olek, Sven; Zentek, Jürgen; Brockmann, Gudrun A.

    2015-01-01

    High doses of zinc oxide are commonly used in weaned pig diets to improve performance and health. Recent reports show that this may also lead to an imbalanced zinc homeostasis in the animal. For a better understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of different zinc intakes, we performed a feeding experiment to assess potential epigenetic regulation of the ZIP4 gene expression via DNA methylation in the small intestine of piglets. Fifty-four piglets were fed diets with 57 (LZn), 164 (NZn) or 2,425 (HZn) mg Zn/kg feed for one or four weeks. The ZIP4 expression data provided significant evidence for counter-regulation of zinc absorption with higher dietary zinc concentrations. The CpG +735 in the second exon had a 56% higher methylation in the HZn group compared to the others after one week of feeding (8.0·10-4 < p < 0.035); the methylation of this CpG was strongly negatively associated with the expression of the long ZIP4 transcripts (p < 0.007). In the LZn and NZn diets, the expression of the long ZIP4 transcripts were lower after four vs. one week of feeding (2.9·10-4 < p < 0.017). The strongest switch leading to high DNA methylation in nearly all analysed regions was dependent on feeding duration or age in all diet groups (3.7·10-10 < p < 0.099). The data suggest that DNA methylation serves as a fine-tuning mechanism of ZIP4 gene regulation to maintain zinc homeostasis. Methylation of the ZIP4 gene may play a minor role in the response to very high dietary zinc concentration, but may affect binding of alternate zinc-responsive transcription factors. PMID:26599865

  3. Hco+ in the Coma of Comet Hale-Bopp

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lovell, A. J.; Schloerb, F. P.; Bergin, E. A.; Dickens, J. E.; De Vries, C. H.; Senay, M. C.; Irvine, W. M.

    1997-05-01

    Maps of comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) in the millimeter-wave emission of the ion HCO^+ revealed a local minimum near the nucleus position, with a maximum about 100,000 km in the antisolar direction. These observed features of the HCO^+ emission require a low abundance of HCO^+ due to enhanced destruction in the inner coma of the comet, within a region of low electron temperature (T_e). To set constraints on the formation of HCO^+ in the coma, as well as the location and magnitude of the transition to higher T_e, the data are compared with the results of ion-molecule chemistry models.

  4. HCO+ in the coma of comet Hale-Bopp

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lovell, A. J.; Schloerb, F. P.; Bergin, E. A.; Dickens, J. E.; Devries, C. H.; Senay, M. C.; Irvine, W. M.; Ferris, J. P. (Principal Investigator)

    1997-01-01

    Maps of comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) in the millimeter-wave emission of the ion HCO+ revealed a local minimum near the nucleus position, with a maximum about 100,000 km in the antisolar direction. These observed features of the HCO+ emission require a low abundance of HCO+ due to enhanced destruction in the inner coma of the comet, within a region of low electron temperature (Te). To set constraints on the formation of HCO+ in the coma, as well as the location and magnitude of the transition to higher Te, the data are compared with the results of ion-molecule chemistry models.

  5. Synthesis and evaluation of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones as sodium iodide symporter inhibitors.

    PubMed

    Lacotte, Pierre; Puente, Celine; Ambroise, Yves

    2013-01-01

    The sodium iodide symporter (NIS) is responsible for the accumulation of iodide in the thyroid gland. This transport process is involved in numerous thyroid dysfunctions and is the basis for human contamination in the case of exposure to radioactive iodine species. 4-Aryl-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones were recently discovered by high-throughput screening as the first NIS inhibitors. Described herein are the synthesis and evaluation of 115 derivatives with structural modifications at five key positions on the pyrimidone core. This study provides extensive structure-activity relationships for this new class of inhibitors that will serve as a basis for further development of compounds with in vivo efficacy and adequate pharmacokinetic properties. In addition, the SAR investigation provided a more potent compound, which exhibits an IC(50) value of 3.2 nM in a rat thyroid cell line (FRTL5). Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  6. [Effect of NaHCO3 stress on uptake and transportation of Na+, K+ and Ca2+ in three shrub species].

    PubMed

    Mao, Gui-Lian; Li, Guo-Qi; Xu, Xing; Zhang, Xin-Xue

    2014-03-01

    We detected absorption and transportation of ions in the leaves of Atriplex nummularia, Atriplex canescens and Lycium barbarum under NaHCO3 stress (300 mmol x L(-1)) by using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and non-invasive ion flux measurement. The results showed that leaves of the A. nummularia, A. canescens and L. barbarum exhibited a high capacity to induce the Na+ accumulation when compared with that of control. The higher the concentration of NaHCO3 treatment, the more Na+ accumulated in the leaves of the three plants under experimental condition. L. barbarum showed a higher Na+ efflux in the mesophyll cells, whereas A. nummularia and A. canescens showed a relative lower efflux. A lower K+ content and a higher Na+/K+ ratio were detected in leaves of A. nummularia and L. barbarum. However, a higher K+ content and a lower Na+/K+ ratio were seen in leaves of A. canescens. Due to induction of Ca2+ efflux under the NaHCO3 treatment, a lower Ca2+ content and a higher Na+/Ca2+ ratio were observed in L. barbarum. On the contrary, a higher Ca2+ influx was observed in A. nummularia and A. canescens. These results suggested that the three shrubs species had different Na+ segmentation strategies. The accumulation of Na+ inhibited Ca2+ absorption in leaves of L. barbarum, while in the A. nummularia and A. canescens, Ca2+ influx induced [Ca2+]cyt which preserved a less-depolarized PM and then inhibited K efflux. The maintaining of cellular K+/Na+ homeostasis in A. nummularia and A. canescens might be achieved by the induction of [Ca2+]cyt under the NaHCO3 treatment.

  7. The effect of plasma pre-treatment on NaHCO3 desizing of blended sizes on cotton fabrics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Xuming; Qiu, Yiping

    2012-03-01

    The influence of the He/O2 atmospheric pressure plasma jet pre-treatment on subsequent NaHCO3 desizing of blends of starch phosphate and poly(vinyl alcohol) on cotton fabrics is investigated. Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy analysis indicate that the surface topography of the samples has significantly changed and the surface roughness increases with an increase in plasma exposure time. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis shows that a larger number of oxygen-containing polar groups are formed on the sized fabric surface after the plasma treatment. The results of the percent desizing ratio (PDR) indicate that the plasma pretreatment facilitated the blended sizes removal from the cotton fabrics in subsequent NaHCO3 treatment and the PDR increases with prolonging plasma treatment time. The plasma technology is a promising pretreatment for desizing of blended sizes due to dramatically reduced desizing time.

  8. Structure and molecular mechanism of a nucleobase-cation-symport-1 family transporter.

    PubMed

    Weyand, Simone; Shimamura, Tatsuro; Yajima, Shunsuke; Suzuki, Shun'ichi; Mirza, Osman; Krusong, Kuakarun; Carpenter, Elisabeth P; Rutherford, Nicholas G; Hadden, Jonathan M; O'Reilly, John; Ma, Pikyee; Saidijam, Massoud; Patching, Simon G; Hope, Ryan J; Norbertczak, Halina T; Roach, Peter C J; Iwata, So; Henderson, Peter J F; Cameron, Alexander D

    2008-10-31

    The nucleobase-cation-symport-1 (NCS1) transporters are essential components of salvage pathways for nucleobases and related metabolites. Here, we report the 2.85-angstrom resolution structure of the NCS1 benzyl-hydantoin transporter, Mhp1, from Microbacterium liquefaciens. Mhp1 contains 12 transmembrane helices, 10 of which are arranged in two inverted repeats of five helices. The structures of the outward-facing open and substrate-bound occluded conformations were solved, showing how the outward-facing cavity closes upon binding of substrate. Comparisons with the leucine transporter LeuT(Aa) and the galactose transporter vSGLT reveal that the outward- and inward-facing cavities are symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the membrane. The reciprocal opening and closing of these cavities is synchronized by the inverted repeat helices 3 and 8, providing the structural basis of the alternating access model for membrane transport.

  9. bZIP transcription factor SmJLB1 regulates autophagy-related genes Smatg8 and Smatg4 and is required for fruiting-body development and vegetative growth in Sordaria macrospora.

    PubMed

    Voigt, Oliver; Herzog, Britta; Jakobshagen, Antonia; Pöggeler, Stefanie

    2013-12-01

    Autophagy is a precisely controlled degradation process in eukaryotic cells, during which the bulk of the cytoplasm is engulfed by a double membrane vesicle, the autophagosome. Fusion of the autophagosome with the vacuole leads to breakdown of its contents, such as proteins and organelles, and the recycling of nutrients. Earlier studies of autophagic genes of the core autophagic machinery in the filamentous ascomycete Sordaria macrospora elucidated the impact of autophagy on fungal viability, vegetative growth and fruiting-body development. To gain further knowledge about the regulation of autophagy in S. macrospora, we analyzed the function of the bZIP transcription factor SmJLB1, a homolog of the Podospora anserina basic zipper-type transcription factor induced during incompatibility 4 (IDI-4) and the Aspergillus nidulans transcription factor jun-like bZIP A (JlbA). Generation of the homokaryotic deletion mutant demonstrated S. macrospora Smjlb1 is associated with autophagy-dependent processes. Deletion of Smjlb1 abolished fruiting-body formation and impaired vegetative growth. SmJLB1 is localized to the cytoplasm and to nuclei. Quantitative real-time PCR experiments revealed an upregulated expression of autophagy-related genes Smatg8 and Smatg4 in the Smjlb1 deletion mutant, suggesting a transcriptional repression function of SmJLB1. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  10. pH regulation in barnacle muscle fibers: dependence on extracellular sodium and bicarbonate.

    PubMed

    Boron, W F; McCormick, W C; Roos, A

    1981-01-01

    Intracellular pH (pHi) regulation was studied in barnacle muscle fibers with pH-sensitive microelectrodes. The cells were acid loaded, and the subsequent recovery of pHi was monitored. The rate of recovery was reduced by one-third when external Na+ ([Na+]o) was replaced by Li+, but recovery was completely abolished when Na+ was replaced by choline or N-methyl-D-glucamine. In other experiments, varying amounts of Na+ were replaced by choline, and the acid extrusion rate, derived from the recovery rate of pHi, was calculated at a single value of pHi, 6.80. The dependence of the acid extrusion rate on [Na+]o could be described by Michaelis-Menten kinetics; at pHo (extracellular) = 8.0 and [HCO3-]o (extracellular) = 10 mM, the apparent Km and Vmax were 59 mM and 1.3 mmol x l(-1) x min-1. When [HCO3-]o was reduced to 2.5 mM at the same pHo, Km did not change significantly, but Vmax was substantially reduced. On the other hand, when pHo was reduced to 7.4 at constant [HCO3-]o, Vmax changed only slightly, but Km increased substantially. In similar experiments, we examined the dependence of the acid extrusion rate on [HCO3-]o. At pHo = 8.0 and [Na+]o = 440 mM, the apparent Km and Vmax were 4.1 mM and 2.1 mmol x 1-1 x min-1. When pHo was reduced to 7.4, Vmax was not altered, but Km substantially increased. The kinetic data are discussed in terms of the role of pHo, [Na+]o, and [HCO3-]o in the pHi-regulating system.

  11. ZIP4 silencing improves bone loss in pancreatic cancer

    PubMed Central

    Yang, Jingxuan; Ding, Hao; LeBrun, Drake; Ding, Kai; Houchen, Courtney W.; Postier, Russell G.; Ambrose, Catherine G.; Li, Zhaoshen; Bi, Xiaohong; Li, Min

    2015-01-01

    Metabolic bone disorders are associated with several types of human cancers. Pancreatic cancer patients usually suffer from severe nutrition deficiency, muscle wasting, and loss of bone mass. We have previously found that silencing of a zinc transporter ZIP4 prolongs the survival and reduces the severity of the cachexia in vivo. However, the role of ZIP4 in the pancreatic cancer related bone loss remains unknown. In this study we investigated the effect of ZIP4 knockdown on the bone structure, composition and mechanical properties of femurs in an orthotopic xenograft mouse model. Our data showed that silencing of ZIP4 resulted in increased bone tissue mineral density, decreased bone crystallinity and restoration of bone strength through the RANK/RANKL pathway. The results further support the impact of ZIP4 on the progression of pancreatic cancer, and suggest its potential significance as a therapeutic target for treating patients with such devastating disease and cancer related disorders. PMID:26305676

  12. Mechanism of anion selectivity and stoichiometry of the Na+/I- symporter (NIS)

    PubMed Central

    Paroder-Belenitsky, Monika; Maestas, Matthew J.; Dohán, Orsolya; Nicola, Juan Pablo; Reyna-Neyra, Andrea; Follenzi, Antonia; Dadachova, Ekaterina; Eskandari, Sepehr; Amzel, L. Mario; Carrasco, Nancy

    2011-01-01

    I- uptake in the thyroid, the first step in thyroid hormone biosynthesis, is mediated by the Na+/I- symporter (NIS) with an electrogenic 2Na+ : 1I- stoichiometry. We have obtained mechanistic information on NIS by characterizing the congenital I- transport defect-causing NIS mutant G93R. This mutant is targeted to the plasma membrane but is inactive. Substitutions at position 93 show that the longer the side chain of the neutral residue at this position, the higher the Km for the anion substrates. Unlike WT NIS, which mediates symport of Na+ and the environmental pollutant perchlorate electroneutrally, G93T/N/Q/E/D NIS, strikingly, do it electrogenically with a 2∶1 stoichiometry. Furthermore, G93E/Q NIS discriminate between anion substrates, a discovery with potential clinical relevance. A 3D homology model of NIS based on the structure of the bacterial Na+/galactose transporter identifies G93 as a critical player in the mechanism of the transporter: the changes from an outwardly to an inwardly open conformation during the transport cycle use G93 as a pivot. PMID:22011571

  13. ZIP2DL: An Elastic-Plastic, Large-Rotation Finite-Element Stress Analysis and Crack-Growth Simulation Program

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Deng, Xiaomin; Newman, James C., Jr.

    1997-01-01

    ZIP2DL is a two-dimensional, elastic-plastic finte element program for stress analysis and crack growth simulations, developed for the NASA Langley Research Center. It has many of the salient features of the ZIP2D program. For example, ZIP2DL contains five material models (linearly elastic, elastic-perfectly plastic, power-law hardening, linear hardening, and multi-linear hardening models), and it can simulate mixed-mode crack growth for prescribed crack growth paths under plane stress, plane strain and mixed state of stress conditions. Further, as an extension of ZIP2D, it also includes a number of new capabilities. The large-deformation kinematics in ZIP2DL will allow it to handle elastic problems with large strains and large rotations, and elastic-plastic problems with small strains and large rotations. Loading conditions in terms of surface traction, concentrated load, and nodal displacement can be applied with a default linear time dependence or they can be programmed according to a user-defined time dependence through a user subroutine. The restart capability of ZIP2DL will make it possible to stop the execution of the program at any time, analyze the results and/or modify execution options and resume and continue the execution of the program. This report includes three sectons: a theoretical manual section, a user manual section, and an example manual secton. In the theoretical secton, the mathematics behind the various aspects of the program are concisely outlined. In the user manual section, a line-by-line explanation of the input data is given. In the example manual secton, three types of examples are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and illustrate the use of this program.

  14. Genome-wide analysis of the basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor gene family in six legume genomes.

    PubMed

    Wang, Zhihui; Cheng, Ke; Wan, Liyun; Yan, Liying; Jiang, Huifang; Liu, Shengyi; Lei, Yong; Liao, Boshou

    2015-12-10

    Plant bZIP proteins characteristically harbor a highly conserved bZIP domain with two structural features: a DNA-binding basic region and a leucine (Leu) zipper dimerization region. They have been shown to be diverse transcriptional regulators, playing crucial roles in plant development, physiological processes, and biotic/abiotic stress responses. Despite the availability of six completely sequenced legume genomes, a comprehensive investigation of bZIP family members in legumes has yet to be presented. In this study, we identified 428 bZIP genes encoding 585 distinct proteins in six legumes, Glycine max, Medicago truncatula, Phaseolus vulgaris, Cicer arietinum, Cajanus cajan, and Lotus japonicus. The legume bZIP genes were categorized into 11 groups according to their phylogenetic relationships with genes from Arabidopsis. Four kinds of intron patterns (a-d) within the basic and hinge regions were defined and additional conserved motifs were identified, both presenting high group specificity and supporting the group classification. We predicted the DNA-binding patterns and the dimerization properties, based on the characteristic features in the basic and hinge regions and the Leu zipper, respectively, which indicated that some highly conserved amino acid residues existed across each major group. The chromosome distribution and analysis for WGD-derived duplicated blocks revealed that the legume bZIP genes have expanded mainly by segmental duplication rather than tandem duplication. Expression data further revealed that the legume bZIP genes were expressed constitutively or in an organ-specific, development-dependent manner playing roles in multiple seed developmental stages and tissues. We also detected several key legume bZIP genes involved in drought- and salt-responses by comparing fold changes of expression values in drought-stressed or salt-stressed roots and leaves. In summary, this genome-wide identification, characterization and expression analysis of

  15. PSD-95 interacts with NBCn1 and enhances channel-like activity without affecting Na/HCO(3) cotransport.

    PubMed

    Lee, Soojung; Yang, Han Soo; Kim, Eunjin; Ju, Eun Ji; Kwon, Min Hyung; Dudley, R Kyle; Smith, Yoland; Yun, C Chris; Choi, Inyeong

    2012-01-01

    The sodium/bicarbonate transporter NBCn1 plays an essential role in intracellular pH regulation and transepithelial HCO(3)(-) movement in the body. NBCn1 also has sodium channel-like activity uncoupled to Na/HCO(3) cotransport. We previously reported that NBCn1 interacts with the postsynaptic density protein PSD-95 in the brain. Here, we elucidated the structural determinant and functional consequence of NBCn1/PSD-95 interaction. In rat hippocampal CA3 neurons, NBCn1 was localized to the postsynaptic membranes of both dendritic shafts and spines and occasionally to the presynaptic membranes. A GST/NBCn1 fusion protein containing the C-terminal 131 amino acids of NBCn1 pulled down PSD-95 from rat brain lysates, whereas GST/NBCn1-ΔETSL (deletion of the last four amino acids) and GST/NBCn2 (NCBE) lacking the same ETSL did not. NBCn1 and PSD-95 were coimmunoprecipitated in HEK 293 cells, and their interaction did not affect the efficacy of PSD-95 to bind to the NMDA receptor NR2A. PSD-95 has negligible effects on intracellular pH changes mediated by NBCn1 in HEK 293 cells and Xenopus oocytes. However, PSD-95 increased an ionic conductance produced by NBCn1 channel-like activity. This increase was abolished by NBCn1-ΔETSL or by the peptide containing the last 15 amino acids of NBCn1. Our data suggest that PSD-95 interacts with NBCn1 and increases its channel-like activity while negligibly affecting Na/HCO(3) cotransport. The possibility that the channel-like activity occurs via an intermolecular cavity of multimeric NBCn1 proteins is discussed. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  16. PSD-95 Interacts with NBCn1 and Enhances Channel-like Activity without Affecting Na/HCO3 Cotransport

    PubMed Central

    Lee, Soojung; Yang, Han Soo; Kim, Eunjin; Ju, Eun Ji; Kwon, Min Hyung; Dudley, R. Kyle; Smith, Yoland; Yun, C. Chris; Choi, Inyeong

    2013-01-01

    Background/Aims The sodium/bicarbonate transporter NBCn1 plays an essential role in intracellular pH regulation and transepithelial HCO3− movement in the body. NBCn1 also has sodium channel-like activity uncoupled to Na/HCO3 cotransport. We previously reported that NBCn1 interacts with the postsynaptic density protein PSD-95 in the brain. Here, we elucidated the structural determinant and functional consequence of NBCn1/PSD-95 interaction. Methods: Results In rat hippocampal CA3 neurons, NBCn1 was localized to the postsynaptic membranes of both dendritic shafts and spines and occasionally to the presynaptic membranes. A GST/NBCn1 fusion protein containing the C-terminal 131 amino acids of NBCn1 pulled down PSD-95 from rat brain lysates, whereas GST/NBCn1-ΔETSL (deletion of the last four amino acids) and GST/NBCn2 (NCBE) lacking the same ETSL did not. NBCn1 and PSD-95 were coimmunoprecipitated in HEK 293 cells, and their interaction did not affect the efficacy of PSD-95 to bind to the NMDA receptor NR2A. PSD-95 has negligible effects on intracellular pH changes mediated by NBCn1 in HEK 293 cells and Xenopus oocytes. However, PSD-95 increased an ionic conductance produced by NBCn1 channel-like activity. This increase was abolished by NBCn1-ΔETSL or by the peptide containing the last 15 amino acids of NBCn1. Conclusion Our data suggest that PSD-95 interacts with NBCn1 and increases its channel-like activity while negligibly affecting Na/HCO3 cotransport. The possibility that the channel-like activity occurs via an intermolecular cavity of multimeric NBCn1 proteins is discussed. PMID:23183381

  17. Decryption-decompression of AES protected ZIP files on GPUs

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Duong, Tan Nhat; Pham, Phong Hong; Nguyen, Duc Huu; Nguyen, Thuy Thanh; Le, Hung Duc

    2011-10-01

    AES is a strong encryption system, so decryption-decompression of AES encrypted ZIP files requires very large computing power and techniques of reducing the password space. This makes implementations of techniques on common computing system not practical. In [1], we reduced the original very large password search space to a much smaller one which surely containing the correct password. Based on reduced set of passwords, in this paper, we parallel decryption, decompression and plain text recognition for encrypted ZIP files by using CUDA computing technology on graphics cards GeForce GTX295 of NVIDIA, to find out the correct password. The experimental results have shown that the speed of decrypting, decompressing, recognizing plain text and finding out the original password increases about from 45 to 180 times (depends on the number of GPUs) compared to sequential execution on the Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 2.66 GHz. These results have demonstrated the potential applicability of GPUs in this cryptanalysis field.

  18. A role for the Drosophila zinc transporter Zip88E in protecting against dietary zinc toxicity.

    PubMed

    Richards, Christopher D; Warr, Coral G; Burke, Richard

    2017-01-01

    Zinc absorption in animals is thought to be regulated in a local, cell autonomous manner with intestinal cells responding to dietary zinc content. The Drosophila zinc transporter Zip88E shows strong sequence similarity to Zips 42C.1, 42C.2 and 89B as well as mammalian Zips 1, 2 and 3, suggesting that it may act in concert with the apically-localised Drosophila zinc uptake transporters to facilitate dietary zinc absorption by importing ions into the midgut enterocytes. However, the functional characterisation of Zip88E presented here indicates that Zip88E may instead play a role in detecting and responding to zinc toxicity. Larvae homozygous for a null Zip88E allele are viable yet display heightened sensitivity to elevated levels of dietary zinc. This decreased zinc tolerance is accompanied by an overall decrease in Metallothionein B transcription throughout the larval midgut. A Zip88E reporter gene is expressed only in the salivary glands, a handful of enteroendocrine cells at the boundary between the anterior and middle midgut regions, and in two parallel strips of sensory cell projections connecting to the larval ventral ganglion. Zip88E expression solely in this restricted subset of cells is sufficient to rescue the Zip88E mutant phenotype. Together, our data suggest that Zip88E may be functioning in a small subset of cells to detect excessive zinc levels and induce a systemic response to reduce dietary zinc absorption and hence protect against toxicity.

  19. hZIP1 zinc uptake transporter down regulation and zinc depletion in prostate cancer

    PubMed Central

    Franklin, Renty B; Feng, Pei; Milon, B; Desouki, Mohamed M; Singh, Keshav K; Kajdacsy-Balla, André; Bagasra, Omar; Costello, Leslie C

    2005-01-01

    Background The genetic and molecular mechanisms responsible for and associated with the development and progression of prostate malignancy are largely unidentified. The peripheral zone is the major region of the human prostate gland where malignancy develops. The normal peripheral zone glandular epithelium has the unique function of accumulating high levels of zinc. In contrast, the ability to accumulate zinc is lost in the malignant cells. The lost ability of the neoplastic epithelial cells to accumulate zinc is a consistent factor in their development of malignancy. Recent studies identified ZIP1 (SLC39A1) as an important zinc transporter involved in zinc accumulation in prostate cells. Therefore, we investigated the possibility that down-regulation of hZIP1 gene expression might be involved in the inability of malignant prostate cells to accumulate zinc. To address this issue, the expression of hZIP1 and the depletion of zinc in malignant versus non-malignant prostate glands of prostate cancer tissue sections were analyzed. hZIP1 expression was also determined in malignant prostate cell lines. Results hZIP1 gene expression, ZIP1 transporter protein, and cellular zinc were prominent in normal peripheral zone glandular epithelium and in benign hyperplastic glands (also zinc accumulating glands). In contrast, hZIP1 gene expression and transporter protein were markedly down-regulated and zinc was depleted in adenocarcinomatous glands and in prostate intra-epithelial neoplastic foci (PIN). These changes occur early in malignancy and are sustained during its progression in the peripheral zone. hZIP1 is also expressed in the malignant cell lines LNCaP, PC-3, DU-145; and in the nonmalignant cell lines HPr-1 and BPH-1. Conclusion The studies clearly establish that hZIP1 gene expression is down regulated and zinc is depleted in adenocarcinomatous glands. The fact that all the malignant cell lines express hZIP1 indicates that the down-regulation in adenocarcinomatous

  20. Structural insights of ZIP4 extracellular domain critical for optimal zinc transport

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Tuo; Sui, Dexin; Hu, Jian

    2016-06-01

    The ZIP zinc transporter family is responsible for zinc uptake from the extracellular milieu or intracellular vesicles. The LIV-1 subfamily, containing nine out of the 14 human ZIP proteins, is featured with a large extracellular domain (ECD). The critical role of the ECD is manifested by disease-causing mutations on ZIP4, a representative LIV-1 protein. Here we report the first crystal structure of a mammalian ZIP4-ECD, which reveals two structurally independent subdomains and an unprecedented dimer centred at the signature PAL motif. Structure-guided mutagenesis, cell-based zinc uptake assays and mapping of the disease-causing mutations indicate that the two subdomains play pivotal but distinct roles and that the bridging region connecting them is particularly important for ZIP4 function. These findings lead to working hypotheses on how ZIP4-ECD exerts critical functions in zinc transport. The conserved dimeric architecture in ZIP4-ECD is also demonstrated to be a common structural feature among the LIV-1 proteins.

  1. Aquaporin-1 and HCO3−–Cl− transporter-mediated transport of CO2 across the human erythrocyte membrane

    PubMed Central

    Blank, Michael E; Ehmke, Heimo

    2003-01-01

    Recent studies have suggested that aquaporin-1 (AQP1) as well as the HCO3−–Cl− transporter may be involved in CO2 transport across biological membranes, but the physiological importance of this route of gas transport remained unknown. We studied CO2 transport in human red blood cell ghosts at physiological temperatures (37 °C). Replacement of inert with CO2-containing gas above a stirred cell suspension caused an outside-to-inside directed CO2 gradient and generated a rapid biphasic intracellular acidification. The gradient of the acidifying gas was kept small to favour high affinity entry of CO2 passing the membrane. All rates of acidification except that of the approach to physicochemical equilibrium of the uncatalysed reaction were restricted to the intracellular environment. Inhibition of carbonic anhydrase (CA) demonstrated that CO2-induced acidification required the catalytic activity of CA. Blockade of the function of either AQP1 (by HgCl2 at 65 μM) or the HCO3−–Cl− transporter (by DIDS at 15 μM) completely prevented fast acidification. These data indicate that, at low chemical gradients for CO2, nearly the entire CO2 transport across the red cell membrane is mediated by AQP1 and the HCO3−–Cl− transporter. Therefore, these proteins may function as high affinity sites for CO2 transport across the erythrocyte membrane. PMID:12754312

  2. Dependence and power in healthcare equipment supply chains.

    PubMed

    de Jong, Jurriaan L; Benton, W C

    2018-03-05

    Most healthcare organizations (HCOs) engage Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) as an outsourcing strategy to secure their supplies and materials. When an HCO outsources the procurement function to a GPO, this GPO will directly interact with the HCO's supplier on the HCO's behalf. This study investigates how an HCO's dependence on a GPO affects supply chain relationships and power in the healthcare medical equipment supply chain. Hypotheses are tested through factor analysis and structural equation modeling, using primary survey data from HCO procurement managers. An HCO's dependence on a GPO is found to be positively associated with a GPO's reliance on mediated power, but, surprisingly, negatively associated with a GPO's mediated power. Furthermore, analysis indicates that an HCO's dependence on a GPO is positively associated with an HCO's dependence on a GPO-contracted Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). HCO reliance on GPOs may lead to a buyer's dependence trap, where HCOs are increasingly dependent on GPOs and OEMs. Implications for HCO procurement managers and recommended steps for mitigation are offered. Power-dependence relationships in the medical equipment supply chain are not consistent with relationships in other, more traditional, supply chains. While dependence in a supply chain relationship typically leads to an increase in reliance on mediated power, GPO-dependent HCOs instead perceive a decrease in GPO mediated power. Furthermore, HCOs that rely on procurement service from GPOs are increasingly dependent on the OEMs.

  3. NF-κB p65 Subunit Mediates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Na+/I− Symporter Gene Expression by Involving Functional Interaction with the Paired Domain Transcription Factor Pax8

    PubMed Central

    Nicola, Juan Pablo; Nazar, Magalí; Mascanfroni, Iván Darío; Pellizas, Claudia Gabriela; Masini-Repiso, Ana María

    2010-01-01

    The Gram-negative bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) elicits a variety of biological responses. Na+/I− symporter (NIS)-mediated iodide uptake is the main rate-limiting step in thyroid hormonogenesis. We have recently reported that LPS stimulates TSH-induced iodide uptake. Here, we further analyzed the molecular mechanism involved in the LPS-induced NIS expression in Fisher rat thyroid cell line 5 (FRTL-5) thyroid cells. We observed an increase in TSH-induced NIS mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner upon LPS treatment. LPS enhanced the TSH-stimulated NIS promoter activity denoting the NIS-upstream enhancer region (NUE) as responsible for the stimulatory effects. We characterized a novel putative conserved κB site for the transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) within the NUE region. NUE contains two binding sites for the transcription factor paired box 8 (Pax8), main regulator of NIS transcription. A physical interaction was observed between the NF-κB p65 subunit and paired box 8 (Pax8), which appears to be responsible for the synergic effect displayed by these transcription factors on NIS gene transcription. Moreover, functional blockage of NF-κB signaling and site-directed mutagenesis of the κB cis-acting element abrogated LPS stimulation. Silencing expression of p65 confirmed its participation as an effector of LPS-induced NIS stimulation. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation corroborated that NIS is a novel target gene for p65 transactivation in response to LPS. Moreover, we were able to corroborate the LPS-stimulatory effect on thyroid cells in vivo in LPS-treated rats, supporting that thyrocytes are capable of responding to systemic infections. In conclusion, our results reveal a new mechanism involving p65 in the LPS-induced NIS expression, denoting a novel aspect in thyroid cell differentiation. PMID:20667985

  4. Millimeter observations of CS, HCO{sup +}, and CO toward five planetary nebulae: following molecular abundances with nebular age

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Edwards, J. L.; Ziurys, L. M.; Cox, E. G., E-mail: lziurys@email.arizona.edu

    2014-08-20

    Millimeter and sub-millimeter observations of CO, CS, and HCO{sup +} have been conducted toward five planetary nebulae (PNe: K4-47, NGC 6537 (Red Spider), M2-48, NGC 6720 (Ring), and NGC 6853 (Dumbbell)), spanning an age range of 900-10,000 yr, using the Sub-Millimeter Telescope and the 12 m antenna of the Arizona Radio Observatory. The J = 5 → 4, J = 3 → 2, and J = 2 → 1 transitions of CS at 245, 147, and 98 GHz, as well as the J = 3 → 2 and J = 1 → 0 lines of HCO{sup +} at 268 andmore » 89 GHz, were detected toward each source. At least three rotational transitions of CO have also been observed, including the J = 6 → 5 and J = 4 → 3 lines at 691 and 461 GHz. CS had not been definitively identified previously in PNe, and new detections of HCO{sup +} were made in four of the five nebulae. From a radiative transfer analysis of the CO and CS data, kinetic temperatures of T {sub K} ∼ 10-80 K and gas densities of n(H{sub 2}) ∼ 0.1-1 × 10{sup 6} cm{sup –3} were determined for the molecular material in these sources. Column densities for CO, CS, and HCO{sup +} were N {sub tot} ∼ 0.2-5 × 10{sup 16} cm{sup –2}, N {sub tot} ∼ 0.4-9 × 10{sup 12} cm{sup –2}, and N {sub tot} ∼ 0.3-5 × 10{sup 12} cm{sup –2}, respectively, with fractional abundances, relative to H{sub 2}, of f ∼ 0.4-2 × 10{sup –4}, f ∼ 1-4 × 10{sup –8}, and f ∼ 1 × 10{sup –8}, with the exception of M2-48, which had f(HCO{sup +}) ∼ 10{sup –7}. Overall, the molecular abundances do not significantly vary over a duration of 10,000 yr, in contrast to predictions of chemical models. The abundances reflect the remnant asymptotic giant branch shell material, coupled with photochemistry in the early PN phase. These observations also suggest that PNe eject substantial amounts of molecular material into the diffuse interstellar medium.« less

  5. Evolutionary Descent of Prion Genes from the ZIP Family of Metal Ion Transporters

    PubMed Central

    Schmitt-Ulms, Gerold; Ehsani, Sepehr; Watts, Joel C.; Westaway, David; Wille, Holger

    2009-01-01

    In the more than twenty years since its discovery, both the phylogenetic origin and cellular function of the prion protein (PrP) have remained enigmatic. Insights into a possible function of PrP may be obtained through the characterization of its molecular neighborhood in cells. Quantitative interactome data demonstrated the spatial proximity of two metal ion transporters of the ZIP family, ZIP6 and ZIP10, to mammalian prion proteins in vivo. A subsequent bioinformatic analysis revealed the unexpected presence of a PrP-like amino acid sequence within the N-terminal, extracellular domain of a distinct sub-branch of the ZIP protein family that includes ZIP5, ZIP6 and ZIP10. Additional structural threading and orthologous sequence alignment analyses argued that the prion gene family is phylogenetically derived from a ZIP-like ancestral molecule. The level of sequence homology and the presence of prion protein genes in most chordate species place the split from the ZIP-like ancestor gene at the base of the chordate lineage. This relationship explains structural and functional features found within mammalian prion proteins as elements of an ancient involvement in the transmembrane transport of divalent cations. The phylogenetic and spatial connection to ZIP proteins is expected to open new avenues of research to elucidate the biology of the prion protein in health and disease. PMID:19784368

  6. Passive driving forces of proximal tubular fluid and bicarbonate transport: gradient dependence of H+ secretion.

    PubMed

    Chan, Y L; Malnic, G; Giebisch, G

    1983-11-01

    The effect of oncotic pressure changes on fluid (Jv) and net bicarbonate transport (JHCO-3) and the transepithelial bicarbonate permeability (PHCO-3) were measured by an improved luminal and capillary microperfusion method that allows paired experiments on the same tubule. Rat proximal tubules were pump-perfused and Jv and [HCO-3] measured with [14C]inulin and a pH glass electrode. Raising peritubular protein (0-8-15 g/100 ml bovine serum albumin) stimulated Jv and HCO-3 reabsorption. The response to oncotic pressure changes was asymmetrical since changes of the luminal protein concentration had no significant effects. Whereas transepithelial solvent drag effects on HCO-3 must be minimal, peritubular protein most likely stimulates translocation of fluid and bicarbonate from intercellular spaces into peritubular capillaries. PHCO-3 was measured from HCO-3 net flux along a lumen-to-capillary-directed electrochemical potential gradient. In these experiments active H+ transport and Jv were minimized by 10(-4) M acetazolamide and luminal raffinose. PHCO-3 was 1.77 X 10(-5) cm X s-1 and was unaffected by increasing luminal flow rate from 10 to 45 nl X min-1. Since bicarbonate backflux is only a small fraction of physiological rates of JHCO-3, net transport alterations at varying [HCO-3] in the lumen must be due to changes in active HCO-3 (H+) transport. Thus, active H+ ion secretion across the luminal membrane of the proximal tubule is gradient dependent.

  7. A Well-Defined Isocyano Analogue of HCo(CO) 4. 2: Relative Brønsted Acidity as a Function of Isocyanide Ligation

    DOE PAGES

    Carpenter, Alex E.; Chan, Chinglin; Rheingold, Arnold L.; ...

    2016-07-07

    The m-terphenyl isocyanide complex, HCo(CNAr Mes2) 4 (Ar Mes2 = 2,6-(2,4,6-Me 3C 6H 2) 2C 6H 3), serves as a unique example of a well-defined isocyano analogue to HCo(CO) 4. Given the well documented Brønsted acidity of HCo(CO) 4 in both protic and nonprotic media, the Brønsted acidity of HCo(CNAr Mes2) 4 was assessed for a quantitative comparison. Acid bracketing experiments in THF solution revealed that HCo(CNAr Mes2) 4 has a Morris relative pK α THF value of 38.5-40.7, which is considerably higher than that of HCo(CO) 4 (pK α THF (calc) = 11.4) and thereby indicates insignificant Brønsted acidity.more » Furthermore, the relative acidity of HCo(CNAr Mes2) 4 rivals that of tetra-phosphine cobalt hydrides (i.e., HCo(PR 3) 4; pK α THF (calc) ≥ 48), despite the good π-acidity properties of the isocyano unit. To systematically determine the effect of substituting an isocyanide for a CO ligand on the acidity of the Co-H unit in HCoL 4 complexes, the full series of HCo(CO) n(CNAr Mes2) 4-n monohydrides and [Co(CO) n(CNAr Mes2) 4-n] - (n = 1-4) metalates were prepared and characterized. Acid bracketing studies on the [Co(CO) n(CNAr Mes2) 4-n] - metalates in THF solution revealed a regular progression of increasing pK α THF values as isocyanides are added to the Co center. However, the monoisocyanide tricarbonyl hydride, HCo(CO) 3(CNAr Mes2), possesses a pK α THF value of 28.6-32.5, which is also significantly higher than that of HCo(CO) 4 and the monophosphine complex HCo(CO) 3(PPh 3). Accordingly, the unconventional ability of isocyanide ligands to function as stronger σ-donors than organophosphines is discussed within the context of both the Brønsted acidity and spectroscopic features of the HCo(CO) n(CNAr Mes2) 4-n monohydrides.« less

  8. Using ZIP Code Business Patterns Data to Measure Alcohol Outlet Density

    PubMed Central

    Matthews, Stephen A.; McCarthy, John D.; Rafail, Patrick S.

    2014-01-01

    Some states maintain high-quality alcohol outlet databases but quality varies by state, making comprehensive comparative analysis across US communities difficult. This study assesses the adequacy of using ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZIP-BP) data on establishments as estimates of the number of alcohol outlets by ZIP code. Specifically we compare ZIP-BP alcohol outlet counts with high-quality data from state and local records surrounding 44 college campus communities across 10 states plus the District of Columbia. Results show that a composite measure is strongly correlated (R=0.89) with counts of alcohol outlets generated from official state records. Analyses based on Generalized Estimation Equation models show that community and contextual factors have little impact on the concordance between the two data sources. There are also minimal inter-state differences in the level of agreement. To validate the use of a convenient secondary data set (ZIP-BP) it is important to have a high correlation with the more complex, high quality and more costly data product (i.e., datasets based on the acquisition and geocoding of state and local records) and then to clearly demonstrate that the discrepancy between the two to be unrelated to relevant explanatory variables. Thus our overall findings support the adequacy of using a conveniently available data set (ZIP-BP data) to estimate alcohol outlet densities in ZIP code areas in future research. PMID:21411233

  9. OsbZIP58, a basic leucine zipper transcription factor, regulates starch biosynthesis in rice endosperm.

    PubMed

    Wang, Jie-Chen; Xu, Heng; Zhu, Ying; Liu, Qiao-Quan; Cai, Xiu-Ling

    2013-08-01

    Starch composition and the amount in endosperm, both of which contribute dramatically to seed yield, cooking quality, and taste in cereals, are determined by a series of complex biochemical reactions. However, the mechanism regulating starch biosynthesis in cereal seeds is not well understood. This study showed that OsbZIP58, a bZIP transcription factor, is a key transcriptional regulator controlling starch synthesis in rice endosperm. OsbZIP58 was expressed mainly in endosperm during active starch synthesis. osbzip58 null mutants displayed abnormal seed morphology with altered starch accumulation in the white belly region and decreased amounts of total starch and amylose. Moreover, osbzip58 had a higher proportion of short chains and a lower proportion of intermediate chains of amylopectin. Furthermore, OsbZIP58 was shown to bind directly to the promoters of six starch-synthesizing genes, OsAGPL3, Wx, OsSSIIa, SBE1, OsBEIIb, and ISA2, and to regulate their expression. These findings indicate that OsbZIP58 functions as a key regulator of starch synthesis in rice seeds and provide new insights into seed quality control.

  10. Expression of a grape (Vitis vinifera) bZIP transcription factor, VlbZIP36, in Arabidopsis thaliana confers tolerance of drought stress during seed germination and seedling establishment.

    PubMed

    Tu, Mingxing; Wang, Xianhang; Feng, Tongying; Sun, Xiaomeng; Wang, Yaqiong; Huang, Li; Gao, Min; Wang, Yuejin; Wang, Xiping

    2016-11-01

    Drought is one of the most serious factors that limit agricultural productivity and there is considerable interest in understanding the molecular bases of drought responses and their regulation. While numbers of basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors (TFs) are known to play key roles in response of plants to various abiotic stresses, only a few group K bZIP TFs have been functionally characterized in the context of stress signaling. In this study, we characterized the expression of the grape (Vitis vinifera) group K bZIP gene, VlbZIP36, and found evidence for its involvement in response to drought and the stress-associated phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA). Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana lines over-expressing VlbZIP36 under the control of a constitutive promoter showed enhanced dehydration tolerance during the seed germination stage, as well as in the seedling and mature plant stages. The results indicated that VlbZIP36 plays a role in drought tolerance by improving the water status, through limiting water loss, and mitigating cellular damage. The latter was evidenced by reduced cell death, lower electrolyte leakage in the transgenic plants, as well as by increased activities of antioxidant enzymes. We concluded that VlbZIP36 enhances drought tolerance through the transcriptional regulation of ABA-/stress-related genes. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  11. Recovery from temporary endoplasmic reticulum stress in plants relies on the tissue-specific and largely independent roles of bZIP28 and bZIP60, as well as an antagonizing function of BAX-Inhibitor 1 upon the pro-adaptive signaling mediated by bZIP28.

    PubMed

    Ruberti, Cristina; Lai, YaShiuan; Brandizzi, Federica

    2018-01-01

    The unfolded protein response (UPR) is an ancient signaling pathway that commits to life-or-death outcomes in response to proteotoxic stress in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In plants, the membrane-tethered transcription factor bZIP28 and the ribonuclease-kinase IRE1 along with its splicing target, bZIP60, govern the two cytoprotective UPR signaling pathways known to date. The conserved ER membrane-associated BAX inhibitor 1 (BI1) modulates ER stress-induced programmed cell death through yet-unknown mechanisms. Despite the significance of the UPR for cell homeostasis, in plants the regulatory circuitry underlying ER stress resolution is still largely unmapped. To gain insights into the coordination of plant UPR strategies, we analyzed the functional relationship of the UPR modulators through the analysis of single and higher order mutants of IRE1, bZIP60, bZIP28 and BI1 in experimental conditions causing either temporary or chronic ER stress. We established a functional duality of bZIP28 and bZIP60, as they exert partially independent tissue-specific roles in recovery from ER stress, but redundantly actuate survival strategies in chronic ER stress. We also discovered that BI1 attenuates the pro-survival function of bZIP28 in ER stress resolution and, differently to animal cells, it does not temper the ribonuclease activity of inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) under temporary ER stress. Together these findings reveal a functional independence of bZIP28 and bZIP60 in plant UPR, and identify an antagonizing role of BI1 in the pro-adaptive signaling mediated by bZIP28, bringing to light the distinctive complexity of the unfolded protein response (UPR) in plants. © 2017 The Authors The Plant Journal © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  12. Molecular pathogenesis of Spondylocheirodysplastic Ehlers-Danlos syndrome caused by mutant ZIP13 proteins

    PubMed Central

    Bin, Bum-Ho; Hojyo, Shintaro; Hosaka, Toshiaki; Bhin, Jinhyuk; Kano, Hiroki; Miyai, Tomohiro; Ikeda, Mariko; Kimura-Someya, Tomomi; Shirouzu, Mikako; Cho, Eun-Gyung; Fukue, Kazuhisa; Kambe, Taiho; Ohashi, Wakana; Kim, Kyu-Han; Seo, Juyeon; Choi, Dong-Hwa; Nam, Yeon-Ju; Hwang, Daehee; Fukunaka, Ayako; Fujitani, Yoshio; Yokoyama, Shigeyuki; Superti-Furga, Andrea; Ikegawa, Shiro; Lee, Tae Ryong; Fukada, Toshiyuki

    2014-01-01

    The zinc transporter protein ZIP13 plays critical roles in bone, tooth, and connective tissue development, and its dysfunction is responsible for the spondylocheirodysplastic form of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (SCD-EDS, OMIM 612350). Here, we report the molecular pathogenic mechanism of SCD-EDS caused by two different mutant ZIP13 proteins found in human patients: ZIP13G64D, in which Gly at amino acid position 64 is replaced by Asp, and ZIP13ΔFLA, which contains a deletion of Phe-Leu-Ala. We demonstrated that both the ZIP13G64D and ZIP13ΔFLA protein levels are decreased by degradation via the valosin-containing protein (VCP)-linked ubiquitin proteasome pathway. The inhibition of degradation pathways rescued the protein expression levels, resulting in improved intracellular Zn homeostasis. Our findings uncover the pathogenic mechanisms elicited by mutant ZIP13 proteins. Further elucidation of these degradation processes may lead to novel therapeutic targets for SCD-EDS. PMID:25007800

  13. Interplay of HD-Zip II and III transcription factors in auxin-regulated plant development.

    PubMed

    Turchi, L; Baima, S; Morelli, G; Ruberti, I

    2015-08-01

    The homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) class of transcription factors is unique to plants. HD-Zip proteins bind to DNA exclusively as dimers recognizing dyad symmetric sequences and act as positive or negative regulators of gene expression. On the basis of sequence homology in the HD-Zip DNA-binding domain, HD-Zip proteins have been grouped into four families (HD-Zip I-IV). Each HD-Zip family can be further divided into subfamilies containing paralogous genes that have arisen through genome duplication. Remarkably, all the members of the HD-Zip IIγ and -δ clades are regulated by light quality changes that induce in the majority of the angiosperms the shade-avoidance response, a process regulated at multiple levels by auxin. Intriguingly, it has recently emerged that, apart from their function in shade avoidance, the HD-Zip IIγ and -δ transcription factors control several auxin-regulated developmental processes, including apical embryo patterning, lateral organ polarity, and gynoecium development, in a white-light environment. This review presents recent advances in our understanding of HD-Zip II protein function in plant development, with particular emphasis on the impact of loss-of-function HD-Zip II mutations on auxin distribution and response. The review also describes evidence demonstrating that HD-Zip IIγ and -δ genes are directly and positively regulated by HD-Zip III transcription factors, primary determinants of apical shoot development, known to control the expression of several auxin biosynthesis, transport, and response genes. Finally, the interplay between HD-Zip II and III transcription factors in embryo apical patterning and organ polarity is discussed. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  14. Requirement of Zinc Transporter SLC39A7/ZIP7 for Dermal Development to Fine-Tune Endoplasmic Reticulum Function by Regulating Protein Disulfide Isomerase.

    PubMed

    Bin, Bum-Ho; Bhin, Jinhyuk; Seo, Juyeon; Kim, Se-Young; Lee, Eunyoung; Park, Kyuhee; Choi, Dong-Hwa; Takagishi, Teruhisa; Hara, Takafumi; Hwang, Daehee; Koseki, Haruhiko; Asada, Yoshinobu; Shimoda, Shinji; Mishima, Kenji; Fukada, Toshiyuki

    2017-08-01

    Skin is the first area that manifests zinc deficiency. However, the molecular mechanisms by which zinc homeostasis affects skin development remain largely unknown. Here, we show that zinc-regulation transporter-/iron-regulation transporter-like protein 7 (ZIP7) localized to the endoplasmic reticulum plays critical roles in connective tissue development. Mice lacking the Slc39a7/Zip7 gene in collagen 1-expressing tissue exhibited dermal dysplasia. Ablation of ZIP7 in mesenchymal stem cells inhibited cell proliferation thereby preventing proper dermis formation, indicating that ZIP7 is required for dermal development. We also found that mesenchymal stem cells lacking ZIP7 accumulated zinc in the endoplasmic reticulum, which triggered zinc-dependent aggregation and inhibition of protein disulfide isomerase, leading to endoplasmic reticulum dysfunction. These results suggest that ZIP7 is necessary for endoplasmic reticulum function in mesenchymal stem cells and, as such, is essential for dermal development. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  15. The regulatory network of ThbZIP1 in response to abscisic acid treatment

    PubMed Central

    Ji, Xiaoyu; Liu, Guifeng; Liu, Yujia; Nie, Xianguang; Zheng, Lei; Wang, Yucheng

    2015-01-01

    Previously, a bZIP transcription factor from Tamarix hispida, ThbZIP1, was characterized: plants overexpressing ThbZIP1 displayed improved salt stress tolerance but were sensitive to abscisic acid (ABA). In the current study, we further characterized the regulatory network of ThbZIP1 and the mechanism of ABA sensitivity mediated by ThbZIP1. An ABF transcription factor from T. hispida, ThABF1, directly regulates the expression of ThbZIP1. Microarray analysis identified 1662 and 1609 genes that were respectively significantly upregulated or downregulated by ThbZIP1 when exposed to ABA. Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that the processes including “response to stimulus,” “catalytic activity,” “binding function,” and “metabolic process” were highly altered in ThbZIP1 expressing plants exposed to ABA. The gene expression in ThbZIP1 transformed plants were compared between exposed to ABA and salt on the genome scale. Genes differentially regulated by both salt and ABA treatment only accounted for 9.75% of total differentially regulated genes. GO analysis showed that structural molecule activity, organelle part, membrane-enclosed lumen, reproduction, and reproductive process are enhanced by ABA but inhibited by salt stress. Conversely, immune system and multi-organism process were improved by salt but inhibited by ABA. Transcription regulator activity, enzyme regulator activity, and developmental process were significantly altered by ABA but were not affected by salt stress. Our study provides insights into how ThbZIP1 mediates ABA and salt stress response at the molecular level. PMID:25713576

  16. Using ZIP code business patterns data to measure alcohol outlet density.

    PubMed

    Matthews, Stephen A; McCarthy, John D; Rafail, Patrick S

    2011-07-01

    Some states maintain high-quality alcohol outlet databases but quality varies by state, making comprehensive comparative analysis across US communities difficult. This study assesses the adequacy of using ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZIP-BP) data on establishments as estimates of the number of alcohol outlets by ZIP code. Specifically we compare ZIP-BP alcohol outlet counts with high-quality data from state and local records surrounding 44 college campus communities across 10 states plus the District of Columbia. Results show that a composite measure is strongly correlated (R=0.89) with counts of alcohol outlets generated from official state records. Analyses based on Generalized Estimation Equation models show that community and contextual factors have little impact on the concordance between the two data sources. There are also minimal inter-state differences in the level of agreement. To validate the use of a convenient secondary data set (ZIP-BP) it is important to have a high correlation with the more complex, high quality and more costly data product (i.e., datasets based on the acquisition and geocoding of state and local records) and then to clearly demonstrate that the discrepancy between the two to be unrelated to relevant explanatory variables. Thus our overall findings support the adequacy of using a conveniently available data set (ZIP-BP data) to estimate alcohol outlet densities in ZIP code areas in future research. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Glucose repression over Saccharomyces cerevisiae glycerol/H+ symporter gene STL1 is overcome by high temperature.

    PubMed

    Ferreira, Célia; Lucas, Cândida

    2007-05-01

    High temperature promotes an improved activity of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae glycerol/H(+) symporter encoded by STL1, which correlates well with Stl1p levels. This happens in both fermentable and respiratory metabolic growth conditions, though the induction in the latter is much higher. The relief of glucose repression by high temperature at the level of protein expression and activity (Stl1p) is reported for the first time. We reason that the glycerol internal levels fine-tuning, under heat-stress as in other physiological condition, can be achieved with the contribution of the tight regulation of the symporter.

  18. Services provided by community pharmacies in Wayne County, Michigan: a comparison by ZIP code characteristics.

    PubMed

    Erickson, Steven R; Workman, Paul

    2014-01-01

    To document the availability of selected pharmacy services and out-of-pocket cost of medication throughout a diverse county in Michigan and to assess possible associations between availability of services and price of medication and characteristics of residents of the ZIP codes in which the pharmacies were located. Cross-sectional telephone survey of pharmacies coupled with ZIP code-level census data. 503 pharmacies throughout the 63 ZIP codes of Wayne County, MI. The out-of-pocket cost for a 30 days' supply of levothyroxine 50 mcg and brand-name atorvastatin (Lipitor-Pfizer) 20 mg, availability of discount generic drug programs, home delivery of medications, hours of pharmacy operation, and availability of pharmacy-based immunization services. Census data aggregated at the ZIP code level included race, annual household income, age, and number of residents per pharmacy. The overall results per ZIP code showed that the average cost for levothyroxine was $10.01 ± $2.29 and $140.45 + $14.70 for Lipitor. Per ZIP code, the mean (± SD) percentages of pharmacies offering discount generic drug programs was 66.9% ± 15.0%; home delivery of medications was 44.5% ± 22.7%; and immunization for influenza was 46.7% ± 24.3% of pharmacies. The mean (± SD) hours of operation per pharmacy per ZIP code was 67.0 ± 25.2. ZIP codes with higher household income as well as higher percentage of residents being white had lower levothyroxine price, greater percentage of pharmacies offering discount generic drug programs, more hours of operation per week, and more pharmacy-based immunization services. The cost of Lipitor was not associated with any ZIP code characteristic. Disparities in the cost of generic levothyroxine, the availability of services such as discount generic drug programs, hours of operation, and pharmacy-based immunization services are evident based on race and household income within this diverse metropolitan county.

  19. Effect of NaHCO3 treatments on the activity of cell wall-degrading enzymes produced by Penicillium digitatum during the pathogenesis process on grapefruit.

    PubMed

    Venditti, Tullio; D'hallewin, Guy; Ladu, Gianfranca; Petretto, Giacomo L; Pintore, Giorgio; Labavitch, John M

    2018-03-25

    The present study was performed to clarify the strategies of Penicillium digitatum during pathogenesis on citrus, assessing, on albedo plugs, the effects of treatment with NaHCO 3 , at two different pH (5 and 8.3), on cell wall-degrading enzymes activity, over a period of 72 h. The treatment with NaHCO 3 , under alkaline pH, delayed the polygalacturonase activity for 72 h, or 48 h in the case of the pectin lyase, if compared to the control or the same treatment at pH 5. On the contrary, the pectin methyl esterase activity rapidly increased after 24 h, in plugs dipped in the same solution. In this case, the activity remained higher than untreated or pH 5 treated plugs up to 72 h. The rapid increase in pectin methyl esterase activity, under alkaline conditions, is presumably the strategy of the pathogen to lower the pH, soon after the initiation of infection, in order to restore an optimal environment for the subsequent polygalacturonase and pectin lyase action. In fact at the same time, a low pH delayed the enzymatic activity of polygalacturonase and pectin lyase, the two enzymes that actually cleave the α-1,4-linkages between the galacturonic acid residues. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

  20. Isolation and functional characterisation of two new bZIP maize regulators of the ABA responsive gene rab28.

    PubMed

    Nieva, Claudia; Busk, Peter K; Domínguez-Puigjaner, Eva; Lumbreras, Victoria; Testillano, Pilar S; Risueño, Maria-Carmen; Pagès, Montserrat

    2005-08-01

    The plant hormone abscisic acid regulates gene expression in response to growth stimuli and abiotic stress. Previous studies have implicated members of the bZIP family of transcription factors as mediators of abscisic acid dependent gene expression through the ABRE cis-element. Here, we identify two new maize bZIP transcription factors, EmBP-2 and ZmBZ-1 related to EmBP-1 and OsBZ-8 families. They are differentially expressed during embryo development; EmBP-2 is constitutive, whereas ZmBZ-1 is abscisic acid-inducible and accumulates during late embryogenesis. Both factors are nuclear proteins that bind to ABREs and activate transcription of the abscisic acid-inducible gene rab28 from maize. EmBP-2 and ZmBZ-1 are phosphorylated by protein kinase CK2 and phosphorylation alters their DNA binding properties. Our data suggest that EmBP-2 and ZmBZ-1 are involved in the expression of abscisic acid inducible genes such as rab28 and their activity is modulated by ABA and by phosphorylation.

  1. Accurate ab initio quartic force fields for the ions HCO(+) and HOC(+)

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Martin, J. M. L.; Taylor, Peter R.; Lee, Timothy J.

    1993-01-01

    The quartic force fields of HCO(+) and HOC(+) have been computed using augmented coupled cluster methods and basis sets of spdf and spdfg quality. Calculations on HCN, CO, and N2 have been performed to assist in calibrating the computed results. Going from an spdf to an spdfg basis shortens triple bonds by about 0.004 A, and increases the corresponding harmonic frequency by 10-20/cm, leaving bond distances about 0.003 A too long and triple bond stretching frequencies about 5/cm too low. Accurate estimates for the bond distances, fundamental frequencies, and thermochemical quantities are given. HOC(+) lies 37.8 +/- 0.5 kcal/mol (0 K) above HCO(+); the classical barrier height for proton exchange is 76.7 +/- 1.0 kcal/mol.

  2. Hexokinase 1 is required for glucose-induced repression of bZIP63, At5g22920, and BT2 in Arabidopsis

    DOE PAGES

    Kunz, Sabine; Gardestrom, Per; Pesquet, Edouard; ...

    2015-07-14

    Simple sugars, like glucose (Glc) and sucrose (Suc), act as signals to modulate the expression of hundreds of genes in plants. Frequently, however, it remains unclear whether this regulation is induced by the sugars themselves or by their derivatives generated in the course of carbohydrate (CH) metabolism. In the present study, we tested the relevance of different CH metabolism and allocation pathways affecting expression patterns of five selected sugar-responsive genes ( bZIP63, At5g22920, BT2, MGD2, and TPS9) in Arabidopsis thaliana. In general, the expression followed diurnal changes in the overall sugar availability. However, under steady growth conditions, this response wasmore » hardly impaired in the mutants for CH metabolizing/ transporting proteins ( adg1, sex1, sus1-4, sus5/6, and tpt2), including also hexokinase1 (HXK1) loss- and gain-of-function plants— gin2.1 and oe3.2, respectively. In addition, transgenic plants carrying pbZIP63::GUS showed no changes in reporter-gene-expression when grown on sugar under steady-state conditions. In contrast, short-term treatments of agar-grown seedlings with 1% Glc or Suc induced pbZIP63::GUS repression, which became even more apparent in seedlings grown in liquid media. Subsequent analyses of liquid-grown gin2.1 and oe3.2 seedlings revealed that Glc -dependent regulation of the five selected genes was not affected in gin2.1, whereas it was enhanced in oe3.2 plants for bZIP63, At5g22920, and BT. The sugar treatments had no effect on ATP/ADP ratio, suggesting that changes in gene expression were not linked to cellular energy status. Altogether, the data suggest that HXK1 does not act as Glc sensor controlling bZIP63, At5g22920, and BT2 expression, but it is nevertheless required for the production of a downstream metabolic signal regulating their expression« less

  3. Hexokinase 1 is required for glucose-induced repression of bZIP63, At5g22920, and BT2 in Arabidopsis

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kunz, Sabine; Gardestrom, Per; Pesquet, Edouard

    Simple sugars, like glucose (Glc) and sucrose (Suc), act as signals to modulate the expression of hundreds of genes in plants. Frequently, however, it remains unclear whether this regulation is induced by the sugars themselves or by their derivatives generated in the course of carbohydrate (CH) metabolism. In the present study, we tested the relevance of different CH metabolism and allocation pathways affecting expression patterns of five selected sugar-responsive genes ( bZIP63, At5g22920, BT2, MGD2, and TPS9) in Arabidopsis thaliana. In general, the expression followed diurnal changes in the overall sugar availability. However, under steady growth conditions, this response wasmore » hardly impaired in the mutants for CH metabolizing/ transporting proteins ( adg1, sex1, sus1-4, sus5/6, and tpt2), including also hexokinase1 (HXK1) loss- and gain-of-function plants— gin2.1 and oe3.2, respectively. In addition, transgenic plants carrying pbZIP63::GUS showed no changes in reporter-gene-expression when grown on sugar under steady-state conditions. In contrast, short-term treatments of agar-grown seedlings with 1% Glc or Suc induced pbZIP63::GUS repression, which became even more apparent in seedlings grown in liquid media. Subsequent analyses of liquid-grown gin2.1 and oe3.2 seedlings revealed that Glc -dependent regulation of the five selected genes was not affected in gin2.1, whereas it was enhanced in oe3.2 plants for bZIP63, At5g22920, and BT. The sugar treatments had no effect on ATP/ADP ratio, suggesting that changes in gene expression were not linked to cellular energy status. Altogether, the data suggest that HXK1 does not act as Glc sensor controlling bZIP63, At5g22920, and BT2 expression, but it is nevertheless required for the production of a downstream metabolic signal regulating their expression« less

  4. Efficient Proximity Computation Techniques Using ZIP Code Data for Smart Cities †

    PubMed Central

    Murdani, Muhammad Harist; Hong, Bonghee

    2018-01-01

    In this paper, we are interested in computing ZIP code proximity from two perspectives, proximity between two ZIP codes (Ad-Hoc) and neighborhood proximity (Top-K). Such a computation can be used for ZIP code-based target marketing as one of the smart city applications. A naïve approach to this computation is the usage of the distance between ZIP codes. We redefine a distance metric combining the centroid distance with the intersecting road network between ZIP codes by using a weighted sum method. Furthermore, we prove that the results of our combined approach conform to the characteristics of distance measurement. We have proposed a general and heuristic approach for computing Ad-Hoc proximity, while for computing Top-K proximity, we have proposed a general approach only. Our experimental results indicate that our approaches are verifiable and effective in reducing the execution time and search space. PMID:29587366

  5. Efficient Proximity Computation Techniques Using ZIP Code Data for Smart Cities †.

    PubMed

    Murdani, Muhammad Harist; Kwon, Joonho; Choi, Yoon-Ho; Hong, Bonghee

    2018-03-24

    In this paper, we are interested in computing ZIP code proximity from two perspectives, proximity between two ZIP codes ( Ad-Hoc ) and neighborhood proximity ( Top-K ). Such a computation can be used for ZIP code-based target marketing as one of the smart city applications. A naïve approach to this computation is the usage of the distance between ZIP codes. We redefine a distance metric combining the centroid distance with the intersecting road network between ZIP codes by using a weighted sum method. Furthermore, we prove that the results of our combined approach conform to the characteristics of distance measurement. We have proposed a general and heuristic approach for computing Ad-Hoc proximity, while for computing Top-K proximity, we have proposed a general approach only. Our experimental results indicate that our approaches are verifiable and effective in reducing the execution time and search space.

  6. Carbonate Mineral Weathering Contributions to the HCO3- Flux from Headwater Mid-latitude Streams in the Face of Increasing Atmospheric CO2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Szramek, K.; Ogrinc, N.; Walter, L. M.

