Tau in Tauopathies That Leads to Cognitive Disorders and in Cancer

Tau is a copious microtubule-associated protein mainly expressed in neurons; it is also expressed in non-neuronal cells. Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases occurring mostly within the neuronal and glial cells of the central nervous system with a conspicuous tau pathology. In tauopathies, soluble tau disconnects from microtubules and forms abnormal, aggregated filamentous assemblies of hyperphosphorylated tau. Genetic, pathological and biochemical analyses have also proved that tau protein plays a major role in the pathogenesis of several tauopathies. Cognitive disorders are a type of psychological disorders that mainly distress observation, learning, memory, and problem elucidating. Among different cognitive disorders like amnesia, dementia, and delirium tauopathies mainly involve in dementia. Though tau is a neuronal protein, it is also expressed in various non-neuronal cells, like those of the liver, kidney and muscle. The activity of non-neuronal tau, especially in cancer cells, still needs to be elucidated; tau might have significant functions in non-neuronal cells. This chapter describes the associations between tauopathies and cancer

Structural and Function Analyses of the Global Regulatory Protein SarA from Staphylococcus Aureus

The sarA locus in Staphylococcus aureus controls the expression of many virulence genes. The sarA regulatory molecule, SarA, is a 14.7-kDa protein (124 residues) that binds to the promoter region of target genes. Here we report the 2.6 Å-resolution x-ray crystal structure of the dimeric winged helix SarA protein, which differs from the published SarA structure dramatically. In the crystal packing, multiple dimers of SarA form a scaffold, possibly via divalent cations. Mutations of individual residues within the DNA-binding helix–turn–helix and the winged region as well as within the metal-binding pocket implicate basic residues R84 and R90 within the winged region to be critical in DNA binding, whereas acidic residues D88 and E89 (wing), D8 and E11 (metal-binding pocket), and cysteine 9 are essential for SarA function. These data suggest that the winged region of the winged helix protein participates in DNA binding and activation, whereas the putative divalent cation binding pocket is only involved in gene function

Factors associated with the composition of the gut microbiome in patients with established rheumatoid arthritis and its value for predicting treatment responses

Background We aimed to investigate the gut microbiota of patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have been managed with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for a long time. We focused on factors that might affect composition of the gut microbiota. Furthermore, we investigated whether gut microbiota composition predicts future clinical responses to conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs) in patients with an insufficient response to initial therapy. Methods We recruited 94 patients with RA and 30 healthy participants. Fecal gut microbiome was analyzed by 16S rRNA amplificon sequencing; the resulting raw reads were processed based on QIIME2. Calypso online software was used for data visualization and to compare microbial composition between groups. For RA patients with moderate-to-high disease activity, treatment was changed after stool collection, and responses were observed 6months later. Results The composition of the gut microbiota in patients with established RA was different from that of healthy participants. Young RA patients (< 45years) had reduced richness, evenness, and distinct gut microbial compositions when compared with older RA patients and healthy individuals. Disease activity and rheumatoid factor levels were not associated with microbiome composition. Overall, biological DMARDs and csDMARDs, except sulfasalazine and TNF inhibitors, respectively, were not associated with the gut microbial composition in patients with established RA. However, the combination of Subdoligranulum and Fusicatenibacter genera was associated with a future good response to second-line csDMARDs in patients who showed an insufficient response to first-line csDMARDs. Conclusion Gut microbial composition in patients with established RA is different from that in healthy individuals. Thus, the gut microbiome has the potential to predict responses of some RA patients to csDMARDs.This work was supported by National Research Foundation of Korea grants funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (Grant 2015R1A3A2032927 to W.U. Kim), a National Research Foundation of Korea grant funded by the Ministry of Education (Grant 2017R1D1A1B04033009 to D. Kim), and the Liu Inkyung Memorial Endowment Fund through Seoul National University (D. Kim)

A pepper MSRB2 gene confer drought tolerance in rice through the protection of chloroplast-targeted genes

