A Specific Role of Hippocampal NMDA Receptors and Arc Protein in Rapid Encoding of Novel Environmental Representations and a More General Long-Term Consolidation Function

Activation of the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) has been proposed to be a key event responsible for the structural changes that occur in neurons during learning and memory formation. It has been extensively studied yet no consensus has been reached on its mnemonic role as both NMDAR dependent and independent forms of learning have been observed. We investigated the role that hippocampal NMDAR have in rapid spatial learning and memory across training environments. Hippocampal NMDAR was blocked via intra-hippocampal injection of the competitive antagonist CPP. Groups of rats were pre-trained on a spatial version of the Morris water task, and then mass reversal training under NMDAR blockade occurred in the same or different training environments as pre-training. We measured expression of Arc protein throughout the main hippocampal subfields, CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus, after mass-training. We observed that NMDAR blockade allowed for rapid spatial learning, but not consolidation, when the SUBJECTS used previously acquired environmental information. Interestingly, NMDAR blockade impaired rapid spatial learning when rats were mass-trained in a novel context. Arc protein expression in the dentate gyrus followed this pattern of NMDAR dependent spatial behavior, with high levels of expression observed after being trained in the new environment, and low levels when trained in the same environment. CPP significantly reduced Arc expression in the dentate gyrus. These results implicate dentate NMDAR in the acquisition of novel environmental information

Analysis of the hydration water around bovine serum albumin using terahertz coherent synchrotron radiation.

Terahertz spectroscopy was used to study the absorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in water. The Diamond Light Source operating in a low alpha mode generated coherent synchrotron radiation that covered a useable spectral bandwidth of 0.3-3.3 THz (10-110 cm(-1)). As the BSA concentration was raised, there was a nonlinear change in absorption inconsistent with Beer's law. At low BSA concentrations (0-1 mM), the absorption remained constant or rose slightly. Above a concentration of 1 mM BSA, a steady decrease in absorption was observed, which was followed by a plateau that started at 2.5 mM. Using a overlapping hydration layer model, the hydration layer was estimated to extend 15 Å from the protein. Calculation of the corrected absorption coefficient (αcorr) for the water around BSA by subtracting the excluded volume of the protein provides an alternative approach to studying the hydration layer that provides evidence for complexity in the population of water around BSA.This is the accepted version of an article first published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry A. The version of record is available from ACS Publications at http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jp407410

Molecular Markers Associated With Chemical Analysis: A Powerful Tool for Quality Control Assessment of Copalchi Medicinal Plant Complex

The copalchi complex, Hintonia latiflora, H. standleyana, and Exostema caribaeum, is widely used in Mexico for treating diabetes and gastrointestinal disorders. The first therapeutic use for H. latiflora bark was registered in the “Florentine Codex” in the sixteenth century. The latest pharmacological and phytochemical studies revealed that the infusion of the leaves have hypoglycemic, antihyperglycemic and gastroprotective activities. For these reasons the monograph of the main copalchi species, H. latiflora, was recently added to the Mexican Herbal Pharmacopoeia. Nevertheless, quality control parameters are focused to the bark but not to the leaves. Moreover, information about other Rubiaceae species is needed. The main goal of this study was to generate molecular and chemical markers for quality control of the copalchi complex raw material. In addition, the resolution of the taxonomical ambiguity between H. latiflora and H. standleyana, as well as the testing of the molecular and chemical markers in different geographical batches, were aims of this study. The molecular markers and chemical profiles of the leaf infusions were generated considering three different populations for H. latiflora and separate individuals of the three species (HL, n = 10; HS, n = 3; EC, n = 4). The molecular markers matK, rbcL, trnH-psbA, rpl32-trnL, and ITS2 were tested for their discriminating capabilities. Chemical profiles of the leaf infusions were obtained by means of HPLC analyses using chlorogenic acid and 4-phenylcoumarins as chemical markers. The concatenated sequence of the molecular markers trnH-psbA, rpl32-trnL, and ITS2 clearly distinguished the three taxa, clarifying the taxonomical ambiguity of the Hintonia genus. Additionally, the chemical profiles allowed the unequivocal identification of each species supporting the molecular results; the geographical origin of the samples did not modify neither the chemical profiles nor the concatenated sequence of H. latiflora, suggesting that it is a robust identity test. The complementary use of molecular and chemical markers will assure the quality of plant material used in traditional medicine for therapeutic purposes, and should be valuable new information for the National Health authorities as a part of the Mexican Herbal Pharmacopoeia

Samfunnsanalyse Namdalsregionen: samhandlingen mellom Namsos som regionby og omlandet med mål om økt vekstkraft

Byregion Namsos, her også omtalt som Namdalsregionen, er en av totalt 33 byregioner som ble med i første fase av byregionprogrammet, initiert av Kommunal- og Moderniseringsdepartementet i 2014. Byregionprogrammet skal øke kunnskapen om samspill mellom by og omland, og regionenes næringsmessige potensiale. Det interkommunale nettverket Region Namdal, som består av ordførere i 13 kommuner, er ansvarlige for søknaden fra Byregion Namsos. Første fase av byregionprogrammet handler om å gjennomføre en helhetlig samfunnsanalyse (innen 2014). Høgskolen i Nord-Trøndelag ble tildelt oppdraget, og utredningen er utført i samarbeid med Trøndelag Forskning og Utvikling, Steinkjer. Region Namdal har i sin prosjektbeskrivelse fremhevet at samfunnsanalysen skal bidra til å øke det samlede kunnskapsgrunnlaget knyttet til regional utvikling. Bakgrunnen for oppdraget er: «Gjennomføre en samfunnsanalyse som peker ut muligheter for samhandling i regionen med fokus på næringsliv, kunnskap og kompetanse, arbeidsmarked og infrastruktur». Den overordnede målsettingen for denne utredningen: Utvikle kunnskap om samhandling i Byregion Namsos med tanke på et langsiktig perspektiv om å styrke vekstkraften i Namdalsregionen.Region Namdal ved Midt Namdal Samkommun

