Arginine methylation analysis of the splicing-associated SR protein SFRS9/SRP30C

The human SFRS9/SRp30c belongs to the SR family of splicing regulators. Despite evidence that members of this protein family may be targeted by arginine methylation, this has yet to be experimentally addressed. In this study, we found that SFRS9 is a target for PRMT1-mediated arginine methylation in vitro, and that it is immunoprecipitated from HEK-293 lysates by antibodies that recognize both mono- and dimethylated arginines. We further observed that upon treatment with the methylation inhibitor Adox, the fluorescent EGFP-SFRS9 re-localizes to dot-like structures in the cell nucleus. In subsequent confocal analyses, we found that EGFP-SFRS9 localizes to nucleoli in Adox-treated cells. Our findings indicate the importance of arginine methylation for the subnuclear localization of SFRS9144657669CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPsem informaçã

Comparison of fusobacterium nucleatum and porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharides clinically isolated from root canal infection in the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion

The aim of this study was to compare the biological activity of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) purified from Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis strains, both isolated from primary endodontic infection (PEI) in the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α released by macrophage cells. Moreover, LPS was purified from F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis American Type Collection (ATCC) and its biological activity was compared to respectively clinical isolates strains. F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis strains clinically isolated from PEI had their identification confirmed by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. LPS from F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis and their respective ATCC strains were extracted by using Tri-reagent method. Macrophages (Raw 264.7) were stimulated with LPS at 100 ng/mL for 4, 8 and 12 h. Secretion of IL-1 β and TNF-α was also determined. Paired t-test, repeated measures ANOVA and one-way ANOVA were employed. All LPS induced significant production of IL-1β and TNF-α, with the former being secreted at higher levels than the latter in all time-points. F. nucleatum induced a higher expression of both cytokines compared to P. gingivalis (p<0.05). No differences were observed between clinical and ATCC strains, as both presented the same potential to induce pro-inflammatory response. It was concluded that F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis LPS presented different patterns of activation against macrophages as seen by the IL-1β and TNF-α production, which may contribute to the immunopathogenesis of apical periodontitis. Moreover, clinical and ATCC strains grown under the same in vitro environment conditions presented similar biological activity272202207CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP302575/2009-0; 150557/2011-6; 308162/2014-510/19136-1; 10/17877- 4; 11/50051-5; 11/50510-0; 11/09047-4O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a atividade biológica de lipopolissacarídeos (LPS) purificados a partir de linhagens de Fusobacterium nucleatum e Porphyromonas gingivalis, ambas isoladas de infecções endodônticas primárias (IEP) nos níveis de IL-1β e TNF-α produzidos por macrófagos. Adicionalmente, LPS foi purificado de F. nucleatum e P. gingivalis "American Type Collection" (ATCC) e sua atividade comparada às respectivas linhagens clinicamente isoladas. Linhagens de F. nucleatum e P. gingivalis isoladas clinicamente de IEP tiveram sua identificação confirmada por sequenciamento do gene 16S rRNA. LPS de F. nucleatum e P. gingivalis e das respectivas linhagens foram extraídos com o uso do método "Tri-reagent". Macrófagos (Raw 264.7) foram estimulados com LPS a 100 ng/mL por 4, 8 e 12 h. A secreção de IL-1β e de TNF-α foi determinada. Foram usados os testes t-pareado, ANOVA de medidas repetidas e ANOVA de um fator. Todos os LPS induziram a produção significante de IL-1β e TNF-α, sendo o primeiro secretado em mais altas concentrações que o último em todos os tempos avaliados. F. nucleatum induziu uma maior expressão de ambas as citocinas comparativamente ao P. gingivalis (p<0,05). Não foram observadas diferenças entre as linhagens clínica e ATCC, uma vez que ambas apresentaram o mesmo potencial de indução da resposta pró-inflamatória. Conclui-se que F. nucleatum e P. gingivalis possuem diferentes padrões de ativação dos macrófagos, como visto pela produção de IL-1β e TNF-α, o que pode contribuir para a imunopatogênese da periodontite apical. Ainda, linhagens clínica e ATCC mantidas no mesmo ambiente in vitro apresentaram ativação biológica semelhant

