Cationic detergents enable the separation of membrane proteins of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes by 2D gel electrophoresis

The intraerythrocytic stage of Plasmodium falciparum alters the characteristics of its host cell by exporting selected plasmodial proteins. Although it is clear that the physicochemical and immunobiological properties of the host cell are modulated during parasite development, the involved plasmodial proteins and their mode of action are not completely known. Using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) or benzyldimethyl-n-hexadecylammonium chloride (16-BAC) for the first dimension and SDS for the second dimension, we separated proteins from membranes of human erythrocytes and of erythrocytes infected with the malaria parasite P. falciparum. Protein spots were analyzed by MALDI-TOF/TOF MS and annotated in respective 2D master gels. By using the alternative 2D approach, characteristic host cell membrane proteins and, more importantly, membrane-associated and exported plasmodial proteins were identified that might play a role in parasite-induced host cell modulation.     

CpG oligodeoxyribonucleotides protect mice from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Burkholderia pseudomallei</Emphasis> but not <Emphasis Type="Italic">Francisella tularensis</Emphasis> Schu S4 aerosols

Studies have shown that CpG oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODN) protect mice from various bacterial pathogens, including Burkholderia pseudomallei and Francisella tularensis live vaccine strain (LVS), when administered before parenteral challenge. Given the potential to develop CpG ODN as a pre-treatment for multiple bacterial biological warfare agents, we examined survival, histopathology, and cytokine data from CpG ODN-treated C57BL/6 mice to determine whether previously-reported protection extended to aerosolized B. pseudomallei 1026b and highly virulent F. tularensis Schu S4 infections. We found that, although CpG ODN protected mice from aerosolized B. pseudomallei challenges, the immunostimulant failed to benefit the animals exposed to F. tularensis Schu S4 aerosols. Our results, which contrast with earlier F. tularensis LVS studies, highlight potential differences in Francisella species pathogenesis and underscore the need to evaluate immunotherapies against human pathogenic species.     

A new liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method for 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) in urine

4‐(Methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanone (NNK) is a carcinogenic nitrosamine produced upon curing tobacco. It is present in tobacco smoke and undergoes metabolism to 4‐(methylnitrosamino)‐1‐(3‐pyridyl)‐1‐butanol (NNAL) in the lungs. NNAL undergoes further uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)‐mediated metabolism to give N‐ and O‐glucuronide metabolites, which together with free (non‐conjugated) NNAL are then excreted in the urine. The ability to conduct validated analyses of free and conjugated NNAL in human urine is important in order to assess inter‐individual differences in lung cancer risk from exposure to cigarette smoke. The use of stable isotope dilution (SID) methodology in combination with liquid chromatography/multiple reaction monitoring/mass spectrometry (LC/MRM‐MS) provides the highest bioanalytical specificity possible for such analyses. We describe a novel derivatization procedure, which results in the formation of a pre‐ionized N‐propyl‐NNAL derivative. The increased LC/MS sensitivity arising from this derivative then makes it possible to analyze free NNAL in only 0.25 mL urine. This substantial reduction in urine volume when compared with other methods that have been developed will help preserve the limited amounts of stored urine samples that are available from on‐going longitudinal biomarker studies. The new high sensitivity SID LC/MRM‐MS assay was employed to determine free and conjugated NNAL concentrations in urine samples from 60 individual disease‐free smokers. Effects of inter‐individual differences in urinary creatinine clearance on NNAL concentrations were then assessed and three metabolizer phenotypes were identified in the 60 subjects from the ratio of urinary NNAL glucuronides/free NNAL. Poor metabolizers (PMs, 14 subjects) with a ratio of NNAL glucuronides/free NNAL <2 (mean = 1.3), intermediate metabolizers (IMs, 36 subjects) with a ratio between 2 and 5 (mean = 3.4), and extensive metabolizers (EMs, 10 subjects) with a ratio >5 (mean = 11.1). Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Imaging cytoplasmic cAMP in mouse brainstem neurons

Background  

cAMP is an ubiquitous second messenger mediating various neuronal functions, often as a consequence of increased intracellular Ca²⁺ levels. While imaging of calcium is commonly used in neuroscience applications, probing for cAMP levels has not yet been performed in living vertebrate neuronal tissue before.     

Stable isotopic studies of earthworm feeding ecology in tropical ecosystems of Puerto Rico

Feeding strategies of earthworms and their influence on soil processes are often inferred from morphological, behavioral and physiological traits. We used (13)C and (15)N natural abundance in earthworms, soils and plants to explore patterns of resource utilization by different species of earthworms in three tropical ecosystems in Puerto Rico. In a high altitude dwarf forest, native earthworms Trigaster longissimus and Estherella sp. showed less (15)N enrichment ((15)N = 3-6 per thousand) than exotic Pontoscolex corethrurus ((15)N =7-9 per thousand) indicating different food sources or stronger isotopic discrimination by the latter. Conversely, in a lower altitude tabonuco forest, Estherella sp. and P. corethrurus overlapped completely in (15)N enrichment ((15)N = 6-9 per thousand), suggesting the potential for interspecific competition for N resources. A tabonuco forest converted to pasture contained only P. corethrurus which were less enriched in (15)N than those in the forest sites, but more highly enriched in (13)C suggesting assimilation of C from the predominant C(4) grass. These results support the utility of stable isotopes to delineate resource partitioning and potential competitive interactions among earthworm species. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Natural Anticancer Compounds Rocaglamides Inhibit the Raf-MEK-ERK Pathway by Targeting Prohibitin 1 and 2

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Highlights? The natural anticancer compound rocaglamide directly binds to PHB1 and PHB2 ? Rocaglamide blocks PHB-mediated activation of CRaf-MEK-ERK pathway and cancer proliferation ? Rocaglamide may serve as a new type of anticancer agent ? Rocaglamide may serve as a new molecular tool for studying PHB-mediated cellular functions