Acid-catalysed cyclisations: structures of novel products isolated in the reaction of 2-[3-(2,6-dimethoxyphenyl)but-2-enyl]-2-methylcyclopentane-1,3-dione with MeOH-HCl

Reaction of the title compound (1a) with anhydrous MeOH-HCl gave 2-endo-(2,6-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-exo-methyl-5-methylbicyclo[3.2.1]octane-6,8-dione (3a), 1,5,14-timethoxy-5,8-seco-6,7-dinorestra-1,3,5(10),9(11)-tetraen-17-one (4), 1,5-dimethoxy-5,8-seco-6,7-dinorestra-1,3,5(10),8,14-pentaen-17-one (5), and 3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2,7-dimethoxy-3,6-dimethyl-3,2,6-(13-oxopropan[1]yI[3]ylidene)-2H-1-benzoxocin (6). Structures assigned to compounds (3a), (4), and (6) are based on spectral data. The exo-tricyclic acetal structure (6) was further confirmed by the analysis of the 1H n.m.r. spectra of the isomeric alcohols (11) and (12), obtained by sodium borohydride reduction of (6).

Baker's yeast expressing the Japanese encephalitis virus envelope protein on its cell surface: induction of an antigen-specific but non-neutralizing antibody response

Live recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast expressing the envelope antigen of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) on the outer mannoprotein layer of the cell wall were examined for their ability to induce antigen-specific antibody responses in mice. When used as a modelantigen, parenteral immunization of mice with surface-expressing GFP yeast induced a strong anti-GFP antibody response in the absence of adjuvants. This antigen delivery approach was then used for a more stringent system, such as the envelope protein of JEV, which is a neurotropic virus requiring neutralizing antibodies for protection.Although 70% of cells were detected to express the total envelope protein on the surface by antibodies raised to the bacterially expressed protein, polyclonal anti-JEV antibodies failed to react with them. In marked contrast, yeast expressing the envelope fragments 238-398, 373-399 and 373-500 in front of a Gly-Ser linker were detected by anti-JEV antibodies as well as a monoclonal antibody but not by antibodies raised to the bacterially expressed protein. Immunization of mice with these surface-expressing recombinants resulted in a strong antibody response. However, the antibodies failed to neutralize the virus, although the fragments were selected based on neutralizing determinants.

Accurate determination of interference in pin joints Pin-to-plate interference in experimental models of interference-fit joints is significantly overestimated by direct physical measurements, but it can be accurately determined by a simple photoelastic method

Suitable pin-to-hole interference can significantly increase the fatigue life of a pin joint. In practical design, the initial stresses due to interference are high and they are proportional to the effective interference. In experimental studies on such joints, difficulties have been experienced in estimating the interference accurately from physical measurements of pin and hole diameters. A simple photoelastic method has been developed to determine the effective interference to a high degree of accuracy. This paper presents the method and reports illustrative data from a successful application thereof.

Cytosines, but Not Purines, Determine Recombination Activating Gene (RAG)-induced Breaks on Heteroduplex DNA Structures

The sequence specificity of the recombination activating gene (RAG) complex during V(D)J recombination has been well studied. RAGs can also act as structure-specific nuclease; however, little is known about the mechanism of its action. Here, we show that in addition to DNA structure, sequence dictates the pattern and efficiency of RAG cleavage on altered DNA structures. Cytosine nucleotides are preferentially nicked by RAGs when present at single-stranded regions of heteroduplex DNA. Although unpaired thymine nucleotides are also nicked, the efficiency is many fold weaker. Induction of single- or double-strand breaks by RAGs depends on the position of cytosines and whether it is present on one or both of the strands. Interestingly, RAGs are unable to induce breaks when adenine or guanine nucleotides are present at single-strand regions. The nucleotide present immediately next to the bubble sequence could also affect RAG cleavage. Hence, we propose “C(d)C(S)C(S)” (d, double-stranded; s, single-stranded) as a consensus sequence for RAG-induced breaks at single-/double-strand DNA transitions. Such a consensus sequence motif is useful for explaining RAG cleavage on other types of DNA structures described in the literature. Therefore, the mechanism of RAG cleavage described here could explain facets of chromosomal rearrangements specific to lymphoid tissues leading to genomic instability.