Perception of self-efficacy and self-report of prospective and retrospective memory failures

The general perception of self-efficacy in young and old people was taken as the basis for the study of the differences among self-reported prospective and self-reported retrospective memory. The participants were 642 aged between 16 and 81 years old (26,62±13,89), who have answered the Sociodemographic Questionnaire, the General Perception of Self-efficacy Scale (GPSES), and the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ-10). Self-efficacy showed higher correlation with self-reported prospective memory failures while years of formal education and age correlated with self-reported retrospective memory failures. As a further result it was verified reciprocity between self-reported memory failures and performance in memory tasks, suggesting a strong association between the dimensions of self-efficacy and prospective memory.   Keywords: self-efficacy; memory; self-report.A percepção de auto-eficácia geral em jovens e idosos serviu de base para o estudo das diferenças entre o auto-relato de falhas de memória prospectiva e retrospectiva. Uma amostra de 642 participantes, com idade entre 16 e 81 anos (26,62±13,89), respondeu ao Questionário Sociodemográfico, à Escala de Auto-eficácia Geral Percebida (EAEGP), e ao Questionário de Memória Prospectiva e Retrospectiva (PRMQ-10). De acordo com os resultados obtidos, auto-eficácia geral apresentou maior correlação com o auto-relato de falhas de memória prospectiva, enquanto idade e escolaridade correlacionaram com o auto-relato de falhas de memória retrospectiva. Como resultado adicional, verificou-se que existem pontos de reciprocidade entre auto-relato de falhas de memória e resultados de desempenho em tarefas de memória. Tais resultados assinalam maior vinculação entre as dimensões de auto-eficácia e a memória prospectiva. Palavras-chave: auto-eficácia; memória; auto-relato

Augmented β-cell function and mass in glucocorticoid-treated rodents are associated with increased islet ir-β /AKT/mTOR and decreased AMPK/ACC and AS160 signaling

FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOGlucocorticoid (GC) therapies may adversely cause insulin resistance (IR) that lead to a compensatory hyperinsulinemia due to insulin hypersecretion. The increased β-cell function is associated with increased insulin signaling that has the protein kinase B (AKT) substrate with 160 kDa (AS160) as an important downstream AKT effector. In muscle, both insulin and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling phosphorylate and inactivate AS160, which favors the glucose transporter (GLUT)-4 translocation to plasma membrane. Whether AS160 phosphorylation is modulated in islets from GC-treated subjects is unknown. For this, two animal models, Swiss mice and Wistar rats, were treated with dexamethasone (DEX) (1 mg/kg body weight) for 5 consecutive days. DEX treatment induced IR, hyperinsulinemia, and dyslipidemia in both species, but glucose intolerance and hyperglycemia only in rats. DEX treatment caused increased insulin secretion in response to glucose and augmented β-cell mass in both species that were associated with increased islet content and increased phosphorylation of the AS160 protein. Protein AKT phosphorylation, but not AMPK phosphorylation, was found significantly enhanced in islets from DEX-treated animals. We conclude that the augmented β-cell function developed in response to the GC-induced IR involves inhibition of the islet AS160 protein activity.Glucocorticoid (GC) therapies may adversely cause insulin resistance (IR) that lead to a compensatory hyperinsulinemia due to insulin hypersecretion. The increased β-cell function is associated with increased insulin signaling that has the protein kinase2014114FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOsem informaçãosem informaçã

Terapias alternativas na perspectiva de psicólogos e de não-psicólogos

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SAMARAS OF AUSTROPLENCKIA POPULNEA (CELASTRACEAE): NEW CONSTITUENTS AND EFFECT OF EXTRACTS AND FRIEDELIN ON GERMINATION OF BIDENS PILOSA (ASTERACEAE)

