Dunaliella tertiolecta (Chlorophyta) Avoids Cell Death Under Ultraviolet Radiation By Triggering Alternative Photoprotective Mechanisms

The effect of different ultraviolet radiation (UVR) treatments combining PAR (P), UVA (A) and UVB (B) on the molecular physiology of Dunaliella tertiolecta was studied during 6 days to assess the response to chronic UVR exposure. UVR reduced cell growth but did not cause cell death, as shown by the absence of SYTOX Green labeling and cellular morphology. However, caspase‐like enzymatic activities (CLs), (regarded as cell death proteases), were active even though the cells were not dying. Maximal quantum yield of fluorescence (F_v/F_m) and photosynthetic electron transport rate (ETR) dropped. Decreased nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) paralleled a drop in xanthophyll cycle de‐epoxidation under UVB. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and D1 protein accumulation were inversely correlated. PAB exhibited elevated ROS production at earlier times. Once ROS decayed, D1 protein recovered two‐fold compared with P and PA at later stages. Therefore, PsbA gene was still transcribed, suggesting ROS involvement in D1 recovery by its direct effect on mRNA‐translation. We add evidence of an UVB‐induced positive effect on the cells when P is present, providing photoprotection and resilience, by means of D1 repair. This allowed cells to survive. The photoprotective mechanisms described here (which are counterintuitive in principle) conform to an important ecophysiological response regarding light stress acclimation.     

A comparison between parallelization approaches in molecular dynamics simulations on GPUs

We test the relative performances of two different approaches to the computation of forces for molecular dynamics simulations on graphics processing units. A “vertex‐based” approach, where a computing thread is started per particle, is compared to an “edge‐based” approach, where a thread is started per each potentially non‐zero interaction. We find that the former is more efficient for systems with many simple interactions per particle while the latter is more efficient if the system has more complicated interactions or fewer of them. By comparing computation times on more and less recent graphics processing unit technology, we predict that, if the current trend of increasing the number of processing cores—as opposed to their computing power—remains, the “edge‐based” approach will gradually become the most efficient choice in an increasing number of cases. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Azido‐Substituted BODIPY Dyes for the Production of Fluorescent Carbon Nanotubes

A series of azido‐dyes were synthesized through Knoevenagel reactions of an azido‐BODIPY with aromatic aldehydes. The nature of the substituents allowed the fine tuning of their spectroscopic properties. The dyes were used to decorate oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (ox‐MWCNTs), bearing terminal triple bond groups, by CuAAC reactions, affording fluorescent materials. This decoration allowed the efficient determination of the internalization of the ox‐MWCNT derivatives by different model cancer cells, such as MCF7.     

Catalytic Asymmetric Reactions of 4‐Substituted Indoles with Nitroethene: A Direct Entry to Ergot Alkaloid Structures

A domino Friedel–Crafts/nitro‐Michael reaction between 4‐substituted indoles and nitroethene is presented. The reaction is catalyzed by BINOL‐derived phosphoric acid catalysts, and delivers the corresponding 3,4‐ring‐fused indoles with very good results in terms of yields and diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities. The tricyclic benzo[cd]indole products bear a nitro group at the right position to serve as precursors of ergot alkaloids, as demonstrated by the formal synthesis of 6,7‐secoagroclavine from one of the adducts. DFT calculations suggest that the outcome of the reaction stems from the preferential evolution of a key nitronic acid intermediate through a nucleophilic addition pathway, rather than to the expected “quenching” through protonation.     

The Cage Structure of IndanCHF3 is Based on the Cooperative Effects of CH⋅⋅⋅π and CH⋅⋅⋅F Weak Hydrogen Bonds

The structural and energetic features of the C?H???π interaction and the internal dynamics of the CHF₃ group change drastically in going from benzene?CHF₃ to indan?CHF₃, according to the analysis of the rotational spectrum of the latter complex generated in a supersonic expansion.     

Melting temperature evolution of non-reorganized crystals. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)

In the present study the correlation between the melting behaviour of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) original, non-reorganized crystals and the crystallinity increase during isothermal crystallization is presented and discussed. Since the reorganization processes modify the melting curve of original crystals, it is necessary to prevent and hinder all the processes that influence and increase the lamellar thickness. PHB exhibits melting/recrystallization on heating, the occurring of lamellar thickening in the solid state being excluded. The first step of the study was the identification of the scanning rate which inhibits PHB recrystallization at sufficiently high T_c. For the extrapolated onset and peak temperatures of the main melting endotherm, which is connected to fusion of dominant lamellae, a double dependence on the crystallization time was found. The crystallization time at which T_onset and T_peak change their trends was found to correspond to the spherulite impingement time, so that the two different dependencies were put in relation with primary and secondary crystallizations respectively. The increase of both T_onset and T_peak at high crystallization times after spherulite impingement was considered an effect due to crystal superheating and an indication of a stabilization process of the crystalline phase. Such stabilization, which produces an increase of the melting temperature, is probably connected with the volume filling that occurs after spherulite impingement.     

Biological effects of magnesium particles degradation on UMR-106 cell line: influence of fluoride treatments

Mg-based materials are promising for orthopedic, dental, and cardiovascular applications but their high degradation rate in vivo (release of Mg ions and debris particles) is cause of great concern. Protective treatments involving fluoride conversion coatings have been proposed in order to reduce corrosion rates. The aim of this study was to evaluate Mg debris biodegradation and its possible cytotoxic effects on osteoblastic cells in situ. Neutral Red dying and Acridine Orange staining techniques were used as endpoints to analyse the cytotoxic effects at 100-2000 μg/mL concentration range. Results showed a marked variation of Mg ion concentration in the culture medium after different exposure periods (1, 2, or 24h). Interestingly, the release rate of magnesium ions was dependent on the presence or absence fluoride treatment. Adverse effects induced by ≥1000 μg/mL MP doses and Mg ion concentrations higher than 480 μg/mL were observed on cells. Results showed significant differences between the concentration of Mg ions in the presence and absence of cells. This fact reveals a dynamic equilibrium mediated by Mg ion input and output in the cells that leads to the change in MP corrosion rates. Fluoride release from conversion coatings did not show cytotoxic effects.     

Have flagella a preferred orientation during early stages of biofilm formation?: AFM study using patterned substrates

Biofilm development involves several stages and flagellar expression of bacteria is considered an important factor in this process. However, its role in the earliest stage of biofilm development is not yet clear. In order to analyse this topic, Pseudomonas fluorescens samples were trapped on a patterned gold surface with sub-microtrenches (ST) so as to hinder their motility, and nanostructured gold with random orientation (SR) was used as control substrate. Atomic force microscopic (AFM) observations were made on untreated samples. Initially, ca. 75% of the flagella on ST and 85% of flagella on SR are oriented towards the neighbouring bacteria. Some of them made contact and surrounded the cells. Subsequently, 2-D raft structures formed on SR inert substrates with lateral curly flagella, while those at the poles of the rafts turned towards the nearest cell group. A few flagella and the formation of 3-D bacterial structures were observed on toxic substrates like copper. Results showed that patterned substrates are suitable tools to detect the orientation of flagella in the earliest stage of biofilm formation on solid opaque surfaces avoiding sample pre-treatment.