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Biocompatible materials and biocarriers have attracted great attention in biological wastewater treatment owing to their excellent performance in improving pollutant removal. Graphene-based material, a biocarrier candidate, with excellent adsorbability and conductivity was increasingly applied in anaerobic digestion due to its exceptional potential in the adsorption and electron transfer process. Nevertheless, the green approach for the formation of bio-graphene complexes and their mechanism in dye removal is limited. The aim of this study is to investigate and assess the performance of biological graphene hydrogel (BGH) formed by Shewanella putrefaciens CN32 on the removal of methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB). The results showed that the formation of BGH is determined by the physicochemical characteristics of graphene oxide, including sheet size, oxidation degree, and interlayer distance. BGHs significantly increased the removal efficiency of dyes in comparison to non-graphene samples, with a 24-h removal rate of MO and MB reaching 92.9% and 91%, respectively. The synergetic mechanism of BGH on the enhanced removal rate of organic dye can be ascribed to GO's ability in accelerating extracellular electron transfer and stimulating biodegradation pathways relating to c -type cytochromes, including MtrA and MtrC. These findings provided an understanding of the relationship between graphene-based nanomaterials and Shewanella , which facilitated their future application in environmental biotechnology. [Display omitted] • The reduction of GO by S. putrefaciens CN32 prompt BGH generation. • Sheet area and degree of defects of GO determine the BGH formation. • Bacteria-immobilized rGO hydrogel displayed a synergistic effect in bioremediation. • BGH increased dye removal efficiency by accelerating extracellular electron transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the biotransformation of phytocannabinoids in human hepatocytes. The susceptibility of the tested compounds to transformations in hepatocytes exhibited the following hierarchy: cannabinol (CBN) > cannabigerol (CBG) > cannabichromene (CBC) > cannabidiol (CBD). Biotransformation included hydroxylation, oxidation to a carboxylic acid, dehydrogenation, hydrogenation, dehydration, loss/shortening of alkyl, glucuronidation and sulfation. CBN was primarily metabolized by oxidation of a methyl to a carboxylic acid group, while CBD, CBG and CBC were preferentially metabolized by direct glucuronidation. The study also screened for the activity of recombinant human cytochromes P450 (CYPs) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs), which could catalyze the hydroxylation and glucuronidation of the tested compounds, respectively. We found that CBD was hydroxylated mainly by CYPs 2C8, 2C19, 2D6; CBN by 1A2, 2C9, 2C19 and 2D6; and CBG by 2B6, 2C9, 2C19 and 2D6. CBC exhibited higher susceptibility to CYP-mediated transformation than the other tested compounds, mainly with CYPs 1A2, 2B6, 2C8, 2C19, 2D6 and 3A4 being involved. Further, CBD was primarily glucuronidated by UGTs 1A3, 1A7, 1A8, 1A9 and 2B7; CBN by 1A7, 1A8, 1A9 and 2B7; CBG by 1A3, 1A7, 1A8, 1A9, 2B4, 2B7 and 2B17; and the glucuronidation of CBC was catalyzed by UGTs 1A1, 1A8, 1A9 and 2B7. • LC-MS study on biotransformation of phytocannabinoids in human hepatocytes. • MS-fragmentation patterns for CBD, CBN, CBC, CBG and their metabolites reported. • The study screened for the activity of recombinant human cytochromes P450 and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases. • The susceptibility to transformations in hepatocytes: CBN > CBG > CBC > CBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytochrome c oxidase (CcO), the Cu A, heme a , heme a 3 , Cu B enzyme of respiratory chain, converts the free energy released by aerobic cytochrome c oxidation into a membrane electrochemical proton gradient (ΔμH+). ΔμH+ derives from the membrane anisotropic arrangement of dioxygen reduction to two water molecules and transmembrane proton pumping from a negative (N) space to a positive (P) space separated by the membrane. Spectroscopic, potentiometric, and X-ray crystallographic analyses characterize allosteric cooperativity of dioxygen binding and reduction with protonmotive conformational states of CcO. These studies show that allosteric cooperativity stabilizes the favorable conformational state for conversion of redox energy into a transmembrane ΔμH+. (i) Dioxygen binding to Fe a 3 at BNC selects a CcO state in which the conformation of the subunit I-helix X, next in sequence to the hemes a and a 3 histidine axial ligands, opens access of pumped protons from the N space to a Mg2+-storage site at the opposite (P) membrane side. (ii) Sequential electron transfer at Cu A and heme a is associated with additional CcO conformational change in which protons are translocated from the Mg2+-site to the propionate(s) of heme a. From there, protons are expelled in the P space on heme a oxidation by electrostatic repulsion along a hydrogen bond network of amino acid residues and/or structured water molecules. Image 1 • Cytochrome c oxidase converts the energy released in cytochrome c oxidation into a transmembrane DmH+. • The molecular mechanism of ΔμH+ generation in cytochrome c oxidase is a topic of advanced functional and structural studies. • Allosteric cooperativity in A1-type CcO plays a key role in proton energy conversion. • A scheme of the catalytic cycle in cytochrome c oxidase, which highlights the role of allosteric cooperativity, is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marine archaeon Methanosarcina acetivorans contains a putative NAD + -independent d -lactate dehydrogenase (D-iLDH/glycolate oxidase) encoded by the MA4631 gene, belonging to the FAD-oxidase C superfamily. Nucleotide sequences similar to MA4631 gene, were identified in other methanogens and Firmicutes with >90 and 35–40% identity, respectively. Therefore, the lactate metabolism in M. acetivorans is reported here. Cells subjected to intermittent pulses of oxygen (air-adapted; AA-Ma cells) consumed lactate only in combination with acetate, increasing methane production and biomass yield. In AA-Ma cells incubated with d -lactate plus [14C]- l -lactate, the radioactive label was found in methane, CO 2 and glycogen, indicating that lactate metabolism fed both methanogenesis and gluconeogenesis. Moreover, d -lactate oxidation was coupled to O 2 -consumption which was sensitive to HQNO; also, AA-Ma cells showed high transcript levels of gene dld and those encoding subunits A (MA1006) and B (MA1007) of a putative cytochrome bd quinol oxidase, compared to anaerobic control cells. An E. coli mutant deficient in dld complemented with the MA4631 gene, grew with d -lactate as carbon source and showed membrane-bound d -lactate:quinone oxidoreductase activity. The product of the MA4631 gene is a FAD-containing monomer showing activity of iLDH with preference to d -lactate. The results suggested that air adapted M. acetivorans is able to co-metabolize lactate and acetate with associated oxygen consumption by triggering the transcription and synthesis of the D-iLDH and a putative cytochrome bd : methanophenazine (quinol) oxidoreductase. Biomass generation and O 2 consumption, suggest a potentially new oxygen detoxification mechanism coupled to energy conservation in this methanogen. [Display omitted] • Air-adapted Methanosarcina acetivorans can grow in presence of acetate + lactate. • Lactate was oxidized in the presence of O 2 , producing methane, glycogen and biomass. • D-iLDH and cyt bd oxidase transcripts increased in cells showing high O 2 -consumption. • Respiration linked to lactate oxidation was sensitive to HQNO and partially to azide. • Lactate oxidation potentially through cytochromes, consumed the otherwise toxic O 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Itol A, a novel isoryanodane diterpene derived from Itoa orientalis Hemsl., has potent activities against insect pests. This study was conducted to determine the contact toxicity and biochemical effects of itol A on the Nilaparvata lugens. After macropterous females of N. lugens were exposed to itol A from 0.5 to 24 h, the mortality and poisoning symptoms were measured. Effects of itol A on the major enzymes activity and oxidative stress level were assessed in dose-response (with LD 10 -LD 70 at 24 h) and time-course (with LD 50 at 0.5–24 h) experiments for the potential toxicity mechanisms. Based on the results, the mortality of N. lugens showed significant dose- and time-dependent effects, with the 24-h LD 50 value was 0.58 μg/insect. The symptoms of excitation, convulsion and paralysis were also observed. However, acetylcholinesterases (AChE) activity was not altered after itol A treatment compared to control. Na+/K+-ATPases, Ca2+-ATPases, Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPases, glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s), superoxide dismutases (SOD) and catalases (CAT) activities were significantly reduced in dose-response and time-course experiments. While acid phosphatases (ACP) and glutathione peroxidases (GPX) activities were significantly increased. We further revealed that itol A exposure resulted in the decrease of GSH/GSSG (reduced to oxidized glutathione) ratio and the increase of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in both experiments. The results indicated that the inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPases, Ca2+-ATPases, Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPases, GSTs, P450s, SOD and CAT activities and the induction of oxidative stress was one of the potential biochemical mechanisms of itol A against N. lugens. