The Effect of Sodium Chloride on Catechol Oxidase from Apples

Catechol oxidase from apple chloroplasts and browning of apple slices are strongly inhibited by the chloride anion. The inhibition is non-competitive and reversible. Inhibition is pH-dependent. being observed at pH 5.1 but not at pH 7.3. Activity could be extracted from the particles using CTAB. The extract's activity at the two pH could not be resolved into distinct fractions. The pH-dependence of inhibition is ascribed to a change in the tertiary structure of the enzyme.     

The effect of dietary supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid on the phospholipid and fatty acid composition of erythrocytes of marmoset

Adult male marmoset monkeys were fed eicosapentaenoic acid (20∶5n−3) as the ethyl ester in diets containing either 32% (reference diet, no added cholesterol) or 7% (atherogenic diet with 0.2% added cholesterol) linoleic acid (18∶2n−6) for 30 wk. No changes were seen in the level of phosphatidylcholine (PC) or phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) but minor changes were observed in both the sphingomyelin (SPM) and phosphatidylinositol plus phosphatidylserine (PI+PS) fractions of erythrocyte lipids. The extent of total n−3 fatty acid incorporation into membrane lipids was higher in atherogenic diets (polyunsaturated/monounsaturated/saturated (P/M/S) ratio 0.2∶0.6∶1.0) than reference diets (P/M/S ratio 1∶1∶1) and this was true for both PE (33.4±1.0%vs 24.3±1.1%) and PC (9.3±0.5%vs 4.9±0.3%). Although suitable controls for cholesterol effects were not included in the study, earlier results obtained with marmosets lead us to believe such effects were probably small. Regardless of basic diet (atherogenic, reference), 20∶5n−3 was preferentially incorporated into PE (10.8±0.2%, 6.0±0.02%) while smaller amounts were incorporated into PC (6.9±0.4%, 3.2±0.2%). The major n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acid found in PE in response to dietary 20∶5n−3 was the elongation metabolite 22∶5n−3 in both the atherogenic (17.7±0.7%) and reference (14.3±1.0%) dietary groups; 22∶6n−3 levels were less affected by diet (4.7±0.3% and 3.9±0.2%, respectively). The results can be interpreted to indicate an inverse relationship between the amount of dietary 18∶2n−6 and incorporation of 20∶5n−3 into erythrocyte membrane phospholipids regardless of whether the major dietary n−3 fatty acid was α-linolenate (18∶3n−3) or 20∶5n−3. This interpretation is supported by theoretical calculations.     

Utilizing Genomically Targeted Molecular Data to Improve Patient-Specific Outcomes in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Molecular biology combined with genomics can be a powerful tool for developing potential intervention strategies for improving outcomes in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Monogenic etiologies rarely cause autism. Instead, ASD is more frequently due to many polygenic contributing factors interacting with each other, combined with the epigenetic effects of diet, lifestyle, and environment. One limitation of genomics has been identifying ways of responding to each identified gene variant to translate the information to something clinically useful. This paper will illustrate how understanding the function of a gene and the effects of a reported variant on a molecular level can be used to develop actionable and targeted potential interventions for a gene variant or combinations of variants. For illustrative purposes, this communication highlights a specific genomic variant, SHANK3. The steps involved in developing molecularly genomically targeted actionable interventions will be demonstrated. Cases will be shared to support the efficacy of this strategy and to show how clinicians utilized these targeted interventions to improve ASD-related symptoms significantly. The presented approach demonstrates the utility of genomics as a part of clinical decision-making.     

