The localization of amyloid precursor protein to ependymal cilia in vertebrates and its role in ciliogenesis and brain development in zebrafish

Amyloid precursor protein (APP) is expressed in many tissues in human, mice and in zebrafish. In zebrafish, there are two orthologues, Appa and Appb. Interestingly, some cellular processes associated with APP overlap with cilia-mediated functions. Whereas the localization of APP to primary cilia of in vitro-cultured cells has been reported, we addressed the presence of APP in motile and in non-motile sensory cilia and its potential implication for ciliogenesis using zebrafish, mouse, and human samples. We report that Appa and Appb are expressed by ciliated cells and become localized at the membrane of cilia in the olfactory epithelium, otic vesicle and in the brain ventricles of zebrafish embryos. App in ependymal cilia persisted in adult zebrafish and was also detected in mouse and human brain. Finally, we found morphologically abnormal ependymal cilia and smaller brain ventricles in appa-/-appb-/- mutant zebrafish. Our findings demonstrate an evolutionary conserved localisation of APP to cilia and suggest a role of App in ciliogenesis and cilia-related functions

Proposal for an ecofriendly and economic strategy for efficient radioiodination of coumarin derivatives

Combination of the calculation of reactivity descriptors and the cold iodine test for some coumarin derivatives was used in order to optimize the radioiodination reaction. The strongly nucleophilic predicted coumarins were subjected to the action of cold iodine. With two coumarins substituted at 3 by the 2-hydroxybenzoyl group, iodination did not occur but a product of intramolecular heterocyclization was obtained. This strategy is useful for economic and environmentally friendly radioiodination.publishe

Internet-Based Interventions for Addictive Behaviours: A Systematic Review

Internet-based interventions have emerged as a new treatment and intervention modality for psychological disorders. Given their features of treatment flexibility, anonymity and confidentiality, this modality may be well suited in the management of addictive behaviours. A systematic literature review of the effectiveness and treatment outcomes of Internet-based interventions for smoking cessation, problematic alcohol use, substance abuse and gambling was performed. Studies were included if they met the following criteria: clients received a structured therapeutic Internet-based intervention for a problematic and addictive behaviour; included more than five clients; effectiveness was based on at least one outcome; outcome variables were measured before and immediately following the interventions; had a follow-up period; and involved at least minimal therapist contact over the course of the program. Sixteen relevant studies were found; nine addressed the effects of Internet-based interventions on smoking cessation, four on gambling, two on alcohol and one on opioid dependence. All studies demonstrated positive treatment outcomes for their respective addictive behaviours. The current review concluded that Internet-based interventions are effective in achieving positive behavioural change through reducing problematic behaviours. This mode of therapy has been found to have the capacity to provide effective and practical services for those who might have remained untreated, subsequently reducing the barriers for help-seekers. This in turn provides imperative information to treatment providers, policy makers, and academic researchers

2H-Pyran-2-one-3-carbothioamide derivatives: Synthesis and reaction with hydrazine hydrate

N-Aryl-4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one-3-carbothiamides and N-aryl-4-hydroxycoumarin-3-carbothiamides were synthesized by the reaction of arylisothiocyanates with 4-hydroxy-6-methylpyran-2-one and 4-hydroxycoumarin, respectively. Novel products 3-[bis(arylamino)methylene]-6-methyl-2H,4H-pyran-2,4-diones and N,N′-diaryl-4-hydroxycoumarin-3-carboximidamides have also been obtained in the same reactions. Novel 4-acetoacetyl-3-phenylamino-4,5-dihydro-5H-pyrazol-5-ones were synthesized from the reaction of N-aryl-4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one-3-carbothiamides with an excess of hydrazine. The structure of all compounds was established by NMR and mass spectra

Preferential binding of a stable G3BP ribonucleoprotein complex to intron-retaining transcripts in mouse brain and modulation of their expression in the cerebellum.

Neuronal granules play an important role in the localization and transport of translationally silenced messenger ribonucleoproteins (mRNPs) in neurons. Among the factors associated with these granules, the RNA-binding protein G3BP1 (stress-granules assembly factor) is involved in neuronal plasticity and is induced in Alzheimer's disease. We immunopurified a stable complex containing G3BP1 from mouse brain and performed High-Throughput Sequencing and CrossLinking Immunoprecipitation (HITS-CLIP) to identify the associated RNAs. The G3BP-complex contained the deubiquitinating protease USP10, CtBP1 and the RNA binding proteins Caprin-1, G3BP2a and SFPQ (Splicing Factor Proline and Glutamine rich, or PSF). The G3BP-complex binds preferentially to transcripts that retain introns, and to non-coding sequences like 3'UTR and long non-coding RNAs. Specific transcripts with retained introns appear to be enriched in the cerebellum compared to the rest of the brain and G3BP1 depletion decreased this intron retention in the cerebellum of G3BP1 knockout mice. Among the enriched transcripts, we found an overrepresentation of genes involved in synaptic transmission, especially glutamate-related neuronal transmission. Notably, G3BP1 seems to repress the expression of the mature Grm5 (metabotropic glutamate receptor 5) transcript, by promoting the retention of an intron in the immature transcript in the cerebellum. Our results suggest that G3BP is involved in a new functional mechanism to regulate non-coding RNAs including intron-retaining transcripts, and thus have broad implications for neuronal gene regulation, where intron retention is widespread. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Rhizospheric solutions: Pseudomonas isolates counter Botrytis cinerea on tomato