    2007-12-01

    As anthropogenic liberated CO2 increases in the atmosphere, landscape level responses of the carbon cycle to perturbations associated with global warming are likely to be observed in carbonate bearing regions. Within physically open weathering environments, carbonate (calcite and dolomite) mineral solubility is proportional to pCO2 and inversely proportional to temperature, with the solubility of dolomite progressively greater than calcite below 25°C. Changes in weathering zone CO2 occur as CO2 drawdown is increased due to CO2 fertilization effects on plant growth, to warmer mean annual temperatures, or to land use changes. The rise in weathering zone CO2 will significantly augment the open system solubility of carbonate minerals and increase the DIC content of surface waters (unconfined groundwaters and rivers). The thermodynamic relationships between calcite and dolomite indicate the further need to examine the role of dolomite on the global riverine DIC budget. On a continental scale, the global weathering budget indicates the importance of northern hemisphere landmasses to riverine fluxes of Ca2+, Mg2+ and DIC as HCO3-. The results of a hydrogeochemical study of carbonate mineral equilibria and weathering fluxes for headwater streams within the Danube, the James and the St. Lawrence River Basins is presented. Available long-term geochemical and discharge data along with detailed catchment geochemical views of surface water and soil weathering zones were determined to examine the historical and current contribution of carbonate weathering to the geochemical fluctuations of the these headwater regions and the ability of these watersheds to maintain current conditions in the facing of increasing CO2. In order to gauge how these streams with variable climates, land use practices, lithologies, and weathering zone thicknesses compare to each other, river runoff and HCO3- concentrations are normalized to catchment area. The resulting carbonate weathering intensity on

  7. Comment on Chem. Phys. Lett. 371 (2003) 568: Barrier height for dissociation of acetaldehyde, CH 3CHO → CH 3 + HCO, in the triplet state T 1

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Robert Huber, J.

    2003-08-01

    Based on recently reported experimental results from various groups, the barrier height (or transition state energy) for the T 1 dissociation of acetaldehyde, CH 3CHO → CH 3 + HCO, is determined to lie between 12.3 and 12.9 kcal mol -1. This result is compared with predictions from recent ab initio calculations.

  8. Membrane androgen receptor characteristics of human ZIP9 (SLC39A) zinc transporter in prostate cancer cells: Androgen-specific activation and involvement of an inhibitory G protein in zinc and MAP kinase signaling.

    PubMed

    Thomas, Peter; Pang, Yefei; Dong, Jing

    2017-05-15

    Characteristics of novel human membrane androgen receptor (mAR), ZIP9 (SLC39A9), were investigated in ZIP9-transfected PC-3 cells (PC3-ZIP9). Ligand blot analysis showed plasma membrane [ 3 H]-T binding corresponds to the position of ZIP9 on Western blots which suggests ZIP9 can bind [ 3 H]-T alone, without a protein partner. Progesterone antagonized testosterone actions, blocking increases in zinc, Erk phosphorylation and apoptosis, further evidence that ZIP9 is specifically activated by androgens. Pre-treatment with GTPγS and pertussis toxin decreased plasma membrane [ 3 H]-T binding and blocked testosterone-induced increases in Erk phosphorylation and intracellular zinc, indicating ZIP9 is coupled to an inhibitory G protein (Gi) that mediates both MAP kinase and zinc signaling. Testosterone treatment of nuclei and mitochondria which express ZIP9 decreased their zinc contents, suggesting ZIP9 also regulates free zinc through releasing it from these intracellular organelles. The results show ZIP9 is a specific Gi coupled-mAR mediating testosterone-induced MAP kinase and zinc signaling in PC3-ZIP9 cells. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Seasonal Abscisic Acid Signal and a Basic Leucine Zipper Transcription Factor, DkbZIP5, Regulate Proanthocyanidin Biosynthesis in Persimmon Fruit1[C][W][OA

    PubMed Central

    Akagi, Takashi; Katayama-Ikegami, Ayako; Kobayashi, Shozo; Sato, Akihiko; Kono, Atsushi; Yonemori, Keizo

    2012-01-01

    Proanthocyanidins (PAs) are secondary metabolites that contribute to plant protection and crop quality. Persimmon (Diospyros kaki) has a unique characteristic of accumulating large amounts of PAs, particularly in its fruit. Normal astringent-type and mutant nonastringent-type fruits show different PA accumulation patterns depending on the seasonal expression patterns of DkMyb4, which is a Myb transcription factor (TF) regulating many PA pathway genes in persimmon. In this study, attempts were made to identify the factors involved in DkMyb4 expression and the resultant PA accumulation in persimmon fruit. Treatment with abscisic acid (ABA) and an ABA biosynthesis inhibitor resulted in differential changes in the expression patterns of DkMyb4 and PA biosynthesis in astringent-type and nonastringent-type fruits depending on the development stage. To obtain an ABA-signaling TF, we isolated a full-length basic leucine zipper (bZIP) TF, DkbZIP5, which is highly expressed in persimmon fruit. We also showed that ectopic DkbZIP5 overexpression in persimmon calluses induced the up-regulation of DkMyb4 and the resultant PA biosynthesis. In addition, a detailed molecular characterization using the electrophoretic mobility shift assay and transient reporter assay indicated that DkbZIP5 recognized ABA-responsive elements in the promoter region of DkMyb4 and acted as a direct regulator of DkMyb4 in an ABA-dependent manner. These results suggest that ABA signals may be involved in PA biosynthesis in persimmon fruit via DkMyb4 activation by DkbZIP5. PMID:22190340

  10. Hepatic ZIP14-mediated zinc transport is required for adaptation to endoplasmic reticulum stress.

    PubMed

    Kim, Min-Hyun; Aydemir, Tolunay B; Kim, Jinhee; Cousins, Robert J

    2017-07-18

    Extensive endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress damages the liver, causing apoptosis and steatosis despite the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). Restriction of zinc from cells can induce ER stress, indicating that zinc is essential to maintain normal ER function. However, a role for zinc during hepatic ER stress is largely unknown despite important roles in metabolic disorders, including obesity and nonalcoholic liver disease. We have explored a role for the metal transporter ZIP14 during pharmacologically and high-fat diet-induced ER stress using Zip14 -/- (KO) mice, which exhibit impaired hepatic zinc uptake. Here, we report that ZIP14-mediated hepatic zinc uptake is critical for adaptation to ER stress, preventing sustained apoptosis and steatosis. Impaired hepatic zinc uptake in Zip14 KO mice during ER stress coincides with greater expression of proapoptotic proteins. ER stress-induced Zip14 KO mice show greater levels of hepatic steatosis due to higher expression of genes involved in de novo fatty acid synthesis, which are suppressed in ER stress-induced WT mice. During ER stress, the UPR-activated transcription factors ATF4 and ATF6α transcriptionally up-regulate Zip14 expression. We propose ZIP14 mediates zinc transport into hepatocytes to inhibit protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) activity, which acts to suppress apoptosis and steatosis associated with hepatic ER stress. Zip14 KO mice showed greater hepatic PTP1B activity during ER stress. These results show the importance of zinc trafficking and functional ZIP14 transporter activity for adaptation to ER stress associated with chronic metabolic disorders.

  11. A Mechanism for Intracellular Release of Na+ by Neurotransmitter: Sodium Symporters

    PubMed Central

    Malinauskaite, Lina; Reinhard, Linda; Lyons, Joseph A.; Yano, Hideaki; Javitch, Jonathan A.

    2015-01-01

    Neurotransmitter:sodium symporters (NSS) terminate synaptic signal transmission by Na+-dependent reuptake of released neurotransmitters, with key conformational states reported for a bacterial homolog LeuT and an inhibitor-bound Drosophila dopamine transporter. However, a coherent mechanism of Na+-driven transport has not been described. Here, we present two crystal structures of MhsT, a NSS member from Bacillus halodurans, in occluded inward-facing states with bound Na+ ions and L-Trp that provide insight into the cytoplasmic release of Na+. The switch from outward- to inward-oriented states is centered on the partial unwinding of transmembrane helix 5, which is facilitated by a conserved GlyX9Pro motif that opens an intracellular pathway for water to access the Na2 site. Based on our structural and functional findings we propose a mechanism according to which solvation through the TM5 pathway facilitates Na+ release from Na2 and the transition to an inward-open state. PMID:25282149

  12. Genome-Wide Identification and Structural Analysis of bZIP Transcription Factor Genes in Brassica napus.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Yan; Xu, Daixiang; Jia, Ledong; Huang, Xiaohu; Ma, Guoqiang; Wang, Shuxian; Zhu, Meichen; Zhang, Aoxiang; Guan, Mingwei; Lu, Kun; Xu, Xinfu; Wang, Rui; Li, Jiana; Qu, Cunmin

    2017-10-24

    The basic region/leucine zipper motif (bZIP) transcription factor family is one of the largest families of transcriptional regulators in plants. bZIP genes have been systematically characterized in some plants, but not in rapeseed ( Brassica napus ). In this study, we identified 247 BnbZIP genes in the rapeseed genome, which we classified into 10 subfamilies based on phylogenetic analysis of their deduced protein sequences. The BnbZIP genes were grouped into functional clades with Arabidopsis genes with similar putative functions, indicating functional conservation. Genome mapping analysis revealed that the BnbZIPs are distributed unevenly across all 19 chromosomes, and that some of these genes arose through whole-genome duplication and dispersed duplication events. All expression profiles of 247 bZIP genes were extracted from RNA-sequencing data obtained from 17 different B . napus ZS11 tissues with 42 various developmental stages. These genes exhibited different expression patterns in various tissues, revealing that these genes are differentially regulated. Our results provide a valuable foundation for functional dissection of the different BnbZIP homologs in B . napus and its parental lines and for molecular breeding studies of bZIP genes in B . napus .

  13. Genome-Wide Identification and Structural Analysis of bZIP Transcription Factor Genes in Brassica napus

    PubMed Central

    Zhou, Yan; Xu, Daixiang; Jia, Ledong; Huang, Xiaohu; Ma, Guoqiang; Wang, Shuxian; Zhu, Meichen; Zhang, Aoxiang; Guan, Mingwei; Xu, Xinfu; Wang, Rui; Li, Jiana

    2017-01-01

    The basic region/leucine zipper motif (bZIP) transcription factor family is one of the largest families of transcriptional regulators in plants. bZIP genes have been systematically characterized in some plants, but not in rapeseed (Brassica napus). In this study, we identified 247 BnbZIP genes in the rapeseed genome, which we classified into 10 subfamilies based on phylogenetic analysis of their deduced protein sequences. The BnbZIP genes were grouped into functional clades with Arabidopsis genes with similar putative functions, indicating functional conservation. Genome mapping analysis revealed that the BnbZIPs are distributed unevenly across all 19 chromosomes, and that some of these genes arose through whole-genome duplication and dispersed duplication events. All expression profiles of 247 bZIP genes were extracted from RNA-sequencing data obtained from 17 different B. napus ZS11 tissues with 42 various developmental stages. These genes exhibited different expression patterns in various tissues, revealing that these genes are differentially regulated. Our results provide a valuable foundation for functional dissection of the different BnbZIP homologs in B. napus and its parental lines and for molecular breeding studies of bZIP genes in B. napus. PMID:29064393

  14. Hepatic ZIP14-mediated zinc transport is required for adaptation to endoplasmic reticulum stress

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Min-Hyun; Aydemir, Tolunay B.; Kim, Jinhee; Cousins, Robert J.

    2017-01-01

    Extensive endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress damages the liver, causing apoptosis and steatosis despite the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). Restriction of zinc from cells can induce ER stress, indicating that zinc is essential to maintain normal ER function. However, a role for zinc during hepatic ER stress is largely unknown despite important roles in metabolic disorders, including obesity and nonalcoholic liver disease. We have explored a role for the metal transporter ZIP14 during pharmacologically and high-fat diet–induced ER stress using Zip14−/− (KO) mice, which exhibit impaired hepatic zinc uptake. Here, we report that ZIP14-mediated hepatic zinc uptake is critical for adaptation to ER stress, preventing sustained apoptosis and steatosis. Impaired hepatic zinc uptake in Zip14 KO mice during ER stress coincides with greater expression of proapoptotic proteins. ER stress-induced Zip14 KO mice show greater levels of hepatic steatosis due to higher expression of genes involved in de novo fatty acid synthesis, which are suppressed in ER stress-induced WT mice. During ER stress, the UPR-activated transcription factors ATF4 and ATF6α transcriptionally up-regulate Zip14 expression. We propose ZIP14 mediates zinc transport into hepatocytes to inhibit protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) activity, which acts to suppress apoptosis and steatosis associated with hepatic ER stress. Zip14 KO mice showed greater hepatic PTP1B activity during ER stress. These results show the importance of zinc trafficking and functional ZIP14 transporter activity for adaptation to ER stress associated with chronic metabolic disorders. PMID:28673968

  15. Contraception with RISUG® and functional reversal through DMSO and NaHCO3 in male rabbits.

    PubMed

    Ansari, Abdul S; Badar, Ayesha; Balasubramanian, Krithika; Lohiya, Nirmal K

    2017-01-01

    The study aimed to evaluate reversal of short- and long-term vas occlusion with reversible inhibition of sperm under guidance (RISUG) using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) in male rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Animals were divided into seven groups containing five animals each. Fortnightly, semen analysis revealed that sperm concentration and output steadily declined after vas occlusion and complete azoospermia was attained at 30-60 days postinjection. Spermatozoa reappeared at 60-75 days of reversal and normozoospermia was noticed between 135 days and 150 days in the reversal groups. All spermatozoa were found nonmotile prior to azoospermia and a gradual recovery in sperm motility was observed between 105 days and 135 days of reversal. A significant decline in viability of sperms was noticed during vas occlusion up to 30-60 days which recovered at 60-75 days postreversal and normalized by 75-105 days in the reversal groups. A significant enhancement in the sperm abnormalities was recorded in all vas occluded animals as well as those in initial periods of reversal. Other parameters, namely, semen volume, ejaculation time, pH, color, and consistency, remained unaltered during all phases of the study. Fertility test, at the intervals of 15 days, demonstrated that animals exhibited complete sterility during the entire period of vas occlusion. A gradual recovery in fertility was observed with the appearance of spermatozoa following vas occlusion reversal and 100% fertility was observed following 135-150 days of reversal. F1 progeny of reversed animals was found normal. The results suggest that reversal with DMSO or NaHCO3 is feasible, with normal progeny, following short- and long-term contraception.

  16. Knockdown of Zinc Transporter ZIP5 by RNA Interference Inhibits Esophageal Cancer Growth In Vivo.

    PubMed

    Li, Qian; Jin, Jing; Liu, Jianghui; Wang, Liqun; He, Yutong

    2016-01-01

    We recently found that SLC39A5 (ZIP5), a zinc transporter, is overexpressed in esophageal cancer. Downregulation of ZIP5 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of the esophageal cancer cell line KYSE170 in vitro. In this study, we found that downregulation of SLC39A5 (ZIP5) by interference resulted in a significant reduction in esophageal cancer tumor volume and weight in vivo. COX2 (cyclooxygenase 2) expression was decreased and E-cadherin expression was increased in the KYSE170K xenografts, which was caused by the downregulation of ZIP5. However, we did not find that the downregulation of ZIP5 caused a change in the relative expressions of cyclin D1, VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), MMP9 (matrix metalloprotein 9), and Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma/leukmia-2) mRNA or an alteration in the average level of zinc in the peripheral blood and xenografts in vivo. Collectively, these findings indicate that knocking down ZIP5 by small interfering RNA (siRNA) might be a novel treatment strategy for esophageal cancer with ZIP5 overexpression.

  17. Role of an extracellular loop in determining the stoichiometry of Na+–HCO3− cotransporters

    PubMed Central

    Chen, Li-Ming; Liu, Ying; Boron, Walter F

    2011-01-01

    The Na+–HCO3− cotransporters (NBCs) of the solute carrier 4 family (SLC4) are critical for regulating pH in cells as well as in fluids such as blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Moreover, mutations and gene disruptions in NBC are linked to a wide range of pathologies. NBCe1 (SLC4A4) is electrogenic because it has an apparent Na+:HCO3− stoichiometry of 1:2 or 1:3, whereas NBCn1 (SLC4A7) is electroneutral because it has an apparent stoichiometry of 1:1. Because stoichiometry influences the effect of transport on membrane potential and vice versa, a central question is what structural features underlie electrogenicity versus electroneutrality. A previous study on rat NBCe1/n1 chimeras demonstrated that the structural elements determining the electrogenicity of NBCe1-A are located within the transmembrane domain, excluding the large third extracellular loop. In the present study we generated a series of chimeras of human NBCe1-A and human NBCn1-A. We found that replacing merely the predicted fourth extracellular loop (EL4) – containing 32 amino acid residues that include 7 prolines – of human NBCe1-A with EL4 of NBCn1-A creates an electroneutral NBC. The opposite switch converts an electroneutral construct to one with electrogenic properties. The introduction of an N-glycosylation site into EL4 confirms that at least a part of it is exposed to the extracellular fluid. We hypothesize that putative EL4 either contributes to the substrate-binding vestibule or indirectly influences substrate binding by interacting with one or more transmembrane segments, thereby controlling the nature of transport. PMID:21224233

  18. Calculations concerning the HCO(+)/HOC(+) abundance ratio in dense interstellar clouds

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Defrees, D. J.; Mclean, A. D.; Herbst, E.

    1984-01-01

    Calculations have been performed to determine the rate coefficients of several reactions involved in both the formation and depletion of interstellar HCO(+) and HOC(+). The abundance of HOC(+) deduced from these calculations is consistent with the tentative identification of HOC(+) in Sgr B2 by Woods et al. (1983). The large HCO(+)/HOC(+) abundance ratio observed by Woods et al. is due at least in part to a more rapid formation rate for HCO(+) and probably due as well to a more rapid depletion rate for HOC(+).

  19. The ERK pathway regulates Na(+)-HCO(3)(-) cotransport activity in adult rat cardiomyocytes.

    PubMed

    Baetz, Delphine; Haworth, Robert S; Avkiran, Metin; Feuvray, Danielle

    2002-11-01

    The sarcolemmal Na(+)-HCO cotransporter (NBC) is stimulated by intracellular acidification and acts as an acid extruder. We examined the role of the ERK pathway of the MAPK cascade as a potential mediator of NBC activation by intracellular acidification in the presence and absence of angiotensin II (ANG II) in adult rat ventricular myocytes. Intracellular pH (pH(i)) was recorded with the use of seminaphthorhodafluor-1. The NH method was used to induce an intracellular acid load. NBC activation was significantly decreased with the ERK inhibitors PD-98059 and U-0126. NBC activity after acidification was increased in the presence of ANG II (pH(i) range of 6.75-7.00). ANG II plus PD-123319 (AT(2) antagonist) still increased NBC activity, whereas ANG II plus losartan (AT(1) antagonist) did not affect it. ERK phosphorylation (measured by immunoblot analysis) during intracellular acidification was increased by ANG II, an effect that was abolished by losartan and U-0126. In conclusion, the MAPK(ERK)-dependent pathway facilitates the rate of pH(i) recovery from acid load through NBC activity and is involved in the AT(1) receptor-mediated stimulation of such activity by ANG II.

  20. Bias with respect to socioeconomic status: A closer look at zip code matching in a pneumococcal vaccine effectiveness study.

    PubMed

    Link-Gelles, Ruth; Westreich, Daniel; Aiello, Allison E; Shang, Nong; Weber, David J; Holtzman, Corinne; Scherzinger, Karen; Reingold, Arthur; Schaffner, William; Harrison, Lee H; Rosen, Jennifer B; Petit, Susan; Farley, Monica; Thomas, Ann; Eason, Jeffrey; Wigen, Christine; Barnes, Meghan; Thomas, Ola; Zansky, Shelley; Beall, Bernard; Whitney, Cynthia G; Moore, Matthew R

    2016-12-01

    In 2010, 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) was introduced in the US for prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease in children. Individual-level socioeconomic status (SES) is a potential confounder of the estimated effectiveness of PCV13 and is often controlled for in observational studies using zip code as a proxy. We assessed the utility of zip code matching for control of SES in a post-licensure evaluation of the effectiveness of PCV13 (calculated as [1-matched odds ratio]*100). We used a directed acyclic graph to identify subsets of confounders and collected SES variables from birth certificates, geo-coding, a parent interview, and follow-up with medical providers. Cases tended to be more affluent than eligible controls (for example, 48.3% of cases had private insurance vs. 44.6% of eligible controls), but less affluent than enrolled controls (52.9% of whom had private insurance). Control of confounding subsets, however, did not result in a meaningful change in estimated vaccine effectiveness (original estimate: 85.1%, 95% CI 74.8-91.9%; adjusted estimate: 82.5%, 95% CI 65.6-91.1%). In the context of a post-licensure vaccine effectiveness study, zip code appears to be an adequate, though not perfect, proxy for individual SES.

  1. Hypercapnia modulates cAMP signalling and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator‐dependent anion and fluid secretion in airway epithelia

    PubMed Central

    Turner, Mark J.; Saint‐Criq, Vinciane; Patel, Waseema; Ibrahim, Salam H.; Verdon, Bernard; Ward, Christopher; Garnett, James P.; Tarran, Robert; Cann, Martin J.

    2015-01-01

    Key points Raised arterial blood CO2 (hypercapnia) is a feature of many lung diseases.CO2 has been shown to act as a cell signalling molecule in human cells, notably by influencing the levels of cell signalling second messengers: cAMP and Ca2+.Hypercapnia reduced cAMP‐stimulated cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator‐dependent anion and fluid transport in Calu‐3 cells and primary human airway epithelia but did not affect cAMP‐regulated HCO3 − transport via pendrin or Na+/HCO3 − cotransporters.These results further support the role of CO2 as a cell signalling molecule and suggests CO2‐induced reductions in airway anion and fluid transport may impair innate defence mechanisms of the lungs. Abstract Hypercapnia is clinically defined as an arterial blood partial pressure of CO2 of above 40 mmHg and is a feature of chronic lung disease. In previous studies we have demonstrated that hypercapnia modulates agonist‐stimulated cAMP levels through effects on transmembrane adenylyl cyclase activity. In the airways, cAMP is known to regulate cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)‐mediated anion and fluid secretion, which contributes to airway surface liquid homeostasis. The aim of the current work was to investigate if hypercapnia could modulate cAMP‐regulated ion and fluid transport in human airway epithelial cells. We found that acute exposure to hypercapnia significantly reduced forskolin‐stimulated elevations in intracellular cAMP as well as both adenosine‐ and forskolin‐stimulated increases in CFTR‐dependent transepithelial short‐circuit current, in polarised cultures of Calu‐3 human airway cells. This CO2‐induced reduction in anion secretion was not due to a decrease in HCO3 − transport given that neither a change in CFTR‐dependent HCO3 − efflux nor Na+/HCO3 − cotransporter‐dependent HCO3 − influx were CO2‐sensitive. Hypercapnia also reduced the volume of forskolin‐stimulated fluid

  2. Arsenic treatment and power generation with a dual-chambered fuel cell with anionic and cationic membranes using NaHCO3 anolyte and HCl or NaCl catholyte.

    PubMed

    Maitlo, Hubdar Ali; Kim, Jung Hwan; Park, Joo Yang

    2017-04-01

    Dual-chambered fuel cells with an iron anode and an air-carbon cathode separated by an ion exchange membranes have been used to treat arsenate during power production. To select an effective catholyte, the dual-chambered fuel cell consisted 90 mL of 0.1 M HCl or 0.5 M NaCl as the catholyte and 1 L of 0.1 M NaHCO 3 as the anolyte at an initial pH 5. The 0.1 M HCl was an effective catholyte, with which 1 ppm arsenate in 1 L of anolyte was reduced to 5 ppb in 1 h, and the maximum power density was about 6.3 w/m 2 with an anion exchange membrane fuel cell (AEM_FC) and 4.4 w/m 2 with a cation exchange membrane fuel cell (CEM_FC). Therefore, 90 mL of 0.1 M HCl was used as a catholyte to treat 20 L of 0.1 M NaHCO 3 anolyte containing 1 ppm arsenate at an initial pH of 5 or 7. The arsenate level at pH 5 decreased to less than 5 ppb in 4 h, and the maximum power density was 5.9 W/m 2 and 4.7 W/m 2 with AEM_FC and CEM_FC, respectively. When using 0.01 M NaHCO 3 as the anolyte at pH 5, arsenate was reduced to less than 5 ppb in 8 and 24 h for AEC_FC and CEM_FC, respectively. However, when using an anolyte at pH 7, arsenate could not be effectively removed in 24 h. Therefore, when using carbonate as an anolyte, the solution should be adjusted to a weakly acidic pH in order to remove arsenate. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. Increased expression of the sodium/iodide symporter in papillary thyroid carcinomas.

    PubMed Central

    Saito, T; Endo, T; Kawaguchi, A; Ikeda, M; Katoh, R; Kawaoi, A; Muramatsu, A; Onaya, T

    1998-01-01

    Iodide is concentrated to a much lesser extent by papillary thyroid carcinoma as compared with the normal gland. The Na+/I- symporter (NIS) is primarily responsible for the uptake of iodide into thyroid cells. Our objective was to compare NIS mRNA and protein expression in papillary carcinomas with those in specimens with normal thyroid. Northern blot analysis revealed a 2.8-fold increase in the level of NIS mRNA in specimens with papillary carcinoma versus specimens with normal thyroid. Immunoblot analysis using anti-human NIS antibody that was produced with a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein containing NIS protein (amino acids 466-522) showed the NIS protein at 77 kD. The NIS protein level was elevated in 7 of 17 cases of papillary carcinoma but was not elevated in the normal thyroid. Immunohistochemical staining revealed abundant NIS in 8 of 12 carcinomas, whereas NIS protein was barely detected in specimens with normal thyroid. Although considerable patient-to-patient variation was observed, our results indicate that NIS mRNA is elevated, and its protein tends to be more abundant, in a subset of papillary thyroid carcinomas than in normal thyroid tissue. PMID:9525971

  4. Basic leucine zipper transcription factor SlbZIP1 mediates salt and drought stress tolerance in tomato.

    PubMed

    Zhu, Mingku; Meng, Xiaoqing; Cai, Jing; Li, Ge; Dong, Tingting; Li, Zongyun

    2018-05-08

    Basic region/leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors perform as crucial regulators in ABA-mediated stress response in plants. Nevertheless, the functions for most bZIP family members in tomato remain to be deciphered. Here we examined the functional characterization of SlbZIP1 under salt and drought stresses in tomato. Silencing of SlbZIP1 in tomato resulted in reduced expression of multiple ABA biosynthesis- and signal transduction-related genes in transgenic plants. In stress assays, SlbZIP1-RNAi transgenic plants exhibited reduced tolerance to salt and drought stresses compared with WT plants, as are evaluated by multiple physiological parameters associated with stress responses, such as decreased ABA, chlorophyll contents and CAT activity, and increased MDA content. In addition, RNA-seq analysis of transgenic plants revealed that the transcription levels of multiple genes encoding defense proteins related to responses to abiotic stress (e.g. endochitinase, peroxidases, and lipid transfer proteins) and biotic stress (e.g. pathogenesis-related proteins) were downregulated in SlbZIP1-RNAi plants, suggesting that SlbZIP1 plays a role in regulating the genes related to biotic and abiotic stress response. Collectively, the data suggest that SlbZIP1 exerts an essential role in salt and drought stress tolerance through modulating an ABA-mediated pathway, and SlbZIP1 may hold potential applications in the engineering of salt- and drought-tolerant tomato cultivars.

  5. Genome-wide characterization and analysis of bZIP transcription factor gene family related to abiotic stress in cassava.

    PubMed

    Hu, Wei; Yang, Hubiao; Yan, Yan; Wei, Yunxie; Tie, Weiwei; Ding, Zehong; Zuo, Jiao; Peng, Ming; Li, Kaimian

    2016-03-07

    The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor family plays crucial roles in various aspects of biological processes. Currently, no information is available regarding the bZIP family in the important tropical crop cassava. Herein, 77 bZIP genes were identified from cassava. Evolutionary analysis indicated that MebZIPs could be divided into 10 subfamilies, which was further supported by conserved motif and gene structure analyses. Global expression analysis suggested that MebZIPs showed similar or distinct expression patterns in different tissues between cultivated variety and wild subspecies. Transcriptome analysis of three cassava genotypes revealed that many MebZIP genes were activated by drought in the root of W14 subspecies, indicating the involvement of these genes in the strong resistance of cassava to drought. Expression analysis of selected MebZIP genes in response to osmotic, salt, cold, ABA, and H2O2 suggested that they might participate in distinct signaling pathways. Our systematic analysis of MebZIPs reveals constitutive, tissue-specific and abiotic stress-responsive candidate MebZIP genes for further functional characterization in planta, yields new insights into transcriptional regulation of MebZIP genes, and lays a foundation for understanding of bZIP-mediated abiotic stress response.

  6. Isolation and expression analysis of four HD-ZIP III family genes targeted by microRNA166 in peach.

    PubMed

    Zhang, C H; Zhang, B B; Ma, R J; Yu, M L; Guo, S L; Guo, L

    2015-10-30

    MicroRNA166 (miR166) is known to have highly conserved targets that encode proteins of the class III homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-ZIP III) family, in a broad range of plant species. To further understand the relationship between HD-ZIP III genes and miR166, four HD-ZIP III family genes (PpHB14, PpHB15, PpHB8, and PpREV) were isolated from peach (Prunus persica) tissue and characterized. Spatio-temporal expression profiles of the genes were analyzed. Genes of the peach HD-ZIP III family were predicted to encode five conserved domains. Deduced amino acid sequences and tertiary structures of the four peach HD-ZIP III genes were highly conserved, with corresponding genes in Arabidopsis thaliana. The expression level of four targets displayed the opposite trend to that of miR166 throughout fruit development, with the exception of PpHB14 from 35 to 55 days after full bloom (DAFB). This finding indicates that miR166 may negatively regulate its four targets throughout fruit development. As for leaf and phloem, the same trend in expression level was observed between four targets and miR166 from 75 to 105 DAFB. However, the opposite trend was observed for the transcript level between four targets and miR166 from 35 to 55 DAFB. miRNA166 may negatively regulate four targets in some but not all developmental stages for a given tissue. The four genes studied were observed to have, exactly or generally, the same change tendency as individual tissue development, a finding that suggests genes of the HD-ZIP III family in peach may have complementary or cooperative functions in various tissues.

  7. Salt and drought stress and ABA responses related to bZIP genes from V. radiata and V. angularis.

    PubMed

    Wang, Lanfen; Zhu, Jifeng; Li, Xiaoming; Wang, Shumin; Wu, Jing

    2018-04-20

    Mung bean and adzuki bean are warm-season legumes widely cultivated in China. However, bean production in major producing regions is limited by biotic and abiotic stress, such as drought and salt stress. Basic leucine zipper (bZIP) genes play key roles in responses to various biotic and abiotic stresses. However, only several bZIP genes involved in drought and salt stress in legumes, especially Vigna radiata and Vigna angularis, have been identified. In this study, we identified 54 and 50 bZIP proteins from whole-genome sequences of V. radiata and V. angularis, respectively. First, we comprehensively surveyed the characteristics of all bZIP genes, including their gene structure, chromosome distribution and motif composition. Phylogenetic trees showed that VrbZIP and VabZIP proteins were divided into ten clades comprising nine known and one unknown subgroup. The results of the nucleotide substitution rate of the orthologous gene pairs showed that bZIP proteins have undergone strong purifying selection: V. radiata and V. angularis diverged 1.25 million years ago (mya) to 9.20 mya (average of 4.95 mya). We also found that many cis-acting regulatory elements (CAREs) involved in abiotic stress and plant hormone responses were detected in the putative promoter regions of the bZIP genes. Finally, using the quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) method, we performed expression profiling of the bZIP genes in response to drought, salt and abscisic acid (ABA). We identified several bZIP genes that may be involved in drought and salt responses. Generally, our results provided useful and rich resources of VrbZIP and VabZIP genes for the functional characterization and understanding of bZIP transcription factors (TFs) in warm-season legumes. In addition, our results revealed important and interesting data - a subset of VrbZIP and VabZIP gene expression profiles in response to drought, salt and ABA stress. These results provide gene expression evidence for the selection of

  8. A specific role for the ZipA protein in cell division: stabilization of the FtsZ protein.

    PubMed

    Pazos, Manuel; Natale, Paolo; Vicente, Miguel

    2013-02-01

    In Escherichia coli, the cell division protein FtsZ is anchored to the cytoplasmic membrane by the action of the bitopic membrane protein ZipA and the cytoplasmic protein FtsA. Although the presence of both ZipA and FtsA is strictly indispensable for cell division, an FtsA gain-of-function mutant FtsA* (R286W) can bypass the ZipA requirement for cell division. This observation casts doubts on the role of ZipA and its need for cell division. Maxicells are nucleoid-free bacterial cells used as a whole cell in vitro system to probe protein-protein interactions without the need of protein purification. We show that ZipA protects FtsZ from the ClpXP-directed degradation observed in E. coli maxicells and that ZipA-stabilized FtsZ forms membrane-attached spiral-like structures in the bacterial cytoplasm. The overproduction of the FtsZ-binding ZipA domain is sufficient to protect FtsZ from degradation, whereas other C-terminal ZipA partial deletions lacking it are not. Individual overproduction of the proto-ring component FtsA or its gain-of-function mutant FtsA* does not result in FtsZ protection. Overproduction of FtsA or FtsA* together with ZipA does not interfere with the FtsZ protection. Moreover, neither FtsA nor FtsA* protects FtsZ when overproduced together with ZipA mutants lacking the FZB domain. We propose that ZipA protects FtsZ from degradation by ClpP by making the FtsZ site of interaction unavailable to the ClpX moiety of the ClpXP protease. This role cannot be replaced by either FtsA or FtsA*, suggesting a unique function for ZipA in proto-ring stability.

  9. Poplar PtabZIP1-like enhances lateral root formation and biomass growth under drought stress

    DOE PAGES

    Dash, Madhumita; Yordanov, Yordan S.; Georgieva, Tatyana; ...

    2017-02-10

    Developing drought-resistance varieties is a major goal for bioenergy crops, such as poplar (Populus), which will be grown on marginal lands with little or no water input. Root architecture can affect drought resistance, but few genes that affect root architecture in relation to water availability have been identified. Here in this study, using activation tagging in the prime bioenergy crop poplar, we have identified a mutant that overcomes the block of lateral root (LR) formation under osmotic stress. Positioning of the tag, validation of the activation and recapitulation showed that the phenotype is caused by the poplar PtabZIP1-like (PtabZIP1L) genemore » with highest homology to bZIP1 from Arabidopsis. PtabZIP1L is predominantly expressed in roots, particularly in zones where lateral root primordia (LRP) initiate and LR differentiate and emerge. Transgenics overexpressing PtabZIP1L showed precocious LRP and LR development, while PtabZIP1L suppression significantly delayed both LRP and LR formation. Transgenic overexpression and suppression of PtabZIP1L also resulted in modulation of key metabolites like proline, asparagine, valine and several flavonoids. Consistently, expression of both of the poplar Proline Dehydrogenase orthologs and two of the Flavonol Synthases genes was also increased and decreased in overexpressed and suppressed transgenics, respectively. These findings suggest that PtabZIP1L mediates LR development and drought resistance through modulation of multiple metabolic pathways.« less

  10. Poplar PtabZIP1-like enhances lateral root formation and biomass growth under drought stress

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Dash, Madhumita; Yordanov, Yordan S.; Georgieva, Tatyana

    Developing drought-resistance varieties is a major goal for bioenergy crops, such as poplar (Populus), which will be grown on marginal lands with little or no water input. Root architecture can affect drought resistance, but few genes that affect root architecture in relation to water availability have been identified. Here in this study, using activation tagging in the prime bioenergy crop poplar, we have identified a mutant that overcomes the block of lateral root (LR) formation under osmotic stress. Positioning of the tag, validation of the activation and recapitulation showed that the phenotype is caused by the poplar PtabZIP1-like (PtabZIP1L) genemore » with highest homology to bZIP1 from Arabidopsis. PtabZIP1L is predominantly expressed in roots, particularly in zones where lateral root primordia (LRP) initiate and LR differentiate and emerge. Transgenics overexpressing PtabZIP1L showed precocious LRP and LR development, while PtabZIP1L suppression significantly delayed both LRP and LR formation. Transgenic overexpression and suppression of PtabZIP1L also resulted in modulation of key metabolites like proline, asparagine, valine and several flavonoids. Consistently, expression of both of the poplar Proline Dehydrogenase orthologs and two of the Flavonol Synthases genes was also increased and decreased in overexpressed and suppressed transgenics, respectively. These findings suggest that PtabZIP1L mediates LR development and drought resistance through modulation of multiple metabolic pathways.« less

  11. Oxygen-18 exchange as a measure of accessibility of CO/sub 2/ and HCO/sub 3//sup -/ to carbonic anhydrase in Chlorella vulgaris (UTEX 263)

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Tu, C.K.; Acevedo-Duncan, M.; Wynns, G.C.

    1986-04-01

    The exchange of /sup 18/O between CO/sub 2/ and H/sub 2/O in stirred suspensions of Chlorella vulgaris (UTEX 263) was measured using a membrane inlet to a mass spectrometer. The depletion of /sup 18/O from CO/sub 2/ in the fluid outside the cells provides a method to study CO/sub 2/ and HCO/sub 3//sup -/ kinetics in suspensions of algae that contain carbonic anhydrase since /sup 18/O loss to H/sub 2/O is catalyzed inside the cells but not in the external fluid. Low-CO/sub 2/ cells of Chlorella vulgaris (grown with air) were added to a solution containing /sup 18/O enriched CO/submore » 2/ and HCO/sub 3//sup -/ with 2 to 15 millimolar total inorganic carbon. The observed depletion of /sup 18/O from CO/sub 2/ was biphasic and the resulting /sup 18/O content of CO/sub 2/ was much less than the /sup 18/O content of HCO/sub 3//sup -/ in the external solution. Analysis of the slopes showed that the Fick's law rate constant for entry of HCO/sub 3//sup -/ into the cell was experimentally indistinguishable from zero (bicarbonate impermeable) with an upper limit of 3 x 10/sup -4/ s/sup -1/ due to experimental errors. The Fick's law rate constant for entry of CO/sub 2/ to the sites of intracellular carbonic anhydrase was large, 0.013 per second, but not as great as calculated for no membrane barrier to CO/sub 2/ flux (6 per second). The experimental value may be explained by a nonhomogeneous distribution of carbonic anhydrase in the cell (such as membrane-bound enzyme) or by a membrane barrier to CO/sub 2/ entry into the cell or both. The CO/sub 2/ hydration activity inside the cells was 160 times the uncatalyzed CO/sub 2/ hydration rate.« less

  12. The impacts of marijuana dispensary density and neighborhood ecology on marijuana abuse and dependence

    PubMed Central

    Mair, Christina; Freisthler, Bridget; Ponicki, William R.; Gaidus, Andrew

    2015-01-01

    Background As an increasing number of states liberalize cannabis use and develop laws and local policies, it is essential to better understand the impacts of neighborhood ecology and marijuana dispensary density on marijuana use, abuse, and dependence. We investigated associations between marijuana abuse/dependence hospitalizations and community demographic and environmental conditions from 2001–2012 in California, as well as cross-sectional associations between local and adjacent marijuana dispensary densities and marijuana hospitalizations. Methods We analyzed panel population data relating hospitalizations coded for marijuana abuse or dependence and assigned to residential ZIP codes in California from 2001 through 2012 (20,219 space-time units) to ZIP code demographic and ecological characteristics. Bayesian space-time misalignment models were used to account for spatial variations in geographic unit definitions over time, while also accounting for spatial autocorrelation using conditional autoregressive priors. We also analyzed cross-sectional associations between marijuana abuse/dependence and the density of dispensaries in local and spatially adjacent ZIP codes in 2012. Results An additional one dispensary per square mile in a ZIP code was cross-sectionally associated with a 6.8% increase in the number of marijuana hospitalizations (95% credible interval 1.033, 1.105) with a marijuana abuse/dependence code. Other local characteristics, such as the median household income and age and racial/ethnic distributions, were associated with marijuana hospitalizations in cross-sectional and panel analyses. Conclusions Prevention and intervention programs for marijuana abuse and dependence may be particularly essential in areas of concentrated disadvantage. Policy makers may want to consider regulations that limit the density of dispensaries. PMID:26154479

  13. VizieR Online Data Catalog: HCO+ and N2D+ dense cores in Perseus (Campbell+, 2016)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Campbell, J. L.; Friesen, R. K.; Martin, P. G.; Caselli, P.; Kauffmann, J.; Pineda, J. E.

    2016-05-01

    Table 1 summarizes the 91 dense cores observed, with their Right Ascension and Declination pointing positions. Pointed observations of the Perseus cores were performed using the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT). Targets were observed in the HCO+ (3-2) and N2D+ (3-2) rotational transitions in position-switching mode, with assumed rest frequencies of 267.557619GHz and 231.321665GHz, respectively. The spectral resolution was 30.5kHz, corresponding to a velocity resolution of 0.03km/s for HCO+ (3-2) and 0.04km/s for N2D+ (3-2). Observations were conducted between 2007 September and 2009 September. (3 data files).

  14. Molecular evolution of the HD-ZIP I gene family in legume genomes.

    PubMed

    Li, Zhen; Jiang, Haiyang; Zhou, Lingyan; Deng, Lin; Lin, Yongxiang; Peng, Xiaojian; Yan, Hanwei; Cheng, Beijiu

    2014-01-01

    Homeodomain leucine zipper I (HD-ZIP I) genes were used to increase the plasticity of plants by mediating external signals and regulating growth in response to environmental conditions. The way genomic histories drove the evolution of the HD-ZIP I family in legume species was described; HD-ZIP I genes were searched in Lotus japonicus, Medicago truncatula, Cajanus cajan and Phaseolus vulgaris, and then divided into five clades through phylogenetic analysis. Microsynteny analysis was made based on genomic segments containing the HD-ZIP I genes. Some pairs turned out to conform with syntenic genome regions, while others corresponded to those that were inverted, expanded, or contracted after the divergence of legumes. Besides, we dated their duplications by Ks analysis and demonstrated that all the blocks were formed after the monocot-dicot split; we observed Ka/Ks ratios representing strong purifying selections in the four legume species which might have been followed by gene loss and rearrangement. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Genome-wide analysis and expression profile of the bZIP transcription factor gene family in grapevine (Vitis vinifera)

    PubMed Central

    2014-01-01

    Background Basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor gene family is one of the largest and most diverse families in plants. Current studies have shown that the bZIP proteins regulate numerous growth and developmental processes and biotic and abiotic stress responses. Nonetheless, knowledge concerning the specific expression patterns and evolutionary history of plant bZIP family members remains very limited. Results We identified 55 bZIP transcription factor-encoding genes in the grapevine (Vitis vinifera) genome, and divided them into 10 groups according to the phylogenetic relationship with those in Arabidopsis. The chromosome distribution and the collinearity analyses suggest that expansion of the grapevine bZIP (VvbZIP) transcription factor family was greatly contributed by the segment/chromosomal duplications, which may be associated with the grapevine genome fusion events. Nine intron/exon structural patterns within the bZIP domain and the additional conserved motifs were identified among all VvbZIP proteins, and showed a high group-specificity. The predicted specificities on DNA-binding domains indicated that some highly conserved amino acid residues exist across each major group in the tree of land plant life. The expression patterns of VvbZIP genes across the grapevine gene expression atlas, based on microarray technology, suggest that VvbZIP genes are involved in grapevine organ development, especially seed development. Expression analysis based on qRT-PCR indicated that VvbZIP genes are extensively involved in drought- and heat-responses, with possibly different mechanisms. Conclusions The genome-wide identification, chromosome organization, gene structures, evolutionary and expression analyses of grapevine bZIP genes provide an overall insight of this gene family and their potential involvement in growth, development and stress responses. This will facilitate further research on the bZIP gene family regarding their evolutionary history and

  16. A Petunia Homeodomain-Leucine Zipper Protein, PhHD-Zip, Plays an Important Role in Flower Senescence

    PubMed Central

    Chang, Xiaoxiao; Donnelly, Linda; Sun, Daoyang; Rao, Jingping; Reid, Michael S.; Jiang, Cai-Zhong

    2014-01-01

    Flower senescence is initiated by developmental and environmental signals, and regulated by gene transcription. A homeodomain-leucine zipper transcription factor, PhHD-Zip, is up-regulated during petunia flower senescence. Virus-induced gene silencing of PhHD-Zip extended flower life by 20% both in unpollinated and pollinated flowers. Silencing PhHD-Zip also dramatically reduced ethylene production and the abundance of transcripts of genes involved in ethylene (ACS, ACO), and ABA (NCED) biosynthesis. Abundance of transcripts of senescence-related genes (SAG12, SAG29) was also dramatically reduced in the silenced flowers. Over-expression of PhHD-Zip accelerated petunia flower senescence. Furthermore, PhHD-Zip transcript abundance in petunia flowers was increased by application of hormones (ethylene, ABA) and abiotic stresses (dehydration, NaCl and cold). Our results suggest that PhHD-Zip plays an important role in regulating petunia flower senescence. PMID:24551088

  17. A Petunia homeodomain-leucine zipper protein, PhHD-Zip, plays an important role in flower senescence.

    PubMed

    Chang, Xiaoxiao; Donnelly, Linda; Sun, Daoyang; Rao, Jingping; Reid, Michael S; Jiang, Cai-Zhong

    2014-01-01

    Flower senescence is initiated by developmental and environmental signals, and regulated by gene transcription. A homeodomain-leucine zipper transcription factor, PhHD-Zip, is up-regulated during petunia flower senescence. Virus-induced gene silencing of PhHD-Zip extended flower life by 20% both in unpollinated and pollinated flowers. Silencing PhHD-Zip also dramatically reduced ethylene production and the abundance of transcripts of genes involved in ethylene (ACS, ACO), and ABA (NCED) biosynthesis. Abundance of transcripts of senescence-related genes (SAG12, SAG29) was also dramatically reduced in the silenced flowers. Over-expression of PhHD-Zip accelerated petunia flower senescence. Furthermore, PhHD-Zip transcript abundance in petunia flowers was increased by application of hormones (ethylene, ABA) and abiotic stresses (dehydration, NaCl and cold). Our results suggest that PhHD-Zip plays an important role in regulating petunia flower senescence.

  18. Bicarbonate dependency of betaine synthesis in cultured LLC-PK1 cells.

    PubMed

    Moeckel, G W; Lien, Y H

    1994-03-01

    Betaine, one of the major renal organic osmolytes, is synthesized from choline by choline dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.99.1) and betaine-aldehyde dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.8) in the kidney. A recent in vitro study has shown that betaine synthesis by renal cortical homogenate is dependent on millimolar amounts of bicarbonate. The present study was aimed to investigate the bicarbonate dependency of betaine formation in cultured LLC-PK1 cells. The data show that betaine formation increases in accordance with a rise in extracellular bicarbonate levels. The measured quantities of [14C]betaine synthesis ranged from 13.4 +/- 1.5 (4.6 mM HCO3-) to 38.0 +/- 1.4 pmol.micrograms protein-1.h-1 (24 mM HCO3-). The carbonic anhydrase inhibitor acetazolamide, added to the incubation medium to block bicarbonate transport, reduced betaine synthesis from choline by 41-49%. We conclude that betaine synthesis in LLC-PK1 cells is dependent on extracellular bicarbonate levels and is reduced by the inhibition of carbonic anhydrase. Because betaine accumulates in renal medulla during antidiuresis, our observations suggest a possible link between acid-base homeostasis and concentration mechanisms in the kidney.

  19. Glyoxal Oxidation Mechanism: Implications for the Reactions HCO + O2 and OCHCHO + HO2.

    PubMed

    Faßheber, Nancy; Friedrichs, Gernot; Marshall, Paul; Glarborg, Peter

    2015-07-16

    A detailed mechanism for the thermal decomposition and oxidation of the flame intermediate glyoxal (OCHCHO) has been assembled from available theoretical and experimental literature data. The modeling capabilities of this extensive mechanism have been tested by simulating experimental HCO profiles measured at intermediate and high temperatures in previous glyoxal photolysis and pyrolysis studies. Additionally, new experiments on glyoxal pyrolysis and oxidation have been performed with glyoxal and glyoxal/oxygen mixtures in Ar behind shock waves at temperatures of 1285-1760 K at two different total density ranges. HCO concentration-time profiles have been detected by frequency modulation spectroscopy at a wavelength of λ = 614.752 nm. The temperature range of available direct rate constant data of the high-temperature key reaction HCO + O2 → CO + HO2 has been extended up to 1705 K and confirms a temperature dependence consistent with a dominating direct abstraction channel. Taking into account available literature data obtained at lower temperatures, the following rate constant expression is recommended over the temperature range 295 K < T < 1705 K: k1/(cm(3) mol(-1) s(-1)) = 6.92 × 10(6) × T(1.90) × exp(+5.73 kJ/mol/RT). At intermediate temperatures, the reaction OCHCHO + HO2 becomes more important. A detailed reanalysis of previous experimental data as well as more recent theoretical predictions favor the formation of a recombination product in contrast to the formerly assumed dominating and fast OH-forming channel. Modeling results of the present study support the formation of HOCH(OO)CHO and provide a 2 orders of magnitude lower rate constant estimate for the OH channel. Hence, low-temperature generation of chain carriers has to be attributed to secondary reactions of HOCH(OO)CHO.

  20. RIPK3 regulates p62-LC3 complex formation via the caspase-8-dependent cleavage of p62.

    PubMed

    Matsuzawa, Yu; Oshima, Shigeru; Nibe, Yoichi; Kobayashi, Masanori; Maeyashiki, Chiaki; Nemoto, Yasuhiro; Nagaishi, Takashi; Okamoto, Ryuichi; Tsuchiya, Kiichiro; Nakamura, Tetsuya; Watanabe, Mamoru

    2015-01-02

    RIPK3 is a key molecule for necroptosis, initially characterized by necrotic cell death morphology and the activation of autophagy. Cell death and autophagic signaling are believed to tightly regulate each other. However, the associated recruitment of signaling proteins remains poorly understood. p62/sequestosome-1 is a selective autophagy substrate and a selective receptor for ubiquitinated proteins. In this study, we illustrated that both mouse and human RIPK3 mediate p62 cleavage and that RIPK3 interacts with p62, resulting in complex formation. In addition, RIPK3-dependent p62 cleavage is restricted by the inhibition of caspases, especially caspase-8. Moreover, overexpression of A20, a ubiquitin-editing enzyme and an inhibitor of caspase-8 activity, inhibits RIPK3-dependent p62 cleavage. To further investigate the potential role of RIPK3 in selective autophagy, we analyzed p62-LC3 complex formation, revealing that RIPK3 prevents the localization of LC3 and ubiquitinated proteins to the p62 complex. In addition, RIPK3-dependent p62-LC3 complex disruption is regulated by caspase inhibition. Taken together, these results demonstrated that RIPK3 interacts with p62 and regulates p62-LC3 complex formation. These findings suggested that RIPK3 serves as a negative regulator of selective autophagy and provides new insights into the mechanism by which RIPK3 regulates autophagic signaling. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. The MALATANG Survey: The L GAS–L IR Correlation on Sub-kiloparsec Scale in Six Nearby Star-forming Galaxies as Traced by HCN J = 4 → 3 and HCO+ J = 4 → 3

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tan, Qing-Hua; Gao, Yu; Zhang, Zhi-Yu; Greve, Thomas R.; Jiang, Xue-Jian; Wilson, Christine D.; Yang, Chen-Tao; Bemis, Ashley; Chung, Aeree; Matsushita, Satoki; Shi, Yong; Ao, Yi-Ping; Brinks, Elias; Currie, Malcolm J.; Davis, Timothy A.; de Grijs, Richard; Ho, Luis C.; Imanishi, Masatoshi; Kohno, Kotaro; Lee, Bumhyun; Parsons, Harriet; Rawlings, Mark G.; Rigopoulou, Dimitra; Rosolowsky, Erik; Bulger, Joanna; Chen, Hao; Chapman, Scott C.; Eden, David; Gear, Walter K.; Gu, Qiu-Sheng; He, Jin-Hua; Jiao, Qian; Liu, Dai-Zhong; Liu, Li-Jie; Li, Xiao-Hu; Michałowski, Michał J.; Nguyen-Luong, Quang; Qiu, Jian-Jie; Smith, Matthew W. L.; Violino, Giulio; Wang, Jian-Fa; Wang, Jun-Feng; Wang, Jun-Zhi; Yeh, Sherry; Zhao, Ying-He; Zhu, Ming

    2018-06-01

    We present {HCN} J=4\\to 3 and {HCO}}+ J=4\\to 3 maps of six nearby star-forming galaxies, NGC 253, NGC 1068, IC 342, M82, M83, and NGC 6946, obtained with the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope as part of the MALATANG survey. All galaxies were mapped in the central 2‧ × 2‧ region at 14″ (FWHM) resolution (corresponding to linear scales of ∼0.2–1.0 kpc). The L IR–L‧dense relation, where the dense gas is traced by the {HCN} J=4\\to 3 and the {HCO}}+ J=4\\to 3 emission, measured in our sample of spatially resolved galaxies is found to follow the linear correlation established globally in galaxies within the scatter. We find that the luminosity ratio, L IR/L‧dense, shows systematic variations with L IR within individual spatially resolved galaxies, whereas the galaxy-integrated ratios vary little. A rising trend is also found between L IR/L‧dense ratio and the warm-dust temperature gauged by the 70 μm/100 μm flux ratio. We find that the luminosity ratios of IR/HCN (4–3) and IR/HCO+ (4–3), which can be taken as a proxy for the star formation efficiency (SFE) in the dense molecular gas (SFEdense), appear to be nearly independent of the dense gas fraction (f dense) for our sample of galaxies. The SFE of the total molecular gas (SFEmol) is found to increase substantially with f dense when combining our data with those on local (ultra)luminous infrared galaxies and high-z quasars. The mean L{{\\prime} }HCN(4{--}3)}/L{{\\prime} }HCO}+(4{--}3)} line ratio measured for the six targeted galaxies is 0.9 ± 0.6. No significant correlation is found for the L{{\\prime} }HCN(4{--}3)}/L{{\\prime} }HCO}+(4{--}3)} ratio with the star formation rate as traced by L IR, nor with the warm-dust temperature, for the different populations of galaxies.

  2. Pepper CabZIP63 acts as a positive regulator during Ralstonia solanacearum or high temperature-high humidity challenge in a positive feedback loop with CaWRKY40.

    PubMed

    Shen, Lei; Liu, Zhiqin; Yang, Sheng; Yang, Tong; Liang, Jiaqi; Wen, Jiayu; Liu, Yanyan; Li, Jiazhi; Shi, Lanping; Tang, Qian; Shi, Wei; Hu, Jiong; Liu, Cailing; Zhang, Yangwen; Lin, Wei; Wang, Rongzhang; Yu, Huanxin; Mou, Shaoliang; Hussain, Ansar; Cheng, Wei; Cai, Hanyang; He, Li; Guan, Deyi; Wu, Yang; He, Shuilin

    2016-04-01

    CaWRKY40 is known to act as a positive regulator in the response of pepper (Capsicum annuum) to Ralstonia solanacearum inoculation (RSI) or high temperature-high humidity (HTHH), but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Herein, we report that CabZIP63, a pepper bZIP family member, participates in this process by regulating the expression of CaWRKY40. CabZIP63 was found to localize in the nuclei, be up-regulated by RSI or HTHH, bind to promoters of both CabZIP63(pCabZIP63) and CaWRKY40(pCaWRKY40), and activate pCabZIP63- and pCaWRKY40-driven β-glucuronidase expression in a C- or G-box-dependent manner. Silencing of CabZIP63 by virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in pepper plants significantly attenuated their resistance to RSI and tolerance to HTHH, accompanied by down-regulation of immunity- or thermotolerance-associated CaPR1, CaNPR1, CaDEF1, and CaHSP24. Hypersensitive response-mediated cell death and expression of the tested immunity- and thermotolerance-associated marker genes were induced by transient overexpression (TOE) of CabZIP63, but decreased by that of CabZIP63-SRDX. Additionally, binding of CabZIP63 to pCaWRKY40 was up-regulated by RSI or HTHH, and the transcript level of CaWRKY40 and binding of CaWRKY40 to the promoters of CaPR1, CaNPR1, CaDEF1 and CaHSP24 were up-regulated by TOE of CabZIP63. On the other hand, CabZIP63 was also up-regulated transcriptionally by TOE of CaWRKY40. The data suggest collectively that CabZIP63 directly or indirectly regulates the expression of CaWRKY40 at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional level, forming a positive feedback loop with CaWRKY40 during pepper's response to RSI or HTHH. Altogether, our data will help to elucidate the underlying mechanism of crosstalk between pepper's response to RSI and HTHH. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology.

  3. Characterization of zinc transport by divalent metal transporters of the ZIP family from the model legume medicago truncatula

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    To understand how plants from the Fabaceae family maintain zinc (Zn) homeostasis, we have characterized the kinetics of the Zn transporting proteins from the ZIP family of divalent metal transporters in the model legume Medicago truncatula. MtZIP1, MtZIP5, and MtZIP6 were the only members from this ...

  4. Variation Analysis of Physiological Traits in Betula platyphylla Overexpressing TaLEA-ThbZIP Gene under Salt Stress

    PubMed Central

    Xiao, Zhenhai; Wang, Fuwei; Li, Shuchun; Zang, Lina; Zheng, Mi; Li, Ying; Qu, Guan-Zheng

    2016-01-01

    The aim of this study was to determine whether transgenic birch (Betula platyphylla) ectopic overexpressing a late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) gene and a basic leucine zipper (bZIP) gene from the salt-tolerant genus Tamarix (salt cedar) show increased tolerance to salt (NaCl) stress. Co-transfer of TaLEA and ThbZIP in birch under the control of two independent CaMV 35S promoters significantly enhanced salt stress. PCR and northern blot analyses indicated that the two genes were ectopically overexpressed in several dual-gene transgenic birch lines. We compared the effects of salt stress among three transgenic birch lines (L-4, L-5, and L-8) and wild type (WT). In all lines, the net photosynthesis values were higher before salt stress treatment than afterwards. After the salt stress treatment, the transgenic lines L-4 and L-8 showed higher values for photosynthetic traits, chlorophyll fluorescence, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities, and lower malondialdehyde and Na+ contents, compared with those in WT and L-5. These different responses to salt stress suggested that the transcriptional level of the TaLEA and ThbZIP genes differed among the transgenic lines, resulting in a variety of genetic and phenotypic effects. The results of this research can provide a theoretical basis for the genetic engineering of salt-tolerant trees. PMID:27802286

  5. ALMA INVESTIGATION OF VIBRATIONALLY EXCITED HCN/HCO{sup +}/HNC EMISSION LINES IN THE AGN-HOSTING ULTRALUMINOUS INFRARED GALAXY IRAS 20551−4250

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Imanishi, Masatoshi; Nakanishi, Kouichiro; Izumi, Takuma, E-mail: masa.imanishi@nao.ac.jp

    2016-07-01

    We present the results of ALMA Cycle 2 observations of the ultraluminous infrared galaxy IRAS 20551−4250 at HCN/HCO{sup +}/HNC J = 3–2 lines at both vibrational ground ( v = 0) and vibrationally excited ( v {sub 2} = 1) levels. This galaxy contains a luminous buried active galactic nucleus (AGN), in addition to starburst activity, and our ALMA Cycle 0 data revealed a tentatively detected vibrationally excited HCN v {sub 2} = 1f J = 4–3 emission line. In our ALMA Cycle 2 data, the HCN/HCO{sup +}/HNC J = 3–2 emission lines at v = 0 are clearly detected.more » The HCN and HNC v {sub 2} = 1f J = 3–2 emission lines are also detected, but the HCO{sup +} v {sub 2} = 1f J = 3–2 emission line is not. Given the high energy level of v {sub 2} = 1 and the resulting difficulty of collisional excitation, we compared these results with those of the calculation of infrared radiative pumping, using the available infrared 5–35 μ m spectrum. We found that all of the observational results were reproduced if the HCN abundance was significantly higher than that of HCO{sup +} and HNC. The flux ratio and excitation temperature between v {sub 2} = 1f and v = 0, after correction for possible line opacity, suggests that infrared radiative pumping affects rotational ( J -level) excitation at v = 0 at least for HCN and HNC. The HCN-to-HCO{sup +} v = 0 flux ratio is higher than those of starburst-dominated regions, and will increase even more when the derived high HCN opacity is corrected. The enhanced HCN-to-HCO{sup +} flux ratio in this AGN-hosting galaxy can be explained by the high HCN-to-HCO{sup +} abundance ratio and sufficient HCN excitation at up to J = 4, rather than the significantly higher efficiency of infrared radiative pumping for HCN than HCO{sup +}.« less

  6. Natural antioxidants exhibit chemopreventive characteristics through the regulation of CNC b-Zip transcription factors in estrogen-induced breast carcinogenesis.

    PubMed

    Chatterjee, Anwesha; Ronghe, Amruta; Singh, Bhupendra; Bhat, Nimee K; Chen, Jie; Bhat, Hari K

    2014-12-01

    The objective of the present study was to characterize the role of resveratrol (Res) and vitamin C (VC) in prevention of estrogen-induced breast cancer through regulation of cap "n"collar (CNC) b-zip transcription factors. Human breast epithelial cell line MCF-10A was treated with 17β-estradiol (E2) and VC or Res with or without E2. mRNA and protein expression levels of CNC b-zip transcription factors nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 1 (Nrf1), nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 3 (Nrf3), and Nrf2-regulated antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase 3 (SOD3) and quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) were quantified. The treatment with E2 suppressed, whereas VC and Res prevented E2-mediated decrease in the expression levels of SOD3, NQO1, Nrf2 mRNA, and protein in MCF-10A cells. The treatment with E2, Res, or VC significantly increased mRNA and protein expression levels of Nrf1. 17β-Estradiol treatment significantly increased but VC or Res decreased Nrf3 mRNA and protein expression levels. Our studies demonstrate that estrogen-induced breast cancer might be prevented through upregulation of antioxidant enzymes via Nrf-dependent pathways. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  7. Temperature dependence of intensities of the 8-12 micron bands of CFCl3

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Nanes, R.; Silvaggio, P. M.; Boese, R. W.

    1980-01-01

    The absolute intensities of the 8-12 micron bands from Freon 11 (CFCl3) were measured at temperatures of 294 and 216 K. Intensities of the bands centered at 798, 847, 934, and 1082 per cm are all observed to depend on temperature. The temperature dependence for the 847 and 1082 per cm fundamental regions is attributed to underlying hot bands; for the nu2 + nu5 combination band (934 per cm), the observed temperature dependence is in close agreement with theoretical prediction. The implication of these results on atmospheric IR remote-sensing is briefly discussed.

  8. Isolation and expression analysis of EcbZIP17 from different finger millet genotypes shows conserved nature of the gene.

    PubMed

    Chopperla, Ramakrishna; Singh, Sonam; Mohanty, Sasmita; Reddy, Nanja; Padaria, Jasdeep C; Solanke, Amolkumar U

    2017-10-01

    Basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors comprise one of the largest gene families in plants. They play a key role in almost every aspect of plant growth and development and also in biotic and abiotic stress tolerance. In this study, we report isolation and characterization of EcbZIP17 , a group B bZIP transcription factor from a climate smart cereal, finger millet ( Eleusine coracana L.). The genomic sequence of EcbZIP17 is 2662 bp long encompassing two exons and one intron with ORF of 1722 bp and peptide length of 573 aa. This gene is homologous to AtbZIP17 ( Arabidopsis ), ZmbZIP17 (maize) and OsbZIP60 (rice) which play a key role in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway. In silico analysis confirmed the presence of basic leucine zipper (bZIP) and transmembrane (TM) domains in the EcbZIP17 protein. Allele mining of this gene in 16 different genotypes by Sanger sequencing revealed no variation in nucleotide sequence, including the 618 bp long intron. Expression analysis of EcbZIP17 under heat stress exhibited similar pattern of expression in all the genotypes across time intervals with highest upregulation after 4 h. The present study established the conserved nature of EcbZIP17 at nucleotide and expression level.