Pathogenetic Mechanisms of Hypertension–Brain-Induced Complications: Focus on Molecular Mediators

There is growing evidence that hypertension is the most important vascular risk factor for the development and progression of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The brain is an early target of hypertension-induced organ damage and may manifest as stroke, subclinical cerebrovascular abnormalities and cognitive decline. The pathophysiological mechanisms of these harmful effects remain to be completely clarified. Hypertension is well known to alter the structure and function of cerebral blood vessels not only through its haemodynamics effects but also for its relationships with endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress and inflammation. In the last several years, new possible mechanisms have been suggested to recognize the molecular basis of these pathological events. Accordingly, this review summarizes the factors involved in hypertension-induced brain complications, such as haemodynamic factors, endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress, inflammation and intervention of innate immune system, with particular regard to the role of Toll-like receptors that have to be considered dominant components of the innate immune system. The complete definition of their prognostic role in the development and progression of hypertensive brain damage will be of great help in the identification of new markers of vascular damage and the implementation of innovative targeted therapeutic strategies.     

Solution Structure of the Leader Sequence of the Patellamide Precursor Peptide,PatE1–34

The solution structure of the leader sequence of the patellamide precursor peptide was analysed by using CD and determined with NOE‐restrained molecular dynamics calculations. This leader sequence is highly conserved in the precursor peptides of some other cyanobactins harbouring heterocycles, and is assumed to play a role in targeting the precursor peptide to the post‐translational machinery. The sequence was observed to form an α‐helix spanning residues 13–28 with a hydrophobic surface on one side of the helix. This hydrophobic surface is proposed to be the site of the initial binding with modifying enzymes.     

Psychological predictors of college students’ cell phone use while driving

Despite the known risk, many people talk on a phone while driving. This study explored psychological predictors of cell phone use while driving. College students (final N = 69) completed a survey and predicted their driving performance both with and without a simultaneous phone conversation. Their actual performance on a driving simulator was then assessed. Cell phone use reduced performance on the simulation task. Further, perceiving oneself as good at compensating for driving distractions, overestimating one's performance on the driving simulator, and high illusory control predicted more frequent cell phone use while driving in everyday life. Finally, those who talked more frequently on a phone while driving had poorer real-world driving records. These findings suggest illusory control and positive illusions partly explain driver's decisions of whether to use cell phones while driving.     

Effect of antimicrobial compounds tylosin and chlortetracycline during batch anaerobic swine manure digestion

Tylosin and chlortetracycline (CTC) are antimicrobial chemicals that are fed to >45% of the US swine herds at therapeutic and sub-therapeutic dosages to enhance growth rates and treat swine health problems. These compounds are poorly absorbed during digestion so that the bioactive compound or metabolites are excreted. This study investigated the degradation and stabilization of swine manure that contained no additives and compared the observed processes with those of manure containing either tylosin or CTC. The batch anaerobic incubation lasted 216 days. The breakdown of insoluble organic matter through anaerobic hydrolysis reactions was faster for manure containing CTC compared with tylosin or no-antimicrobial treatments. Volatile fatty acid (VFA) accumulation, including acetate, butyrate, and propionate, was greater for CTC-containing manure compared to tylosin and no-antimicrobial treatments. The relative abundance of two aceticlastic methanogens, Methanosaetaceae and Methanosarcinaceae spp., were less for CTC manure than manure with no-antimicrobial treatment. In addition, generation of methane and carbon dioxide was inhibited by 27.8% and 28.4%, respectively, due to the presence of CTC. Tylosin effects on manure degradation were limited, however the relative abundance of Methanosarcinaceae spp. was greater than found in the CTC or no-antimicrobial manures. These data suggest that acetate and other C-1 VFA compounds would be effectively utilized during methanogenesis in the presence of tylosin.     

揭开睫毛神秘变长之谜

假设只能使用一种化妆品，你会选择什么？面对这个问题，相信99％的女人会选择睫毛膏。因为眼睛是整个面孔神采飞扬的关键，而眼部最不能省略的彩妆品就是睫毛膏（Mascara）——对，就是那种装在小管子里，能使睫毛—下子变长、变翘的粘稠状混合物。据说，当男人和女人接吻时，他的脸颊接触着她闪闪忽忽的睫毛，会有一种出奇的快感。某些敏感的男人甚至可以听到睫毛在脸颊上扫过“噗噗”的声响。那些有GF的Geek，还不快去试试？