Genome-Wide Gene Expression Analysis Reveals a Dynamic Interplay between Luteotropic and Luteolytic Factors in the Regulation of Corpus Luteum Function in the Bonnet Monkey (Macaca radiata)

Although LH is essential for survival and function of the corpus luteum (CL) in higher primates, luteolysis occurs during nonfertile cycles without a discernible decrease in circulating LH levels. Using genome-wide expression analysis, several experiments were performed to examine the processes of luteolysis and rescue of luteal function in monkeys. Induced luteolysis with GnRH receptor antagonist (Cetrorelix) resulted in differential regulation of 3949 genes, whereas replacement with exogenous LH (Cetrorelix plus LH) led to regulation of 4434 genes (1563 down-regulation and 2871 up-regulation). A model system for prostaglandin (PG) F-2 alpha-induced luteolysis in the monkey was standardized and demonstrated that PGF(2 alpha) regulated expression of 2290 genes in the CL. Analysis of the LH-regulated luteal transcriptome revealed that 120 genes were regulated in an antagonistic fashion by PGF(2 alpha). Based on the microarray data, 25 genes were selected for validation by real-time RT-PCR analysis, and expression of these genes was also examined in the CL throughout the luteal phase and from monkeys treated with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to mimic early pregnancy. The results indicated changes in expression of genes favorable to PGF(2 alpha) action during the late to very late luteal phase, and expressions of many of these genes were regulated in an opposite manner by exogenous hCG treatment. Collectively, the findings suggest that curtailment of expression of downstream LH-target genes possibly through PGF(2 alpha) action on the CL is among the mechanisms underlying cross talk between the luteotropic and luteolytic signaling pathways that result in the cessation of luteal function, but hCG is likely to abrogate the PGF(2 alpha)-responsive gene expression changes resulting in luteal rescue crucial for the maintenance of early pregnancy. (Endocrinology 150: 1473-1484, 2009)

X-Ray Studies On Crystalline Complexes Involving Amino-Acids And Peptides .11. Peptide Aggregation And Water-Structure In The Crystals Of A Hydrated 1-1 Complex Between L-Histidyl-L-Serine And Glycyl-L-Glutamic Acid

The hexahydrate of a 1:1 complex between L-histidyl-L-serine and glycyl-L-glutamic acid crystallizes in space group P1 with a = 4.706(1), b= 8.578(2), c= 16.521(3) ÅA; α= 85.9(1), β= 89.7(1)°, = 77.4(1). The crystal structure, solved by direct methods, has been refined to an R value of 0.046 for 2150 observed reflections. The two peptide molecules in the structure have somewhat extended conformations. The unlike molecules aggregate into separate alternating layers. Each layer is stabilized by hydrogen bonded head-to-tail sequences as well as sequences of hydrogen bonds involving peptide groups. The arrangement of molecules in each layer is similar to one of the plausible idealized arrangements of L-alanyl-L-alanine worked out from simple geometrical considerations. Adjacent layers in the structure are held together by interactions involving side chains as well as water molecules. The water structure observed in the complex provides a good model, at atomic resolution, for that in protein crystals. An interesting feature of the crystal structure is the existence of two water channels in the interfaces between adjacent peptide layers.

Factors influencing seasonal and monthly changes in the group size of chital or axis deer in southern India

Chital or axis deer (Axis axis) form fluid groups that change in size temporally and in relation to habitat. Predictions of hypotheses relating animal density, rainfall, habitat structure, and breeding seasonality, to changes in chital group size were assessed simultaneously using multiple regression models of monthly data collected over a 2 yr period in Guindy National Park, in southern India. Over 2,700 detections of chital groups were made during four seasons in three habitats (forest, scrubland and grassland). In scrubland and grassland, chital group size was positively related to animal density, which increased with rainfall. This suggests that in these habitats, chital density increases in relation to food availability, and group sizes increase due to higher encounter rate and fusion of groups. The density of chital in forest was inversely related to rainfall, but positively to the number of fruiting tree species and availability of fallen litter, their forage in this habitat. There was little change in mean group size in the forest, although chital density more than doubled during the dry season and summer. Dispersion of food items or the closed nature of the forest may preclude formation of larger groups. At low densities, group sizes in all three habitats were similar. Group sizes increased with chital density in scrubland and grassland, but more rapidly in the latter—leading to a positive relationship between openness and mean group size at higher densities. It is not clear, however, that this relationship is solely because of the influence of habitat structure. The rutting index (monthly percentage of adult males in hard antler) was positively related to mean group size in forest and scrubland, probably reflecting the increase in group size due to solitary males joining with females during the rut. The fission-fusion system of group formation in chital is thus interactively influenced by several factors. Aspects that need further study, such as interannual variability, are highlighted.