  9. Crosstalk between Two bZIP Signaling Pathways Orchestrates Salt-Induced Metabolic Reprogramming in Arabidopsis Roots

    PubMed Central

    Hartmann, Laura; Pedrotti, Lorenzo; Weiste, Christoph; Fekete, Agnes; Schierstaedt, Jasper; Göttler, Jasmin; Kempa, Stefan; Krischke, Markus; Dietrich, Katrin; Mueller, Martin J.; Vicente-Carbajosa, Jesus; Hanson, Johannes; Dröge-Laser, Wolfgang

    2015-01-01

    Soil salinity increasingly causes crop losses worldwide. Although roots are the primary targets of salt stress, the signaling networks that facilitate metabolic reprogramming to induce stress tolerance are less understood than those in leaves. Here, a combination of transcriptomic and metabolic approaches was performed in salt-treated Arabidopsis thaliana roots, which revealed that the group S1 basic leucine zipper transcription factors bZIP1 and bZIP53 reprogram primary C- and N-metabolism. In particular, gluconeogenesis and amino acid catabolism are affected by these transcription factors. Importantly, bZIP1 expression reflects cellular stress and energy status in roots. In addition to the well-described abiotic stress response pathway initiated by the hormone abscisic acid (ABA) and executed by SnRK2 (Snf1-RELATED-PROTEIN-KINASE2) and AREB-like bZIP factors, we identify a structurally related ABA-independent signaling module consisting of SnRK1s and S1 bZIPs. Crosstalk between these signaling pathways recruits particular bZIP factor combinations to establish at least four distinct gene expression patterns. Understanding this signaling network provides a framework for securing future crop productivity. PMID:26276836

  10. Zinc Transporter SLC39A7/ZIP7 Promotes Intestinal Epithelial Self-Renewal by Resolving ER Stress

    PubMed Central

    Ohashi, Wakana; Kimura, Shunsuke; Iwanaga, Toshihiko; Furusawa, Yukihiro; Irié, Tarou; Izumi, Hironori; Watanabe, Takashi; Hara, Takafumi; Ohara, Osamu; Koseki, Haruhiko; Sato, Toshiro; Robine, Sylvie; Mori, Hisashi; Hattori, Yuichi; Mishima, Kenji; Ohno, Hiroshi; Hase, Koji; Fukada, Toshiyuki

    2016-01-01

    Zinc transporters play a critical role in spatiotemporal regulation of zinc homeostasis. Although disruption of zinc homeostasis has been implicated in disorders such as intestinal inflammation and aberrant epithelial morphology, it is largely unknown which zinc transporters are responsible for the intestinal epithelial homeostasis. Here, we show that Zrt-Irt-like protein (ZIP) transporter ZIP7, which is highly expressed in the intestinal crypt, is essential for intestinal epithelial proliferation. Mice lacking Zip7 in intestinal epithelium triggered endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in proliferative progenitor cells, leading to significant cell death of progenitor cells. Zip7 deficiency led to the loss of Olfm4+ intestinal stem cells and the degeneration of post-mitotic Paneth cells, indicating a fundamental requirement for Zip7 in homeostatic intestinal regeneration. Taken together, these findings provide evidence for the importance of ZIP7 in maintenance of intestinal epithelial homeostasis through the regulation of ER function in proliferative progenitor cells and maintenance of intestinal stem cells. Therapeutic targeting of ZIP7 could lead to effective treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. PMID:27736879

  11. A modified detector concept for SuperCDMS: The HiZIP and its charge performance

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Page, Kedar Mohan

    SuperCDMS is a leading direct dark matter search experiment which uses solid state detectors (Ge crystals) at milliKelvin temperatures to look for nuclear recoils caused by dark matter interactions in the detector. 'Weakly Interacting Massive Particles' (WIMPs) are the most favoured dark matter candidate particles. SuperCDMS, like many other direct dark matter search experiments, primarily looks for WIMPs. The measurement of both the ionization and the lattice vibration (phonon) signals from an interaction in the detector allow it to discriminate against electron recoils which are the main source of background for WIMP detection. SuperCDMS currently operates about 9 kgs worth of germanium detectors at the Soudan underground lab in northern Minnesota. In its next phase, SuperCDMS SNOLAB, it plans to use 100-200 kg of target mass (Ge) which would allow it to probe more of the interesting and unexplored parameter space for WIMPs predicted by theoretical models. The SuperCDMS Queen's Test Facility is a detector testing facility which is intended to serve detector testing and detector research and development purposes for the SuperCDMS experiment. A modified detector called the 'HiZIP' (Half-iZIP), which is reduced in complexity in comparison to the currently used iZIP (interleaved Z-sensitive Ionization and Phonon mediated) detectors, is studied in this thesis. The HiZIP detector design also serves to discriminate against background from multiple scatter events occurring close to the surfaces in a single detector. Studies carried out to compare the surface event leakage in the HiZIP detector using limited information from iZIP data taken at SuperCDMS test facility at UC Berkley produce a highly conservative upper limit of 5 out of 10,000 events at 90% confidence level. This upper limit is the best among many different HiZIP configurations that were investigated and is comparable to the upper limit calculated for an iZIP detector in the same way using the same data. A

  12. N-terminal segments modulate the α-helical propensities of the intrinsically disordered basic regions of bZIP proteins.

    PubMed

    Das, Rahul K; Crick, Scott L; Pappu, Rohit V

    2012-02-17

    Basic region leucine zippers (bZIPs) are modular transcription factors that play key roles in eukaryotic gene regulation. The basic regions of bZIPs (bZIP-bRs) are necessary and sufficient for DNA binding and specificity. Bioinformatic predictions and spectroscopic studies suggest that unbound monomeric bZIP-bRs are uniformly disordered as isolated domains. Here, we test this assumption through a comparative characterization of conformational ensembles for 15 different bZIP-bRs using a combination of atomistic simulations and circular dichroism measurements. We find that bZIP-bRs have quantifiable preferences for α-helical conformations in their unbound monomeric forms. This helicity varies from one bZIP-bR to another despite a significant sequence similarity of the DNA binding motifs (DBMs). Our analysis reveals that intramolecular interactions between DBMs and eight-residue segments directly N-terminal to DBMs are the primary modulators of bZIP-bR helicities. We test the accuracy of this inference by designing chimeras of bZIP-bRs to have either increased or decreased overall helicities. Our results yield quantitative insights regarding the relationship between sequence and the degree of intrinsic disorder within bZIP-bRs, and might have general implications for other intrinsically disordered proteins. Understanding how natural sequence variations lead to modulation of disorder is likely to be important for understanding the evolution of specificity in molecular recognition through intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. Increasing the affinity of selective bZIP-binding peptides through surface residue redesign.

    PubMed

    Kaplan, Jenifer B; Reinke, Aaron W; Keating, Amy E

    2014-07-01

    The coiled-coil dimer is a prevalent protein interaction motif that is important for many cellular processes. The basic leucine-zipper (bZIP) transcription factors are one family of proteins for which coiled-coil mediated dimerization is essential for function, and misregulation of bZIPs can lead to disease states including cancer. This makes coiled coils attractive protein-protein interaction targets to disrupt using engineered molecules. Previous work designing peptides to compete with native coiled-coil interactions focused primarily on designing the core residues of the interface to achieve affinity and specificity. However, folding studies on the model bZIP GCN4 show that coiled-coil surface residues also contribute to binding affinity. Here we extend a prior study in which peptides were designed to bind tightly and specifically to representative members of each of 20 human bZIP families. These "anti-bZIP" peptides were designed with an emphasis on target-binding specificity, with contributions to design-target specificity and affinity engineered considering only the coiled-coil core residues. High-throughput testing using peptide arrays indicated many successes. We have now measured the binding affinities and specificities of anti-bZIPs that bind to FOS, XBP1, ATF6, and CREBZF in solution and tested whether redesigning the surface residues can increase design-target affinity. Incorporating residues that favor helix formation into the designs increased binding affinities in all cases, providing low-nanomolar binders of each target. However, changes in surface electrostatic interactions sometimes changed the binding specificity of the designed peptides. © 2014 The Protein Society.

  14. The impacts of marijuana dispensary density and neighborhood ecology on marijuana abuse and dependence.

    PubMed

    Mair, Christina; Freisthler, Bridget; Ponicki, William R; Gaidus, Andrew

    2015-09-01

    As an increasing number of states liberalize cannabis use and develop laws and local policies, it is essential to better understand the impacts of neighborhood ecology and marijuana dispensary density on marijuana use, abuse, and dependence. We investigated associations between marijuana abuse/dependence hospitalizations and community demographic and environmental conditions from 2001 to 2012 in California, as well as cross-sectional associations between local and adjacent marijuana dispensary densities and marijuana hospitalizations. We analyzed panel population data relating hospitalizations coded for marijuana abuse or dependence and assigned to residential ZIP codes in California from 2001 through 2012 (20,219 space-time units) to ZIP code demographic and ecological characteristics. Bayesian space-time misalignment models were used to account for spatial variations in geographic unit definitions over time, while also accounting for spatial autocorrelation using conditional autoregressive priors. We also analyzed cross-sectional associations between marijuana abuse/dependence and the density of dispensaries in local and spatially adjacent ZIP codes in 2012. An additional one dispensary per square mile in a ZIP code was cross-sectionally associated with a 6.8% increase in the number of marijuana hospitalizations (95% credible interval 1.033, 1.105) with a marijuana abuse/dependence code. Other local characteristics, such as the median household income and age and racial/ethnic distributions, were associated with marijuana hospitalizations in cross-sectional and panel analyses. Prevention and intervention programs for marijuana abuse and dependence may be particularly essential in areas of concentrated disadvantage. Policy makers may want to consider regulations that limit the density of dispensaries. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Genome-wide analysis of soybean HD-Zip gene family and expression profiling under salinity and drought treatments.

    PubMed

    Chen, Xue; Chen, Zhu; Zhao, Hualin; Zhao, Yang; Cheng, Beijiu; Xiang, Yan

    2014-01-01

    Homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) proteins, a group of homeobox transcription factors, participate in various aspects of normal plant growth and developmental processes as well as environmental responses. To date, no overall analysis or expression profiling of the HD-Zip gene family in soybean (Glycine max) has been reported. An investigation of the soybean genome revealed 88 putative HD-Zip genes. These genes were classified into four subfamilies, I to IV, based on phylogenetic analysis. In each subfamily, the constituent parts of gene structure and motif were relatively conserved. A total of 87 out of 88 genes were distributed unequally on 20 chromosomes with 36 segmental duplication events, indicating that segmental duplication is important for the expansion of the HD-Zip family. Analysis of the Ka/Ks ratios showed that the duplicated genes of the HD-Zip family basically underwent purifying selection with restrictive functional divergence after the duplication events. Analysis of expression profiles showed that 80 genes differentially expressed across 14 tissues, and 59 HD-Zip genes are differentially expressed under salinity and drought stress, with 20 paralogous pairs showing nearly identical expression patterns and three paralogous pairs diversifying significantly under drought stress. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis of six paralogous pairs of 12 selected soybean HD-Zip genes under both drought and salinity stress confirmed their stress-inducible expression patterns. This study presents a thorough overview of the soybean HD-Zip gene family and provides a new perspective on the evolution of this gene family. The results indicate that HD-Zip family genes may be involved in many plant responses to stress conditions. Additionally, this study provides a solid foundation for uncovering the biological roles of HD-Zip genes in soybean growth and development.

  16. Genome-Wide Analysis of Soybean HD-Zip Gene Family and Expression Profiling under Salinity and Drought Treatments

    PubMed Central

    Chen, Xue; Chen, Zhu; Zhao, Hualin; Zhao, Yang; Cheng, Beijiu; Xiang, Yan

    2014-01-01

    Background Homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) proteins, a group of homeobox transcription factors, participate in various aspects of normal plant growth and developmental processes as well as environmental responses. To date, no overall analysis or expression profiling of the HD-Zip gene family in soybean (Glycine max) has been reported. Methods and Findings An investigation of the soybean genome revealed 88 putative HD-Zip genes. These genes were classified into four subfamilies, I to IV, based on phylogenetic analysis. In each subfamily, the constituent parts of gene structure and motif were relatively conserved. A total of 87 out of 88 genes were distributed unequally on 20 chromosomes with 36 segmental duplication events, indicating that segmental duplication is important for the expansion of the HD-Zip family. Analysis of the Ka/Ks ratios showed that the duplicated genes of the HD-Zip family basically underwent purifying selection with restrictive functional divergence after the duplication events. Analysis of expression profiles showed that 80 genes differentially expressed across 14 tissues, and 59 HD-Zip genes are differentially expressed under salinity and drought stress, with 20 paralogous pairs showing nearly identical expression patterns and three paralogous pairs diversifying significantly under drought stress. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis of six paralogous pairs of 12 selected soybean HD-Zip genes under both drought and salinity stress confirmed their stress-inducible expression patterns. Conclusions This study presents a thorough overview of the soybean HD-Zip gene family and provides a new perspective on the evolution of this gene family. The results indicate that HD-Zip family genes may be involved in many plant responses to stress conditions. Additionally, this study provides a solid foundation for uncovering the biological roles of HD-Zip genes in soybean growth and development. PMID:24498296

  17. Cyclin-dependent protein kinase and cyclin homologs SSN3 and SSN8 contribute to transcriptional control in yeast.

    PubMed Central

    Kuchin, S; Yeghiayan, P; Carlson, M

    1995-01-01

    The SSN3 and SSN8 genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were identified by mutations that suppress a defect in SNF1, a protein kinase required for release from glucose repression. Mutations in SSN3 and SSN8 also act synergistically with a mutation of the MIG1 repressor protein to relieve glucose repression. We have cloned the SSN3 and SSN8 genes. SSN3 encodes a cyclin-dependent protein kinase (cdk) homolog and is identical to UME5. SSN8 encodes a cyclin homolog 35% identical to human cyclin C. SSN3 and SSN8 fusion proteins interact in the two-hybrid system and coimmunoprecipitate from yeast cell extracts. Using an immune complex assay, we detected protein kinase activity that depends on both SSN3 and SSN8. Thus, the two SSN proteins are likely to function as a cdk-cyclin pair. Genetic analysis indicates that the SSN3-SSN8 complex contributes to transcriptional repression of diversely regulated genes and also affects induction of the GAL1 promoter. Images Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 5 PMID:7732022

  18. HCN and HCO(+) images of the photodissociation region in the Orion Bar

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Youngowl, Rolaine C.; Meixner, Margaret; Tielens, Alexander G. G. M.; Tauber, Jan A.

    1995-01-01

    We present preliminary millimeter-wavelength images of the photodissociation region (PDR) in the Orion Bar, observed with the Berkeley- Illinois-Maryland array (BIMA). These new BIMA observations have attained 5 arc sec resolution in the J=l-O emission lines of HCO+ (formyl ion) and HCN (hydrogen cyanide). The results are compared with previous observations of the J=1-0 transition lines of (13)CO. We find that the HCO+ and HCN have different spatial distributions. HCN appears to lie primarily inside dense clumps of gas, which are defined by areas of intense (13)CO emission. However, the HCO+ emission appears to be only loosely associated with the surfaces of the gas clumps. We suggest that HCO+ abundance is enhanced by the presence of vibrationally excited H2 on the surfaces of dense clumps, and that the HCN abundance is attenuated by photo destruction outside the cores of dense clumps of gas.

  19. Genome Wide Identification of Orthologous ZIP Genes Associated with Zinc and Iron Translocation in Setaria italica.

    PubMed

    Alagarasan, Ganesh; Dubey, Mahima; Aswathy, Kumar S; Chandel, Girish

    2017-01-01

    Genes in the ZIP family encode transcripts to store and transport bivalent metal micronutrient, particularly iron (Fe) and or zinc (Zn). These transcripts are important for a variety of functions involved in the developmental and physiological processes in many plant species, including most, if not all, Poaceae plant species and the model species Arabidopsis. Here, we present the report of a genome wide investigation of orthologous ZIP genes in Setaria italica and the identification of 7 single copy genes. RT-PCR shows 4 of them could be used to increase the bio-availability of zinc and iron content in grains. Of 36 ZIP members, 25 genes have traces of signal peptide based sub-cellular localization, as compared to those of plant species studied previously, yet translocation of ions remains unclear. In silico analysis of gene structure and protein nature suggests that these two were preeminent in shaping the functional diversity of the ZIP gene family in S. italica . NAC, bZIP and bHLH are the predominant Fe and Zn responsive transcription factors present in SiZIP genes. Together, our results provide new insights into the signal peptide based/independent iron and zinc translocation in the plant system and allowed identification of ZIP genes that may be involved in the zinc and iron absorption from the soil, and thus transporting it to the cereal grain underlying high micronutrient accumulation.

  20. Interleukin-1beta contributes via nitric oxide to the upregulation and functional activity of the zinc transporter Zip14 (Slc39a14) in murine hepatocytes.

    PubMed

    Lichten, Louis A; Liuzzi, Juan P; Cousins, Robert J

    2009-04-01

    Zinc metabolism during chronic disease is dysregulated by inflammatory cytokines. Experiments with IL-6 knockout mice show that LPS regulates expression of the zinc transporter, Zip14, by a mechanism that is partially independent of IL-6. The LPS-induced model of sepsis may occur by a mechanism signaled by nitric oxide (NO) as a secondary messenger. To address the hypothesis that NO can modulate Zip14 expression, we treated primary hepatocytes from wild-type mice with the NO donor S-nitroso N-acetyl penicillamine (SNAP). After treatment with SNAP, steady-state Zip14 mRNA levels displayed a maximal increase after 8 h and a concomitant increase in the transcriptional activity of the gene. Chromatin immunoprecipitation documented the kinetics of activator protein (AP)-1 and RNA polymerase II association with the Zip14 promoter after NO exposure, indicating a role of AP-1 in transcription of Zip14. We then stimulated the primary murine hepatocytes with IL-1beta, an LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokine and a potent activator of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and NO production. In support of our hypothesis, IL-1beta treatment led to a threefold increase in Zip14 mRNA and enhanced zinc transport, as measured with a zinc fluorophore, in wild-type but not iNOS-/- hepatocytes. These data suggest that signaling pathways activated by NO are factors in the upregulation of Zip14, which in turn mediates hepatic zinc accumulation and hypozincemia during inflammation and sepsis.

  1. Photolysis of CH{sub 3}CHO at 248 nm: Evidence of triple fragmentation from primary quantum yield of CH{sub 3} and HCO radicals and H atoms

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Morajkar, Pranay; Schoemaecker, Coralie; Fittschen, Christa, E-mail: christa.fittschen@univ-lille1.fr

    2014-06-07

    Radical quantum yields have been measured following the 248 nm photolysis of acetaldehyde, CH{sub 3}CHO. HCO radical and H atom yields have been quantified by time resolved continuous wave Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy in the near infrared following their conversion to HO{sub 2} radicals by reaction with O{sub 2}. The CH{sub 3} radical yield has been determined using the same technique following their conversion into CH{sub 3}O{sub 2}. Absolute yields have been deduced for HCO radicals and H atoms through fitting of time resolved HO{sub 2} profiles, obtained under various O{sub 2} concentrations, to a complex model, while the CH{submore » 3} yield has been determined relative to the CH{sub 3} yield from 248 nm photolysis of CH{sub 3}I. Time resolved HO{sub 2} profiles under very low O{sub 2} concentrations suggest that another unknown HO{sub 2} forming reaction path exists in this reaction system besides the conversion of HCO radicals and H atoms by reaction with O{sub 2}. HO{sub 2} profiles can be well reproduced under a large range of experimental conditions with the following quantum yields: CH{sub 3}CHO + hν{sub 248nm} → CH{sub 3}CHO{sup *}, CH{sub 3}CHO{sup *} → CH{sub 3} + HCO ϕ{sub 1a} = 0.125 ± 0.03, CH{sub 3}CHO{sup *} → CH{sub 3} + H + CO ϕ{sub 1e} = 0.205 ± 0.04, CH{sub 3}CHO{sup *}→{sup o{sub 2}}CH{sub 3}CO + HO{sub 2} ϕ{sub 1f} = 0.07 ± 0.01. The CH{sub 3}O{sub 2} quantum yield has been determined in separate experiments as ϕ{sub CH{sub 3}} = 0.33 ± 0.03 and is in excellent agreement with the CH{sub 3} yields derived from the HO{sub 2} measurements considering that the triple fragmentation (R1e) is an important reaction path in the 248 nm photolysis of CH{sub 3}CHO. From arithmetic considerations taking into account the HO{sub 2} and CH{sub 3} measurements we deduce a remaining quantum yield for the molecular pathway: CH{sub 3}CHO{sup *} → CH{sub 4} + CO ϕ{sub 1b} = 0.6. All experiments

  2. Microtubule-dependent relocation of branchial V-H+-ATPase to the basolateral membrane in the Pacific spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias): a role in base secretion.

    PubMed

    Tresguerres, Martin; Parks, Scott K; Katoh, Fumi; Goss, Greg G

    2006-02-01

    We have previously shown that continuous intravenous infusion of NaHCO3 for 24 h ( approximately 1000 micromol kg(-1) h(-1)) results in the relocation of V-H+-ATPase from the cytoplasm to the basolateral membrane in the gills of the Pacific dogfish. To further investigate this putative base-secretive process we performed similar experiments with the addition of colchicine, an inhibitor of cytoskeleton-dependent cellular trafficking processes. Blood pH and plasma total CO2 were significantly higher in the colchicines-treated, HCO3- -infused fish compared with fish infused with HCO3- alone. The effect of colchicine was highest after 24 h of infusion (8.33+/-0.06 vs 8.02+/-0.03 pH units, 15.72+/-3.29 vs 6.74+/-1.34 mmol CO2 l(-1), N=5). Immunohistochemistry and western blotting confirmed that colchicine blocked the transit of V-H+-ATPase to the basolateral membrane. Furthermore, western blotting analyses from whole gill and cell membrane samples suggest that the short-term (6 h) response to alkaline stress consists of relocation of V-H+-ATPases already present in the cell to the basolateral membrane, while in the longer term (24 h) there is both relocation of preexistent enzyme and upregulation in the synthesis of new units. Our results strongly suggest that cellular relocation of V-H+-ATPase is necessary for enhanced HCO3- secretion across the gills of the Pacific dogfish.

  3. The Zinc Transporter Zip5 (Slc39a5) Regulates Intestinal Zinc Excretion and Protects the Pancreas against Zinc Toxicity

    PubMed Central

    Geiser, Jim; De Lisle, Robert C.; Andrews, Glen K.

    2013-01-01

    Background ZIP5 localizes to the baso-lateral membranes of intestinal enterocytes and pancreatic acinar cells and is internalized and degraded coordinately in these cell-types during periods of dietary zinc deficiency. These cell-types are thought to control zinc excretion from the body. The baso-lateral localization and zinc-regulation of ZIP5 in these cells are unique among the 14 members of the Slc39a family and suggest that ZIP5 plays a role in zinc excretion. Methods/Principal Findings We created mice with floxed Zip5 genes and deleted this gene in the entire mouse or specifically in enterocytes or acinar cells and then examined the effects on zinc homeostasis. We found that ZIP5 is not essential for growth and viability but total knockout of ZIP5 led to increased zinc in the liver in mice fed a zinc-adequate (ZnA) diet but impaired accumulation of pancreatic zinc in mice fed a zinc-excess (ZnE) diet. Loss-of-function of enterocyte ZIP5, in contrast, led to increased pancreatic zinc in mice fed a ZnA diet and increased abundance of intestinal Zip4 mRNA. Finally, loss-of-function of acinar cell ZIP5 modestly reduced pancreatic zinc in mice fed a ZnA diet but did not impair zinc uptake as measured by the rapid accumulation of 67zinc. Retention of pancreatic 67zinc was impaired in these mice but the absence of pancreatic ZIP5 sensitized them to zinc-induced pancreatitis and exacerbated the formation of large cytoplasmic vacuoles containing secretory protein in acinar cells. Conclusions These studies demonstrate that ZIP5 participates in the control of zinc excretion in mice. Specifically, they reveal a paramount function of intestinal ZIP5 in zinc excretion but suggest a role for pancreatic ZIP5 in zinc accumulation/retention in acinar cells. ZIP5 functions in acinar cells to protect against zinc-induced acute pancreatitis and attenuate the process of zymophagy. This suggests that it may play a role in autophagy. PMID:24303081

  4. Molecular line emission models of Herbig-Haro objects. II - HCO(+) emission

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wolfire, Mark G.; Koenigl, Arieh

    1993-01-01

    We present time-dependent models of the chemistry and temperature of interstellar molecular gas clumps that are exposed to the radiation from propagating stellar-jet shocks. The X-ray, EUV, and FUV radiation from the shock initiates ion chemistry and also heats the gas in the clumps. Using representative parameters, we show that, on the shock transit time between the clumps, the abundances of the ionized molecular species that are produced in the clumps can exceed the values determined from steady state models by several orders of magnitude. Collisional excitation by the heated gas can lead to measurable line emission from several ionized species; as in previous investigations of X-ray-irradiated molecular gas, we find that electron impacts contribute significantly to this process. We apply these results to the interpretation of the HCO(+) line emission that has already been detected in several Herbig-Haro objects. We demonstrate that this picture provides a natural explanation of the fact that the line intensity typically peaks ahead of the associated shock, as well as of the reported low line-center velocities and narrow line widths. We tabulate several diagnostic line intensities of HCO(+) and other molecular species that may be used to infer the physical conditions in the emitting gas.

  5. The prion-ZIP connection: From cousins to partners in iron uptake

    PubMed Central

    Singh, Neena; Asthana, Abhishek; Baksi, Shounak; Desai, Vilok; Haldar, Swati; Hari, Sahi; Tripathi, Ajai K

    2015-01-01

    ABSTRACT Converging observations from disparate lines of inquiry are beginning to clarify the cause of brain iron dyshomeostasis in sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD), a neurodegenerative condition associated with the conversion of prion protein (PrPC), a plasma membrane glycoprotein, from α-helical to a β-sheet rich PrP-scrapie (PrPSc) isoform. Biochemical evidence indicates that PrPC facilitates cellular iron uptake by functioning as a membrane-bound ferrireductase (FR), an activity necessary for the transport of iron across biological membranes through metal transporters. An entirely different experimental approach reveals an evolutionary link between PrPC and the Zrt, Irt-like protein (ZIP) family, a group of proteins involved in the transport of zinc, iron, and manganese across the plasma membrane. Close physical proximity of PrPC with certain members of the ZIP family on the plasma membrane and increased uptake of extracellular iron by cells that co-express PrPC and ZIP14 suggest that PrPC functions as a FR partner for certain members of this family. The connection between PrPC and ZIP proteins therefore extends beyond common ancestry to that of functional cooperation. Here, we summarize evidence supporting the facilitative role of PrPC in cellular iron uptake, and implications of this activity on iron metabolism in sCJD brains. PMID:26689487

  6. Project Overview: Inhibition of the Sodium-Iodide Symporter by Perchlorate: Evaluation of Lifestage Sensitivity Using PBPK Modeling

    EPA Science Inventory

    Perchlorate (ClO4-) competitively inhibits uptake of iodide by the sodium-iodide symporter (NIS) in laboratory animals and humans. NIS is found in many tissues, but is primarily responsible for sequestering iodide into the thyroid, enabling biosynthesis of thyroid hormones. The N...

  7. Computing travel time when the exact address is unknown: a comparison of point and polygon ZIP code approximation methods.

    PubMed

    Berke, Ethan M; Shi, Xun

    2009-04-29

    Travel time is an important metric of geographic access to health care. We compared strategies of estimating travel times when only subject ZIP code data were available. Using simulated data from New Hampshire and Arizona, we estimated travel times to nearest cancer centers by using: 1) geometric centroid of ZIP code polygons as origins, 2) population centroids as origin, 3) service area rings around each cancer center, assigning subjects to rings by assuming they are evenly distributed within their ZIP code, 4) service area rings around each center, assuming the subjects follow the population distribution within the ZIP code. We used travel times based on street addresses as true values to validate estimates. Population-based methods have smaller errors than geometry-based methods. Within categories (geometry or population), centroid and service area methods have similar errors. Errors are smaller in urban areas than in rural areas. Population-based methods are superior to the geometry-based methods, with the population centroid method appearing to be the best choice for estimating travel time. Estimates in rural areas are less reliable.

  8. Systematic Analysis of Sequences and Expression Patterns of Drought-Responsive Members of the HD-Zip Gene Family in Maize

    PubMed Central

    Zhao, Yang; Zhou, Yuqiong; Jiang, Haiyang; Li, Xiaoyu; Gan, Defang; Peng, Xiaojian; Zhu, Suwen; Cheng, Beijiu

    2011-01-01

    Background Members of the homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) gene family encode transcription factors that are unique to plants and have diverse functions in plant growth and development such as various stress responses, organ formation and vascular development. Although systematic characterization of this family has been carried out in Arabidopsis and rice, little is known about HD-Zip genes in maize (Zea mays L.). Methods and Findings In this study, we described the identification and structural characterization of HD-Zip genes in the maize genome. A complete set of 55 HD-Zip genes (Zmhdz1-55) were identified in the maize genome using Blast search tools and categorized into four classes (HD-Zip I-IV) based on phylogeny. Chromosomal location of these genes revealed that they are distributed unevenly across all 10 chromosomes. Segmental duplication contributed largely to the expansion of the maize HD-ZIP gene family, while tandem duplication was only responsible for the amplification of the HD-Zip II genes. Furthermore, most of the maize HD-Zip I genes were found to contain an overabundance of stress-related cis-elements in their promoter sequences. The expression levels of the 17 HD-Zip I genes under drought stress were also investigated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). All of the 17 maize HD-ZIP I genes were found to be regulated by drought stress, and the duplicated genes within a sister pair exhibited the similar expression patterns, suggesting their conserved functions during the process of evolution. Conclusions Our results reveal a comprehensive overview of the maize HD-Zip gene family and provide the first step towards the selection of Zmhdz genes for cloning and functional research to uncover their roles in maize growth and development. PMID:22164299

  9. Systematic analysis of sequences and expression patterns of drought-responsive members of the HD-Zip gene family in maize.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Yang; Zhou, Yuqiong; Jiang, Haiyang; Li, Xiaoyu; Gan, Defang; Peng, Xiaojian; Zhu, Suwen; Cheng, Beijiu

    2011-01-01

    Members of the homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) gene family encode transcription factors that are unique to plants and have diverse functions in plant growth and development such as various stress responses, organ formation and vascular development. Although systematic characterization of this family has been carried out in Arabidopsis and rice, little is known about HD-Zip genes in maize (Zea mays L.). In this study, we described the identification and structural characterization of HD-Zip genes in the maize genome. A complete set of 55 HD-Zip genes (Zmhdz1-55) were identified in the maize genome using Blast search tools and categorized into four classes (HD-Zip I-IV) based on phylogeny. Chromosomal location of these genes revealed that they are distributed unevenly across all 10 chromosomes. Segmental duplication contributed largely to the expansion of the maize HD-ZIP gene family, while tandem duplication was only responsible for the amplification of the HD-Zip II genes. Furthermore, most of the maize HD-Zip I genes were found to contain an overabundance of stress-related cis-elements in their promoter sequences. The expression levels of the 17 HD-Zip I genes under drought stress were also investigated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). All of the 17 maize HD-ZIP I genes were found to be regulated by drought stress, and the duplicated genes within a sister pair exhibited the similar expression patterns, suggesting their conserved functions during the process of evolution. Our results reveal a comprehensive overview of the maize HD-Zip gene family and provide the first step towards the selection of Zmhdz genes for cloning and functional research to uncover their roles in maize growth and development.

  10. Comparative Genomic Analysis of slc39a12/ZIP12: Insight into a Zinc Transporter Required for Vertebrate Nervous System Development

    PubMed Central

    Chowanadisai, Winyoo

    2014-01-01

    The zinc transporter ZIP12, which is encoded by the gene slc39a12, has previously been shown to be important for neuronal differentiation in mouse Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cells and primary mouse neurons and necessary for neurulation during Xenopus tropicalis embryogenesis. However, relatively little is known about the biochemical properties, cellular regulation, or the physiological role of this gene. The hypothesis that ZIP12 is a zinc transporter important for nervous system function and development guided a comparative genetics approach to uncover the presence of ZIP12 in various genomes and identify conserved sequences and expression patterns associated with ZIP12. Ortholog detection of slc39a12 was conducted with reciprocal BLAST hits with the amino acid sequence of human ZIP12 in comparison to the human paralog ZIP4 and conserved local synteny between genomes. ZIP12 is present in the genomes of almost all vertebrates examined, from humans and other mammals to most teleost fish. However, ZIP12 appears to be absent from the zebrafish genome. The discrimination of ZIP12 compared to ZIP4 was unsuccessful or inconclusive in other invertebrate chordates and deuterostomes. Splice variation, due to the inclusion or exclusion of a conserved exon, is present in humans, rats, and cows and likely has biological significance. ZIP12 also possesses many putative di-leucine and tyrosine motifs often associated with intracellular trafficking, which may control cellular zinc uptake activity through the localization of ZIP12 within the cell. These findings highlight multiple aspects of ZIP12 at the biochemical, cellular, and physiological levels with likely biological significance. ZIP12 appears to have conserved function as a zinc uptake transporter in vertebrate nervous system development. Consequently, the role of ZIP12 may be an important link to reported congenital malformations in numerous animal models and humans that are caused by zinc deficiency. PMID:25375179

  11. Development of a Screening Approach to Detect Thyroid Disrupting Chemicals that Inhibit the Human Sodium/Iodide Symporter (NIS)

    EPA Science Inventory

    Thyroid hormone synthesis requires active iodide uptake mediated by the sodium/iodide symporter (NIS). Monovalent anions, such as the environmental contaminant perchlorate, have been well characterized as competitive inhibitors of NIS, yet limited information exists for more stru...

  12. Interleukin-6 regulates the zinc transporter Zip14 in liver and contributes to the hypozincemia of the acute-phase response

    PubMed Central

    Liuzzi, Juan P.; Lichten, Louis A.; Rivera, Seth; Blanchard, Raymond K.; Aydemir, Tolunay Beker; Knutson, Mitchell D.; Ganz, Tomas; Cousins, Robert J.

    2005-01-01

    Infection and inflammation produce systemic responses that include hypozincemia and hypoferremia. The latter involves regulation of the iron transporter ferroportin 1 by hepcidin. The mechanism of reduced plasma zinc is not known. Transcripts of the two zinc transporter gene families (ZnT and Zip) were screened for regulation in mouse liver after turpentine-induced inflammation and LPS administration. Zip14 mRNA was the transporter transcript most up-regulated by inflammation and LPS. IL-6 knockout (IL-6–/–) mice did not exhibit either hypozincemia or the induction of Zip14 with turpentine inflammation. However, in IL-6–/– mice, LPS produced a milder hypozincemic response but no Zip14 induction. Northern analysis showed Zip14 up-regulation was specific for the liver, with one major transcript. Immunohistochemistry, using an antibody to an extracellular Zip14 epitope, showed both LPS and turpentine increased abundance of Zip14 at the plasma membrane of hepatocytes. IL-6 produced increased expression of Zip14 in primary hepatocytes cultures and localization of the protein to the plasma membrane. Transfection of mZip14 cDNA into human embryonic kidney cells increased zinc uptake as measured by both a fluorescent probe for free Zn2+ and 65Zn accumulation, as well as by metallothionein mRNA induction, all indicating that Zip14 functions as a zinc importer. Zip14 was localized in plasma membrane of the transfected cells. These in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrate that Zip14 expression is up-regulated through IL-6, and that this zinc transporter most likely plays a major role in the mechanism responsible for hypozincemia that accompanies the acute-phase response to inflammation and infection. PMID:15863613

  13. Feedback Regulation of ABA Signaling and Biosynthesis by a bZIP Transcription Factor Targets Drought-Resistance-Related Genes1[OPEN

    PubMed Central

    Tang, Ning; Yang, Jun; Peng, Lei; Ma, Siqi; Xu, Yan; Li, Guoliang

    2016-01-01

    The OsbZIP23 transcription factor has been characterized for its essential role in drought resistance in rice (Oryza sativa), but the mechanism is unknown. In this study, we first investigated the transcriptional activation of OsbZIP23. A homolog of SnRK2 protein kinase (SAPK2) was found to interact with and phosphorylate OsbZIP23 for its transcriptional activation. SAPK2 also interacted with OsPP2C49, an ABI1 homolog, which deactivated the SAPK2 to inhibit the transcriptional activation activity of OsbZIP23. Next, we performed genome-wide identification of OsbZIP23 targets by immunoprecipitation sequencing and RNA sequencing analyses in the OsbZIP23-overexpression, osbzip23 mutant, and wild-type rice under normal and drought stress conditions. OsbZIP23 directly regulates a large number of reported genes that function in stress response, hormone signaling, and developmental processes. Among these targets, we found that OsbZIP23 could positively regulate OsPP2C49, and overexpression of OsPP2C49 in rice resulted in significantly decreased sensitivity of the abscisic acid (ABA) response and rapid dehydration. Moreover, OsNCED4 (9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase4), a key gene in ABA biosynthesis, was also positively regulated by OsbZIP23. Together, our results suggest that OsbZIP23 acts as a central regulator in ABA signaling and biosynthesis, and drought resistance in rice. PMID:27325665

  14. ALMA Multiple-transition Molecular Line Observations of the Ultraluminous Infrared Galaxy IRAS 20551-4250: Different HCN, HCO+, and HNC Excitation, and Implications for Infrared Radiative Pumping

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Imanishi, Masatoshi; Nakanishi, Kouichiro; Izumi, Takuma

    2017-11-01

    We present our ALMA multi-transition molecular line observational results for the ultraluminous infrared galaxy IRAS 20551-4250, which is known to contain a luminous buried active galactic nucleus and shows detectable vibrationally excited (v 2 = 1f) HCN and HNC emission lines. The rotational J = 1-0, 4-3, and 8-7 of HCN, {{HCO}}+, and HNC emission lines were clearly detected at a vibrational ground level (v = 0). Vibrationally excited (v 2 = 1f) J = 4-3 emission lines were detected for HCN and HNC, but not for {{HCO}}+. Their observed flux ratios further support our previously obtained suggestion, based on J = 3-2 data, that (1) infrared radiative pumping plays a role in rotational excitation at v = 0, at least for HCN and HNC, and (2) HCN abundance is higher than {{HCO}}+ and HNC. The flux measurements of the isotopologue H13CN, {{{H}}}13{{CO}}+, and HN13C J = 3-2 emission lines support the higher HCN abundance scenario. Based on modeling with collisional excitation, we constrain the physical properties of these line-emitting molecular gases, but find that higher HNC rotational excitation than HCN and {{HCO}}+ is difficult to explain, due to the higher effective critical density of HNC. We consider the effects of infrared radiative pumping using the available 5-30 μm infrared spectrum and find that our observational results are well-explained if the radiation source is located at 30-100 pc from the molecular gas. The simultaneously covered very bright CO J = 3-2 emission line displays a broad emission wing, which we interpret as being due to molecular outflow activity with the estimated rate of ˜ 150 {M}⊙ {{yr}}-1.

  15. Combinatorial effects of quercetin and sex-steroids on fluid and electrolytes’ (Na+, Cl-, HCO3-) secretory mechanisms in the uterus of ovariectomised female Sprague-Dawley rats

    PubMed Central

    Shahzad, Huma; Giribabu, Nelli; Karim, Kamarulzaman; Kassim, Normadiah M.; Muniandy, Sekaran

    2017-01-01

    Dysregulation of uterine fluid environment could impair successful reproduction and this could be due to the effect of environmental estrogens. Therefore, in this study, effect of quercetin, an environmental estrogen on uterine fluid and electrolytes concentrations were investigated under sex-steroid influence. Ovariectomised adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were given 10, 50 or 100mg/kg/day quercetin subcutaneously with 17-β estradiol (E) for seven days or three days E, then three days E plus progesterone (P) (E+P) treatment. Uterine fluid secretion rate, Na+, Cl- and HCO3- concentrations were determined by in-vivo perfusion. Following sacrifice, uteri were harvested and levels of the proteins of interest were identified by Western blotting and Realtime PCR. Distribution of these proteins in the uterus was observed by immunofluorescence. Levels of uterine cAMP were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay (EIA). Administration of quercetin at increasing doses increased uterine fluid secretion rate, Na+, Cl- and HCO3- concentrations, but to the levels lesser than that of E. In concordant, levels of CFTR, SLC4A4, ENaC (α, β and γ), Na+/K+-ATPase, GPα/β, AC and cAMP in the uterus increased following increased in the doses of quercetin. Co-administration of quercetin with E caused uterine fluid secretion rate, Na+, Cl- and HCO3- concentrations to decrease. In concordant, uterine CFTR, SLC26A6, SLC4A4, ENaC (α, β and γ), Na+/K+-ATPase, GPα/β, AC and cAMP decreased. Greatest effects were observed following co-administration of 10mg/kg/day quercetin with E. Co-administration of quercetin with E+P caused uterine fluid Na+ and HCO3- concentrations to increase but no changes in fluid secretion rate and Cl- concentration were observed. Co-administration of high dose quercetin (100 mg/kg/day) with E+P caused uterine CFTR, SLC26A6, AC, GPα/β and ENaC (α, β and γ) to increase. Quercetin-induced changes in the uterine fluid secretion rate and electrolytes

  16. ZIP3D: An elastic and elastic-plastic finite-element analysis program for cracked bodies

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Shivakumar, K. N.; Newman, J. C., Jr.

    1990-01-01

    ZIP3D is an elastic and an elastic-plastic finite element program to analyze cracks in three dimensional solids. The program may also be used to analyze uncracked bodies or multi-body problems involving contacting surfaces. For crack problems, the program has several unique features including the calculation of mixed-mode strain energy release rates using the three dimensional virtual crack closure technique, the calculation of the J integral using the equivalent domain integral method, the capability to extend the crack front under monotonic or cyclic loading, and the capability to close or open the crack surfaces during cyclic loading. The theories behind the various aspects of the program are explained briefly. Line-by-line data preparation is presented. Input data and results for an elastic analysis of a surface crack in a plate and for an elastic-plastic analysis of a single-edge-crack-tension specimen are also presented.

  17. A basic leucine zipper transcription factor, AabZIP1, connects abscisic acid signaling with artemisinin biosynthesis in Artemisia annua.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Fangyuan; Fu, Xueqing; Lv, Zongyou; Lu, Xu; Shen, Qian; Zhang, Ling; Zhu, Mengmeng; Wang, Guofeng; Sun, Xiaofen; Liao, Zhihua; Tang, Kexuan

    2015-01-01

    Artemisinin is a sesquiterpenoid especially synthesized in the Chinese herbal plant, Artemisia annua, which is widely used in the treatment of malaria. Artemisinin accumulation can be enhanced by exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. However, it is not known how ABA signaling regulates artemisinin biosynthesis. A global expression profile and phylogenetic analysis as well as the dual-LUC screening revealed that a basic leucine zipper family transcription factor from A. annua (namely AabZIP1) was involved in ABA signaling to regulate artemisinin biosynthesis. AabZIP1 had a higher expression level in the inflorescences than in other tissues; ABA treatment, drought, and salt stress strongly induced the expression of AabZIP1. Yeast one-hybrid assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed that AabZIP1 bound to the ABA-responsive elements (ABRE) in the promoter regions of the amorpha-4,11-diene synthase (ADS) gene and CYP71AV1, which are two key structural genes of the artemisinin biosynthetic pathway. A mutagenesis assay showed that the C1 domain in the N-terminus of AabZIP1 was important for its transactivation activity. Furthermore, the activation of ADS and CYP71AV1 promoters by AabZIP1 was enhanced by ABA treatment in transient dual-LUC analysis. The AabZIP1 variant with C1 domain deletion lost the ability to activate ADS and CYP71AV1 promoters regardless of ABA treatment. Notably, overexpression of AabZIP1 in A. annua resulted in significantly increased accumulation of artemisinin. Our results indicate that ABA promotes artemisinin biosynthesis, likely through 1 activation of ADS and CYP71AV1 expression by AabZIP in A. annua. Meanwhile, our findings reveal the potential value of AabZIP1 in genetic engineering of artemisinin production. Copyright © 2015 The Author. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  18. Chromatin Immunoprecipitation and Microarray Analysis Suggest Functional Cooperation between Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus ORF57 and K-bZIP

    PubMed Central

    Hunter, Olga V.; Sei, Emi; Richardson, R. Blake

    2013-01-01

    The Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) open reading frame 57 (ORF57)-encoded protein (Mta) is a multifunctional regulator of viral gene expression. ORF57 is essential for viral replication, so elucidation of its molecular mechanisms is important for understanding KSHV infection. ORF57 has been implicated in nearly every aspect of viral gene expression, including transcription, RNA stability, splicing, export, and translation. Here we demonstrate that ORF57 interacts with the KSHV K-bZIP protein in vitro and in cell extracts from lytically reactivated infected cells. To further test the biological relevance of the interaction, we performed a chromatin immunoprecipitation and microarray (ChIP-chip) analysis using anti-ORF57 antibodies and a KSHV tiling array. The results revealed four specific areas of enrichment, including the ORF4 and K8 (K-bZIP) promoters, as well as oriLyt, all of which interact with K-bZIP. In addition, ORF57 associated with DNA corresponding to the PAN RNA transcribed region, a known posttranscriptional target of ORF57. All of the peaks were RNase insensitive, demonstrating that ORF57 association with the viral genome is unlikely to be mediated exclusively by an RNA tether. Our data demonstrate that ORF57 associates with the viral genome by using at least two modes of recruitment, and they suggest that ORF57 and K-bZIP coregulate viral gene expression during lytic infection. PMID:23365430

  19. Suppression of Mediator is regulated by Cdk8-dependent Grr1 turnover of the Med3 coactivator.

    PubMed

    Gonzalez, Deyarina; Hamidi, Nurul; Del Sol, Ricardo; Benschop, Joris J; Nancy, Thomas; Li, Chao; Francis, Lewis; Tzouros, Manuel; Krijgsveld, Jeroen; Holstege, Frank C P; Conlan, R Steven

    2014-02-18

    Mediator, an evolutionary conserved large multisubunit protein complex with a central role in regulating RNA polymerase II-transcribed genes, serves as a molecular switchboard at the interface between DNA binding transcription factors and the general transcription machinery. Mediator subunits include the Cdk8 module, which has both positive and negative effects on activator-dependent transcription through the activity of the cyclin-dependent kinase Cdk8, and the tail module, which is required for positive and negative regulation of transcription, correct preinitiation complex formation in basal and activated transcription, and Mediator recruitment. Currently, the molecular mechanisms governing Mediator function remain largely undefined. Here we demonstrate an autoregulatory mechanism used by Mediator to repress transcription through the activity of distinct components of different modules. We show that the function of the tail module component Med3, which is required for transcription activation, is suppressed by the kinase activity of the Cdk8 module. Med3 interacts with, and is phosphorylated by, Cdk8; site-specific phosphorylation triggers interaction with and degradation by the Grr1 ubiquitin ligase, thereby preventing transcription activation. This active repression mechanism involving Grr1-dependent ubiquitination of Med3 offers a rationale for the substoichiometric levels of the tail module that are found in purified Mediator and the corresponding increase in tail components seen in cdk8 mutants.

  20. Ischemic-Anoxia of the Central Nervous System: Iron Dependent Oxidative Injury during Reperfusion.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1986-10-15

    much deeper tissue acidosis and augmented injury is seen in contrast to complete ischemic-anoxia. 4 8. The delocalized iron catalyzes the production of...of deep metabolic acidosis (HCO5 at about 10 meq/L). OCCM maintained good oxygenation, ventilation and acid base balance. The blood gas differences to...lactic acidosis which occurs in the brain under the influence of such low flow rates. 4 3. Siesjo’s study of the pH dependence of lipid peroxidation in

  1. The mitigating effect of calcification-dependent of utilization of inorganic carbon of Chara vulgaris Linn on NH4-N toxicity.

    PubMed

    Wang, Heyun; Ni, Leyi; Xie, Ping

    2013-09-01

    Increased ammonium (NH4-N) concentrations in water bodies have been reported to adversely affect the dominant species of submersed vegetation in meso-eutrophic waters worldwide. However calcareous plants were lowly sensitive to NH4-N toxicity. In order to make clear the function of calcification in the tolerance of calcareous plants to NH4-N stress, we studied the effects of increased HCO3(-) and additional NH4-N on calcification and utilization of dissolve inorganic carbon (DIC) in Chara vulgaris Linn in a 7-d sub-acute experiment (light:dark 12:12h) carried out in an open experimental system in lab. Results revealed that calcification was dependent of utilization of dissolve inorganic carbon. Additional HCO3(-) significantly decreased the increase of pH while additional NH4-N did not. And additional HCO3(-) significantly improved calcification while NH4-N did in versus in relation to the variation of DIC concentration. However, addition of both HCO3(-) and NH4-N increased utilization of DIC. This resulted in calcification to utilization of DIC ratio decreased under additional NH4-N condition while increased under additional HCO3(-) conditions in response to the variation of solution pH. In the present study, external HCO3(-) decreased the increase of solution pH by increasing calcification, which correspondingly mitigated the toxic effect of high NH4-N. And we argue that the mitigating effect of increased HCO3(-) on NH4-N toxicity is dependent of plant calcification, and it is a positive feedback mechanism, potentially leading to the dominance of calcareous plants in meso-eutrophic water bodies. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  2. The Arabidopsis bZIP11 transcription factor links low-energy signalling to auxin-mediated control of primary root growth

    PubMed Central

    Weiste, Christoph; Pedrotti, Lorenzo; Muralidhara, Prathibha; Ljung, Karin; Dröge-Laser, Wolfgang

    2017-01-01

    Plants have to tightly control their energy homeostasis to ensure survival and fitness under constantly changing environmental conditions. Thus, it is stringently required that energy-consuming stress-adaptation and growth-related processes are dynamically tuned according to the prevailing energy availability. The evolutionary conserved SUCROSE NON-FERMENTING1 RELATED KINASES1 (SnRK1) and the downstream group C/S1 basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors (TFs) are well-characterised central players in plants’ low-energy management. Nevertheless, mechanistic insights into plant growth control under energy deprived conditions remains largely elusive. In this work, we disclose the novel function of the low-energy activated group S1 bZIP11-related TFs as regulators of auxin-mediated primary root growth. Whereas transgenic gain-of-function approaches of these bZIPs interfere with the activity of the root apical meristem and result in root growth repression, root growth of loss-of-function plants show a pronounced insensitivity to low-energy conditions. Based on ensuing molecular and biochemical analyses, we propose a mechanistic model, in which bZIP11-related TFs gain control over the root meristem by directly activating IAA3/SHY2 transcription. IAA3/SHY2 is a pivotal negative regulator of root growth, which has been demonstrated to efficiently repress transcription of major auxin transport facilitators of the PIN-FORMED (PIN) gene family, thereby restricting polar auxin transport to the root tip and in consequence auxin-driven primary root growth. Taken together, our results disclose the central low-energy activated SnRK1-C/S1-bZIP signalling module as gateway to integrate information on the plant’s energy status into root meristem control, thereby balancing plant growth and cellular energy resources. PMID:28158182

  3. The Arabidopsis bZIP11 transcription factor links low-energy signalling to auxin-mediated control of primary root growth.

    PubMed

    Weiste, Christoph; Pedrotti, Lorenzo; Selvanayagam, Jebasingh; Muralidhara, Prathibha; Fröschel, Christian; Novák, Ondřej; Ljung, Karin; Hanson, Johannes; Dröge-Laser, Wolfgang

    2017-02-01

    Plants have to tightly control their energy homeostasis to ensure survival and fitness under constantly changing environmental conditions. Thus, it is stringently required that energy-consuming stress-adaptation and growth-related processes are dynamically tuned according to the prevailing energy availability. The evolutionary conserved SUCROSE NON-FERMENTING1 RELATED KINASES1 (SnRK1) and the downstream group C/S1 basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors (TFs) are well-characterised central players in plants' low-energy management. Nevertheless, mechanistic insights into plant growth control under energy deprived conditions remains largely elusive. In this work, we disclose the novel function of the low-energy activated group S1 bZIP11-related TFs as regulators of auxin-mediated primary root growth. Whereas transgenic gain-of-function approaches of these bZIPs interfere with the activity of the root apical meristem and result in root growth repression, root growth of loss-of-function plants show a pronounced insensitivity to low-energy conditions. Based on ensuing molecular and biochemical analyses, we propose a mechanistic model, in which bZIP11-related TFs gain control over the root meristem by directly activating IAA3/SHY2 transcription. IAA3/SHY2 is a pivotal negative regulator of root growth, which has been demonstrated to efficiently repress transcription of major auxin transport facilitators of the PIN-FORMED (PIN) gene family, thereby restricting polar auxin transport to the root tip and in consequence auxin-driven primary root growth. Taken together, our results disclose the central low-energy activated SnRK1-C/S1-bZIP signalling module as gateway to integrate information on the plant's energy status into root meristem control, thereby balancing plant growth and cellular energy resources.

  4. 76 FR 75939 - ZipGlobal Holdings, Inc., Symbollon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Microholdings US, Inc., ComCam...

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2011-12-05

    ... SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [ File No. 500-1] ZipGlobal Holdings, Inc., Symbollon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Microholdings US, Inc., ComCam International, Inc., Outfront Companies, Augrid Global... periodic reports since the period ended March 31, 2011. 3. Microholdings US, Inc. is an Oklahoma...

  5. Structural and electrical characterization of tamarind seed polysaccharide (TSP) doped with NH4HCO2

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Premalatha, M.; Mathavan, T.; Selvasekarapandian, S.; Selvalakshmi, S.

    2018-04-01

    In the modern era, development of electrochemical energy devices such as batteries, fuel cells and supercapacitors gain attention due to the deficiency of renewable energy resources. More specifically, proton conducting materials create prime interest in the development of electrochemical devices. In this regards, a novel proton conducting biopolymer electrolyte based on Tamarind Seed Polysaccharide (TSP) was synthesized with different concentration of ammonium formate (NH4HCO2). The amorphous nature of the polymer electrolytes has been identified by XRD technique. The observed ionic conductivity values reveal that the biopolymer containing 1 g TSP: 0.4 g NH4HCO2 has highest ionic conductivity 1.23×10-3 S cm-1.

  6. Zip Pak (Boys) for Third Reader Level.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Scott, Norval C., Comp.

    Aim of the Zip Pak is to improve the migrant child's interest in reading. Behavioral objectives are to have the migrant child indicate 10 percent happier faces on the posttest; to have an equal number of blame-self, blame-others on the posttest; and to have 25 percent more praise-self on the posttest. The workbook for boys includes a story about…

  7. An in vitro study of urea, water, ion and CO2/HCO3- transport in the gastrointestinal tract of the dogfish shark (Squalus acanthias): the influence of feeding.

    PubMed

    Liew, Hon Jung; De Boeck, Gudrun; Wood, Chris M

    2013-06-01

    In vitro gut sac preparations made from the cardiac stomach (stomach 1), pyloric stomach (stomach 2), intestine (spiral valve) and colon were used to examine the impact of feeding on transport processes in the gastrointestinal tract of the dogfish shark. Preparations were made from animals that were euthanized after 1-2 weeks of fasting, or at 24-48 h after voluntary feeding on a 3% ration of teleost fish (hake). Sacs were incubated under initially symmetrical conditions with dogfish saline on both surfaces. In comparison to an earlier in vivo study, the results confirmed that feeding caused increases in H(+) secretion in both stomach sections, but an increase in Cl(-) secretion only in stomach 2. Na(+) absorption, rather than Na(+) secretion, occurred in both stomach sections after feeding. All sections of the tract absorbed water and the intestine strongly absorbed Na(+) and Cl(-), regardless of feeding condition. The results also confirmed that feeding increased water absorption in the intestine (but not in the colon), and had little influence on the handling of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+), which exhibited negligible absorption across the tract. However, K(+) was secreted in the intestine in both fasted and fed preparations. Increased intestinal water absorption occurred despite net osmolyte secretion into the mucosal saline. The largest changes occurred in urea and CO2/HCO3(-) fluxes. In fasted preparations, urea was absorbed at a low rate in all sections except the intestine, where it was secreted. Instead of an increase in intestinal urea secretion predicted from in vivo data, feeding caused a marked switch to net urea absorption. This intestinal urea transport occurred at a rate comparable to urea reabsorption rates reported at gills and kidney, and was apparently active, establishing a large serosal-to-mucosal concentration gradient. Feeding also greatly increased intestinal CO2/HCO3(-) secretion; if interpreted as HCO3(-) transport, the rates were in the upper range

  8. Zinc Fortification Decreases ZIP1 Gene Expression of Some Adolescent Females with Appropriate Plasma Zinc Levels

    PubMed Central

    Méndez, Rosa O.; Santiago, Alejandra; Yepiz-Plascencia, Gloria; Peregrino-Uriarte, Alma B.; de la Barca, Ana M. Calderón; García, Hugo S.

    2014-01-01

    Zinc homeostasis is achieved after intake variation by changes in the expression levels of zinc transporters. The aim of this study was to evaluate dietary intake (by 24-h recall), absorption, plasma zinc (by absorption spectrophotometry) and the expression levels (by quantitative PCR), of the transporters ZIP1 (zinc importer) and ZnT1 (zinc exporter) in peripheral white blood cells from 24 adolescent girls before and after drinking zinc-fortified milk for 27 day. Zinc intake increased (p < 0.001) from 10.5 ± 3.9 mg/day to 17.6 ± 4.4 mg/day, and its estimated absorption from 3.1 ± 1.2 to 5.3 ± 1.3 mg/day. Mean plasma zinc concentration remained unchanged (p > 0.05) near 150 µg/dL, but increased by 31 µg/dL (p < 0.05) for 6/24 adolescents (group A) and decreased by 25 µg/dL (p < 0.05) for other 6/24 adolescents (group B). Expression of ZIP1 in blood leukocytes was reduced 1.4-fold (p < 0.006) in group A, while for the expression of ZnT1 there was no difference after intervention (p = 0.39). An increase of dietary zinc after 27-days consumption of fortified-milk did not increase (p > 0.05) the plasma level of adolescent girls but for 6/24 participants from group A in spite of the formerly appropriation, which cellular zinc uptake decreased as assessed by reduction of the expression of ZIP1. PMID:24922175

  9. Conditional mouse models support the role of SLC39A14 (ZIP14) in Hyperostosis Cranialis Interna and in bone homeostasis

    PubMed Central

    Steenackers, Ellen; Yorgan, Timur A.; Hermans, Christophe; Boudin, Eveline; Waterval, Jérôme J.; Jansen, Ineke D. C.; Aydemir, Tolunay Beker; Kamerling, Niels; Plumeyer, Christine; D’Haese, Patrick C.; Everts, Vincent; Lammens, Martin; Mortier, Geert; Cousins, Robert J.; Schinke, Thorsten; Stokroos, Robert J.; Manni, Johannes J.; Van Hul, Wim

    2018-01-01

    Hyperostosis Cranialis Interna (HCI) is a rare bone disorder characterized by progressive intracranial bone overgrowth at the skull. Here we identified by whole-exome sequencing a dominant mutation (L441R) in SLC39A14 (ZIP14). We show that L441R ZIP14 is no longer trafficked towards the plasma membrane and excessively accumulates intracellular zinc, resulting in hyper-activation of cAMP-CREB and NFAT signaling. Conditional knock-in mice overexpressing L438R Zip14 in osteoblasts have a severe skeletal phenotype marked by a drastic increase in cortical thickness due to an enhanced endosteal bone formation, resembling the underlying pathology in HCI patients. Remarkably, L438R Zip14 also generates an osteoporotic trabecular bone phenotype. The effects of osteoblastic overexpression of L438R Zip14 therefore mimic the disparate actions of estrogen on cortical and trabecular bone through osteoblasts. Collectively, we reveal ZIP14 as a novel regulator of bone homeostasis, and that manipulating ZIP14 might be a therapeutic strategy for bone diseases. PMID:29621230

  10. Fluorescence behaviour of 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate, 10-formyltetrahydrofolate, 10-formyldihydrofolate, and 10-formylfolate in aqueous solution at pH 8

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tyagi, A.; Penzkofer, A.; Batschauer, A.; Wolf, E.

    2009-06-01

    The fluorescence spectroscopic behaviour of (6R,S)-5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate (MTHF), (6R,S)-10-formyltetrahydrofolate (10-HCO-H4folate), 10-formyldihydrofolate (10-HCO-H2folate), and 10-formylfolate (10-HCO-folate) in aqueous Tris-HCl buffer at pH 8 is studied. MTHF and 10-HCO-folate were commercially available. 10-HCO-H4folate was prepared from MTHF by hydrolysis at room temperature under anaerobic conditions. 10-HCO-H2folate was prepared by oxidation of 10-HCO-H4folate under aerobic conditions. Fluorescence quantum distributions at room temperature and fluorescence signal decays at room temperature and liquid nitrogen temperature were measured. The fluorescence lifetimes determined at room temperature (liquid nitrogen temperature) are 10 ps (2.9 ns) for MTHF, 38 ps (3.7 ns) for 10-HCO-H4folate, 80 ps (10.5 ns) for 10-HCO-H2folate, and 7.1 ns (20 ns) for 10-HCO-folate. The results are discussed in terms of dyadic (pterin-benzoyl-glutamate) photo-induced electron transfer and dyadic fluorescent dynamics.

  11. Determining Market Categorization of United States Zip Codes for Purposes of Army Recruiting

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-06-01

    NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA THESIS Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited DETERMINING MARKET ...2016 3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED Master’s thesis 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE DETERMINING MARKET CATEGORIZATION OF UNITED STATES ZIP CODES FOR...Army uses commercial market segmentation data to analyze markets and past accessions to assign recruiters and quotas to maximize production. We use

  12. Molecular cloning and characterization of a tomato cDNA encoding a systemically wound-inducible bZIP DNA-binding protein

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Stankovic, B.; Vian, A.; Henry-Vian, C.; Davies, E.

    2000-01-01

    Localized wounding of one leaf in intact tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) plants triggers rapid systemic transcriptional responses that might be involved in defense. To better understand the mechanism(s) of intercellular signal transmission in wounded tomatoes, and to identify the array of genes systemically up-regulated by wounding, a subtractive cDNA library for wounded tomato leaves was constructed. A novel cDNA clone (designated LebZIP1) encoding a DNA-binding protein was isolated and identified. This clone appears to be encoded by a single gene, and belongs to the family of basic leucine zipper domain (bZIP) transcription factors shown to be up-regulated by cold and dark treatments. Analysis of the mRNA levels suggests that the transcript for LebZIP1 is both organ-specific and up-regulated by wounding. In wounded wild-type tomatoes, the LebZIP1 mRNA levels in distant tissue were maximally up-regulated within only 5 min following localized wounding. Exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) prevented the rapid wound-induced increase in LebZIP1 mRNA levels, while the basal levels of LebZIP1 transcripts were higher in the ABA mutants notabilis (not), sitiens (sit), and flacca (flc), and wound-induced increases were greater in the ABA-deficient mutants. Together, these results suggest that ABA acts to curtail the wound-induced synthesis of LebZIP1 mRNA.

