Partial protein sequence of mouse and bovine kidney angiotensin converting enzyme

Partial protein sequence of mouse and bovine kidney angiotensin converting enzyme. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) plays an important role in the regulation of renal blood pressure by the hydrolysis of the inactive precursor peptide angiotensin I to the potent vasopressor angiotensin II. Renal ACE is a surface membrane protein of both endothelium and tubular epithelium. Enzymatically active ACE was isolated from renal homogenates by chromatography using an affinity column constructed by linking an ACE inhibitor, lisinopril, to Affi-Gel 15. Analysis of eluates from this column showed that ACE activity was increased greater than 500-fold. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated a single band of molecular weight 144 kD (mouse) and 149 kD (bovine). N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis revealed:1 10 20I I IMouse LDPGLQPGNESPDEAGAQLFBovine ELDPALQPGNFPADEAGAQIFAI I I1 10 20Though bovine ACE has one additional N-terminal amino acid, these two partial sequences are highly homologous (16 of 20 positions are identical). Mouse ACE was digested with trypsin and the peptides were isolated by reverse phase HPLC. Analysis of the amino acid sequences showed that these tryptic peptides were unique to ACE. Thus, we were able to isolate ACE from bovine and mouse kidneys and show that they had substantial structural homology. They were also quite similar to that from rabbit lung

Correlation Between Information Needs and the Library Collection: A Citation Analysis Study of Doctoral Theses at Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina Library

This study aims at measuring the correlation between information needs of patrons and the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) Library collection. The survey was carried out targeting students from a doctoral course in Scientific and Technological Education especially, analyzing the listing of sources and literature of UFSC doctoral theses submitted in 2012. The postgraduate program was selected for its multidisciplinary nature. Theses were chosen for analysis because they are original studies and represent an innovative contribution. Also, they are available at the library collection and general public can access them both in printed or online format. The goal of this examination was to identify the matching between the literature used at research and the current library collection, to determine the proportion of electronic respectively online resources compared to printed material and their relationship to publication year, resource language and citation patterns. Concerning the used literature, when they were identified as online, was also verified if its content belongs to the library collection or if the access was provided by CAPES Portal. That is a scientific information portal maintained by the Brazilian federal govern. It collects and makes available to institutions of higher education and research in Brazil the best international scientific production. The methods used in this study will be implemented into the library’s workflows in order to ensure the continual optimization of the collection development policy at Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina Library

A mechanistic model for long-term immunological outcomes in South African HIV-infected children and adults receiving ART.

Long-term effects of the growing population of HIV-treated people in Southern Africa on individuals and the public health sector at large are not yet understood. This study proposes a novel 'ratio' model that relates CD4+ T-cell counts of HIV-infected individuals to the CD4+ count reference values from healthy populations. We use mixed-effects regression to fit the model to data from 1616 children (median age 4.3 years at ART initiation) and 14,542 adults (median age 36 years at ART initiation). We found that the scaled carrying capacity, maximum CD4+ count relative to an HIV-negative individual of similar age, and baseline scaled CD4+ counts were closer to healthy values in children than in adults. Post-ART initiation, CD4+ growth rate was inversely correlated with baseline CD4+ T-cell counts, and consequently higher in adults than children. Our results highlight the impacts of age on dynamics of the immune system of healthy and HIV-infected individuals

Fibrosis of the left atria during progression of heart failure is associated with increased matrix metalloproteinases in the rat

AbstractObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to determine the pathogenic factors and molecular mechanisms involved in fibrosis of the atria.BackgroundFibrosis is an important component of the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation, especially when the arrhythmia is associated with heart failure (HF) or atrial dilation.MethodsWe used a rat model of myocardial infarction (MI) complicated by various degrees of left ventricular dysfunction and atrial dilation to study fibrosis and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity in the left atrial (LA) myocardium by means of histologic, Western blot, zymographic, and immunohistologic techniques.ResultsThree months after surgical ligature of the left coronary artery, 27 rats had a large MI, 12 were in mild HF, and 15 in severe HF. Both groups had LA enlargement at the echocardiography. Masson’s trichrome and picrosirius staining of tissue sections revealed marked fibrosis at the periphery of trabeculae and also surrounding myolytic myocytes, in both mild and severe HF. In mild HF, the activity and expression of the matrilysin MMP-7 were increased (122%), whereas in severe HF, both MMP-7 (211%) and the gelatinase MMP-2 (187%) were up-regulated. There were no changes in the expression or activity of MMP inhibitors, TIMP-1, -2, and -4. Immunostaining of cryosections showed that MMP-2 was present in the interstitial spaces, whereas MMP-7 accumulated in myolytic myocytes.ConclusionsHemodynamic overload of the atria is an important pathogenic factor of fibrosis; MMP-7 appears to be involved in the early stage of this tissue remodeling process

Sudden Onset of Pseudotuberculosis in Humans, France, 2004–05

Cases of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection increased in France during the winter of 2004–05 in the absence of epidemiologic links between patients or strains. This increase represents transient amplification of a pathogen endemic to the area and may be related to increased prevalence of the pathogen in rodent reservoirs

Combined Influences of Gm and HLA Phenotypes upon Multiple Sclerosis Susceptibility and Severity