Vertical Uplift Resistance of a Group of Two Coaxial Anchors in Clay

The vertical uplift resistance for a group of two horizontal coaxial rigid strip anchors embedded in clay under undrained condition has been determined by using the upper bound theorem of limit analysis in combination with finite elements. An increase of undrained shear strength of soil mass with depth has been incorporated. The uplift factor F-c gamma has been computed. As compared to a single isolated anchor, a group of two anchors provides greater magnitude of the uplift resistance. For a given embedment ratio, the group of two anchors generates almost the maximum uplift resistance when the upper anchor is located midway between ground surface and the lower anchor. For a given embedment ratio, F-c gamma increases linearly with an increase in the normalized unit weight of soil mass up to a certain value before attaining a certain maximum magnitude; the maximum value of F-c gamma increases with an increase in embedment ratio. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)GT.19435606.0000599. (C) 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.

Selective excitation and detection of maximum quantum coherence of a group of scalar coupled protons in chiral molecules: an NMR experiment for enantiodiscrimination

The H-1 NMR spectroscopic discrimination of enantiomers in the solution state and the measurement of enantiomeric composition is most often hindered due to either very small chemical shift differences between the discriminated peaks or severe overlap of transitions from other chemically non-equivalent protons. In addition the use of chiral auxiliaries such as, crown ether and chiral lanthanide shift reagent may often cause enormous line broadening or give little degree of discrimination beyond the crown ether substrate ratio, hampering the discrimination. In circumventing such problems we are proposing the utilization of the difference in the additive values of all the chemical shifts of a scalar coupled spin system. The excitation and detection of appropriate highest quantum coherence yields the measurable difference in the frequencies between two transitions, one pertaining to each enantiomer in the maximum quantum dimension permitting their discrimination and the F-2 cross section at each of these frequencies yields an enantiopure spectrum. The advantage of the utility of the proposed method is demonstrated on several chiral compounds where the conventional one dimensional H-1 NMR spectra fail to differentiate the enantiomers.

Horizontal pullout capacity of a group of two vertical plate anchors in clay

The horizontal pullout capacity of a group of two vertical strip plate anchors, placed along the same vertical plane, in a fully cohesive soil has been computed by using the lower bound finite element limit analysis. The effect of spacing between the plate anchors on the magnitude of total group failure load (P-uT) has been evaluated. An increase of soil cohesion with depth has also been incorporated in the analysis. For a weightless medium, the total pullout resistance of the group becomes maximum corresponding to a certain optimum spacing between the anchor plates which has been found to vary generally between 0.5B and B; where B is the width of the anchor plate. As compared to a single plate anchor, the increase in the pullout resistance for a group of two anchors becomes greater at a higher embedment ratio. The effect of soil unit weight has also been analyzed. It is noted that the interference effect on the pullout resistance increases further with an increase in the unit weight of soil mass.

Horizontal pullout resistance of a group of two vertical anchors in sand

The horizontal pullout capacity of a group of two vertical strip anchors placed along the same vertical plane in sand has been determined by using the upper bound finite elements limit analysis. The variation of the efficiency factor (xi (gamma) ) with changes in clear spacing (S) between the anchors has been established to evaluate the total group failure load for different values of (i) embedment ratio (H/B), (ii) soil internal friction angle (phi), and (iii) anchor-soil interface friction angle (delta). The total group failure load, for a given H/B, becomes always maximum corresponding to a certain optimal spacing (S-opt). The value of S-opt/B was found to lie in a range of 0.5-1.4. The maximum magnitude of xi (gamma) increases generally with increases in H/B, phi and delta.