  13. Intramolecular B-B Linkage Between Polyhedral Cages in a Commo-Metallacarborane. Synthesis and Structure of a Fluxional Metal-Boron Cluster, (n(5)-C5(CH3)5)2Co3(CH3)4C4B8H7.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1980-11-01

    FINSTER , E SINN, R N GRIMES N0001475--0305 UNCLASSIFIED TR-35 NL’ minimnmlhnnnhu ,IIIIIIIIIIIIIl hEIIIIIIIIEIII EEEEEEEEEEEL 1.8 MICROCOPY’ RESOLUTION...David C./ Finster Ekk/inn Russell . Grimes Department of Chemistry ",00t University ofLyirginla ’ Charlottesville, Va. 22901 Prepared for Publication In...a Commo-Metallacarborane. Synthesis and Structure of a Fluxi:. Metal-Boron Cluster, [n5C 5 (CCB3)512HCo3(C13)4C4B8H7 David C. Finster , Ekk Sinn, and

  14. CFTR/ENaC dependent regulation of membrane potential during human sperm capacitation is initiated by bicarbonate uptake through NBC.

    PubMed

    Puga Molina, Lis C; Pinto, Nicolas A; Torres, Nicolás I; Gonzalez-Cota, Ana L; Luque, Guillermina M; Balestrini, Paula A; Romarowski, Ana; Krapf, Dario; Santi, Celia M; Trevino, Claudia L; Darszon, Alberto; Buffone, Mariano G

    2018-05-09

    To fertilize an egg, sperm must reside in the female reproductive tract to undergo several maturational changes that are collectively referred to as capacitation. From a molecular point of view, the HCO3--dependent activation of the atypical soluble adenylyl cyclase (ADCY10) is one of the first events that occurs during capacitation and leads to the subsequent cAMP-dependent activation of protein kinase A (PKA). Capacitation is also accompanied by hyperpolarization of the sperm plasma membrane. We previously reported that PKA activation is necessary for CFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Channel) activity and for the modulation of membrane potential (Em). However, the main HCO3- transporters involved in the initial transport and the PKA-dependent Em changes are not well known nor characterized. Here, we analyzed how the activity of CFTR regulates Em during capacitation and examined its relationship with an electrogenic Na+/HCO3- cotransporter (NBC) and epithelial Na+ channels (ENaCs). We observed that inhibition of both CFTR and NBC decreased HCO3- influx, resulting in lower PKA activity, and that events downstream the cAMP-activation of PKA are essential for the regulation of Em. Addition of a permeable cAMP analog partially rescued the inhibitory effects caused by these inhibitors. HCO3-  also produced a rapid membrane hyperpolarization mediated by ENaC channels, which contribute to the regulation of Em during capacitation. Altogether, we demonstrate for the first time, that NBC cotransporters and ENaC channels are essential in the CFTR-dependent activation of the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway and Em regulation during human sperm capacitation. Published under license by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

  15. Prion protein functions as a ferrireductase partner for ZIP14 and DMT1

    PubMed Central

    Qian, Juan; Beserra, Amber; Suda, Srinivas; Singh, Ajay; Hopfer, Ulrich; Chen, Shu G.; Garrick, Michael D.; Turner, Jerrold R.; Knutson, Mitchell D.; Singh, Neena

    2015-01-01

    Excess circulating iron is stored in the liver, and requires reduction of non-Tf-bound-iron (NTBI) and transferrin (Tf)-iron at the plasma membrane and endosomes respectively by ferrireductase (FR) proteins for transport across biological membranes through divalent metal transporters. Here, we report that prion-protein (PrPC), a ubiquitously expressed glycoprotein most abundant on neuronal cells, functions as a FR partner for divalent-metal transporter-1 (DMT1) and ZIP14. Thus, absence of PrPC in PrP-knock-out (PrP−/−) mice resulted in markedly reduced liver iron stores, a deficiency that was not corrected by chronic or acute administration of iron by the oral or intra-peritoneal routes. Likewise, preferential radiolabeling of circulating NTBI with 59Fe revealed significantly reduced uptake and storage of NTBI by the liver of PrP−/− mice relative to matched PrP+/+ controls. However, uptake, storage, and utilization of ferritin-bound iron that does not require reduction for uptake was increased in PrP−/− mice, indicating a compensatory response to the iron-deficiency. Expression of exogenous PrPC in HepG2-cells increased uptake and storage of ferric-iron (Fe3+), not ferrous-iron (Fe2+) from the medium, supporting the function of PrPC as a plasma membrane FR. Co-expression of PrPC with ZIP14 and DMT1 in HepG2 cells increased uptake of Fe3+ significantly, and surprisingly, increased the ratio of N-terminally truncated PrPC forms lacking the FR domain relative to full-length PrPC. Together, these observations indicate that PrPC promotes, and possibly regulates the uptake of NTBI through DMT1 and Zip14 via its FR activity. Implications of these observations for neuronal iron homeostasis under physiological and pathological conditions are discussed. PMID:25862412

  16. Computational Chemical Kinetics for the Reaction of Criegee Intermediate CH2OO with HNO3 and Its Catalytic Conversion to OH and HCO.

    PubMed

    Raghunath, P; Lee, Yuan-Pern; Lin, M C

    2017-05-25

    The kinetics and mechanisms for the reaction of the Criegee intermediate CH 2 OO with HNO 3 and the unimolecular decomposition of its reaction product CH 2 (O)NO 3 are important in atmospheric chemistry. The potential-energy profile of the reactions predicted with the CCSD(T)/aug-cc-pVTZ//B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ method shows that the initial association yields a prereaction complex that isomerizes by H migration to yield excited intermediate nitrooxymethyl hydroperoxide NO 3 CH 2 OOH* with internal energy ∼44 kcal mol -1 . A fragmentation of this excited intermediate produces CH 2 (O)NO 3 + OH with its transition state located 5.0 kcal mol -1 below that of the reactants. Further decomposition of CH 2 (O)NO 3 produces HCO + HNO 3 , forming a catalytic cycle for destruction of CH 2 OO by HNO 3 . The rate coefficients and product-branching ratios were calculated in the temperature range 250-700 K at pressure 20-760 Torr (N 2 ) using the variational-transition-state and Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) theories. The predicted total rate coefficient for reaction CH 2 OO + HNO 3 at 295 K, 5.1 × 10 -10 cm 3 molecule -1 s -1 , agrees satisfactorily with the experimental value, (5.4 ± 1.0) × 10 -10 cm 3 molecule -1 s -1 . The predicted branching ratios at 295 K are 0.21 for the formation of NO 3 CH 2 OOH and 0.79 for CH 2 (O)NO 3 + OH at a pressure of 40 Torr (N 2 ), and 0.79 for the formation of NO 3 CH 2 OOH and 0.21 for CH 2 (O)NO 3 + OH at 760 Torr (N 2 ). This new catalytic conversion of CH 2 OO to HCO + OH by HNO 3 might have significant impact on atmospheric chemistry.

  17. Mechanism of basolateral membrane H+/OH-/HCO-3 transport in the rat proximal convoluted tubule. A sodium-coupled electrogenic process

    PubMed Central

    1985-01-01

    In order to examine the mechanism of basolateral membrane H+/OH-/HCO-3 transport, a method was developed for the measurement of cell pH in the vivo doubly microperfused rat proximal convoluted tubule. A pH- sensitive fluorescein derivative, (2',7')-bis(carboxyethyl)-(5,6)- carboxyfluorescein, was loaded into cells and relative changes in fluorescence at two excitation wavelengths were followed. Calibration was accomplished using nigericin with high extracellular potassium concentrations. When luminal and peritubular fluids were pH 7.32, cell pH was 7.14 +/- 0.01. Decreasing peritubular pH from 7.32 to 6.63 caused cell pH to decrease from 7.16 +/- 0.02 to 6.90 +/- 0.03. This effect occurred at an initial rate of 2.4 +/- 0.3 pH units/min, and was inhibited by 0.5 mM SITS. Lowering the peritubular sodium concentration from 147 to 25 meq/liter caused cell pH to decrease from 7.20 +/- 0.03 to 6.99 +/- 0.01. The effect of peritubular sodium concentration on cell pH was inhibited by 0.5 mM SITS, but was unaffected by 1 mM amiloride. In addition, when peritubular pH was decreased in the total absence of luminal and peritubular sodium, the rate of cell acidification was 0.2 +/- 0.1 pH units/min, a greater than 90% decrease from that in the presence of sodium. Cell depolarization achieved by increasing the peritubular potassium concentration caused cell pH to increase, an effect that was blocked by peritubular barium or luminal and peritubular sodium removal. Lowering the peritubular chloride concentration from 128 to 0 meq/liter did not affect cell pH. These results suggest the existence of an electrogenic, sodium-coupled H+/OH- /HCO-3 transport mechanism on the basolateral membrane of the rat proximal convoluted tubule. PMID:2999293

  18. Double Knockout of the Na+-Driven Cl-/HCO3- Exchanger and Na+/Cl- Cotransporter Induces Hypokalemia and Volume Depletion.

    PubMed

    Sinning, Anne; Radionov, Nikita; Trepiccione, Francesco; López-Cayuqueo, Karen I; Jayat, Maximilien; Baron, Stéphanie; Cornière, Nicolas; Alexander, R Todd; Hadchouel, Juliette; Eladari, Dominique; Hübner, Christian A; Chambrey, Régine

    2017-01-01

    We recently described a novel thiazide-sensitive electroneutral NaCl transport mechanism resulting from the parallel operation of the Cl - /HCO 3 - exchanger pendrin and the Na + -driven Cl - /2HCO 3 - exchanger (NDCBE) in β-intercalated cells of the collecting duct. Although a role for pendrin in maintaining Na + balance, intravascular volume, and BP is well supported, there is no in vivo evidence for the role of NDCBE in maintaining Na + balance. Here, we show that deletion of NDCBE in mice caused only subtle perturbations of Na + homeostasis and provide evidence that the Na + /Cl - cotransporter (NCC) compensated for the inactivation of NDCBE. To unmask the role of NDCBE, we generated Ndcbe/Ncc double-knockout (dKO) mice. On a normal salt diet, dKO and single-knockout mice exhibited similar activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, whereas only dKO mice displayed a lower blood K + concentration. Furthermore, dKO mice displayed upregulation of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) and the Ca 2+ -activated K + channel BKCa. During NaCl depletion, only dKO mice developed marked intravascular volume contraction, despite dramatically increased renin activity. Notably, the increase in aldosterone levels expected on NaCl depletion was attenuated in dKO mice, and single-knockout and dKO mice had similar blood K + concentrations under this condition. In conclusion, NDCBE is necessary for maintaining sodium balance and intravascular volume during salt depletion or NCC inactivation in mice. Furthermore, NDCBE has an important role in the prevention of hypokalemia. Because NCC and NDCBE are both thiazide targets, the combined inhibition of NCC and the NDCBE/pendrin system may explain thiazide-induced hypokalemia in some patients. Copyright © 2016 by the American Society of Nephrology.

  19. The HCO+-H2 van der Waals interaction: Potential energy and scattering

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Massó, H.; Wiesenfeld, L.

    2014-11-01

    We compute the rigid-body, four-dimensional interaction potential between HCO+ and H2. The ab initio energies are obtained at the coupled-cluster single double triple level of theory, corrected for Basis Set Superposition Errors. The ab initio points are fit onto the spherical basis relevant for quantum scattering. We present elastic and rotationally inelastic coupled channels scattering between low lying rotational levels of HCO+ and para-/ortho-H2. Results are compared with similar earlier computations with He or isotropic para-H2 as the projectile. Computations agree with earlier pressure broadening measurements.

  20. External beam radiation therapy enhances mesenchymal stem cell-mediated sodium iodide symporter gene delivery.

    PubMed

    Schug, Christina; Sievert, Wolfgang; Urnauer, Sarah; Müller, Andrea Maria; Schmohl, Kathrin Alexandra; Wechselberger, Alexandra; Schwenk, Nathalie; Lauber, Kirsten; Schwaiger, Markus; Multhoff, Gabriele; Wagner, Ernst; Nelson, Peter J; Spitzweg, Christine

    2018-05-04

    The tumor-homing properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have led to their development as delivery vehicles for the targeted delivery of therapeutic genes such as the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) to solid tumors. External beam radiation therapy (EBRT) may represent an ideal setting for the application of engineered MSC-based gene therapy as tumor irradiation may enhance MSC recruitment into irradiated tumors through the increased production of select factors linked to MSC migration. In the present study, the irradiation of human liver cancer cells (HuH7) (1-10 Gy) showed a strong dose-dependent increase in steady state mRNA levels of CXCL8, CXCL12/SDF-1, FGF2, PDGFβ, TGFβ1, TSP-1 and VEGF (0-48 h), which was verified for most factors at the protein level (after 48 h). Radiation effects on directed MSC migration was tested in vitro using a live cell tracking migration assay and supernatants from control and irradiated HuH7 cells. A robust increase in mean forward migration index (yFMI), mean center of mass (yCoM) and mean directionality of MSCs towards supernatants was seen from irradiated as compared to nonirradiated tumor cells. Transferability of this effect to other tumor sources was demonstrated using the human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MDA-MB-231), which showed a similar behavior to radiation as seen with HuH7 cells in qPCR and migration assay. To evaluate this in a more physiologic in vivo setting, subcutaneously growing HuH7 xenograft tumors were irradiated with 0, 2 or 5 Gy followed by CMV-NIS-MSC application 24 h later. Tumoral iodide uptake was monitored using 123I-scintigraphy. The results showed increased tumor-specific dose-dependent accumulation of radioiodide in irradiated tumors. Our results demonstrate that EBRT enhances the migratory capacity of MSCs and may thus increase the therapeutic efficacy of MSC-mediated NIS radionuclide therapy.

  1. Role of Homeodomain leucine zipper (HD-Zip) IV transcription factors in plant development and plant protection from deleterious environmental factors.

    PubMed

    Chew, William; Hrmova, Maria; Lopato, Sergiy

    2013-04-12

    Homeobox genes comprise an important group of genes that are responsible for regulation of developmental processes. These genes determine cell differentiation and cell fate in all eukaryotic organisms, starting from the early stages of embryo development. Homeodomain leucine zipper (HD-Zip) transcription factors are unique to the plant kingdom. Members of the HD-Zip IV subfamily have a complex domain topology and can bind several cis-elements with overlapping sequences. Many of the reported HD-Zip IV genes were shown to be specifically or preferentially expressed in plant epidermal or sub-epidermal cells. HD-Zip IV TFs were found to be associated with differentiation and maintenance of outer cell layers, and regulation of lipid biosynthesis and transport. Insights about the role of these proteins in plant cuticle formation, and hence their possible involvement in plant protection from pathogens and abiotic stresses has just started to emerge. These roles make HD-Zip IV proteins an attractive tool for genetic engineering of crop plants. To this end, there is a need for in-depth studies to further clarify the function of each HD-Zip IV subfamily member in commercially important plant species.

  2. Role of Homeodomain Leucine Zipper (HD-Zip) IV Transcription Factors in Plant Development and Plant Protection from Deleterious Environmental Factors

    PubMed Central

    Chew, William; Hrmova, Maria; Lopato, Sergiy

    2013-01-01

    Homeobox genes comprise an important group of genes that are responsible for regulation of developmental processes. These genes determine cell differentiation and cell fate in all eukaryotic organisms, starting from the early stages of embryo development. Homeodomain leucine zipper (HD-Zip) transcription factors are unique to the plant kingdom. Members of the HD-Zip IV subfamily have a complex domain topology and can bind several cis-elements with overlapping sequences. Many of the reported HD-Zip IV genes were shown to be specifically or preferentially expressed in plant epidermal or sub-epidermal cells. HD-Zip IV TFs were found to be associated with differentiation and maintenance of outer cell layers, and regulation of lipid biosynthesis and transport. Insights about the role of these proteins in plant cuticle formation, and hence their possible involvement in plant protection from pathogens and abiotic stresses has just started to emerge. These roles make HD-Zip IV proteins an attractive tool for genetic engineering of crop plants. To this end, there is a need for in-depth studies to further clarify the function of each HD-Zip IV subfamily member in commercially important plant species. PMID:23584027

  3. Attenuation of progressive hearing loss in DBA/2J mice by reagents that affect epigenetic modifications is associated with up-regulation of the zinc importer Zip4.

    PubMed

    Mutai, Hideki; Miya, Fuyuki; Fujii, Masato; Tsunoda, Tatsuhiko; Matsunaga, Tatsuo

    2015-01-01

    Various factors that are important for proper hearing have been identified, including serum levels of zinc. Here we investigated whether epigenetic regulatory pathways, which can be modified by environmental factors, could modulate hearing. RT-PCR detected expression of genes encoding DNA methyltransferase and histone deacetylase (Hdac) in the postnatal as well as adult mouse auditory epithelium. DBA/2J mice, which are a model for progressive hearing loss, were injected subcutaneously with one or a combination of the following reagents: L-methionine as a methyl donor, valproic acid as a pan-Hdac inhibitor, and folic acid and vitamin B12 as putative factors involved in age-related hearing loss. The mice were treated from ages 4 to 12 weeks (N ≥ 5), and auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds were measured at 8, 16, and 32 kHz. Treatment of the mice with a combination of L-methionine and valproic acid (M+V) significantly reduced the increase in the ABR threshold at 32 kHz. Treatment with any of these reagents individually produced no such effect. Microarray analyses detected 299 gene probes that were significantly up- or down-regulated in the cochleae of mice treated with M+V compared with the control vehicle-treated mice. Quantitative RT-PCR confirmed significant up-regulation of a zinc importer gene, Zip4, in the cochleae of mice treated with M+V. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated an intense Zip4 signal in cochlear tissues such as the lateral wall, organ of Corti, and spiral ganglion. Finally, mice treated with the Zip4 inducer (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate showed a significant reduction in the increase of the ABR threshold at 32 kHz and up-regulation of Zip4 expression in the cochlea. This study suggests that epigenetic regulatory pathways can modify auditory function and that zinc intake in the cochlea via Zip4 mediates maintenance of mammalian hearing.

  4. Attenuation of Progressive Hearing Loss in DBA/2J Mice by Reagents that Affect Epigenetic Modifications Is Associated with Up-Regulation of the Zinc Importer Zip4

    PubMed Central

    Mutai, Hideki; Miya, Fuyuki; Fujii, Masato; Tsunoda, Tatsuhiko; Matsunaga, Tatsuo

    2015-01-01

    Various factors that are important for proper hearing have been identified, including serum levels of zinc. Here we investigated whether epigenetic regulatory pathways, which can be modified by environmental factors, could modulate hearing. RT-PCR detected expression of genes encoding DNA methyltransferase and histone deacetylase (Hdac) in the postnatal as well as adult mouse auditory epithelium. DBA/2J mice, which are a model for progressive hearing loss, were injected subcutaneously with one or a combination of the following reagents: L-methionine as a methyl donor, valproic acid as a pan-Hdac inhibitor, and folic acid and vitamin B12 as putative factors involved in age-related hearing loss. The mice were treated from ages 4 to 12 weeks (N ≥ 5), and auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds were measured at 8, 16, and 32 kHz. Treatment of the mice with a combination of L-methionine and valproic acid (M+V) significantly reduced the increase in the ABR threshold at 32 kHz. Treatment with any of these reagents individually produced no such effect. Microarray analyses detected 299 gene probes that were significantly up- or down-regulated in the cochleae of mice treated with M+V compared with the control vehicle-treated mice. Quantitative RT-PCR confirmed significant up-regulation of a zinc importer gene, Zip4, in the cochleae of mice treated with M+V. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated an intense Zip4 signal in cochlear tissues such as the lateral wall, organ of Corti, and spiral ganglion. Finally, mice treated with the Zip4 inducer (–)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate showed a significant reduction in the increase of the ABR threshold at 32 kHz and up-regulation of Zip4 expression in the cochlea. This study suggests that epigenetic regulatory pathways can modify auditory function and that zinc intake in the cochlea via Zip4 mediates maintenance of mammalian hearing. PMID:25875282

  5. Genomic identification of bZIP family genes involved in drought and heat stresses in strawberry (Fragaria vesca)

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Basic leucine zipper (bZIP) genes are known to play dominant roles in plant response to development signals, as well as abiotic or biotic stress stimuli. Fifty bZIP genes across the woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca) genome were identified and analyzed. They can be divided into 10 clades according...

  6. On the Inference of the Cosmic-ray Ionization Rate ζ from the HCO+-to-DCO+ Abundance Ratio: The Effect of Nuclear Spin

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shingledecker, Christopher N.; Bergner, Jennifer B.; Le Gal, Romane; Öberg, Karin I.; Hincelin, Ugo; Herbst, Eric

    2016-10-01

    The chemistry of dense interstellar regions was analyzed using a time-dependent gas-grain astrochemical simulation and a new chemical network that incorporates deuterated chemistry, taking into account nuclear spin states for the hydrogen chemistry and its deuterated isotopologues. With this new network, the utility of the [HCO+]/[DCO+] abundance ratio as a probe of the cosmic-ray ionization rate has been re-examined, with special attention paid to the effect of the initial value of the ortho-to-para ratio (OPR) of molecular hydrogen. After discussing the use of the probe for cold cores, we compare our results with previous theoretical and observational results for a molecular cloud close to the supernova remnant W51C, which is thought to have an enhanced cosmic-ray ionization rate ζ caused by the nearby γ-ray source. In addition, we attempt to use our approach to estimate the cosmic-ray ionization rate for L1174, a dense core with an embedded star. Beyond the previously known sensitivity of [HCO+]/[DCO+] to ζ, we demonstrate its additional dependence on the initial OPR and, secondarily, on the age of the source, its temperature, and its density. We conclude that the usefulness of the [HCO+]/[DCO+] abundance ratio in constraining the cosmic-ray ionization rate in dense regions increases with the age of the source and the ionization rate as the ratio becomes far less sensitive to the initial value of the OPR.

  7. Bicarbonate secretion and solute absorption in forestomach of the llama.

    PubMed

    Rübsamen, K; Engelhardt, W V

    1978-07-01

    Bicarbonate appearance in the lumen and its relationship to solute absorption were studied in a Pavlov pouch in the cardiac region of the first compartment of the llama forestomach. HCO3- appearance showed no diurnal variation. HCO3- accumulation was highly dependent on the pH of the solution used. The HCO3- ion probably is formed from CO2 diffusing into the lumen from the serosal side, as a result of cell metabolism and of OH- ions. HCO3- accumulation was closely related to volatile fatty acid (VFA) absorption. The ratio of HCO3- appearance to VFA absorption depended on the pH of the solution. At a pH of 6.6, about 0.1 mol HCO3- and, at a pH of 7.8, 0.9 mol HCO3- appeared per mole absorbed VFA, indicating that at slightly alkaline pH nearly all H+ ions required for the nonionic absorption of VFA appeared to be delivered from the dissociation of H2CO3. Bicarbonate gain and VFA absorption were increased when animals were not fed for 48 h. Sodium absorption was related to VFA as well as water absorption.

  8. IRT-ZIP Modeling for Multivariate Zero-Inflated Count Data

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wang, Lijuan

    2010-01-01

    This study introduces an item response theory-zero-inflated Poisson (IRT-ZIP) model to investigate psychometric properties of multiple items and predict individuals' latent trait scores for multivariate zero-inflated count data. In the model, two link functions are used to capture two processes of the zero-inflated count data. Item parameters are…

  9. Double Knockout of the Na+-Driven Cl−/HCO3− Exchanger and Na+/Cl− Cotransporter Induces Hypokalemia and Volume Depletion

    PubMed Central

    Sinning, Anne; Radionov, Nikita; Trepiccione, Francesco; López-Cayuqueo, Karen I.; Jayat, Maximilien; Baron, Stéphanie; Cornière, Nicolas; Alexander, R. Todd; Hadchouel, Juliette; Eladari, Dominique; Hübner, Christian A.

    2017-01-01

    We recently described a novel thiazide–sensitive electroneutral NaCl transport mechanism resulting from the parallel operation of the Cl−/HCO3− exchanger pendrin and the Na+–driven Cl−/2HCO3− exchanger (NDCBE) in β-intercalated cells of the collecting duct. Although a role for pendrin in maintaining Na+ balance, intravascular volume, and BP is well supported, there is no in vivo evidence for the role of NDCBE in maintaining Na+ balance. Here, we show that deletion of NDCBE in mice caused only subtle perturbations of Na+ homeostasis and provide evidence that the Na+/Cl− cotransporter (NCC) compensated for the inactivation of NDCBE. To unmask the role of NDCBE, we generated Ndcbe/Ncc double–knockout (dKO) mice. On a normal salt diet, dKO and single-knockout mice exhibited similar activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, whereas only dKO mice displayed a lower blood K+ concentration. Furthermore, dKO mice displayed upregulation of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) and the Ca2+–activated K+ channel BKCa. During NaCl depletion, only dKO mice developed marked intravascular volume contraction, despite dramatically increased renin activity. Notably, the increase in aldosterone levels expected on NaCl depletion was attenuated in dKO mice, and single-knockout and dKO mice had similar blood K+ concentrations under this condition. In conclusion, NDCBE is necessary for maintaining sodium balance and intravascular volume during salt depletion or NCC inactivation in mice. Furthermore, NDCBE has an important role in the prevention of hypokalemia. Because NCC and NDCBE are both thiazide targets, the combined inhibition of NCC and the NDCBE/pendrin system may explain thiazide-induced hypokalemia in some patients. PMID:27151921

  10. Abscisic acid signaling is controlled by a BRANCHED1/HD-ZIP I cascade in Arabidopsis axillary buds.

    PubMed

    González-Grandío, Eduardo; Pajoro, Alice; Franco-Zorrilla, José M; Tarancón, Carlos; Immink, Richard G H; Cubas, Pilar

    2017-01-10

    Shoot-branching patterns determine key aspects of plant life and are important targets for crop breeding. However, we are still largely ignorant of the genetic networks controlling locally the most important decision during branch development: whether the axillary bud, or branch primordium, grows out to give a lateral shoot or remains dormant. Here we show that, inside the buds, the TEOSINTE BRANCHED1, CYCLOIDEA, PCF (TCP) transcription factor BRANCHED1 (BRC1) binds to and positively regulates the transcription of three related Homeodomain leucine zipper protein (HD-ZIP)-encoding genes: HOMEOBOX PROTEIN 21 (HB21), HOMEOBOX PROTEIN 40 (HB40), and HOMEOBOX PROTEIN 53 (HB53). These three genes, together with BRC1, enhance 9-CIS-EPOXICAROTENOID DIOXIGENASE 3 (NCED3) expression, lead to abscisic acid accumulation, and trigger hormone response, thus causing suppression of bud development. This TCP/HD-ZIP genetic module seems to be conserved in dicot and monocotyledonous species to prevent branching under light-limiting conditions.

  11. Enhanced Gene Expression Rather than Natural Polymorphism in Coding Sequence of the OsbZIP23 Determines Drought Tolerance and Yield Improvement in Rice Genotypes

    PubMed Central

    Dey, Avishek; Samanta, Milan Kumar; Gayen, Srimonta; Sen, Soumitra K.; Maiti, Mrinal K.

    2016-01-01

    Drought is one of the major limiting factors for productivity of crops including rice (Oryza sativa L.). Understanding the role of allelic variations of key regulatory genes involved in stress-tolerance is essential for developing an effective strategy to combat drought. The bZIP transcription factors play a crucial role in abiotic-stress adaptation in plants via abscisic acid (ABA) signaling pathway. The present study aimed to search for allelic polymorphism in the OsbZIP23 gene across selected drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive rice genotypes, and to characterize the new allele through overexpression (OE) and gene-silencing (RNAi). Analyses of the coding DNA sequence (CDS) of the cloned OsbZIP23 gene revealed single nucleotide polymorphism at four places and a 15-nucleotide deletion at one place. The single-copy OsbZIP23 gene is expressed at relatively higher level in leaf tissues of drought-tolerant genotypes, and its abundance is more in reproductive stage. Cloning and sequence analyses of the OsbZIP23-promoter from drought-tolerant O. rufipogon and drought-sensitive IR20 cultivar showed variation in the number of stress-responsive cis-elements and a 35-nucleotide deletion at 5’-UTR in IR20. Analysis of the GFP reporter gene function revealed that the promoter activity of O. rufipogon is comparatively higher than that of IR20. The overexpression of any of the two polymorphic forms (1083 bp and 1068 bp CDS) of OsbZIP23 improved drought tolerance and yield-related traits significantly by retaining higher content of cellular water, soluble sugar and proline; and exhibited decrease in membrane lipid peroxidation in comparison to RNAi lines and non-transgenic plants. The OE lines showed higher expression of target genes-OsRab16B, OsRab21 and OsLEA3-1 and increased ABA sensitivity; indicating that OsbZIP23 is a positive transcriptional-regulator of the ABA-signaling pathway. Taken together, the present study concludes that the enhanced gene expression rather

  12. Investigation of Super*Zip separation joint

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bement, Laurence J.; Schimmel, Morry L.

    1988-01-01

    An investigation to determine the most likely cause of two failures of five tests on 79 inch diameter Lockheed Super*Zip spacecraft separation joints being used for the development of a Shuttle/Centaur propulsion system. This joint utilizes an explosively expanded tube to fracture surrounding prenotched aluminum plates to achieve planar separation. A test method was developed and more than 300 tests firings were made to provide an understanding of severance mechanisms and the functional performance effects of system variables. An approach for defining functional margin was developed, and specific recommendations were made for improving existing and future systems.

  13. Role of Cl- -HCO3- exchanger AE3 in intracellular pH homeostasis in cultured murine hippocampal neurons, and in crosstalk to adjacent astrocytes.

    PubMed

    Salameh, Ahlam I; Hübner, Christian A; Boron, Walter F

    2017-01-01

    A polymorphism of human AE3 is associated with idiopathic generalized epilepsy. Knockout of AE3 in mice lowers the threshold for triggering epileptic seizures. The explanations for these effects are elusive. Comparisons of cells from wild-type vs. AE3 -/- mice show that AE3 (present in hippocampal neurons, not astrocytes; mediates HCO 3 - efflux) enhances intracellular pH (pH i ) recovery (decrease) from alkali loads in neurons and, surprisingly, adjacent astrocytes. During metabolic acidosis (MAc), AE3 speeds initial acidification, but limits the extent of pH i decrease in neurons and astrocytes. AE3 speeds re-alkalization after removal of MAc in neurons and astrocytes, and speeds neuronal pH i recovery from an ammonium prepulse-induced acid load. We propose that neuronal AE3 indirectly increases acid extrusion in (a) neurons via Cl - loading, and (b) astrocytes by somehow enhancing NBCe1 (major acid extruder). The latter would enhance depolarization-induced alkalinization of astrocytes, and extracellular acidification, and thereby reduce susceptibility to epileptic seizures. The anion exchanger AE3, expressed in hippocampal (HC) neurons but not astrocytes, contributes to intracellular pH (pH i ) regulation by facilitating the exchange of extracellular Cl - for intracellular HCO 3 - . The human AE3 polymorphism A867D is associated with idiopathic generalized epilepsy. Moreover, AE3 knockout (AE3 -/- ) mice are more susceptible to epileptic seizure. The mechanism of these effects has been unclear because the starting pH i in AE3 -/- and wild-type neurons is indistinguishable. The purpose of the present study was to use AE3 -/- mice to investigate the role of AE3 in pH i homeostasis in HC neurons, co-cultured with astrocytes. We find that the presence of AE3 increases the acidification rate constant during pH i recovery from intracellular alkaline loads imposed by reducing [CO 2 ]. The presence of AE3 also speeds intracellular acidification during the early phase of

  14. Evidence for a novel chemisorption bond: Formate (HCO/sub 2/) on Cu(100)

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Stoehr, J.; Outka, D.A.; Madix, R.J.

    1985-03-25

    Surface extended-x-ray-absorption fine-structure measurements reveal that formate (HCO/sub 2/) groups on Cu(100) chemisorb via the two oxygen atoms in adjacent fourfold hollow sites with an average O-Cu nearest-neighbor bond length of 2.38 +- 0.03 A. This distance is sig- nificantly (approx.0.4 A) longer than typical O-Cu bonds in bulk compounds and all known surface complexes. The unusually large O-Cu distance is attributed to a steric effect involving the C atom in HCO/sub 2/ and the nearest-neighbor Cu surface atoms.

  15. bZIP17 regulates the expression of genes related to seed storage and germination, reducing seed susceptibility to osmotic stress.

    PubMed

    Cifuentes-Esquivel, Nicolás; Celiz-Balboa, Jonathan; Henriquez-Valencia, Carlos; Mitina, Irina; Arraño-Salinas, Paulina; Moreno, Adrián A; Meneses, Claudio; Blanco-Herrera, Francisca; Orellana, Ariel

    2018-04-25

    Low temperatures, salinity, and drought cause significant crop losses. These conditions involve osmotic stress, triggering transcriptional remodeling, and consequently, the restitution of cellular homeostasis and growth recovery. Protein transcription factors regulate target genes, thereby mediating plant responses to stress. bZIP17 is a transcription factor involved in cellular responses to salinity and the unfolded protein response. Because salinity can also produce osmotic stress, the role of bZIP17 in response to osmotic stress was assessed. Mannitol treatments induced the transcript accumulation and protein processing of bZIP17. Transcriptomic analyses showed that several genes associated with seed storage and germination showed lower expression in bzip17 mutants than in wild-type plants. Interestingly, bZIP17 transcript was more abundant in seeds, and germination analyses revealed that wild-type plants germinated later than bzip17 mutants in the presence of mannitol, but no effects were observed when the seeds were exposed to ABA. Finally, the transcript levels of bZIP17 target genes that control seed storage and germination were assessed in seeds exposed to mannitol treatments, which showed lower expression levels in bzip17 mutants compared to the wild-type seeds. These results suggest that bZIP17 plays a role in osmotic stress, acting as a negative regulator of germination through the regulation of genes involved in seed storage and germination. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  16. [Biological activity evaluation of porous HA ceramics using NH4 HCO3/PVA as pore-creating agents].

    PubMed

    Wang, Songquan; Zhang, Dekun

    2010-12-01

    Porous HA ceramics were prepared by using NH4 HCO3/PVA as pore-formed material along with biological glass as intensifier, and these ceramics were immersed in Locke's Physiological Saline and Simulate Body Fluid (SBF). The changes of phase composition, grain size and crystallinity of porous HA ceramics before and after immersion were investigated by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The biological activity was evaluated. The porous HA ceramics showed various degrees of decomposition after immersion in the two solution systems, but there was no evident change in respect to crystallinity. Besides, the impact of different degrees of solution systems on the change of grain size and planar preferred orientation was observed. The TCP phase of the ceramics immersed in Locke's Physiological Saline decomposed and there was no crystal growth on the surface of ceramics; however, the grain size of ceramics immersed in SBF became refined in certain degree and the surface of ceramics took on the new crystal growth.

  17. Influence of magnesium sulfate on HCO3/Cl transmembrane exchange rate in human erythrocytes.

    PubMed

    Chernyshova, Ekaterina S; Zaikina, Yulia S; Tsvetovskaya, Galina A; Strokotov, Dmitry I; Yurkin, Maxim A; Serebrennikova, Elena S; Volkov, Leonid; Maltsev, Valeri P; Chernyshev, Andrei V

    2016-03-21

    Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) is widely used in medicine but molecular mechanisms of its protection through influence on erythrocytes are not fully understood and are considerably controversial. Using scanning flow cytometry, in this work for the first time we observed experimentally (both in situ and in vitro) a significant increase of HCO3(-)/Cl(-) transmembrane exchange rate of human erythrocytes in the presence of MgSO4 in blood. For a quantitative analysis of the obtained experimental data, we introduced and verified a molecular kinetic model, which describes activation of major anion exchanger Band 3 (or AE1) by its complexation with free intracellular Mg(2+) (taking into account Mg(2+) membrane transport and intracellular buffering). Fitting the model to our in vitro experimental data, we observed a good correspondence between theoretical and experimental kinetic curves that allowed us to evaluate the model parameters and to estimate for the first time the association constant of Mg(2+) with Band 3 as KB~0.07mM, which is in agreement with known values of the apparent Mg(2+) dissociation constant (from 0.01 to 0.1mM) that reflects experiments on enrichment of Mg(2+) at the inner erythrocyte membrane (Gunther, 2007). Results of this work partly clarify the molecular mechanisms of MgSO4 action in human erythrocytes. The method developed allows one to estimate quantitatively a perspective of MgSO4 treatment for a patient. It should be particularly helpful in prenatal medicine for early detection of pathologies associated with the risk of fetal hypoxia. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  18. Cytopathic effect of Human cosavirus (HCoSV) on primary cell cultures of human embryonic lung MRC5.

    PubMed

    Rezig, Dorra; Touzi, Henda; Meddeb, Zina; Triki, Henda

    2014-10-01

    Human cosaviruses (HCoSVs) are newly discovered viruses in Picornaviridae family. Until now, most published studies reported HCoSV detection using molecular techniques and genetic characterization of the virus. Nevertheless, no laboratory has yet reported the replication of these viruses in cultured cell lines. In the present work, the propagation of HCoSV strains isolated from human fecal specimens in MRC5 cell line and their induced cytopathic effects (CPE) was studied. The first sign of virus growth was observed 24-48h after inoculation. The cells rounded up and clumped together rapidly; empty areas became visible and, on the third day of CPE, a remarkable decrease in live cells was observed. This represents the first report on in vitro model of HCoSV replication which opens up opportunities for future investigations of these new viruses. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  19. Exploring the bZIP transcription factor regulatory network in Neurospora crassa

    PubMed Central

    Tian, Chaoguang; Li, Jingyi; Glass, N. Louise

    2011-01-01

    Transcription factors (TFs) are key nodes of regulatory networks in eukaryotic organisms, including filamentous fungi such as Neurospora crassa. The 178 predicted DNA-binding TFs in N. crassa are distributed primarily among six gene families, which represent an ancient expansion in filamentous ascomycete genomes; 98 TF genes show detectable expression levels during vegetative growth of N. crassa, including 35 that show a significant difference in expression level between hyphae at the periphery versus hyphae in the interior of a colony. Regulatory networks within a species genome include paralogous TFs and their respective target genes (TF regulon). To investigate TF network evolution in N. crassa, we focused on the basic leucine zipper (bZIP) TF family, which contains nine members. We performed baseline transcriptional profiling during vegetative growth of the wild-type and seven isogenic, viable bZIP deletion mutants. We further characterized the regulatory network of one member of the bZIP family, NCU03905. NCU03905 encodes an Ap1-like protein (NcAp-1), which is involved in resistance to multiple stress responses, including oxidative and heavy metal stress. Relocalization of NcAp-1 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus was associated with exposure to stress. A comparison of the NcAp-1 regulon with Ap1-like regulons in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus showed both conservation and divergence. These data indicate how N. crassa responds to stress and provide information on pathway evolution. PMID:21081763

  20. Exploring the bZIP transcription factor regulatory network in Neurospora crassa.

    PubMed

    Tian, Chaoguang; Li, Jingyi; Glass, N Louise

    2011-03-01

    Transcription factors (TFs) are key nodes of regulatory networks in eukaryotic organisms, including filamentous fungi such as Neurospora crassa. The 178 predicted DNA-binding TFs in N. crassa are distributed primarily among six gene families, which represent an ancient expansion in filamentous ascomycete genomes; 98 TF genes show detectable expression levels during vegetative growth of N. crassa, including 35 that show a significant difference in expression level between hyphae at the periphery versus hyphae in the interior of a colony. Regulatory networks within a species genome include paralogous TFs and their respective target genes (TF regulon). To investigate TF network evolution in N. crassa, we focused on the basic leucine zipper (bZIP) TF family, which contains nine members. We performed baseline transcriptional profiling during vegetative growth of the wild-type and seven isogenic, viable bZIP deletion mutants. We further characterized the regulatory network of one member of the bZIP family, NCU03905. NCU03905 encodes an Ap1-like protein (NcAp-1), which is involved in resistance to multiple stress responses, including oxidative and heavy metal stress. Relocalization of NcAp-1 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus was associated with exposure to stress. A comparison of the NcAp-1 regulon with Ap1-like regulons in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus showed both conservation and divergence. These data indicate how N. crassa responds to stress and provide information on pathway evolution.

  1. Chloroquine uptake, altered partitioning and the basis of drug resistance: evidence for chloride-dependent ionic regulation.

    PubMed

    Martiney, J A; Ferrer, A S; Cerami, A; Dzekunov, S; Roepe, P

    1999-01-01

    The biochemical mechanism of chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum remains unknown. We postulated that chloroquine-resistant strains could alter ion fluxes that then indirectly control drug accumulation within the parasite by affecting pH and/or membrane potential ('altered partitioning mechanism'). Two principal intracellular pH-regulating systems in many cell types are the amiloride-sensitive Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE), and the sodium-independent, stilbene-sensitive Cl-/HCO3- antiporter (AE). We report that under physiological conditions (balanced CO2 and HCO3-) chloroquine uptake and susceptibility are not altered by amiloride analogues. We also do not detect a significant difference in NHE activity between chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant strains via single cell photometry methods. AE activity is dependent on the intracellular and extracellular concentrations of Cl- and HCO3- ions. Chloroquine-resistant strains differentially respond to experimental modifications in chloride-dependent homeostasis, including growth, cytoplasmic pH and pH regulation. Chloroquine susceptibility is altered by stilbene DIDS only on chloroquine-resistant strains. Our results suggest that a Cl(-)-dependent system (perhaps AE) has a significant effect on the uptake of chloroquine by the infected erythrocyte, and that alterations of this biophysical parameter may be part of the mechanism of chloroquine resistance in P. falciparum.

  2. Evolution and expression analysis reveal the potential role of the HD-Zip gene family in regulation of embryo abortion in grapes (Vitis vinifera L.).

    PubMed

    Li, Zhiqian; Zhang, Chen; Guo, Yurui; Niu, Weili; Wang, Yuejin; Xu, Yan

    2017-09-21

    The HD-Zip family has a diversity of functions during plant development. In this study, we identify 33 HD-Zip transcription factors in grape and detect their expressions in ovules and somatic embryos, as well as in various vegetative organs. A genome-wide survey for HD-Zip transcription factors in Vitis was conducted based on the 12 X grape genome (V. vinifera L.). A total of 33 members were identified and classified into four subfamilies (I-IV) based on phylogeny analysis with Arabidopsis, rice and maize. VvHDZs in the same subfamily have similar protein motifs and intron/exon structures. An evaluation of duplication events suggests several HD-Zip genes arose before the divergence of the grape and Arabidopsis lineages. The 33 members of HD-Zip were differentially expressed in ovules of the stenospermic grape, Thompson Seedless and of the seeded grape, Pinot noir. Most have higher expressions during ovule abortion in Thompson Seedless. In addition, transcripts of the HD-Zip family were also detected in somatic embryogenesis of Thompson Seedless and in different vegetative organs of Thompson Seedless at varying levels. Additionally, VvHDZ28 is located in the nucleus and had transcriptional activity consistent with the typical features of the HD-Zip family. Our results provide a foundation for future grape HD-Zip gene function research. The identification and expression profiles of the HD-Zip transcription factors in grape, reveal their diverse roles during ovule abortion and organ development. Our results lay a foundation for functional analysis of grape HDZ genes.

  3. The Populus Class III HD ZIP transcription factor POPCORONA affects cell differentiation during secondary growth of woody stems

    Treesearch

    Juan Du; Eriko Miura; Marcel Robischon; Ciera Martinez; Andrew Groover

    2011-01-01

    The developmental mechanisms regulating cell differentiation and patterning during the secondary growth of woody tissues are poorly understood. Class III HD ZIP transcription factors are evolutionarily ancient and play fundamental roles in various aspects of plant development. Here we investigate the role of a Class III HD ZIP transcription factor, ...

  4. Wild soybean roots depend on specific transcription factors and oxidation reduction related genesin response to alkaline stress.

    PubMed

    DuanMu, Huizi; Wang, Yang; Bai, Xi; Cheng, Shufei; Deyholos, Michael K; Wong, Gane Ka-Shu; Li, Dan; Zhu, Dan; Li, Ran; Yu, Yang; Cao, Lei; Chen, Chao; Zhu, Yanming

    2015-11-01

    Soil alkalinity is an important environmental problem limiting agricultural productivity. Wild soybean (Glycine soja) shows strong alkaline stress tolerance, so it is an ideal plant candidate for studying the molecular mechanisms of alkaline tolerance and identifying alkaline stress-responsive genes. However, limited information is available about G. soja responses to alkaline stress on a genomic scale. Therefore, in the present study, we used RNA sequencing to compare transcript profiles of G. soja root responses to sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) at six time points, and a total of 68,138,478 pairs of clean reads were obtained using the Illumina GAIIX. Expression patterns of 46,404 G. soja genes were profiled in all six samples based on RNA-seq data using Cufflinks software. Then, t12 transcription factors from MYB, WRKY, NAC, bZIP, C2H2, HB, and TIFY families and 12 oxidation reduction related genes were chosen and verified to be induced in response to alkaline stress by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The GO functional annotation analysis showed that besides "transcriptional regulation" and "oxidation reduction," these genes were involved in a variety of processes, such as "binding" and "response to stress." This is the first comprehensive transcriptome profiling analysis of wild soybean root under alkaline stress by RNA sequencing. Our results highlight changes in the gene expression patterns and identify a set of genes induced by NaHCO3 stress. These findings provide a base for the global analyses of G. soja alkaline stress tolerance mechanisms.

  5. Expression Patterns and Correlations with Metabolic Markers of Zinc Transporters ZIP14 and ZNT1 in Obesity and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

    PubMed Central

    Maxel, Trine; Svendsen, Pernille Fog; Smidt, Kamille; Lauridsen, Jesper Krogh; Brock, Birgitte; Pedersen, Steen Bønlykke; Rungby, Jørgen; Larsen, Agnete

    2017-01-01

    Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with infertility, increased androgen levels, and insulin resistance. In adipose tissue, zinc facilitates insulin signaling. Circulating zinc levels are altered in obesity, diabetes, and PCOS; and zinc supplementation can ameliorate metabolic disturbances in PCOS. In adipose tissue, expression of zinc influx transporter ZIP14 varies with body mass index (BMI), clinical markers of metabolic syndrome, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG). In this study, we investigated expression levels of ZIP14 and PPARG in subcutaneous adipose tissue of 36 PCOS women (17 lean and 19 obese women) compared with 23 healthy controls (7 lean and 16 obese women). Further, expression levels of zinc transporter ZIP9, a recently identified androgen receptor, and zinc efflux transporter ZNT1 were investigated, alongside lipid profile and markers of glucose metabolism [insulin degrading enzyme, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4)]. We find that ZIP14 expression is reduced in obesity and positively correlates with PPARG expression, which is downregulated with increasing BMI. ZNT1 is upregulated in obesity, and both ZIP14 and ZNT1 expression significantly correlates with clinical markers of altered glucose metabolism. In addition, RBP4 and GLUT4 associate with obesity, but an association with PCOS as such was present only for PPARG and RBP4. ZIP14 and ZNT1 does not relate to clinical androgen status and ZIP9 is unaffected by all parameters investigated. In conclusion, our findings support the existence of a zinc dyshomeostasis in adipose tissue in metabolic disturbances including PCOS-related obesity. PMID:28303117

  6. The Populus class III HD ZIP, popREVOLUTA, influences cambium initiation and patterning of woody stems.

    PubMed

    Robischon, Marcel; Du, Juan; Miura, Eriko; Groover, Andrew

    2011-03-01

    The secondary growth of a woody stem requires the formation of a vascular cambium at an appropriate position and proper patterning of the vascular tissues derived from the cambium. Class III homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD ZIP) transcription factors have been implicated in polarity determination and patterning in lateral organs and primary vascular tissues and in the initiation and function of shoot apical meristems. We report here the functional characterization of a Populus class III HD ZIP gene, popREVOLUTA (PRE), that demonstrates another role for class III HD ZIPs in regulating the development of cambia and secondary vascular tissues. PRE is orthologous to Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) REVOLUTA and is expressed in both the shoot apical meristem and in the cambial zone and secondary vascular tissues. Transgenic Populus expressing a microRNA-resistant form of PRE presents unstable phenotypic abnormalities affecting both primary and secondary growth. Surprisingly, phenotypic changes include abnormal formation of cambia within cortical parenchyma that can produce secondary vascular tissues in reverse polarity. Genes misexpressed in PRE mutants include transcription factors and auxin-related genes previously implicated in class III HD ZIP functions during primary growth. Together, these results suggest that PRE plays a fundamental role in the initiation of the cambium and in regulating the patterning of secondary vascular tissues.

  7. A genome-wide survey of homeodomain-leucine zipper genes and analysis of cold-responsive HD-Zip I members' expression in tomato.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Zhenzhu; Chen, Xiuling; Guan, Xin; Liu, Yang; Chen, Hongyu; Wang, Tingting; Mouekouba, Liana Dalcantara Ongouya; Li, Jingfu; Wang, Aoxue

    2014-01-01

    Homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) proteins are a kind of transcriptional factors that play a vital role in plant growth and development. However, no detailed information of HD-Zip family in tomato has been reported till now. In this study, 51 HD-Zip genes (SlHZ01-51) in this family were identified and categorized into 4 classes by exon-intron and protein structure in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) genome. The synthetical phylogenetic tree of tomato, Arabidopsis and rice HD-Zip genes were established for an insight into their evolutionary relationships and putative functions. The results showed that the contribution of segmental duplication was larger than that of tandem duplication for expansion and evolution of genes in this family of tomato. The expression profile results under abiotic stress suggested that all SlHZ I genes were responsive to cold stress. This study will provide a clue for the further investigation of functional identification and the role of tomato HD-Zip I subfamily in plant cold stress responses and developmental events.

  8. Use of FRTL-5 Cell Line as a Complementary Assay for Chemicals Identified During High-Throughput Screening as Sodium/Iodide Symporter (NIS) Inhibitors

    EPA Science Inventory

    Confirmation of Test Chemicals Identified by a High-Throughput Screen (HTPS) as Sodium Iodide Symporter (NIS) Inhibitors in FRTL-5 Model S. Laws1, A. Buckalew1, J. Wang2, D. Hallinger1, A. Murr1, and T. Stoker1. 1Endocrin...

  9. Manifestations of poverty and birthrates among young teenagers in California zip code areas.

    PubMed

    Kirby, D; Coyle, K; Gould, J B

    2001-01-01

    Given that many communities are implementing community-wide initiatives to reduce teenage pregnancy or childbearing, it is important to understand the effects of a community's characteristics on adolescent birthrates. Data from the 1990 census and from California birth certificates were obtained for zip codes in California. Regression analyses were conducted on data from zip code areas with at least 200 females aged 15-17 between 1991 and 1996, to predict the effects of race and ethnicity marital status, education, employment, income and poverty, and housing on birthrates among young teenagers. In bivariate analyses, the proportion of families living below poverty level within a zip code was highly related to the birthrate among young teenagers in that zip code (r=.80, p<.001). In multivariate analyses, which controlled for some of the correlates of family poverty level, the proportion of families living below poverty level remained by far the most important predictor of the birthrate among young teenagers (b=1.54), followed by the proportion of adults aged 25 or older who have a college education (b=-0.80). Race and ethnicity were only weakly related to birthrate. In all three racial and ethnic groups, poverty and education were significantly related to birthrate, but the effect of college education was greater among Hispanics (b=-2.98) than among either non-Hispanic whites (b=-0.53) or blacks (b=-1.12). Male employment and unemployment and female unemployment were highly related to the birthrate among young teenagers in some racial or ethnic groups, but not in others. Multiple manifestations of poverty, including poverty itself, low levels of education and employment, and high levels of unemployment, may have a large impact upon birthrates among young teenagers. Addressing some of these issues could substantially reduce childbearing among young adolescents.

  10. 39 CFR Appendix A to Part 121 - Tables Depicting Service Standard Day Ranges

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-07-01

    ... 1-3 (AK)7 (JNU) 7 (KTN) 1 (HI)7 (GU) 1-2 1-2 6-7 5-6 Standard Mail 2 3 3 3-4 10 10 9 Package Services 1 2 2 2-3 8 8 7 AK = Alaska 3-digit ZIP Codes 995-997; JNU = Juneau AK 3-digit ZIP Code 998; KTN = Ketchikan AK 3-digit ZIP Code 999; HI = Hawaii 3-digit ZIP Codes 967 and 968; GU = Guam 3-digit ZIP Code 969...

  11. 39 CFR Appendix A to Part 121 - Tables Depicting Service Standard Day Ranges

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-07-01

    ... 1-3 (AK)7 (JNU) 7 (KTN) 1 (HI)7 (GU) 1-2 1-2 6-7 5-6 Standard Mail 2 3 3 3-4 10 10 9 Package Services 1 2 2 2-3 8 8 7 AK = Alaska 3-digit ZIP Codes 995-997; JNU = Juneau AK 3-digit ZIP Code 998; KTN = Ketchikan AK 3-digit ZIP Code 999; HI = Hawaii 3-digit ZIP Codes 967 and 968; GU = Guam 3-digit ZIP Code 969...

  12. Is the gas-phase OH+H2CO reaction a source of HCO in interstellar cold dark clouds? A kinetic, dynamic and modelling study

    PubMed Central

    Ocaña, A. J.; Jiménez, E.; Ballesteros, B.; Canosa, A.; Antiñolo, M.; Albaladejo, J.; Agúndez, M.; Cernicharo, J.; Zanchet, A.; del Mazo, P.; Roncero, O.; Aguado, A.

    2018-01-01

    Chemical kinetics of neutral-neutral gas-phase reactions at ultralow temperatures is a fascinating research subject with important implications on the chemistry of complex organic molecules in the interstellar medium (T∼10-100K). Scarce kinetic information is currently available for this kind of reactions at T<200 K. In this work we use the CRESU (Cinétique de Réaction en Ecoulement Supersonique Uniforme, which means Reaction Kinetics in a Uniform Supersonic Flow) technique to measure for the first time the rate coefficients (k) of the gas-phase OH+H2CO reaction between 22 and 107 K. k values greatly increase from 2.1×10-11 cm3 s-1 at 107 K to 1.2×10-10 cm3 s-1 at 22 K. This is also confirmed by quasi-classical trajectories (QCT) at collision energies down to 0.1 meV performed using a new full dimension and ab initio potential energy surface, recently developed which generates highly accurate potential and includes long range dipole-dipole interactions. QCT calculations indicate that at low temperatures HCO is the exclusive product for the OH+H2CO reaction. In order to revisit the chemistry of HCO in cold dense clouds, k is reasonably extrapolated from the experimental results at 10K (2.6×10-10 cm3 s-1). The modeled abundances of HCO are in agreement with the observations in cold dark clouds for an evolving time of 105-106 yrs. The different sources of production of HCO are presented and the uncertainties in the chemical networks discussed. This reaction can be expected to be a competitive process in the chemistry of prestellar cores. The present reaction is shown to account for a few percent of the total HCO production rate. Extensions to photodissociation regions and diffuse clouds environments are also commented. PMID:29880977

  13. Is the Gas-phase OH+H2CO Reaction a Source of HCO in Interstellar Cold Dark Clouds? A Kinetic, Dynamic, and Modeling Study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ocaña, A. J.; Jiménez, E.; Ballesteros, B.; Canosa, A.; Antiñolo, M.; Albaladejo, J.; Agúndez, M.; Cernicharo, J.; Zanchet, A.; del Mazo, P.; Roncero, O.; Aguado, A.

    2017-11-01

    The chemical kinetics of neutral-neutral gas-phase reactions at ultralow temperatures is a fascinating research subject with important implications on the chemistry of complex organic molecules in the interstellar medium (T ˜ 10-100 K). Scarce kinetic information is currently available for these kinds of reactions at T < 200 K. In this work, we use the Cinétique de Réaction en Ecoulement Supersonique Uniforme (CRESU; Reaction Kinetics in a Uniform Supersonic Flow) technique to measure for the first time the rate coefficients (k) of the gas-phase OH+H2CO reaction between 22 and 107 K. The k values greatly increase from 2.1 × 10-11 cm3 s-1 at 107 K to 1.2 × 10-10 cm3 s-1 at 22 K. This is also confirmed by quasi-classical trajectories (QCT) at collision energies down to 0.1 meV performed using a new full dimension and ab initio potential energy surface that generates highly accurate potential and includes long-range dipole-dipole interactions. QCT calculations indicate that at low temperatures HCO is the exclusive product for the OH+H2CO reaction. In order to revisit the chemistry of HCO in cold dense clouds, k is reasonably extrapolated from the experimental results at 10 K (2.6 × 10-10 cm3 s-1). The modeled abundances of HCO are in agreement with the observations in cold dark clouds for an evolving time of 105-106 yr. The different sources of production of HCO are presented and the uncertainties in the chemical networks are discussed. The present reaction is shown to account for a few percent of the total HCO production rate. This reaction can be expected to be a competitive process in the chemistry of prestellar cores. Extensions to photodissociation regions and diffuse cloud environments are also addressed.

  14. Is the gas-phase OH+H2CO reaction a source of HCO in interstellar cold dark clouds? A kinetic, dynamic and modelling study.

    PubMed

    Ocaña, A J; Jiménez, E; Ballesteros, B; Canosa, A; Antiñolo, M; Albaladejo, J; Agúndez, M; Cernicharo, J; Zanchet, A; Del Mazo, P; Roncero, O; Aguado, A

    2017-11-20

    Chemical kinetics of neutral-neutral gas-phase reactions at ultralow temperatures is a fascinating research subject with important implications on the chemistry of complex organic molecules in the interstellar medium (T∼10-100K). Scarce kinetic information is currently available for this kind of reactions at T<200 K. In this work we use the CRESU ( Cinétique de Réaction en Ecoulement Supersonique Uniforme , which means Reaction Kinetics in a Uniform Supersonic Flow) technique to measure for the first time the rate coefficients ( k ) of the gas-phase OH+H 2 CO reaction between 22 and 107 K. k values greatly increase from 2.1×10 -11 cm 3 s -1 at 107 K to 1.2×10 -10 cm 3 s -1 at 22 K. This is also confirmed by quasi-classical trajectories (QCT) at collision energies down to 0.1 meV performed using a new full dimension and ab initio potential energy surface, recently developed which generates highly accurate potential and includes long range dipole-dipole interactions. QCT calculations indicate that at low temperatures HCO is the exclusive product for the OH+H 2 CO reaction. In order to revisit the chemistry of HCO in cold dense clouds, k is reasonably extrapolated from the experimental results at 10K (2.6×10 -10 cm 3 s -1 ). The modeled abundances of HCO are in agreement with the observations in cold dark clouds for an evolving time of 10 5 -10 6 yrs. The different sources of production of HCO are presented and the uncertainties in the chemical networks discussed. This reaction can be expected to be a competitive process in the chemistry of prestellar cores. The present reaction is shown to account for a few percent of the total HCO production rate. Extensions to photodissociation regions and diffuse clouds environments are also commented.

  15. Rhenium-188 as an alternative to Iodine-131 for treatment of breast tumors expressing the sodium/iodide symporter (NIS).

    PubMed

    Dadachova, E; Bouzahzah, B; Zuckier, L S; Pestell, R G

    2002-01-01

    The sodium-iodide symporter (NIS), which transports iodine into the cell, is expressed in thyroid tissue and was recently found to be expressed in approximately 80% of human breast cancers but not in healthy breast tissue. These findings raised the possibility that therapeutics targeting uptake by NIS may be used for breast cancer treatment. To increase the efficacy of such therapy it would be ideal to identify a radioactive therapy with enhanced local emission. The feasibility of using the powerful beta-emitting radiometal (188)Re in the form of (188)Re-perrhenate was therefore compared with 131I for treatment of NIS-expressing mammary tumors. In the current studies, using a xenografted breast cancer model induced by the ErbB2 oncogene in nude mice, (188)Re-perrhenate exhibited NIS-dependent uptake into the mammary tumor. Dosimetry calculations in the mammary tumor demonstrate that (188)Re-perrhenate is able to deliver a dose 4.5 times higher than (131)I suggesting it may provide enhanced therapeutic efficacy.

  16. Linking loss of sodium-iodide symporter expression to DNA damage

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Lyckesvärd, Madeleine Nordén; Department of Medical Chemistry and Cell Biology, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg; Kapoor, Nirmal

    Radiotherapy of thyroid cancer with I-131 is abrogated by inherent loss of radioiodine uptake due to loss of sodium iodide symporter (NIS) expression in poorly differentiated tumor cells. It is also known that ionizing radiation per se down-regulates NIS (the stunning effect), but the mechanism is unknown. Here we investigated whether loss of NIS-mediated iodide transport may be elicited by DNA damage. Calicheamicin, a fungal toxin that specifically cleaves double-stranded DNA, induced a full scale DNA damage response mediated by the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase in quiescent normal thyrocytes. At sublethal concentrations (<1 nM) calicheamicin blocked NIS mRNA expression andmore » transepithelial iodide transport as stimulated by thyrotropin; loss of function occurred at a much faster rate than after I-131 irradiation. KU-55933, a selective ATM kinase inhibitor, partly rescued NIS expression and iodide transport in DNA-damaged cells. Prolonged ATM inhibition in healthy cells also repressed NIS-mediated iodide transport. ATM-dependent loss of iodide transport was counteracted by IGF-1. Together, these findings indicate that NIS, the major iodide transporter of the thyroid gland, is susceptible to DNA damage involving ATM-mediated mechanisms. This uncovers novel means of poor radioiodine uptake in thyroid cells subjected to extrinsic or intrinsic genotoxic stress. - Highlights: • DNA damage inhibits polarized iodide transport in normal thyroid cells. • Down-regulation of NIS expression is mediated by activation of the ATM kinase. • Long-term ATM inhibition also represses NIS-mediated iodide transport. • IGF-1 rescues NIS expression and iodide transport in DNA-damaged cells.« less

  17. PpHB22, a member of HD-Zip proteins, activates PpDAM1 to regulate bud dormancy transition in 'Suli' pear (Pyrus pyrifolia White Pear Group).

    PubMed

    Yang, Qinsong; Niu, Qingfeng; Li, Jianzhao; Zheng, Xiaoyan; Ma, Yunjing; Bai, Songling; Teng, Yuanwen

    2018-06-01

    Homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) proteins, which form one of the largest and most diverse families, regulate many biological processes in plants, including differentiation, flowering, vascular development, and stress signaling. Abscisic acid (ABA) has been proved to be one of the key regulators of bud dormancy and to influence several HD-Zip genes expression. However, the role of HD-Zip genes in regulating bud dormancy remains unclear. We identified 47 pear (P. pyrifolia White Pear Group) HD-Zip genes, which were classified into four subfamilies (HD-Zip I-IV). We further revealed that gene expression levels of some HD-Zip members were closely related to ABA concentrations in flower buds during dormancy transition. Exogenous ABA treatment confirmed that PpHB22 and several other HD-Zip genes responded to ABA. Yeast one-hybrid and dual luciferase assay results combining subcellular localization showed that PpHB22 was present in nucleus and directly induced PpDAM1 (dormancy associated MADS-box 1) expression. Thus, PpHB22 is a negative regulator of plant growth associated with the ABA response pathway and functions upstream of PpDAM1. These findings enrich our understanding of the function of HD-Zip genes related to the bud dormancy transition. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  18. Properties of Zip4 accumulation during zinc deficiency and its usefulness to evaluate zinc status: a study of the effects of zinc deficiency during lactation.

