Ancient exaptation of a CORE-SINE retroposon into a highly conserved mammalian neuronal enhancer of the proopiomelanocortin gene

The proopiomelanocortin gene (POMC) is expressed in the pituitary gland and the ventral hypothalamus of all jawed vertebrates, producing several bioactive peptides that function as peripheral hormones or central neuropeptides, respectively. We have recently determined that mouse and human POMC expression in the hypothalamus is conferred by the action of two 5′ distal and unrelated enhancers, nPE1 and nPE2. To investigate the evolutionary origin of the neuronal enhancer nPE2, we searched available vertebrate genome databases and determined that nPE2 is a highly conserved element in placentals, marsupials, and monotremes, whereas it is absent in nonmammalian vertebrates. Following an in silico paleogenomic strategy based on genome-wide searches for paralog sequences, we discovered that opossum and wallaby nPE2 sequences are highly similar to members of the superfamily of CORE-short interspersed nucleotide element (SINE) retroposons, in particular to MAR1 retroposons that are widely present in marsupial genomes. Thus, the neuronal enhancer nPE2 originated from the exaptation of a CORE-SINE retroposon in the lineage leading to mammals and remained under purifying selection in all mammalian orders for the last 170 million years. Expression studies performed in transgenic mice showed that two nonadjacent nPE2 subregions are essential to drive reporter gene expression into POMC hypothalamic neurons, providing the first functional example of an exapted enhancer derived from an ancient CORE-SINE retroposon. In addition, we found that this CORE-SINE family of retroposons is likely to still be active in American and Australian marsupial genomes and that several highly conserved exonic, intronic and intergenic sequences in the human genome originated from the exaptation of CORESINE retroposons. Together, our results provide clear evidence of the functional novelties that transposed elements contributed to their host genomes throughout evolution. © 2007 Santangelo et al.Fil:Santangelo, A.M. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Rubinstein, M. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina

Principais causas de condenação de fígado bovino em estabelecimento sob Serviço de Inspeção Federal na Zona da Mata mineira

Neste trabalho, foi avaliada a prevalência das principais causas de condenação de fígado bovino em abatedouro frigorífico sob Serviço de Inspeção Federal, situado na Zona da Mata mineira. Para obtenção dos dados, foram consultadas fichas relativas ao movimento mensal de abate de bovinos e de causas de condenação, no período compreendido entre 2007 e 2013, no referido estabelecimento. Durante esse período, foram abatidos 150.752 bovinos, e a prevalência de condenação hepática entre os anos variou de 9,38% a 14,09%. As principais patologias envolvidas foram abscesso, telangiectasia e fasciolose, responsáveis por 32,03%, 29,20% e 21,95% das condenações, respectivamente. Além disso, foi observada tendência de redução na frequência de condenação por abscesso (3,26%) e telangiectasia (0,68%) ao ano e, em contraposição, aumento por fasciolose de 3,40% ao ano. Conclui-se que as patologias responsáveis pelas condenações de fígado bovino foram abscesso, telangiectasia e fasciolose e que a inspeção post mortem tem grande importância no monitoramento da saúde e da produção animal e na qualidade da carne a ser comercializada.The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of the main causes for condemnation of bovine liver in an abattoir/cold store under the Federal Inspection Services, located in the Zona da Mata of the state of Minas Gerais, between 2007 and 2013. Study data was collated from forms containing information about the number of cattle slaughtered per month and the causes for liver condemnation at the studied abattoir. During the period under study, 150,752 cattle were slaughtered, and the frequency of liver condemnation varied between 9.38% and 14.09% from year to year. The main pathologies that led to liver condemnation were abscesses, telangiectasis, and fasciolosis, which were responsible for 32.03%, 29.20%, and 21.95% of the condemnations, respectively. The frequency of condemnation because of abscesses and telangiectasis showed a trend of decline, 3.26% and 0.68% per year, respectively. The frequency of condemnation because of fasciolosis, however, showed a trend of increase by 3.40% per year. This study shows the usefulness of post mortem inspection of animal health and production monitoring

Integrated Assessment of CO2-Induced Acidification Lethal and Sub-Lethal Effects on Tropical Mussels Perna perna

Leakages of CO2 capture and storage systems from the seabed are able to cause significant adverse biological effects in marine species. Adult mussels were exposed to different CO2 enrichment scenarios (pH from 8.3 to 6.0) for 96 h, and endpoints (lysosomal membrane deterioration, lipid peroxidation and primary damages in DNA) were assessed. Mortality and reduced health status can occur after short exposure of the tropical mussel Perna perna to pH levels lower than 7.5. Results pointed out cytogenotoxic effects in the hemolymph and gills after 48 and 96 h of exposure, respectively. These findings should be considered when environmental monitoring approaches are performed in tropical marine areas employing CCS strategie