Japanese Encephalitis Virus Utilizes the Canonical Pathway To Activate NF-kappa B but It Utilizes the Type I Interferon Pathway To Induce Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I Expression in Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts

Flaviviruses have been shown to induce cell surface expression of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) through the activation of NF-kappa B. Using IKK1(-/-), IKK2(-/-), NEMO-/-, and IKK1-/- IKK2-/- double mutant as well as p50(-/-) RelA(-/-) cRel(-/-) triple mutant mouse embryonic fibroblasts infected with Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), we show that this flavivirus utilizes the canonical pathway to activate NF-kappa B in an IKK2- and NEMO-, but not IKK1-, dependent manner. NF-kappa B DNA binding activity induced upon virus infection was shown to be composed of RelA: p50 dimers in these fibroblasts. Type I interferon (IFN) production was significantly decreased but not completely abolished upon virus infection in cells defective in NF-kappa B activation. In contrast, induction of classical MHC-I (class 1a) genes and their cell surface expression remained unaffected in these NF-kappa B-defective cells. However, MHC-I induction was impaired in IFNAR(-/-) cells that lack the alpha/beta IFN receptor, indicating a dominant role of type I IFNs but not NF-kappa B for the induction of MHC-I molecules by Japanese encephalitis virus. Our further analysis revealed that the residual type I IFN signaling in NF-kappa B-deficient cells is sufficient to drive MHC-I gene expression upon virus infection in mouse embryonic fibroblasts. However, NF-kappa B could indirectly regulate MHC-I expression, since JEV-induced type I IFN expression was found to be critically dependent on it.

Nucleosomes on linear duplex DNA allow homologous pairing but prevent strand exchange promoted by RecA protein

To understand the molecular basis of gene targeting, we have studied interactions of nucleoprotein filaments comprised of single-stranded DNA and RecA protein with chromatin templates reconstituted from linear duplex DNA and histones. We observed that for the chromatin templates with histone/DNA mass ratios of 0.8 and 1.6, the efficiency of homologous pairing was indistinguishable from that of naked duplex DNA but strand exchange was repressed. In contrast, the chromatin templates with a histone/DNA mass ratio of 9.0 supported neither homologous pairing nor strand exchange. The addition of histone H1, in stoichiometric amounts, to chromatin templates quells homologous pairing. The pairing of chromatin templates with nucleoprotein filaments of RecA protein-single-stranded DNA proceeded without the production of detectable networks of DNA, suggesting that coaggregates are unlikely to be the intermediates in homologous pairing. The application of these observations to strategies for gene targeting and their implications for models of genetic recombination are discussed.

Phenyl-Ring-Bearing Cationic Surfactants: Effect of Ring Location on the Micellar Structure

A series of isomeric cationic surfactants (S1-S5) bearing a long alkyl chain that carries a 1,4-phenylene unit and a trimethyl ammonium headgroup was synthesized; the location of the phenyl ring within the alkyl tail was varied in an effort to understand its influence on the amphiphilic properties of the surfactants. The cmc's of the surfactants were estimated using ionic conductivity measurements and isothermal calorimetric titrations (ITC); the values obtained by the two methods were found to be in excellent agreement. The ITC measurements provided additional insight into the various thermodynamic parameters associated with the micellization process. Although all five surfactants have exactly the same molecular formula, their micellar properties were seen to vary dramatically depending on the location of the phenyl ring; the cmc was seen to decrease by almost an order of magnitude when the phenyl ring was moved from the tail end (cmc of S1 is 23 mM) to the headgroup region (cmc of S5 is 3 mM). In all cases, the enthalpy of micellization was negative but the entropy of micellization was positive, suggesting that in all of these systems the formation of micelles is both enthalpically and entropically favored. As expected, the decrease in cmc values upon moving the phenyl ring from the tail end to he headgroup region is accompanied by an increase in the thermodynamic driving force (Delta G) for micellization. To understand further the differences in the micellar structure of these surfactants, small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements were carried out; these measurements reveal that the aggregation number of the micelles increases as the cmc decreases. This increase in the aggregation number is also accompanied by an increase in the asphericity of the micellar aggregate and a decrease in the fractional charge. Geometric packing arguments are presented to account for these changes in aggregation behavior as a function of phenyl ring location.