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Itol A exhibited potent contact toxicity against Nilaparvata lugens. • Na+/K+-ATPases, Ca2+-ATPases and Ca2+/Mg2+-ATPases activities were inhibited. • GSTs, P450s, SOD and CAT activities were inhibited and GSH/GSSG ratio was increased. • The oxidative stress was increased in terms of the dose- and time-response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ophiopogonin D (OPD) is the chief pharmacological active component of the traditional Chinese herbal prescription drug-Shenmai injection (SMI), which has been used to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we investigated whether OPD protectively relieve cardiac hypertrophy against inflammation via inhibiting the expression of NF-κB and examined whether cytochrome P450 2J3 (CYP2J3)was involved in this pathway. H9c2 cells were treated with Angiotensin II (Ang II). Hypertrophy in rat was induced by administration of Ang II infusion. To evaluate the effect of OPD on disease progression and the role of CYP2J3 in this way, inflammatory mediators (NF-κB), specific hypertrophic factors and pathological change were determined in this experiment. Ang II induced hypertrophy with the elevated expression of specific hypertrophy genes and NF-κB signaling molecules. However, these inductive effects were reversed by OPD in conjunction with Ang II. Overexpression of CYP2J3 prevented the excessive expression of NF-κB. In vivo , partial pathological cardiac hypertrophy injuries were relieved after OPD treatment. OPD exerts a positive effect on alleviating cardiac hypertrophy. The mechanism is probably through inhibiting the expression of NF-κB by upregulating CYP2J3 to suppress inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

G. metallireducens bacterium has highly versatile respiratory pathways that provide the microorganism an enormous potential for many biotechnological applications. However, little is known about the structural and functional properties of its electron transfer components. In this work, the periplasmic cytochrome PpcA from G. metallireducens was studied in detail for the first time using complementary biophysical techniques, including UV–visible, CD and NMR spectroscopy. The results obtained showed that PpcA contains three low-spin c -type heme groups with His-His axial coordination, a feature also observed for its homologue in G. sulfurreducens . However, despite the high sequence homology between the two cytochromes, important structural and functional differences were observed. The comparative analysis of the backbone, side chain and heme substituents NMR signals revealed differences in the relative orientation of the hemes I and III. In addition, redox titrations followed by visible spectroscopy showed that the redox potential values for PpcA from G. metallireducens (−78 and −93 mV at pH 7 and 8, respectively) are considerably less negative. Overall, this study provides biochemical and biophysical data of a key cytochrome from G. metallireducens , paving the way to understand the extracellular electron transfer mechanisms in these bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new series of ligustrazine-cinnamon acid derivatives had been designed and synthesized as potential neuro-protective agents. Among the derivatives, 3a exhibited the promising neuroprotective activity (EC 50  = 3.68 μM). Moreover, with the deep research of the drug pathway, it (the further mechanism researches) suggested compound 3a could inhibit the apoptosis of injured PC12 cells via blocking the mitochondria apoptosis pathway including up-regulation the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax, down-regulation the expression of cytochrome- c (Cyt- c ) and inhibition of the activity of caspase-9 and -3. In addition, the structure-activity relationships (SARs) of novel compounds were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is still considered one of the unsolved problems for the World Health Organization Identifying and selecting an immunogenic antigen capable of generating specific immune responses is generally the goal of all studies being carried out in to designing new vaccines. Accordingly, the present study was conducted to evaluate the immunogenicity of a M. tuberculosis recombinant protein which exist in the regions of the bacterium genome and may be an immunogenic protein. Immunogenicity of purified proteins was measured by PBMC and mouse spleen lymphocytes culturing methods using ELISA after an appropriate amount of time of incubation with Recombinant cytochrome P450 CYP141 protein. Cellular immune responses were determined and compared by measuring IFN-γ and IL4 in human, and mouse groups. The results revealed a high level of IFN-γ in PPD + individuals and the mice immunized with protein and adjuvant. Recombinant cytochrome P450 CYP141 protein proved capable of generating an immune response in mice and people with a history of previous encounters with Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. It, could be considered a tuberculosis vaccine candidate in order to induce a specific effective immune response in both mice and humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytochrome P450 17A1 (P450c17) is the key enzyme required for the production of androgenic sex steroids by converting progestogens to androgens. 5α-reductases are enzymes that convert testosterone (T) to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which has a greater affinity for androgen receptors (AR) and stronger action than T. Our previous studies revealed that the scented glands of male muskrats expressed AR during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. To further seek evidence of the activities of androgens in scented glands, the expression patterns of P450c17 and 5α-reductase 2 were investigated in the scented glands of male muskrats during the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. The weight and size of scented glands in the breeding season were significantly higher than those of the nonbreeding season. Immunohistochemical data showed that P450c17 and 5α-reductase 2 were presented in the glandular cells and epithelial cells of scented glands in both the seasons. The protein and mRNA expression of P450c17 and 5α-reductase 2 were significantly higher in the scented gland during the breeding season than those during the nonbreeding season. In addition, the levels of DHT and T in the scented gland were remarkably higher during the breeding season. Taken together, these results suggested that the scented glands of male muskrats were capable of locally synthesizing T and DHT, and T and DHT might play an important role in the scented glandular function via an autocrine or paracrine manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the effects of thyrotoxic rubber antioxidants, 2-mercaptobenzimidazole (MBI, 0.3 mmol/kg/day) and its methyl derivatives, methyl-MBIs [4-methyl-MBI (4-MeMBI, 0.6 mmol/kg/day), 5-methyl-MBI (5-MeMBI, 0.6 mmol/kg/day), and 4(or 5)-methyl-MBI (4(5)-MeMBI, 0.6 or 1.2 mmol/kg/day)], on the drug-metabolizing activity in male rat liver microsomes by 8-day repeated oral administration. The weight of liver and thyroid were increased by all the test chemicals; MBI was most potent, and there was no additive or synergistic effect between 4-MeMBI and 5-MeMBI. MBI decreased the cytochrome P450 (CYP) content, NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (POR) activity, 7-ethoxycoumarin O- deethylation (ECOD) activity, and flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) activity, but increased the 7-pentoxyresorufin O- depentylation (PROD) activity, suggesting inhibition of the drug-metabolizing activity on the whole but induce some activities such as the CYP2B activity. On the contrary, all the methyl-MBIs increased the CYP content, CYB5 content, ECOD activity, 7-ethoxyresorufin O- deethylation (EROD) activity, and PROD activity, indicating that they are mostly inducible of the CYP activity. However, the methyl-MBIs decreased the FMO activity, and 5-MeMBI and 4(5)-MeMBI appeared inhibitory for CYPs 2C11 and 2C13. Between 4-MeMBI and 5-MeMBI, there was no additive or synergistic effect on the drug-metabolizing activity, but was counteraction. It was concluded that MBI and methyl-MBIs had both inhibitory and inducible effects on the drug-metabolizing activity in rat liver microsomes at thyrotoxic doses. The effects of 4(5)-MeMBI indicated that the increased liver weight alone can be a hepatotoxic sign but not an adaptive no-adverse response in toxicity studies. The present results were related to the toxicokinetic profiles of MBI and 4(5)-MeMBI in the repeated toxicity studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Losartan is a selective antagonist of AngⅠ type (AT1) receptor of Angiotensin Ⅱ (Ang Ⅱ), which is widely used as a clinical medicine for the hypertension. Recent studies have shown that losartan was shown to protect from acute lung injury (ALI). However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The aim of this research was to clarify whether Ang Ⅱ participated in the inflammatory response of ALI induced by seawater inhalation, and whether losartan had the protective effects on ALI by blocking the combination of Ang Ⅱ and AT1 receptor. In the current study, the severity of lung injury and the inflammatory reactions during seawater drowning induced ALI were assessed. Besides, we also detected the activation of relative pathways such as NF-κB, JAK2/STATs and apoptosis. The results showed that seawater inhalation could up-regulate the expression of Ang Ⅱ and AT1. While pretreatment of losartan (especially 15 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg) alleviated lung injury by inhibiting Ang-Ⅱ and AT1 receptor combination and in turn decreased the expression of p-NF-κB and activation of JAK2/STATs pathway. We also confirmed that losartan could reduce the apoptotic ratio of cells in the lung by modulating the phosphorylation of JNK and leak of cytochrome C to cytosol. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that losartan might have a therapeutic potential as an anti-inflammatory agent for treating SWI-ALI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhodococcus globerulus is a metabolically active organism that has been shown to utilise eucalypt oil as its sole source of carbon and energy. This oil includes 1,8-cineole, p -cymene and limonene. Two identified and characterised cytochromes P450 (P450s) from this organism initiate the biodegradation of the monoterpenes 1,8-cineole (CYP176A1) and p -cymene (CYP108N12). Extensive characterisation has been completed for CYP176A1 and it has been successfully reconstituted with its immediate redox partner, cindoxin, and E. coli flavodoxin reductase. Two putative redox partner genes are encoded in the same operon as CYP108N12 and here the isolation, expression, purification, and characterisation of its specific [2Fe–2S] ferredoxin redox partner, cymredoxin is presented. Reconstitution of CYP108N12 with cymredoxin in place of putidaredoxin, a [2Fe–2S] redox partner of another P450, improves both the rate of electron transfer (from 13 ± 2 to 70 ± 1 μM NADH/min/ μ M CYP108N12) and the efficiency of NADH utilisation (the so-called coupling efficiency increases from 13% to 90%). Cymredoxin improves the catalytic ability of CYP108N12 in vitro. Aldehyde oxidation products of the previously identified substrates p -cymene (4-isopropylbenzaldehyde) and limonene (perillaldehyde) were observed in addition to major hydroxylation products 4-isopropylbenzyl alcohol and perillyl alcohol respectively. These further oxidation products had not previously been seen with putidaredoxin supported oxidation. Furthermore, when supported by cymredoxin CYP108N12 is able to oxidise a wider range of substrates than previously reported. These include o -xylene, α-terpineol, (−)-carveol and thymol yielding o -tolylmethanol, 7-hydroxyterpineol, (4 R)-7-hydroxycarveol and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-isopropylphenol, respectively. Cymredoxin is also capable of supporting CYP108A1 (P450 terp) and CYP176A1 activity, allowing them to catalyse the hydroxylation of their native substrates α-terpineol to 7-hydroxyterpineol and 1,8-cineole to 6β-hydroxycineole respectively. These results indicate that cymredoxin not only improves the catalytic capability of CYP108N12 but can also support the activity of other P450s and prove useful for their characterisation. [Display omitted] • Cloned, expressed and purified cymredoxin from Rhodococcus globerulus. • Cymredoxin, a [2Fe–2S] ferredoxin, is the native redox partner of CYP108N12. • CYP108N12 oxidation of p- cymene faster and more efficient with cymredoxin. • Substrate range of CYP108N12 extended. • Catalytic activity of other bacterial P450s supported by this ferredoxin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excessive Ultra violet (UV) radiation induces injuries to retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells (RPEs) and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), causing retinal degeneration. Cyclophilin D (Cyp-D)-dependent mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening mediates UV-induced cell death. In this study, we show that a novel Cyp-D inhibitor compound 19 efficiently protected RPEs and RGCs from UV radiation. Compound 19-mediated cytoprotection requires Cyp-D, as it failed to further protect RPEs/RGCs from UV when Cyp-D was silenced by targeted shRNAs. Compound 19 almost blocked UV-induced p53-Cyp-D mitochondrial association, mPTP opening and subsequent cytochrome C release. Further studies showed that compound 19 inhibited UV-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, lipid peroxidation and DNA damage. Together, compound 19 protects RPEs and RGCs from UV radiation, possibly via silencing Cyp-D-regulated intrinsic mitochondrial death pathway. Compound 19 could a lead compound for treating UV-associated retinal degeneration diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life-history, substrate choice and Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) sequences were analysed in populations of two peracaridans, the supralittoral talitrid Atlantorchestoidea brasiliensis and the intertidal cirolanid Excirolana armata . Three populations of each species, from beaches with similar grain size and located at different points along the natural gradient generated by the Rio de la Plata estuary were analysed. Abundance of E. armata increased with distance from the estuary, while the opposite trend was observed for A. brasiliensis . The proportion of females decreased towards high salinities for both species, significantly for E. armata . A test on substrate salinity preference revealed the absence of patterns due to active choice in E. armata . By contrast, A. brasiliensis showed no preference for the population closer to the estuary, while individuals from the other two sites significantly preferred high salinity substrates. Mitochondrial COI sequences were obtained from A. brasiliensis specimens tested for behaviour. Sequence analysis showed the population from the intermediate site to differ significantly from the other two. No significant genetic differentiation was instead found between populations from the two most distant sites, nor between individuals that expressed different salinity preference. Results showed that diverse sets of traits at the population level enable sandy beach species to cope with local environmental changes: life-history and behavioural traits appear to change in response to different ecological conditions, and, in the case of A brasiliensis, independently of the population structure inferred from COI sequence variation. Information from multiple traits allowed detection of population profiles, highlighting the relevance of multidisciplinary information and the concurrent analysis of field data and laboratory experiments, to detect responses of resident biota to environmental changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichogrammatids (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) are the most important egg parasitoids widely used in different biocontrol programs worldwide. Since there are several species, strains, and ecotypes available, correct identification is the first step for successful biological control programs. Morphological identification remains complex due to subtle difference in male genetalia, therefore alternative molecular techniques were employed for rapid and reliable identification of this group of parasitoids. Furthermore, many of the field collected specimens are females, which are not identifiable using morphological keys. This study was carried out to unravel the discrimination success in the two molecular marker loci cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and internal transcribed spacer-2 (ITS-2) region of trichogrammatids. In achieving these objectives, the single specimen of 22 trichogrammatids belonging to 19 species were subjected to DNA extraction, PCR amplification, and sequencing. Additionally, we obtained homologous sequences from GenBank and sequences in BOLD database to understand internal relationships between the trichogrammatids. Bayesian inference phylogenetic analysis conducted with 84 and 76 sequences of COI and ITS-2 loci respectively and studied discrimination among the different species. Based on trees in comparison, we observed that there was a total of 10 and 6 out of 19 species correctly discriminate with COI and ITS-2 respectively. Our result revealed that the ITS-2 gene was less divergent than the COI gene in the majority of species and failed to differentiate all terminal clades. Therefore, we recommend that COI is suitable as the primary DNA barcode locus in trichogrammatids. Overall, we suggest that COI gene has higher discrimination power and can be considered as an appropriate molecular marker for species identification in trichogrammatids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the effect of pH on thermodynamic stability, low-frequency local motions and microsecond folding kinetics of carbonmonoxycytochrome c (Cyt-CO) all across the alkaline pH-unfolding transition of protein. Thermodynamic analysis of urea-induced unfolding transitions of Cyt-CO measured between pH 6 and pH 11.9 reveals that Cyt-CO is maximally stable at pH∼9.5. Dilution of unfolded Cyt-CO into refolding medium forms a native-like compact state (NCO-state), where Fe 2+ −CO interaction persists. