Prolactin protects against cytokine-induced beta-cell death by NFκB and JNK inhibition

FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPCONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESType 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune assault that induces progressive beta-cell dysfunction and dead. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin 1 beta (IL1B), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interferon gamma (IFNG) contribute for beta-cell dea6112536FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPCONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPCONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESsem informaçãosem informaçãosem informaçãoThe authors thank the personnel from the Laboratory of Endocrine Pancreas and Metabolism (UNICAMP) and ULB Center for Diabetes Research: W O Floriano, J P Agulhari, N Pachera, A Musuaya, M Pangerl, S Mertens and I Millard for excellent technical suppor

Karyotype differentiation between Koelreuteria bipinnata and K. elegans subsp. formosana (Sapindaceae) based on chromosome banding patterns.

Koelreuteria Laxm., a genus in the tribe Koelreuterieae (Sapindaceae), includes three tree species that are widely recognized as having horticultural merit. The two more closely related species, K. bipinnata Franch. and K. elegans (Seem.) A. C. Sm., are easily distinguished from K. paniculata Laxm. by their bipinnate leaves. In this study, both species were investigated cytogenetically and their karyotypes and heterochromatic patterns were compared. Koelreuteria bipinnata and K. elegans ssp. formosana (Hayata) F. G. Mey. both have 2n = 32 but their karyotypes present slight morphological differences when observed using conventional staining. Chromosome banding patterns are reported for the first time for this genus. Both species exhibit terminal heterochromatic blocks, as revealed by C-Giemsa and C-CMA3, but the band size varies between the species. Koelreuteria bipinnata has larger heterochromatic blocks and more GC-rich segments, while in K. elegans ssp. formosana these bands are smaller. The relationship between the karyotype features in these closely related species is discussed. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2005, 149, 451–455.Fil: Urdampilleta, Juan Domingo. Universidade Estadual de Londrina; BrasilFil: Ferrucci, MarÍa Silvia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Vanzela, André L. L.. Universidade Estadual de Londrina; Brasi

Differences and resemblances in banding patterns and ribosomal DNA distribution in four species of Paullinieae tribe (Sapindaceae)

The tribe Paullinieae (Sapindaceae) is exclusively neotropically distributed, and is characterized by apomorphic characters and considered a monophyletic natural group. Recently explored cytogenetical aspects suggest that the disploid chromosomal reduction, the increase in the chromosomal size and the diversification of highly repetitive DNA sequences are associated with the karyotyp-ic evolution of this tribe. This work compares patterns of chromosome banding and the distribution of ribosomal DNA 18S-5.8S-26S in Cardiospermum grandiflorum Sw., Pullinia elegans Cambess., Urvillea chacoensis Hunz. and U. ulmacea Kunth. The studied species share the presence of a pattern of terminal C-Giemsa bands, differentiated for characteristics of heterochromatic regions. Terminal AT-rich bands occurred in C. grandiflorum (2n=2x=20) and U. chacoensis (2n=2x=22). Differing from the others, U. chacoensis presented prominent bands in the majority of chromosomes. The polyploid cytotype of U. ulmacea (2n=8x=88) possessed terminal bands CMA+ and DAPI+, forming heterochromatic blocks constituted by GC- and AT-rich repetitive DNA. On the other hand, P. elegans (2n=2x=24) presented a pattern of neutral bands after staining with CMA3/DAPI. The presence of GC-rich regions associated with 45S rDNA sites was a common characteristic in the studied species, nevertheless, variations in the NOR number might be useful for the differentiation of some species. Our results on karyological differences and resemblances of the studied species are discussed in relation to the systematics of the Paullinieae tribe. © 2008 The Japan Mendel Society.Fil: Urdampilleta, Juan Domingo. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; BrasilFil: Ferrucci, MarÍa Silvia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Vanzela, André L. L.. Universidade Estadual de Londrina; BrasilFil: Forni Martins, Eliana R.. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; Brasi

Chromosomal organization and phylogenetic relationships in Hypochaeris species (Asteraceae) from Brazil

The association of cytogenetic and molecular techniques has contributed to the analysis of chromosome organization and phylogeny in plants. The fluorochrome GC-specific CMA3, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) markers were used to investigate chromosome structure and genetic relationships in Hypochaeris (Asteraceae). Seven species native to South America, and two species introduced from Europe (H. glabra and Hypochaeris sp) were studied. FISH with rDNA probes identified one or two loci of 18S-5.8S-25S rDNA in the South American Hypochaeris species and one locus in the European species. Only one 5S rDNA locus was seen in all species studied. Blocks of GC-rich heterochromatin (CMA-positive bands) associated to 18S-5.8S-25SrDNA loci were detected in all species investigated. Co-location of 5S rDNA and CMA bands was also observed, except for three South American species and Hypochaeris sp. In two South American species, additional CMA bands not related to rDNA were observed on the long arm of chromosome 2, near to the centromere. Hypochaeris glabra exhibited additional CMA-positive signals distributed at pericentromeric regions, on the short arms of all chromosomes. A total of 122 RAPD markers were used to determine the genetic relationships among species. The level of polymorphism was very high, revealing two genetic groups comprising the South American and the European species, thus supporting a previous hypothesis of monophyly of the South American Hypochaeris species. The coefficients of genetic similarity between European and South American species were 0.35, on average. Polymorphism was also high within the two groups. The genetic associations observed with RAPD markers were consistent with chromosome characteristics. Species carrying similar distribution of 45S rDNA loci and CMA-positive signals were included in the same group revealed by RAPDs. Cytogenetic and molecular data support the view that not only chromosome rearrangements, but also changes in DNA sequence took place during the diversification of the South American Hypochaeris species

Molecular and cytogenetic characterization of an AT-rich satellite DNA family in Urvillea chacoensis Hunz. (Paullinieae, Sapindaceae)

Urvillea chacoensis is a climber with 2n = 22 and some terminal AT-rich heterochromatin blocks that differentiate it from other species of the genus. The AT-rich highly repeated satellite DNA was isolated from U. chacoensis by the digestion of total nuclear DNA with HindIII and XbaI and cloned in Escherichia coli. Satellite DNA structure and chromosomal distribution were investigated. DNA sequencing revealed that the repeat length of satDNA ranges between 721 and 728 bp, the percentage of AT-base pairs was about 72–73% and the studied clones showed an identity of 92.5–95.9%. Although this monomer has a tetranucleosomal size, direct imperfect repetitions of ~180 bp subdividing it in four nucleosomal subregions were observed. The results obtained with FISH indicate that this monomer usually appears distributed in the terminal regions of most chromosomes and is associated to heterochromatin blocks observed after DAPI staining. These observations are discussed in relation to the satellite DNA evolution and compared with other features observed in several plant groups.Fil: Urdampilleta, Juan Domingo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; BrasilFil: Pereira de Souza, Anete. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; BrasilFil: Schneider, Dilaine R. S.. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; BrasilFil: Vanzela, André L. L.. Universidade Estadual de Londrina; BrasilFil: Ferrucci, María Silvia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Martins, Eliana R. F.. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; Brasi