    PubMed

    Hashimoto, Ayako; Nakagawa, Miki; Tsujimura, Natsuki; Miyazaki, Shiho; Kizu, Kumiko; Goto, Tomoko; Komatsu, Yusuke; Matsunaga, Ayu; Shirakawa, Hitoshi; Narita, Hiroshi; Kambe, Taiho; Komai, Michio

    2016-03-01

    Systemic and cellular zinc homeostasis is elaborately controlled by ZIP and ZnT zinc transporters. Therefore, detailed characterization of their expression properties is of importance. Of these transporter proteins, Zip4 functions as the primarily important transporter to control systemic zinc homeostasis because of its indispensable function of zinc absorption in the small intestine. In this study, we closely investigated Zip4 protein accumulation in the rat small intestine in response to zinc status using an anti-Zip4 monoclonal antibody that we generated and contrasted this with the zinc-responsive activity of the membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase (ALP). We found that Zip4 accumulation is more rapid in response to zinc deficiency than previously thought. Accumulation increased in the jejunum as early as 1 day following a zinc-deficient diet. In the small intestine, Zip4 protein expression was higher in the jejunum than in the duodenum and was accompanied by reduction of ALP activity, suggesting that the jejunum can become zinc deficient more easily. Furthermore, by monitoring Zip4 accumulation levels and ALP activity in the duodenum and jejunum, we reasserted that zinc deficiency during lactation may transiently alter plasma glucose levels in the offspring in a sex-specific manner, without affecting homeostatic control of zinc metabolism. This confirms that zinc nutrition during lactation is extremely important for the health of the offspring. These results reveal that rapid Zip4 accumulation provides a significant conceptual advance in understanding the molecular basis of systemic zinc homeostatic control, and that properties of Zip4 protein accumulation are useful to evaluate zinc status closely. Copyright © 2016 the American Physiological Society.

  19. Does it really matter that people zip through ads? Testing the effectiveness of simultaneous presentation advertising in an IDTV environment.

    PubMed

    Nam, Yoonjae; Kwon, Kyonghee H; Lee, Sungjoon

    2010-04-01

    In an IDTV environment, which facilitates self-scheduling, skipping advertisements by zipping is an emerging ad-avoidance behavior. This study explores whether an alternative ad format, called simultaneous presentation advertising (SPA), may overcome the limitations of classical sequential advertising (CSA) in controlling zipping behavior and increasing the effectiveness of ads. The experiment revealed that SPA is more effective than CSA in reducing zipping and increasing recall, but SPA was more intrusive and produced a negative product image. There was no difference regarding cognitive avoidance. This work discusses the implications of these findings in the interactive media environment.

  20. Engineering of a novel zipFv using leucine zipper motif against rabies virus glycoprotein G with improved protection potency in vivo.

    PubMed

    Xi, Hualong; Zhang, Kaixin; Yin, Yanchun; Gu, Tiejun; Sun, Qing; Li, Zhuang; Cheng, Yue; Jiang, Chunlai; Kong, Wei; Wu, Yongge

    2017-06-01

    Rabies is an acute zoonotic infectious disease with a high fatality rate but is preventable with vaccination and rabies immunoglobulin (RIG). The single-chain Fv fragment (scFv), a small engineered antigen-binding protein derived from antibody variable heavy (V H ) and light (V L ) chains connected by a peptide linker, can potentially be used to replace RIG. Here, we produced two peptides V H -JUN-HIS and V L -FOS-HA separately in Escherichia coli and assembled them to form zipFv successfully in vitro. The new zipFv utilizes FOS and JUN leucine zippers to form an antibody structure similar to the IgG counterpart with two free N-terminal ends of V H and V L . The zipFv protein showed notable improvement in binding ability and affinity over its corresponding scFv. The zipFv also demonstrated greater stability in serum and the same protective rate as RIG against challenge with a standard rabies virus (CVS-24) in mice. Our results indicated zipFv as a novel and efficient antibody form with enhanced neutralizing potency. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  1. Role of Cl−–HCO3 − exchanger AE3 in intracellular pH homeostasis in cultured murine hippocampal neurons, and in crosstalk to adjacent astrocytes

    PubMed Central

    Salameh, Ahlam I.; Hübner, Christian A.

    2016-01-01

    Key points A polymorphism of human AE3 is associated with idiopathic generalized epilepsy. Knockout of AE3 in mice lowers the threshold for triggering epileptic seizures. The explanations for these effects are elusive.Comparisons of cells from wild‐type vs. AE3–/– mice show that AE3 (present in hippocampal neurons, not astrocytes; mediates HCO3 – efflux) enhances intracellular pH (pHi) recovery (decrease) from alkali loads in neurons and, surprisingly, adjacent astrocytes.During metabolic acidosis (MAc), AE3 speeds initial acidification, but limits the extent of pHi decrease in neurons and astrocytes.AE3 speeds re‐alkalization after removal of MAc in neurons and astrocytes, and speeds neuronal pHi recovery from an ammonium prepulse‐induced acid load.We propose that neuronal AE3 indirectly increases acid extrusion in (a) neurons via Cl– loading, and (b) astrocytes by somehow enhancing NBCe1 (major acid extruder). The latter would enhance depolarization‐induced alkalinization of astrocytes, and extracellular acidification, and thereby reduce susceptibility to epileptic seizures. Abstract The anion exchanger AE3, expressed in hippocampal (HC) neurons but not astrocytes, contributes to intracellular pH (pHi) regulation by facilitating the exchange of extracellular Cl– for intracellular HCO3 –. The human AE3 polymorphism A867D is associated with idiopathic generalized epilepsy. Moreover, AE3 knockout (AE3–/–) mice are more susceptible to epileptic seizure. The mechanism of these effects has been unclear because the starting pHi in AE3–/– and wild‐type neurons is indistinguishable. The purpose of the present study was to use AE3–/– mice to investigate the role of AE3 in pHi homeostasis in HC neurons, co‐cultured with astrocytes. We find that the presence of AE3 increases the acidification rate constant during pHi recovery from intracellular alkaline loads imposed by reducing [CO2]. The presence of AE3 also speeds intracellular

  2. Temporal Variation of HCO+ 1_0 Galactic Absorption Lines Toward NRAO 150 and BL Lac

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Han, Junghwan; Yun, Youngjoo; Park, Yong-Sun

    2017-12-01

    We present observations of HCO^+ 1-0 absorption lines toward two extragalactic compact radio sources, NRAO 150 and BL Lac with the Korean VLBI Network in order to investigate their time variation over 20 years by Galactic foreground clouds. It is found that the line shape of -17 km s^{-1} component changed marginally during 1993-1998 period and has remained unaltered thereafter for NRAO 150. Its behavior is different from that of H_2CO 1_{10}-1_{11}, suggesting chemical differentiation on ˜ 20 AU scale, the smallest ever seen. On the other hand, BL Lac exhibits little temporal variation for the HCO^+ and H_2CO lines. Our observation also suggests that Korea VLBI Network performs reliably in the spectrum mode in that the shapes of the new HCO^+ 1-0 spectra are in good agreement with the previous ones to an accuracy of a few percent except the time varying component toward NRAO 150.

  3. A reanalysis of the HCO(+)/HOC(+) abundance ratio in dense interstellar clouds

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jarrold, M. F.; Bowers, M. T.; Defrees, D. J.; Mclean, A. D.; Herbst, E.

    1986-01-01

    New theoretical and experimental results have prompted a reinvestigation of the HCO(+)/HOC(+) abundance ratio in dense interstellar clouds. These results pertain principally but not exclusively to the reaction between HOC(+) and H2, which was previously calculated by DeFrees et al. (1984) to possess a large activation energy barrier. New calculations, reported here, indicate that this activation energy barrier is quite small and may well be zero. In addition, experimental results at higher energy and temperature indicate strongly that the reaction proceeds efficiently at interstellar temperatures. If HOC(+) does indeed react efficiently with H2 in interstellar clouds, the calculated HCO(+)/HOC(+) abundance ratio rises to a substantially greater value under standard dense cloud conditions than is deduced via the tentative observation of HOC(+) in Sgr B2.

  4. ON THE INFERENCE OF THE COSMIC-RAY IONIZATION RATE ζ FROM THE HCO{sup +}-to-DCO{sup +} ABUNDANCE RATIO: THE EFFECT OF NUCLEAR SPIN

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Shingledecker, Christopher N.; Le Gal, Romane; Hincelin, Ugo

    2016-10-20

    The chemistry of dense interstellar regions was analyzed using a time-dependent gas–grain astrochemical simulation and a new chemical network that incorporates deuterated chemistry, taking into account nuclear spin states for the hydrogen chemistry and its deuterated isotopologues. With this new network, the utility of the [HCO{sup +}]/[DCO{sup +}] abundance ratio as a probe of the cosmic-ray ionization rate has been re-examined, with special attention paid to the effect of the initial value of the ortho-to-para ratio (OPR) of molecular hydrogen. After discussing the use of the probe for cold cores, we compare our results with previous theoretical and observational resultsmore » for a molecular cloud close to the supernova remnant W51C, which is thought to have an enhanced cosmic-ray ionization rate ζ caused by the nearby γ -ray source. In addition, we attempt to use our approach to estimate the cosmic-ray ionization rate for L1174, a dense core with an embedded star. Beyond the previously known sensitivity of [HCO{sup +}]/[DCO{sup +}] to ζ , we demonstrate its additional dependence on the initial OPR and, secondarily, on the age of the source, its temperature, and its density. We conclude that the usefulness of the [HCO{sup +}]/[DCO{sup +}] abundance ratio in constraining the cosmic-ray ionization rate in dense regions increases with the age of the source and the ionization rate as the ratio becomes far less sensitive to the initial value of the OPR.« less

  5. A Glycine Riboswitch in Streptococcus pyogenes Controls Expression of a Sodium:Alanine Symporter Family Protein Gene.

    PubMed

    Khani, Afsaneh; Popp, Nicole; Kreikemeyer, Bernd; Patenge, Nadja

    2018-01-01

    Regulatory RNAs play important roles in the control of bacterial gene expression. In this study, we investigated gene expression regulation by a putative glycine riboswitch located in the 5'-untranslated region of a sodium:alanine symporter family (SAF) protein gene in the group A Streptococcus pyogenes serotype M49 strain 591. Glycine-dependent gene expression mediated by riboswitch activity was studied using a luciferase reporter gene system. Maximal reporter gene expression was observed in the absence of glycine and in the presence of low glycine concentrations. Differences in glycine-dependent gene expression were not based on differential promoter activity. Expression of the SAF protein gene and the downstream putative cation efflux protein gene was investigated in wild-type bacteria by RT-qPCR transcript analyses. During growth in the presence of glycine (≥1 mM), expression of the genes were downregulated. Northern blot analyses revealed premature transcription termination in the presence of high glycine concentrations. Growth in the presence of 0.1 mM glycine led to the production of a full-length transcript. Furthermore, stability of the SAF protein gene transcript was drastically reduced in the presence of glycine. We conclude that the putative glycine riboswitch in S. pyogenes serotype M49 strain 591 represses expression of the SAF protein gene and the downstream putative cation efflux protein gene in the presence of high glycine concentrations. Sequence and secondary structure comparisons indicated that the streptococcal riboswitch belongs to the class of tandem aptamer glycine riboswitches.

  6. Vibrational spectroscopic study of nickel (II) formate, Ni(HCO 2) 2, and its aqueous solution

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Edwards, H. G. M.; Knowles, A.

    1992-04-01

    A vibrational spectroscopic study of nickel (II) formate and its aqueous solution has been made. The vibrations characteristic of a formato—nickel complex have been assigned and it is concluded that the species Ni(HCO 2) +(HCO 2) - exists in the solid state, with monodentate ligand-to-metal bonding. The Raman spectrum of an aqueous solution of nickel (II) formate indicates that complete dissociation of the formato—nickel (II) species occurs to formate ions and nickel (II) hexa-aquo ions. Comparisons are made with other nickel (II) carboxylates.

  7. Oxidative stress upregulates zinc uptake activity via Zrt/Irt-like protein 1 (ZIP1) in cultured mouse astrocytes.

    PubMed

    Furuta, Takahiro; Ohshima, Chiaki; Matsumura, Mayu; Takebayashi, Naoto; Hirota, Emi; Mawaribuchi, Toshiki; Nishida, Kentaro; Nagasawa, Kazuki

    2016-04-15

    Zinc released from glutamatergic boutons and astrocytes acts as neuro- and glio-transmitters, and thus its extracellular level has to be strictly regulated. We previously revealed that uptake of zinc by astrocytes plays a critical role in its clearance, and zinc transporter Zrt/Irt-like protein 1 (ZIP1) is the molecule responsible for the uptake. However, it is unknown whether or not the functionality of the zinc clearance system is altered under oxidative stress-loaded conditions. Here, we characterized zinc uptake by oxidative stress-loaded astrocytes. Cultured mouse astrocytes were treated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to load oxidative stress. Functional expression of ZIP1 in astrocytes was evaluated by means of (65)Zn uptake, Western blotting and immunocytochemical analysis. Treatment of astrocytes with 0.4mM H2O2 for 24h increased the expression levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein and 4-hydroxynonenal without significant decreases in their viability, indicating that induction of oxidative stress in astrocytes. Under oxidative stress-loaded conditions, astrocytes exhibited increased (65)Zn uptake activity, and the maximum uptake velocity for the uptake was significantly increased compared to that in the control group, while there was no change in the Michaelis constants, which were almost identical to that of mouse ZIP1. In the H2O2-treated astrocytes, the expression levels of ZIP1 were significantly increased in the cellular and plasma membrane fractions. It appears that under oxidative stress-loaded conditions, astrocytes exhibit increased zinc clearance activity and this is due, at least in part, to increased ZIP1 expression. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. UV-B-Responsive Association of the Arabidopsis bZIP Transcription Factor ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 with Target Genes, Including Its Own Promoter[W][OPEN

    PubMed Central

    Binkert, Melanie; Kozma-Bognár, László; Terecskei, Kata; De Veylder, Lieven; Nagy, Ferenc; Ulm, Roman

    2014-01-01

    In plants subjected to UV-B radiation, responses are activated that minimize damage caused by UV-B. The bZIP transcription factor ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5) acts downstream of the UV-B photoreceptor UV RESISTANCE LOCUS8 (UVR8) and promotes UV-B-induced photomorphogenesis and acclimation. Expression of HY5 is induced by UV-B; however, the transcription factor(s) that regulate HY5 transcription in response to UV-B and the impact of UV-B on the association of HY5 with its target promoters are currently unclear. Here, we show that HY5 binding to the promoters of UV-B-responsive genes is enhanced by UV-B in a UVR8-dependent manner in Arabidopsis thaliana. In agreement, overexpression of REPRESSOR OF UV-B PHOTOMORPHOGENESIS2, a negative regulator of UVR8 function, blocks UV-B-responsive HY5 enrichment at target promoters. Moreover, we have identified a T/G-box in the HY5 promoter that is required for its UV-B responsiveness. We show that HY5 and its homolog HYH bind to the T/GHY5-box cis-acting element and that they act redundantly in the induction of HY5 expression upon UV-B exposure. Therefore, HY5 is enriched at target promoters in response to UV-B in a UVR8 photoreceptor-dependent manner, and HY5 and HYH interact directly with a T/G-box cis-acting element of the HY5 promoter, mediating the transcriptional activation of HY5 in response to UV-B. PMID:25351492

  9. CD147 subunit of lactate/H+ symporters MCT1 and hypoxia-inducible MCT4 is critical for energetics and growth of glycolytic tumors.

    PubMed

    Le Floch, Renaud; Chiche, Johanna; Marchiq, Ibtissam; Naiken, Tanesha; Naïken, Tanesha; Ilc, Karine; Ilk, Karine; Murray, Clare M; Critchlow, Susan E; Roux, Danièle; Simon, Marie-Pierre; Pouysségur, Jacques

    2011-10-04

    Malignant tumors exhibit increased dependence on glycolysis, resulting in abundant export of lactic acid, a hypothesized key step in tumorigenesis. Lactic acid is mainly transported by two H(+)/lactate symporters, MCT1/MCT4, that require the ancillary protein CD147/Basigin for their functionality. First, we showed that blocking MCT1/2 in Ras-transformed fibroblasts with AR-C155858 suppressed lactate export, glycolysis, and tumor growth, whereas ectopic expression of MCT4 in these cells conferred resistance to MCT1/2 inhibition and reestablished tumorigenicty. A mutant-derivative, deficient in respiration (res(-)) and exclusively relying on glycolysis for energy, displayed low tumorigenicity. These res(-) cells could develop resistance to MCT1/2 inhibition and became highly tumorigenic by reactivating their endogenous mct4 gene, highlighting that MCT4, the hypoxia-inducible and tumor-associated lactate/H(+) symporter, drives tumorigenicity. Second, in the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (LS174T), we showed that combined silencing of MCT1/MCT4 via inducible shRNA, or silencing of CD147/Basigin alone, significantly reduced glycolytic flux and tumor growth. However, both silencing approaches, which reduced tumor growth, displayed a low level of CD147/Basigin, a multifunctional protumoral protein. To gain insight into CD147/Basigin function, we designed experiments, via zinc finger nuclease-mediated mct4 and basigin knockouts, to uncouple MCTs from Basigin expression. Inhibition of MCT1 in MCT4-null, Basigin(high) cells suppressed tumor growth. Conversely, in Basigin-null cells, in which MCT activity had been maintained, tumorigenicity was not affected. Collectively, these findings highlight that the major protumoral action of CD147/Basigin is to control the energetics of glycolytic tumors via MCT1/MCT4 activity and that blocking lactic acid export provides an efficient anticancer strategy.

  10. CD147 subunit of lactate/H+ symporters MCT1 and hypoxia-inducible MCT4 is critical for energetics and growth of glycolytic tumors

    PubMed Central

    Le Floch, Renaud; Chiche, Johanna; Marchiq, Ibtissam; Naiken, Tanesha; Ilc, Karine; Murray, Clare M.; Critchlow, Susan E.; Roux, Danièle; Simon, Marie-Pierre; Pouysségur, Jacques

    2011-01-01

    Malignant tumors exhibit increased dependence on glycolysis, resulting in abundant export of lactic acid, a hypothesized key step in tumorigenesis. Lactic acid is mainly transported by two H+/lactate symporters, MCT1/MCT4, that require the ancillary protein CD147/Basigin for their functionality. First, we showed that blocking MCT1/2 in Ras-transformed fibroblasts with AR-C155858 suppressed lactate export, glycolysis, and tumor growth, whereas ectopic expression of MCT4 in these cells conferred resistance to MCT1/2 inhibition and reestablished tumorigenicty. A mutant-derivative, deficient in respiration (res−) and exclusively relying on glycolysis for energy, displayed low tumorigenicity. These res− cells could develop resistance to MCT1/2 inhibition and became highly tumorigenic by reactivating their endogenous mct4 gene, highlighting that MCT4, the hypoxia-inducible and tumor-associated lactate/H+ symporter, drives tumorigenicity. Second, in the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (LS174T), we showed that combined silencing of MCT1/MCT4 via inducible shRNA, or silencing of CD147/Basigin alone, significantly reduced glycolytic flux and tumor growth. However, both silencing approaches, which reduced tumor growth, displayed a low level of CD147/Basigin, a multifunctional protumoral protein. To gain insight into CD147/Basigin function, we designed experiments, via zinc finger nuclease-mediated mct4 and basigin knockouts, to uncouple MCTs from Basigin expression. Inhibition of MCT1 in MCT4-null, Basiginhigh cells suppressed tumor growth. Conversely, in Basigin-null cells, in which MCT activity had been maintained, tumorigenicity was not affected. Collectively, these findings highlight that the major protumoral action of CD147/Basigin is to control the energetics of glycolytic tumors via MCT1/MCT4 activity and that blocking lactic acid export provides an efficient anticancer strategy. PMID:21930917

  11. 77 FR 18716 - Transportation Security Administration Postal Zip Code Change; Technical Amendment

    Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

    2012-03-28

    ... organizational changes and it has no substantive effect on the public. DATES: Effective March 28, 2012. FOR... No. 1572-9] Transportation Security Administration Postal Zip Code Change; Technical Amendment AGENCY: Transportation Security Administration, DHS. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This rule is a technical change to...

  12. Temperature dependence of luminescence behavior in Er3+-doped BaY2F8 single crystal

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Shuai; Ruan, Yongfeng; Tsuboi, Taiju; Tong, Hongshuang; Wang, Youfa; Zhang, Shouchao

    2013-12-01

    BaY2F8 single crystals doped with Er3+ ions have been grown by the temperature gradient method. The absorption, excitation and emission spectra for Er3+-doped BaY2F8 crystals were measured at room temperature (297 K) and 12 K. The effect of temperature on the luminescence intensity and effective bandwidth was investigated in the range of 12-297 K. The temperature dependence of the fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) for the 522 nm emission (2H11/2→4I15/2 transition) and the 552 nm emission (4S3/2→4I15/2 transition) was also studied in the range of 12-297 K. Based on the fitting FIR curve, the value of the constant term B (2.25) was obtained. The fitting FIR curve and FIR equation may have a potential application in the temperature measurement. In addition, the up-conversion spectrum at room temperature was recorded under excitation of 980 nm and the up-conversion mechanism was analyzed in detail.

  13. Comprehensive characterization and RNA-Seq profiling of the HD-Zip transcription factor family in soybean (Glycine max) during dehydration and salt stress

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    The homeodomain leucine zipper (HD-Zip) transcription factor family is one of the largest plant specific superfamilies, and includes genes with roles in modulation of plant growth and response to environmental stresses. Many HD-Zip genes are well characterized in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), ...

  14. A mathematical model of tumour and blood pHe regulation: The HCO3-/CO2 buffering system.

    PubMed

    Martin, Natasha K; Gaffney, Eamonn A; Gatenby, Robert A; Gillies, Robert J; Robey, Ian F; Maini, Philip K

    2011-03-01

    Malignant tumours are characterised by a low, acidic extracellular pH (pHe) which facilitates invasion and metastasis. Previous research has proposed the potential benefits of manipulating systemic pHe, and recent experiments have highlighted the potential for buffer therapy to raise tumour pHe, prevent metastases, and prolong survival in laboratory mice. To examine the physiological regulation of tumour buffering and investigate how perturbations of the buffering system (via metabolic/respiratory disorders or changes in parameters) can alter tumour and blood pHe, we develop a simple compartmentalised ordinary differential equation model of pHe regulation by the HCO3-/CO2 buffering system. An approximate analytical solution is constructed and used to carry out a sensitivity analysis, where we identify key parameters that regulate tumour pHe in both humans and mice. From this analysis, we suggest promising alternative and combination therapies, and identify specific patient groups which may show an enhanced response to buffer therapy. In addition, numerical simulations are performed, validating the model against well-known metabolic/respiratory disorders and predicting how these disorders could change tumour pHe. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  15. Sodium/iodide symporter: a key transport system in thyroid cancer cell metabolism.

    PubMed

    Filetti, S; Bidart, J M; Arturi, F; Caillou, B; Russo, D; Schlumberger, M

    1999-11-01

    The recent cloning of the gene encoding the sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) has enabled better characterization of the molecular mechanisms underlying iodide transport, thus opening the way to clarifying its role in thyroid diseases. Several studies, at both the mRNA and the protein expression levels, have demonstrated that TSH, the primary regulator of iodide uptake, upregulates NIS gene expression and NIS protein abundance, both in vitro and in vivo. However, other factors, including iodide, retinoic acid, transforming growth factor-beta, interleukin-1alpha and tumour necrosis factor alpha, may participate in the regulation of NIS expression. Investigation of NIS mRNA expression in different thyroid tissues has revealed increased levels of expression in Graves' disease and toxic adenomas, whereas a reduction or loss of NIS transcript was detected in differentiated thyroid carcinomas, despite the expression of other specific thyroid markers. NIS mRNA was also detected in non-thyroid tissues able to concentrate radioiodine, including salivary glands, stomach, thymus and breast. The production of specific antibodies against the NIS has facilitated study of the expression of the symporter protein. Despite of the presence of high levels of human (h)NIS mRNA, normal thyroid glands exhibit a heterogeneous expression of NIS protein, limited to the basolateral membrane of the thyrocytes. By immunohistochemistry, staining of hNIS protein was stronger in Graves' and toxic adenomas and reduced in thyroid carcinomas. Measurement of iodide uptake by thyroid cancer cells is the cornerstone of the follow-up and treatment of patients with thyroid cancer. However, radioiodide uptake is found only in about 67% of patients with persistent or recurrent disease. Several studies have demonstrated a decrease in or a loss of NIS expression in primary human thyroid carcinomas, and immunohistochemical studies have confirmed this considerably decreased expression of the NIS protein in thyroid

  16. Modulation of Sodium Iodide Symporter in Thyroid Cancer

    PubMed Central

    Lakshmanan, Aparna; Scarberry, Daniel

    2015-01-01

    Radioactive iodine (RAI) is a key therapeutic modality for thyroid cancer. Loss of RAI uptake in thyroid cancer inversely correlates with patient’s survival. In this review, we focus on the challenges encountered in delivering sufficient doses of I-131 to eradicate metastatic lesions without increasing the risk of unwanted side effects. Sodium iodide symporter (NIS) mediates iodide influx, and NIS expression and function can be selectively enhanced in thyroid cells by thyroid-stimulating hormone. We summarize our current knowledge of NIS modulation in normal and cancer thyroid cells, and we propose that several reagents evaluated in clinical trials for other diseases can be used to restore or further increase RAI accumulation in thyroid cancer. Once validated in preclinical mouse models and clinical trials, these reagents, mostly small-molecule inhibitors, can be readily translated into clinical practice. We review available genetically engineered mouse models of thyroid cancer in terms of their tumor development and progression as well as their thyroid function. These mice will not only provide important insights into the mechanisms underlying the loss of RAI uptake in thyroid tumors but will also serve as preclinical animal models to evaluate the efficacy of candidate reagents to selectively increase RAI uptake in thyroid cancers. Taken together, we anticipate that the optimal use of RAI in the clinical management of thyroid cancer is yet to come in the near future. PMID:25234361

  17. Core Transmembrane Domain 6 Plays a Pivotal Role in the Transport Cycle of the Sodium/Proline Symporter PutP*

    PubMed Central

    Bracher, Susanne; Schmidt, Claudia C.; Dittmer, Sophie I.; Jung, Heinrich

    2016-01-01

    Crystal structures of transporters with a LeuT-type structural fold assign core transmembrane domain 6 (TM6′) a central role in substrate binding and translocation. Here, the function of TM6′ in the sodium/proline symporter PutP, a member of the solute/sodium symporter family, was investigated. A complete scan of TM6′ identified eight amino acids as particularly important for PutP function. Of these residues, Tyr-248, His-253, and Arg-257 impact sodium binding, whereas Arg-257 and Ala-260 may participate in interactions leading to closure of the inner gate. Furthermore, the previous suggestion of an involvement of Trp-244, Tyr-248, and Pro-252 in proline binding is further supported. In addition, substitution of Gly-245, Gly-247, and Gly-250 affects the amount of PutP in the membrane. A Cys accessibility analysis suggests an involvement of the inner half of TM6′ in the formation of a hydrophilic pathway that is open to the inside in the absence of ligands and closed in the presence of sodium and proline. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that TM6′ plays a central role in substrate binding and release on the inner side of the membrane also in PutP and extend the knowledge on functionally relevant amino acids in transporters with a LeuT-type structural fold. PMID:27793991

  18. Extracellular acidosis and very low [Na+ ] inhibit NBCn1- and NHE1-mediated net acid extrusion from mouse vascular smooth muscle cells.

    PubMed

    Bonde, L; Boedtkjer, E

    2017-10-01

    The electroneutral Na + , HCO3- cotransporter NBCn1 and Na + /H + exchanger NHE1 regulate acid-base balance in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and modify artery function and structure. Pathological conditions - notably ischaemia - can dramatically perturb intracellular (i) and extracellular (o) pH and [Na + ]. We examined effects of low [Na + ] o and pH o on NBCn1 and NHE1 activity in VSMCs of small arteries. We measured pH i by 2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein-based fluorescence microscopy of mouse mesenteric arteries and induced intracellular acidification by NH4+ prepulse technique. NBCn1 activity - defined as Na + -dependent, amiloride-insensitive net base uptake with CO 2 /HCO3- present - was inhibited equally when pH o decreased from 7.4 (22 mm HCO3-/5% CO 2 ) by metabolic (pH o 7.1/11 mm HCO3-: 22 ± 8%; pH o 6.8/5.5 mm HCO3-: 61 ± 7%) or respiratory (pH o 7.1/10% CO 2 : 35 ± 11%; pH o 6.8/20% CO 2 : 56 ± 7%) acidosis. Extracellular acidosis more prominently inhibited NHE1 activity - defined as Na + -dependent net acid extrusion without CO 2 /HCO3- present - at both pH o 7.1 (45 ± 9%) and 6.8 (85 ± 5%). Independently of pH o , lowering [Na + ] o from 140 to 70 mm reduced NBCn1 and NHE1 activity <20% whereas transport activities declined markedly (25-50%) when [Na + ] o was reduced to 35 mm. Steady-state pH i decreased more during respiratory (ΔpH i /ΔpH o  = 71 ± 4%) than metabolic (ΔpH i /ΔpH o  = 30 ± 7%) acidosis. Extracellular acidification inhibits NBCn1 and NHE1 activity in VSMCs. NBCn1 is equivalently inhibited when pCO 2 is raised or [HCO3-] o decreased. Lowering [Na + ] o inhibits NBCn1 and NHE1 markedly only below the typical physiological and pathophysiological range. We propose that inhibition of Na + -dependent net acid extrusion at low pH o protects against cellular Na + overload at the cost of intracellular acidification. © 2017 Scandinavian Physiological Society. Published by

  19. Accessory proteins 8b and 8ab of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus suppress the interferon signaling pathway by mediating ubiquitin-dependent rapid degradation of interferon regulatory factor 3.

    PubMed

    Wong, Hui Hui; Fung, To Sing; Fang, Shouguo; Huang, Mei; Le, My Tra; Liu, Ding Xiang

    2018-02-01

    Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is an inefficient inducer of interferon (IFN) response. It expresses various proteins that effectively circumvent IFN production at different levels via distinct mechanisms. Through the construction of recombinant IBV expressing proteins 8a, 8b and 8ab encoded by SARS-CoV ORF8, we demonstrate that expression of 8b and 8ab enables the corresponding recombinant viruses to partially overcome the inhibitory actions of IFN activation to achieve higher replication efficiencies in cells. We also found that proteins 8b and 8ab could physically interact with IRF3. Overexpression of 8b and 8ab resulted in the reduction of poly (I:C)-induced IRF3 dimerization and inhibition of the IFN-β signaling pathway. This counteracting effect was partially mediated by protein 8b/8ab-induced degradation of IRF3 in a ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent manner. Taken together, we propose that SARS-CoV may exploit the unique functions of proteins 8b and 8ab as novel mechanisms to overcome the effect of IFN response during virus infection. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  20. Identification of Potential Sodium Iodide Symporter (NIS) Inhibitors in ToxCast Phase1_v2 Chemical Library Using in vitro Radioactive Iodide Uptake (RAIU) Assay

    EPA Science Inventory

    Identification of Potential Sodium Iodide Symporter (NIS) Inhibitors in ToxCast Phase1_v2 Chemical Library Using in vitro Radioactive Iodide Uptake (RAIU) Assay Jun Wang1,2, Daniel R. Hallinger2, Ashley S. Murr2, Angela R. Buckalew1, Tammy E. Stoker2, Susan C. Laws21Oak Ridge In...

  1. The Sodium/Iodide Symporter (NIS): Molecular Physiology and Preclinical and Clinical Applications

    PubMed Central

    Ravera, Silvia; Reyna-Neyra, Andrea; Ferrandino, Giuseppe; Amzel, L. Mario; Carrasco, Nancy

    2017-01-01

    Active iodide (I−) transport in both the thyroid and some extrathyroidal tissues is mediated by the N a+/I− symporter (NIS). In the thyroid, NIS-mediated I− uptake plays a pivotal role in thyroid hormone (TH) biosynthesis. THs are key during embryonic and postembryonic development and critical for cell metabolism at all stages of life. The molecular characterization of NIS in 1996 and the use of radioactive I− isotopes have led to significan advances in the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid cancer and provide the molecular basis for studies aimed at extending the use of radioiodide treatment in extrathyroidal malignancies. This review focuses on the most recent finding on I− homeostasis and I− transport deficiency-causin NIS mutations, as well as current knowledge of the structure/function properties of NIS and NIS regulatory mechanisms. We also discuss employing NIS as a reporter gene using viral vectors and stem cells in imaging, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures. PMID:28192058

  2. The Na+/I− Symporter (NIS): Mechanism and Medical Impact

    PubMed Central

    Portulano, Carla; Paroder-Belenitsky, Monika

    2014-01-01

    The Na+/I− symporter (NIS) is the plasma membrane glycoprotein that mediates active I− transport in the thyroid and other tissues, such as salivary glands, stomach, lactating breast, and small intestine. In the thyroid, NIS-mediated I− uptake plays a key role as the first step in the biosynthesis of the thyroid hormones, of which iodine is an essential constituent. These hormones are crucial for the development of the central nervous system and the lungs in the fetus and the newborn and for intermediary metabolism at all ages. Since the cloning of NIS in 1996, NIS research has become a major field of inquiry, with considerable impact on many basic and translational areas. In this article, we review the most recent findings on NIS, I− homeostasis, and related topics and place them in historical context. Among many other issues, we discuss the current outlook on iodide deficiency disorders, the present stage of understanding of the structure/function properties of NIS, information gleaned from the characterization of I− transport deficiency-causing NIS mutations, insights derived from the newly reported crystal structures of prokaryotic transporters and 3-dimensional homology modeling, and the novel discovery that NIS transports different substrates with different stoichiometries. A review of NIS regulatory mechanisms is provided, including a newly discovered one involving a K+ channel that is required for NIS function in the thyroid. We also cover current and potential clinical applications of NIS, such as its central role in the treatment of thyroid cancer, its promising use as a reporter gene in imaging and diagnostic procedures, and the latest studies on NIS gene transfer aimed at extending radioiodide treatment to extrathyroidal cancers, including those involving specially engineered NIS molecules. PMID:24311738

  3. The molecular core in G34.3 + 0.2 - Millimeter interferometric observations of HCO(+), H(C-13)N, H(C-15)N, and SO

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Carral, Patricia; Welch, William J.

    1992-01-01

    This study presents high-resolution observations of the molecular core in the star-forming region G34.3 + 0.2. Maps at 6-arcsec resolution of emission and absorption of the J = 1 - 0 transitions of HCO(+), H (C-13)N, H(C-15)N, and of the 2(2) - 1(1) transition of SO were obtained in addition to a map of the 3.4-mm continuum emission from the compact H II component. The HCL(+) emission toward G34.3 + 0.2 traces a warm molecular core about 0.9 pc in size. Emission from H (C-13)N is detected over about 0.3 pc. The cometary H II region lies near the edge of the molecular core. The blueshift of the radio recombination lines with respect to the molecular emission suggests that gas from the H II region is accelerated in a champagne flow caused by a steep gradient in the ambient gas density.

  4. Transient removal of alkaline zones after excitation of Chara cells is associated with inactivation of high conductance in the plasmalemma

    PubMed Central

    2009-01-01

    The action potential (AP) of excitable plant cells is a multifunctional physiological signal. Its generation in characean algae suppresses the pH banding for 15–30 min and enhances the heterogeneity of spatial distribution of photosynthetic activity. This suppression is largely due to the cessation of H+ influx (OH− efflux) in the alkaline cell regions. Measurements of local pH and membrane conductance in individual space-clamped alkaline zones (small cell areas bathed in an isolated pool of external medium) showed that the AP generation is followed by the transient disappearance of alkaline zone in parallel with a large decrease in membrane conductance. These changes, specific to alkaline zones, were only observed under continuous illumination following a relaxation period of at least 15 min after previous excitation. The excitation of dark-adapted cells produced no conductance changes in the post-excitation period. The results indicate that the origin of alkaline zones in characean cells is not due to operation of electroneutral H+/HCO3symport or OH−/HCO3− antiport. It is concluded that the membrane excitation is associated with inactivation of plasmalemma high conductance in the alkaline cell regions. PMID:19820298

  5. Possible pore size effects on the state of tris(8-quinolinato)aluminum(III) (Alq3) adsorbed in mesoporous silicas and their temperature dependence.

    PubMed

    Tagaya, Motohiro; Ogawa, Makoto

    2008-12-07

    The states of tris(8-quinolinato)aluminum(III) (Alq3) adsorbed in mesoporous silicas with different pore sizes (2.5, 3.1 and 5.0 nm) were investigated. Alq3 was successfully occluded into the mesoporous silicas from solution and the adsorbed amount of Alq3 per BET surface area was effectively controlled by changing the added amount Alq3 to the solution. The state of Alq3 in the mesopore varied depending on the pore size as well as the adsorbed amount of Alq3 as revealed by variation of the photoluminescence spectra. The luminescence of the adsorbed Alq3 was found to be temperature-dependent, indicating the mobility of the adsorbed Alq3 to temperature variations. The temperature-dependence also depended on the pore size. The guest-guest interactions between Alq3 molecules as well as the host-guest interactions between Alq3 and the mesopore were controlled by the pore size.

  6. Integrated Analysis of Engineered Carbon Limitation in a Quadruple CO2/HCO3− Uptake Mutant of Synechocystis sp. PCC 68031[OPEN

    PubMed Central

    Orf, Isabel; Klähn, Stephan; Schwarz, Doreen; Frank, Marcus; Hess, Wolfgang R.; Hagemann, Martin; Kopka, Joachim

    2015-01-01

    Cyanobacteria have efficient carbon concentration mechanisms and suppress photorespiration in response to inorganic carbon (Ci) limitation. We studied intracellular Ci limitation in the slow-growing CO2/HCO3−-uptake mutant ΔndhD3 (for NADH dehydrogenase subunit D3)/ndhD4 (for NADH dehydrogenase subunit D4)/cmpA (for bicarbonate transport system substrate-binding protein A)/sbtA (for sodium-dependent bicarbonate transporter A): Δ4 mutant of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. When cultivated under high-CO2 conditions, ∆4 phenocopies wild-type metabolic and transcriptomic acclimation responses after the shift from high to low CO2 supply. The ∆4 phenocopy reveals multiple compensation mechanisms and differs from the preacclimation of the transcriptional Ci regulator mutant ∆ndhR (for ndhF3 operon transcriptional regulator). Contrary to the carboxysomeless ∆ccmM (for carbon dioxide concentrating mechanism protein M) mutant, the metabolic photorespiratory burst triggered by shifting to low CO2 is not enhanced in ∆4. However, levels of the photorespiratory intermediates 2-phosphoglycolate and glycine are increased under high CO2. The number of carboxysomes is increased in ∆4 under high-CO2 conditions and appears to be the major contributing factor for the avoidance of photorespiration under intracellular Ci limitation. The ∆4 phenocopy is associated with the deregulation of Ci control, an overreduced cellular state, and limited photooxidative stress. Our data suggest multiple layers of Ci regulation, including inversely regulated modules of antisense RNAs and cognate target messenger RNAs and specific trans-acting small RNAs, such as the posttranscriptional PHOTOSYNTHESIS REGULATORY RNA1 (PsrR1), which shows increased expression in ∆4 and is involved in repressing many photosynthesis genes at the posttranscriptional level. In conclusion, our insights extend the knowledge on the range of compensatory responses of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 to intracellular Ci

  7. Chemistry in Infrared Dark Cloud Clumps: A Molecular Line Survey at 3 mm

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sanhueza, Patricio; Jackson, James M.; Foster, Jonathan B.; Garay, Guido; Silva, Andrea; Finn, Susanna C.

    2012-09-01

    We have observed 37 Infrared Dark Clouds (IRDCs), containing a total of 159 clumps, in high-density molecular tracers at 3 mm using the 22 m ATNF Mopra Telescope located in Australia. After determining kinematic distances, we eliminated clumps that are not located in IRDCs and clumps with a separation between them of less than one Mopra beam. Our final sample consists of 92 IRDC clumps. The most commonly detected molecular lines are (detection rates higher than 8%) N2H+, HNC, HN13C, HCO+, H13CO+, HCN, C2H, HC3N, HNCO, and SiO. We investigate the behavior of the different molecular tracers and look for chemical variations as a function of an evolutionary sequence based on Spitzer IRAC and MIPS emission. We find that the molecular tracers behave differently through the evolutionary sequence and some of them can be used to yield useful relative age information. The presence of HNC and N2H+ lines does not depend on the star formation activity. On the other hand, HC3N, HNCO, and SiO are predominantly detected in later stages of evolution. Optical depth calculations show that in IRDC clumps the N2H+ line is optically thin, the C2H line is moderately optically thick, and HNC and HCO+ are optically thick. The HCN hyperfine transitions are blended, and, in addition, show self-absorbed line profiles and extended wing emission. These factors combined prevent the use of HCN hyperfine transitions for the calculation of physical parameters. Total column densities of the different molecules, except C2H, increase with the evolutionary stage of the clumps. Molecular abundances increase with the evolutionary stage for N2H+ and HCO+. The N2H+/HCO+ and N2H+/HNC abundance ratios act as chemical clocks, increasing with the evolution of the clumps.

  8. SnRK1-triggered switch of bZIP63 dimerization mediates the low-energy response in plants

    PubMed Central

    Mair, Andrea; Pedrotti, Lorenzo; Wurzinger, Bernhard; Anrather, Dorothea; Simeunovic, Andrea; Weiste, Christoph; Valerio, Concetta; Dietrich, Katrin; Kirchler, Tobias; Nägele, Thomas; Vicente Carbajosa, Jesús; Hanson, Johannes; Baena-González, Elena; Chaban, Christina; Weckwerth, Wolfram; Dröge-Laser, Wolfgang; Teige, Markus

    2015-01-01

    Metabolic adjustment to changing environmental conditions, particularly balancing of growth and defense responses, is crucial for all organisms to survive. The evolutionary conserved AMPK/Snf1/SnRK1 kinases are well-known metabolic master regulators in the low-energy response in animals, yeast and plants. They act at two different levels: by modulating the activity of key metabolic enzymes, and by massive transcriptional reprogramming. While the first part is well established, the latter function is only partially understood in animals and not at all in plants. Here we identified the Arabidopsis transcription factor bZIP63 as key regulator of the starvation response and direct target of the SnRK1 kinase. Phosphorylation of bZIP63 by SnRK1 changed its dimerization preference, thereby affecting target gene expression and ultimately primary metabolism. A bzip63 knock-out mutant exhibited starvation-related phenotypes, which could be functionally complemented by wild type bZIP63, but not by a version harboring point mutations in the identified SnRK1 target sites. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.05828.001 PMID:26263501

  9. Thickness dependence of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/PbZr0.2Ti0.8O3 magnetoelectric interfaces

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhou, Jinling; Tra, Vu Thanh; Dong, Shuai; Trappen, Robbyn; Marcus, Matthew A.; Jenkins, Catherine; Frye, Charles; Wolfe, Evan; White, Ryan; Polisetty, Srinivas; Lin, Jiunn-Yuan; LeBeau, James M.; Chu, Ying-Hao; Holcomb, Mikel Barry

    2015-10-01

    Magnetoelectric materials have great potential to revolutionize electronic devices due to the coupling of their electric and magnetic properties. Thickness varying La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO)/PbZr0.2Ti0.8O3 (PZT) heterostructures were built and measured in this article by valence sensitive x-ray absorption spectroscopy. The sizing effects of the heterostructures on the LSMO/PZT magnetoelectric interfaces were investigated through the behavior of Mn valence, a property associated with the LSMO magnetization. We found that Mn valence increases with both LSMO and PZT thickness. Piezoresponse force microscopy revealed a transition from monodomain to polydomain structure along the PZT thickness gradient. The ferroelectric surface charge may change with domain structure and its effects on Mn valence were simulated using a two-orbital double-exchange model. The screening of ferroelectric surface charge increases the electron charges in the interface region, and greatly changes the interfacial Mn valence, which likely plays a leading role in the interfacial magnetoelectric coupling. The LSMO thickness dependence was examined through the combination of two detection modes with drastically different attenuation depths. The different length scales of these techniques' sensitivity to the atomic valence were used to estimate the depth dependence Mn valence. A smaller interfacial Mn valence than the bulk was found by globally fitting the experimental results.

  10. On the temperature dependence of possible S8 infrared bands in planetary atmospheres

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Khare, B. N.; Sagan, C.

    1976-01-01

    Measurements of the temperature dependence between 77 and 333 K of the infrared spectrum of cyclic octatomic sulfur are reported. It is suggested that the 23 micrometer Jovian feature is not due to 3 sub 8 and that the temperature dependence of the frequency of the 835/cm band of S sub 8 may be a useful temperature marker in planetary studies.

  11. OsLOL1, a C2C2-type zinc finger protein, interacts with OsbZIP58 to promote seed germination through the modulation of gibberellin biosynthesis in Oryza sativa.

    PubMed

    Wu, Jiahe; Zhu, Chuanfeng; Pang, Jinhuan; Zhang, Xiangrong; Yang, Chunlin; Xia, Guixian; Tian, Yingchuan; He, Chaozu

    2014-12-01

    Seed germination is a key developmental process in the plant life cycle that is influenced by various environmental cues and phytohormones through gene expression and a series of metabolism pathways. In the present study, we investigated a C2C2-type finger protein, OsLOL1, which promotes gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis and affects seed germination in Oryza sativa (rice). We used OsLOL1 antisense and sense transgenic lines to explore OsLOL1 functions. Seed germination timing in antisense plants was restored to wild type when exogenous GA3 was applied. The reduced expression of the GA biosynthesis gene OsKO2 and the accumulation of ent-kaurene were observed during germination in antisense plants. Based on yeast two-hybrid and firefly luciferase complementation analyses, OsLOL1 interacted with the basic leucine zipper protein OsbZIP58. The results from electrophoretic mobility shift and dual-luciferase reporter assays showed that OsbZIP58 binds the G-box cis-element of the OsKO2 promoter and activates LUC reporter gene expression, and that interaction between OsLOL1 and OsbZIP58 activates OsKO2 gene expression. In addition, OsLOL1 decreased SOD1 gene expression and accelerated programmed cell death (PCD) in the aleurone layer of rice grains. These findings demonstrate that the interaction between OsLOL1 and OsbZIP58 influences GA biosynthesis through the activation of OsKO2 via OsbZIP58, thereby stimulating aleurone PCD and seed germination. © 2014 The Authors The Plant Journal © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  12. The bZIP dimer localizes at DNA full-sites where each basic region can alternately translocate and bind to subsites at the half-site.

    PubMed

    Chan, I-San; Al-Sarraj, Taufik; Shahravan, S Hesam; Fedorova, Anna V; Shin, Jumi A

    2012-08-21

    Crystal structures of the GCN4 bZIP (basic region/leucine zipper) with the AP-1 or CRE site show how each GCN4 basic region binds to a 4 bp cognate half-site as a single DNA target; however, this may not always fully describe how bZIP proteins interact with their target sites. Previously, we showed that the GCN4 basic region interacts with all 5 bp in half-site TTGCG (termed 5H-LR) and that 5H-LR comprises two 4 bp subsites, TTGC and TGCG, which individually are also target sites of the basic region. In this work, we explore how the basic region interacts with 5H-LR when the bZIP dimer localizes to full-sites. Using AMBER molecular modeling, we simulated GCN4 bZIP complexes with full-sites containing 5H-LR to investigate in silico the interface between the basic region and 5H-LR. We also performed in vitro investigation of bZIP-DNA interactions at a number of full-sites that contain 5H-LR versus either subsite: we analyzed results from DNase I footprinting and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and from EMSA titrations to quantify binding affinities. Our computational and experimental results together support a highly dynamic DNA-binding model: when a bZIP dimer localizes to its target full-site, the basic region can alternately recognize either subsite as a distinct target at 5H-LR and translocate between the subsites, potentially by sliding and hopping. This model provides added insights into how α-helical DNA-binding domains of transcription factors can localize to their gene regulatory sequences in vivo.

  13. Effect of somatostatin-14 on duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion in guinea pigs.

    PubMed

    Odes, H S; Muallem, R; Reimer, R; Ioffe, S; Beil, W; Schwenk, M; Sewing, K F

    1995-03-01

    The role of somatostatin-14 in duodenal mucosal HCO3- secretion was investigated in anesthetized, indomethacin-treated guinea pigs. Net HCO3- output from the isolated, perfused (24 mM NaHCO3 + 130 mM NaCl) proximal duodenum was measured during intravenous infusion (alone or in combination) of somatostatin-14, carbachol, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). In homogenates of duodenal enterocytes, the effect of these agents on adenylate cyclase activity was studied. Basal duodenal HCO3- secretion (3.5 +/- 0.2 mumol/cm/10 min) was reduced dose dependently by somatostatin-14 (10(-11) mol/kg, 10(-9) mol/kg, and 10(-7) mol/kg). Carbachol, VIP, and PGE2 (all 10(-8) mol/kg) increased basal duodenal HCO3- secretion two- to threefold. Somatostatin-14 (10(-7) mol/kg) abolished the stimulatory effect of carbachol and VIP, but not that of PGE2. Basal adenylate cyclase activity in isolated duodenal enterocytes (9.4 +/- 1.0 pmol cAMP/mg protein/min) was unaltered by somatostatin (10(-6) mol/liter) or carbachol (10(-3) mol/liter). VIP (10(-8) mol/liter) and PGE2 (10(-7) mol/liter) increased adenylate cyclase activity two- to threefold, and these effects were unchanged by somatostatin-14 (10(-6) mol/liter). In conclusion, somatostatin-14 inhibits basal and carbachol- and VIP-stimulated duodenal HCO3- secretion, and its mechanism of action is not via inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity in duodenal enterocytes.

  14. Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of maganese(II)-dependent 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase from Bacillus sp. JF8

    PubMed Central

    Senda, Miki; Hatta, Takashi; Kimbara, Kazuhide; Senda, Toshiya

    2010-01-01

    A thermostable manganese(II)-dependent 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl-1,2-dioxygenase derived from Bacillus sp. JF8 was crystallized. The initial screening for crystallization was performed by the sitting-drop vapour-diffusion method using a crystallization robot, resulting in the growth of two crystal forms. The first crystal belonged to space group P1, with unit-cell parameters a = 62.7, b = 71.4, c = 93.6 Å, α = 71.2, β = 81.0, γ = 64.0°, and diffracted to 1.3 Å resolution. The second crystal belonged to space group I222, with unit-cell parameters a = 74.2, b = 90.8, c = 104.3 Å, and diffracted to 1.3 Å resolution. Molecular-replacement trials using homoprotocatechuate 2,3-dioxygenase from Arthrobacter globiformis (28% amino-acid sequence identity) as a search model provided a satisfactory solution for both crystal forms. PMID:20208161

  15. Identification of Conformationally Sensitive Amino Acids in the Na+/Dicarboxylate Symporter (SdcS)†

    PubMed Central

    Joshi, Aditya D.; Pajor, Ana M.

    2009-01-01

    The Na+/dicarboxylate symporter (SdcS) from Staphylococcus aureus is a homolog of the mammalian Na+/dicarboxylate cotransporters (NaDC1) from solute carrier family 13 (SLC 13). The present study examined succinate transport by SdcS heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, using right-side-out (RSO) and inside-out (ISO) membrane vesicles. The Km values for succinate in RSO and ISO vesicles were similar, about 30 μM. The single cysteine of SdcS was replaced to produce the cysteineless transporter, C457S, which demonstrated similar functional characteristics as the wild-type. Single cysteine mutants were made in SdcS-C457S at positions that are functionally important in the mammalian NaDC1. Mutant N108C of SdcS was sensitive to chemical labeling by MTSET ([2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl]-methanethiosulfonate) from both the cytoplasmic and extracellular side, depending on the conformational state of the transporter, suggesting that Asn-108 may be found in the translocation pore of the protein. Mutant D329C was sensitive to MTSET in the presence of Na+ but only from the extracellular side. Finally, mutant L436C was insensitive to MTSET although changes in its kinetic properties indicate that this residue may be important in substrate binding. In conclusion, this work identifies Asn-108 as a key residue in the translocation pathway of the protein, accessible in different states from both sides of the membrane. Functional characterization of SdcS should provide useful structural as well as functional details about mammalian transporters from the SLC 13 family. PMID:19260674

  16. Why Your ZIP Code Matters More Than Your Genetic Code: Promoting Healthy Outcomes from Mother to Child.

    PubMed

    Graham, Garth N

    2016-10-01

    Health equity has long been the dominant theme in the work of the Aetna Foundation. Recent data have focused on disparities through another lens, particularly the correlation between where people live (i.e., ZIP code) and their quality-and length-of life. In various cities across America, average life expectancies in certain communities are 20-30 years shorter than those mere miles away. In general, health disparities are founded on a complex interplay of racial, economic, educational, and other social factors. For example, breastfeeding rates in the United States differ significantly depending upon the race and income of the mother. Government policy makers are acutely aware of these disparities, but recent health system reforms have focused predominately on the processes used to administer, finance, and deliver care. What is needed is an approach that considers the health and wellness of all people in a geographic area, beyond established patients, and that measures more than clinical factors-such as genetics, environmental health, social circumstances, and individual behaviors. Solutions also must extend beyond the traditional healthcare arena. In particular, novel technological innovations show promise to bridge gaps between our healthcare capabilities and the needs of underserved populations. Digital tools are poised to revolutionize measurement, diagnostics, treatment, and global aspect of our healthcare system. The Aetna Foundation views technology as a core strategy in reducing health inequities through an approach that addresses both clinical and social factors in populations to dismantle the persistent paradigm of ZIP code as personal health destiny.

  17. A directional nucleation-zipping mechanism for triple helix formation

    PubMed Central

    Alberti, Patrizia; Arimondo, Paola B.; Mergny, Jean-Louis; Garestier, Thérèse; Hélène, Claude; Sun, Jian-Sheng

    2002-01-01

    A detailed kinetic study of triple helix formation was performed by surface plasmon resonance. Three systems were investigated involving 15mer pyrimidine oligonucleotides as third strands. Rate constants and activation energies were validated by comparison with thermodynamic values calculated from UV-melting analysis. Replacement of a T·A base pair by a C·G pair at either the 5′ or the 3′ end of the target sequence allowed us to assess mismatch effects and to delineate the mechanism of triple helix formation. Our data show that the association rate constant is governed by the sequence of base triplets on the 5′ side of the triplex (referred to as the 5′ side of the target oligopurine strand) and provides evidence that the reaction pathway for triple helix formation in the pyrimidine motif proceeds from the 5′ end to the 3′ end of the triplex according to the nucleation-zipping model. It seems that this is a general feature for all triple helices formation, probably due to the right-handedness of the DNA double helix that provides a stronger base stacking at the 5′ than at the 3′ duplex–triplex junction. Understanding the mechanism of triple helix formation is not only of fundamental interest, but may also help in designing better triple helix-forming oligonucleotides for gene targeting and control of gene expression. PMID:12490709

  18. Physiological sodium concentrations enhance the iodide affinity of the Na+/I- symporter

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nicola, Juan P.; Carrasco, Nancy; Mario Amzel, L.

    2014-06-01

    The Na+/I- symporter (NIS) mediates active I- transport—the first step in thyroid hormonogenesis—with a 2Na+:1I- stoichiometry. NIS-mediated 131I- treatment of thyroid cancer post-thyroidectomy is the most effective targeted internal radiation cancer treatment available. Here to uncover mechanistic information on NIS, we use statistical thermodynamics to obtain Kds and estimate the relative populations of the different NIS species during Na+/anion binding and transport. We show that, although the affinity of NIS for I- is low (Kd=224 μM), it increases when Na+ is bound (Kd=22.4 μM). However, this Kd is still much higher than the submicromolar physiological I- concentration. To overcome this, NIS takes advantage of the extracellular Na+ concentration and the pronounced increase in its own affinity for I- and for the second Na+ elicited by binding of the first. Thus, at physiological Na+ concentrations, ~79% of NIS molecules are occupied by two Na+ ions and ready to bind and transport I-.

  19. 39 CFR Appendix A to Part 121 - Tables Depicting Service Standard Day Ranges

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-07-01

    ... & USVI Periodicals 1 1-3 1 1-3 1-4 (AK) 11 (JNU) 11 (KTN) 1 (HI) 2 (GU) 1-4 10-11 10 8-10 Standard Mail 2 3 3-4 3-4 14 13 12 Package Services 1 2 2-3 2-3 12 11 11 AK = Alaska 3-digit ZIP Codes 995-997; JNU = Juneau AK 3-digit ZIP Code 998; KTN = Ketchikan AK 3-digit ZIP Code 999; HI = Hawaii 3-digit ZIP Codes...

  20. 39 CFR Appendix A to Part 121 - Tables Depicting Service Standard Day Ranges

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-07-01

    ... & USVI Periodicals 1 1-3 1 1-3 1-4 (AK) 11 (JNU) 11 (KTN) 1 (HI) 2 (GU) 1-4 10-11 10 8-10 Standard Mail 2 3 3-4 3-4 14 13 12 Package Services 1 2 2-3 2-3 12 11 11 AK = Alaska 3-digit ZIP Codes 995-997; JNU = Juneau AK 3-digit ZIP Code 998; KTN = Ketchikan AK 3-digit ZIP Code 999; HI = Hawaii 3-digit ZIP Codes...

  1. Hyperglycemia-Induced Changes in ZIP7 and ZnT7 Expression Cause Zn2+ Release From the Sarco(endo)plasmic Reticulum and Mediate ER Stress in the Heart.

    PubMed

    Tuncay, Erkan; Bitirim, Verda C; Durak, Aysegul; Carrat, Gaelle R J; Taylor, Kathryn M; Rutter, Guy A; Turan, Belma

    2017-05-01

    Changes in cellular free Zn 2+ concentration, including those in the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum [S(E)R], are primarily coordinated by Zn 2+ transporters (ZnTs) whose identity and role in the heart are not well established. We hypothesized that ZIP7 and ZnT7 transport Zn 2+ in opposing directions across the S(E)R membrane in cardiomyocytes and that changes in their activity play an important role in the development of ER stress during hyperglycemia. The subcellular S(E)R localization of ZIP7 and ZnT7 was determined in cardiomyocytes and in isolated S(E)R preparations. Markedly increased mRNA and protein levels of ZIP7 were observed in ventricular cardiomyocytes from diabetic rats or high-glucose-treated H9c2 cells while ZnT7 expression was low. In addition, we observed increased ZIP7 phosphorylation in response to high glucose in vivo and in vitro. By using recombinant-targeted Förster resonance energy transfer sensors, we show that hyperglycemia induces a marked redistribution of cellular free Zn 2+ , increasing cytosolic free Zn 2+ and lowering free Zn 2+ in the S(E)R. These changes involve alterations in ZIP7 phosphorylation and were suppressed by small interfering RNA-mediated silencing of CK2α. Opposing changes in the expression of ZIP7 and ZnT7 were also observed in hyperglycemia. We conclude that subcellular free Zn 2+ redistribution in the hyperglycemic heart, resulting from altered ZIP7 and ZnT7 activity, contributes to cardiac dysfunction in diabetes. © 2017 by the American Diabetes Association.

  2. Molecular Dynamics Simulations of the Bacterial UraA H+-Uracil Symporter in Lipid Bilayers Reveal a Closed State and a Selective Interaction with Cardiolipin

    PubMed Central

    Kalli, Antreas C.; Sansom, Mark S. P.; Reithmeier, Reinhart A. F.

    2015-01-01

    The Escherichia coli UraA H+-uracil symporter is a member of the nucleobase/ascorbate transporter (NAT) family of proteins, and is responsible for the proton-driven uptake of uracil. Multiscale molecular dynamics simulations of the UraA symporter in phospholipid bilayers consisting of: 1) 1-palmitoyl 2-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (POPC); 2) 1-palmitoyl 2-oleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (POPE); and 3) a mixture of 75% POPE, 20% 1-palmitoyl 2-oleoyl-phosphatidylglycerol (POPG); and 5% 1-palmitoyl 2-oleoyl-diphosphatidylglycerol/cardiolipin (CL) to mimic the lipid composition of the bacterial inner membrane, were performed using the MARTINI coarse-grained force field to self-assemble lipids around the crystal structure of this membrane transport protein, followed by atomistic simulations. The overall fold of the protein in lipid bilayers remained similar to the crystal structure in detergent on the timescale of our simulations. Simulations were performed in the absence of uracil, and resulted in a closed state of the transporter, due to relative movement of the gate and core domains. Anionic lipids, including POPG and especially CL, were found to associate with UraA, involving interactions between specific basic residues in loop regions and phosphate oxygens of the CL head group. In particular, three CL binding sites were identified on UraA: two in the inner leaflet and a single site in the outer leaflet. Mutation of basic residues in the binding sites resulted in the loss of CL binding in the simulations. CL may play a role as a “proton trap” that channels protons to and from this transporter within CL-enriched areas of the inner bacterial membrane. PMID:25729859

  3. Saccharomyces cerevisiae glycerol/H+ symporter Stl1p is essential for cold/near-freeze and freeze stress adaptation. A simple recipe with high biotechnological potential is given

    PubMed Central

    2010-01-01

    Background Freezing is an increasingly important means of preservation and storage of microbial strains used for many types of industrial applications including food processing. However, the yeast mechanisms of tolerance and sensitivity to freeze or near-freeze stress are still poorly understood. More knowledge on this regard would improve their biotechnological potential. Glycerol, in particular intracellular glycerol, has been assigned as a cryoprotectant, also important for cold/near-freeze stress adaptation. The S. cerevisiae glycerol active transporter Stl1p plays an important role on the fast accumulation of glycerol. This gene is expressed under gluconeogenic conditions, under osmotic shock and stress, as well as under high temperatures. Results We found that cells grown on STL1 induction medium (YPGE) and subjected to cold/near-freeze stress, displayed an extremely high expression of this gene, also visible at glycerol/H+ symporter activity level. Under the same conditions, the strains harbouring this transporter accumulated more than 400 mM glycerol, whereas the glycerol/H+ symporter mutant presented less than 1 mM. Consistently, the strains able to accumulate glycerol survive 25-50% more than the stl1Δ mutant. Conclusions In this work, we report the contribution of the glycerol/H+ symporter Stl1p for the accumulation and maintenance of glycerol intracellular levels, and consequently cell survival at cold/near-freeze and freeze temperatures. These findings have a high biotechnological impact, as they show that any S. cerevisiae strain already in use can become more resistant to cold/freeze-thaw stress just by simply adding glycerol to the broth. The combination of low temperatures with extracellular glycerol will induce the transporter Stl1p. This solution avoids the use of transgenic strains, in particular in food industry. PMID:21047428

  4. Coronaviruses and arteriviruses display striking differences in their cyclophilin A-dependence during replication in cell culture.

    PubMed

    de Wilde, Adriaan H; Zevenhoven-Dobbe, Jessika C; Beugeling, Corrine; Chatterji, Udayan; de Jong, Danielle; Gallay, Philippe; Szuhai, Karoly; Posthuma, Clara C; Snijder, Eric J

    2018-04-01

    Cyclophilin A (CypA) is an important host factor in the replication of a variety of RNA viruses. Also the replication of several nidoviruses was reported to depend on CypA, although possibly not to the same extent. These prior studies are difficult to compare, since different nidoviruses, cell lines and experimental set-ups were used. Here, we investigated the CypA dependence of three distantly related nidoviruses that can all replicate in Huh7 cells: the arterivirus equine arteritis virus (EAV), the alphacoronavirus human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E), and the betacoronavirus Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The replication of these viruses was compared in the same parental Huh7 cells and in CypA-knockout Huh7 cells generated using CRISPR/Cas9-technology. CypA depletion reduced EAV yields by ~ 3-log, whereas MERS-CoV progeny titers were modestly reduced (3-fold) and HCoV-229E replication was unchanged. This study reveals that the replication of nidoviruses can differ strikingly in its dependence on cellular CypA. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. Carbonic anhydrase, a respiratory enzyme in the gills of the shore crab Carcinus maenas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Böttcher, K.; Siebers, D.; Sender, S.