La moisissure grise causée par Botrytis cinerea provoque des dégâts sur plus de 200 espèces de cultures dans le monde. B. cinerea sporule pour former une pourriture grise sur les feuilles, les tiges et les fruits. Pour lutter contre B. cinerea, des fongicides synthétiques sont utilisés. Ces derniers mettent en danger la santé humaine et environnementale en plus de la résistance qu'ils peuvent occasionner chez les souches de B. cinerea. Les alternatives écologiques sont des solutions appropriées pour contrôler la moisissure grise tout en maintenant l’équilibre environnemental. L’objectif de cette étude est d'évaluer l’effet des isolats de Pseudomonas issus de la rhizosphère de la tomate sur B. cinerea. Les résultats ont montré que les 76 isolats testés inhibent le développement de B. cinerea in vitro. Cinq isolats de Pseudomonas (Q6B, Q13B, Q7B, Q14B et Q1B) ont provoqué des niveaux d'inhibition significatifs allant de 65 à 73%. Par ailleurs, ces isolats ont également inhibé B. cinerea sur les feuilles et le fruit de la tomate. Pour tenter d'élucider les mécanismes d'action, les cinq isolats ont montré une production des métabolites antifongiques tels que les sidérophores, le cyanure d'hydrogène et d’autres enzymes. Les résultats de cette étude ont montré que les isolats de Pseudomonas Q6B, Q13B, Q7B, Q14B et Q1B ont une forte efficacité dans la lutte biologique contre B. cinerea et peuvent être utilisés pour une lutte écologique durable.Gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea causes serious losses in more than 200 crop species worldwide. The necrotrophic fungus sporulates to effect a grey covering on leaves, stems and flowers. B. cinerea is controlled by chemical synthetic fungicides, endangering human and environmental health. Synthetic fungicides stimulate emergence of pathogen resistance. Organic alternatives which may be present or introduced into the edaphic environment are suitable solutions to control outbreaks. This study was done in order to elucidate the mode of action involved in the control of B. cinerea using fluorescent Pseudomonas isolates from tomato roots. The results show that all 76 isolates inhibit fungal growth during in vitro bioassay using dual culture technique. Five isolates of Pseudomonas (Q6B, Q13B, Q7B, Q14B and Q1B) cause significant inhibition levels ranging from 65 to 73%. These isolates inhibit fungal growth in both fruits and leaves. Each isolate tested produced antifungal metabolites (siderophores, hydrogen cyanide and enzymes). Results of this study show that all tested Pseudomonas isolates have a strong efficacy in biological control against B. cinerea and can be used for environmentally sustainable control

Chemical Composition and Anticandidal Effect of Three Thymus Species Essential Oils from Southwest of Morocco against the Emerging Nosocomial Fluconazole-Resistant Strains

The purpose of this present work is to study the essential oils composition of three endemic Thymus species from southwest of Morocco: Thymus satureioides Coss., Thymus pallidus Batt. and Thymus leptobotrys Murb., as well as their antifungal activity towards nineteen strains of emerging nosocomial Fluconazole-resistant Candida species. The chemical composition of the essential oils was determined by capillary gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry analysis. The results reveal qualitative and quantitative variation in composition of Thymus species. Seventy-three different compounds, 56 for T. satureioides accounting for 99.97% of the total essential oil, 52 for T. pallidus, accounting for 98.94% of the total essential oil, and 40 for T. leptobotrys accounting for 99.20%, were determined. The results obtained for the anticandidal disc-diffusion assay shows that the 19 strains of Candida species tested were inhibited by the Moroccan Thymus essential oils to a varying degree, with the diameters of the inhibition zone ranging from 49±1.00 to 85±1.15 mm. There were significant differences (p ? 0.05) in the antifungal activities of the essential oils on all species tested who showed larger inhibition zones than the positive control fluconazole and amphotericine B. Candida albicans showed a high sensitivity to essential oils of Thymus pallidus and Thymus leptobotrys compared with essential oil of Thymus satureioides and controls. While non- albicans Candida species showed less sensitivity to essential oils of Thymus pallidus and Thymus leptobotrys and are more sensitive to essential oils of Thymus satureioides than Candida albicans. Interestingly C. krusei, C. dubliniensis and C. glabrata were found to be resistant to conventional antifungal (fluconazole and amphotericine B), while our essential oils tested were able to inhibit the growth of Candida strains resistant to antifungal agents. The value of Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and Minimal Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) of the Thymus essential oils studied ranges from 0.33 mg/mL to 0.91 mg/mL. All the essential oils possessed higher antifungal potential than classical fungicide. Keywords: Thymus species, essential oils, anticandidal activity, Nosocomial fluconazole-resistant strains

Potential use of some vegetables by-products as an alternative feed resource

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Valorization of some red berries by-products in ruminants' diet

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