Thiol-disulfide oxidoreductases in Bacillus subtilis

An important function in protein folding is the formation of disulfide bonds. In different compartments of bacteria specific oxido reductases are responsible for this function. Thanks to the identification of all genes from various model organisms the understanding of the function of the various members of this family has increased dramatically. Zie: Summary

Characteristics of the retinal microvasculature in association with cardiovascular risk markers in children with overweight, obesity and morbid obesity

To aim of this study was to evaluate characteristics of the retinal microvasculature, but particularly potential associations with classic and novel (endothelial function and low-grade inflammation)markers for cardiovascular risk, in a cohort of children with overweight and (morbid) obesity. Central retinal arteriolar equivalent(CRAE) and central retinal venular equivalent(CRVE) were assessed. CRAE was significantly lower and AVR significantly higher in children with morbid obesity than in children with overweight and normal weight(p < 0.01). CRVE did not differ significantly between the four weight categories. A multiple linear regression model with CRAE as dependent variable showed that only DBP z-score(β = −2.848,p = 0.029) and plasma glucose concentrations(β = 6.029,p = 0.019) contributed significantly to the variation in CRAE. Remarkably, despite a correlation between CRAE and circulating concentrations of the adhesion molecules VCAM-1 or ICAM-1, markers for inflammation and endothelial function did not contribute to the variation in CRAE. This is the first study showing in population of children with overweight and obesity that the retinal arteriolar microvasculature, but not venular diameter is aberrant, with increasing BMI z-score. CRAE was significantly associated with several cardiovascular risk markers, and multiple linear regression showed that a higher diastolic blood pressure z-score and lower fasting plasma glucose concentrations significantly contributed to the variance in CRAE

Characteristics of the retinal microvasculature in association with cardiovascular risk markers in children with overweight, obesity and morbid obesity

\u3cp\u3eTo aim of this study was to evaluate characteristics of the retinal microvasculature, but particularly potential associations with classic and novel (endothelial function and low-grade inflammation)markers for cardiovascular risk, in a cohort of children with overweight and (morbid) obesity. Central retinal arteriolar equivalent(CRAE) and central retinal venular equivalent(CRVE) were assessed. CRAE was significantly lower and AVR significantly higher in children with morbid obesity than in children with overweight and normal weight(p &lt; 0.01). CRVE did not differ significantly between the four weight categories. A multiple linear regression model with CRAE as dependent variable showed that only DBP z-score(β = −2.848,p = 0.029) and plasma glucose concentrations(β = 6.029,p = 0.019) contributed significantly to the variation in CRAE. Remarkably, despite a correlation between CRAE and circulating concentrations of the adhesion molecules VCAM-1 or ICAM-1, markers for inflammation and endothelial function did not contribute to the variation in CRAE. This is the first study showing in population of children with overweight and obesity that the retinal arteriolar microvasculature, but not venular diameter is aberrant, with increasing BMI z-score. CRAE was significantly associated with several cardiovascular risk markers, and multiple linear regression showed that a higher diastolic blood pressure z-score and lower fasting plasma glucose concentrations significantly contributed to the variance in CRAE.\u3c/p\u3

A Disulfide Bond-Containing Alkaline Phosphatase Triggers a BdbC-Dependent Secretion Stress Response in Bacillus subtilis

The gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis secretes high levels of proteins into its environment. Most of these secretory proteins are exported from the cytoplasm in an unfolded state and have to fold efficiently after membrane translocation. As previously shown for α-amylases of Bacillus species, inefficient posttranslocational protein folding is potentially detrimental and stressful. In B. subtilis, this so-called secretion stress is sensed and combated by the CssRS two-component system. Two known members of the CssRS regulon are the htrA and htrB genes, encoding potential extracytoplasmic chaperone proteases for protein quality control. In the present study, we investigated whether high-level production of a secretory protein with two disulfide bonds, PhoA of Escherichia coli, induces secretion stress in B. subtilis. Our results show that E. coli PhoA production triggers a relatively moderate CssRS-dependent secretion stress response in B. subtilis. The intensity of this response is significantly increased in the absence of BdbC, which is a major determinant for posttranslocational folding of disulfide bond-containing proteins in B. subtilis. Our findings show that BdbC is required to limit the PhoA-induced secretion stress. This conclusion focuses interest on the BdbC-dependent folding pathway for biotechnological production of proteins with disulfide bonds in B. subtilis and related bacilli