    1995-03-01

    This paper summarizes investigations on the enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA) in the gills of the osmoregulating shore crab Carcinus maenas. Carbonic anhydrase, an enzyme catalyzing the reversible hydration of CO2 to HCO3 - and H+, is localized with highest activities in the posterior salt-transporting gills of the shore crab- and here CA activity is strongly dependent on salinity. Contrary to the earlier hypothesis established for the blue crab Callinectes sapidus that cytoplasmic branchial CA provides the counter ions HCO3 - and H+ for apical exchange against Na+ and Cl-, the involvement of CA in NaCl uptake mechanisms can be excluded in Carcinus. Differential and density gradient centrifugations indicate that branchial CA is a predominantly membrane-associated protein. Branchial CA was greatly inhibited by the sulfonamide acetazolamide (AZ) Ki=2.4·10-8 mol/l). Using the preparation of the isolated perfused gill, application of 10-4 mol/l AZ resulted in an 80% decrease of CO2/HCO3 - excretion. Thus we conclude that CA is localized in plasma membranes, maintaining the CO2 gradient by accelerating adjustment of the pH-dependent CO2/HCO3 - equilibrium.

  6. TcPho91 is a contractile vacuole phosphate sodium symporter that regulates phosphate and polyphosphate metabolism in Trypanosoma cruzi

    PubMed Central

    Jimenez, Veronica; Docampo, Roberto

    2015-01-01

    Summary We have identified a phosphate transporter (TcPho91) localized to the bladder of the contractile vacuole complex (CVC) of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. TcPho91 has 12 transmembrane domains, an N-terminal regulatory SPX domain and an anion permease domain. Functional expression in Xenopus laevis oocytes followed by two-electrode voltage clamp showed that TcPho91 is a low affinity transporter with a Km for Pi in the millimolar range, and sodium-dependency. Epimastigotes overexpressing TcPho91-GFP have significantly higher levels of pyrophosphate (PPi) and short chain polyphosphate (polyP), suggesting accumulation of Pi in these cells. Moreover, when overexpressing parasites were maintained in a medium with low Pi, they grew at higher rates than control parasites. Only one allele of TcPho91 in the CL strain encodes for the complete open reading frame, while the other one is truncated encoding for only the N-terminal domain. Taking advantage of this characteristic, knockdown experiments were performed resulting in cells with reduced growth rate as well as a reduction in PPi and short-chain polyP levels. Our results indicate that TcPho91 is a phosphate sodium symporter involved in Pi homeostasis in T. cruzi. PMID:26031800

  7. Two residues in the basic region of the yeast transcription factor Yap8 are crucial for its DNA-binding specificity.

    PubMed

    Amaral, Catarina; Pimentel, Catarina; Matos, Rute G; Arraiano, Cecília M; Matzapetakis, Manolis; Rodrigues-Pousada, Claudina

    2013-01-01

    In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the transcription factor Yap8 is a key determinant in arsenic stress response. Contrary to Yap1, another basic region-leucine zipper (bZIP) yeast regulator, Yap8 has a very restricted DNA-binding specificity and only orchestrates the expression of ACR2 and ACR3 genes. In the DNA-binding basic region, Yap8 has three distinct amino acids residues, Leu26, Ser29 and Asn31, at sites of highly conserved positions in the other Yap family of transcriptional regulators and Pap1 of Schizosaccharomyces pombe. To evaluate whether these residues are relevant to Yap8 specificity, we first built a homology model of the complex Yap8bZIP-DNA based on Pap1-DNA crystal structure. Several Yap8 mutants were then generated in order to confirm the contribution of the residues predicted to interact with DNA. Using bioinformatics analysis together with in vivo and in vitro approaches, we have identified several conserved residues critical for Yap8-DNA binding. Moreover, our data suggest that Leu26 is required for Yap8 binding to DNA and that this residue together with Asn31, hinder Yap1 response element recognition by Yap8, thus narrowing its DNA-binding specificity. Furthermore our results point to a role of these two amino acids in the stability of the Yap8-DNA complex.

  8. Extreme Population Differences in the Human Zinc Transporter ZIP4 (SLC39A4) Are Explained by Positive Selection in Sub-Saharan Africa

    PubMed Central

    Pybus, Marc; Andrews, Glen K.; Lalueza-Fox, Carles; Comas, David; Sekler, Israel; de la Rasilla, Marco; Rosas, Antonio; Stoneking, Mark; Valverde, Miguel A.; Vicente, Rubén; Bosch, Elena

    2014-01-01

    Extreme differences in allele frequency between West Africans and Eurasians were observed for a leucine-to-valine substitution (Leu372Val) in the human intestinal zinc uptake transporter, ZIP4, yet no further evidence was found for a selective sweep around the ZIP4 gene (SLC39A4). By interrogating allele frequencies in more than 100 diverse human populations and resequencing Neanderthal DNA, we confirmed the ancestral state of this locus and found a strong geographical gradient for the derived allele (Val372), with near fixation in West Africa. In extensive coalescent simulations, we show that the extreme differences in allele frequency, yet absence of a classical sweep signature, can be explained by the effect of a local recombination hotspot, together with directional selection favoring the Val372 allele in Sub-Saharan Africans. The possible functional effect of the Leu372Val substitution, together with two pathological mutations at the same codon (Leu372Pro and Leu372Arg) that cause acrodermatitis enteropathica (a disease phenotype characterized by extreme zinc deficiency), was investigated by transient overexpression of human ZIP4 protein in HeLa cells. Both acrodermatitis mutations cause absence of the ZIP4 transporter cell surface expression and nearly absent zinc uptake, while the Val372 variant displayed significantly reduced surface protein expression, reduced basal levels of intracellular zinc, and reduced zinc uptake in comparison with the Leu372 variant. We speculate that reduced zinc uptake by the ZIP4-derived Val372 isoform may act by starving certain pathogens of zinc, and hence may have been advantageous in Sub-Saharan Africa. Moreover, these functional results may indicate differences in zinc homeostasis among modern human populations with possible relevance for disease risk. PMID:24586184

  9. Characterization of a novel sialic acid transporter of the sodium solute symporter (SSS) family and in vivo comparison with known bacterial sialic acid transporters.

    PubMed

    Severi, Emmanuele; Hosie, Arthur H F; Hawkhead, Judith A; Thomas, Gavin H

    2010-03-01

    The function of sialic acids in the biology of bacterial pathogens is reflected by the diverse range of solute transporters that can recognize these sugar acids. Here, we use an Escherichia coliDeltananT strain to characterize the function of known and proposed bacterial sialic acid transporters. We discover that the STM1128 gene from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, which encodes a member of the sodium solute symporter family, is able to restore growth on sialic acid to the DeltananT strain and is able to transport [(14)C]-sialic acid. Using the DeltananT genetic background, we performed a direct in vivo comparison of the transport properties of the STM1128 protein with those of sialic acid transporters of the major facilitator superfamily and tripartite ATP-independent periplasmic families, E. coli NanT and Haemophilus influenzae SiaPQM, respectively. This revealed that both STM1128 and SiaPQM are sodium-dependent and, unlike SiaPQM, both STM1128 and NanT are reversible secondary carriers, demonstrating qualitative functional differences in the properties of sialic acid transporters used by bacteria that colonize humans.

  10. The bZIP dimer localizes at DNA full-sites where each basic region can alternately translocate and bind to subsites at the half-site

    PubMed Central

    Chan, I-San; Al-Sarraj, Taufik; Shahravan, S. Hesam; Fedorova, Anna V.; Shin, Jumi A.

    2012-01-01

    Crystal structures of the GCN4 bZIP (basic region/leucine zipper) with the AP-1 or CRE site show how each GCN4 basic region binds to a 4-bp cognate half-site as a single DNA target; however, this may not always fully describe how bZIP proteins interact with their target sites. Previously, we showed that the GCN4 basic region interacts with all 5 bp in half-site TTGCG (termed 5H-LR), and that 5H-LR comprises two 4-bp subsites, TTGC and TGCG, which individually are also target sites of the basic region. In this work, we explored how the basic region interacts with 5H-LR when the bZIP dimer localizes to full-sites. Using AMBER molecular modeling, we simulated GCN4 bZIP complexes with full-sites containing 5H-LR to investigate in silico the interface between the basic region and 5H-LR. We also performed in vitro investigation of bZIP–DNA interactions at a number of full-sites that contain 5H-LR vs. either subsite: we analyzed results from DNase I footprinting and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and from EMSA titrations to quantify binding affinities. Our computational and experimental results together support a highly dynamic DNA-binding model: when a bZIP dimer localizes to its target full-site, the basic region can alternately recognize either subsite as a distinct target at 5H-LR and translocate between the subsites, potentially by sliding and hopping. This model provides added insights into how α-helical DNA-binding domains of transcription factors can localize to their gene regulatory sequences in vivo. PMID:22856882

  11. FUN3D Manual: 12.8

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Biedron, Robert T.; Carlson, Jan-Renee; Derlaga, Joseph M.; Gnoffo, Peter A.; Hammond, Dana P.; Jones, William T.; Kleb, Bil; Lee-Rausch, Elizabeth M.; Nielsen, Eric J.; Park, Michael A.; hide

    2015-01-01

    This manual describes the installation and execution of FUN3D version 12.8, including optional dependent packages. FUN3D is a suite of computational fluid dynamics simulation and design tools that uses mixed-element unstructured grids in a large number of formats, including structured multiblock and overset grid systems. A discretely-exact adjoint solver enables efficient gradient-based design and grid adaptation to reduce estimated discretization error. FUN3D is available with and without a reacting, real-gas capability. This generic gas option is available only for those persons that qualify for its beta release status.

  12. Mechanism of the Association between Na+ Binding and Conformations at the Intracellular Gate in Neurotransmitter:Sodium Symporters*

    PubMed Central

    Stolzenberg, Sebastian; Quick, Matthias; Zhao, Chunfeng; Gotfryd, Kamil; Khelashvili, George; Gether, Ulrik; Loland, Claus J.; Javitch, Jonathan A.; Noskov, Sergei; Weinstein, Harel; Shi, Lei

    2015-01-01

    Neurotransmitter:sodium symporters (NSSs) terminate neurotransmission by Na+-dependent reuptake of released neurotransmitters. Previous studies suggested that Na+-binding reconfigures dynamically coupled structural elements in an allosteric interaction network (AIN) responsible for function-related conformational changes, but the intramolecular pathway of this mechanism has remained uncharted. We describe a new approach for the modeling and analysis of intramolecular dynamics in the bacterial NSS homolog LeuT. From microsecond-scale molecular dynamics simulations and cognate experimental verifications in both LeuT and human dopamine transporter (hDAT), we apply the novel method to identify the composition and the dynamic properties of their conserved AIN. In LeuT, two different perturbations disrupting Na+ binding and transport (i.e. replacing Na+ with Li+ or the Y268A mutation at the intracellular gate) affect the AIN in strikingly similar ways. In contrast, other mutations that affect the intracellular gate (i.e. R5A and D369A) do not significantly impair Na+ cooperativity and transport. Our analysis shows these perturbations to have much lesser effects on the AIN, underscoring the sensitivity of this novel method to the mechanistic nature of the perturbation. Notably, this set of observations holds as well for hDAT, where the aligned Y335A, R60A, and D436A mutations also produce different impacts on Na+ dependence. Thus, the detailed AIN generated from our method is shown to connect Na+ binding with global conformational changes that are critical for the transport mechanism. That the AIN between the Na+ binding sites and the intracellular gate in bacterial LeuT resembles that in eukaryotic hDAT highlights the conservation of allosteric pathways underlying NSS function. PMID:25869126

  13. Mechanism of the association between Na + binding and conformations at the intracellular gate in neurotransmitter:sodium symporters

    DOE PAGES

    Stolzenberg, Sebastian; Quick, Matthias; Zhao, Chunfeng; ...

    2015-04-13

    Neurotransmitter:sodium symporters (NSSs) terminate neurotransmission by Na +-dependent reuptake of released neurotransmitters. Previous studies suggested that Na +-binding reconfigures dynamically coupled structural elements in an allosteric interaction network (AIN) responsible for function-related conformational changes, but the intramolecular pathway of this mechanism has remained uncharted. Here we describe a new approach for the modeling and analysis of intramolecular dynamics in the bacterial NSS homolog LeuT. From microsecond-scale molecular dynamics simulations and cognate experimental verifications in both LeuT and human dopamine transporter (hDAT), we apply the novel method to identify the composition and the dynamic properties of their conserved AIN. In LeuT,more » two different perturbations disrupting Na+ binding and transport ( i.e. replacing Na + with Li + or the Y268A mutation at the intracellular gate) affect the AIN in strikingly similar ways. In contrast, other mutations that affect the intracellular gate (i.e. R5A and D369A) do not significantly impair Na + cooperativity and transport. Our analysis shows these perturbations to have much lesser effects on the AIN, underscoring the sensitivity of this novel method to the mechanistic nature of the perturbation. Notably, this set of observations holds as well for hDAT, where the aligned Y335A, R60A, and D436A mutations also produce different impacts on Na + dependence. Furthermore, the detailed AIN generated from our method is shown to connect Na + binding with global conformational changes that are critical for the transport mechanism. Lastly, that the AIN between the Na + binding sites and the intracellular gate in bacterial LeuT resembles that in eukaryotic hDAT highlights the conservation of allosteric pathways underlying NSS function.« less

  14. Mitochondrial AtTrxo1 is transcriptionally regulated by AtbZIP9 and AtAZF2 and affects seed germination under saline conditions

    PubMed Central

    Ortiz-Espín, Ana; Iglesias-Fernández, Raquel; Calderón, Aingeru; Carbonero, Pilar; Sevilla, Francisca

    2017-01-01

    Abstract Mitochondrial thioredoxin-o (AtTrxo1) was characterized and its expression examined in different organs of Arabidopsis thaliana. AtTrxo1 transcript levels were particularly high in dry seeds and cotyledons where they reached a maximum 36 h after imbibition with water, coinciding with 50% germination. Expression was lower in seeds germinating in 100 mM NaCl. To gain insight into the transcriptional regulation of the AtTrxo1 gene, a phylogenomic analysis was coupled with the screening of an arrayed library of Arabidopsis transcription factors in yeast. The basic leucine zipper AtbZIP9 and the zinc finger protein AZF2 were identified as putative transcriptional regulators. Transcript regulation of AtbZIP9 and AtAFZ2 during germination was compatible with the proposed role in transcriptional regulation of AtTrxo1. Transient over-expression of AtbZIP9 and AtAZF2 in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves demonstrated an activation effect of AtbZIP9 and a repressor effect of AtAZF2 on AtTrxo1 promoter-driven reporter expression. Although moderate concentrations of salt delayed germination in Arabidopsis wild-type seeds, those of two different AtTrxo1 knock-out mutants germinated faster and accumulated higher H2O2 levels than the wild-type. All these data indicate that AtTrxo1 has a role in redox homeostasis during seed germination under salt conditions. PMID:28184497

  15. IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL IDENTIFICATION OF ELECTRONEUTRAL NA+-COUPLED HCO3− TRANSPORTERS IN FRESHLY DISSOCIATED MOUSE MEDULLARY RAPHÉ NEURONS

    PubMed Central

    COLEY, A. A.; RUFFIN, V. A.; MOSS, F. J.; HOPFER, U.; BORON, W. F.

    2013-01-01

    The medullary raphé (MR) of the medulla oblongata contains chemosensitive neurons that respond to increases in arterial [CO2], by altering firing rate, with increases being associated with serotonergic (5-hydroxytryptamine [5HT]) neurons and decreases, with GABAergic neurons. Both types of neurons contribute to increased alveolar ventilation. Decreases in intracellular pH are thought to link the rise in [CO2] to increased ventilation. Because electroneutral Na+-coupled HCO3− transporters (nNCBTs), which help protect cells from intracellular acidosis, are expressed robustly in the neurons of the central nervous system, a key question is whether these transporters are present in chemosensitive neurons. Therefore, we used an immunocytochemistry approach to identify neurons (using a microtubule associated protein-2 monoclonal antibody) and specifically 5HT neurons (TPH monoclonal antibody) or GABAergic neurons (GAD2 monoclonal antibody) in freshly dissociated cells from the mouse MR. We also co-labeled with polyclonal antibodies against the three nNCBTs: NBCn1, NDCBE, and NBCn2. We exploited ePet-EYFP (enhanced yellow fluorescent protein) mice (with EYFP-labeled 5HT neurons) as well as mice genetically deficient in each of the three nNCBTs. Quantitative image analysis distinguished positively stained cells from background signals. We found that >80% of GAD2+ cells also were positive for NDCBE, and >90% of the TPH+ and GAD2+ cells were positive for the other nNCBTs. Assuming that the transporters are independently distributed among neurons, we can conclude that virtually all chemosensitive MR neurons contain at least one nNCBT. PMID:23500099

  16. Respiratory CO2 response depends on plasma bicarbonate concentration in mechanically ventilated patients.

    PubMed

    Rialp, G; Raurich, J M; Llompart-Pou, J A; Ayestarán, I; Ibáñez, J

    2014-05-01

    There is controversy about the effects of high plasma bicarbonate concentration ([HCO3(-)]) and the CO2 response test. We analyzed the relationship between [HCO3(-)] and the variation in hydrogen ion concentration (pH) for a given change in PaCO2, and its effects upon CO2 response. A retrospective study was carried out. Two intensive care units. Subjects with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), at the beginning of weaning from mechanical ventilation. The CO2 response was evaluated by the re-inhalation of expired air method, measuring the hypercapnic ventilatory response (ΔVE/ΔPaCO2) and hypercapnic drive response (ΔP01/ΔPaCO2), where VE is minute volume and P0.1 is airway occlusion pressure 0.1s after the initiation of inspiration. [HCO3(-)] and CO2 response. A total of 120 patients in the non-COPD group and 48 in the COPD group were studied. COPD patients had higher mean [HCO3(-)] than non-COPD patients (33.2 ± 5.4 vs. 25.7 ± 3.7 mmol/l, p<0.001). In both non-COPD and COPD patients we observed a significant inverse linear relationship between [HCO3(-)] and pH change per mmHg of PaCO2 (p<0.001), ΔVE/ΔPaCO2 (p<0.001) and ΔP0.1/ΔPaCO2 (p<0.001). There is an inverse linear relationship between [HCO3(-)] and the variation of pH for a given change in PaCO2 and the CO2 response. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier España, S.L. and SEMICYUC. All rights reserved.

  17. Transport and cytotoxicity of the anticancer drug 3-bromopyruvate in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

    PubMed

    Lis, Paweł; Zarzycki, Marek; Ko, Young H; Casal, Margarida; Pedersen, Peter L; Goffeau, Andre; Ułaszewski, Stanisław

    2012-02-01

    We have investigated the cytotoxicity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae of the novel antitumor agent 3-bromopyruvate (3-BP). 3-BP enters the yeast cells through the lactate/pyruvate H(+) symporter Jen1p and inhibits cell growth at minimal inhibitory concentration of 1.8 mM when grown on non-glucose conditions. It is not submitted to the efflux pumps conferring Pleiotropic Drug Resistance in yeast. Yeast growth is more sensitive to 3-BP than Gleevec (Imatinib methanesulfonate) which in contrast to 3-BP is submitted to the PDR network of efflux pumps. The sensitivity of yeast to 3-BP is increased considerably by mutations or chemical treatment by buthionine sulfoximine that decrease the intracellular concentration of glutathione.

  18. Flavonoids modify root growth and modulate expression of SHORT-ROOT and HD-ZIP III.

    PubMed

    Franco, Danilo Miralha; Silva, Eder Marques; Saldanha, Luiz Leonardo; Adachi, Sérgio Akira; Schley, Thayssa Rabelo; Rodrigues, Tatiane Maria; Dokkedal, Anne Ligia; Nogueira, Fabio Tebaldi Silveira; Rolim de Almeida, Luiz Fernando

    2015-09-01

    Flavonoids are a class of distinct compounds produced by plant secondary metabolism that inhibit or promote plant development and have a relationship with auxin transport. We showed that, in terms of root development, Copaifera langsdorffii leaf extracts has an inhibitory effect on most flavonoid components compared with the application of exogenous flavonoids (glycosides and aglycones). These compounds alter the pattern of expression of the SHORT-ROOT and HD-ZIP III transcription factor gene family and cause morpho-physiological alterations in sorghum roots. In addition, to examine the flavonoid auxin interaction in stress, we correlated the responses with the effects of exogenous application of auxin and an auxin transport inhibitor. The results show that exogenous flavonoids inhibit primary root growth and increase the development of lateral roots. Exogenous flavonoids also change the pattern of expression of specific genes associated with root tissue differentiation. These findings indicate that flavonoid glycosides can influence the polar transport of auxin, leading to stress responses that depend on auxin. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

  19. Thermal degradation of (6R,S)-5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate in aqueous solution at pH 8

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tyagi, A.; Penzkofer, A.; Batschauer, A.; Wolf, E.

    2009-03-01

    The degradation of the folate (6R,S)-5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate chloride (MTHF-Cl) in aqueous solution at pH 8 at room temperature is studied by absorption spectra measurements. Samples with and without the reducing agent β-mercaptoethanol (β-ME) both under aerobic and anaerobic conditions are investigated. MTHF-Cl hydrolyses to (6R,S)-10-formyltetrahydrofolate (10-HCO-H4folate) in all four cases. 10-HCO-H4folate oxidizes to 10-formyldihydrofolate (10-HCO-H2folate) under aerobic conditions in the absence of β-ME. The degradation dynamics is analysed theoretically and conversion rate constants of hydrolysis and oxidation are determined.

  20. The Functions of Metallothionein and ZIP and ZnT Transporters: An Overview and Perspective

    PubMed Central

    Kimura, Tomoki; Kambe, Taiho

    2016-01-01

    Around 3000 proteins are thought to bind zinc in vivo, which corresponds to ~10% of the human proteome. Zinc plays a pivotal role as a structural, catalytic, and signaling component that functions in numerous physiological processes. It is more widely used as a structural element in proteins than any other transition metal ion, is a catalytic component of many enzymes, and acts as a cellular signaling mediator. Thus, it is expected that zinc metabolism and homeostasis have sophisticated regulation, and elucidating the underlying molecular basis of this is essential to understanding zinc functions in cellular physiology and pathogenesis. In recent decades, an increasing amount of evidence has uncovered critical roles of a number of proteins in zinc metabolism and homeostasis through influxing, chelating, sequestrating, coordinating, releasing, and effluxing zinc. Metallothioneins (MT) and Zrt- and Irt-like proteins (ZIP) and Zn transporters (ZnT) are the proteins primarily involved in these processes, and their malfunction has been implicated in a number of inherited diseases such as acrodermatitis enteropathica. The present review updates our current understanding of the biological functions of MTs and ZIP and ZnT transporters from several new perspectives. PMID:26959009

  1. Longitudinal Assessment of Lung Cancer Progression in Mice Using the Sodium Iodide Symporter Reporter Gene and SPECT/CT Imaging.

    PubMed

    Price, Dominique N; McBride, Amber A; Anton, Martina; Kusewitt, Donna F; Norenberg, Jeffrey P; MacKenzie, Debra A; Thompson, Todd A; Muttil, Pavan

    2016-01-01

    Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate of any tissue-specific cancer in both men and women. Research continues to investigate novel drugs and therapies to mitigate poor treatment efficacy, but the lack of a good descriptive lung cancer animal model for preclinical drug evaluation remains an obstacle. Here we describe the development of an orthotopic lung cancer animal model which utilizes the human sodium iodide symporter gene (hNIS; SLC5A5) as an imaging reporter gene for the purpose of non-invasive, longitudinal tumor quantification. hNIS is a glycoprotein that naturally transports iodide (I-) into thyroid cells and has the ability to symport the radiotracer 99mTc-pertechnetate (99mTcO4-). A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells were genetically modified with plasmid or lentiviral vectors to express hNIS. Modified cells were implanted into athymic nude mice to develop two tumor models: a subcutaneous and an orthotopic xenograft tumor model. Tumor progression was longitudinally imaged using SPECT/CT and quantified by SPECT voxel analysis. hNIS expression in lung tumors was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. Additionally, hematoxylin and eosin staining and visual inspection of pulmonary tumors was performed. We observed that lentiviral transduction provided enhanced and stable hNIS expression in A549 cells. Furthermore, 99mTcO4- uptake and accumulation was observed within lung tumors allowing for imaging and quantification of tumor mass at two-time points. This study illustrates the development of an orthotopic lung cancer model that can be longitudinally imaged throughout the experimental timeline thus avoiding inter-animal variability and leading to a reduction in total animal numbers. Furthermore, our orthotopic lung cancer animal model is clinically relevant and the genetic modification of cells for SPECT/CT imaging can be translated to other tissue-specific tumor animal models.

  2. Longitudinal Assessment of Lung Cancer Progression in Mice Using the Sodium Iodide Symporter Reporter Gene and SPECT/CT Imaging

    PubMed Central

    Anton, Martina; Kusewitt, Donna F.; Norenberg, Jeffrey P.; MacKenzie, Debra A.; Thompson, Todd A.; Muttil, Pavan

    2016-01-01

    Lung cancer has the highest mortality rate of any tissue-specific cancer in both men and women. Research continues to investigate novel drugs and therapies to mitigate poor treatment efficacy, but the lack of a good descriptive lung cancer animal model for preclinical drug evaluation remains an obstacle. Here we describe the development of an orthotopic lung cancer animal model which utilizes the human sodium iodide symporter gene (hNIS; SLC5A5) as an imaging reporter gene for the purpose of non-invasive, longitudinal tumor quantification. hNIS is a glycoprotein that naturally transports iodide (I-) into thyroid cells and has the ability to symport the radiotracer 99mTc-pertechnetate (99mTcO4-). A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells were genetically modified with plasmid or lentiviral vectors to express hNIS. Modified cells were implanted into athymic nude mice to develop two tumor models: a subcutaneous and an orthotopic xenograft tumor model. Tumor progression was longitudinally imaged using SPECT/CT and quantified by SPECT voxel analysis. hNIS expression in lung tumors was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. Additionally, hematoxylin and eosin staining and visual inspection of pulmonary tumors was performed. We observed that lentiviral transduction provided enhanced and stable hNIS expression in A549 cells. Furthermore, 99mTcO4- uptake and accumulation was observed within lung tumors allowing for imaging and quantification of tumor mass at two-time points. This study illustrates the development of an orthotopic lung cancer model that can be longitudinally imaged throughout the experimental timeline thus avoiding inter-animal variability and leading to a reduction in total animal numbers. Furthermore, our orthotopic lung cancer animal model is clinically relevant and the genetic modification of cells for SPECT/CT imaging can be translated to other tissue-specific tumor animal models. PMID:28036366

  3. Fine-scale structure in the -185 kilometers per second absorption by HCO(+) in the Galactic center

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Marr, Jonathan M.; Rudolph, Alexander L.; Pauls, Thomas A.; Wright, Melvyn C. H.; Backer, Donald C.

    1992-01-01

    We present a high-resolution study of the HCO(+) (J = 1-0) absorption by the 'high-velocity gas' at velocities between -170 and -200 km/s in Sgr A West. The absorption against the continuum radiation from the ionized gas features in Sgr A West (in particular the 'bar') is stronger than it is against Sgr A which is separated from the ionized gas by a few arcseconds. The positions of peak HCO(+) opacity coincide with the positions of Ne II emission at these velocities. These observations suggest that, even though emission is detected from gas at these high velocities over several arcminutes, some of the absorbing molecular gas may be mixed in with the ionized gas close to Sgr A. Simple calculations show that sufficient shielding can exist in the ionized features to allow molecules to survive very close to the ionizing source.

  4. Effects of NO3 (-) and PO4 (3-) on the release of geogenic arsenic and antimony in agricultural wetland soil: a field and laboratory approach.

    PubMed

    Rouwane, Asmaa; Rabiet, Marion; Grybos, Malgorzata; Bernard, Guillaume; Guibaud, Gilles

    2016-03-01

    The dynamics of arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) in wetland soil periodically submitted to agricultural pressure as well as the impact of soil enrichment with NO3 (-) (50 mg L(-1)) and PO4 (3-) (20 mg L(-1)) on As and Sb release were evaluated at both field and laboratory scales. The results showed that As and Sb exhibited different temporal behaviors, depending on the study scale. At field scale, As release (up to 93 μg L(-1)) occurred under Fe-reducing conditions, whereas Sb release was favored under oxidizing conditions (up to 5 μg L(-1)) and particularity when dissolved organic carbon (DOC) increased in soil pore water (up to 92.8 mg L(-1)). At laboratory scale, As and Sb release was much higher under reducing conditions (up to 138 and 1 μg L(-1), respectively) compared to oxic conditions (up to 6 and 0.5 μg L(-1), respectively) and was enhanced by NO3 (-) and PO4 (3-) addition (increased by a factor of 2.3 for As and 1.6 for Sb). The higher release of As and Sb in the enriched reduced soil compared to the non-enriched soil was probably induced by the combined effect of PO4 (3-) and HCO3 (-) which compete for the same binding sites of soil surfaces. Modeling results using Visual Minteq were in accordance with experimental results regarding As but failed in simulating the effects of PO4 (3-) and HCO3 (-) on Sb release.

  5. TcPho91 is a contractile vacuole phosphate sodium symporter that regulates phosphate and polyphosphate metabolism in Trypanosoma cruzi.

    PubMed

    Jimenez, Veronica; Docampo, Roberto

    2015-09-01

    We have identified a phosphate transporter (TcPho91) localized to the bladder of the contractile vacuole complex (CVC) of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. TcPho91 has 12 transmembrane domains, an N-terminal regulatory SPX (named after SYG1, Pho81 and XPR1) domain and an anion permease domain. Functional expression in Xenopus laevis oocytes followed by two-electrode voltage clamp showed that TcPho91 is a low-affinity transporter with a Km for Pi in the millimolar range, and sodium-dependency. Epimastigotes overexpressing TcPho91-green fluorescent protein have significantly higher levels of pyrophosphate (PPi ) and short-chain polyphosphate (polyP), suggesting accumulation of Pi in these cells. Moreover, when overexpressing parasites were maintained in a medium with low Pi , they grew at higher rates than control parasites. Only one allele of TcPho91 in the CL strain encodes for the complete open reading frame, while the other one is truncated encoding for only the N-terminal domain. Taking advantage of this characteristic, knockdown experiments were performed resulting in cells with reduced growth rate as well as a reduction in PPi and short-chain polyP levels. Our results indicate that TcPho91 is a phosphate sodium symporter involved in Pi homeostasis in T. cruzi. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  6. Acidification, not carbonation, is the major regulator of carbon fluxes in the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi.

    PubMed

    Kottmeier, Dorothee M; Rokitta, Sebastian D; Rost, Björn

    2016-07-01

    A combined increase in seawater [CO2 ] and [H(+) ] was recently shown to induce a shift from photosynthetic HCO3 (-) to CO2 uptake in Emiliania huxleyi. This shift occurred within minutes, whereas acclimation to ocean acidification (OA) did not affect the carbon source. To identify the driver of this shift, we exposed low- and high-light acclimated E. huxleyi to a matrix of two levels of dissolved inorganic carbon (1400, 2800 μmol kg(-1) ) and pH (8.15, 7.85) and directly measured cellular O2 , CO2 and HCO3 (-) fluxes under these conditions. Exposure to increased [CO2 ] had little effect on the photosynthetic fluxes, whereas increased [H(+) ] led to a significant decline in HCO3 (-) uptake. Low-light acclimated cells overcompensated for the inhibition of HCO3 (-) uptake by increasing CO2 uptake. High-light acclimated cells, relying on higher proportions of HCO3 (-) uptake, could not increase CO2 uptake and photosynthetic O2 evolution consequently became carbon-limited. These regulations indicate that OA responses in photosynthesis are caused by [H(+) ] rather than by [CO2 ]. The impaired HCO3 (-) uptake also provides a mechanistic explanation for lowered calcification under OA. Moreover, it explains the OA-dependent decrease in photosynthesis observed in high-light grown phytoplankton. © 2016 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2016 New Phytologist Trust.

  7. The membrane tethered transcription factor EcbZIP17 from finger millet promotes plant growth and enhances tolerance to abiotic stresses.

    PubMed

    Ramakrishna, Chopperla; Singh, Sonam; Raghavendrarao, Sangala; Padaria, Jasdeep C; Mohanty, Sasmita; Sharma, Tilak Raj; Solanke, Amolkumar U

    2018-02-01

    The occurrence of various stresses, as the outcome of global climate change, results in the yield losses of crop plants. Prospecting of genes in stress tolerant plant species may help to protect and improve their agronomic performance. Finger millet (Eleusine coracana L.) is a valuable source of superior genes and alleles for stress tolerance. In this study, we isolated a novel endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane tethered bZIP transcription factor from finger millet, EcbZIP17. Transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing this gene showed better vegetative growth and seed yield compared with wild type (WT) plants under optimal growth conditions and confirmed upregulation of brassinosteroid signalling genes. Under various abiotic stresses, such as 250 mM NaCl, 10% PEG6000, 400 mM mannitol, water withdrawal, and heat stress, the transgenic plants showed higher germination rate, biomass, primary and secondary root formation, and recovery rate, compared with WT plants. The transgenic plants exposed to an ER stress inducer resulted in greater leaf diameter and plant height as well as higher expression of the ER stress-responsive genes BiP, PDIL, and CRT1. Overall, our results indicated that EcbZIP17 improves plant growth at optimal conditions through brassinosteroid signalling and provide tolerance to various environmental stresses via ER signalling pathways.

  8. Magnetic Field-Dependent Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect in [(GeTe)2(Sb2Te3)1]8 Topological Superlattice

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bang, Do; Awano, Hiroyuki; Saito, Yuta; Tominaga, Junji

    2016-05-01

    We studied the magnetic field dependence of magneto-optical Kerr rotation of the [(GeTe)2/(Sb2Te3)1]8 topological superlattice at different temperatures (from 300 K to 440 K). At low temperatures (less than 360 K), the Kerr signal was within noise level. However, large Kerr rotation peaks with a mirror symmetric loop were at high temperatures (higher than 360 K). The temperature dependence of the observed Kerr signal can be attributed to the breaking of spatial inversion symmetry, which induces a narrow gap in surface state bands due to the Ge atomic layer movement-induced phase transition in the superlattice. We found that the resonant field of each Kerr peak gradually decreases with increasing temperature. On the other hand, the phase transition from a high temperature phase to a low temperature one could be controlled by external magnetic fields.

  9. Class III HD-Zip activity coordinates leaf development in Physcomitrella patens.

    PubMed

    Yip, Hoichong Karen; Floyd, Sandra K; Sakakibara, Keiko; Bowman, John L

    2016-11-01

    Land plant bodies develop from meristems, groups of pluripotent stem cells, which may persist throughout the life of a plant or, alternatively, have a transitory existence. Early diverging land plants exhibit indeterminate (persistent) growth in their haploid gametophytic generation, whereas later diverging lineages exhibit indeterminate growth in their diploid sporophytic generation, raising the question of whether genetic machinery directing meristematic functions was co-opted between generations. Class III HD-Zip (C3HDZ) genes are required for the establishment and maintenance of shoot apical meristems in flowering plants. We demonstrate that in the moss Physcomitrella patens, C3HDZ genes are expressed in transitory meristems in both the gametophytic and sporophytic generations, but not in the persistent shoot meristem of the gametyphyte. Loss-of-function of P. patens C3HDZ was engineered using ectopic expression of miR166, an endogenous regulator of C3HDZ gene activity. Loss of C3HDZ gene function impaired the function of gametophytic transitory meristematic activity but did not compromise the functioning of the persistent shoot apical meristem during the gametophyte generation. These results argue against a wholesale co-option of meristematic gene regulatory networks from the gametophyte to the sporophyte during land plant evolution, instead suggesting that persistent meristems with a single apical cell in P. patens and persistent complex meristems in flowering plants are regulated by different genetic programs. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  10. "Hit-and-Run" transcription: de novo transcription initiated by a transient bZIP1 "hit" persists after the "run".

    PubMed

    Doidy, Joan; Li, Ying; Neymotin, Benjamin; Edwards, Molly B; Varala, Kranthi; Gresham, David; Coruzzi, Gloria M

    2016-02-03

    Dynamic transcriptional regulation is critical for an organism's response to environmental signals and yet remains elusive to capture. Such transcriptional regulation is mediated by master transcription factors (TF) that control large gene regulatory networks. Recently, we described a dynamic mode of TF regulation named "hit-and-run". This model proposes that master TF can interact transiently with a set of targets, but the transcription of these transient targets continues after the TF dissociation from the target promoter. However, experimental evidence validating active transcription of the transient TF-targets is still lacking. Here, we show that active transcription continues after transient TF-target interactions by tracking de novo synthesis of RNAs made in response to TF nuclear import. To do this, we introduced an affinity-labeled 4-thiouracil (4tU) nucleobase to specifically isolate newly synthesized transcripts following conditional TF nuclear import. Thus, we extended the TARGET system (Transient Assay Reporting Genome-wide Effects of Transcription factors) to include 4tU-labeling and named this new technology TARGET-tU. Our proof-of-principle example is the master TF Basic Leucine Zipper 1 (bZIP1), a central integrator of metabolic signaling in plants. Using TARGET-tU, we captured newly synthesized mRNAs made in response to bZIP1 nuclear import at a time when bZIP1 is no longer detectably bound to its target. Thus, the analysis of de novo transcripomics demonstrates that bZIP1 may act as a catalyst TF to initiate a transcriptional complex ("hit"), after which active transcription by RNA polymerase continues without the TF being bound to the gene promoter ("run"). Our findings provide experimental proof for active transcription of transient TF-targets supporting a "hit-and-run" mode of action. This dynamic regulatory model allows a master TF to catalytically propagate rapid and broad transcriptional responses to changes in environment. Thus, the

  11. Zn2+-transporters ZIP7 and ZnT7 play important role in progression of cardiac dysfunction via affecting sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum-mitochondria coupling in hyperglycemic cardiomyocytes.

    PubMed

    Tuncay, Erkan; Bitirim, C Verda; Olgar, Yusuf; Durak, Aysegul; Rutter, Guy A; Turan, Belma

    2018-01-04

    Functional contribution of S(E)R-mitochondria coupling to normal cellular processes is crucial and any alteration in S(E)R-mitochondria axis may be responsible for the onset of diseases. Mitochondrial free Zn 2+ level in cardiomyocytes ([Zn 2+ ] Mit ) is lower comparison to either its cytosolic or S(E)R level under physiological condition. However, there is little information about distribution of Zn 2+ -transporters on mitochondria and role of Zn 2+ -dependent mitochondrial-function associated with [Zn 2+ ] Mit . Since we recently have shown how hyperglycemia (HG)-induced changes in ZIP7 and ZnT7 contribute to Zn 2+ -transport across S(E)R and contribute to S(E)R-stress in the heart, herein, we hypothesized that these transporters can also be localized to mitochondria and affect the S(E)R-mitochondria coupling, and thereby contribute to cellular Zn 2+ -muffling between S(E)R-mitochondria in HG-cells. Mitochondrial localizations of ZIP7 and ZnT7 were demonstrated using fluorescence technique while they were confirmed in isolated mitochondrial fractions using biochemical analysis. Markedly decreased ZIP7 and increased ZnT7 levels were measured in isolated mitochondrial fractions from either HG- or doxorubicin, DOX (as positive control)-treated cardiomyocytes. Significantly increases in [Zn 2+ ] Mit and ROS production levels and depolarized mitochondrial membrane potential were also measured in HG cells. The expression levels of some key proteins, responsible for proper S(E)R-mitochondria coupling such as Mfn-1, Fis-1, OPA1, BAP31, STIM1 and PML in either HG- or DOX-cells were supported our above hypothesis, strongly. Overall, this study provides an important description about the role of ZIP7 and ZnT7, localized to both mitochondria and S(E)R and contribute to cellular Zn 2+ -muffling between cellular-compartments in HG or hypertrophic cardiomyocytes via affecting S(E)R-mitochondria coupling. Any alteration in this axis and/or cellular [Zn 2+ ] may provide new

  12. Sodium-bicarbonate cotransport in retinal Müller (glial) cells of the salamander.

    PubMed

    Newman, E A

    1991-12-01

    An electrogenic Na+/HCO3- cotransport system was studied in freshly dissociated Müller cells of the salamander retina. Cotransporter currents were recorded from isolated cells using the whole-cell, voltage-clamp technique following the block of K+ conductance with external Ba2+ and internal Cs+. At constant pHo, an outward current was evoked when extracellular HCO3- concentration was raised by pressure ejecting a HCO3(-)-buffered solution onto the surface of cells bathed in nominally HCO3(-)-free solution. The HCO3(-)-evoked outward current was reduced to 4.4% of control by 0.5 mM DIDS (4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate), to 28.8% of control by 2 mM DNDS (4,4'-dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate), and to 28.4% of control by 2 mM harmaline. Substitution of choline for Na+ in bath and ejection solutions reduced the response to 1.3% of control. Bicarbonate-evoked currents of normal magnitude were recorded when methane sulfonate was substituted for Cl- in bath, ejection, and intracellular solutions. Similarly, an outward current was evoked when extracellular Na+ concentration was raised in the presence of HCO3-. The Na(+)-evoked response was reduced to 16.2% of control by 2 mM DNDS and was abolished by removal of HCO3- from bath and ejection solutions. Taken together, these results (block by stilbenes and harmaline, HCO3- and Na+ dependence, Cl- independence) indicate that salamander Müller cells possess an electrogenic Na+/HCO3- cotransport system. Na+/HCO3- cotransporter sites were localized primarily at the endfoot region of Müller cells. Ejection of HCO3- onto the endfoot evoked outward currents 10 times larger than currents evoked by ejections onto the opposite (distal) end of the cell. The reversal potential of the cotransporter was determined by DNDS block of cotransport current. In the absence of a transmembrane HCO3- gradient, the reversal potential varied systematically as a function of the transmembrane Na+ gradient. The reversal potential was

  13. HCO+ Detection of Dust-depleted Gas in the Inner Hole of the LkCa 15 Pre-transitional Disk

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Drabek-Maunder, E.; Mohanty, S.; Greaves, J.; Kamp, I.; Meijerink, R.; Spaans, M.; Thi, W.-F.; Woitke, P.

    2016-12-01

    LkCa 15 is an extensively studied star in the Taurus region, known for its pre-transitional disk with a large inner cavity in the dust continuum and normal gas accretion rate. The most popular hypothesis to explain the LkCa 15 data invokes one or more planets to carve out the inner cavity, while gas continues to flow across the gap from the outer disk onto the central star. We present spatially unresolved HCO+ J=4\\to 3 observations of the LkCa 15 disk from the James Clerk Maxwell telescope (JCMT) and model the data with the ProDiMo code. We find that: (1) HCO+ line-wings are clearly detected, certifying the presence of gas in the cavity within ≲50 au of the star. (2) Reproducing the observed line-wing flux requires both a significant suppression of cavity dust (by a factor ≳104 compared to the interstellar medium (ISM)) and a substantial increase in the gas scale-height within the cavity (H 0/R 0 ˜ 0.6). An ISM dust-to-gas ratio (d:g = 10-2) yields too little line-wing flux, regardless of the scale-height or cavity gas geometry, while a smaller scale-height also under-predicts the flux even with a reduced d:g. (3) The cavity gas mass is consistent with the surface density profile of the outer disk extended inwards to the sublimation radius (corresponding to mass M d ˜ 0.03 M ⊙), and masses lower by a factor ≳10 appear to be ruled out.

  14. Major zircon megacryst suites of the Indo-Pacific lithospheric margin (ZIP) and their petrogenetic and regional implications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sutherland, Lin; Graham, Ian; Yaxley, Gregory; Armstrong, Richard; Giuliani, Gaston; Hoskin, Paul; Nechaev, Victor; Woodhead, Jon

    2016-04-01

    Zircon megacrysts (± gem corundum) appear in basalt fields of Indo-Pacific origin over a 12,000 km zone (ZIP) along West Pacific continental margins. Age-dating, trace element, oxygen and hafnium isotope studies on representative zircons (East Australia-Asia) indicate diverse magmatic sources. The U-Pb (249 to 1 Ma) and zircon fission track (ZFT) ages (65 to 1 Ma) suggest thermal annealing during later basalt transport, with < 1 to 203 Ma gaps between the U-Pb and ZFT ages. Magmatic growth zonation and Zr/Hf ratios (0.01-0.02) suggest alkaline magmatic sources, while Ti—in—zircon thermometry suggests that most zircons crystallized within ranges between 550 and 830 °C. Chondrite-normalised multi-element plots show variable enrichment patterns, mostly without marked Eu depletion, indicating little plagioclase fractionation in source melts. Key elements and ratios matched against zircons from magmatic rocks suggest a range of ultramafic to felsic source melts. Zircon O-isotope ratios (δ18O in the range 4 to 11‰) and initial Hf isotope ratios (ɛHf in the range +2 to +14) encompass ranges for both mantle and crustal melts. Calculated Depleted Mantle (TDM 0.03-0.56 Ga) and Crustal Residence (0.20-1.02 Ga) model ages suggest several mantle events, continental break-ups (Rodinia and Gondwana) and convergent margin collisions left imprints in the zircon source melts. East Australian ZIP sites reflect prolonged intraplate magmatism (~85 Ma), often during times of fast-migrating lithosphere. In contrast, East Asian-Russian ZIP sites reflect later basaltic magmatism (<40 Ma), often linked to episodes of back-arc rifting and spreading, slow-migrating lithosphere and slab subduction.

  15. Albumin Loss and Citrate Load in Pre-Dilution High Cut-Off-CVVHDF with Regional Citrate (18 mmol/L) and High Cut-Off CVVHD with Systemic Heparin: An in vitro Study.

    PubMed

    Villa, Gianluca; Neri, Mauro; De Rosa, Silvia; Samoni, Sara; Chelazzi, Cosimo; Romagnoli, Stefano; Lorenzin, Anna; de Cal, Massimo; Ronco, Claudio; De Gaudio, Angelo Raffaele

    2018-06-08

    Convective therapies with high cut-off membranes (HCO) are usually not recommended because of theoretical excessive albumin loss. The aim of this in vitro study is to demonstrate the noninferior safety of pre-dilution hemodiafiltration with HCO (HCO-CVVHDF) with isotonic citrate anticoagulation (18 mmol/L) with respect to heparin anticoagulated hemodialysis with HCO (HCO-CVVHD) in terms of albumin removal and citrate load. -Albumin removal was compared in vitro between 3 pre--dilution-HCO-CVVHDF with citrate anticoagulation and 3 -HCO-CVVHD with heparin anticoagulation during 30-min single-pass and 180-min recirculation phases. Considering concentrations and flows in the extracorporeal circuit, the transmembrane albumin removal was 2.06 (1.51; 2.09) g and 2.09 (1.9; 2.8) g respectively for HCO-CVVHDF and HCO-CVVHD, during the single-pass phase; 2.8 (2.67; 4.59) g and 2.54 (2.35; 4.67) g, respectively, for HCO-CVVHDF and HCO-CVVHD during the recirculation phase. Based on the citrate saturation coefficients, a citrate metabolic load of 8.86 mmol/h has been calculated for HCO-CVVHDF. HCO-CVVHDF performed with regional anticoagulation with 18 mmol/L citrate solution does not induce higher -albumin transmembrane removal compared to HCO-CVVHD. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  16. The Populus Class III HD ZIP, popREVOLUTA, influences cambium initiation and patterning of woody stems

    Treesearch

    Marcel Robischon; Juan Du; Eriko Miura; Andrew Groover

    2011-01-01

    The secondary growth of a woody stem requires the formation of a vascular cambium at an appropriate position and proper patterning of the vascular tissues derived from the cambium. Class III homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD ZIP) transcription factors have been implicated in polarity determination and patterning in lateral organs and primary vascular tissues and in the...

  17. An extremely high dietary iodide supply forestalls severe hypothyroidism in Na+/I- symporter (NIS) knockout mice.

    PubMed

    Ferrandino, Giuseppe; Kaspari, Rachel R; Reyna-Neyra, Andrea; Boutagy, Nabil E; Sinusas, Albert J; Carrasco, Nancy

    2017-07-13

    The sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) mediates active iodide (I - ) accumulation in the thyroid, the first step in thyroid hormone (TH) biosynthesis. Mutations in the SLC5A5 gene encoding NIS that result in a non-functional protein lead to congenital hypothyroidism due to I - transport defect (ITD). ITD is a rare autosomal disorder that, if not treated promptly in infancy, can cause mental retardation, as the TH decrease results in improper development of the nervous system. However, in some patients, hypothyroidism has been ameliorated by unusually large amounts of dietary I - . Here we report the first NIS knockout (KO) mouse model, obtained by targeting exons 6 and 7 of the Slc5a5 gene. In NIS KO mice, in the thyroid, stomach, and salivary gland, NIS is absent, and hence there is no active accumulation of the NIS substrate pertechnetate ( 99m TcO 4 - ). NIS KO mice showed undetectable serum T 4 and very low serum T 3 levels when fed a diet supplying the minimum I - requirement for rodents. These hypothyroid mice displayed oxidative stress in the thyroid, but not in the brown adipose tissue or liver. Feeding the mice a high-I - diet partially rescued TH biosynthesis, demonstrating that, at high I - concentrations, I - enters the thyroid through routes other than NIS.

  18. Density functional theory studies on the electronic, structural, phonon dynamical and thermo-stability properties of bicarbonates MHCO3, M = Li, Na, K

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Duan, Yuhua; Zhang, Bo; Sorescu, Dan C.; Johnson, J. Karl; Majzoub, Eric H.; Luebke, David R.

    2012-08-01

    The structural, electronic, phonon dispersion and thermodynamic properties of MHCO3 (M = Li, Na, K) solids were investigated using density functional theory. The calculated bulk properties for both their ambient and the high-pressure phases are in good agreement with available experimental measurements. Solid phase LiHCO3 has not yet been observed experimentally. We have predicted several possible crystal structures for LiHCO3 using crystallographic database searching and prototype electrostatic ground state modeling. Our total energy and phonon free energy (FPH) calculations predict that LiHCO3 will be stable under suitable conditions of temperature and partial pressures of CO2 and H2O. Our calculations indicate that the {{HCO}}_{3}^{-} groups in LiHCO3 and NaHCO3 form an infinite chain structure through O⋯H⋯O hydrogen bonds. In contrast, the {{HCO}}_{3}^{-} anions form dimers, ({{HCO}}_{3}^{-})_{2}, connected through double hydrogen bonds in all phases of KHCO3. Based on density functional perturbation theory, the Born effective charge tensor of each atom type was obtained for all phases of the bicarbonates. Their phonon dispersions with the longitudinal optical-transverse optical splitting were also investigated. Based on lattice phonon dynamics study, the infrared spectra and the thermodynamic properties of these bicarbonates were obtained. Over the temperature range 0-900 K, the FPH and the entropies (S) of MHCO3 (M =Li, Na, K) systems vary as FPH(LiHCO3) > FPH(NaHCO3) > FPH(KHCO3) and S(KHCO3) > S(NaHCO3) > S(LiHCO3), respectively, in agreement with the available experimental data. Analysis of the predicted thermodynamics of the CO2 capture reactions indicates that the carbonate/bicarbonate transition reactions for Na and K could be used for CO2 capture technology, in agreement with experiments.

  19. Stage-specific regulation of four HD-ZIP III transcription factors during polar pattern formation in Larix leptolepis somatic embryos.

    PubMed

    Li, Shui-gen; Li, Wan-feng; Han, Su-ying; Yang, Wen-hua; Qi, Li-wang

    2013-06-15

    Polar auxin transport provides a developmental signal for cell fate specification during somatic embryogenesis. Some members of the HD-ZIP III transcription factors participate in regulation of auxin transport, but little is known about this regulation in somatic embryogenesis. Here, four HD-ZIP III homologues from Larix leptolepis were identified and designated LaHDZ31, 32, 33 and 34. The occurrence of a miR165/166 target sequence in all four cDNA sequences indicated that they might be targets of miR165/166. Identification of the cleavage products of LaHDZ31 and LaHDZ32 in vivo confirmed that they were regulated by miRNA. Their mRNA accumulation patterns during somatic embryogenesis and the effects of 1-N-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA) on their transcript levels and somatic embryo maturation were investigated. The results showed that the four genes had higher transcript levels at mature stages than at the proliferation stage, and that NPA treatment down-regulated the mRNA abundance of LaHDZ31, 32 and 33 at cotyledonary embryo stages, but had no effect on the mRNA abundance of LaHDZ34. We concluded that these four members of Larix HD-ZIP III family might participate in polar auxin transport and the development of somatic embryos, providing new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of somatic embryogenesis. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. Evidence for coupled transport of bicarbonate and sodium in cultured bovine corneal endothelial cells.

    PubMed

    Jentsch, T J; Keller, S K; Koch, M; Wiederholt, M

    1984-01-01

    Using intracellular microelectrode technique, the response of the voltage V across the plasma membrane of cultured bovine corneal endothelial cells to changes in sodium and bicarbonate concentrations was investigated. (1) The electrical response to changes in [HCO3-]o (depolarization upon lowering and hyperpolarization upon raising [HCO3-]o) was dependent on sodium. Lithium could fairly well be substituted for sodium, whereas potassium or choline were much less effective. (2) Removal of external sodium caused a depolarization, while a readdition led to a hyperpolarization, which increased with time of preincubation in the sodium-depleted medium. (3) The response to changes in [Na+]o was dependent on bicarbonate. In a nominally bicarbonate-free medium, its amplitude was decreased or even reversed in sign. (4) Application of SITS or DIDS (10(-3) M) had a similar effect on the response to sodium as bicarbonate-depleted medium. (5) At [Na+]o = 151 mM and [HCO3-]o = 46 mM, the transients of V depended, with 39.0 +/- 9.0 (SD) mV/decade, on bicarbonate and, with 15.3 +/- 5.8 (SD) mV/decade, on sodium. (6) After the preincubation of cells with lithium, replacement of Li by choline led to similar effects as the replacement of sodium by choline, though the response of V was smaller with Li. This response could be reduced or reversed by the removal of bicarbonate or by the application of SITS. (7) Amiloride (10(-3) M) caused a reversible hyperpolarization of the steady-state potential by 8.5 +/- 2.6 mV (SD). It did not affect the immediate response to changes in [Na+]o or [HCO3-]o, but reduced the speed of regaining the steady-state potential after a change in [HCO3-]o. (8) Ouabain (10(-4) M) caused a fast depolarization of -6.8 +/- 1.1 (SD) mV, which was followed by a continuing slower depolarization. The effect was almost identical at 10(-5) M. (9) It is suggested, that corneal endothelial cells possess a cotransport for sodium and bicarbonate, which transports net negative

  1. Use of the thyrocyte sodium iodide symporter as the basis for a perchlorate cell-based assay.

    PubMed

    MacAllister, Irene E; Jakoby, Michael G; Geryk, Bruce; Schneider, Roger L; Cropek, Donald M

    2009-02-01

    Perchlorates are strong oxidants widely employed in military and civilian energetic materials and recently have been scrutinized as persistent environmental pollutants. The perchlorate anion, ClO(4)(-), is a well-known and potent competitive inhibitor of iodide transport by the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) expressed in the basolateral membranes of thyroid follicular cells (thyrocytes). Iodide uptake by thyroid follicular cells is rapid and reproducible. The competitive radiotransporter assay in this study shows promise as a rapid and convenient method to assay for ClO(4)(-) in water samples at the nM level. This work describes the initial efforts to define the assay conditions that enhance NIS selectivity for ClO(4)(-). Experiments of 10 min co-incubation of ClO(4)(-) and (125)I(-) demonstrate a more significant effect on (125)I(-) transport, with a quantifiable ClO(4)(-) concentration range of 50 nM (5 ppb) to 2 microM (200 ppb), and IC(50) of 180 nM (18 ppb), nearly three-fold lower than previous reports. Since the IC(50) in our assay for other known competitor anions (SCN(-), ClO(3)(-), NO(3)(-)) remains unchanged from previous research, the increased sensitivity for ClO(4)(-) also produces a three-fold enhancement in selectivity. In addition to the possible applicability of the thyrocyte to the development of a cellular perchlorate biosensor, we propose that the high affinity of the NIS for ClO(4)(-) also creates the potential for exploiting this membrane protein as a selective, sensitive, and broadly applicable biomechanical mechanism for controlled movement and concentration of perchlorate.

  2. The reactions of O(ID) and OH with CH3OH, oxidation of the HCO radial, and the photochemical oxidation of formaldehyde. [photochemical reactions in stratosphere

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Osif, T. L.

    1976-01-01

    An experimental, laboratory study of the various photochemical reactions that can occur in the mesosphere and stratosphere is presented. N2O was photolyzed at 2139 A in the presence of CH3OH and CO. The O(id) produced in the photolysis reacted with CH3OH to produce OH radicals, and thus the reactions of both O(id) and OH were able to be studied. Also considered was the oxidation of the HCO radical. Mixtures of Cl2, O2, H2CO, and sometimes N2 or He were irradiated at 3660 A at several temperatures to photodecompose the Cl2. The photochemical oxidation of formaldehyde was studied as follows: formaldehyde in the presence of N2 and/or O2 (usually dry air) was photolyzed with a medium pressure Hg lamp used in conjunction with various filters which transmit different relative amounts of Hg lines from 2894 A to 3660 A. Results are presented and discussed, along with a description of experimental procedures and apparatus, and chemical reaction kinetics.

  3. An ab initio benchmark study of the H + CO --> HCO reaction

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Woon, D. E.

    1996-01-01

    The H + CO --> HCO reaction has been characterized with correlation consistent basis sets at five levels of theory in order to benchmark the sensitivities of the barrier height and reaction ergicity to the one-electron and n-electron expansions of the electronic wave function. Single and multireference methods are compared and contrasted. The coupled cluster method RCCSD(T) was found to be in very good agreement with Davidson-corrected internally-contracted multireference configuration interaction (MRCI+Q). Second-order Moller-Plesset perturbation theory (MP2) was also employed. The estimated complete basis set (CBS) limits for the barrier height (in kcal/mol) for the five methods, including harmonic zero-point energy corrections, are MP2, 4.66; RCCSD, 4.78; RCCSD(T), 4.15; MRCI, 5.10; and MRCI+Q, 4.07. Similarly, the estimated CBS limits for the ergicity of the reaction are: MP2, -17.99; RCCSD, -13.34; RCCSD(T), -13.79; MRCI, -11.46; and MRCI+Q, -13.70. Additional basis set explorations for the RCCSD(T) method demonstrate that aug-cc-pVTZ sets, even with some functions removed, are sufficient to reproduce the CBS limits to within 0.1-0.3 kcal/mol.

  4. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    White, J.F.

    The ratio of Cl absorbed to HCO3 secreted by the in vitro small intestine of Amphiuma was measured using TWCl and titration. The aim was to estimate the stoichiometry and thereby elucidate the underlying transport mechanisms. For every mole of HCO3 secreted 1.8 mol of Cl underwent net absorption. Indirect measures of net Cl absorption and HCO3 secretion were validated. Several known and putative Cl transport inhibitors were examined for their ability to inhibit the anion transport events. Disulfonic stilbenes (DIDS) and the diuretics piretanide and furosemide inhibited the Cl absorptive flux (J/sub m s/sup Cl/) and simultaneously the HCO3more » secretory flux (J/sup HCO3 /). The diuretics acetazolamide and bumetanide also reduced J/sup HCO3 and J/sub m s/sup Cl/, although the latter effect was not statistically significant. The ratio of inhibition, J/sub m s/sup Cl// J/sup HCO3 /, varied from 1.2 to 1.8 for the different inhibitors. The presence of Cl -HCO3 exchange at the serosal membrane was deduced from 1) the reduction of J/sub m s/sup Cl/ and J/sup HCO3 / by serosally added stilbenes, 2) the reduction of Cl absorption when serosal Cl was replaced, 3) inhibition of the secretory-to-mucosal Cl flux by serosal stilbenes, and 4) enhancement of J/sup HCO3 when serosal medium HCO3 was elevated. The observations are not consistent with one-for-one exchange of Cl for HCO3 at the mucosal membrane. The observed coupling ratio is compatible with a one-for-one exchange of Cl for HCO3 at the serosal membrane.« less

  5. Scattering matrix approach to the dissociative recombination of HCO{sup +} and N{sub 2}H{sup +}

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Fonseca dos Santos, S.; Douguet, N.; Orel, A. E.

    We present a theoretical study of the indirect dissociative recombination of linear polyatomic ions at low collisional energies. The approach is based on the computation of the scattering matrix just above the ionization threshold and enables the explicit determination of all diabatic electronic couplings responsible for dissociative recombination. In addition, we use the multi-channel quantum-defect theory to demonstrate the precision of the scattering matrix by reproducing accurately ab initio Rydberg state energies of the neutral molecule. We consider the molecular ions N{sub 2}H{sup +} and HCO{sup +} as benchmark systems of astrophysical interest and improve former theoretical studies, which hadmore » repeatedly produced smaller cross sections than experimentally measured. Specifically, we demonstrate the crucial role of the previously overlooked stretching modes for linear polyatomic ions with large permanent dipole moment. The theoretical cross sections for both ions agree well with experimental data over a wide energy range. Finally, we consider the potential role of the HOC{sup +} isomer in the experimental cross sections of HCO{sup +} at energies below 10 meV.« less

  6. Phosphorylation Affects DNA-Binding of the Senescence-Regulating bZIP Transcription Factor GBF1

    PubMed Central

    Smykowski, Anja; Fischer, Stefan M.; Zentgraf, Ulrike

    2015-01-01

    Massive changes in the transcriptome of Arabidopsis thaliana during onset and progression of leaf senescence imply a central role for transcription factors. While many transcription factors are themselves up- or down-regulated during senescence, the bZIP transcription factor G-box-binding factor 1 (GBF1/bZIP41) is constitutively expressed in Arabidopsis leaf tissue but at the same time triggers the onset of leaf senescence, suggesting posttranscriptional mechanisms for senescence-specific GBF1 activation. Here we show that GBF1 is phosphorylated by the threonine/serine CASEIN KINASE II (CKII) in vitro and that CKII phosphorylation had a negative effect on GBF1 DNA-binding to G-boxes of two direct target genes, CATALASE2 and RBSCS1a. Phosphorylation mimicry at three serine positions in the basic region of GBF1 also had a negative effect on DNA-binding. Kinase assays revealed that CKII phosphorylates at least one serine in the basic domain but has additional phosphorylation sites outside this domain. Two different ckII α subunit1 and one α subunit2 T-DNA insertion lines showed no visible senescence phenotype, but in all lines the expression of the senescence marker gene SAG12 was remarkably diminished. A model is presented suggesting that senescence-specific GBF1 activation might be achieved by lowering the phosphorylation of GBF1 by CKII. PMID:27135347

  7. Electrical conductivity of cobalt doped La 0.8Sr 0.2Ga 0.8Mg 0.2O 3- δ

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wang, Shizhong; Wu, Lingli; Liang, Ying

    La 0.8Sr 0.2Ga 0.8Mg 0.2O 3- δ (LSGM8282), La 0.8Sr 0.2Ga 0.8Mg 0.15Co 0.05O 3- δ (LSGMC5) and La 0.8Sr 0.2Ga 0.8Mg 0.115Co 0.085O 3- δ (LSGMC8.5) were prepared using a conventional solid-state reaction. Electrical conductivities and electronic conductivities of the samples were measured using four-probe impedance spectrometry, four-probe dc polarization and Hebb-Wagner polarization within the temperature range of 973-1173 K. The electrical conductivities in LSGMC5 and LSGMC8.5 increased with decreasing oxygen partial pressures especially in the high (>10 -5 atm) and low oxygen partial pressure regions (<10 -15 atm). However, the electrical conductivity in LSGM8282 had no dependency on the oxygen partial pressure. At temperatures higher than 1073 K, PO2 dependencies of the free electron conductivities in LSGM8282, LSGMC5 and LSGMC8.5 were about -1/4, and PO2 dependencies of the electron hole conductivities were about 0.25, 0.12 and 0.07, respectively. Oxygen ion conductivities in LSGMC5 and LSGMC8.5 increased with decreasing oxygen partial pressures especially in the high and low oxygen partial pressure regions, which was due to the increase in the concentration of oxygen vacancies. The change in the concentration of oxygen vacancies and the valence of cobalt with oxygen partial pressure were determined using a thermo-gravimetric technique. Both the electronic conductivity and oxygen ion conductivity in cobalt doped lanthanum gallate samples increased with increasing concentration of cobalt, suggesting that the concentration of cobalt should be optimized carefully to maintain a high electrical conductivity and close to 1 oxygen ion transference number.