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters measured for slow thermally-driven CO dissociation (NCO→N+CO) and association (N+CO→NCO) reactions between pH 6.5 and pH 13 reveal that the thermal-motions of M80-containing Ω-loop are decreased in subdenaturing limit of alkaline pH. Laser photolysis of Fe 2+ -CO bond in NCO-state triggers the microsecond folding (NCO→N). The microsecond kinetics measured all across the alkaline pH-unfolding transition of Cyt-CO produce rate rollover in the refolding limb of chevron plot, which suggests a glass transition of NCO en route to N. Between pH 7 and pH 11.9, the natural logarithm of the microsecond folding rate varies by < 1.5 units while the natural logarithm of apparent equilibrium constant varies by 11.8 units. This finding indicates that the pH-dependent ionic-interactions greatly affect the global stability of protein but have very small effect on folding kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The bridging element for electron transfer in proteins is the hydrogen bond according to the new experimental perspective in preference to carbon-carbon σ-bond presently used. The purpose of this study is to identify an alternative pathway linked by hydrogen bonds suitable for electron transfer from heme-Fe of cytochrome c to subunit II-CuA of cytochrome a. A pathway consisting of 15 delocalized electron systems including peptide bonds, 5 polar groups of side chains of amino acid residues and 8 water molecules, linked by 27 hydrogen bonds, exists between the two metal electron centers of heme-Fe of cytochrome c , cytochrome c and of subunit II-CuA of cytochrome a. Pathways built of delocalized π-electron systems, polar groups and water molecules linked by hydrogen bonds may be considered for intramolecular and intermolecular electron transfer in proteins. Graphical abstract Image Highlights • Hydrogen bond, rather than carbon-carbon σ-bond, as the bridging element for electron transfer in proteins gained experimental evidence. • An alternative pathway linked by hydrogen bonds, is identified from heme-Fe of cytochrome c to subunit II-CuA of cytochrome a. • Such hydrogen bond-linked pathways occur in proteins and may be considered for intramolecular and intermolecular electron transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electroactive Geobacter bacteria can perform extracellular electron transfer and present a wide metabolic versatility. These bacteria reduce organic, toxic and radioactive compounds, and produce electric current while interacting with electrodes, making them interesting targets for numerous biotechnological applications. Their global electrochemical responses rely on an efficient interface between the inside and the cell's exterior, which is driven by the highly abundant periplasmic triheme PpcA-family cytochromes. The functional features of these cytochromes have been studied in G. sulfurreducens and G. metallireducens , and although they share a high degree of structural homology and sequence identity, their properties are quite distinct. In this work, the heme axial ligand geometries and the magnetic properties of PpcF from G. metallireducens were determined. The data obtained constitute important constraints for the determination of its solution structure in the oxidized state and indicate that the (i) heme core architecture; (ii) axial ligands geometries and (iii) magnetic properties of the cytochrome are conserved compared to the other members of the PpcA-families. Furthermore, the results also indicate that the heme arrangement is crucial to maintain an intrinsic regulation of the protein's redox properties and hence its electron transfer efficiency and functionality. • Geobacter are electroactive bacteria with proven biotechnological potential. • The cytochrome PpcF is important for electron transfer in G. metallireducens. • The heme core architecture and magnetic properties of PpcF were determined. • These features are conserved in the PpcA-family cytochromes from Geobacter. • The heme core arrangement broadens the redox range for electron transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim was to assess the action of cyclosporine-A (CsA) against reperfusion injury in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) compared to the effects of ischemic pre- (IP) and postconditioning (IPC), examining the role played by PKCε. Isolated hearts were submitted to the following protocols: IC: 45 min global ischemia (GI) and 1 h reperfusion (R); IP: a cycle of 5 min GI and 10 min of R prior to 45 min-GI; and IPC: three cycles of 30 s-GI/30 s-R at the start of R. Other hearts of the IC, IP and IPC groups received CsA (mitochondrial permeability transition pore inhibitor) or chelerythrine (Che, non-selective PKC inhibitor). Infarct size (IS) was assessed. TBARS and reduced glutathione (GSH) content — as parameters of oxidative damage, the expression of P-Akt, P-GSK-3β, P-PKCε and cytochrome c (Cyc) release — as an index of mitochondrial permeability and the response of isolated mitochondria to Ca 2 + were also measured. IS similarly decreased in preconditioned, postconditioned and CsA treated heart showing the highest values in the combinations IP + CsA and IPC + CsA. TBARS decreased and GSH was partially preserved after all interventions. The content of P-Akt, P-GSK-3β and P-PKCε increased in cytosol and decreased in mitochondria after IP and IPC. In CsA treated hearts these enzymes increased in both fractions reaching the highest values. Cyc release was attenuated and the response of mitochondria to Ca 2+ was improved by the interventions. The beneficial effects of IP and IPC were annulled when PKC was inhibited with Che. A PKCε/VDAC association was also detected. These data show that, in SHR, the CsA treatment mimicked and reinforced the cardioprotective action afforded by IP and IPC in which PKCε-mediated attenuation of mitochondrial permeability appears as the main mechanism involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane protein overexpression is often hindered by toxic effects on the expression host, limiting achievable volumetric productivity. Moreover, protein structure and function may be impaired due to inclusion body formation and proteolytic degradation. To address these challenges, we employed the photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodobacter sphaeroides for expression of challenging membrane proteins including human aquaporin 9 (hAQP9), human tight junction protein occludin (Occ), Escherichia coli toxin peptide GhoT, cellulose synthase enzyme complex (BcsAB) of R. sphaeroides and cytochrome-cy (Cyt-cy) from Rhodobacter capsulatus . Titers of 47 mg/L for Cyt-cy, 7.5 mg/L for Occ, 1.5 mg/L for BcsAB and 0.5 mg/L for hAQP9 were achieved from affinity purification. While purification of GhoT was not successful, transformants displayed a distinct growth phenotype that correlated with GhoT expression. We also evaluated the functionality of these proteins by performing water transport studies for hAQP9, peroxidase activity for cytochrome-cy, and in vitro cellulose synthesis activity assay for BcsAB. While previous studies with Rhodobacter have utilized oxygen-limited semi-aerobic growth for membrane protein expression, substantial titer improvements are achieved as a result of a 3-fold increase in biomass yield using the anaerobic photoheterotrophic growth regime, which utilizes the strong native puc promoter. This versatile platform is shown to enable recovery of a wide variety of difficult-to-express membrane proteins in functional form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite lacking mitochondria and a known pathway for heme biosynthesis the micro-aerotolerant anaerobic protozoan parasite Giardia intestinalis encodes four members of the cytochrome b 5 family of electron transfer proteins, three of which are small, single-domain proteins. While these are similar in size and fold to their better-known mammalian counterparts the Giardia proteins have distinctly lower reduction potentials, ranging from −140 to −171 mV compared to +6 mV for the bovine microsomal protein. This difference is accounted for by a more polar heme environment in the Giardia proteins, as mutation of a conserved heme pocket tyrosine residue to phenylalanine in the Giardia cytochrome b 5 isotype-I (gCYTb5-I Y61F) raises its reduction potential by nearly 100 mV. All three isotypes have UV–visible spectra consistent with axial coordination of the heme by a pair of histidine residues, but electron paramagnetic spectroscopy indicates that the planes of their imidazole rings are nearly perpendicular rather than coplanar as observed in mammalian cytochrome b 5 , which may be due to geometrical constraints imposed by a one-residue shorter spacing between the ligand pair in the Giardia proteins. Although no function has yet to be ascribed to any Giardia cytochrome b 5 , the presence of similar sequences in many other eukaryotes indicates that these represent an under-characterized class of low reduction potential family members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Podospora anserina , the loss of function of the cytochrome segment of the mitochondrial respiratory chain is viable. This is due to the presence in this organism, as in most filamentous fungi, of an alternative respiratory oxidase (AOX) that provides a bypass to the cytochrome pathway. However mutants lacking a functional cytochrome pathway present multiple phenotypes including poorly