Teaching Modern Languages on Ancient Roots. Anche le pietre parlano

Possono le pietre raccontarci qualcosa? Si possono imparare le lingue osservando i resti archeologici di Verona, Tarragona e Kalamata? Perché le lingue hanno una storia? Perché abbiamo bisogno di rappresentare le parole? In questo volume poniamo anche altri interrogativi e cerchiamo alcune risposte

Mechanochemical Removal of Ribosome Biogenesis Factors from Nascent 60S Ribosomal Subunits

SummaryThe dynein-related AAA ATPase Rea1 is a preribosomal factor that triggers an unknown maturation step in 60S subunit biogenesis. Using electron microscopy, we show that Rea1's motor domain is docked to the pre-60S particle and its tail-like structure, harboring a metal ion-dependent adhesion site (MIDAS), protrudes from the preribosome. Typically, integrins utilize a MIDAS to bind extracellular ligands, an interaction that is strengthened under applied tensile force. Likewise, the Rea1 MIDAS binds the preribosomal factor Rsa4, which is located on the pre-60S subunit at a site that is contacted by the flexible Rea1 tail. The MIDAS-Rsa4 interaction is essential for ATP-dependent dissociation of a group of non-ribosomal factors from the pre-60S particle. Thus, Rea1 aligns with its interacting partners on the preribosome to effect a necessary step on the path to the export-competent 60S subunit

Effect of the Novel Influenza A (H1N1) Virus in the Human Immune System

BACKGROUND: The pandemic by the novel H1N1 virus has created the need to study any probable effects of that infection in the immune system of the host. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Blood was sampled within the first two days of the presentation of signs of infection from 10 healthy volunteers; from 18 cases of flu-like syndrome; and from 31 cases of infection by H1N1 confirmed by reverse RT-PCR. Absolute counts of subtypes of monocytes and of lymphocytes were determined after staining with monoclonal antibodies and analysis by flow cytometry. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from patients and stimulated with various bacterial stimuli. Concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-18, interferon (FN)-alpha and of IFN-gamma were estimated in supernatants by an enzyme immunoassay. Infection by H1N1 was accompanied by an increase of monocytes. PBMCs of patients evoked strong cytokine production after stimulation with most of bacterial stimuli. Defective cytokine responses were shown in response to stimulation with phytohemagglutin and with heat-killed Streptococcus pneumoniae. Adaptive immune responses of H1N1-infected patients were characterized by decreases of CD4-lymphocytes and of B-lymphocytes and by increase of T-regulatory lymphocytes (Tregs). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Infection by the H1N1 virus is accompanied by a characteristic impairment of the innate immune responses characterized by defective cytokine responses to S.pneumoniae. Alterations of the adaptive immune responses are predominated by increase of Tregs. These findings signify a predisposition for pneumococcal infections after infection by H1N1 influenza

Modular architecture of eukaryotic RNase P and RNase MRP revealed by electron microscopy

Ribonuclease P (RNase P) and RNase MRP are closely related ribonucleoprotein enzymes, which process RNA substrates including tRNA precursors for RNase P and 5.8 S rRNA precursors, as well as some mRNAs, for RNase MRP. The structures of RNase P and RNase MRP have not yet been solved, so it is unclear how the proteins contribute to the structure of the complexes and how substrate specificity is determined. Using electron microscopy and image processing we show that eukaryotic RNase P and RNase MRP have a modular architecture, where proteins stabilize the RNA fold and contribute to cavities, channels and chambers between the modules. Such features are located at strategic positions for substrate recognition by shape and coordination of the cleaved-off sequence. These are also the sites of greatest difference between RNase P and RNase MRP, highlighting the importance of the adaptation of this region to the different substrates

Genomic variants in the FTO gene are associated with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Greek patients

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating disease whose complex pathology has been associated with a strong genetic component in the context of both familial and sporadic disease. Herein, we adopted a next-generation sequencing approach to Greek patients suffering from sporadic ALS (together with their healthy counterparts) in order to explore further the genetic basis of sporadic ALS (sALS). Results: Whole-genome sequencing analysis of Greek sALS patients revealed a positive association between FTO and TBC1D1 gene variants and sALS. Further, linkage disequilibrium analyses were suggestive of a specific diseaseassociated haplotype for FTO gene variants. Genotyping for these variants was performed in Greek, Sardinian, and Turkish sALS patients. A lack of association between FTO and TBC1D1 variants and sALS in patients of Sardinian and Turkish descent may suggest a founder effect in the Greek population. FTO was found to be highly expressed in motor neurons, while in silico analyses predicted an impact on FTO and TBC1D1 mRNA splicing for the genomic variants in question. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to present a possible association between FTO gene variants and the genetic etiology of sALS. In addition, the next-generation sequencing-based genomics approach coupled with the two-step validation strategy described herein has the potential to be applied to other types of human complex genetic disorders in order to identify variants of clinical significance