  8. Apical ammonium inhibition of cAMP-stimulated secretion in T84 cells is bicarbonate dependent.

    PubMed

    Worrell, Roger T; Best, Alison; Crawford, Oscar R; Xu, Jie; Soleimani, Manoocher; Matthews, Jeffrey B

    2005-10-01

    Normal human colonic luminal (NH(4)(+)) concentration ([NH(4)(+)]) ranges from approximately 10 to 100 mM. However, the nature of the effects of NH(4)(+) on transport, as well as NH(4)(+) transport itself, in colonic epithelium is poorly understood. We elucidate here the effects of apical NH(4)(+) on cAMP-stimulated Cl(-) secretion in colonic T84 cells. In HEPES-buffered solutions, 10 mM apical NH(4)(+) had no significant effect on cAMP-stimulated current. In contrast, 10 mM apical NH(4)(+) reduced current within 5 min to 61 +/- 4% in the presence of 25 mM HCO(3)(-). Current inhibition was not simply due to an increase in extracellular K(+)-like cations, in that the current magnitude was 95 +/- 5% with 10 mM apical K(+) and 46 +/- 3% with 10 mM apical NH(4)(+) relative to that with 5 mM apical K(+). We previously demonstrated that inhibition of Cl(-) secretion by basolateral NH(4)(+) occurs in HCO(3)(-)-free conditions and exhibits anomalous mole fraction behavior. In contrast, apical NH(4)(+) inhibition of current in HCO(3)(-) buffer did not show anomalous mole fraction behavior and followed the absolute [NH(4)(+)] in K(+)-NH(4)(+) mixtures, where K(+) concentration + [NH(4)(+)] = 10 mM. The apical NH(4)(+) inhibitory effect was not prevented by 100 microM methazolamide, suggesting no role for apical carbonic anhydrase. However, apical NH(4)(+) inhibition of current was prevented by 10 min of pretreatment of the apical surface with 500 microM DIDS, 100 microM 4,4'-dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DNDS), or 25 microM niflumic acid, suggesting a role for NH(4)(+) action through an apical anion exchanger. mRNA and protein for the apical anion exchangers SLC26A3 [downregulated in adenoma (DRA)] and SLC26A6 [putative anion transporter (PAT1)] were detected in T84 cells by RT-PCR and Northern and Western blots. DRA and PAT1 appear to associate with CFTR in the apical membrane. We conclude that the HCO(3)(-) dependence of apical NH(4)(+) inhibition of secretion is

  9. An active Mitochondrial Complex II Present in Mature Seeds Contains an Embryo-Specific Iron-Sulfur Subunit Regulated by ABA and bZIP53 and Is Involved in Germination and Seedling Establishment.

    PubMed

    Restovic, Franko; Espinoza-Corral, Roberto; Gómez, Isabel; Vicente-Carbajosa, Jesús; Jordana, Xavier

    2017-01-01

    Complex II (succinate dehydrogenase) is an essential mitochondrial enzyme involved in both the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the respiratory chain. In Arabidopsis thaliana , its iron-sulfur subunit (SDH2) is encoded by three genes, one of them ( SDH2.3 ) being specifically expressed during seed maturation in the embryo. Here we show that seed SDH2.3 expression is regulated by abscisic acid (ABA) and we define the promoter region (-114 to +49) possessing all the cis -elements necessary and sufficient for high expression in seeds. This region includes between -114 and -32 three ABRE (ABA-responsive) elements and one RY-enhancer like element, and we demonstrate that these elements, although necessary, are not sufficient for seed expression, our results supporting a role for the region encoding the 5' untranslated region (+1 to +49). The SDH2.3 promoter is activated in leaf protoplasts by heterodimers between the basic leucine zipper transcription factors bZIP53 (group S1) and bZIP10 (group C) acting through the ABRE elements, and by the B3 domain transcription factor ABA insensitive 3 (ABI3). The in vivo role of bZIP53 is further supported by decreased SDH2.3 expression in a knockdown bzip53 mutant. By using the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide and sdh2 mutants we have been able to conclusively show that complex II is already present in mature embryos before imbibition, and contains mainly SDH2.3 as iron-sulfur subunit. This complex plays a role during seed germination sensu-stricto since we have previously shown that seeds lacking SDH2.3 show retarded germination and now we demonstrate that low concentrations of thenoyltrifluoroacetone, a complex II inhibitor, also delay germination. Furthermore, complex II inhibitors completely block hypocotyl elongation in the dark and seedling establishment in the light, highlighting an essential role of complex II in the acquisition of photosynthetic competence and the transition from heterotrophy to autotrophy.

  10. cGMP stimulates bile acid-independent bile formation and biliary bicarbonate excretion.

    PubMed

    Myers, N C; Grune, S; Jameson, H L; Sawkat-Anwer, M

    1996-03-01

    The effect of guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) on hepatic bile formation was studied in isolated perfused rat livers and rat hepatocytes. Studies in isolated perfused rat livers showed that infusion of 8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-BrcGMP, 3 micromol/min or 100 microM) 1) increased bile flow without affecting biliary excretion of simultaneously infused taurocholate, 2) increased biliary concentration and excretion of HCO3(-) but did not affect biliary excretion of glutathione, and 3) increased net perfusate H+ efflux without affecting hepatic O2 uptake. Studies in isolated rat hepatocytes showed that 1) 8-BrcGMP increased intracellular pH in the presence (but not in the absence) of extracellular HCO-3, and effect inhibited by 4,4' -diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid and Na+ replacement, 2) 8-BrcGMP did not affect taurocholate uptake and intracellular [Ca2+], and 3) bile acids, like ursodeoxycholate and cholate, did not increase cellular cGMP. Taken together, these results indicate that cGMP stimulates bile acid-independent bile formation, in part by stimulating biliary HCO3- excretion. cGMP may increase HCO3- excretion by stimulating sinusoidal Na+ - HCO3- cotransport, but not Na+/H+ exchange. cGMP, unlike adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, may not regulate hepatic taurocholate transport, and bile acid-induced HCO3- rich choleresis may not be mediated via cGMP.

  11. Adaptable interaction between aquaporin-1 and band 3 reveals a potential role of water channel in blood CO2 transport.

    PubMed

    Hsu, Kate; Lee, Ting-Ying; Periasamy, Ammasi; Kao, Fu-Jen; Li, Li-Tzu; Lin, Chuang-Yu; Lin, Hui-Ju; Lin, Marie

    2017-10-01

    Human CO 2 respiration requires rapid conversion between CO 2 and HCO 3 - Carbonic anhydrase II facilitates this reversible reaction inside red blood cells, and band 3 [anion exchanger 1 (AE1)] provides a passage for HCO 3 - flux across the cell membrane. These 2 proteins are core components of the CO 2 transport metabolon. Intracellular H 2 O is necessary for CO 2 /HCO 3 - conversion. However, abundantly expressed aquaporin 1 (AQP1) in erythrocytes is thought not to be part of band 3 complexes or the CO 2 transport metabolon. To solve this conundrum, we used Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) measured by fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM-FRET) and identified interaction between aquaporin-1 and band 3 at a distance of 8 nm, within the range of dipole-dipole interaction. Notably, their interaction was adaptable to membrane tonicity changes. This suggests that the function of AQP1 in tonicity response could be coupled or correlated to its function in band 3-mediated CO 2 /HCO 3 - exchange. By demonstrating AQP1 as a mobile component of the CO 2 transport metabolon, our results uncover a potential role of water channel in blood CO 2 transport and respiration.-Hsu, K., Lee, T.-Y., Periasamy, A., Kao, F.-J., Li, L.-T., Lin, C.-Y., Lin, H.-J., Lin, M. Adaptable interaction between aquaporin-1 and band 3 reveals a potential role of water channel in blood CO 2 transport. © FASEB.

  12. Effect of YM-14673, an analogue of thyrotropin-releasing hormone, on duodenal bicarbonate secretion in the rat.

    PubMed

    Takeuchi, K; Niida, H; Ueshima, K; Okabe, S

    1991-01-01

    The effects of YM-14673, an analogue of thyrotropin-releasing hormone, on duodenal HCO3- secretion were characterized in comparison with those of prostaglandin E2 and carbachol in anesthetized rats. The proximal duodenum was perfused with saline (pH 4.5), the pH of the perfusate and of the transmucosal potential difference were continuously monitored, and HCO3- output was determined by back-titration of the perfusate and by pH change. YM-14673 (0.1, 0.3 and 1 mg/kg) increased these parameters in a dose-related manner; the total HCO3- output at 1 mg/kg (5.8 +/- 0.7 mumol) was about 50% of that induced by prostaglandin E2 (1 mg/kg, i.v.) and 2 times greater than that induced by carbachol (4 micrograms/kg, i.v.). These responses, induced by YM-14673, were almost completely blocked by bilateral vagotomy and significantly inhibited by atropine (0.3 mg/kg, i.v.) or cyclooxygenase inhibitors, such as indomethacin (5 mg/kg, s.c.) and acetylsalicylic acid (40 mg/kg, s.c.), but not affected by pirenzepine (1 mg/kg, i.v.), a selective M1 antagonist. None of the latter agents had any effect on the HCO3(-)-stimulating action of prostaglandin E2, while the carbachol-induced HCO3- output was significantly reduced by atropine. These results suggest that YM-14673 induces the vagal-dependent HCO3- secretion in the rat duodenum and that this mechanism is mediated by muscarinic cholinoceptors, excluding the M1-subtype, and may involve endogenous prostaglandins.

  13. Cerebral interstitial tissue oxygen tension, pH, HCO3, CO2.

    PubMed

    Charbel, F T; Hoffman, W E; Misra, M; Hannigan, K; Ausman, J I

    1997-10-01

    There are many techniques for monitoring the injured brain following trauma, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or surgery. It is thought that the major determinants for recovery of injured cerebral tissue are oxygen, glucose delivery, and the clearance of metabolites. These factors, at optimal levels, are probably responsible for the regaining of neuronal functions. These parameters are in turn dependent on the tissue's blood flow and metabolism. We have been using a single, compact, polyethylene sensor, the Paratrend 7 for the measurement of cerebral oxygen tension, CO2, pH, and temperature. This sensor is designed for continuous blood gas analysis to aid in monitoring neurosurgical patients, both during surgery and in the intensive care unit. Using the Paratrend 7 sensor, we found the normal range of values to be: PO2 33 +/- 11 mm Hg; PCO2 48 +/- 7 mm Hg; pH 7.19 +/- 0.11. Critical measurements are considered to be tissue PO2 < 10 mm Hg; PCO2 > 60 mm Hg, and pH < 6.8. We have had no complications with this device; the risks are similar to those of placing a parenchymal intracranial pressure monitor. We believe that assessment of interstitial cerebral oxygen saturation can be of great value both intraoperatively and postoperatively. In our experience, the Paratrend 7 system is an effective method of measuring tissue cerebral oxygen tension, along with carbon dioxide levels, pH, and temperature.

  14. The Sodium Iodide Symporter (NIS) and Potential Regulators in Normal, Benign and Malignant Human Breast Tissue

    PubMed Central

    Ryan, James; Curran, Catherine E.; Hennessy, Emer; Newell, John; Morris, John C.; Kerin, Michael J.; Dwyer, Roisin M.

    2011-01-01

    Introduction The presence, relevance and regulation of the Sodium Iodide Symporter (NIS) in human mammary tissue remains poorly understood. This study aimed to quantify relative expression of NIS and putative regulators in human breast tissue, with relationships observed further investigated in vitro. Methods Human breast tissue specimens (malignant n = 75, normal n = 15, fibroadenoma n = 10) were analysed by RQ-PCR targeting NIS, receptors for retinoic acid (RARα, RARβ), oestrogen (ERα), thyroid hormones (THRα, THRβ), and also phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K). Breast cancer cells were treated with Retinoic acid (ATRA), Estradiol and Thyroxine individually and in combination followed by analysis of changes in NIS expression. Results The lowest levels of NIS were detected in normal tissue (Mean(SEM) 0.70(0.12) Log10 Relative Quantity (RQ)) with significantly higher levels observed in fibroadenoma (1.69(0.21) Log10RQ, p<0.005) and malignant breast tissue (1.18(0.07) Log10RQ, p<0.05). Significant positive correlations were observed between human NIS and ERα (r = 0.22, p<0.05) and RARα (r = 0.29, p<0.005), with the strongest relationship observed between NIS and RARβ (r = 0.38, p<0.0001). An inverse relationship between NIS and PI3K expression was also observed (r = −0.21, p<0.05). In vitro, ATRA, Estradiol and Thyroxine individually stimulated significant increases in NIS expression (range 6–16 fold), while ATRA and Thyroxine combined caused the greatest increase (range 16–26 fold). Conclusion Although NIS expression is significantly higher in malignant compared to normal breast tissue, the highest level was detected in fibroadenoma. The data presented supports a role for retinoic acid and estradiol in mammary NIS regulation in vivo, and also highlights potential thyroidal regulation of mammary NIS mediated by thyroid hormones. PMID:21283523

  15. Evaluation of chloride/bicarbonate. Exchange in the human colon in vivo.

    PubMed Central

    Davis, G R; Morawski, S G; Santa Ana, C A; Fordtran, J S

    1983-01-01

    During perfusion of a plasma-like solution, colonic absorption rate of chloride was much higher than the secretion rate of bicarbonate (34 vs. 3.5 meq/h, respectively). This might suggest that anion exchange (Cl/HCO3) accounts for only a small fraction of total chloride absorption. However, if the colon absorbs as well as secretes bicarbonate, this reasoning would underestimate the magnitude of the anion exchange. To see if the colon absorbs bicarbonate, we perfused a chloride-free solution (which would eliminate bicarbonate secretion via (Cl/HCO3 exchange) and found that the colon absorbed bicarbonate at a rate of 5.1 meq/h. Calculation of electrochemical gradients and measurement of luminal fluid PCO2 indicated that this bicarbonate absorption was mediated passively in response to electrical gradients, rather than via reversed Cl/HCO3 exchange or acid secretion. The combined results of the plasma-like and chloride-free perfusion experiments suggest Cl/HCO3 exchange at a rate of 8.6 meq/h (the sum of bicarbonate movements, 3.5 and 5.1 meq/h, observed in the two experiments). To obtain a second estimate under different experimental conditions, a choline chloride-choline bicarbonate (sodium-free) solution was perfused; with this solution, chloride and bicarbonate absorption dependent on active sodium transport should be eliminated or markedly reduced, and the magnitude of Cl/HCO3 exchange should be revealed. This experiment suggested a Cl/HCO3 exchange rate of 9.3 meq/h, similar to the first estimate. As chloride was absorbed at a rate of 34 meq/h during perfusion of the plasma-like solution, the Cl/HCO3 exchange provides for approximately one-fourth of total chloride absorption. PMID:6401766

  16. Evaluation of chloride/bicarbonate. Exchange in the human colon in vivo.

    PubMed

    Davis, G R; Morawski, S G; Santa Ana, C A; Fordtran, J S

    1983-02-01

    During perfusion of a plasma-like solution, colonic absorption rate of chloride was much higher than the secretion rate of bicarbonate (34 vs. 3.5 meq/h, respectively). This might suggest that anion exchange (Cl/HCO3) accounts for only a small fraction of total chloride absorption. However, if the colon absorbs as well as secretes bicarbonate, this reasoning would underestimate the magnitude of the anion exchange. To see if the colon absorbs bicarbonate, we perfused a chloride-free solution (which would eliminate bicarbonate secretion via (Cl/HCO3 exchange) and found that the colon absorbed bicarbonate at a rate of 5.1 meq/h. Calculation of electrochemical gradients and measurement of luminal fluid PCO2 indicated that this bicarbonate absorption was mediated passively in response to electrical gradients, rather than via reversed Cl/HCO3 exchange or acid secretion. The combined results of the plasma-like and chloride-free perfusion experiments suggest Cl/HCO3 exchange at a rate of 8.6 meq/h (the sum of bicarbonate movements, 3.5 and 5.1 meq/h, observed in the two experiments). To obtain a second estimate under different experimental conditions, a choline chloride-choline bicarbonate (sodium-free) solution was perfused; with this solution, chloride and bicarbonate absorption dependent on active sodium transport should be eliminated or markedly reduced, and the magnitude of Cl/HCO3 exchange should be revealed. This experiment suggested a Cl/HCO3 exchange rate of 9.3 meq/h, similar to the first estimate. As chloride was absorbed at a rate of 34 meq/h during perfusion of the plasma-like solution, the Cl/HCO3 exchange provides for approximately one-fourth of total chloride absorption.

  17. Delafossite structure of heterogenite polytypes (HCoO2) by Raman and infrared micro-spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Burlet, C.; Goethals, H.; Vanbrabant, Y.

    2016-04-01

    Heterogenite is commonly referred in mineralogy literature as a cobalt oxy-hydroxide CoO(OH). However, detailed analysis of Raman and infrared spectra acquired on particularly well-crystallized natural samples of heterogenite suggests that the mineral can be characterized by a delafossite-type structure, with a general chemical formula ABO2. Indeed, the Raman spectrum of heterogenite, along the one with grimaldiite (HCrO2), lacks visible free OH-group vibrational modes, while the infrared spectrum shows strong hydrogen bond absorption bands. HCoO2 is thus a better formulation of heterogenite that describes more clearly its vibrational behavior and avoids the confusion in literature. Electronic backscattered diffraction (EBSD) is then used to distinguish and map the 2H and 3R heterogenite natural polytypes for the first time. The comparison of EBSD and Raman mappings clearly indicates that the 2H polytype is characterized by an additional peak at 1220 cm- 1. The presence/absence is therefore an efficient tool to distinguish both polytypes.

  18. Age-Dependent Changes of Monocarboxylate Transporter 8 Availability in the Postnatal Murine Retina

    PubMed Central

    Henning, Yoshiyuki; Szafranski, Karol

    2016-01-01

    The thyroid hormones (TH) triiodothyronine (T3) and its prohormone thyroxine (T4) are crucial for retinal development and function, and increasing evidence points at TH dysregulation as a cause for retinal degenerative diseases. Thus, precise regulation of retinal TH supply is required for proper retinal function, but knowledge on these mechanisms is still fragmentary. Several transmembrane transporters have been described as key regulators of TH availability in target tissues of which the monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8), a high affinity transporter for T4 and T3, plays an essential role in the central nervous system. Moreover, in the embryonic chicken retina, MCT8 is highly expressed, but the postnatal availability of MCT8 in the mammalian retina was not reported to date. In the present study, spatiotemporal retinal MCT8 availability was examined in mice of different age. For this purpose, we quantified expression levels of Mct8 via Real-Time Reverse-Transcriptase PCR in mouse eyecups (C57BL/6) of juvenile and adult age groups. Additionally, age-dependent MCT8 protein levels were quantified via Western blotting and localized via immunofluorescence confocal microscopy. While no difference in Mct8 expression levels could be detected between age groups, MCT8 protein levels in juvenile animals were about two times higher than in adult animals based on Western blot analyses. Immunohistochemical analyses showed that MCT8 immunoreactivity in the eyecup was restricted to the retina and the retinal pigment epithelium. In juvenile mice, MCT8 was broadly observed along the apical membrane of the retinal pigment epithelium, tightly surrounding photoreceptor outer segments. Distinct immunopositive staining was also detected in the inner nuclear layer and the ganglion cell layer. However, in adult specimens, immunoreactivity visibly declined in all layers, which was in line with Western blot analyses. Since MCT8 was abundantly present in juvenile and about twofold lower in

  19. Metabolomic Responses of Arabidopsis Suspension Cells to Bicarbonate under Light and Dark Conditions

    PubMed Central

    Misra, Biswapriya B.; Yin, Zepeng; Geng, Sisi; de Armas, Evaldo; Chen, Sixue

    2016-01-01

    Global CO2 level presently recorded at 400 ppm is expected to reach 550 ppm in 2050, an increment likely to impact plant growth and productivity. Using targeted LC-MS and GC-MS platforms we quantified 229 and 29 metabolites, respectively in a time-course study to reveal short-term responses to different concentrations (1, 3, and 10 mM) of bicarbonate (HCO3−) under light and dark conditions. Results indicate that HCO3− treatment responsive metabolomic changes depend on the HCO3− concentration, time of treatment, and light/dark. Interestingly, 3 mM HCO3− concentration treatment induced more significantly changed metabolites than either lower or higher concentrations used. Flavonoid biosynthesis and glutathione metabolism were common to both light and dark-mediated responses in addition to showing concentration-dependent changes. Our metabolomics results provide insights into short-term plant cellular responses to elevated HCO3− concentrations as a result of ambient increases in CO2 under light and dark. PMID:27762345

  20. Euryhaline pufferfish NBCe1 differs from nonmarine species NBCe1 physiology

    PubMed Central

    Plata, Consuelo; Kurita, Yukihiro; Kato, Akira; Hirose, Shigehisa; Romero, Michael F.

    2012-01-01

    Marine fish drink seawater and eliminate excess salt by active salt transport across gill and gut epithelia. Euryhaline pufferfish (Takifugu obscurus, mefugu) forms a CaCO3 precipitate on the luminal gut surface after transitioning to seawater. NBCe1 (Slc4a4) at the basolateral membrane of intestinal epithelial cell plays a major role in transepithelial intestinal HCO3− secretion and is critical for mefugu acclimation to seawater. We assayed fugu-NBCe1 (fNBCe1) activity in the Xenopus oocyte expression system. Similar to NBCe1 found in other species, fNBCe1 is an electrogenic Na+/HCO3− cotransporter and sensitive to the stilbene inhibitor DIDS. However, our experiments revealed several unique and distinguishable fNBCe1 transport characteristics not found in mammalian or other teleost NBCe1-orthologs: electrogenic Li+/nHCO3− cotransport; HCO3− independent, DIDS-insensitive transport; and increased basal intracellular Na+ accumulation. fNBCe1 is a voltage-dependent Na+/nHCO3− cotransporter that rectifies, independently from the extracellular Na+ or HCO3− concentration, around −60 mV. Na+ removal (0Na+ prepulse) is necessary to produce the true HCO3−-elicited current. HCO3− addition results in huge outward currents with quick current decay. Kinetic analysis of HCO3− currents reveals that fNBCe1 has a much higher transport capacity (higher maximum current) and lower affinity (higher Km) than human kidney NBCe1 (hkNBCe1) does in the physiological range (membrane potential = −80 mV; [HCO3−] = 10 mM). In this state, fNBCe1 is in favor of operating as transepithelial HCO3− secretion, opposite of hkNBCe1, from blood to the luminal side. Thus, fugu-NBCe1 represents the first ortholog-based tool to study amino acid substitutions in NBCe1 and how those change ion and voltage dependence. PMID:22159080

  1. Fractional Brownian motion and the critical dynamics of zipping polymers.

    PubMed

    Walter, J-C; Ferrantini, A; Carlon, E; Vanderzande, C

    2012-03-01

    We consider two complementary polymer strands of length L attached by a common-end monomer. The two strands bind through complementary monomers and at low temperatures form a double-stranded conformation (zipping), while at high temperature they dissociate (unzipping). This is a simple model of DNA (or RNA) hairpin formation. Here we investigate the dynamics of the strands at the equilibrium critical temperature T=T(c) using Monte Carlo Rouse dynamics. We find that the dynamics is anomalous, with a characteristic time scaling as τ∼L(2.26(2)), exceeding the Rouse time ∼L(2.18). We investigate the probability distribution function, velocity autocorrelation function, survival probability, and boundary behavior of the underlying stochastic process. These quantities scale as expected from a fractional Brownian motion with a Hurst exponent H=0.44(1). We discuss similarities to and differences from unbiased polymer translocation.

  2. Reishi Protein LZ-8 Induces FOXP3+ Treg Expansion via a CD45-Dependent Signaling Pathway and Alleviates Acute Intestinal Inflammation in Mice

    PubMed Central

    Hsu, Hsien-Yeh; Kuan, Yen-Chou; Lin, Tung-Yi; Tsao, Shu-Ming; Hsu, Jason; Ma, Li-Juan; Sheu, Fuu

    2013-01-01

    LZ-8, an immunomodulatory protein isolated from Ganoderma lucidum (also known as Ling-Zhi or Reishi), has been shown to promote cell proliferation and IL-2 production in T cells. In this study, we show that LZ-8 induces the expansion of both murine and human CD4+ T cells into FOXP3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells. LZ-8 treatment was found to stimulate a 4-fold and a 10-fold expansion in the Treg populations of murine and human primary CD4+ T cells, respectively. In addition, the expression of CTLA-4 and IL-10 was induced in LZ-8-treated CD4+ T cells. Using neutralizing antibodies and gene-deficient T-cell lines, we also found that LZ-8 promotes Treg expansion through a CD45-mediated signaling pathway and that the CD18-dependent induction of IL-2 was involved in Treg formation and IL-10 production. The suppressive activity of LZ-8 was confirmed using a murine model of DSS-induced colitis; the disease was alleviated by the adoptive transfer of LZ-8-treated CD4+ T cells. In conclusion, a new regulatory function for LZ-8 was identified, and the molecular mechanisms underlying this function were elucidated. PMID:23864893

  3. Conformationally Constrained Analogues of Diacylglycerol. 29. Cells Sort Diacylglycerol-Lactone Chemical Zip Codes to Produce Diverse and Selective Biological Activities

    PubMed Central

    Duan, Dehui; Sigano, Dina M.; Kelley, James A.; Lai, Christopher C.; Lewin, Nancy E.; Kedei, Noemi; Peach, Megan L.; Lee, Jeewoo; Abeyweera, Thushara P.; Rotenberg, Susan A.; Kim, Hee; Kim, Young Ho; Kazzouli, Saïd El; Chung, Jae-Uk; Young, Howard A.; Young, Matthew R.; Baker, Alyson; Colburn, Nancy H.; Haimovitz-Friedman, Adriana; Truman, Jean-Philip; Parrish, Damon A.; Deschamps, Jeffrey R.; Perry, Nicholas A.; Surawski, Robert J.; Blumberg, Peter M.; Marquez, Victor E.

    2008-01-01

    Diacylglycerol-lactone (DAG-lactone) libraries generated by a solid-phase approach using IRORI technology produced a variety of unique biological activities. Subtle differences in chemical diversity in two areas of the molecule, the combination of which generates what we have termed “chemical zip codes”, are able to transform a relatively small chemical space into a larger universe of biological activities, as membrane-containing organelles within the cell appear to be able to decode these “chemical zip codes”. It is postulated that after binding to protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes or other non-kinase target proteins that contain diacylglycerol responsive, membrane interacting domains (C1 domains), the resulting complexes are directed to diverse intracellular sites where different sets of substrates are accessed. Multiple cellular bioassays show that DAG-lactones, which bind in vitro to PKCα to varying degrees, expand their biological repertoire into a larger domain, eliciting distinct cellular responses. PMID:18698758

  4. Pharmacological treatment and BBB-targeted genetic therapy for MCT8-dependent hypomyelination in zebrafish

    PubMed Central

    2016-01-01

    ABSTRACT Hypomyelination is a key symptom of Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome (AHDS), a psychomotor retardation associated with mutations in the thyroid-hormone (TH) transporter MCT8 (monocarboxylate transporter 8). AHDS is characterized by severe intellectual deficiency, neuromuscular impairment and brain hypothyroidism. In order to understand the mechanism for TH-dependent hypomyelination, we developed an mct8 mutant (mct8−/−) zebrafish model. The quantification of genetic markers for oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) and mature oligodendrocytes revealed reduced differentiation of OPCs into oligodendrocytes in mct8−/− larvae and adults. Live imaging of single glial cells showed that the number of oligodendrocytes and the length of their extensions are reduced, and the number of peripheral Schwann cells is increased, in mct8−/− larvae compared with wild type. Pharmacological analysis showed that TH analogs and clemastine partially rescued the hypomyelination in the CNS of mct8−/− larvae. Intriguingly, triiodothyronine (T3) treatment rescued hypomyelination in mct8−/− embryos before the maturation of the blood–brain barrier (BBB), but did not affect hypomyelination in older larvae. Thus, we expressed Mct8-tagRFP in the endothelial cells of the vascular system and showed that even relatively weak mosaic expression completely rescued hypomyelination in mct8−/− larvae. These results suggest potential pharmacological treatments and BBB-targeted gene therapy that can enhance myelination in AHDS and possibly in other TH-dependent brain disorders. PMID:27664134

  5. Pharmacological treatment and BBB-targeted genetic therapy for MCT8-dependent hypomyelination in zebrafish.

    PubMed

    Zada, David; Tovin, Adi; Lerer-Goldshtein, Tali; Appelbaum, Lior

    2016-11-01

    Hypomyelination is a key symptom of Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome (AHDS), a psychomotor retardation associated with mutations in the thyroid-hormone (TH) transporter MCT8 (monocarboxylate transporter 8). AHDS is characterized by severe intellectual deficiency, neuromuscular impairment and brain hypothyroidism. In order to understand the mechanism for TH-dependent hypomyelination, we developed an mct8 mutant (mct8 -/- ) zebrafish model. The quantification of genetic markers for oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) and mature oligodendrocytes revealed reduced differentiation of OPCs into oligodendrocytes in mct8 -/- larvae and adults. Live imaging of single glial cells showed that the number of oligodendrocytes and the length of their extensions are reduced, and the number of peripheral Schwann cells is increased, in mct8 -/- larvae compared with wild type. Pharmacological analysis showed that TH analogs and clemastine partially rescued the hypomyelination in the CNS of mct8 -/- larvae. Intriguingly, triiodothyronine (T3) treatment rescued hypomyelination in mct8 -/- embryos before the maturation of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), but did not affect hypomyelination in older larvae. Thus, we expressed Mct8-tagRFP in the endothelial cells of the vascular system and showed that even relatively weak mosaic expression completely rescued hypomyelination in mct8 -/- larvae. These results suggest potential pharmacological treatments and BBB-targeted gene therapy that can enhance myelination in AHDS and possibly in other TH-dependent brain disorders. © 2016. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

  6. Evaluation of transcriptional activity of the oestrogen receptor with sodium iodide symporter as an imaging reporter gene.

    PubMed

    Kang, Joo Hyun; Chung, June-Key; Lee, Yong Jin; Kim, Kwang Il; Jeong, Jae Min; Lee, Dong Soo; Lee, Myung Chul

    2006-10-01

    Oestrogen receptors are ligand-dependent transcription factors whose activity is modulated either by oestrogens or by an alternative signalling pathway. Oestrogen receptors interact via a specific DNA-binding domain, the oestrogen responsive element (ERE), in the promoter region of sensitive genes. This binding leads to an initiation of gene expression and hormonal effects. To determine the transcriptional activity of the oestrogen receptor, we developed a molecular imaging system using sodium iodide symporter (NIS) as a reporter gene. The NIS reporter gene was placed under the control of an artificial ERE derived from pERE-TA-SEAP and named as pERE-NIS. pERE-NIS was transferred to MCF-7, human breast cancer cells, which highly expressed oestrogen receptor-alpha with lipofectamine. Stably expressing cells were generated by selection with G418 for 14 days. After treatment of 17beta-oestradiol and tamoxifen with serial doses, the (125)I uptake was measured for the determination of NIS expression. The inhibition of NIS activity was performed with 50 micromol x l(-1) potassium perchlorate. The MCF7/pERE-NIS treated with 17beta-oestradiol accumulated (125)I up to 70-80% higher than did non-treated cells. NIS expression was increased according to increasing doses of 17beta-oestradiol. MCF7/pERE-NIS treated with tamoxifen also accumulated (125)I up to 50% higher than did non-treated cells. Potassium perchlorate completely inhibited (125)I uptake. When MDA-MB231 cells, the oestrogen receptor-negative breast cancer cells, were transfected with pERE-NIS, (125)I uptake of MDA-MB-231/pERE-NIS did not increase. This pERE-NIS reporter system is sufficiently sensitive for monitoring transcriptional activity of the oestrogen receptor. Therefore, cis-enhancer reporter systems with ERE will be applicable to the development of a novel selective oestrogen receptor modulator with low toxicity and high efficacy.

  7. Cation-Coupled Bicarbonate Transporters

    PubMed Central

    Aalkjaer, Christian; Boedtkjer, Ebbe; Choi, Inyeong; Lee, Soojung

    2016-01-01

    Cation-coupled HCO3− transport was initially identified in the mid-1970s when pioneering studies showed that acid extrusion from cells is stimulated by CO2/HCO3− and associated with Na+ and Cl− movement. The first Na+-coupled bicarbonate transporter (NCBT) was expression-cloned in the late 1990s. There are currently five mammalian NCBTs in the SLC4-family: the electrogenic Na,HCO3-cotransporters NBCe1 and NBCe2 (SLC4A4 and SLC4A5 gene products); the electroneutral Na,HCO3-cotransporter NBCn1 (SLC4A7 gene product); the Na+-driven Cl,HCO3-exchanger NDCBE (SLC4A8 gene product); and NBCn2/NCBE (SLC4A10 gene product), which has been characterized as an electroneutral Na,HCO3-cotransporter or a Na+-driven Cl,HCO3-exchanger. Despite the similarity in amino acid sequence and predicted structure among the NCBTs of the SLC4-family, they exhibit distinct differences in ion dependency, transport function, pharmacological properties, and interactions with other proteins. In epithelia, NCBTs are involved in transcellular movement of acid-base equivalents and intracellular pH control. In nonepithelial tissues, NCBTs contribute to intracellular pH regulation; and hence, they are crucial for diverse tissue functions including neuronal discharge, sensory neuron development, performance of the heart, and vascular tone regulation. The function and expression levels of the NCBTs are generally sensitive to intracellular and systemic pH. Animal models have revealed pathophysiological roles of the transporters in disease states including metabolic acidosis, hypertension, visual defects, and epileptic seizures. Studies are being conducted to understand the physiological consequences of genetic polymorphisms in the SLC4-members, which are associated with cancer, hypertension, and drug addiction. Here, we describe the current knowledge regarding the function, structure, and regulation of the mammalian cation-coupled HCO3− transporters of the SLC4-family. PMID:25428855

  8. Experimental Study of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Radionuclide Imaging and Therapy Using Transferred Human Sodium/Iodide Symporter Gene

    PubMed Central

    Zhong, Xing; Shi, Changzheng; Gong, Jian; Guo, Bin; Li, Mingzhu; Xu, Hao

    2015-01-01

    Purpose The aim of this study was to design a method of radionuclide for imaging and therapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) using the transferred human sodium/iodide symporter (hNIS) gene. Methods A stable NPC cell line expressing hNIS was established (CNE-2-hNIS). After 131I treatment, we detected proliferation and apoptosis of NPC cells, both in vitro and vivo. In vivo, the radioactivity of different organs of nude mice was counted and 99mTc imaging using SPECT was performed. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value changes of tumor xenografts were observed by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) within 6–24 days of 131I treatment. The correlation of ADC changes with apoptosis and proliferation was investigated. Post-treatment expression levels of P53, Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, and Survivin proteins were detected by western blotting. Results 131I uptake was higher in CNE-2-hNIS than in CNE-2 cells. The proliferation and apoptosis rate decreased and increased respectively both in vitro and vivo in the experimental group after 131I treatment. The experimental group tumors accumulated 99mTc in vivo, leading to a good visualization by SPECT. DW-MRI showed that ADC values increased in the experimental group 6 days after treatment, while ADC values were positively and negatively correlated with the apoptotic and Ki-67 proliferation indices, respectively. After treatment, CNE-2-hNIS cells up-regulated the expression of P53 and Survivin proteins and activated Caspase-3, and down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 proteins. Conclusions The radionuclide imaging and therapy technique for NPC hNIS-transfected cell lines can provide a new therapy strategy for monitoring and treatment of NPC. PMID:25615643

  9. La0.8Sr0.2Fe0.8Cu0.2O3-δ as “cobalt-free” cathode for La0.8Sr0.2Ga0.8Mg0.2O3-δ electrolyte

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zurlo, Francesca; Di Bartolomeo, Elisabetta; D'Epifanio, Alessandra; Felice, Valeria; Natali Sora, Isabella; Tortora, Luca; Licoccia, Silvia

    2014-12-01

    A "cobalt-free" cathode material with stoichiometric composition La0.8Sr0.2Fe0.8Cu0.2O3-δ (LSFCu) was specifically developed for use with La0.8Sr0.2Ga0.8Mg0.2O3-δ (LSGM) electrolyte in intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell (IT-SOFC) systems. The chemical stability of LSFCu in contact with LSGM electrolyte was investigated by structural and morphological analysis. The electrochemical properties of LSFCu dense pellets were investigated in the temperature range 600-750 °C by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). LSFCu|LSGM|LSFCu symmetrical cells were prepared and area specific resistance (ASR) values, directly depending on the rate limiting step of the oxygen reduction reaction, were evaluated. Fuel cells were prepared using LSFCu as cathode material on a LSGM pellet and electrochemical tests were performed in the 700-800 °C temperature range and compared to similar fuel cells prepared by using commercial La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.8Co0.2O3-δ (LSFCo) as a cathode. The maximum current density and power density recorded for LSFCu and LSFCo were similar. This fact demonstrates that Cu can be used as Co substitute in perovskite cathode materials.

  10. Plac8-dependent and inducible NO synthase-dependent mechanisms clear Chlamydia muridarum infections from the genital tract.

    PubMed

    Johnson, Raymond M; Kerr, Micah S; Slaven, James E

    2012-02-15

    Chlamydia trachomatis urogenital serovars replicate predominantly in genital tract epithelium. This tissue tropism poses a unique challenge for host defense and vaccine development. Studies utilizing the Chlamydia muridarum mouse model have shown that CD4 T cells are critical for clearing genital tract infections. In vitro studies have shown that CD4 T cells terminate infection by upregulating epithelial inducible NO synthase (iNOS) transcription and NO production. However, this mechanism is not critical, as iNOS-deficient mice clear infections normally. We recently showed that a subset of Chlamydia-specific CD4 T cell clones could terminate replication in epithelial cells using an iNOS-independent mechanism requiring T cell degranulation. We advance that work using microarrays to compare iNOS-dependent and iNOS-independent CD4 T cell clones. Plac8 was differentially expressed by clones having the iNOS-independent mechanism. Plac8-deficient mice had delayed clearance of infection, and Plac8-deficient mice treated with the iNOS inhibitor N-monomethyl-l-arginine were largely unable to resolve genital tract infections over 8 wk. These results demonstrate that there are two independent and redundant T cell mechanisms for clearing C. muridarum genital tract infections: one dependent on iNOS, and the other dependent on Plac8. Although T cell subsets are routinely defined by cytokine profiles, there may be important subdivisions by effector function, in this case CD4(Plac8).

  11. Sodium bicarbonate supplementation improves severe-intensity intermittent exercise under moderate acute hypoxic conditions.

    PubMed

    Deb, Sanjoy K; Gough, Lewis A; Sparks, S Andy; McNaughton, Lars R

    2018-03-01

    Acute moderate hypoxic exposure can substantially impair exercise performance, which occurs with a concurrent exacerbated rise in hydrogen cation (H + ) production. The purpose of this study was therefore, to alleviate this acidic stress through sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3 ) supplementation and determine the corresponding effects on severe-intensity intermittent exercise performance. Eleven recreationally active individuals participated in this randomised, double-blind, crossover study performed under acute normobaric hypoxic conditions (FiO 2 % = 14.5%). Pre-experimental trials involved the determination of time to attain peak bicarbonate anion concentrations ([HCO 3 - ]) following NaHCO 3 ingestion. The intermittent exercise tests involved repeated 60-s work in their severe-intensity domain and 30-s recovery at 20 W to exhaustion. Participants ingested either 0.3 g kg bm -1 of NaHCO 3 or a matched placebo of 0.21 g kg bm -1 of sodium chloride prior to exercise. Exercise tolerance (+ 110.9 ± 100.6 s; 95% CI 43.3-178 s; g = 1.0) and work performed in the severe-intensity domain (+ 5.8 ± 6.6 kJ; 95% CI 1.3-9.9 kJ; g = 0.8) were enhanced with NaHCO 3 supplementation. Furthermore, a larger post-exercise blood lactate concentration was reported in the experimental group (+ 4 ± 2.4 mmol l -1 ; 95% CI 2.2-5.9; g = 1.8), while blood [HCO 3 - ] and pH remained elevated in the NaHCO 3 condition throughout experimentation. In conclusion, this study reported a positive effect of NaHCO 3 under acute moderate hypoxic conditions during intermittent exercise and therefore, may offer an ergogenic strategy to mitigate hypoxic induced declines in exercise performance.

  12. Quench hardening of Sb0.2 Bi1.8Te3, Bi2Te2.8Se0.2 and Sn0.2 Bi1.8Te3 single crystals

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Soni, P. H.

    2018-02-01

    The V2-VI3 intermetallics are narrow band gap semiconductors and well known for their thermoelectric properties. They therefore offer a convenient route to tune band gap for manipulating thermoelectric parameters. The V group element Sb can be fruitfully used to substitute Bi in various proportions thus forming a psuedobinary solid solution. The electronic in general and the thermoelectric properties in particular of this psuedobinary have been amply reported. However there are no reports found on mechanical properties. I have used Sb0.2 Bi1.8Te3, Bi2Te2.8Se0.2 and Sn0.2 Bi1.8Te3single crystals grown using Bridgman technique for the quenching treatment followed by hardness testing. Vickers hardness tests were conducted on the cleavage planes of the crystals quenched from various high temperatures and the quench hardenening coefficient values have been determined. The hardness tests were carried out at various applied loads also to explore load dependence of the measured hardness. The results are reported in the paper.

  13. GhABF2, a bZIP transcription factor, confers drought and salinity tolerance in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).

    PubMed

    Liang, Chengzhen; Meng, Zhaohong; Meng, Zhigang; Malik, Waqas; Yan, Rong; Lwin, Khin Myat; Lin, Fazhuang; Wang, Yuan; Sun, Guoqing; Zhou, Tao; Zhu, Tao; Li, Jianying; Jin, Shuangxia; Guo, Sandui; Zhang, Rui

    2016-10-07

    The bZIP transcription factor (TF) act as an important regulator for the abscisic acid (ABA) mediated abiotic stresses signaling pathways in plants. Here, we reported the cloning and characterization of GhABF2, encoding for typical cotton bZIP TF. Overexpression of GhABF2 significantly improved drought and salt stress tolerance both in Arabidopsis and cotton. However, silencing of GhABF2 made transgenic cotton sensitive to PEG osmotic and salt stress. Expression of GhABF2 was induced by drought and ABA treatments but repressed by high salinity. Transcriptome analysis indicated that GhABF2 increases drought and salt tolerance by regulating genes related to ABA, drought and salt response. The proline contents, activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were also significantly increased in GhABF2-overexpression cottons in comparison to wild type after drought and salt treatment. Further, an increase in fiber yield under drought and saline-alkali wetland exhibited the important role of GhABF2 in enhancing the drought and salt tolerance in transgenic lines. In conclusion, manipulation of GhABF2 by biotechnological tools could be a sustainable strategy to deploy drought and salt tolerance in cotton.

  14. Salty dog, an SLC5 symporter, modulates Drosophila response to salt stress.

    PubMed

    Stergiopoulos, Konstantinos; Cabrero, Pablo; Davies, Shireen-Anne; Dow, Julian A T

    2009-03-03

    To regulate their internal environments, organisms must adapt to varying ion levels in their diet. Adult Drosophila were exposed to dietary salt stress, and their physiological, survival, and gene expression responses monitored. Insects continued to feed on NaCl-elevated diet, although levels >4% wt/vol ultimately proved fatal. Affymetrix microarray analysis of flies fed on diet containing elevated NaCl showed a phased response: the earliest response was widespread upregulation of immune genes, followed by upregulation of carbohydrate metabolism as the immune response was downregulated, then finally a switch to amino acid catabolism and inhibition of genes associated with the reproductive axis. Significantly, the online transcriptomic resource FlyAtlas reports that most of the modulated genes are predominantly expressed in hindgut or Malpighian (renal) tubule, implicating these excretory tissues as the major responders to salt stress. Three genes were selected for further study: the SLC5 symporter CG2196, the GLUT transporter CG6484, and the transcription factor sugarbabe (previously implicated in starvation and stress responses). Expression profiles predicted by microarray were validated by quantitative PCR (qPCR); expression was mapped to the alimentary canal by in situ hybridization. CG2196::eYFP overexpression constructs were localized to the basolateral membrane of the Malpighian (renal) tubules, and RNAi against CG2196 improved survival on high-salt diet, even when driven specifically to just principal cells of the Malpighian tubule, confirming both this tissue and this transporter as major determinants of survival upon salt stress. Accordingly, CG2196 was renamed salty dog (salt).

  15. Use of Serum Bicarbonate to Substitute for Venous pH in New-Onset Diabetes.

    PubMed

    von Oettingen, Julia; Wolfsdorf, Joseph; Feldman, Henry A; Rhodes, Erinn T

    2015-08-01

    To investigate whether serum bicarbonate (HCO3) levels can be used to accurately diagnose diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and classify its severity in children with new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM). Retrospective study of all patients with NODM presenting to Boston Children's Hospital from October 1, 2007, to July 1, 2013. DKA was defined as blood glucose ≥200 mg/dL, venous pH (vpH) <7.3, and urine ketones ≥2+, and severe DKA as vpH <7.1. Linear regression was used to assess serum HCO3 as a predictor of vpH, and logistic regression to evaluate serum HCO3 as a predictor of DKA and severe DKA. Of 690 study cohort subjects (47% girls, age 10.8 ± 4.3 years, 76.7% white), 19.4% presented with DKA. The relationship between serum HCO3 and vpH was log-linear (r = 0.87, 95% CI 0.85-0.89, P < .001). HCO3 predicted vpH (R(2) 0.75, P < .001) using the formula vpH = 6.81301 + (0.17823*ln[HCO3]) and DKA and severe DKA (c-statistic 0.97 [95% CI 0.96-0.99, P < .001] and 0.99 [95% CI 0.991-0.999, P < .001], respectively). HCO3 cutoffs of <18 and <8 mmol/L had sensitivities of 91.8% and 95.2%, and specificities of 91.7% and 96.7%, respectively, to diagnose DKA and severe DKA. Findings were similar in a validation cohort of 197 subjects. Serum HCO3 concentration alone can substitute for vpH to diagnose DKA and classify severity in children with NODM. It is suggested as an alternative to reliance on vpH, especially in settings in which access to vpH measurement is limited. Copyright © 2015 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

  16. Use of Serum Bicarbonate to Substitute for Venous pH in New-Onset Diabetes

    PubMed Central

    Wolfsdorf, Joseph; Feldman, Henry A.; Rhodes, Erinn T.

    2015-01-01

    OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether serum bicarbonate (HCO3) levels can be used to accurately diagnose diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and classify its severity in children with new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM). METHODS: Retrospective study of all patients with NODM presenting to Boston Children’s Hospital from October 1, 2007, to July 1, 2013. DKA was defined as blood glucose ≥200 mg/dL, venous pH (vpH) <7.3, and urine ketones ≥2+, and severe DKA as vpH <7.1. Linear regression was used to assess serum HCO3 as a predictor of vpH, and logistic regression to evaluate serum HCO3 as a predictor of DKA and severe DKA. RESULTS: Of 690 study cohort subjects (47% girls, age 10.8 ± 4.3 years, 76.7% white), 19.4% presented with DKA. The relationship between serum HCO3 and vpH was log-linear (r = 0.87, 95% CI 0.85–0.89, P < .001). HCO3 predicted vpH (R2 0.75, P < .001) using the formula vpH = 6.81301 + (0.17823*ln[HCO3]) and DKA and severe DKA (c-statistic 0.97 [95% CI 0.96–0.99, P < .001] and 0.99 [95% CI 0.991–0.999, P < .001], respectively). HCO3 cutoffs of <18 and <8 mmol/L had sensitivities of 91.8% and 95.2%, and specificities of 91.7% and 96.7%, respectively, to diagnose DKA and severe DKA. Findings were similar in a validation cohort of 197 subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Serum HCO3 concentration alone can substitute for vpH to diagnose DKA and classify severity in children with NODM. It is suggested as an alternative to reliance on vpH, especially in settings in which access to vpH measurement is limited. PMID:26195535

  17. Magnesium Increases Homoeologous Crossover Frequency During Meiosis in ZIP4 (Ph1 Gene) Mutant Wheat-Wild Relative Hybrids.

    PubMed

    Rey, María-Dolores; Martín, Azahara C; Smedley, Mark; Hayta, Sadiye; Harwood, Wendy; Shaw, Peter; Moore, Graham

    2018-01-01

    Wild relatives provide an important source of useful traits in wheat breeding. Wheat and wild relative hybrids have been widely used in breeding programs to introduce such traits into wheat. However, successful introgression is limited by the low frequency of homoeologous crossover (CO) between wheat and wild relative chromosomes. Hybrids between wheat carrying a 70 Mb deletion on chromosome 5B ( ph1b ) and wild relatives, have been exploited to increase the level of homoeologous CO, allowing chromosome exchange between their chromosomes. In ph1b -rye hybrids, CO number increases from a mean of 1 CO to 7 COs per cell. CO number can be further increased up to a mean of 12 COs per cell in these ph1b hybrids by treating the plants with Hoagland solution. More recently, it was shown that the major meiotic crossover gene ZIP4 on chromosome 5B ( TaZIP4-B2 ) within the 70 Mb deletion, was responsible for the restriction of homoeologous COs in wheat-wild relative hybrids, confirming the ph1b phenotype as a complete Tazip4-B2 deletion mutant ( Tazip4-B2 ph1b) . In this study, we have identified the particular Hoagland solution constituent responsible for the increased chiasma frequency in Tazip4-B2 ph1b mutant-rye hybrids and extended the analysis to Tazip4-B2 TILLING and CRISPR mutant- Ae variabilis hybrids. Chiasma frequency at meiotic metaphase I, in the absence of each Hoagland solution macronutrient (NH 4 H 2 PO 4 , KNO 3 , Ca (NO 3 )2·4H 2 O or Mg SO 4 ·7H 2 O) was analyzed. A significant decrease in homoeologous CO frequency was observed when the Mg 2+ ion was absent. A significant increase of homoeologous CO frequency was observed in all analyzed hybrids, when plants were irrigated with a 1 mM Mg 2+ solution. These observations suggest a role for magnesium supplementation in improving the success of genetic material introgression from wild relatives into wheat.

  18. Characterization of a novel thermostable Mn(II)-dependent 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase from a polychlorinated biphenyl- and naphthalene-degrading Bacillus sp. JF8.

    PubMed

    Hatta, Takashi; Mukerjee-Dhar, Gouri; Damborsky, Jiri; Kiyohara, Hohzoh; Kimbara, Kazuhide

    2003-06-13

    A novel thermostable Mn(II)-dependent 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl-1,2-dioxygenase (BphC_JF8) catalyzing the meta-cleavage of the hydroxylated biphenyl ring was purified from the thermophilic biphenyl and naphthalene degrader, Bacillus sp. JF8, and the gene was cloned. The native and recombinant BphC enzyme was purified to homogeneity. The enzyme has a molecular mass of 125 +/- 10 kDa and was composed of four identical subunits (35 kDa). BphC_JF8 has a temperature optimum of 85 degrees C and a pH optimum of 7.5. It exhibited a half-life of 30 min at 80 degrees C and 81 min at 75 degrees C, making it the most thermostable extradiol dioxygenase studied. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis confirmed the presence of 4.0-4.8 manganese atoms per enzyme molecule. The EPR spectrum of BphC_JF8 exhibited g = 2.02 and g = 4.06 signals having the 6-fold hyperfine splitting characteristic of Mn(II). The enzyme can oxidize a wide range of substrates, and the substrate preference was in the order 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl > 3-methylcatechol > catechol > 4-methylcatechol > 4-chlorocatechol. The enzyme is resistant to denaturation by various chelators and inhibitors (EDTA, 1,10-phenanthroline, H2O2, 3-chlorocatechol) and did not exhibit substrate inhibition even at 3 mm 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl. A decrease in Km accompanied an increase in temperature, and the Km value of 0.095 microm for 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl (at 60 degrees C) is among the lowest reported. The kinetic properties and thermal stability of the native and recombinant enzyme were identical. The primary structure of BphC_JF8 exhibits less than 25% sequence identity to other 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenases. The metal ligands and active site residues of extradiol dioxygenases are conserved, although several amino acid residues found exclusively in enzymes that preferentially cleave bicyclic substrates are missing in BphC_JF8. A three-dimensional homology model of BphC_JF8 provided a basis for understanding the

  19. Intra-Amygdala ZIP Injections Impair the Memory of Learned Active Avoidance Responses and Attenuate Conditioned Taste-Aversion Acquisition in Rats

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gamiz, Fernando; Gallo, Milagros

    2011-01-01

    We have investigated the effect of protein kinase Mzeta (PKM[zeta]) inhibition in the basolateral amygdala (BLA) upon the retention of a nonspatial learned active avoidance response and conditioned taste-aversion (CTA) acquisition in rats. ZIP (10 nmol/[mu]L) injected into the BLA 24 h after training impaired retention of a learned…

  20. SMA observations of the W3(OH) complex: Dynamical differentiation between W3(H2O) and W3(OH)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Qin, Sheng-Li; Schilke, Peter; Wu, Jingwen; Liu, Tie; Wu, Yuefang; Sánchez-Monge, Álvaro; Liu, Ying

    2016-03-01

    We present Submillimeter Array observations of the HCN (3-2) and HCO+ (3-2) molecular lines towards the W3(H2O) and W3(OH) star-forming complexes. Infall and outflow motions in the W3(H2O) have been characterized by observing HCN and HCO+ transitions. High-velocity blue/red-shifted emission, tracing the outflow, show multiple knots, which might originate in episodic and precessing outflows. `Blue-peaked' line profiles indicate that gas is infalling on to the W3(H2O) dust core. The measured large mass accretion rate, 2.3 × 10-3 M⊙ yr-1, together with the small free-fall time-scale, 5 × 103 yr, suggest W3(H2O) is in an early evolutionary stage of the process of formation of high-mass stars. For the W3(OH), a two-layer model fit to the HCN and HCO+ spectral lines and Spizter/Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) images support that the W3(OH) H II region is expanding and interacting with the ambient gas, with the shocked neutral gas being expanding with an expansion time-scale of 6.4 × 103 yr. The observations suggest different kinematical time-scales and dynamical states for the W3(H2O) and W3(OH).

  1. 7 CFR 8.3 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 7 Agriculture 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Definitions. 8.3 Section 8.3 Agriculture Office of the Secretary of Agriculture 4-H CLUB NAME AND EMBLEM § 8.3 Definitions. 4-H Club Name and Emblem as used in this part means the emblem consisting of a green four-leaf clover with stem and the letter “H” in white...

  2. 7 CFR 8.3 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... 7 Agriculture 1 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Definitions. 8.3 Section 8.3 Agriculture Office of the Secretary of Agriculture 4-H CLUB NAME AND EMBLEM § 8.3 Definitions. 4-H Club Name and Emblem as used in this part means the emblem consisting of a green four-leaf clover with stem and the letter “H” in white...

  3. 7 CFR 8.3 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... 7 Agriculture 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Definitions. 8.3 Section 8.3 Agriculture Office of the Secretary of Agriculture 4-H CLUB NAME AND EMBLEM § 8.3 Definitions. 4-H Club Name and Emblem as used in this part means the emblem consisting of a green four-leaf clover with stem and the letter “H” in white...

  4. 7 CFR 8.3 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-01-01

    ... 7 Agriculture 1 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Definitions. 8.3 Section 8.3 Agriculture Office of the Secretary of Agriculture 4-H CLUB NAME AND EMBLEM § 8.3 Definitions. 4-H Club Name and Emblem as used in this part means the emblem consisting of a green four-leaf clover with stem and the letter “H” in white...

  5. FFA3 Activation Stimulates Duodenal Bicarbonate Secretion and Prevents NSAID-Induced Enteropathy via the GLP-2 Pathway in Rats.

    PubMed

    Said, Hyder; Akiba, Yasutada; Narimatsu, Kazuyuki; Maruta, Koji; Kuri, Ayaka; Iwamoto, Ken-Ichi; Kuwahara, Atsukazu; Kaunitz, Jonathan D

    2017-08-01

    Therapy with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is associated with enteropathy in humans and experimental animals, a cause of considerable morbidity. Unlike foregut NSAID-associated mucosal lesions, most treatments for this condition are of little efficacy. We propose that the endogenously released intestinotrophic hormone glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) prevents the development of NSAID-induced enteropathy. Since the short-chain fatty acid receptor FFA3 is expressed on enteroendocrine L cells and on enteric nerves in the gastrointestinal tract, we further hypothesized that activation of FFA3 on L cells protects the mucosa from injury via GLP-2 release with enhanced duodenal HCO 3 - secretion. We thus investigated the effects of synthetic selective FFA3 agonists with consequent GLP-2 release on NSAID-induced enteropathy. We measured duodenal HCO 3 - secretion in isoflurane-anesthetized rats in a duodenal loop perfused with the selective FFA3 agonists MQC or AR420626 (AR) while measuring released GLP-2 in the portal vein (PV). Intestinal injury was produced by indomethacin (IND, 10 mg/kg, sc) with or without MQC (1-10 mg/kg, ig) or AR (0.01-0.1 mg/kg, ig or ip) treatment. Luminal perfusion with MQC or AR (0.1-10 µM) dose-dependently augmented duodenal HCO 3 - secretion accompanied by increased GLP-2 concentrations in the PV. The effect of FFA3 agonists was inhibited by co-perfusion of the selective FFA3 antagonist CF3-MQC (30 µM). AR-induced augmented HCO 3 - secretion was reduced by iv injection of the GLP-2 receptor antagonist GLP-2(3-33) (3 nmol/kg), or by pretreatment with the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) inhibitor CFTR inh -172 (1 mg/kg, ip). IND-induced small intestinal ulcers were dose-dependently inhibited by intragastric administration of MQC or AR. GLP-2(3-33) (1 mg/kg, ip) or CF3-MQC (1 mg/kg, ig) reversed AR-associated reduction in IND-induced enteropathy. In contrast, ip injection of AR had no effect

  6. Analysis of the Small Business Administration 8(a) Business Development Program

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2015-06-01

    Parent DUNS Number: Address, line 1: 9656 E Empress Ave Address, line 2: City: Mesa State: AZ Zip: 85208-3156 Phone Number: 480-220-9226 Fax...products): https://www.imgnetworks.com Contact Person: RAY RODRIGUEZ County Code (3 digit): 073 Congressional District: 51 Metropolitan

  7. Temperature-dependent impedance spectroscopy of La0.8Sr0.2FeO3 nano-crystalline material

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kafa, C. A.; Triyono, D.; Laysandra, H.

    2017-04-01

    LaFeO3 is a material with perovskite structure which electrical properties frequently investigated. Research are done due to the exhibition of excellent gas sensing behavior through resistivity comparison from the p-type semiconductor. Sr doping on LaFeO3 or La1-xSrxFeO3 are able to improve the electrical conductivity through structural modification. Using Sr dopant concentration (x) of 0.2, La0.8Sr0.2FeO3 nano-crystal pellet was synthesized. The synthesis used sol-gel method, followed by gradual heat treatment and uniaxial compaction. XRD characterization shows that the structure of the sample is Orthorhombic Perovskite. Topography of the sample by SEM reveals grain and grain boundary existence with emerging agglomeration. The electrical properties of the material, as functions of temperature and frequency, were measured by Impedance Spectroscopy method using RLC meter, for temperatures of 303-373K. Through the Nyquist plot and Bode plot, the electrical conductivity of La0.8Sr0.2FeO3 is contributed by the grain and grain boundary. Finally, the electrical permittivities of La0.8Sr0.2FeO3 are increasing with temperature increase, with the highest achieved when measured at 1 kHz frequency.

  8. Modulation of chloride secretion in the rat ileum by intracellular bicarbonate.

    PubMed

    Dagher, P C; Chawla, H; Michael, J; Egnor, R W; Charney, A N

    1997-05-01

    Increasing intracellular bicarbonate concentration ([HCO3-]i) inhibits calcium-mediated Cl- secretion in rat distal colon and T84 cells. We investigated the effect of [HCO3-]i on Cl- secretion in rat ileum. Segments of intact ileum from Sprague-Dawley rats were studied in Ussing chambers and villus and crypt intracellular pH and [HCO3-]i were determined using BCECF. A range of crypt and villus [HCO3-]i from 0 to 31 mM was obtained by varying Ringer's composition. Basal serosal-to-mucosal Cl- flux (JsmCl) averaged 8.5 +/- 0.2 mu eq.h-1.cm-2 and was unaffected by changing [HCO3-]i or serosal bumetanide. Carbachol increased JsmCl by 3.9 +/- 0.5 mu eq.h-1.cm-2 at [HCO3-]i = 0 mM but only by 1.0 +/- 0.3 mu eq.h-1.cm-2 at high crypt and villus [HCO3-]i. Dibutyryl-cAMP increased JsmCl by 2.5 +/- 0.2 mu eq.h-1.cm-2 at all [HCO3-]i. Carbachol and db-cAMP showed mutual antagonism at low [HCO3-]i and near-additivity at high [HCO3-]i. We conclude that like rat colon and T84 cells, calcium-mediated but not cAMP-mediated Cl- secretion in the ileum is inhibited by increasing [HCO3-]i. Mutual antagonism between carbachol and db-cAMP at low [HCO3-]i was present in ileum and distal colon but not in T84 cells.

  9. Infrared absorption of t-HOCO{sup +}, H{sup +}(CO{sub 2}){sub 2}, and HCO{sub 2}{sup −} produced in electron bombardment of CO{sub 2} in solid para-H{sub 2}

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Das, Prasanta; Tsuge, Masashi; Lee, Yuan-Pern, E-mail: yplee@mail.nctu.edu.tw

    We have employed electron bombardment during matrix deposition of CO{sub 2} (or {sup 13}CO{sub 2}, C{sup 18}O{sub 2}) and para-hydrogen (p-H{sub 2}) at 3.2 K and recorded infrared (IR) spectra of t-HOCO{sup +}, H{sup +}(CO{sub 2}){sub 2}, HCO{sub 2}{sup −}, CO{sub 2}{sup −}, t-HOCO, and other species isolated in solid p-H{sub 2}. After the matrix was maintained in darkness for 13 h, intensities of absorption features of t-HOCO{sup +} at 2403.5 (ν{sub 1}), 2369.9 (ν{sub 2}), 1018.1 (ν{sub 4}), and 606.5 (ν{sub 6}) cm{sup −1} and those of H{sup +}(CO{sub 2}){sub 2} at 1341.1, 883.6, and 591.5 cm{sup −1} decreased.more » Corresponding lines of isotopologues were observed when {sup 13}CO{sub 2} or C{sup 18}O{sub 2} replaced CO{sub 2}. In contrast, lines of HCO{sub 2}{sup −} at 2522.4 (ν{sub 1}), 1616.1 (ν{sub 5}), 1327.9 (ν{sub 2}), and 745.6 (ν{sub 3}) cm{sup −1} increased in intensity; corresponding lines of H{sup 13}CO{sub 2}{sup −} or HC{sup 18}O{sub 2}{sup −} were also observed. Lines of t-DOCO{sup +} and DCO{sub 2}{sup −} were observed in an electron bombarded CO{sub 2} /normal-deuterium (n-D{sub 2}) matrix. Data of ν{sub 6} of t-HOCO{sup +} and all observed modes of H{sup 18}OC{sup 18}O{sup +} and HC{sup 18}O{sub 2}{sup −} are new. The assignments were made according to expected chemical behavior, observed isotopic shifts, and comparisons with vibrational wavenumbers and relative intensities of previous reports and calculations with the B3PW91/aug-cc-pVQZ method. The ν{sub 1} line of t-HOCO{sup +} in solid p-H{sub 2} (2403.5 cm{sup −1}), similar to the line at 2673 cm{sup −1} of t-HOCO{sup +} tagged with an Ar atom, is significantly red-shifted from that reported for gaseous t-HOCO{sup +} (3375.37 cm{sup −1}) due to partial proton sharing between CO{sub 2} and H{sub 2} or Ar. The ν{sub 1} line of HCO{sub 2}{sup −} in solid p-H{sub 2} (2522.4 cm{sup −1}) is blue shifted from that reported for HCO{sub 2}{sup −} in solid

  10. Hippocampal Infusion of Zeta Inhibitory Peptide Impairs Recent, but Not Remote, Recognition Memory in Rats

    PubMed Central

    Hales, Jena B.; Ocampo, Amber C.; Broadbent, Nicola J.; Clark, Robert E.