In some Caucasian populations, multiple sclerosis (MS) susceptibility has been independently related to given alleles of HLA or Gm systems that respectively code for major histocompatibility complex class I and II antigens or immunoglobulin G heavy chains. Whether given combinations of alleles at both series of loci simultaneously influence MS susceptibility and/or severity was investigated by comparing 147 French MS patients and 226 geographically-matched healthy controls. The G2m(-23)/HLA-B35 phenotype and Glm(-1)/HLA-B7(-)/HLA-DR2 phenotype were respectively associated with significant protection against (relative risk = 0.05) and susceptibility to (relative risk = 4.3) MS. When considering MS severity, the presence of HLA-B7 antigen correlated with a more severe disease in Gm1/Gm3 heterozygous patients, but not in Gm3/Gm3 homozygous patients. Conversely, an HLA-B12-associated milder disease was restricted to Gm3/Gm3 homozygotes. These results demonstrate the combined influence on MS of genetic loci that are unlinked but immune response-associated. Combined Gm and HLA typing is very likely able to serve as a prognostic indicator in this disease

Polymer-Coated Gold Nanospheres Do Not Impair the Innate Immune Function of Human B Lymphocytes in Vitro

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are intended for use within a variety of biomedical applications due to their physicochemical properties. Although, in general, biocompatibility of GNPs with immune cells such as macrophages and dendritic cells is well established, the impact of GNPs on B lymphocyte immune function remains to be determined. Since B lymphocytes play an important role in health and disease, the suitability of GNPs as a B cell-targeting tool is of high relevance. Thus, we provide information on the interactions of GNPs with B lymphocytes. Herein, we exposed freshly isolated human B lymphocytes to a set of well-characterized and biomedically relevant GNPs with distinct surface (polyethylene glycol (PEG), PEG/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PEG/PVA)) and shape (spheres, rods) characteristics. Polymer-coated GNPs poorly interacted with B lymphocytes, in contrast to uncoated GNPs. Importantly, none of the GNPs significantly affected cell viability, even at the highest concentration of 20 μg/mL over a 24 h suspension exposure period. Furthermore, none of the nanosphere formulations affected the expression of activation markers (CD69, CD86, MHC II) of the naive B lymphocytes, nor did they cause an increase in the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines ( i.e. , IL-6, IL-1β). However, the absence of polymer coating on the sphere GNPs and the rod shape caused a decrease in IL-6 cytokine production by activated B lymphocytes, suggesting a functional impairment. With these findings, the present study contributes imperative knowledge toward the safe-by-design approaches being conducted to benefit the development of nanomaterials, specifically those as theranostic tools

Regulation of α5β1 integrin conformation and function by urokinase receptor binding

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptors (uPARs), up-regulated during tumor progression, associate with β1 integrins, localizing urokinase to sites of cell attachment. Binding of uPAR to the β-propeller of α3β1 empowers vitronectin adhesion by this integrin. How uPAR modifies other β1 integrins remains unknown. Using recombinant proteins, we found uPAR directly binds α5β1 and rather than blocking, renders fibronectin (Fn) binding by α5β1 Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) resistant. This resulted from RGD-independent binding of α5β1–uPAR to Fn type III repeats 12–15 in addition to type III repeats 9–11 bound by α5β1. Suppression of endogenous uPAR by small interfering RNA in tumor cells promoted weaker, RGD-sensitive Fn adhesion and altered overall α5β1 conformation. A β1 peptide (res 224NLDSPEGGF232) that models near the known α-chain uPAR-binding region, or a β1-chain Ser227Ala point mutation, abrogated effects of uPAR on α5β1. Direct binding and regulation of α5β1 by uPAR implies a modified “bent” integrin conformation can function in an alternative activation state with this and possibly other cis-acting membrane ligands

Evaluation of maize (Zea mays L.) accessions using line x tester analysis for aluminum and manganese tolerance

Soil acidity is a limiting factor severely affecting the growth and yield of maize. The present study aimed at estimating the breeding value of inbred lines and to assess the test-cross performance of the hybrid maize under acid soil conditions. A line x tester analysis involving 63 test-crosses generated by crossing 20 maize inbred lines with 3 testers and between testers themselves, and 1 standard check was investigated during the cropping season 2012 in two contrasted regions with aluminum and manganese toxicity in Cameroon. Both treatments, acid soil and non-acid soil, using dolomitic lime were conducted in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Seven hybrids producing high grain yield (4.27 to 9.88t/ha), with high specific combining ability (SCA) and slow rate of yield loss were discovered such as tolerant for both types of acidic soils. Likewise, four inbred lines (ATP-46, 87036, and Cam Inb gp117, C4SRRA7) with high general combining ability (GCA) were retained as good progenitors. The GCA and SCA effects showed that the tolerance to aluminum toxicity was controlled by additive effects of genes while on acid soil with manganese toxicity, the contribution of non-additive effects of genes was dominant.Keywords: Inbred lines, hybrids, acid soil, GCA, SCA, humid forest zone

Grid of analysis supporting the participative design methodology

PALETTE deliverable - report number D.PAR.01This deliverable presents the participatory design methodology of the PALETTE project and some first results of the implementation of this process. Some principles of the Actor Network Theory and of the Agile Methodology are embedded in the different stages of this methodology whose twelve stages (described in details in the last section) will be the basis of the participative development of services and scenarios of use