Background: The perturbation of the steady state of reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to biotic and abiotic stresses in a plant could lead to protein denaturation through the modification of amino acid residues, including the oxidation of methionine residues. Methionine sulfoxide reductases (MSRs) catalyze the reduction of methionine sulfoxide back to the methionine residue. To assess the role of this enzyme, we generated transgenic rice using a pepper CaMSRB2 gene under the control of the rice Rab21 (responsive to ABA protein 21) promoter with/without a selection marker, the bar gene. Results: A drought resistance test on transgenic plants showed that CaMSRB2 confers drought tolerance to rice, as evidenced by less oxidative stress symptoms and a strengthened PSII quantum yield under stress conditions, and increased survival rate and chlorophyll index after the re-watering. The results from immunoblotting using a methionine sulfoxide antibody and nano-LC-MS/MS spectrometry suggest that porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD), which is involved in chlorophyll synthesis, is a putative target of CaMSRB2. The oxidized methionine content of PBGD expressed in E. coli increased in the presence of H2O2, and the Met-95 and Met-227 residues of PBGD were reduced by CaMSRB2 in the presence of dithiothreitol (DTT). An expression profiling analysis of the overexpression lines also suggested that photosystems are less severely affected by drought stress. Conclusions: Our results indicate that CaMSRB2 might play an important functional role in chloroplasts for conferring drought stress tolerance in rice.OAIID:oai:osos.snu.ac.kr:snu2014-01/102/0000005113/8SEQ:8PERF_CD:SNU2014-01EVAL_ITEM_CD:102USER_ID:0000005113ADJUST_YN:NEMP_ID:A077085DEPT_CD:517CITE_RATE:3.73FILENAME:msrb-김연기.pdfDEPT_NM:식물생산과학부EMAIL:[email protected]_YN:YCONFIRM:

Interplay of Hydrogen Sulfide and Nitric Oxide on the Pacemaker Activity of Interstitial Cells of Cajal from Mouse Small Intestine

We studied whether nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) have an interaction on the pacemaker activities of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) from the mouse small intestine. The actions of NO and H2S on pacemaker activities were investigated by using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique and intracellular Ca2+ analysis at 30℃ in cultured mouse ICC. Exogenously applied (±)-S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), an NO donor, or sodium hydrogen sulfide (NaHS), a donor of H2S, showed no influence on pacemaker activity (potentials and currents) in ICC at low concentrations (10 µM SNAP and 100 µM NaHS), but SNAP or NaHS completely inhibited pacemaker amplitude and pacemaker frequency with increases in the resting currents in the outward direction at high concentrations (SNAP 100 µM and NaHS 1 mM). Co-treatment with 10 µM SNAP plus 100 µM NaHS also inhibited pacemaker amplitude and pacemaker frequency with increases in the resting currents in the outward direction. ODQ, a guanylate cyclase inhibitor, or glibenclamide, an ATP-sensitive K+ channel inhibitor, blocked the SNAP+NaHS-induced inhibition of pacemaker currents in ICC. Also, we found that SNAP+NaHS inhibited the spontaneous intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) oscillations in cultured ICC. In conclusion, this study describes the enhanced inhibitory effects of NO plus H2S on ICC in the mouse small intestine. NO+H2S inhibited the pacemaker activity of ICC by modulating intracellular Ca2+. These results may be evidence of a physiological interaction of NO and H2S in ICC for modulating gastrointestinal motility

The Role of Fucoxanthin in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Chronic liver disease (CLD) has emerged as a leading cause of human deaths. It caused 1.32 million deaths in 2017, which affected men more than women by a two-to-one ratio. There are various causes of CLD, including obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, and viral infection. Among them, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), one of obesity-induced liver diseases, is the major cause, representing the cause of more than 50% of cases. Fucoxanthin, a carotenoid mainly found in brown seaweed, exhibits various biological activities against NAFLD. Its role in NAFLD appears in several mechanisms, such as inducing thermogenesis in mitochondrial homeostasis, altering lipid metabolism, and promoting anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities. The corresponding altered signaling pathways are the β3-adorenarine receptor (β3Ad), proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator (PGC-1), adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), protein kinase B (AKT), SMAD2/3, and P13K/Akt pathways. Fucoxanthin also exhibits anti-fibrogenic activity that prevents non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) development

Characterization of fish gelatin-gum arabic complex coacervates as influenced by phase separation temperature

he rheological and structural characteristics of fish gelatin (FG)–gum arabic (GA) complex coacervate phase, separated from an aqueous mixture of 1% FG and 1% GA at pH 3.5, were investigated as influenced by phase separation temperature. Decreasing the phase separation temperature from 40 to 10 °C lead to: (1) the formation of a coacervate phase with a larger volume fraction and higher biopolymer concentrations, which is more viscous, more structural resistant at low shear rates, more shear-thinning at high shear rates, and more condensed in microstructure, (2) a solid-like elastic behavior of the phase separated at 10 °C at a high oscillatory frequency, (3) the increase in gelling and melting temperatures of the coacervate phase (3.7−3.9 °C and 6.2−6.9 °C, respectively), (4) the formation of a more rigid and thermo-stable coacervate gel. The coacervate phase is regarded as a homogeneously networked biopolymer matrix dispersed with water vacuoles and its gel as a weak physical gel reinforced by FG–GA attractive electrostatic interactions.This research was supported by the Korea Sea Grant Program (Gangwon Sea Grant) funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in Korea.OAIID:RECH_ACHV_DSTSH_NO:220152015000794001RECH_ACHV_FG:RR00200001ADJUST_YN:EMP_ID:A079994CITE_RATE:3.138DEPT_NM:국제농업기술학과EMAIL:[email protected]_YN:YCONFIRM:

