Subcellular Localization of Acyl-CoA: Lysophosphatidylethanolamine Acyltransferases (LPEATs) and the Effects of Knocking-Out and Overexpression of Their Genes on Autophagy Markers Level and Life Span of A. thaliana

Arabidopsis thaliana possesses two acyl-CoA:lysophosphatidylethanolamine acyltransferases, LPEAT1 and LPEAT2, which are encoded by At1g80950 and At2g45670 genes, respectively. Both single lpeat2 mutant and double lpeat1 lpeat2 mutant plants exhibit a variety of conspicuous phenotypes, including dwarfed growth. Confocal microscopic analysis of tobacco suspension-cultured cells transiently transformed with green fluorescent protein-tagged versions of LPEAT1 or LPEAT2 revealed that LPEAT1 is localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), whereas LPEAT2 is localized to both Golgi and late endosomes. Considering that the primary product of the reaction catalyzed by LPEATs is phosphatidylethanolamine, which is known to be covalently conjugated with autophagy-related protein ATG8 during a key step of the formation of autophagosomes, we investigated the requirements for LPEATs to engage in autophagic activity in Arabidopsis. Knocking out of either or both LPEAT genes led to enhanced accumulation of the autophagic adaptor protein NBR1 and decreased levels of both ATG8a mRNA and total ATG8 protein. Moreover, we detected significantly fewer membrane objects in the vacuoles of lpeat1 lpeat2 double mutant mesophyll cells than in vacuoles of control plants. However, contrary to what has been reported on autophagy deficient plants, the lpeat mutants displayed a prolonged life span compared to wild type, including delayed senescence.     

Potential of Telomerase in Age-Related Macular Degeneration—Involvement of Senescence,DNA Damage Response and Autophagy and a Key Role of PGC-1α

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the main cause of vision loss in the elderly, is associated with oxidation in the retina cells promoting telomere attrition. Activation of telomerase was reported to improve macular functions in AMD patients. The catalytic subunit of human telomerase (hTERT) may directly interact with proteins important for senescence, DNA damage response, and autophagy, which are impaired in AMD. hTERT interaction with mTORC1 (mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) complex 1) and PINK1 (PTEN-induced kinase 1) activates macroautophagy and mitophagy, respectively, and removes cellular debris accumulated over AMD progression. Ectopic expression of telomerase in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells lengthened telomeres, reduced senescence, and extended their lifespan. These effects provide evidence for the potential of telomerase in AMD therapy. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) may be involved in AMD pathogenesis through decreasing oxidative stress and senescence, regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and improving autophagy. PGC-1α and TERT form an inhibitory positive feedback loop. In conclusion, telomerase activation and its ectopic expression in RPE cells, as well as controlled clinical trials on the effects of telomerase activation in AMD patients, are justified and should be assisted by PGC-1α modulators to increase the therapeutic potential of telomerase in AMD.     

Interactions of Amyloid-β with Membrane Proteins

In developing and developed countries, an increasing elderly population is observed. This affects the growing percentage of people struggling with neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease. Nevertheless, the pathomechanism of this disease is still unknown. This contributes to problems with early diagnosis of the disease as well as with treatment. One of the most popular hypotheses of Alzheimer’s disease is related to the pathological deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) in the brain of ill people. In this paper, we discuss issues related to Aβ and its relationship in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The structure of Aβ and its interaction with the cell membrane are discussed. Not only do the extracellular plaques affect nerve cells, but other forms of this peptide as well.     

Kynurenine Pathway of Tryptophan Metabolism in Migraine and Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders

Migraine, the leading cause of disability in the population aged below 50, is associated with functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders (FGIDs) such as functional nausea, cyclic vomiting syndrome, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Conversely, changes in intestinal GI transit may cause diarrhea or constipation and are a component of the autonomic symptoms associated with pre- and post-dorsal phases of migraine attack. These mutual relationships provoke a question on a common trigger in migraine and FGIDs. The kynurenine (l-kyn) pathway (KP) is the major route for l-tryptophan (l-Trp) metabolism and transforms l-Trp into several neuroactive compounds. Changes in KP were reported in both migraine and FGIDs. Migraine was largely untreatable, but several drugs approved lately by the FDA, including monoclonal antibodies for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and its receptor, create a hope for a breakthrough in migraine treatment. Derivatives of l-kyn were efficient in pain relief with a mechanism including CGRP inhibition. KP products are important ligands to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), whose activation is implicated in the pathogenesis of GI and migraine. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) may play a role in migraine and IBS pathogeneses, and KP metabolites detected downstream of TLR activation may be an IBS marker. The TLR4 signaling was observed in initiating and maintaining migraine-like behavior through myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88) in the mouse. The aim of this review is to justify the view that KP modulation may provide common triggers for migraine and FGIDs with the involvement of TLR, AhR, and MyD88 activation.     