Dexamethasone negatively regulates phenobarbitone-activated transcription but synergistically enhances cytoplasmic levels of cytochrome P-450b/e messenger RNA

Dexamethasone has a potentiating effect on phenobarbitone mediated induction of cytochrome P-450b + e mRNAs in adult rat liver. However, the glucocorticoid inhibits phenobarbitone-activated transcription of cytochrome P-450b + e mRNAs by 60-70%. This inhibitory effect is evident in run-off transcription of the endogenous genes as well as in the transcription of an added cloned gene fragment. Dexamethasone inhibits the phenobarbitone-mediated increase in the binding of a transcription factor(s) to the upstream region of the gene as evidenced by gel retardation and Southwestern blot analysis. The glucocorticoid does not stabilize the phenobarbitone-induced polyribosomal cytochrome P-450b + e mRNAs but appears to stabilize the nuclear transcripts. It is proposed that a negative element may mediate the action of dexamethasone at the level of nuclear transcription and stabilization of the nuclear transcript may account for the potentiating effect of the glucocorticoid on phenobarbitone-mediated increase in cytochrome P-450b + e mRNAs in the cytoplasm of the adult rat liver. However, the cytochrome P-450b protein levels are slightly lower in phenobarbitone + dexamethasone treatment than in phenobarbitone-treated liver microsomes.

Protection of adult but not newborn mice against lethal intracerebral challenge with Japanese encephalitis virus by adoptively transferred virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes: Requirement for L3T4(+) T cells

The protective ability of cytotoxic T cells (CTL) raised in vitro against Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) was examined by adoptive transfer experiments. Adoptive transfer of anti-JEV effecters by intracerebral (i.c.) but not by intraperitoneal (i.p.) or intravenous (i.v.) routes protected adult BALB/c mice against lethal i.c. JEV challenge. In contrast to adult mice, adoptive transfer of anti-JEV effecters into newborn (4-day-old) and suckling (8-14-day-old) mice did not confer protection. However, virus-induced death was delayed in suckling mice compared to newborn mice upon adoptive transfer. The specific reasons for lack of protection in newborn mice are not clear but virus load was found to be higher in newborn mice brains compared to those of adults and virus clearance was observed only in adult mice brains but not in newborn mice brains upon adoptive transfer. Specific depletion of Lyt 2.2(+), L3T4(+) or Thy-1(+) T cell populations before adoptive transfer abrogated the protective ability of transferred effecters. However, when Lyt 2.2(+) cell-depleted and L3T4(+) cell-depleted effecters were mixed and transferred into adult mice the protective activity was retained, demonstrating that both Lyt 2.2(+) and L3T4(+) T cells are necessary to confer protection. Although the presence of L3T4(+) T cells in adoptively transferred effector populations enhanced virus-specific serum neutralizing antibodies, the presence of neutralizing antibodies alone without Lyt 2.2(+) cells was not sufficient to confer protection.

Mycobacterium leprae RecA is structurally analogous but functionally distinct from Mycobacterium tuberculosis RecA protein

