Expression Analysis of PAC1-R and PACAP Genes in Zebrafish Embryos

This study describes the expression of the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP1 and PACAP2) and PAC1 receptor genes (PAC1a-R and PAC1b-R) in the brain of zebrafish (Danio rerio) during development. In situ hybridization of the 24- and 48-hpf embryos revealed that PACAP genes were expressed in the telencephalon, the diencephalon, the rhombencephalon, and the neurons in the dorsal part of the spinal cord. PACAP2 mRNA appears to be the most abundant form during brain development. The two PAC1-R subtypes showed a similar expression pattern: mRNAs were detected in the forebrain, the thalamus, and the rhombencephalon. However, in the tectum, only PAC1b-R gene was detected. These results suggest that, in fish, PACAP may play a role in brain development

Origin of Secretin Receptor Precedes the Advent of Tetrapoda: Evidence on the Separated Origins of Secretin and Orexin

At present, secretin and its receptor have only been identified in mammals, and the origin of this ligand-receptor pair in early vertebrates is unclear. In addition, the elusive similarities of secretin and orexin in terms of both structures and functions suggest a common ancestral origin early in the vertebrate lineage. In this article, with the cloning and functional characterization of secretin receptors from lungfish and X. laevis as well as frog (X. laevis and Rana rugulosa) secretins, we provide evidence that the secretin ligand-receptor pair has already diverged and become highly specific by the emergence of tetrapods. The secretin receptor-like sequence cloned from lungfish indicates that the secretin receptor was descended from a VPAC-like receptor prior the advent of sarcopterygians. To clarify the controversial relationship of secretin and orexin, orexin type-2 receptor was cloned from X. laevis. We demonstrated that, in frog, secretin and orexin could activate their mutual receptors, indicating their coordinated complementary role in mediating physiological processes in non-mammalian vertebrates. However, among the peptides in the secretin/glucagon superfamily, secretin was found to be the only peptide that could activate the orexin receptor. We therefore hypothesize that secretin and orexin are of different ancestral origins early in the vertebrate lineage

Global urban environmental change drives adaptation in white clover.

Urbanization transforms environments in ways that alter biological evolution. We examined whether urban environmental change drives parallel evolution by sampling 110,019 white clover plants from 6169 populations in 160 cities globally. Plants were assayed for a Mendelian antiherbivore defense that also affects tolerance to abiotic stressors. Urban-rural gradients were associated with the evolution of clines in defense in 47% of cities throughout the world. Variation in the strength of clines was explained by environmental changes in drought stress and vegetation cover that varied among cities. Sequencing 2074 genomes from 26 cities revealed that the evolution of urban-rural clines was best explained by adaptive evolution, but the degree of parallel adaptation varied among cities. Our results demonstrate that urbanization leads to adaptation at a global scale

Global urban environmental change drives adaptation in white clover

Urbanization transforms environments in ways that alter biological evolution. We examined whether urban environmental change drives parallel evolution by sampling 110,019 white clover plants from 6169 populations in 160 cities globally. Plants were assayed for a Mendelian antiherbivore defense that also affects tolerance to abiotic stressors. Urban-rural gradients were associated with the evolution of clines in defense in 47% of cities throughout the world. Variation in the strength of clines was explained by environmental changes in drought stress and vegetation cover that varied among cities. Sequencing 2074 genomes from 26 cities revealed that the evolution of urban-rural clines was best explained by adaptive evolution, but the degree of parallel adaptation varied among cities. Our results demonstrate that urbanization leads to adaptation at a global scale

Chilean Political Documentary Video of the 1980s

The chapter seeks to reconsider Chilean anti-dictatorship video documentary through both historical contextualization and close textual analysis of a series of landmark political video documentaries produced in Chile during that decade. The chapter proposes that these videos are significant components of Chile’s national screen culture’s ongoing engagement with the traumatic memory of the dictatorship period. The videos offer an example of oppositional media at a time when any form of opposition amounted to a defiant and risky gesture. These videos not only documented state violence and political resistance in Chile in the 1980s but constituted a form of resistance in their own right

Amyloid-Beta Associated with Chitosan Nano-Carrier has Favorable Immunogenicity and Permeates the BBB

Subfragments of amyloid-beta (Aβ) appear to protect neurons from Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The permeability of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) has limited in vivo research. The aim of this study is to explore permeation of the BBB by chitosan nanoparticles loaded with Aβ and to evaluate immunogenicity of these particles. Chitosan microspheres were prepared by mechanical stirring emulsification methods combined with chemical crosslinking. Morphological characteristics of the nanoparticles were examined using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The peptide association efficiency was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Fluorescently labeled chitosan nanoparticle-intramembranous fragments of Aβ (NP-IF-A) were administered systemically to mice in order to evaluate brain translocation by fluorescence microscopy. The immunogenicity of the nano-vaccine was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All nanoparticles analyzed were well-separated, roughly spherical structures with uniform particle size distribution in the range of 15.23 ± 10.97 nm. The peptide association efficiency was 78.4%. The brain uptake efficiency of nano-antigen was 80.6%; uptake efficiency of antigen alone was only 20.6%. ELISA showed that the nano-vaccine had favorable immunogenicity. A chitosan nano-carrier for Aβ allowed permeation of the BBB and was non-immunogenic. These findings indicate that this novel targeted nano-vaccine delivery system can be used as a carrier for Aβ. This system will further research of peptide vaccines for AD

Mechanistic Investigation of the Inhibition of Aβ42 Assembly and Neurotoxicity by Aβ42 C-terminal Fragments

Oligomeric forms of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) are key neurotoxins in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Previously, we found that C-terminal fragments (CTFs) of Aβ42 interfered with assembly of full-length Aβ42 and inhibited Aβ42-induced toxicity. To decipher the mechanism(s) by which CTFs affect Aβ42 assembly and neurotoxicity, here, we investigated the interaction between Aβ42 and CTFs using photoinduced cross-linking and dynamic light scattering. The results demonstrate that distinct parameters control CTF inhibition of Aβ42 assembly and Aβ42-induced toxicity. Inhibition of Aβ42-induced toxicity was found to correlate with stabilization of oligomers with a hydrodynamic radius (R[subscript H]) of 8−12 nm and attenuation of formation of oligomers with an R[subscript H] of 20−60 nm. In contrast, inhibition of Aβ42 paranucleus formation correlated with CTF solubility and the degree to which CTFs formed amyloid fibrils themselves but did not correlate with inhibition of Aβ42-induced toxicity. Our findings provide important insight into the mechanisms by which different CTFs inhibit the toxic effect of Aβ42 and suggest that stabilization of nontoxic Aβ42 oligomers is a promising strategy for designing inhibitors of Aβ42 neurotoxicity.National Institute on Aging (Grant AG027818