colored thin mycelium and slow growth. In a large genetic screen based on the improvement of these phenotypes, we isolated a large number of independent suppressor mutations. Most of them led to the constitutive overexpression of the aox gene. In this study, we characterize a new suppressor mutation that does not affect the production of AOX. It is a loss-of-function mutation in the gene encoding the MED13 subunit of the kinase module of the Mediator complex. Inactivation of the cdk8 gene encoding another subunit of the same module also results in partial suppression of a cytochrome-deficient mutant. Analysis of strains lacking the MED13 or CDK8 subunits points to the importance of these subunits as regulators involved in diverse physiological processes such as growth, longevity and sexual development. Interestingly, transcriptional analyses indicate that in P. anserina , loss of the respiratory cytochrome pathway results in the up-regulation of glycolysis-related genes revealing a new type of retrograde regulation. The loss of MED13 augments the up-regulation of some of these genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial electrochemical technologies are emerging as environmentally friendly biotechnological processes. Recently, a thermophilic Gram-positive bacterium capable of electricity production in a microbial fuel cell was isolated. Thermincola potens JR contains several multiheme c -type cytochromes that were implicated in the process of electricity production. In order to understand the molecular basis by which Gram-positive bacteria perform extracellular electron transfer, the relevant proteins need to be characterized in detail. Towards this end, a chimeric gene containing the signal peptide from Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 small tetraheme cytochrome c (STC) and the gene sequence of the target protein TherJR_0333 was constructed. This manuscript reports the successful expression of this chimeric gene in the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli and its subsequent purification and characterization. This methodology opens the possibility to study other multiheme cytochromes from Gram-positive bacteria, allowing the extracellular electron transfer mechanisms of this class of organisms to be unraveled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic connection between Q o and Q i quinone catalytic sites of dimeric cytochrome bc 1 is a central feature of the energy-conserving Q cycle. While both the intra- and inter-monomer electron transfers were shown to connect the sites in the enzyme, mechanistic and physiological significance of the latter remains unclear. Here, using a series of mutated hybrid cytochrome bc 1 -like complexes, we show that inter-monomer electron transfer robustly sustains the function of the enzyme in vivo, even when the two subunits in a dimer come from different species. This indicates that minimal requirement for bioenergetic efficiency is to provide a chain of cofactors for uncompromised electron flux between the catalytic sites, while the details of protein scaffold are secondary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alisertib (MLN8237), a novel Aurora A kinase inhibitor, is currently being clinically tested in late-phase trials for the therapy of various malignancies. In the present work, we describe alisertib's potential to perpetrate pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions (DDIs) and/or to act as an antagonist of multidrug resistance (MDR). In accumulation assays, alisertib potently inhibited ABCC1 transporter, but not ABCB1 or ABCG2. The results of molecular modeling suggested a bifunctional mechanism for interaction on ABCC1. In addition, alisertib was characterized as a low- to moderate-affinity inhibitor of recombinant CYP3A4, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP2D6 isoenzymes, but without potential clinical relevance. Drug combination studies revealed the capability of alisertib to synergistically antagonize ABCC1-mediated resistance to daunorubicin. Although alisertib exhibited substrate characteristics toward ABCB1 transporter in monolayer transport assays, comparative proliferation studies showed lack of its MDR-victim behavior in cells overexpressing ABCB1 as well as ABCG2 and ABCC1. Lastly, alisertib did not affect the expression of ABCC1 , ABCG2 , ABCB1 transporters and CYP1A2, CYP3A4 , CYP2B6 isozymes on mRNA level in various systemic and tumoral models. In conclusion, our study suggests that alisertib is a drug candidate with negligible potential for perpetrating systemic pharmacokinetic DDIs on ABCB1, ABCG2 and cytochromes P450. In addition, we introduce alisertib as an effective dual-activity chemosensitizer whose MDR-antagonistic capacities are not impaired by efflux or effect on MDR phenotype. Our in vitro findings provide important pieces of information for clinicians when introducing alisertib into the clinical area. • Alisertib inhibits ABCC1, but not ABCB1 or ABCG2 drug efflux transporters. • Alisertib inhibits several cytochrome P450 isoforms but without clinical relevance. • Alisertib reverses ABCC1-mediated drug resistance. • ABC drug efflux transporters do not establish resistance to alisertib. • Alisertib does not affect the gene expression of examined enzymes or transporters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Reciprocal active site substitutions in CPR (H322A) and MSR (A312H) were created. [•] Interflavin electron transfer was inhibited in CPR H322A and accelerated in MSR A312H. [•] Placement of His in active site weakens coenzyme-binding affinity. [•] His322 likely positions conserved residues of catalytic triad for rapid deprotonation of FADH2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] First study to genetically characterise E. setonicis and E. quokka. [•] Characterisation at the 18S rRNA gene. [•] Characterisation at the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase gene (COl). [•] Morphological characterisation. [•] Insights into Eimeria phylogeny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To gain a deeper insight into the potential interactions between individual aromatic hydrocarbons in a mixture, several benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and 7H-dibenzo[c,g]carbazole (DBC) binary mixtures were studied. The biological activity of the binary mixtures was investigated in the HepG2 and WB-F344 liver cell lines and the Chinese hamster V79 cell line that stably expresses the human cytochrome P4501A1 (hCYP1A1). In the V79 cells, binary mixtures, in contrast to individual carcinogens, caused a significant decrease in the levels of micronuclei, DNA adducts and gene mutations, but not in cell survival. Similarly, a lower frequency of micronuclei and levels of DNA adducts were found in rat liver WB-F344 cells treated with a binary mixture, regardless of the exposure time. The observed antagonism between B[a]P and DBC may be due to an inhibition of Cyp1a1 expression because cells exposed to B[a]P:DBC showed a decrease in Cyp1a1 mRNA levels. In human liver HepG2 cells exposed to binary mixtures for 2h, a reduction in micronuclei frequency was also found. However, after a 24h treatment, synergism between B[a]P and DBC was determined based on DNA adduct formation. Accordingly, the up-regulation of CYP1A1 expression was detected in HepG2 cells exposed to B[a]P:DBC. Our results show significant differences in the response of human and rat cells to B[a]P:DBC mixtures and stress the need to use multiple experimental systems when evaluating the potential risk of environmental pollutants. Our data also indicate that an increased expression of CYP1A1 results in a synergistic effect of B[a]P and DBC in human cells. As humans are exposed to a plethora of noxious chemicals, our results have important implications for human carcinogenesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] We present a comparative genomic analysis of the oxidative enzymes in Agaricus bisporus. [•] Oxidative enzyme diversity is consistent with A. bisporus environmental adaptation. [•] 109 cytochrome P450 genes found, which lacked extensive duplication and clustering. [•] Highest number of HTPs in sequenced Basidiomycetes and high numbers of GLXs and CROs. [•] Microarray analyses suggest their role in development and substrate degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Small-molecule Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibitor Navitoclax represents a promising cancer therapeutic since preclinical and clinical studies with Navitoclax have demonstrated strong anticancer activity in several types of cancers. However, because Navitoclax has a low binding affinity to Mcl-1, anticancer activity by Navitoclax is often attenuated by the elevated expression of Mcl-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and other cancers, posing a serious problem for its potential clinical utilities. Therefore, approaches that suppress the expression of Mcl-1 are urgently needed to overcome Navitoclax-resistance in these cancers. Here, we reported that aspirin markedly suppressed Mcl-1 expression, and significantly enhanced Navitoclax-mediated cell viability inhibition and apoptosis induction in HCC cells. We further showed that aspirin robustly enhanced Navitoclax-triggered cytosolic cytochrome c release, activation of initiator caspase-9 and effector caspase-3, and cleavage of PARP. Importantly, the cell death induction by