Some remarks on the symplectic pairing on the moduli space of representations of the fundamental group of surfaces

This work grew out of an attempt to understand a conjectural remark made by Professor Kyoji Saito to the author about a possible link between the Fox-calculus description of the symplectic structure on the moduli space of representations of the fundamental group of surfaces into a Lie group and pairs of mutually dual sets of generators of the fundamental group. In fact in his paper [3] , Prof. Kyoji Saito gives an explicit description of the system of dual generators of the fundamental group.

Variations in the levels of aminoacylation and modified nucleotide content between total tRNAs from chloroplasts and etioplasts in cucumber cotyledons

Total tRNAs isolated from chloroplasts and etioplasts of cucumber cotyledons were compared with respect toamino acid acceptance, isoacceptor distribution and extent of modification. Aminoacylation of the tRNAs with nine different amino acids studied indicated that the relative acceptor activities of chloroplast total tRNAs for four amino acids are significantly higher than etioplast total tRNAs. Two dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(2D-PAGE) of chloroplast total tRNAs separated at least 32 spots, while approximately 41 spots were resolved from etioplast total tRNAs. Comparison of the reversed-phase chromatography (RPC-5) profiles of chloroplast and etioplast leucyl-, lysyl-, phenylalanyl-, and valyl-tRNA species showed no qualitative differences in the elution profiles. However, leucyl-, lysyl- and valyl-tRNA species showed quantitative differences in the relative amounts of the isoaccepting species present in chloroplasts and etioplasts. The analysis of modified nucleotides of total tRNAs from the two plastid types indicated that total tRNA from etioplasts was undermodified with respect to ribothymidine, isopentenyladenosine/hydroxy-isopentenyladenosine, 1 -methylguanosine and 2-o-methylguanosine. This indicates that illumination may cause de novo synthesis of chloroplast tRNAmodifying enzymes encoded for by nuclear genes leading to the formation of highly modified tRNAs in chloroplasts. Based on these results, we speculate that the observed decrease in levels of aminoacylation, variations in the relative amounts of certain isoacceptors, and differences in the electrophoretic mobilities of some extra tRNA spots in the etioplast total tRNAs as compared to chloroplast total tRNAs could be due to some partially undermodified etioplast tRNAs. Taken together, the data suggested that the light-induced transformation of etioplasts into chloroplasts is accompanied by increases in the relative levels of some functional chloroplast tRNAs by post transcriptional nucleotide modifications.

Aspects of tautomerism 12-Some causes and consequences of participation in the solvolysis of acid chlorides

Solvolysis of nine representative half ester acid chlorides in aqueous acetone have been studied. Isomers solvolyse at distinctly different rates and furnish the original acids. Contrary to the well accepted views, no evidence for tautomerism or isomerism between the isomeric pairs of acid chlorides could be detected. In a number of cases alkoxy group participates in the solvolysis of neighbouring acid chlorides. This results in (a) rate enhancement and (b) partial or total shift of the reaction pattern from SN2 to SN1. Isomeric half ester acid chlorides, in the presence of a sufficiently strong Lewis acid, could give the same oxonium salt. Rearrangements observed in the reactions of unsymmetrical 1,2- and 1,3-dicarboxylic acid derivatives could be ascribed to the prior formation of common oxonium salt intermediates in the presence of Lewis acids.

Intermolecular interactions in the formation of aromatic hydrocarbon dimers

Both short-range and long-range intermolecular interaction energies between two aromatic hydrocarbon molecules, both in their ground state, separated by a range of interplanar distances of 3 ∼ 4 Aring, are estimated using the standard perturbation theory. The results show that aromatic hydrocarbons can form weak sandwich dimers with larger separation between them than is normally believed in their excimers. The non-sandwich form of dimer in which the long in-plane axes of the monomers are parallel and their short in-plane axes inclined, represents an unstable orientation because this form can pass to the perfect sandwich form without an energy barrier.