The intracellular location of two aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases depends on complex formation with Arc1p

In yeast, two aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, MetRS and GluRS, are associated with Arc1p. We have studied the mechanism of this complex formation and found that the non-catalytic N-terminally appended domains of MetRS and GluRS are necessary and sufficient for binding to Arc1p. Similarly, it is the N-terminal domain of Arc1p that contains distinct but overlapping binding sites for MetRS and GluRS. Localization of Arc1p, MetRS and GluRS in living cells using green fluorescent protein showed that these three proteins are cytoplasmic and largely excluded from the nucleus. However, when their assembly into a complex is inhibited, significant amounts of MetRS, GluRS and Arc1p can enter the nucleus. We suggest that the organization of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases into a multimeric complex not only affects catalysis, but is also a means of segregating the tRNA- aminoacylation machinery mainly to the cytoplasmic compartment

In vitro synergism of β-lactams with ciprofloxacin and moxifloxacin against genetically distinct multidrug-resistant isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

In vitro combinations of β-lactams with fluoroquinolones against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa were tested. From a total of 200 isolates, 24 genetically distinct isolates defined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were selected. The isolates were exposed over time to imipenem, meropenem and ceftazidime as well as to their combinations with ciprofloxacin and moxifloxacin. All isolates were resistant to all agents tested at concentrations equal to their average serum level. Synergy of any of the tested combinations was found in 10 isolates (41.7%). This was shown after 4 h and 6 h of exposure accompanied by re-growth after 24 h. Not all the tested combinations were active against the same isolates. The combinations of imipenem + ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime + ciprofloxacin and imipenem + moxifloxacin were the most active. When time–kill assays were repeated for the latter isolates at antimicrobial concentrations equal to their maximum serum levels, synergy was prolonged to 24 h. The present findings should be interpreted with caution for the management of infections by MDR P. aeruginosa. They underscore the potential interest of reporting synergism between β-lactams and fluoroquinolones in the nosocomial setting when a MDR isolate emerges

Does the Activity of the Combination of Imipenem and Colistin In Vitro Exceed the Problem of Resistance in Metallo-beta-Lactamase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates?

Using time-kill methodology, we investigated the interactions of an imipenem-colistin combination against 42 genetically distinct Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates carrying a bla(VIM-1)-type gene. Irrespective of the imipenem MIC, the combination was synergistic (50%) or indifferent (50%) against colistin-susceptible strains, while it was antagonistic (55.6%) and rarely synergistic (11%) against non-colistin-susceptible strains (with synergy being observed only against strains with colistin MICs of 3 to 4 mu g/ml). The combination showed improved bactericidal activity against isolates susceptible either to both agents or to colistin

Does the Activity of the Combination of Imipenem and Colistin In Vitro Exceed the Problem of Resistance in Metallo-β-Lactamase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates?▿

Using time-kill methodology, we investigated the interactions of an imipenem-colistin combination against 42 genetically distinct Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates carrying a blaVIM-1-type gene. Irrespective of the imipenem MIC, the combination was synergistic (50%) or indifferent (50%) against colistin-susceptible strains, while it was antagonistic (55.6%) and rarely synergistic (11%) against non-colistin-susceptible strains (with synergy being observed only against strains with colistin MICs of 3 to 4 μg/ml). The combination showed improved bactericidal activity against isolates susceptible either to both agents or to colistin

Conserved nucleosome positioning defines replication origins

The origin recognition complex (ORC) specifies replication origin location. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae ORC recognizes the ARS (autonomously replicating sequence) consensus sequence (ACS), but only a subset of potential genomic sites are bound, suggesting other chromosomal features influence ORC binding. Using high-throughput sequencing to map ORC binding and nucleosome positioning, we show that yeast origins are characterized by an asymmetric pattern of positioned nucleosomes flanking the ACS. The origin sequences are sufficient to maintain a nucleosome-free origin; however, ORC is required for the precise positioning of nucleosomes flanking the origin. These findings identify local nucleosomes as an important determinant for origin selection and function