Convergent evolution of two mammalian neuronal enhancers by sequential exaptation of unrelated retroposons

The proopiomelanocortin gene (POMC) is expressed in a group of neurons present in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. Neuron-specific POMC expression in mammals is conveyed by two distal enhancers, named nPE1 and nPE2. Previous transgenic mouse studies showed that nPE1 and nPE2 independently drive reporter gene expression to POMC neurons. Here, we investigated the evolutionary mechanisms that shaped not one but two neuron- specific POMC enhancers and tested whether nPE1 and nPE2 drive identical or complementary spatiotemporal expression patterns. Sequence comparison among representative genomes of most vertebrate classes and mammalian orders showed that nPE1 is a placental novelty. Using in silico paleogenomics we found that nPE1 originated from the exaptation of a mammalian- apparent LTR retrotransposon sometime between the metatherian/ eutherian split (147 Mya) and the placental mammal radiation (≈90 Mya). Thus, the evolutionary origin of nPE1 differs, in kind and time, from that previously demonstrated for nPE2, which was exapted from a CORE-short interspersed nucleotide element (SINE) retroposon before the origin of prototherians, 166 Mya. Transgenic mice expressing the fluorescent markers tomato and EGFP driven by nPE1 or nPE2, respectively, demonstrated coexpression of both reporter genes along the entire arcuate nucleus. The onset of reporter gene expression guided by nPE1 and nPE2 was also identical and coincidental with the onset of Pomc expression in the presumptive mouse diencephalon. Thus, the independent exaptation of two unrelated retroposons into functional analogs regulating neuronal POMC expression constitutes an authentic example of convergent molecular evolution of cell-specific enhancers.Fil:Gelman, D.M. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Rubinstein, M. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina

Induction of a gloverin-like antimicrobial polypeptide in the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis challenged by septic injury

Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius, 1794) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is an important pest for Brazilian sugarcane. In the present study, we detected two distinct spots in hemolymph from septic injured larvae (HDs1 and HDs2), which are separated by 2DE gel electrophoresis. Both spots were subjected to in-gel tryptic digestion and MALDI-TOF/TOF analysis, which revealed the sequence VFGTLGSDDSGLFGK present in both HDs1 and HDs2. This sequence had homology and 80% identity with specific Lepidoptera antimicrobial peptides called gloverins. Analyses using the ImageMaster 2D software showed pI 8.94 of the HDs1 spot, which is similar to that described to Hyalophora gloveri gloverin (pI 8.5). Moreover, the 14-kDa molecular mass of the spot HDs1 is compatible to that of gloverins isolated from the hemolymph of Trichoplusia ni, Helicoverpa armigera and H. gloveri. Antimicrobial assays with partially purified fractions containing the HDs1 and HDs2 polypeptides demonstrated activity against Escherichia coli. This is the first report of antimicrobial polypeptides in D. saccharalis, and the identification of these peptides may help in the generation of new strategies to control this pest

Higher prevalence of major depressive symptoms in Brazilians aged 14 and older

Objective: Depression is a highly prevalent condition and is considered a major public health issue. The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in the Brazilian population and establish their sociodemographic correlates. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2005 and April 2006. Data were collected in face-to-face interviews using a standardized questionnaire. The sample consisted of 3,007 interviews with individuals aged 14 years and older and followed a probabilistic design covering the Brazilian national territory. Depressive symptoms were assessed according to the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Results: The observed prevalence of depressive symptoms was 28.3% (13% mild/moderate; 15.3% major/severe; p < 0.01). Increased depressive symptom rates were associated with being a female, being 45 years of age and older, having lower educational attainment, being single, having family income of up to 2.5 times minimum wage, and living in the northern region of Brazil (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence of depressive symptoms in Brazil is high, with major depressive symptoms being the most frequent form of this symptomatology. Considering the biopsychosocial model of mental disorders, this survey points to the involvement of psychosocial factors in the prevalence of depressive symptoms in Brazil.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Department of PsychiatryUniversidade de São Paulo (USP) Ribeirao Preto Medical School Department of Neuroscience and BehaviorNational Science and Technology Institute for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM)USP Ribeirao Preto Medical School Department of Social MedicineUniversidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) Department of PsychiatryUniversity of Texas School of Public Health Dallas Regional CampusUNIFESP, Department of PsychiatrySciEL

Clinical Treatment Of Resistant Epilepsy

[No abstract available]46435135

Regularization Independent Analysis of the Origin of Two Loop Contributions to N=1 Super Yang-Mills Beta Function

We present a both ultraviolet and infrared regularization independent analysis in a symmetry preserving framework for the N=1 Super Yang-Mills beta function to two loop order. We show explicitly that off-shell infrared divergences as well as the overall two loop ultraviolet divergence cancel out whilst the beta function receives contributions of infrared modes.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, typos correcte