Pool Boiling of Water–Al2O3 and Water–Cu Nanofluids Outside Porous Coated Tubes

This paper deals with pool boiling of water–Al₂O₃ and water–Cu nanofluids on porous coated, horizontal tubes. Commercially available stainless-steel tubes having 10 mm outside diameter and 0.6 mm wall thickness were used to fabricate a test heater. Aluminum porous coatings 0.15 mm thick with porosity of about 40% were produced by plasma spraying. A smooth tube served as a reference tube. The experiments were conducted under different absolute operating pressures of 200 kPa, 100 kPa, and 10 kPa. Nanoparticles were tested at concentrations of 0.01%, 0.1%, and 1% by weight. In all cases tested, enhancement heat transfer was always observed during boiling of water–Al₂O₃ and water–Cu nanofluids on smooth tubes compared to boiling of distilled water. Contrary to smooth tubes, addition of even a small amount of nanoparticles resulted in deterioration of heat transfer during pool boiling of water–Al₂O₃ and water–Cu nanofluids on porous coated tubes in comparison with boiling of distilled water.     

Zn-Ca-Fe氧化物催化水解微晶纤维素

以尿素为沉淀剂制备了一系列复合金属沉淀物,将其在高温条件下煅烧获得一系列复合金属氧化物固体催化剂,并将其用于催化微晶纤维素的水解反应;考察了反应温度、反应时间、搅拌转速、催化剂用量和微晶纤维素用量对反应的影响。实验结果表明,在反应温度160℃、反应时间20 h、搅拌转速400 r/mnin、微晶纤维素2.0 g、Zn-Ca-Fe氧化物0.9 g和H_2O 200 mL的条件下,微晶纤维素的转化率高达42.56%,葡萄糖的收率为69.20%,且微晶纤维素水解液为中性溶液。在相同反应条件下,Zn-Ca-Fe氧化物可重复使用5次,其催化活性无明显降低。     

The influence of the legal and economical environment and the profile of activities on the optimal design features of a natural-gas-fired combined heat and power plant

The paper deals with the effect of some selected quantities occurring in the legal and economical environment on the optimal values of some selected design quantities of a natural-gas-fired CHP plant. This trend of investigations results from the newly observed legal changes in the legislation concerning new forms of mechanisms supporting the combined production of electricity and heat. Special stress was exerted on changes resulting from the formulation of two directives, viz. 2003/7/EC and 2004/8/EC.For the purpose of realising this task, a reference structure of a CHP plant was selected. For the steam-water part of the plant thirteen quantities were selected, determining the design features of the most essential components of this part of the system. These quantities served as decision variables in processes of optimisation. As the objective function the break-even price of electricity was assumed.The second part of the paper presents the results of sensitivity analyses of the fundamental indices of the energy and economical effectiveness to failures in the adherence of the optimal values of the respective design quantities, as well as the results of investigations on the effect of the operation time of the plant in the course of one year.     

Symmetries, Group Actions, and Entanglement

We address several problems concerning the geometry of the space of Hermitian operators on a finite-dimensional Hilbert space, in particular the geometry of the space of density states and canonical group actions on it. For quantum composite systems we discuss and give examples of entanglement measures.     

The effect of contact of copper sulphide grains on the initial rate of leaching in oxygenated sulphuric acid solution

The initial stage of leaching of chalcocite, bornite, and chalcopyrite as well as chalcocite-chalcopyrite and bornite-chalcopyrite mixtures in oxygenated aqueous sulphuric acid was investigated at 368 K. It was determined that chalcopyrite accelerates the rate of copper leaching from chalcocite due to grain contact between chalcocite and chalcopyrite. In contrast, chalcopyrite decreases the rate of dissolution of bornite.     

Sample preparation: quo vadis?

The sample preparation step in an analytical process typically consists of an extraction procedure that results in the isolation and enrichment of components of interest from a sample matrix. Extraction can vary in degree of selectivity, speed, and convenience and depends not only on the approach and conditions used but on the geometric configurations of the extraction phase. Increased interest in sample preparation research has been generated by the introduction of nontraditional extraction technologies. These technologies address the need for reduction of solvent use, automation, and miniaturization and ultimately lead to on-site in situ and in vivo implementation. These extraction approaches are frequently easier to operate but provide optimization challenges. More fundamental knowledge is required by an analytical chemist not only about equilibrium conditions but, more importantly, about the kinetics of mass transfer in the extraction systems. Optimization of this extraction process enhances overall analysis. Proper design of the extraction devices and procedures facilitates convenient on-site implementation, integration with sampling, and separation/quantification, automation, or both. The key to rational choice, optimization, and design is an understanding of the fundamental principles governing mass transfer of analytes in multiphase systems. The objective of this perspective is to summarize the fundamental aspects of sample preparation and anticipate future developments and research needs.