    2015-01-01

    Spatial memory in rodents can be erased following the infusion of zeta inhibitory peptide (ZIP) into the dorsal hippocampus via indwelling guide cannulas. It is believed that ZIP impairs spatial memory by reversing established late-phase long-term potentiation (LTP). However, it is unclear whether other forms of hippocampus-dependent memory, such as recognition memory, are also supported by hippocampal LTP. In the current study, we tested recognition memory in rats following hippocampal ZIP infusion. In order to combat the limited targeting of infusions via cannula, we implemented a stereotaxic approach for infusing ZIP throughout the dorsal, intermediate, and ventral hippocampus. Rats infused with ZIP 3–7 days after training on the novel object recognition task exhibited impaired object recognition memory compared to control rats (those infused with aCSF). In contrast, rats infused with ZIP 1 month after training performed similar to control rats. The ability to form new memories after ZIP infusions remained intact. We suggest that enhanced recognition memory for recent events is supported by hippocampal LTP, which can be reversed by hippocampal ZIP infusion. PMID:26380123

  11. Temperature dependence of the superconducting energy gaps in Ca9.35La0.65(Pt3As8)(Fe2As2)5 single crystal.

    PubMed

    Seo, Yu-Il; Choi, Woo-Jae; Ahmad, D; Kimura, Shin-Ichi; Kwon, Yong Seung

    2018-06-05

    We measured the optical reflectivity R(ω) for an underdoped (Ca 0.935 La 0.065 ) 10 (Pt 3 As 8 )(Fe 2 As 2 ) 5 single crystal and obtained the optical conductivity [Formula: see text] using the K-K transformation. The normal state [Formula: see text] at 30 K is well fitted by a Drude-Lorentz model with two Drude components (ω p1  = 1446 cm -1 and ω p2  = 6322 cm -1 ) and seven Lorentz components. Relative reflectometry was used to accurately determine the temperature dependence of the superconducting gap at various temperatures below T c . The results clearly show the opening of a superconducting gap with a weaker second gap structure; the magnitudes for the gaps are estimated from the generalized Mattis-Bardeen model to be Δ 1  = 30 and Δ 2  = 50 cm -1 , respectively, at T = 8 K, which both decrease with increasing temperature. The temperature dependence of the gaps was not consistent with one-band BCS theory but was well described by a two-band (hence, two gap) BCS model with interband interactions. The temperature dependence of the superfluid density is flat at low temperatures, indicating an s-wave full-gap superconducting state.

  12. A Novel Alternative Splicing Isoform of Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 bZIP Factor (HBZ-SI) Targets Distinct Subnuclear Localization

    PubMed Central

    Murata, Ken; Hayashibara, Toshihisa; Sugahara, Kazuyuki; Uemura, Akiko; Yamaguchi, Taku; Harasawa, Hitomi; Hasegawa, Hiroo; Tsuruda, Kazuto; Okazaki, Toshiro; Koji, Takehiko; Miyanishi, Takayuki; Yamada, Yasuaki; Kamihira, Shimeru

    2006-01-01

    Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) is associated with prior infection with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1); however, the mechanism by which HTLV-1 causes adult T-cell leukemia has not been fully elucidated. Recently, a functional basic leucine zipper (bZIP) protein coded in the minus strand of HTLV-1 genome (HBZ) was identified. We report here a novel isoform of the HTLV-1 bZIP factor (HBZ), HBZ-SI, identified by means of reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) in conjunction with 5′ and 3′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). HBZ-SI is a 206-amino-acid-long protein and is generated by alternative splicing between part of the HBZ gene and a novel exon located in the 3′ long terminal repeat of the HTLV-1 genome. Consequently, these isoforms share >95% amino acid sequence identity, and differ only at their N termini, indicating that HBZ-SI is also a functional protein. Duplex RT-PCR and real-time quantitative RT-PCR analyses showed that the mRNAs of these isoforms were expressed at equivalent levels in all ATL cell samples examined. Nonetheless, we found by Western blotting that the HBZ-SI protein was preferentially expressed in some ATL cell lines examined. A key finding was obtained from the subcellular localization analyses of these isoforms. Despite their high sequence similarity, each isoform was targeted to distinguishable subnuclear structures. These data show the presence of a novel isoform of HBZ in ATL cells, and in addition, shed new light on the possibility that each isoform may play a unique role in distinct regions in the cell nucleus. PMID:16474156

  13. HIV-1 Infection Induces Interleukin-1β Production via TLR8 Protein-dependent and NLRP3 Inflammasome Mechanisms in Human Monocytes*

    PubMed Central

    Guo, Haitao; Gao, Jianmei; Taxman, Debra J.; Ting, Jenny P. Y.; Su, Lishan

    2014-01-01

    The induction of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β is associated with the progression of human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1) disease or AIDS. Unlike most inflammatory cytokines that are regulated by NF-κB at the transcriptional level, production of mature IL-1β also depends on inflammasome activation. The mechanism by which HIV-1 induces pro-IL-1β expression and activates inflammasomes to cleave pro-IL-1β into its bioactive form is not clearly defined. We report here that HIV-1 infection in human monocytes efficiently induced IL-1β expression and inflammasome activation. Toll-like receptor 8 (TLR8) was required for inducing pro-IL-1β expression, whereas the NLRP3 inflammasome was required for IL-1β maturation and release. Furthermore, the lysosomal protease cathepsin B and HIV-1 induced production of reactive oxygen species were critical for HIV-induced inflammasome activation and IL-1β production. HIV-1 entry, reverse transcription, and integration were all required for both pro-IL-1β expression and inflammasome activation. Finally, we show that HIV-1-derived RNA was sufficient to induce both pro-IL-1β expression and inflammasome activation. We conclude that HIV-1 infection induced the expression of pro-IL-1β via TLR8-mediated mechanisms and activated caspase-1 through the NLRP3 inflammasome to cleave pro-IL-1β into bioactive IL-1β. These findings help to elucidate mechanisms of HIV-1 disease progression and identify novel targets for treating HIV-1 induced inflammation and immune activation. PMID:24939850

  14. A Survey of the Galactic Center Region in HCO+, H13CO+, and SiO

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2010-06-07

    resolution of 0.86 km s−1 at the SiO frequency . The data were calibrated us- ing the standard chopper-wheel method (Kutner & Ulich 1981). The measured ...HCO+ (left) and SiO and H13CO+ (right) at l and b (0.◦9375, 0.◦0). In the PMZ, the data reduction was more difficult owing to the low signal-to- noise ...since it can be formed from silicon that is liberated from dust grains, either by low -velocity shock waves or by evaporation at high temperatures. Such

  15. Modulation of Sodium/Iodide Symporter Expression in the Salivary Gland

    PubMed Central

    La Perle, Krista M.D.; Kim, Dong Chul; Hall, Nathan C.; Bobbey, Adam; Shen, Daniel H.; Nagy, Rebecca S.; Wakely, Paul E.; Lehman, Amy; Jarjoura, David

    2013-01-01

    Background Physiologic iodide-uptake, mediated by the sodium/iodide symporter (NIS), in the salivary gland confers its susceptibility to radioactive iodine–induced damage following 131I treatment of thyroid cancer. Subsequent quality of life for thyroid cancer survivors can be decreased due to recurrent sialoadenitis and persistent xerostomia. NIS expression at the three principal salivary duct components in various pathological conditions was examined to better our understanding of NIS modulation in the salivary gland. Methods NIS expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in human salivary gland tissue microarrays constructed of normal, inflamed, and neoplastic salivary tissue cores. Cumulative 123I radioactivity reflecting the combination of NIS activity with clearance of saliva secretion in submandibular and parotid salivary glands was evaluated by single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography imaging 24 hours after 123I administration in 50 thyroid cancer patients. Results NIS is highly expressed in the basolateral membranes of the majority of striated ducts, yet weakly expressed in few intercalated and excretory duct cells. The ratio of 123I accumulation between parotid and submandibular glands is 2.38±0.19. However, the corresponding ratio of 123I accumulation normalized by volume of interest is 1.19±0.06. The percentage of NIS-positive striated duct cells in submandibular salivary glands was statistically greater than in parotid salivary glands, suggesting a higher clearance rate of saliva secretion in submandibular salivary glands. NIS expression in striated ducts was heterogeneously decreased or absent in sialoadenitis. Most ductal salivary gland tumors did not express NIS. However, Warthin's tumors of striated duct origin exhibited consistent and intense NIS staining, corresponding with radioactive iodine uptake. Conclusions NIS expression is tightly modulated during the transition of intercalated to striated ducts and striated

  16. Undistorted 3D microstructures in SU8 formed through two-photon polymerization

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ohlinger, Kris; Lin, Yuankun; Poole, Zsolt; Chen, Kevin P.

    2011-09-01

    This paper presents the wavelength dependence of two-photon polymerization in SU-8 between 720-780 nm. The study is performed by microstructuring SU-8 through a single-shot exposure of SU-8 to 140 fs tunable laser pulses with 80 MHz repetition rate, or by laser direct writing. Two-photon absorption is closely related to one-photon absorption in pristine SU-8. By careful design of the neighboring micro-structures, or by varying wet-processing parameters during development, undistorted and unbended 3D micro-structures have been fabricated through direct laser writing.

  17. Comparison of the effects of intravenous administration of isotonic and hypertonic sodium bicarbonate solutions on venous acid-base status in dehydrated calves with strong ion acidosis.

    PubMed

    Coskun, Alparslan; Sen, Ismail; Guzelbektes, Hasan; Ok, Mahmut; Turgut, Kursat; Canikli, Sebnem

    2010-05-15

    OBJECTIVE-To compare the effects of IV administration of isotonic (1.3%) and hypertonic (8.4%) sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO(3)) solutions on acid-base status in dehydrated calves with strong ion (metabolic) acidosis. DESIGN-Randomized controlled clinical trial. ANIMALS-50 calves with diarrhea and severe dehydration. PROCEDURES-Calves were randomly assigned to receive isotonic NaHCO(3) solution (65 mL/kg [29.5 mL/lb], IV) over 3 hours (n = 30) or hypertonic NaHCO(3) solution (10 mL/kg [4.5 mL/lb], IV) over 20 minutes (20). Blood samples were collected at 0 hours (immediately prior to solution administration) and at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 hours after administration began. Samples were submitted for blood gas analysis, serum biochemical analysis, and determination of blood Na(+), K(+), and Cl(-) concentrations and percentage change in plasma volume. RESULTS-Calves that received isotonic NaHCO(3) solution had an increase in venous blood pH, HCO(3) concentration, and base excess; a small, transient increase in Po(2); and no change in Pco(2) within 4 hours after administration began. Calves that received hypertonic NaHCO(3) solution had an immediate increase in venous blood pH, HCO(3) concentration, and base excess; a small, transient increase Pco(2); and no change in Po(2) within 0.5 hours after treatment began. Plasma volume increased to a greater extent following administration of isotonic solution than after administration of hypertonic solution. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE-IV administration of 8.4% NaHCO(3) solution in small volumes provided fast and effective improvement of severe acid-base abnormalities in calves with severe strong ion acidosis but did not improve hydration status as well as administration of a larger volume of isotonic NaHCO(3) solution.

  18. Influence of high hydrostatic pressure on Alq3, Gaq3, and Inq3 (q = 8-hydroxyquinoline).

    PubMed

    Hernández, Ignacio; Gillin, William P

    2009-10-29

    We have studied the spectroscopic properties of OLED materials Alq(3), Gaq(3) and Inq(3) (q = 8-hydroxyquinoline) under pressure. We discuss the results in terms of the influence of structural modifications, the isomeric state and the enhancement of the intermolecular interaction. As-grown Alq(3), Gaq(3), Inq(3) containing meridional (mer) isomer experience a red shift of nearly 90 nm (2400 cm(-1)) in the 0-8 GPa range. Abrupt changes in the photoluminescence occur during compression at intermediate pressures for all materials. We assign them to a phase transition, its critical pressure depending on the central cation. All three samples experience an amorphization at P approximately 6 GPa, with associated changes in the spectroscopic properties. The pressure-induced phase transitions present hysteresis to ambient conditions. Photoluminescence lifetime decreases in all cases in the explored pressure range. In the case of facial isomer containing polymorphs of Alq(3), luminescence does not change its energy significantly. The most significant spectroscopic change observed in fac-isomer containing materials corresponds to gamma-Alq(3), which presents a low energy component that gains relative importance when pressure is increased. We ascribe this phenomenon to the presence of sensitized mer isomer impurities.

  19. Analysis of Family Structures Reveals Robustness or Sensitivity of Bursting Activity to Parameter Variations in a Half-Center Oscillator (HCO) Model.

    PubMed

    Doloc-Mihu, Anca; Calabrese, Ronald L

    2016-01-01

    The underlying mechanisms that support robustness in neuronal networks are as yet unknown. However, recent studies provide evidence that neuronal networks are robust to natural variations, modulation, and environmental perturbations of parameters, such as maximal conductances of intrinsic membrane and synaptic currents. Here we sought a method for assessing robustness, which might easily be applied to large brute-force databases of model instances. Starting with groups of instances with appropriate activity (e.g., tonic spiking), our method classifies instances into much smaller subgroups, called families, in which all members vary only by the one parameter that defines the family. By analyzing the structures of families, we developed measures of robustness for activity type. Then, we applied these measures to our previously developed model database, HCO-db, of a two-neuron half-center oscillator (HCO), a neuronal microcircuit from the leech heartbeat central pattern generator where the appropriate activity type is alternating bursting. In HCO-db, the maximal conductances of five intrinsic and two synaptic currents were varied over eight values (leak reversal potential also varied, five values). We focused on how variations of particular conductance parameters maintain normal alternating bursting activity while still allowing for functional modulation of period and spike frequency. We explored the trade-off between robustness of activity type and desirable change in activity characteristics when intrinsic conductances are altered and identified the hyperpolarization-activated (h) current as an ideal target for modulation. We also identified ensembles of model instances that closely approximate physiological activity and can be used in future modeling studies.

  20. Photoassisted Synthesis of Mixed-Metal Clusters;(PPN)(CoOs3(CO)13), H2RuOs3(CO13, and H2FeOs3(CO)13.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1980-05-30

    8 -1 Photoassisted Synthesis of Mixed-Metal Clusters: Interim echnicalfe 0M [PPN][ Cofs (CO) H OP]CC andF F ’ " 13 2 136. PERFORMING ORG. REPORT NUMBER...the reaction conditions.2 A low yield of the unstable protonated derivative HCoOs3 (CO)13 was obtained in a single experiment in which K[Co(CO)4] was...data.1 Apparently [V(CO)6]" is a sufficiently strong reducing agent to reduce both of these trimers to their respective anions, although the 6 proton

  1. S100A8 and S100A9 Induce Cytokine Expression and Regulate the NLRP3 Inflammasome via ROS-Dependent Activation of NF-κB1

    PubMed Central

    Simard, Jean-Christophe; Cesaro, Annabelle; Chapeton-Montes, Julie; Tardif, Mélanie; Antoine, Francis; Girard, Denis; Tessier, Philippe A.

    2013-01-01

    S100A8 and S100A9 are cytoplasmic proteins expressed by phagocytes. High concentrations of these proteins have been correlated with various inflammatory conditions, including autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease, as well as autoinflammatory diseases. In the present study, we examined the effects of S100A8 and S100A9 on the secretion of cytokines and chemokines from PBMCs. S100A8 and S100A9 induced the secretion of cytokines such as IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1β. This secretion was associated with the activation and translocation of the transcription factor NF-κB. Inhibition studies using antisense RNA and the pharmacological agent BAY-117082 confirmed the involvement of NF-κB in IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1β secretion. S100A8- and S100A9-mediated activation of NF-κB, the NLR family, pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) protein, and pro-IL-1β expression was dependent on the generation of reactive oxygen species. This effect was synergistically enhanced by ATP, a known inflammasome activator. These results suggest that S100A8 and S100A9 enhance the inflammatory response by inducing cytokine secretion of PBMCs. PMID:23977231

  2. Electrophysiological evidence for Na+-coupled bicarbonate transport in cultured rat hepatocytes.

    PubMed

    Fitz, J G; Persico, M; Scharschmidt, B F

    1989-03-01

    Recent observations suggest that hepatocytes exhibit basolateral electrogenic Na+-coupled HCO3- transport. In these studies, we have further investigated this transport mechanism in primary culture of rat hepatocytes using intracellular microelectrodes to measure membrane potential difference (PD) and the pH-sensitive fluorochrome 2',7'-bis(carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein to measure intracellular pH (pHi). In balanced media containing 25 mM HCO3-, PD averaged -32.1 +/- 0.6 (SE) mV and pHi averaged 7.22 +/- 0.03. PD became more negative (hyperpolarized) when extracellular [HCO3-] was increased and less negative (depolarized) when extracellular HCO3- was decreased. Acute replacement of extracellular Na+ by choline also resulted in membrane depolarization of 18.0 +/- 1.6 mV, suggesting net transfer of negative charge. This decrease in PD upon Na+ removal was HCO3- -dependent, amiloride insensitive, and inhibited by the disulfonic stilbene 4-acetamido-4'-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (SITS). PD also decreased upon acute exposure to SITS. The degree of depolarization seen with removal of Na+ or HCO3- correlated directly with resting PD (r = 0.81 and 0.95, respectively), suggesting a voltage-dependent mechanism. Removal of extracellular Na+ also decreased pHi to 7.06 +/- 0.02, and this acidification was decreased in the absence of HCO3- or in the presence of SITS or amiloride. These studies provide direct evidence for electrogenic Na+-coupled HCO3- transport in rat hepatocytes. Further, they suggest that it represents a major pathway for conductive movement of Na+ across the membrane and that it contributes, along with Na+-H+ exchange, to the intracellular acidification observed upon removal of extracellular Na+.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

  3. Role of carbonic anhydrase in basal and stimulated bicarbonate secretion by the guinea pig duodenum.

    PubMed

    Muallem, R; Reimer, R; Odes, H S; Schwenk, M; Beil, W; Sewing, K F

    1994-05-01

    The role of carbonic anhydrase in the process of proximal duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion was investigated in the guinea pig. In a series of experiments in vivo, the duodenum was perfused with 24 mmol/liter NaHCO3 solution (+ NaCl for isotonicity) to ensure that active duodenal HCO3- secretion against a concentration gradient was measured. Acetazolamide (80 mg/kg) was infused intravenously to examine the role of carbonic anhydrase on basal and agonist-stimulated HCO3- secretion. Acetazolamide abolished basal HCO3- secretion and significantly decreased HCO3- secretion after stimulation with dibutyryl 5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dBcAMP, 10(-5) mol/kg), dibutyryl 5'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (dBcGMP, 10(-5) mol/kg), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2, 10(-6) mol/kg), PGF2 alpha (10(-6) mol/kg), tetradecanoyl-phorbol-acetate (TPA, 10(-7) mol/kg), glucagon (10(-7) mol/kg), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP, 10(-8) mol/kg), and carbachol (10(-8) mol/kg). Utilizing a fluorescence technique, we could detect the enzyme carbonic anhydrase in equal amounts in villous and crypt cells of the proximal duodenal epithelium; no activity was demonstrated in tissues pretreated with acetazolamide. In conclusion, carbonic anhydrase is required for both basal and stimulated duodenal HCO3- secretion.

  4. Electrochemical behavior of LiV3O8 positive electrode in hybrid Li,Na-ion batteries

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Maletti, S.; Sarapulova, A.; Tsirlin, A. A.; Oswald, S.; Fauth, F.; Giebeler, L.; Bramnik, N. N.; Ehrenberg, H.; Mikhailova, D.

    2018-01-01

    Vanadium(V)-containing oxides show superior intercalation properties for alkaline ions, although the performance of the material strongly depends on its surface morphology. In this work, intercalation activity of LiV3O8, prepared by a conventional solid state synthesis, is demonstrated for the first time in non-aqueous Li,Na-ion hybrid batteries with Na as negative electrode, and different Na/Li ratios in the electrolyte. In the pure Na-ion cell, one Na per formula unit of LiV3O8 can be reversibly inserted at room temperature via a two-step process, while further intercalation leads to gradual amorphisation of the material, with a specific capacity of 190 mAhg-1 after 10 cycles in the potential window of 0.8-3.4 V. Hybrid Li,Na-ion batteries feature simultaneous intercalation of Li+ and Na+ cations into LiV3O8, resulting in the formation of a second phase. Depending on the electrolyte composition, this second phase bears structural similarities either to Li0.7Na0.7V3O8 in Na-rich electrolytes, or to Li4V3O8 in Li-rich electrolytes. The chemical diffusion coefficients of Na+ and Li+ in crystalline LiV3O8 are very close, hence explaining the co-intercalation of these cations. As DFT calculations show, once formed, the Li0.7Na0.7V3O8-type structure favors intercalation of Na+, whereas the LiV3O8-type prefers to accommodate Li+ cations.

  5. Do cell surface trafficking impairments account for variable cell surface sodium iodide symporter levels in breast cancer?

    PubMed Central

    Beyer, S.J.; Jimenez, R.E.; Shapiro, C.L.; Cho, J.Y.; Jhiang, S.M.

    2009-01-01

    The Na+/I- symporter (NIS) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that mediates iodide uptake into thyroid follicular cells and serves as the molecular basis of radioiodine imaging and therapy for thyroid cancer patients. The finding that NIS protein is present in 80-90% of breast tumors suggests that breast cancer patients may also benefit from NIS-mediated radionuclide imaging and targeted therapy. However, only 17-25% of NIS-positive breast tumors have detectable radionuclide uptake activity. The discrepancy between NIS expression and radionuclide uptake activity is most likely contributed by variable cell surface NIS protein levels. Apart from the prevalent view that NIS cell surface trafficking impairments account for the variability, our current study proposes that differential levels of NIS expression may also account for variable cell surface NIS levels among breast tumors. We address the need to confirm the identity of intracellular NIS staining to reveal the mechanisms underlying variable cell surface NIS levels. In addition, we warrant a quantitative correlation between cell surface NIS levels and radionuclide uptake activity in patients such that the cell surface NIS levels required for radionuclide imaging can be defined and the defects impairing NIS activity can be recognized. PMID:18500672

  6. 18 CFR 8.3 - Discrimination prohibited.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-04-01

    ... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 1 2014-04-01 2014-04-01 false Discrimination prohibited. 8.3 Section 8.3 Conservation of Power and Water Resources FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION... LICENSED PROJECTS § 8.3 Discrimination prohibited. Every licensee maintaining recreation facilities for the...

  7. 18 CFR 8.3 - Discrimination prohibited.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-04-01

    ... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Discrimination prohibited. 8.3 Section 8.3 Conservation of Power and Water Resources FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION... LICENSED PROJECTS § 8.3 Discrimination prohibited. Every licensee maintaining recreation facilities for the...

  8. 18 CFR 8.3 - Discrimination prohibited.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-04-01

    ... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 1 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 false Discrimination prohibited. 8.3 Section 8.3 Conservation of Power and Water Resources FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION... LICENSED PROJECTS § 8.3 Discrimination prohibited. Every licensee maintaining recreation facilities for the...

  9. 18 CFR 8.3 - Discrimination prohibited.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

    2013-04-01

    ... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 1 2013-04-01 2013-04-01 false Discrimination prohibited. 8.3 Section 8.3 Conservation of Power and Water Resources FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION... LICENSED PROJECTS § 8.3 Discrimination prohibited. Every licensee maintaining recreation facilities for the...

  10. 18 CFR 8.3 - Discrimination prohibited.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-04-01

    ... 18 Conservation of Power and Water Resources 1 2012-04-01 2012-04-01 false Discrimination prohibited. 8.3 Section 8.3 Conservation of Power and Water Resources FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION... LICENSED PROJECTS § 8.3 Discrimination prohibited. Every licensee maintaining recreation facilities for the...

  11. New 3D coordination polymers constructed from pillared metal-formate Kagomé layers exhibiting spin canting only in the nickel(II) complex.

    PubMed

    Li, Zuo-Xi; Zhao, Jiong-Peng; Sañudo, E C; Ma, Hong; Pan, Zhong-Da; Zeng, Yong-Fei; Bu, Xian-He

    2009-12-21

    Sparked by the strategy of pillared-layer MOFs, three formate coordination polymers, {[Ni(2)(HCO(2))(3)(L)(2)](NO(3)).2H(2)O}(infinity) (1), {[Co(2)(HCO(2))(3)(L)(2)](HCO(2)).2H(2)O}(infinity) (2), and {[Cu(2)(HCO(2))(3)(L)(2)](HCO(2)).2H(2)O}(infinity) (3), have been synthesized by employing the rodlike ligand 4,4'-bis(imidazol-1-yl)biphenyl (L) as the pillar. Structural analysis indicates that the title complexes 1-3 are isostructural compounds, which possess metal-formate 2D layers perpendicularly pillared by the ligand L to afford a 3D open framework. This is an interesting example of a Kagome lattice based on the formate mediator. Moreover, the formate anion of this 2D Kagome layer exhibits various bridging modes: anti-anti, syn-anti, and 3.21 modes. Their magnetic measurements reveals that only complex 1 presents the spin canting phenomenon, while its isostructural Co(II) and Cu(II) complexes are simply paramagnets with antiferromagnetic coupling.

  12. TRPM8-Dependent Dynamic Response in a Mathematical Model of Cold Thermoreceptor

    PubMed Central

    Olivares, Erick; Salgado, Simón; Maidana, Jean Paul; Herrera, Gaspar; Campos, Matías; Madrid, Rodolfo; Orio, Patricio

    2015-01-01

    Cold-sensitive nerve terminals (CSNTs) encode steady temperatures with regular, rhythmic temperature-dependent firing patterns that range from irregular tonic firing to regular bursting (static response). During abrupt temperature changes, CSNTs show a dynamic response, transiently increasing their firing frequency as temperature decreases and silencing when the temperature increases (dynamic response). To date, mathematical models that simulate the static response are based on two depolarizing/repolarizing pairs of membrane ionic conductance (slow and fast kinetics). However, these models fail to reproduce the dynamic response of CSNTs to rapid changes in temperature and notoriously they lack a specific cold-activated conductance such as the TRPM8 channel. We developed a model that includes TRPM8 as a temperature-dependent conductance with a calcium-dependent desensitization. We show by computer simulations that it appropriately reproduces the dynamic response of CSNTs from mouse cornea, while preserving their static response behavior. In this model, the TRPM8 conductance is essential to display a dynamic response. In agreement with experimental results, TRPM8 is also needed for the ongoing activity in the absence of stimulus (i.e. neutral skin temperature). Free parameters of the model were adjusted by an evolutionary optimization algorithm, allowing us to find different solutions. We present a family of possible parameters that reproduce the behavior of CSNTs under different temperature protocols. The detection of temperature gradients is associated to a homeostatic mechanism supported by the calcium-dependent desensitization. PMID:26426259

  13. Interaction of Constitutive Nitric Oxide Synthases with Cyclooxygenases in Regulation of Bicarbonate Secretion in the Gastric Mucosa.

    PubMed

    Zolotarev, V A; Andreeva, Yu V; Vershinina, E; Khropycheva, R P

    2017-05-01

    Neuronal NO synthase blocker 7-nitroindazole suppressed bicarbonate secretion in rat gastric mucosa induced by mild local irritation with 1 M NaCl (pH 2.0). Non-selective blocker of neuronal and endothelial synthases, Nω-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), did not affect HCO 3 - production, but inhibited secretion after pretreatment with omeprazole. Non-selective cyclooxygenase blocker indomethacin inhibited HCO 3 - production under conditions of normal synthase activity and in the presence of L-NNA, but was ineffective when co-administered with 7-nitroindazole. It was concluded that neuronal and endothelial synthases are involved in different mechanisms of regulation of HCO 3 - secretion in the gastric mucosa induced by mild irritation. Activation of neuronal synthase stimulated HCO 3 - production, which is mediated mainly through activation of cyclooxygenase. Theoretically, activation of endothelial synthase should suppress HCO 3 - production. The effect of endothelial synthase depends on acid secretion in the stomach and bicarbonate concentration in the submucosa, as it was demonstrated in experiments with intravenous NaHCO 3 infusion.

  14. The effects of combined glucose-electrolyte and sodium bicarbonate ingestion on prolonged intermittent exercise performance.

    PubMed

    Price, Mike James; Cripps, David

    2012-01-01

    This study examined the effects of combined glucose and sodium bicarbonate ingestion prior to intermittent exercise. Ninemales (mean ± s age 25.4 ± 6.6 years, body mass 78.8 ± 12.0 kg, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max)) 47.0 ± 7 ml · kg · min(-1)) undertook 4 × 45 min intermittent cycling trials including 15 × 10 s sprints one hour after ingesting placebo (PLA), glucose (CHO), sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) or a combined CHO and NaHCO3 solution (COMB). Post ingestion blood pH (7.45 ± 0.03, 7.46 ± 0.03, 7.32 ± 0.05, 7.32 ± 0.01) and bicarbonate (30.3 ± 2.1, 30.7 ± 1.8, 24.2 ± 1.2, 24.0 ± 1.8 mmol · l(-1)) were greater for NaHCO3 and COMB when compared to PLA and CHO, remaining elevated throughout exercise (main effect for trial; P < 0.05). Blood lactate concentration was greatest throughout exercise for NaHCO3 and COMB (main effect for trial; P < 0.05). Blood glucose concentration was greatest 15 min post-ingestion for CHO followed by COMB, NaHCO3 and PLA (7.13 ± 0.60, 5.58 ± 0.75, 4.51 ± 0.56, 4.46 ± 0.59 mmol · l(-1), respectively; P < 0.05). Gastrointestinal distress was lower during COMB compared to NaHCO3 at 15 min post-ingestion (P < 0.05). No differences were observed for sprint performance between trials (P = 1.00). The results of this study suggest that a combined CHO and NaHCO3 beverage reduced gastrointestinal distress and CHO availability but did not improve performance. Although there was no effect on performance an investigation of the effects in more highly trained individuals may be warranted.

  15. F8U-3 aircraft

    NASA Image and Video Library

    1959-09-10

    Crusader on runway. Navy aircraft number 6340. L59-6101 caption: The Navy's Vought XF8U-3 Supersonic Fighter was an entirely new design as compared to the earlier F8U Crusader series. This jet plane lost in competition with the McDonnell F4H, however, and was never put into production. Langley used the XF8U-3 in some of the first flight measurements of sonic boom intensity. Photograph published in Engineer in Charge A History of the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory, 1917-1958 by James R. Hansen. Page 507. Caption: Chance Vought F8U-3 airplane used in sonic boom investigation at Wallops, June-August 1959. Photograph published in A New Dimension Wallops Island Flight Test Range: The First Fifteen Years by Joseph Shortal. A NASA publication. Page 672.

  16. The Reproducibility of 4-km Time Trial (TT) Performance Following Individualised Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation: a Randomised Controlled Trial in Trained Cyclists.

    PubMed

    Gough, Lewis Anthony; Deb, Sanjoy Kumar; Sparks, Andy; McNaughton, Lars Robert

    2017-09-21

    Individual time to peak blood bicarbonate (HCO 3 - ) has demonstrated good to excellent reproducibility following ingestion of both 0.2 g kg -1 body mass (BM) and 0.3 g kg -1 BM sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3 ), but the consistency of the time trial (TT) performance response using such an individualised NaHCO 3 ingestion strategy remains unknown. This study therefore evaluated the reproducibility of 4-km TT performance following NaHCO 3 ingestion individualised to time to peak blood bicarbonate. Eleven trained male cyclists completed five randomised treatments with prior ingestion of 0.2 g kg -1 (SBC2) or 0.3 g kg -1 BM (SBC3) NaHCO 3 , on two separate occasions each, or a control trial entailing no supplementation. Participants completed a 4-km cycling TT on a Velotron ergometer where time to complete, power and speed were measured, whilst acid-base blood parameters were also recorded (pH and blood bicarbonate concentration HCO 3 - ) and lactate [La - ]. Alkalosis was achieved prior to exercise in both SBC2 and SBC3, as pH and HCO 3 - were greater compared to baseline (p < 0.001), with no differences between treatments (p > 0.05). The reproducibility of the mean absolute change from baseline to peak in HCO 3 - was good in SBC2 (r = 0.68) and excellent in SBC3 (r = 0.78). The performance responses following both SBC2 and SBC3 displayed excellent reproducibility (r range = 0.97 to 0.99). Results demonstrate excellent reproducibility of exercise performance following individualised NaHCO 3 ingestion, which is due to the high reproducibility of blood acid-base variables with repeat administration of NaHCO 3 . Using a time to peak HCO 3 - strategy seems to cause no dose-dependent effects on performance for exercise of this duration and intensity; therefore, athletes may consider smaller doses of NaHCO 3 to mitigate gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort.

  17. The Critical Importance of Urinary Concentrating Ability in the Generation of Urinary Carbon Dioxide Tension

    PubMed Central

    Arruda, Jose A. L.; Nascimento, Luiz; Mehta, Pradeep K.; Rademacher, Donald R.; Sehy, John T.; Westenfelder, Christof; Kurtzman, Neil A.

    1977-01-01

    Measurement of urine to blood (U-B) carbon dioxide tension (PCO2) gradient during alkalinization of the urine has been suggested to assess distal H+ secretion. A fact that has not been considered in previous studies dealing with urinary PCO2 is that dissolution of HCO3 in water results in elevation of PCO2 which is directly proportional to the HCO3 concentration. To investigate the interrelationship of urinary HCO3 and urinary acidification, we measured U-B PCO2 in (a) the presence of enhanced H+ secretion and decreased concentrating ability i.e., chronic renal failure (CRF), (b) animals with normal H+ secretion and decreased concentrating ability, Brattleboro (BB) rats, and (c) the presence of both impaired H+ secretion and concentrating ability (LiCl treatment and after release of unilateral ureteral obstruction). At moderately elevated plasma HCO3 levels (30-40 meq/liter), normal rats achieved a highly alkaline urine (urine pH > 7.8) and raised urine HCO3 concentration and U-B PCO2. At similar plasma HCO3 levels, BB rats had a much higher fractional water excretion and failed to raise urine pH, urine HCO3 concentration, and U-B PCO2 normally. At a very high plasma HCO3 (>50 meq/liter), BB rats raised urine pH, urine HCO3 concentration, and U-B PCO2 to the same levels seen in normals. CRF rats failed to raise urine pH, urine HCO3, and U-B PCO2 normally at moderately elevated plasma HCO3 levels; at very high plasma HCO3 levels, CRF rats achieved a highly alkaline urine but failed to raise U-B PCO2. Dogs and patients with CRF were also unable to raise urine pH, urine HCO3 concentration, and U-B PCO2 normally at moderately elevated plasma HCO3 levels. In rats, dogs, and man, U-B PCO2 was directly related to urine HCO3 concentration and inversely related to fractional water excretion. At moderately elevated plasma HCO3 levels, animals with a distal acidification defect failed to raise U-B PCO2; increasing the plasma HCO3 to very high levels resulted in a significant

  18. Acid-base transport systems in a polarized human intestinal cell monolayer: Caco-2.

    PubMed

    Osypiw, J C; Gleeson, D; Lobley, R W; Pemberton, P W; McMahon, R F

    1994-09-01

    Acid-base transport systems have been incompletely characterized in intact intestinal epithelial cells. We therefore studied the human cell line Caco-2, cultured on Teflon membranes to form confluent monolayers with apical microvilli on transmission electron microscopy and progressive enrichment in microvillar hydrolases. Monolayers (16- to 25-day-old), loaded with the pH-sensitive dye BCECF-AM (2',7'-bis (carboxyethyl)-5-carboxyfluorescein), were mounted in a spectrofluorometer cuvette to allow selective superfusion of apical and basolateral surfaces with Hepes- or HCO(3-)-buffered media. Intracellular pH (pHi) was measured by dual-excitation spectrofluorimetry; calibration was with standards containing nigericin and 110 mM K+ corresponding to measured intracellular [K+] in Caco-2 cell monolayers. In HCO(3-)-free (Hepes-buffered) media, bilateral superfusion with 1 mM amiloride or with Na(+)-free media reversibly inhibited pHi recovery from an intracellular acid load (NH4Cl pulse) by 86 and 98% respectively. Selective readdition of Na+ to the apical or basolateral superfusate also induced a pHi recovery, which was inhibited by ipsilateral but not by contralateral amiloride (1 mM). The pHi recovery induced by apical Na+ readdition had a Michaelis constant (Km) for Na+ of 30 mM and a relatively high inhibitor constant (Ki) for amiloride of 45.5 microM. Initial pHi in HCO(3-)-buffered media was lower than in the absence of HCO3- (7.35 vs. 7.80). pHi recovery from an acid load in HCO3- was Na- dependent but was inhibited only 18% by 1 mM amiloride. The amiloride-independent pHi recovery was inhibited 49% by pre-incubation of cells in 5 mM DIDS (4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid). These data suggest that Caco-2 cells possess: (a) both apical and basolateral membrane Na(+)-H+ exchange mechanisms, the apical exchanger being relatively resistant to amiloride, similar to apical Na(+)-H+ exchangers in several normal epithelia; and (b) a Na(-)-dependent HCO

  19. Bcl-xL mediates RIPK3-dependent necrosis in M. tuberculosis-infected macrophages

    PubMed Central

    Zhao, Xiaomin; Khan, Nargis; Gan, Huixian; Tzelepis, Fanny; Nishimura, Tomoyasu; Park, Seung-Yeol; Divangahi, Maziar; Remold, Heinz G.

    2017-01-01

    Virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) triggers necrosis in host Mφ, which is essential for successful pathogenesis. Here we demonstrate that necrosis of Mtb-infected Mφ is dependent on the action of the cytosolic kinase Receptor Interacting Protein 3 (RIPK3) and the mitochondrial Bcl-2 family member protein B-cell lymphoma - extra large (Bcl-xL). RIPK3-deficient Mφ are able to better control bacterial growth in vitro and in vivo. Cytosolic RIPK3 translocates to the mitochondria where it promotes necrosis and blocks caspase 8-activation and apoptosis via Bcl-xL. Furthermore, necrosis is associated with stabilization of hexokinase II on the mitochondria as well as cyclophilin D-dependent mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT). These events up-regulate the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to induce necrosis. Thus, in Mtb-infected Mφ mitochondria are an essential platform for induction of necrosis by activating RIPK3 function and preventing caspase 8 - activation. PMID:28401933

  20. Bcl-xL mediates RIPK3-dependent necrosis in M. tuberculosis-infected macrophages.

    PubMed

    Zhao, X; Khan, N; Gan, H; Tzelepis, F; Nishimura, T; Park, S-Y; Divangahi, M; Remold, H G

    2017-11-01

    Virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) triggers necrosis in host Mϕ, which is essential for successful pathogenesis in tuberculosis. Here we demonstrate that necrosis of Mtb-infected Mϕ is dependent on the action of the cytosolic Receptor Interacting Protein Kinase 3 (RIPK3) and the mitochondrial Bcl-2 family member protein B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-x L ). RIPK3-deficient Mϕ are able to better control bacterial growth in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, cytosolic RIPK3 translocates to the mitochondria where it promotes necrosis and blocks caspase 8-activation and apoptosis via Bcl-x L . Furthermore, necrosis is associated with stabilization of hexokinase II on the mitochondria as well as cyclophilin D-dependent mitochondrial permeability transition. Collectively, these events upregulate the level of reactive oxygen species to induce necrosis. Thus, in Mtb-infected Mϕ, mitochondria are an essential platform for induction of necrosis by activating RIPK3 function and preventing caspase 8-activation.

  1. 15 CFR 8.3 - Definitions.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 15 Commerce and Foreign Trade 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Definitions. 8.3 Section 8.3 Commerce and Foreign Trade Office of the Secretary of Commerce NONDISCRIMINATION IN FEDERALLY ASSISTED PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE-EFFECTUATION OF TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964 General...

  2. 24(S)-Hydroxycholesterol induces RIPK1-dependent but MLKL-independent cell death in the absence of caspase-8.

    PubMed

    Vo, Diep-Khanh Ho; Urano, Yasuomi; Takabe, Wakako; Saito, Yoshiro; Noguchi, Noriko

    2015-07-01

    24(S)-Hydroxycholesterol (24S-OHC), which is enzymatically produced in the brain, is known to play an important role in maintaining brain cholesterol homeostasis. We have previously reported that 24S-OHC induces a type of non-apoptotic programmed necrosis in neuronal cells expressing little caspase-8. Necroptosis has been characterized as a type of programmed necrosis in which activation of receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), RIPK3, and mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) is involved in the signaling pathway. In the present study, we investigated the involvement of these three proteins in 24S-OHC-induced cell death. We found that RIPK1 but neither RIPK3 nor MLKL was expressed in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, while all three proteins were expressed in human T lymphoma caspase-8-deficient Jurkat (Jurkat(Cas8-/-)) cells. In Jurkat(Cas8-/-) cells, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)-induced cell death was significantly suppressed by treatment with respective inhibitors of RIPK1, RIPK3, and MLKL. In contrast, only RIPK1 inhibitor showed significant suppression of 24S-OHC-induced cell death, and even this was less prominent than was observed in TNFα-induced cell death. In Jurkat(Cas8-/-) cells, knockdown of either RIPK1 or RIPK3 caused moderate but significant suppression of 24S-OHC-induced cell death, but no such effect was observed as a result of knockdown of MLKL. Collectively, these results suggest that, for both SH-SY5Y cells and Jurkat(Cas8-/-) cells, 24S-OHC-induced cell death is dependent on RIPK1 but not on MLKL. We therefore conclude that, in the absence of caspase-8 activity, 24S-OHC induces a necroptosis-like cell death which is RIPK1-dependent but MLKL-independent. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  3. The zygomatic implant perforated (ZIP) flap: a new technique for combined surgical reconstruction and rapid fixed dental rehabilitation following low-level maxillectomy.

    PubMed

    Butterworth, C J; Rogers, S N

    2017-12-01

    This aim of this report is to describe the development and evolution of a new surgical technique for the immediate surgical reconstruction and rapid post-operative prosthodontic rehabilitation with a fixed dental prosthesis following low-level maxillectomy for malignant disease.The technique involves the use of a zygomatic oncology implant perforated micro-vascular soft tissue flap (ZIP flap) for the primary management of maxillary malignancy with surgical closure of the resultant maxillary defect and the installation of osseointegrated support for a zygomatic implant-supported maxillary fixed dental prosthesis.The use of this technique facilitates extremely rapid oral and dental rehabilitation within a few weeks of resective surgery, providing rapid return to function and restoring appearance following low-level maxillary resection, even in cases where radiotherapy is required as an adjuvant treatment post-operatively. The ZIP flap technique has been adopted as a standard procedure in the unit for the management of low-level maxillary malignancy, and this report provides a detailed step-by-step approach to treatment and discusses modifications developed over the treatment of an initial cohort of patients.

  4. 48 CFR 509.406-3 - Procedures.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-10-01

    ..., Reporting Waste, Fraud, Abuse, and Corruption. If, after investigation, the OIG believes a cause for... last known home and business addresses, zip codes, and DUNS Numbers. (3) A statement of facts. (4...

  5. Effect of Intravenous Small-Volume Hypertonic Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Chloride, and Glucose Solutions in Decreasing Plasma Potassium Concentration in Hyperkalemic Neonatal Calves with Diarrhea.

    PubMed

    Trefz, F M; Constable, P D; Lorenz, I

    2017-05-01

    Hyperkalemia is a frequently observed electrolyte imbalance in dehydrated neonatal diarrheic calves that can result in skeletal muscle weakness and life-threatening cardiac conduction abnormalities and arrhythmias. Intravenous administration of a small-volume hypertonic NaHCO 3 solution is clinically more effective in decreasing the plasma potassium concentration (cK) in hyperkalemic diarrheic calves than hypertonic NaCl or glucose solutions. Twenty-two neonatal diarrheic calves with cK >5.8 mmol/L. Prospective randomized clinical trial. Calves randomly received either 8.4% NaHCO 3 (6.4 mL/kg BW; n = 7), 7.5% NaCl (5 mL/kg BW; n = 8), or 46.2% glucose (5 mL/kg BW; n = 7) IV over 5 minutes and were subsequently allowed to suckle 2 L of an electrolyte solution. Infusions with NaHCO 3 and NaCl provided an identical sodium load of 6.4 mmol/kg BW. Hypertonic NaHCO 3 infusions produced an immediate and sustained decrease in plasma cK. Hypertonic glucose infusions resulted in marked hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia, but cK remained unchanged for 20 minutes. Between 30 and 120 minutes after initiation of treatment, the most marked decrements in cK from baseline occurred in group NaHCO 3 , which were significantly (P < .05) larger during this period of time than in calves in group NaCl, but not group glucose. After 120 minutes, the mean decrease in cK from baseline was -26 ± 10%, -9 ± 8%, and -22 ± 6% in groups NaHCO 3 , NaCl, and glucose, respectively. Small-volume hypertonic NaHCO 3 infusions appear to have clinical advantages for the rapid resuscitation of hyperkalemic diarrheic calves, compared to hypertonic NaCl or glucose solutions. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.

  6. An unusual dependence of human herpesvirus-8 glycoproteins-induced cell-to-cell fusion on heparan sulfate

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Tiwari, Vaibhav; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612; Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific and College of Optometry, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766

    2009-12-18

    Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) is known to interact with cell surface heparan sulfate (HS) for entry into a target cell. Here we investigated the role of HS during HHV-8 glycoproteins-induced cell fusion. Interestingly, the observed fusion demonstrated an unusual dependence on HS as evident from following lines of evidence: (1) a significant reduction in cell-to-cell fusion occurred when target cells were treated with heparinase; (2) in a competition assay, when the effector cells expressing HHV-8 glycoproteins were challenged with soluble HS, cell-to-cell fusion was reduced; and, (3) co-expression of HHV-8 glycoproteins gH-gL on target cells resulted in inhibition of cell surfacemore » HS expression. Taken together, our results indicate that cell surface HS can play an additional role during HHV-8 pathogenesis.« less

  7. CO2 – Intrinsic Product, Essential Substrate, and Regulatory Trigger of Microbial and Mammalian Production Processes

    PubMed Central

    Blombach, Bastian; Takors, Ralf

    2015-01-01

    Carbon dioxide formation mirrors the final carbon oxidation steps of aerobic metabolism in microbial and mammalian cells. As a consequence, CO2/HCO3− dissociation equilibria arise in fermenters by the growing culture. Anaplerotic reactions make use of the abundant CO2/HCO3− levels for refueling citric acid cycle demands and for enabling oxaloacetate-derived products. At the same time, CO2 is released manifold in metabolic reactions via decarboxylation activity. The levels of extracellular CO2/HCO3depend on cellular activities and physical constraints such as hydrostatic pressures, aeration, and the efficiency of mixing in large-scale bioreactors. Besides, local CO2/HCO3− levels might also act as metabolic inhibitors or transcriptional effectors triggering regulatory events inside the cells. This review gives an overview about fundamental physicochemical properties of CO2/HCO3− in microbial and mammalian cultures effecting cellular physiology, production processes, metabolic activity, and transcriptional regulation. PMID:26284242

  8. Bicarbonate transport in health and disease.

    PubMed

    Alka, Kumari; Casey, Joseph R

    2014-09-01

    Bicarbonate (HCO3(-)) has a central place in human physiology as the waste product of mitochondrial energy production and for its role in pH buffering throughout the body. Because bicarbonate is impermeable to membranes, bicarbonate transport proteins are necessary to enable control of bicarbonate levels across membranes. In humans, 14 bicarbonate transport proteins, members of the SLC4 and SLC26 families, function by differing transport mechanisms. In addition, some anion channels and ZIP metal transporters contribute to bicarbonate movement across membranes. Defective bicarbonate transport leads to diseases, including systemic acidosis, brain dysfunction, kidney stones, and hypertension. Altered expression levels of bicarbonate transporters in patients with breast, colon, and lung cancer suggest an important role of these transporters in cancer. © 2014 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

  9. Detection of human T lymphotropic virus type-I bZIP factor and tax in the salivary glands of Sjögren's syndrome patients.

    PubMed

    Nakamura, Hideki; Hasegawa, Hiroo; Sasaki, Daisuke; Takatani, Ayuko; Shimizu, Toshimasa; Kurushima, Shota; Horai, Yoshiro; Nakashima, Yoshikazu; Nakamura, Tatsufumi; Fukuoka, Junya; Kawakami, Atsushi

    2018-03-20

    To detect HTLV-I bZIP factor (HBZ), tax and relevant molecules in labial salivary glands (LSGs) from patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS). The expressions of HBZ and tax in T cell lines and LSGs were analysed by in situ hybridization (ISH) or real time PCR. The expressions of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) and p65 in immunohistochemistry were quantified. After specificity of ISH probes was determined in 5 T cell lines, in LSGs from an adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) patient and 3 HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM)-SS patients, both HBZ and tax signals were detected in infiltrating mononuclear cells (MNCs) and ducts, and HBZ and tax were dominantly expressed in MNCs of ATL and HAM-SS, respectively. HBZ was dominantly observed in LSGs from 8 HTLV-I asymptomatic carrier (AC)-SS patients; faint expression of HBZ was observed in LSGs from 5 HTLV-I-seronegative SS patients. No cell adhesion molecule 1(CADM1) expressed in LSGs from the ATL patient. Although Foxp3 expression was observed in LSG MNCs of all of the SS patients, the ATL patient's expression was significantly greater than that of the AC-SS (p<0.01) and HTLV-I-seronegative SS (p<0.01) patients. The Foxp3 expression was similar in ATL and HAMSS, but significantly higher in HAM-SS than AC-SS (p<0.05). p65 was expressed in LSG MNC nuclei from all SS patients and co-expressed with Foxp3. The expressions of Foxp3 in ducts differed according to HTLV-I infection. These results suggest that HBZ-mediated Foxp3 expression is partly associated with the pathogenesis of HTLV-I-seropositive SS.

  10. Bicarbonate is a recycling substrate for cyanase.

    PubMed

    Johnson, W V; Anderson, P M

    1987-07-05

    Cyanase is an inducible enzyme in Escherichia coli that catalyzes bicarbonate-dependent decomposition of cyanate to ammonia and bicarbonate. Previous studies provided evidence that carbamate is an initial product and that the kinetic mechanism is rapid equilibrium random (bicarbonate serving as substrate as opposed to activator); the following mechanism was proposed (Anderson, P. M. (1980) Biochemistry 19, 2282-2888; Anderson, P. M., and Little, R. M. (1986) Biochemistry 25, 1621-1626). (formula; see text) Direct evidence for this mechanism was obtained in this study by 1) determining whether CO2 or HCO3- serves as substrate and is formed as product, 2) identifying the products formed from [14C]HCO3- and [14C] OCN-, 3) identifying the products formed from [13C] HCO3- and [12C]OCN- in the presence of [18O]H2O, and 4) determining whether 18O from [18O]HCO3- is incorporated into CO2 derived from OCN-. Bicarbonate (not CO2) is the substrate. Carbon dioxide (not HCO3-) is produced in stoichiometric amounts from both HCO3- and OCN-. 18O from [18O]H2O is not incorporated into CO2 formed from either HCO3- or OCN-. Oxygen-18 from [18O]HCO3- is incorporated into CO2 derived from OCN-. These results support the above mechanism, indicating that decomposition of cyanate catalyzed by cyanase is not a hydrolysis reaction and that bicarbonate functions as a recycling substrate.

  11. Vitamin K3 (menadione)-induced oncosis associated with keratin 8 phosphorylation and histone H3 arylation.

    PubMed

    Scott, Gary K; Atsriku, Christian; Kaminker, Patrick; Held, Jason; Gibson, Brad; Baldwin, Michael A; Benz, Christopher C

    2005-09-01

    The vitamin K analog menadione (K3), capable of both redox cycling and arylating nucleophilic substrates by Michael addition, has been extensively studied as a model stress-inducing quinone in both cell culture and animal model systems. Exposure of keratin 8 (k-8) expressing human breast cancer cells (MCF7, T47D, SKBr3) to K3 (50-100 microM) induced rapid, sustained, and site-specific k-8 serine phosphorylation (pSer73) dependent on signaling by a single mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, MEK1/2. Normal nuclear morphology and k-8 immunofluorescence coupled with the lack of DNA laddering or other features of apoptosis indicated that K3-induced cytotoxicity, evident within 4 h of treatment and delayed but not prevented by MEK1/2 inhibition, was due to a form of stress-activated cell death known as oncosis. Independent of MAPK signaling was the progressive appearance of K3-induced cellular fluorescence, principally nuclear in origin and suggested by in vitro fluorimetry to have been caused by K3 thiol arylation. Imaging by UV transillumination of protein gels containing nuclear extracts from K3-treated cells revealed a prominent 17-kDa band shown to be histone H3 by immunoblotting and mass spectrometry (MS). K3 arylation of histones in vitro followed by electrospray ionization-tandem MS analyses identified the unique Cys110 residue within H3, exposed only in the open chromatin of transcriptionally active genes, as a K3 arylation target. These findings delineate new pathways associated with K3-induced stress and suggest a potentially novel role for H3 Cys110 as a nuclear stress sensor.

  12. Hemodynamic effects of sodium bicarbonate administration.

    PubMed

    Katheria, A C; Brown, M K; Hassan, K; Poeltler, D M; Patel, D A; Brown, V K; Sauberan, J B

    2017-05-01

    To describe the hemodynamic changes that occur with sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3 ) administration in premature neonates. This retrospective study included premature neonates 23 to 31+6 weeks of gestational age who underwent continuous cardiac and cerebral monitoring as participants in prospective trials at our institution, and who received NaHCO 3 infused over 30 min in the first 24 h of life. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate, cardiac output (CO), SpO 2 and cerebral oximetry (StO 2 ) were captured every 2 s. A baseline was established for all continuous data and averaged over the 10 min before NaHCO 3 administration. Baseline was compared with measurements over 10 min epochs until 80 min after administration. Arterial blood gases before and within 1 h of administration were also compared. Significance was set at P<0.05. A total of 36 subjects received NaHCO 3 (1.3±0.3 mEq kg -1 ) in the first 24 h (14±8.5 h) of life. NaHCO 3 administration increased pH (7.23 vs 7.28, P<0.01) and decreased base deficit (-8.9 vs -6.8, P<0.01) and PaCO 2 (45 vs 43 mm Hg, P<0.05). There was a transient but significant (P<0.05) decrease in systemic BP coinciding with an increase in cerebral oxygenation without an increase in oxygen extraction. CO did not change. Early postnatal NaHCO 3 administration does not acutely improve CO but does cause transient fluctuations in cerebral and cardiovascular hemodynamics in extremely premature infants.

  13. Potentiometric and spectrophotometric study of the stability of magnesium carbonate and bicarbonate ion pairs to 150 °C and aqueous inorganic carbon speciation and magnesite solubility

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stefánsson, Andri; Bénézeth, Pascale; Schott, Jacques

    2014-08-01

    The formation constants of magnesium bicarbonate and carbonate ion pairs have been experimentally determined in dilute hydrothermal solutions to 150 °C. Two experimental approaches were applied, potentiometric acid-base titrations at 10-60 °C and spectrophotometric pH measurements using two pH indicators, 2-naphthol and 4-nitrophenol, at 25 and 80-150 °C. At a given temperature, the first and second ionization constants of carbonic acid (K1, K2) and the ion pair formation constants for MgHCO3+(aq) (KMgHCO3+) and MgCO3(aq) (KMgCO3) were simultaneously fitted to the data. Results of this study compare well with previously determined values of K1 and K2. The formation constants of MgHCO3+(aq) and MgCO3(aq) ion pairs increased significantly with increasing temperature, with values of logKMgHCO3+ = 1.14 and 1.75 and of logKMgCO3 = 2.86 and 3.48 at 10 °C and 100 °C, respectively. These ion pairs are important aqueous species under neutral to alkaline conditions in moderately dilute to concentrated Mg-containing solutions, with MgCO3(aq) predominating over CO32-(aq) in solutions at pH >8. The predominance of magnesium carbonate over carbonate is dependent on the concentration of dissolved magnesium and the ratio of magnesium over carbonate. With increasing temperature and at alkaline pH, brucite solubility further reduced the magnesium concentration to levels below 1 mmol kg-1, thus limiting availability of Mg2+(aq) for magnesite precipitation.

  14. Regulatory function of homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-ZIP) family proteins during embryogenesis.

    PubMed

    Roodbarkelari, Farshad; Groot, Edwin P

    2017-01-01

    Homeodomain-leucine zipper proteins (HD-ZIPs) form a plant-specific family of transcription factors functioning as homo- or heterodimers. Certain members of all four classes of this family are involved in embryogenesis, the focus of this review. They support auxin biosynthesis, transport and response, which are in turn essential for the apical-basal patterning of the embryo, radicle formation and outgrowth of the cotyledons. They transcriptionally regulate meristem regulators to maintain the shoot apical meristem once it is initiated. Some members are specific to the protoderm, the outermost layer of the embryo, and play a role in shoot apical meristem function. Within classes, homeodomain-leucine zippers tend to act redundantly during embryo development, and there are many examples of regulation within and between classes of homeodomain-leucine zippers. This indicates a complex network of regulation that awaits future experiments to uncover. © 2016 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2016 New Phytologist Trust.

  15. Sequence-defined cMET/HGFR-targeted Polymers as Gene Delivery Vehicles for the Theranostic Sodium Iodide Symporter (NIS) Gene

    PubMed Central

    Urnauer, Sarah; Morys, Stephan; Krhac Levacic, Ana; Müller, Andrea M; Schug, Christina; Schmohl, Kathrin A; Schwenk, Nathalie; Zach, Christian; Carlsen, Janette; Bartenstein, Peter; Wagner, Ernst; Spitzweg, Christine

    2016-01-01

    The sodium iodide symporter (NIS) as well-characterized theranostic gene represents an outstanding tool to target different cancer types allowing noninvasive imaging of functional NIS expression and therapeutic radioiodide application. Based on its overexpression on the surface of most cancer types, the cMET/hepatocyte growth factor receptor serves as ideal target for tumor-selective gene delivery. Sequence-defined polymers as nonviral gene delivery vehicles comprising polyethylene glycol (PEG) and cationic (oligoethanoamino) amide cores coupled with a cMET-binding peptide (cMBP2) were complexed with NIS-DNA and tested for receptor-specificity, transduction efficiency, and therapeutic efficacy in hepatocellular cancer cells HuH7. In vitro iodide uptake studies demonstrated high transduction efficiency and cMET-specificity of NIS-encoding polyplexes (cMBP2-PEG-Stp/NIS) compared to polyplexes without targeting ligand (Ala-PEG-Stp/NIS) and without coding DNA (cMBP2-PEG-Stp/Antisense-NIS). Tumor recruitment and vector biodistribution were investigated in vivo in a subcutaneous xenograft mouse model showing high tumor-selective iodide accumulation in cMBP2-PEG-Stp/NIS-treated mice (6.6 ± 1.6% ID/g 123I, biological half-life 3 hours) by 123I-scintigraphy. Therapy studies with three cycles of polyplexes and 131I application resulted in significant delay in tumor growth and prolonged survival. These data demonstrate the enormous potential of cMET-targeted sequence-defined polymers combined with the unique theranostic function of NIS allowing for optimized transfection efficiency while eliminating toxicity. PMID:27157666

  16. A pH-sensitive methenamine mandelate-loaded nanoparticle induces DNA damage and apoptosis of cancer cells.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Linhua; Hao, Wenbo; Xu, Lv; Gao, Yongfeng; Wang, Xusheng; Zhu, Dunwan; Chen, Zhuo; Zhang, Xudong; Chen, Hongbo; Mei, Lin

    2017-10-15

    Methenamine mandelate is a urinary antibacterial agent, which can be converted to formaldehyde in urine that has a relatively low pH of average 5.5-6.8. Here, we prepare a pH-sensitive PLGA-based nanoparticle containing both methenamine mandelate and NaHCO 3 . Methenamine mandelate/NaHCO 3 -coloaded nanoparticle could enter cells via endosome/lysosome pathway. The pH in lysosomes and endo-lysosomes is approximately 5.0. In the acidic environment, NaHCO 3 reacts with proton and produce CO 2 bubbles, which burst nanoparticles and lead to the rapidly release of methenamine mandelate. Meanwhile, methenamine mandelate was then quickly converted to a sufficient amount of formaldehyde in this acidic environment, which induced DNA damage and DNA damage response (DDR). Consequently, methenamine mandelate/NaHCO 3 -coloaded nanoparticles caused cell cycle arrest, cell growth inhibition and apoptosis of cancer cells. Moreover, methenamine mandelate/NaHCO 3 -coloaded nanoparticles also show intensive inhibitory effect on the growth of MCF-7 xenograft tumor in vivo. Therefore, methenamine mandelate/NaHCO 3 -coloaded nanoparticle is a promising type of formulation for the treatment of cancer, which could give the "old drug" methenamine mandelate a new anti-cancer function in clinical. Methenamine mandelate is a urinary antibacterial agent, which can be converted to formaldehyde in urine that has a relatively low pH of average 5.5-6.8. Here, we prepare a pH-sensitive PLGA-based nanoparticle containing both methenamine mandelate and NaHCO 3 . Methenamine mandelate/NaHCO 3 -coloaded nanoparticle could enter cells via endosome/lysosome pathway. The pH in lysosomes and endo-lysosomes is approximately 5.0. In the acidic environment, NaHCO 3 reacts with proton and produce CO 2 bubbles, which burst nanoparticles and lead to the rapidly release of methenamine mandelate. Meanwhile, methenamine mandelate was then quickly converted to a sufficient amount of formaldehyde in this acidic

  17. 1 CFR 8.3 - Periodic updating.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

    2011-01-01

    ... 1 General Provisions 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Periodic updating. 8.3 Section 8.3 General... the intent and purpose of the Administrative Committee as stated in § 8.1. (b) Staggered publication... before the “As of” date. Thus, each title updated as of July 1 each year will reflect all amendatory...

  18. 1 CFR 8.3 - Periodic updating.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

    2010-01-01

    ... 1 General Provisions 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Periodic updating. 8.3 Section 8.3 General... the intent and purpose of the Administrative Committee as stated in § 8.1. (b) Staggered publication... before the “As of” date. Thus, each title updated as of July 1 each year will reflect all amendatory...

  19. 1 CFR 8.3 - Periodic updating.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

    2012-01-01

    ... 1 General Provisions 1 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Periodic updating. 8.3 Section 8.3 General... the intent and purpose of the Administrative Committee as stated in § 8.1. (b) Staggered publication... before the “As of” date. Thus, each title updated as of July 1 each year will reflect all amendatory...

  20. 1 CFR 8.3 - Periodic updating.

    Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

    2014-01-01

    ... 1 General Provisions 1 2014-01-01 2012-01-01 true Periodic updating. 8.3 Section 8.3 General... the intent and purpose of the Administrative Committee as stated in § 8.1. (b) Staggered publication... before the “As of” date. Thus, each title updated as of July 1 each year will reflect all amendatory...