PP2A1 binding, cell transducing and apoptotic properties of Vpr77-92: A new functional domain of HIV-1 Vpr proteins

Background: The hallmark of HIV-1 pathogenesis is the progressive CD4(+) T cell depletion and high propensity of CD4(+) T cells to apoptosis. HIV-1 viral protein R (Vpr) is a major pro-apoptotic gene product. A first Vpr-mediated apoptotic mechanism that requires a physical interaction of HIV-1 Vpr(71-82) mitochondriotoxic domain containing the conserved sequence (71-)HFRIGCRHSRIG(-82) with the Adenine Nucleotide Translocator (ANT) has been characterized. The family of Ser/Thr protein phosphatase PP2A interacts with several viral proteins to regulate cell growth and apoptotic pathways. Previous studies based on yeast two hybrid assays and mutational experiments indicated that PP2A(1) is involved in the induction of G2 arrest by HIV-1 Vpr. [br/] Principal Findings: Experiments combining pull-down, cell penetration and apoptosis analyses in distinct human cells indicate that the PP2A(1) binding sequence from Vpr(77-92) is a new cell penetrating apoptotic sequence. We also found that the I84P mutation or the IIQ/VTR83-85 and T89A substitutions in the Vpr(77-92) sequence prevent PP2A(1) binding, cell penetration and apoptosis. In addition the double R77A and R80A mutation known to inactivate the mitochondriotoxic Vpr(71-82) domain, has no effect on the biological properties of the Vpr(77-92) domain. [br/] Conclusion: Together our data provide evidence for the first time that the Vpr(77-92) sequence delineates a biological active domain of Vpr with PP2A(1) binding and pro-apopototic capacities and, it is conceivable that this cell penetrating sequence may account for the Vpr internalization in uninfected cells. Finally, our data also implicate the existence of two partially overlapping pro-apoptotic domains in the Vpr C-terminal part, a redundancy that represents a new approach to address the question of biological relevance of HIV-1 Vpr. In this context, future studies will be required to determine the functional relevance of the Vpr(77-92) domain in full length Vpr protein and also in entire HIV provirus

Avaliação de modelo matemático para estimar a radiação solar incidente sobre superfícies com diferentes exposições e declividades Evaluation of a model used for estimating income solar radiation in surfaces with different expositions and declivities

Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar modelo matemático para estimar a radiação solar global diária sobre superfícies com diferentes exposições e declividades, no período de março de 2002 a março de 2003. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida em uma estrutura denominada "Bacia Hidrográfica Experimental" do Departamento de Engenharia Rural da UNESP, Câmpus de Jaboticabal - SP. Nessa estrutura, foram utilizadas superfícies caracterizadas como H, 10N, 10S, 20N, 20S, 10E, 10W, 20E e 20W. O sensor utilizado para medir a radiação solar global incidente nas superfícies estudadas foi um piranômetro da marca Kipp & Zonnen, modelo CM3. Para calcular a radiação solar incidente nas superfícies estudadas, foi utilizado o modelo de Kondratyev. As análises dos resultados foram feitas para o período diário, utilizando-se de análise de regressão e considerando o modelo linear (y = ax + b), na qual a variável dependente foi a radiação global medida (K<FONT FACE=Symbol>&macr;</FONT>M) e a radiação global calculada (K<FONT FACE=Symbol>&macr;</FONT>C) foi a variável independente. Os resultados deste estudo mostram que o modelo apresentou bons resultados para estimar a radiação nas superfícies H, 10N, 10S, 10E, 10W, 20E e 20W. Utilizando-se de dados de dias com céu límpido, foram obtidos os seguintes resultados: no inverno, o modelo foi preciso para estimar a radiação solar na superfície 20N, e apresentou resultados aceitáveis para estimar a radiação solar na superfície 20S.<br>This research evaluated a model used for estimating income solar radiation in surfaces with different expositions and declivities. The research was developed in one structure denominated "Experimental Hidrografic Basin" of the Rural Engineering Department - UNESP, Sao Paulo State University, Brazil. In this structure was utilized surfaces characterized as H, 10N, 10S, 20N, 20S, 10E, 10W, 20E and 20W. The sensor used for obtaining income solar radiation in surfaces was a Kipp & Zonnen Piranometer model CM3. The methodology of Kondratyev was used to calculate the income solar radiation on surfaces. Evaluation of the results were made for the daily period using regression analyze and considering the linear model (y = ax + b), which the dependent variable was the global radiation measured (K<FONT FACE=Symbol>&macr;</FONT>M) and the global radiation calculated (K<FONT FACE=Symbol>&macr;</FONT>C) was the independent variable. The model showed good results to estimate the radiation on the surfaces H, 10N, 10S, 10E, 10W, 20E e 20W. Using data of sunny days were obtained the following results: in the winter, the model was exact to estimate the solar radiation on the surface 20N, and it showed acceptable results to estimate the solar radiation on the surface 20S