In Vitro Antiophidian Properties of Dipteryx alata Vogel Bark Extracts

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Extracts from Dipteryx alata bark obtained with different solvents (hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol) were mixed in vitro with Bothrops jararacussu (Bjssu, 40 mu g/mL) and Crotalus durissus terrificus (Cdt, 15 mu g/mL) snake venoms, and applied to a mouse phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation to evaluate the possible neutralization of venom effects. Cdt venom neurotoxic effect was not inhibited by any of the extracts, while the neurotoxic and myotoxic actions of Bjssu venom were decreased by the methanolic extract. This inhibition appears to be augmented by tannins. Dichloromethane bark extract inhibited similar to 40% of Bjssu venom effects and delayed blockade induced by Cdt. The methodology used to determine which extract was active allows inferring that: (i) phenolic acids and flavonoids contained in the methanolic extract plus tannins were responsible mostly for neutralization of Bjssu effects; (ii) terpenoids from the dichloromethane extract may participate in the anti-Cdt and anti-Bjssu venom effects; (iii) a given extract could not inhibit venoms from different species even if those belong to the same family, so it is improper to generalize a certain plant as antiophidian; (iv) different polarity extracts do not present the same inhibitory capability, thus demonstrating the need for characterizing both venom pharmacology and the phytochemistry of medicinal plant compounds.15959565970Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)PROBIC/UNISOConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)FAPESP [Proc. FAPESP 04/09705-8, 07/53883-6]FAPESP [07/51414-9, 08/05459-3]CNPq [Proc. 302206/2008-6

Pleosporales

One hundred and five generic types of Pleosporales are described and illustrated. A brief introduction and detailed history with short notes on morphology, molecular phylogeny as well as a general conclusion of each genus are provided. For those genera where the type or a representative specimen is unavailable, a brief note is given. Altogether 174 genera of Pleosporales are treated. Phaeotrichaceae as well as Kriegeriella, Zeuctomorpha and Muroia are excluded from Pleosporales. Based on the multigene phylogenetic analysis, the suborder Massarineae is emended to accommodate five families, viz. Lentitheciaceae, Massarinaceae, Montagnulaceae, Morosphaeriaceae and Trematosphaeriaceae

Roles and responsibilities when leading consensus meetings

This is a protocol for a scoping review of roles and responsibilities when leading consensus meetings

Calcitonin receptor family evolution and fishing for function using in silico promoter analysis

In the present study the calcitonin receptor (CTR) sub-family of family B G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) in teleosts is evaluated and put in the context of the families overall evolution from echinodermates to vertebrates. Echinodermates, hemichordates, cephalochordates and tunicates have a single gene that encodes a receptor that bears similarity to the vertebrate calcitonin receptor (CTR) and calcitoninlike receptor (CTR/CLR). In tetrapods one gene encodes the calcitonin receptor (CALCR) and another gene the calcitonin receptor-like receptor (CALCRL). The evolution of CALCR has been under strong conservative pressure and a single copy is also found in fishes and high conservation of gene organisation and synteny exits from teleosts to human. A teleost specific CTR innovation that occurred after their divergence from holostei is the presence of several HBDs in the N-terminus. CALCRL had a different evolutionary trajectory from CALCR and although a single gene copy is present in tetrapods the sarcopterygii fish, the coelacanth, has 1 copy of CALCRL but also a fish specific form CALCRL3. The ray-finned fish, the spotted gar, has 1 copy of CALCRL and 1 of CALCRL3 but the teleost specific whole genome duplication has resulted in a CALCRL1 and CALCRL2 in addition to the fish specific CALCRL3. Strong conservation of CALCRL gene structure exists from human to fish. Promoter analysis in silico reveals that the duplicated CALCRL genes in the teleosts, zebrafish, takifugu, tetraodon and medaka, have divergent promoters and different putative co-regulated gene partners suggesting their function is different.We are grateful to Professor Adelino Canário for providing the sequence of sea bass EST clones. This study was supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) COMPETE – Operational Competitiveness Programme and Portuguese funds through FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology, under the project ‘‘PEst-C/MAR/LA0015/2013’’ and by FCT PTDC/BIA-BCM//73597/ 2010. RM (SFRH/BPD/66742/2009) and FV (SFRH/BPD/73597/ 2010) were in receipt of a post-doctoral grant from FCT, Portugal

Evolution and expression patterns of TCP genes in asparagales

ABSTARCT: CYCLOIDEA-like genes are involved in the symmetry gene network, limiting cell proliferation in the dorsal regions of bilateral flowers in core eudicots. CYC-like and closely related TCP genes (acronym for TEOSINTE BRANCHED1, CYCLOIDEA, and PROLIFERATION CELL FACTOR) have been poorly studied in Asparagales, the largest order of monocots that includes both bilateral flowers in Orchidaceae (ca. 25.000 spp) and radially symmetrical flowers in Hypoxidaceae (ca. 200 spp). With the aim of assessing TCP gene evolution in the Asparagales, we isolated TCP-like genes from publicly available databases and our own transcriptomes of Cattleya trianae (Orchidaceae) and Hypoxis decumbens (Hypoxidaceae). Our matrix contains 452 sequences representing the three major clades of TCP genes. Besides the previously identified CYC specific core eudicot duplications, our ML phylogenetic analyses recovered an early CIN-like duplication predating all angiosperms, two CIN-like Asparagales-specific duplications and a duplication prior to the diversification of Orchidoideae and Epidendroideae. In addition, we provide evidence of at least three duplications of PCF-like genes in Asparagales. While CIN-like and PCF-like genes have multiplied in Asparagales, likely enhancing the genetic network for cell proliferation, CYC-like genes remain as single, shorter copies with low expression. Homogeneous expression of CYC-like genes in the labellum as well as the lateral petals suggests little contribution to the bilateral perianth in C. trianae. CIN-like and PCF-like gene expression suggests conserved roles in cell proliferation in leaves, sepals and petals, carpels, ovules and fruits in Asparagales by comparison with previously reported functions in core eudicots and monocots. This is the first large scale analysis of TCP-like genes in Asparagales that will serve as a platform for in-depth functional studies in emerging model monocots

Temperature and developmental plasticity during embryogenesis in the Atlantic cod Gadus morhua L.

Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) embryos were reared at 4 degreesC, 7 degreesC, and 10 degreesC, and the relative timing of developmental events was characterized, with particular reference to myotomal muscle. Embryos started to feed at an apparently equivalent stage of development, so comparisons were made between temperature groups on the basis of percentage of time to first feeding and somite stage. No differences were found in the time of hatching or timing of appearance of the otic placode, unpaired median fin fold, gut lumen, otic vesicle, lens of the eye, otoliths, first muscular contractions, swim bladder, and hindgut, or in the rate of development of somites, myotubes, myofibrils, and acetylcholinesterase activity over the temperature range studied. In contrast, closure of the blastopore occurred late with respect to segmentation at higher temperatures, at the 3-somite, 10-somite, and 12-somite stages at 4 degreesC, 7 degreesC, and 10 degreesC respectively. Muscle cellularity was also markedly altered in the 10 degreesC group relative to the 4 degreesC and 7 degreesC groups. Larvae reared at 10 degreesC had significantly more ( +14%) deep white fibers at hatch (P&lt;0.001), whereas numbers of superficial red fibers remained unchanged. It is suggested that differences in muscle cellularity might be related to changes in the relative timing of epiboly, through differential proliferation of presomitic myogenic cells and/or their relative exposure to inductive signals.</p