Production of Encecalin in Cell Cultures and Hairy Roots of Helianthella quinquenervis (Hook.) A. Gray

Plant cell and organ cultures of Helianthella quinquenervis, a medicinal plant whose roots are used by the Tarahumara Indians of Chihuahua, Mexico, to relieve several ailments, were established to identify and quantify some chromenes with biological activity, such as encecalin, and to evaluate their potential for biotechnological production. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis corroborated the presence of quantifiable amounts of encecalin in H. quinquenervis cell cultures (callus and cell suspensions). In addition, hairy roots were obtained through three transformation protocols (prick, 45-s sonication and co-culture), using wild type Agrobacterium rhizogenes A4. After three months, cocultivation achieved the highest percentage of transformation (66%), and a comparable production (FW) of encecalin (110 g/g) than the sonication assay (120 g/g), both giving far higher yields than the prick assay (19 g/g). Stable integration of rolC and aux1 genes in the transformed roots was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Hairy roots from cocultivation (six months-old) accumulated as much as 1086 g/g (FW) of encecalin, over three times higher than the cell suspension cultures. The production of encecalin varied with growth kinetics, being higher at the stationary phase. This is the first report of encecalin production in hairy roots of H. quinquenervis, demonstrating the potential for a future biotechnological production of chromenes

Production of Encecalin in Cell Cultures and Hairy Roots of Helianthella quinquenervis (Hook.) A. Gray

[EN] Plant cell and organ cultures of Helianthella quinquenervis, a medicinal plant whose roots are used by the Tarahumara Indians of Chihuahua, Mexico, to relieve several ailments, were established to identify and quantify some chromenes with biological activity, such as encecalin, and to evaluate their potential for biotechnological production. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis corroborated the presence of quantifiable amounts of encecalin in H. quinquenervis cell cultures (callus and cell suspensions). In addition, hairy roots were obtained through three transformation protocols (prick, 45-s sonication and co-culture), using wild type Agrobacterium rhizogenes A4. After three months, cocultivation achieved the highest percentage of transformation (66%), and a comparable production (FW) of encecalin (110 g/g) than the sonication assay (120 g/g), both giving far higher yields than the prick assay (19 g/g). Stable integration of rolC and aux1 genes in the transformed roots was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Hairy roots from cocultivation (six months-old) accumulated as much as 1086 g/g (FW) of encecalin, over three times higher than the cell suspension cultures. The production of encecalin varied with growth kinetics, being higher at the stationary phase. This is the first report of encecalin production in hairy roots of H. quinquenervis, demonstrating the potential for a future biotechnological production of chromenes.SIThe initial phase of the conservation project was supported by the International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (NIH UO1 TW00316), CONACYT (U47512-Z) and PAPIIT-UNAM (IN205907-3). This work was partially supported by the Ministerio Español de Economía y Competitividad (AGL2011-30545-C02-02) and by Universidad de León through the financial support to Research Groups, by a fellowship from CONACYT, Mexico, to J.M.H.-A., and by the Unitat de Fisiologia Vegetal, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain

Three Stages of Lysozyme Thermal Stabilization by High and Medium Charge Density Anions

Addition of high and medium charge density anions (phosphate, sulfate, and chloride) to lysozyme in pure water demonstrates three stages for stabilization of the protein structure. The first two stages have a minor impact on lysozyme stability and are probably associated with direct interaction of the ions with charged and partial charges on the protein’s surface. There is a clear transition between the second and third stages; in the case of sodium chloride, disodium sulfate and disodium hydrogen phosphate this is at 550, 210, and 120 mM, respectively. Stabilization of lysozyme can be explained by the free energy required to hydrate the protein as it unfolds. At low ion concentrations, the protein’s hydration layer is at equilibrium with the bulk water. After the transition, bulk water is depleted and the protein is competing for water with the ions. With competition for water between the protein and the ions at higher salt concentrations, the free energy required to hydrate the interior of the protein rises and it is this that stabilizes the protein structure

Gene finding in the chicken genome

BACKGROUND: Despite the continuous production of genome sequence for a number of organisms, reliable, comprehensive, and cost effective gene prediction remains problematic. This is particularly true for genomes for which there is not a large collection of known gene sequences, such as the recently published chicken genome. We used the chicken sequence to test comparative and homology-based gene-finding methods followed by experimental validation as an effective genome annotation method. RESULTS: We performed experimental evaluation by RT-PCR of three different computational gene finders, Ensembl, SGP2 and TWINSCAN, applied to the chicken genome. A Venn diagram was computed and each component of it was evaluated. The results showed that de novo comparative methods can identify up to about 700 chicken genes with no previous evidence of expression, and can correctly extend about 40% of homology-based predictions at the 5' end. CONCLUSIONS: De novo comparative gene prediction followed by experimental verification is effective at enhancing the annotation of the newly sequenced genomes provided by standard homology-based methods