Inhibition of ATPase from chloroplasts by a hydroxamic acid from Gramineae.

Abstract-DIMBOA (2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-l,4-benzoxazin-3-one), a hydroxamic acid from the Gramineae involved in the resistance of cereals to aphids, inhibits energy transfer reactions. In this paper the effect of DIMBOA on the ATPase activity of chloroplast coupling factor 1 (CF,) was studied. A rapid inactivation of the enzyme was observed which increased with the concentration of DIMBOA. This inactivation was reversed by dilution and by filtration of the inhibitor. The inactivation was partially prevented by pre-treatment of the enzyme with iodoacetamide. A slower simultaneous inactivation was observed which followed pseudo-first order kinetics. It is suggested that part of the rapid inhibition of CF, ATPase caused by DIMBOA is due to its reaction with sulthydryl groups on the enzyme. These reactions of DIMBOA may explain some of the inhibitory properties of DIMBOA on a wide range of organisms

The response of the different soybean metallothionein isoforms to cadmium intoxication

Cadmium is a highly toxic heavy metal for both plants and animals. The presence of Cd in agricultural soils is of major concern regarding its entry into the food chain, since Cd compounds are readily taken up by plants, and accumulated in edible parts due to their high solubility. In this study, we first demonstrate the high capacity for Cd concentration of soybean grains. Consequently, we considered the study and characterization of the molecular determinants of Cd accumulation -such as metallothioneins (MT)- to be of major practical importance. We report here the first characterization of the soybean MT system, with the identification of nine genes (one of which is a truncated pseudogene), belonging to the four plant MT types. The most highly expressed of each type was chosen for further function analysis. All of them are expressed at high levels in soybean tissues: GmMT1, GmMT2 and GmMT3 in roots, shoots and seeds, and GmMT4 only in seeds. The corresponding recombinant soybean MTs, synthesized in Escherichia coli cells cultured in metal supplemented media, exhibit greater cadmium than zinc binding capacity. These results suggest a definite role of GmMTs in Cd(II) accumulation as one of the main responses of soybean to an overload of this metal.Fil: Pagani, María Ayelén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos; ArgentinaFil: Tomas, M.. Universidad de Barcelona; España. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Carrillo, Julieta Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos; ArgentinaFil: Bofill, R.. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Capdevila, M.. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Atrian, S. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Andreo, Carlos Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos; Argentin

Effects of Anacetrapib in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

BACKGROUND: Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease remain at high risk for cardiovascular events despite effective statin-based treatment of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) by anacetrapib reduces LDL cholesterol levels and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, trials of other CETP inhibitors have shown neutral or adverse effects on cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30,449 adults with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive atorvastatin therapy and who had a mean LDL cholesterol level of 61 mg per deciliter (1.58 mmol per liter), a mean non-HDL cholesterol level of 92 mg per deciliter (2.38 mmol per liter), and a mean HDL cholesterol level of 40 mg per deciliter (1.03 mmol per liter). The patients were assigned to receive either 100 mg of anacetrapib once daily (15,225 patients) or matching placebo (15,224 patients). The primary outcome was the first major coronary event, a composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 4.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in significantly fewer patients in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (1640 of 15,225 patients [10.8%] vs. 1803 of 15,224 patients [11.8%]; rate ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.97; P=0.004). The relative difference in risk was similar across multiple prespecified subgroups. At the trial midpoint, the mean level of HDL cholesterol was higher by 43 mg per deciliter (1.12 mmol per liter) in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (a relative difference of 104%), and the mean level of non-HDL cholesterol was lower by 17 mg per deciliter (0.44 mmol per liter), a relative difference of -18%. There were no significant between-group differences in the risk of death, cancer, or other serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive statin therapy, the use of anacetrapib resulted in a lower incidence of major coronary events than the use of placebo. (Funded by Merck and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN48678192 ; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01252953 ; and EudraCT number, 2010-023467-18 .)

Study of fracturing in the southern sector of Sierra Almijara (province of Málaga)

4 páginas, 3 figuras.-- Trabajo presentado en la 37ª Sesión Científica, Almería, 2004.By means of a photointerpretation study, the main fault sets have been determined in the Sierra Almijara, in the Betic Cordillera. The more frequent directions are N20-40E, N50-70E, N90-100E, N120-140E and N140-160E. They are consistent with some of the main stress fields occurred in the Betic Cordillera. The paleostresses responsible of fracturing have been inferred from regional and field data. Many of the movements of these faults occurred since de late Tortonian, during a very important uplifting of the Betic Range, up to the Quaternary.Este trabajo es una contribución al proyecto «Estudio regional del karst de Almijara», financiado por la Fundación Cueva de Nerja, así como al Grupo de Investigación 308 de la Junta de Andalucía.Peer reviewe

Escherichia coli Malic Enzymes: Two Isoforms with Substantial Differences in Kinetic Properties, Metabolic Regulation, and Structure▿ †

Malic enzymes (MEs) catalyze the oxidative decarboxylation of malate in the presence of a divalent metal ion. In eukaryotes, well-conserved cytoplasmic, mitochondrial, and plastidic MEs have been characterized. On the other hand, distinct groups can be detected among prokaryotic MEs, which are more diverse in structure and less well characterized than their eukaryotic counterparts. In Escherichia coli, two genes with a high degree of homology to ME can be detected: sfcA and maeB. MaeB possesses a multimodular structure: the N-terminal extension shows homology to ME, while the C-terminal extension shows homology to phosphotransacetylases (PTAs). In the present work, a detailed characterization of the products of E. coli sfcA and maeB was performed. The results indicate that the two MEs exhibit relevant kinetic, regulatory, and structural differences. SfcA is a NAD(P) ME, while MaeB is a NADP-specific ME highly regulated by key metabolites. Characterization of truncated versions of MaeB indicated that the PTA domain is not essential for the ME reaction. Nevertheless, truncated MaeB without the PTA domain loses most of its metabolic ME modulation and its native oligomeric state. Thus, the association of the two structural domains in MaeB seems to facilitate metabolic control of the enzyme. Although the PTA domain in MaeB is highly similar to the domains of proteins with PTA activity, MaeB and its PTA domain do not exhibit PTA activity. Determination of the distinct properties of recombinant products of sfcA and maeB performed in the present work will help to clarify the roles of MEs in prokaryotic metabolism