Objective: Evaluation of the impact of extracts and constituents from samaras of Austroplenckia populnea on percentage of seed germination (%SG), germination speed index (GSI), length of rootlets (LR), seedling length (SL), and on dry mass (DM) of Bidens pilosa L weed.Methods: The  powder  of  samaras  was  extracted  with  organic  solvents  providing  the  hexane  (SAPEH),  chloroform  (SAPEC),  ethyl  acetate  (SAPEAE) and ethanol  (SAPEE)  extracts. The terpene 1 was isolated from SAPEH by means of column and thin layer chromatography and identified through NMR spectroscopy. Each extract and 1 were subjected to growth inhibition assays evaluating the following parameters: %SG, GSI, LR, SL and DM, with five repetitions.Results: The compounds Friedelin (1), 7-hydroxy-clerodan-3-en-16,15:18,20-diolide (2), 3,5,7,4'-tetrahydroxy-6-methoxy-8-prenylflavanone (3), tetradecanamide (4), and 4-hydroxy-1,6,15-acetyloxy-8,9-benzoyloxy-agarofurane (5) were isolated from hexane extract of samaras of A. populnea and identified by spectroscopic data. The compounds 2, 3 and 5 were not previously described as being chemical constituents from Celastraceae family. In addition, the novel compounds 3 and 5 were described here for the first time. Substantial effect on the germination of B. pilosa L. (picão-preto) was observed after treatment of seeds with nonpolar extracts from Samaras of A. populnea. Friedelin inhibited the seed germination in the tested concentrations showing toxic properties against picão-preto.Conclusion: The germination inhibition of seeds was higher using nonpolar extracts than polar extract. Friedelin inhibited the seed germination in the tested concentrations showing toxic properties against B. pilosa.Â

Soybean yield does not rely on mineral fertilizer in rotation with flooded rice under a no-till integrated crop-livestock system

In subtropical lowlands, the introduction of soybean and livestock in rotation are an alternative to rice monoculture. Due to the nutrient cycling process improved by animal grazing in winter fertilized pastures, soybean may not respond to mineral fertilization under a no-till integrated crop–livestock system (ICLS). Thus, the objectives of this study were to evaluate (i) the soybean yield response to different fertilization levels of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) and (ii) the relationship between soybean yield and soil chemical properties sampled in different soil layers, in a no-till ICLS in subtropical lowlands. Two field studies were conducted in a system that included a soybean-flooded rice rotation integrated with cattle grazing during the winter season. During the 2015/2016 cropping season, five levels of P and K fertilization were applied to the soil. During the 2017/2018 cropping season, the relationships between soybean yield and soil chemical properties were evaluated under no fertilization treatment. Soybean yield under an ICLS did not respond to P and K fertilization, even when the soil P level was below the critical threshold. The associations between soybean yield and soil chemical properties were greatest in the 10–20 cm soil layer as compared with the 0–10 cm soil layer, especially for available P, followed by pH and soil organic matter (SOM). The crop rotation and ICLS adoption under no-till reduced the soybean reliance for mineral fertilization prior to cropping. Results of this study inform producers of possible fertilization adjustments, in which supplementing mineral fertilizer for soybean may not be necessary

The first observed stellar occultations by the irregular satellite Phoebe (Saturn IX) and improved rotational period

peer reviewedWe report six stellar occultations by Phoebe (Saturn IX), an irregular satellite of Saturn, obtained between mid-2017 and mid-2019. The 2017 July 6 event was the first stellar occultation by an irregular satellite ever observed. The occultation chords were compared to a 3D shape model of the satellite obtained from Cassini observations. The rotation period available in the literature led to a sub-observer point at the moment of the observed occultations where the chords could not fit the 3D model. A procedure was developed to identify the correct sub-observer longitude. It allowed us to obtain the rotation period with improved precision compared to the currently known value from literature. We show that the difference between the observed and the predicted sub-observer longitude suggests two possible solutions for the rotation period. By comparing these values with recently observed rotational light curves and single- chord stellar occultations, we can identify the best solution for Phoebe's rotational period as 9.27365 ± 0.00002 h. From the stellar occultations, we also obtained six geocentric astrometric positions in the ICRS as realized by the Gaia DR2 with uncertainties at the 1-mas level

Foraminifera as health bioindicators in nearshore and offshore Brazilian coral reef sediments

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Foraminifera on coral reefs of Brazil: the FOCO project

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