The prenylated rab GTPase receptor PRA1.F4 contributes to protein exit from the golgi apparatus

Prenylated Rab acceptor1 (PRA1) functions in the recruitment of prenylated Rab proteins to their cognate organelles. Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) contains a large number of proteins belonging to the AtPRA1 family. However, their physiological roles remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the physiological role of AtPRA1.F4, a member of the AtPRA1 family. A T-DNA insertion knockdown mutant of AtPRA1.F4, atpra1.f4, was smaller in stature than parent plants and possessed shorter roots, whereas transgenic plants overexpressing HA:AtPRA1.F4 showed enhanced development of secondary roots and root hairs. However, both overexpression and knockdown plants exhibited increased sensitivity to high-salt stress, lower vacuolar Na+/K+-ATPase and plasma membrane ATPase activities, lower and higher pH in the vacuole and apoplast, respectively, and highly vesiculated Golgi apparatus. HA:AtPRA1.F4 localized to the Golgi apparatus and assembled into high-molecular-weight complexes. atpra1.f4 plants displayed a defect in vacuolar trafficking, which was complemented by low but not high levels of HA:AtPRA1.F4. Overexpression of HA:AtPRA1.F4 also inhibited protein trafficking at the Golgi apparatus, albeit differentially depending on the final destination or type of protein: trafficking of vacuolar proteins, plasma membrane proteins, and trans-Golgi network (TGN)-localized SYP61 was strongly inhibited; trafficking of TGN-localized SYP51 was slightly inhibited; and trafficking of secretory proteins and TGN-localized SYP41 was negligibly or not significantly inhibited. Based on these results, we propose that Golgi-localized AtPRA1.F4 is involved in the exit of many but not all types of post-Golgi proteins from the Golgi apparatus. Additionally, an appropriate level of AtPRA1.F4 is crucial for its function at the Golgi apparatus. ? 2017 American Society of Plant Biologists. All rights reserved.111Ysciescopu

Fluctuating diamagnetism in underdoped high temperature superconductors

The fluctuation induced diamagnetism of underdoped high temperature superconductors is studied in the framework of the Lawrence-Doniach model. By taking into account the fluctuations of the phase of the order parameter only, the latter reduces to a layered XY-model describing a liquid of vortices which can be either thermally excited or induced by the external magnetic field. The diamagnetic response is given by a current-current correlation function which is evaluated using the Coulomb gas analogy. Our results are then applied to recent measurements of fluctuation diamagnetism in underdoped YBCO. They allow to understand both the observed anomalous temperature dependence of the zero-field susceptibility and the two distinct regimes appearing in the magnetic field dependence of the magnetization.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures included, accepted for publication in PR

Self-consistent calculation of total energies of the electron gas using many-body perturbation theory

The performance of many-body perturbation theory for calculating ground-state properties is investigated. We present fully numerical results for the electron gas in three and two dimensions in the framework of the GW approximation. The overall agreement with very accurate Monte Carlo data is excellent, even for those ranges of densities for which the GW approach is often supposed to be unsuitable. The latter seems to be due to the fulfillment of general conservation rules. These results open further prospects for accurate calculations of ground-state properties circumventing the limitations of standard density-functional theory

Modelling of strain effects in manganite films

Thickness dependence and strain effects in films of $La_{1-x}A_xMnO_3$ perovskites are analyzed in the colossal magnetoresistance regime. The calculations are based on a generalization of a variational approach previously proposed for the study of manganite bulk. It is found that a reduction in the thickness of the film causes a decrease of critical temperature and magnetization, and an increase of resistivity at low temperatures. The strain is introduced through the modifications of in-plane and out-of-plane electron hopping amplitudes due to substrate-induced distortions of the film unit cell. The strain effects on the transition temperature and transport properties are in good agreement with experimental data only if the dependence of the hopping matrix elements on the $Mn-O-Mn$ bond angle is properly taken into account. Finally variations of the electron-phonon coupling linked to the presence of strain turn out important in influencing the balance of coexisting phases in the filmComment: 7 figures. To be published on Physical Review

Prunella vulgaris: A comprehensive review of chemical constituents, pharmacological effects and clinical applications.

