The endogenous proteoglycan-degrading enzyme ADAMTS-4 promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans are major inhibitory molecules for neural plasticity under both physiological and pathological conditions. The chondroitin sulfate degrading enzyme chondroitinase ABC promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury, and restores experience-dependent plasticity, such as ocular dominance plasticity and fear erasure plasticity, in adult rodents. These data suggest that the sugar chain in a proteoglycan moiety is essential for the inhibitory activity of proteoglycans. However, the significance of the core protein has not been studied extensively. Furthermore, considering that chondroitinase ABC is derived from bacteria, a mammalian endogenous enzyme which can inactivate the proteoglycans' activity is desirable for clinical use.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The degradation activity of ADAMTS-4 was estimated for the core proteins of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans, that is, brevican, neurocan and phosphacan. To evaluate the biological significance of ADMATS-4 activity, an <it>in vitro </it>neurite growth assay and an <it>in vivo </it>neuronal injury model, spinal cord contusion injury, were employed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>ADAMTS-4 digested proteoglycans, and reversed their inhibition of neurite outgrowth. Local administration of ADAMTS-4 significantly promoted motor function recovery after spinal cord injury. Supporting these findings, the ADAMTS-4-treated spinal cord exhibited enhanced axonal regeneration/sprouting after spinal cord injury.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our data suggest that the core protein in a proteoglycan moiety is also important for the inhibition of neural plasticity, and provides a potentially safer tool for the treatment of neuronal injuries.</p

Evaluation of the antioxidant, antiproliferative and antimutagenic potential of araca-boi fruit (Eugenia stipitata Mc Vaugh - Myrtaceae) of the Brazilian Amazon Forest

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Eugenia stipitata is a fruit from Amazonia rich in terpene, volatile compounds, fiber, and vitamin C. The fruit is recognized for its high antioxidant activity and has attracted much attention due to their potential health benefits to humans. The total polyphenols, antioxidant, antiproliferative, antimutagenic and antigenotoxic activities of E. stipitata ethanolic extract were investigated. Total polyphenols were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method and showed 184.05 +/- 8.25 mg GAE/100 g. The radical scavenging activity was DPPH (IC50) 0.69 +/- 0.23 mu g/mL and TAC-ORAC(FL) 371.98 mu mol.TE/100 g. The extract was evaluated for its ability to inhibit the growth of tumor cell lines and had not complete cystostatic effect against any of the tested cell lines. Antimutagenic and antigenotoxic activities were investigated by micronucleus test and comet assay in mice, respectively. Ethanolic extract of E. stipitata showed higher antimutagenic and antigenotoxic properties at the highest concentration tested (300 mg/kg of body weight). In conclusion, these results suggest that this fruit could be used as a preventive agent against cancer. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.5017076Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Possible frost heave mechanisms in an unsaturated high-speed railway formation

The Harbin-Dalian high-speed railway in north-eastern China has a significant portion of track foundation built on seasonally frozen ground. Wide-spread frost heave has been observed during the first winter of its operation and the heave occurred mainly in coarse fills that were considered not susceptible to frost heave. This paper analyses alternative mechanisms that may have caused the observed frost heave. The three most likely mechanisms are: poor quality control of fine content in the coarse fill, the top-down water supply mechanism and the bottom-up water supply mechanism. The likelihoods of these mechanisms are analysed against observed field data, using a one-dimensional frost heave model. The results indicate that the most likely explanation for the unexpected frost heave is a combined action of different mechanisms

A simple method for quantification of protochlorophyllide in etiolated <i>Arabidopsis </i>seedlings

Etiolated seedlings accumulate the chlorophyll biosynthesis intermediate protochlorophyllide (Pchlide) and measuring Pchlide can be important for characterizing photomorphogenic mutants that may be affected in chloroplast development. In this chapter we outline a simple and sensitive method for quantifying Pchlide in extracts of Arabidopsis seedlings using fluorescence spectroscopy. This method can be easily adapted to study chloroplast development in a wide range of plant species.</p

A Versatile Protocol to Generate Translocations in Yeast Genomes Using CRISPR/Cas9

International audienc