Differences in the levels of aminoacylation and contents of modified nucleotides between total tRNAs from N2- and NH4+-grown Azospirillum lipoferum cells

Total tRNAs isolated from N2- and NH4(+)-grown Azospirillum lipoferum cells were compared with respect to amino acid acceptance, isoacceptor tRNA species levels and extent of nucleotide modifications. Amino-acylation of these two tRNA preparations with ten different amino acids indicated differences in the relative acceptor activities. Comparison of aminoacyl-tRNA patterns by RPC-5 column chromatography revealed no qualitative differences in the elution profiles. However, quantitative differences in the relative amounts of some isoacceptors were observed. These results indicate that alterations of relative amounts of functional tRNA species occur to match cellular requirements of the bacterial cells using N2 or NH4+ as nitrogen source. In addition, the content of modified nucleotides in total tRNAs of N2- and NH4(+)-grown cells was determined. In the NH4(+)-grown cells, content of most of the modified nucleotides decreased significantly. Based upon these results, the relationship of chargeability of tRNAs to base modifications is discussed.

Flow of an electrically conducting non-newtonian fluid between two rotating coaxial cones in the presence of external magnetic field due to an axial current

Bhatnagar and Rathna (Quar. Journ. Mech. Appl. Maths., 1963,16, 329) investigated the flows of Newtonian, Reiner-Rivlin and Rivlin-Ericksen fluids between two rotating coaxial cones. In case of the last two types of fluids, they predicted the breaking of secondary flow field in any meridian plane. We find that such breaking is avoided by the application of a sufficiently strong azimuthal magnetic field arising from a line current along the axis of the cones.

Polymer–filler interactions in hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene–ammonium perchlorate system in the presence of a bonding agent

Bonding between ammonium perchlorate (AP) and hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB), constituting a nonreinforcing filler system, has been studied in the presence of a unique bonding agent (BA)–a switter ion molecule, 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone derivative of 1,1′-bisacetylferrocene (DNPHD AF). Extensive conjugation and a permanent ionic character makes the DNPHD AF to bond strongly with the ionic oxidizer AP. Through its terminal OH group, HTPH bonds with the NO2 groups of DNPHD AF. Bonding sites in the molecules have been located from IR studies and from the first-order rate constant measurements of the bonding of DNPHD AF and other model BAs with HTPB and AP. The bonding ability of DNPHD AF is further evidenced from SEM micrographs.

Dynamic changes in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activities in the corpus luteum of the bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata) during development, induced luteolysis, and simulated early pregnancy: A role for p38 MAPK in the regulation of luteal function

Changes in MAPK activities were examined in the corpus luteum (CL) during luteolysis and pregnancy, employing GnRH antagonist (Cetrorelix)-induced luteolysis, stages of CL, and hCG treatment to mimic early pregnancy as model systems in the bonnet monkey. We hypothesized that MAPKs could serve to phosphorylate critical phosphoproteins to regulate luteal function. Analysis of several indices for structural (caspase-3 activity and DNA fragmentation) and functional (progesterone and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein expression) changes in the CL revealed that the decreased luteal function observed during Cetrorelix treatment and late luteal phase was associated with increased caspase-3 activity and DNA fragmentation. As expected, human chorionic gonadotropin treatment dramatically increased luteal function, but the indices for structural changes were only partially attenuated. All three MAPKs appeared to be constitutively active in the mid-luteal-phase CL, and activities of ERK-1/2 and p38-MAPK (p38), but not Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-1/2, decreased significantly (P < 0.05) within 12 - 24 h after Cetrorelix treatment. During the late luteal phase, in contrast to decreased ERK-1/2 and p38 activities, JNK-1/2 activities increased significantly (P < 0.05). Although human chorionic gonadotropin treatment increased ERK-1/2 and p38 activities, it decreased JNK-1/2 activities. The activation status of p38 was correlated with the phosphorylation status of an upstream activator, MAPK kinase-3/6 and the expression of MAPK activated protein kinase-3, a downstream target. Intraluteal administration of p38 kinase inhibitor (SB203580), but not MAPK kinase-1/2 inhibitor (PD98059), decreased the luteal function. Together, these data suggest an important role for p38 in the regulation of CL function in primates.