Prunella vulgaris (PV) is a perennial herb belonging to the Labiate family and is widely distributed in northeastern Asian countries such as Korea, Japan, and China. It is reported to display diverse biological activities including anti-microbial, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammation as determined by in vitro or in vivo studies. So far, about 200 compounds have been isolated from PV plant and majority of these have been characterized mainly as triterpenoids, sterols and flavonoids, followed by coumarins, phenylpropanoids, polysaccharides and volatile oils. This review summarizes and analyzes the current knowledge on the chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, mechanisms of action and clinical applications of the PV plant including its potential as a future medicinal plant. Although some of the chemical constituents of the PV plant and their mechanism of action have been investigated the biological activities of many of these remain unknown and further clinical trials are required to further enhance its reputation as a medicinal plant

Effects of saturated fatty acids with lysophospholipids on production and nutrient digestibility in lactating cows

ABSTRACT: The objective of the experiment was to determine the effects of supplemental SFA sources, lysophospholipids (LPL), and their interaction on production and nutrient digestibility in lactating dairy cows. The experiment was conducted with 48 cows in a randomized complete block design. Cows were blocked (12 blocks total) by parity and days in milk and randomly assigned to 4 dietary treatments in each block (2 × 2 factorial arrangement), i.e., 2 sources of fat supplements, C16:0 (PA)- or C18:0 (SA)-enriched fat, and with or without LPL. The experiment was conducted for 6 wk to measure daily dry matter intake, milk yield, and weekly milk composition. During the last week of the experiment, spot fecal and urine samples were collected to determine total-tract nutrient digestibility. Milk samples in the last week were also collected to analyze the milk fatty acid (FA) profile. All data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS, where block was used as a random effect and FA, LPL, and the interaction of FA by LPL were used as fixed effects. Week and interactions of week by FA or LPL were included for production measures. Different sources of SFA did not affect dry matter intake and milk yield. However, the PA treatment increased (39.7 vs. 36.8 kg) energy-corrected milk compared with SA due to increased milk fat yield. No effect of LPL on production measures was observed. Total-tract digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and total FA were not different between the PA and SA groups, but PA increased (41.4% vs. 38.8%) neutral detergent fiber digestibility compared with SA. Supplementation of LPL increased (64.7% vs. 60.5%) total FA digestibility, especially 18-carbon FA (74.1% vs. 68.2%). An interaction of SFA by LPL was found for 16-carbon FA digestibility. The PA diet increased the concentration of 16-carbon FA in milk fat and SA increased the concentration of preformed FA (≥18 carbons). Supplementation of LPL decreased the concentration of trans-10 C18:1. No difference in N utilization and excretion among treatments was observed. In conclusion, the PA diet was more effective in improving milk fat yield of lactating cows compared with SA. Supplementation of LPL increased digestibility of total FA, especially 18-carbon FA but did not affect production

Screening of quinoline, 1,3-benzoxazine, and 1,3-oxazine-based small molecules against isolated methionyl-tRNA synthetase and A549 and HCT116 cancer cells including an in silico binding mode analysis

Elevated activity of methionyl-tRNA synthetase (MRS) in many cancers renders it a possible drug target in this disease area, as well as in a series of parasitic diseases. In the present work, we report the synthesis and in vitro screening of a library of 1,3-oxazines, benzoxazines and quinoline scaffolds against human MRS. Among the compounds tested, 2-(2-butyl-4-chloro-1-(4-phenoxybenzyl)-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-oxa-3-azaspiro5.5undecane (compound 21) and 2-(2-butyl-4-chloro-1-(4-nitrobenzyl)-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-2,4-dihydro-1H-benzod1,3oxazine (compound 8) were found to be potent inhibitors of MRS. Additionally, these compounds significantly suppressed the proliferation of A549 and HCT116 cells with IC50 values of 28.4, 17.7, 41.9, and 19.8 μM respectively. Molecular docking studies suggested that the ligand binding orientation overlaps with the original positions of both methionine and adenosine of MRS. This suggests the binding of compound 21 against MRS, which might lead the inhibitory activity towards cancer cells. © The Royal Society of Chemistry

Mum or bub? Which influences breastfeeding loyalty

The need for social marketing research in the area of breastfeeding is highlighted by the failure of campaigns to increase breastfeeding rates over the past two decades in developed countries. This is despite evidence of the health benefits of longer breastfeeding duration to both baby and mother, and the high levels of expenditure on these campaigns. Whilst past campaign approaches typically focus on baby-oriented factors, breastfeeding is a complex behaviour that for many women involves barriers that influence their commitment to continued breastfeeding. Using social marketing, this research investigates the role of mother-centred factors on loyalty to breastfeeding. A sample of 405 Australian women completed an online survey. The data were analysed using structural equation modelling, which revealed that mother-oriented, rather than baby-oriented, factors influence attitudinal and behavioural loyalty to breastfeeding