the combination could be rescued by a cell-permeable caspase-9 inhibitor Z-LEHD-FMK, indicative of an indispensable role of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway during the combination effect. Taken together, our study suggests that aspirin can be used to enhance Navitoclax-mediated anticancer activity via suppression of Mcl-1. Since aspirin is one of the most commonly used medicines, our findings therefore have translational impacts on Navitoclax-based therapy for HCC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Adiponectin protects from hepatic fat storage but adiponectin deficient mice (APN−/−) fed a standard chow do not develop liver steatosis. This indicates that other pathways might be activated to compensate for adiponectin deficiency. An unbiased and comprehensive screen was performed to identify hepatic alterations of lipid classes in these mice. APN−/− mice had decreased hepatic cholesteryl esters while active SREBP2 and systemic total cholesterol were not altered. Upregulation of cytochromes for bile acid synthesis suggests enhanced biliary cholesterol excretion. Analysis of 37 individual fatty acid species showed reduced stearate whereas total fatty acids were not altered. Total amount of triglycerides and phospholipids were equally abundant. A selective increase of monounsaturated phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine which positively correlate with hepatic and systemic triglycerides with the latter being elevated in APN−/− mice, was identified. Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) is involved in the synthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids and despite higher mRNA expression enzyme activity was not enhanced. Glucosylceramide postulated to contribute to liver damage was decreased. This study demonstrates that adiponectin deficiency is associated with hepatic changes in lipid classes in mice fed a standard chow which may protect from liver steatosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: C-Glycosylated flavonoids are biologically active plant natural products linked to dietary health benefits. We have used polyprotein expression technology to reconstruct part of the respective biosynthetic pathway in tobacco and yeast, such that dihydrochalcone and flavanone precursors are directly converted to C-glycosides. The polyprotein system developed facilitated the simple and efficient co-expression of pathway enzymes requiring different sub-cellular localization in both plants and yeast. The pathway to flavone-C-glucosides comprised a flavanone 2-hydroxylase (F2H), co-expressed with a C-glucosyltransferase (CGT). While pathway engineering in tobacco resulted in only minor C-glycoside formation, when fed with the flavanone naringenin, yeast transformed with the F2H-CGT polyprotein construct produced high concentrations of 2-hydroxynaringenin-C-glucoside in the medium. These fermentation products could then be readily chemically converted to the respective flavone-C-glucosides. The efficiency of the biosynthesis was optimal when both the F2H and CGT were obtained from the same species (rice). These results confirm the coupled roles of the F2H and CGT in producing C-glucosides in vivo, with the use of the polyprotein expression system in yeast offering a useful system to optimize the synthesis of these natural products in quantities suitable for dietary studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Grosmannia clavigera is a fungal associate of the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) and a pathogen of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) that must overcome terpenoid oleoresin and phenolic defenses of host trees. G. clavigera responds to monoterpene influx with complementary mechanisms that include export and the use of these compounds as a carbon source. Cytochromes P450 (CYPs) may also be involved in the metabolism of host defense compounds. We have identified and phylogenetically classified G. clavigera CYPs (CYPome). We show that although the G. clavigera CYPome has contracted in evolution, certain CYP families have expanded by duplication. We analyzed RNA-seq data for CYP expression following treatment with terpenes and pine phloem extracts to identify CYPs potentially involved in detoxification of these pine defense compounds. We also used transcriptome analysis of G. clavigera grown on monoterpenes, triglycerides or oleic acid as a carbon source to identify up-regulated CYPs that may be involved in the utilization of these compounds to support fungal growth. Finally, we identify secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters that contain CYPs, and CYPs in clusters that may be involved in conversion of host chemicals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The bacterio-insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti) represents currently a safe alternative to chemical insecticides in mosquito-borne diseases control and is intensively used worldwide. In the French Rhône-alpine mosquito Aedes rusticus Rossi, several genomic signatures of selection were detected in populations treated for more than 15years with Bti. In this study we investigated whether detoxifying enzyme activities such as cytochromes P450, esterases and glutathione S-transferases can play a role in Bti resistance mechanisms in these populations. To examine the effect of Bti treatment on larval resistance and detoxifying enzyme activities, Bti mortality and enzymatic activities were measured in treated and untreated sites coming from four different locations in the Rhône-Alpes region. The results revealed a significant global decrease in Bti mortality in treated populations, but showed low resistance ratio up to 7.9-fold between treated and untreated sites. A positive correlation has been observed between larval resistance to Bti and glutathione S-transferase activities, raising the question of its potential role in Bti resistance. A better understanding of all the mechanisms potentially involved in Bti resistance is necessary to insure the long-term efficiency of this bacterio-insecticide. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Phagocyte NADPH oxidases generate superoxide at high rates in defense against infectious agents, a process regulated by second messenger anionic lipids using incompletely understood mechanisms. We reconstituted the catalytic core of the human neutrophil NADPH oxidase, flavocytochrome b (Cyt b) in 99% phosphatidylcholine vesicles in order to correlate anionic lipid-dependent conformational changes in membrane-bound Cyt b and oxidase activity. The anionic lipid 10:0 phosphatidic acid (10:0 PA) specifically induced conformational changes in Cyt b as measured by a combination of fluorescence resonance energy transfer methods and size exclusion chromatography. The fluorescence lifetime of a complex between Cyt b and Cascade Blue-derivatized anti-p22 phox antibody (CCB-CS9), increased after exposure to 10:PA by ∼50% of the change observed when the complex is dissociated, indicating a structural rearrangement of p22 phox and/or the Cyt b heme prosthetic groups. Half of the quenching relaxation occurred at 10:0 PA concentrations permissive to less than 10% full NADPH oxidase activity, but saturated near the saturation in activity in a matched cell-free oxidase assay. We conclude that anionic lipids modulate the conformation of Cyt b in the membrane and suggest they may serve to modulate the structure of Cyt b as a control mechanism for the NADPH oxidase. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: 7,12-Dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, exhibits mutagenic, carcinogenic, immunosuppressive, and apoptogenic properties in various cell types. To achieve these functions effectively, DMBA is modified to its active form by cytochrome P450 1 (CYP1). Exposure to DMBA causes cytotoxicity-mediated apoptosis in bone marrow B cells and ovarian cells. Although uterine endometrium constitutively expresses CYP1A1 and CYP1B1, their apoptotic role after exposure to DMBA remains to be elucidated. Therefore, we chose RL95-2 endometrial cancer cells as a model system for studying DMBA-induced cytotoxicity and cell death and hypothesized that exposure to DMBA causes apoptosis in this cell type following CYP1A1 and/or CYP1B1 activation. We showed that DMBA-induced apoptosis in RL95-2 cells is associated with activation of caspases. In addition, mitochondrial changes, including decrease in mitochondrial potential and release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into the cytosol, support the hypothesis that a mitochondrial pathway is involved in DMBA-induced apoptosis. Exposure to DMBA upregulated the expression of AhR, Arnt, CYP1A1, and CYP1B1 significantly; this may be necessary for the conversion of DMBA to DMBA-3,4-diol-1,2-epoxide (DMBA-DE). Although both CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 were significantly upregulated by DMBA, only CYP1B1 exhibited activity. Moreover, knockdown of CYP1B1 abolished DMBA-induced apoptosis in RL95-2 cells. Our data show that RL95-2 cells are susceptible to apoptosis by exposure to DMBA and that CYP1B1 plays a pivotal role in DMBA-induced apoptosis in this system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Published data on the association between CYP1A1 gene polymorphism and ovarian cancer risk are conflicting and heterogeneous. To derive a more precise estimation of the relationship, a meta-analysis was performed. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were performed for heterozygous, homozygous, dominant model, recessive model and allele, respectively. A total of 15 case–control studies were identified, among which, 13 studies (1815 cases and 3501 controls) were eligible for CYP1A1 Ile462Val and nine studies (2495 cases and 3553 controls) were eligible for CYP1A1 Msp1. Overall, Ile462Val was significantly associated with ovarian cancer, with homozygous carriers (Val/Val vs. Ile/Ile: OR=2.64; 95% CI: 1.63–4.28) and recessive model (Val/Val vs. Ile/Ile and Ile/Val: OR=2.30; 95% CI: 1.45–3.65) being risk factors for ovarian cancer development. In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, significantly increased risks were found for Caucasians (homozygous carriers: OR=4.91; 95% CI: 2.07–11.66; recessive model: OR=3.26; 95% CI: 1.41–7.50) and Asians (homozygous carriers: OR=3.06; 95% CI: 1.48–6.33; recessive model: OR=2.75; 95% CI: 1.40–5.41; Val allele: OR=1.67; 95% CI: 1.19–2.35). However, no significant associations were found between Msp1 and ovarian cancer in the overall analyses or the subgroup analyses by ethnicity. This meta-analysis denotes the importance for in-depth research regarding of gene–gene, gene–environment interactions, race-specific and histological subtypes specific to obtain a more conclusive response about the function of CYP1A1 in ovarian cancer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Acid-labile sulfides (LS) increase in bottom sediments at sites in the Azov Sea, at the NE Black Sea shelf and in the coastal lagoons of NW Adriatic Sea experiencing direct impacts of anthropogenic pollution. Fresh anthropogenic organic matter stimulates the bacterial sulfate reduction and here the rate of the LS production overcomes their loss during the oxidation and pyritization. This results in the expansion of reduced sediment layer up to the bottom surface. The LS concentration in the reduced sediments varies between 300 and 2000 mg S l−1 of wet silt depending on the size of pollution loading and on the rate of sedimentation. In the oxidized sediments away from the direct pollution impact, the LS concentration did not exceed 100–150 mg S l−1. Being a strong cytochrome toxin, the LS adversely affect the coastal ecosystems. The concentrations over 600 mg S l−1 result in quasi total benthic mortality whereas >300–400 mg S l−1 depletes the benthic faunal abundance and taxonomic diversity. Accumulation of the LS in sediments also induces nocturnal hypoxia and stimulates domination of toxic cyanobacteria in the pelagic phytocenoses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Copper and iron are both essential micronutrients. Because they can both accept and donate electrons, they are central to many energy dependent chemical reactions. For example, copper is a critical part of ferroxidase enzymes ceruloplasmin, hephaestin and zyklopen, as well as enzymes such as dopamine-β-monoxygenase, while iron is part of the catalytic site of many cytochromes and enzymes involved in fatty acid desaturation. Unsurprisingly, therefore, copper and iron deficiency, especially during pregnancy, when cell proliferation and differentiation are very active, sub-optimal nutrient status can lead to serious consequences. These problems can persist into adulthood, with an increased risk of mental problems such as schizophrenia and, in animal models at least, hypertension and obesity. In this review, we consider what these problems are and how they may arise. We examine the role of copper and iron deficiencies separately during fetal development, in terms of birth outcome and then how problems with status in utero can have long term sequelae for the offspring. We examine several possible mechanisms of action, both direct and indirect. Direct causes include, for example, reduced enzyme activity, while indirect ones may result from changes in cytokine activity, reductions in cell number or increased apoptosis, to name but a few. We examine a very important area of nutrition-interactions between the micronutrients and conclude that, while we have made significant advances in understanding the relationship between micronutrient status and pregnancy outcome, there is still much to be learned. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: There is currently no efficient and reliable clinical means of assessing the degree of ischemia- and reperfusion-associated damage in microvascular transplants. The objective was to study correlation of tissue oxygen tension measurements with tissue oxygen saturation, cytochrome oxidase redox state, and tissue viability. Materials and Methods: Latissimus dorsi muscle was dissected and mobilized in New Zealand white rabbits (n = 30, 2.5 ± 0.5 kg). Muscles were exposed to warm ischemia in two groups with either 4 or 6 h, followed by reperfusion. Tissue PO2 was measured with a miniature intramuscular oxygen sensor (Licox microprobe; Integra Neurosciences, Ratingen, Germany) all along with tissue hemoglobin saturation (rSO2) and cytochrome oxidase aa3 redox state (CytOx) by in vivo near-infrared spectroscopy. Linear correlation was performed between tissue PO2 and rSO2, CytOx and tissue viability. Results: After ischemia and reperfusion, tissue PO2 and CytOx recovery was significantly decreased in both groups compared with control (4 h: P < 0.05; 6 h: P < 0.01). Significant correlations between changes in tissue PO2 and rSO2 (r = 0.92; P < 0.01), CytOx (r = 0.90; P < 0.01), wet-to-dry ratio (r = –0.97; P < 0.01), and mitochondrial viability index (r = 0.97; P < 0.01) were found. Conclusions: Tissue oxygen tension measured with microprobes correlated closely with tissue oxygenation, cellular oxygen utilization, and the extent of ischemia reperfusion injury. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: δ-Helices are marginally hydrophobic α-helical segments in soluble proteins that exhibit certain sequence characteristics of transmembrane (TM) helices [Cunningham, F., Rath, A., Johnson, R. M. & Deber, C. M. (2009). Distinctions between hydrophobic helices in globular proteins and TM segments as factors in protein sorting. J. Biol. Chem., 284, 5395–402]. In order to better understand the difference between δ-helices and TM helices, we have studied the insertion of five TM-like δ-helices into dog pancreas microsomal membranes. Using model constructs in which an isolated δ-helix is engineered into a bona fide membrane protein, we find that, for two δ-helices originating from secreted proteins, at least three single-nucleotide mutations are necessary to obtain efficient membrane insertion, whereas one mutation is sufficient in a δ-helix from the cytosolic protein P450BM-3. We further find that only when the entire upstream region of the mutated δ-helix in the intact cytochrome P450BM-3 is deleted does a small fraction of the truncated protein insert into microsomes. Our results suggest that upstream portions of the polypeptide, as well as embedded charged residues, protect δ-helices in globular proteins from being recognized by the signal recognition particle–Sec61 endoplasmic-reticulum-targeting machinery and that δ-helices in secreted proteins are mutationally more distant from TM helices than δ-helices in cytosolic proteins. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: While Hispanics are the largest and most rapidly growing minority population in the United States, they are underrepresented in pharmacogenomic studies with warfarin. We sought to determine the combination of clinical and genetic influences of warfarin dose requirements in Hispanics. In addition, we tested the performance of published warfarin dosing algorithms derived from largely non-Hispanic cohorts in an inner-city U.S. Hispanic population. Genetic samples and clinical data were obtained from 50 Hispanics on a stable dose of warfarin. The contribution of cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) and vitamin K epoxide reductase complex-1 (VKORC1) genotypes and clinical factors to warfarin dose requirements was determined. The correlation between the predicted dose using published algorithms and therapeutic dose was also assessed. Compared to the VKORC1-1639 GG genotype, warfarin dose requirements were 30% and 62% lower with the GA and AA genotypes, respectively (p =0.001). The combination of the VKORC1-1639G>A and CYP2C9 genotypes and clinical factors explained 56% of the inter-patient variability in warfarin dose. Warfarin dose predicted using algorithms derived from mostly non-Hispanic cohorts was significantly correlated with the therapeutic dose in our Hispanic cohort (r 2 =0.43 to 0.49; p <0.001); the predicted dose was within 1.0 mg/day of the therapeutic dose for 40% to 50% of patients. Our data suggest that factors influencing warfarin dose requirements in Hispanic Caucasians are similar to those previously described in European Caucasians and that dosing algorithms derived from non-Hispanic Caucasian cohorts are applicable to Hispanics living in the U.S. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Our prior work on tricyclic acridones combined with a desire to minimize the tricyclic system led to an interest in antimalarial quinolones and a reexamination of endochin, an experimental antimalarial from the 1940’s. In the present article, we show that endochin is unstable in the presence of murine, rat, and human microsomes which may explain its relatively poor antimalarial activity in mammalian systems. We also profile the structure–activity relationships of ≈30 endochin-like quinolone (ELQ) analogs and highlight features that are associated with enhanced metabolic stability, potent antiplasmodial activity against multidrug resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum, and equal activity against an atovaquone-resistant clinical isolate. Our work also features an ELQ construct containing a polyethylene glycol carbonate pro-moiety that is highly efficacious by oral administration in a murine malaria model. These findings provide compelling evidence that development of ELQ therapeutics is feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: An alcohol bolus causes the blood alcohol level (BAL) to peak at 1–2h post ingestion. The ethanol elimination rate is regulated by alcohol metabolizing enzymes, primarily alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH1), acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), and cytochrome P450 (CYP2E1). Recently, S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) was found to reduce acute BALs 3h after an alcohol bolus. The question, then, was: what is the mechanism involved in this reduction of BAL by feeding SAMe? To answer this question, we investigated the changes in ethanol metabolizing enzymes and the epigenetic changes that regulate the expression of these enzymes during acute binge drinking and chronic drinking. Methods: Rats were fed a bolus of ethanol with or without SAMe, and were sacrificed at 3h or 12h after the bolus. Results: RT-PCR and Western blot analyses showed that SAMe significantly induced ADH1 levels in the 3h liver samples. However, SAMe did not affect the changes in ADH1 protein levels 12h post bolus. Since SAMe is a methyl donor, it was postulated that the ADH1 gene expression up regulation at 3h was due to a histone modification induced by methylation from methyl transferases. Dimethylated histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4me2), a modification responsible for gene expression activation, was found to be significantly increased by SAMe at 3h post bolus. Conclusion: These results correlated with the low BAL found at 3h post bolus, and support the concept that SAMe increased the gene expression to increase the elimination rate of ethanol in binge drinking by increasing H3K4me2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The present study defined a simplified physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for acrylonitrile in humans based on in vitro metabolic parameters determined using relevant liver microsomes, coefficients derived in silico, physiological parameters derived from the literature, and a prior previously developed PBPK model in rats. The model basically consists of a chemical absorption compartment, a metabolizing compartment, and a central compartment for acrylonitrile. Evaluation of a previous rat model was performed by comparisons with experimental pharmacokinetic values from blood and urine obtained from rats in vivo after oral treatment with acrylonitrile (30mg/kg, a no-observed-adverse-effect level) for 14days. Elimination rates of acrylonitrile in vitro were established using data from rat liver microsomes and from pooled human liver microsomes. Acrylonitrile was expected to be absorbed and cleared rapidly from the body in silico, as was the case for rats confirmed experimentally in vivo with repeated low-dose treatments. These results indicate that the simplified PBPK model for acrylonitrile is useful for a forward dosimetry approach in humans. This model may also be useful for simulating blood concentrations of other related compounds resulting from exposure to low chemical doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) acts as a key molecule in many physiological processes in plants. In this study, the roles of NO in mitochondrial respiration were investigated in the calli from wild-type Arabidopsis and NO associated 1 mutant (Atnoa1) which has a reduced endogenous NO level. Long-term exposure of wild-type Arabidopsis callus to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) increased mitochondrial respiration in both cytochrome and alternative pathways. In Atnoa1 callus, the capacity of both the cytochrome pathway and the alternative pathway was lower than that in wild-type callus. Further study indicated that NO enhanced the transcript abundance of genes encoding mitochondrial respiration-chain proteins as well as the protein expression of the NADH-ubiquinone reductase 75kDa subunit and the alternative oxidase 1/2 in wild-type and Atnoa1 calli. 2-Phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetremethy-limidazolinone-1-oxyl-3-oxide (PTIO), a NO scavenger, inhibited the effects of NO in both calli. Co-incubation of callus with 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), a guanylate cyclase inhibitor, also abolished NO effects. The membrane-permeable cGMP analog 8Br-cGMP mimicked NO effects. Moreover, the alternative pathway showed a higher sensitivity to the cellular cGMP changes than the cytochrome pathway did in gene transcription, protein expression and O2 consumption. Taken together, NO could enhance mitochondrial respiration in both cytochrome and alternative pathways in a cGMP-dependent manner in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: 1,3-butadiene (BD) has been classified as a human carcinogen, however, the relationship between chromosomal damage and its metabolic polymorphisms is not clear. The present study used the CBMN assay to detect chromosomal damage in the peripheral lymphocytes of 166 exposed workers and 41 non-exposed healthy individuals. PCR and PCR-RFLP were applied to detect GSTT1, GSTM1, CYP2E1 c1c2 and mEH Tyr113His, His139Arg polymorphisms. The results demonstrated that the micronucleus (MN) frequency of the exposed workers was significantly higher than controls (P <0.01). Among the exposed workers, the individuals with high BD exposures are more susceptible to chromosomal damage than those with low exposures (FR=1.30, 95% CI 1.14–1.53; P <0.05). Gender-difference was also found in our study: males got lower micronucleus frequency than females. Workers who carried the genotypes of GSTM1 (+), CYP2E1 (c1c2/c2c2) and mEH intermediate (I) group had significantly higher MN frequency than those carrying the genotypes of GSTM1 (−) (FR=1.29, 95% CI 1.05–1.59; P <0.05), CYP2E1 (c1c1) (FR=1.55, 95% CI 1.24–1.93; P <0.01) or mEH high (H) group (FR=1.57, 95% CI 1.08–2.34; P <0.05), respectively. Our data indicated that the current BD exposure level could cause significantly higher MN frequency in workers than controls. Polymorphisms of GSTM1, CYP2E1 and mEH are susceptible to altered chromosome damage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We examine phylogenetic relationships within the Synergus complex of herbivorous inquiline gallwasps (Hymenoptera; Cynipidae; Synergini) associated with cynipid host galls on oak, a biologically diverse group whose genus-level morphological taxonomy has long been considered stable but whose species level taxonomy is problematic. We incorporate data for over 70% of recognised Western Palaearctic species in five morphology-based genera (Ceroptres, Saphonecrus, Synergus, Synophrus, Ufo), comprising sequence for two mitochondrial loci (coxI, cytb) and one nuclear locus (28S D2). In particular, we assess the evidence for monophyly of two long-established, morphology-defined sections within the genus Synergus that differ in a range of biological traits. To aid analyses of ecological interactions within oak cynipid communities, we also consider the utility of cytochrome oxidase I (coxI) DNA barcodes in the oak inquilines. In this assessment, we do not assume that species are delineated at a single threshold value of sequence divergence for a single gene, but examine concordance in the composition of molecular operational Taxonomic units (MOTUs) across a range of sequence divergences in each gene and across genes. We also assess the impact of sampling effort on MOTU stability. Phylogenetic reconstructions for all three loci support monophyly for Synergus and Synophrus, but reject monophyly for Saphonecrus and for the two sections within Synergus. The suites of traits associated with the two sections of the genus Synergus are thus homoplasious. All three loci also reject monophyly for three Synergus species (S. hayneanus, S. pallipes, S. umbraculus). Sequences for each locus identify robust MOTUs that are largely concordant across loci for a range of cut-off values. Though many MOTU’s correspond to recognised Linnean species, there is significant, multigene disagreement between groupings supported by morphology and sequence data, with both allocation of different morphospecies to the same MOTU and allocation of the same morphospecies to multiple MOTUs, regardless of cut-off value. Our results imply that while DNA barcoding has considerable utility within this group, morphology-based identification needs major revision at both genus and species levels. Further, lifehistory traits currently attributed to single morphospecies probably confound attributes of multiple lineages. Revealing patterns of character state evolution in Synergus requires collection of new host association and life history data explicitly linked to DNA barcode data for the specimens concerned. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]