Rheological and microstructural properties of noodle dough with purple-fleshed potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) flours: grinding kinetics and effects of particle size

Investigamos la cinética de trituración de la papa de pulpa púrpura (PFP) y los efectos provocados por el tamaño de la partícula y el contenido de almidón dañado presente en la papa de pulpa púrpura en polvo (PFPF) en las características reológicas y microestructurales de la masa de fideo. Mediante la cinética de trituración de la PFPF se determinó el rendimiento máximo de la trituración para cada tamaño de partícula. Antes de la cocción, la disminución del tamaño de la partícula de la PFPF provocó un aumento significativo en la dureza y elasticidad de la masa; después de la cocción no se presentaron diferencias entre las masas, excepto en la masa de fideo procesada con molino de bolas (BM), añadida con PFPF. Se constató que los modelos de Maxwell y Peleg para determinar las características de relajación de estrés resultan adecuados a efectos de interpretar el comportamiento viscoelástico de la masa con distintos tamaños de PFPF. Asimismo, la estructura microscópica determinada con el MEB mostró la existencia de características de conectividad y gelatinización de la masa. Los hallazgos del presente estudio sugieren que, para el procesamiento de fideos, deben tomarse en cuenta los cambios asociados al tamaño de las partículas y al contenido de almidón dañado en las propiedades físicas de la masa de fideo preparada con PFPF.We investigated the grinding kinetics of purple-fleshed potato (PFP) and the effects of particle size and damaged starch content of PFP powder (PFP flour [PFPF]) on rheological and microstructural characteristics of noodle dough. Grinding kinetics of PFPF determined maximum grinding yield for each particle size. Before cooking, the particle size decrease of PFPF significantly increased dough hardness and elasticity while none of the differences showed between the doughs after cooking except ball-milled PFPF noodle dough. Maxwell and Peleg models for stress relaxation characteristics were found to be suitable for interpreting viscoelastic behaviour of dough with various sizes of PFPF. Additionally, microscopic structure based on SEM showed connectivity and gelatinization characters of the dough. Results of this study suggest that changes in physical properties of noodle dough prepared with PFPF associated with particle size and starch damage during grinding of PFPF must be considered for noodle processing

Multi-Session Surface Electromyogram Signal Database for Personal Identification

Surface electromyogram (sEMG) refers to a biosignal acquired from the skin surface during the contraction of skeletal muscles, and a different signal waveform is generated, depending on the motion performed. Therefore, in contrast to generic personal identification, which uses only a piece of registered information, the sEMG changes the registered information in a personal identification method. The sEMG database (DB) for conventional personal identification has shortcomings, such as a few subjects and the inability to verify sEMG signal variability. In order to solve the problems of DBs, this paper describes a method for constructing a multi-session sEMG DB for many subjects. Data were obtained in two channels when each of the 200 subjects performed 12 motions. There were three sessions, and each motion was repeated 10 times in time intervals of a day or longer between each session. Furthermore, to verify the effectiveness of the constructed sEMG DB, we conducted a personal identification experiment. According to the experimental results, the accuracy for five subjects was 74.19%, demonstrating the applicability of the constructed multi-session sEMG DB

Multi-Session Surface Electromyogram Signal Database for Personal Identification

Surface electromyogram (sEMG) refers to a biosignal acquired from the skin surface during the contraction of skeletal muscles, and a different signal waveform is generated, depending on the motion performed. Therefore, in contrast to generic personal identification, which uses only a piece of registered information, the sEMG changes the registered information in a personal identification method. The sEMG database (DB) for conventional personal identification has shortcomings, such as a few subjects and the inability to verify sEMG signal variability. In order to solve the problems of DBs, this paper describes a method for constructing a multi-session sEMG DB for many subjects. Data were obtained in two channels when each of the 200 subjects performed 12 motions. There were three sessions, and each motion was repeated 10 times in time intervals of a day or longer between each session. Furthermore, to verify the effectiveness of the constructed sEMG DB, we conducted a personal identification experiment. According to the experimental results, the accuracy for five subjects was 74.19%, demonstrating the applicability of the constructed multi-session sEMG DB