Mycobacterium leprae is closely related to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, yet causes a very different illness. Detailed genomic comparison between these two species of mycobacteria reveals that the decaying M. leprae genome contains less than half of the M. tuberculosis functional genes. The reduction of genome size and accumulation of pseudogenes in the M. leprae genome is thought to result from multiple recombination events between related repetitive sequences, which provided the impetus to investigate the recombination-like activities of RecA protein. In this study, we have cloned, over-expressed and purified M. leprae RecA and compared its activities with that of M. tuberculosis RecA. Both proteins, despite being 91% identical at the amino acid level, exhibit strikingly different binding profiles for single-stranded DNA with varying GC contents, in the ability to catalyze the formation of D-loops and to promote DNA strand exchange. The kinetics and the extent of single-stranded DNA-dependent ATPase and coprotease activities were nearly equivalent between these two recombinases. However, the degree of inhibition exerted by a range of ATP:ADP ratios was greater on strand exchange promoted by M. leprae RecA compared to its M. tuberculosis counterpart. Taken together, our results provide insights into the mechanistic aspects of homologous recombination and coprotease activity promoted by M. lepare RecA, and further suggests that it differs from the M. tuberculosis counterpart. These results are consistent with an emerging concept of DNA-sequence influenced structural differences in RecA nucleoprotein filaments and how these differences reflect on the multiple activities associated with RecA protein. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Males, but not females, mate with multiple partners: a laboratory study of a primitively eusocial wasp Ropalidia marginata

The intense interest in social Hymenoptera, on account of their elaborate sociality and the paradox of altruism, has often suffered from considerable gender imbalance. This is partly due to the fact that worker behaviour and altruism are restricted to the females and partly because males often live off the nest. Yet, understanding the males, especially in the context of mating biology is essential even for understanding the evolution of sociality. Mating patterns have a direct bearing on the levels of intra-colony genetic relatedness, which in turn, along with the associated costs and benefits of worker behaviour, are central to our understanding of the evolution of sociality. Although mating takes place away from the nest in natural colonies of the primitively eusocial wasp Ropalidia marginata, mating can be observed in the laboratory if a male and a female are placed in a transparent, aerated plastic container, and both wasps are in the range of 5-20 days of age. Here, we use this setup and show that males, but not females, mate serially with multiple partners. The multiple mating behaviour of the males is not surprising because in nature males have to mate with a number of females, only a few of whom will go on to lay eggs. The reluctance of R. marginata females to mate with multiple partners is consistent with the expectation of monogamy in primitively eusocial species with totipotent females, although the apparent discrepancy with a previous work with allozyme markers in natural colonies suggesting that females may sometimes mate with two or three different males remains to be resolved.

Females of a tree cricket prefer larger males but not the lower frequency male calls that indicate large body size

In the tree cricket Oecanthus henryi, females are attracted by male calls and can choose between males. To make a case for female choice based on male calls, it is necessary to examine male call variation in the field and identify repeatable call features that are reliable indicators of male size or symmetry. Female preference for these reliable call features and the underlying assumption behind this choice, female preference for larger males, also need to be examined. We found that females did prefer larger males during mating, as revealed by the longer mating durations and longer spermatophore retention times. We then examined the correlation between acoustic and morphological features and the repeatability of male calls in the field across two temporal scales, within and across nights. We found that carrier frequency was a reliable indicator of male size, with larger males calling at lower frequencies at a given temperature. Simultaneous playback of male calls differing in frequency, spanning the entire range of natural variation at a given temperature, revealed a lack of female preference for low carrier frequencies. The contrasting results between the phonotaxis and mating experiments may be because females are incapable of discriminating small differences in frequency or because the change in call carrier frequency with temperature renders this cue unreliable in tree crickets. (C) 2012 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The zinc finger proteins Mxr1p and repressor of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (ROP) have the same DNA binding specificity but regulate Methanol Metabolism antagonistically in pichia pastoris

The methanol-inducible alcohol oxidase I (AOXI) promoter of the methylotrophic yeast, Pichia pastoris, is used widely for the production of recombinant proteins. AOXI transcription is regulated by the zinc finger protein Mxr1p (methanol expression regulator 1). ROP (repressor of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, PEPCK) is a methanol- and biotin starvation-inducible zinc finger protein that acts as a negative regulator of PEPCK in P. pastoris cultured in biotin-deficient, glucose-ammonium medium. The function of ROP during methanol metabolism is not known. In this study, we demonstrate that ROP represses methanol-inducible expression of AOXI when P. pastoris is cultured in a nutrient-rich medium containing yeast extract, peptone, and methanol (YPM). Deletion of the gene encoding ROP results in enhanced expression of AOXI and growth promotion whereas overexpression of ROP results in repression of AOXI and growth retardation of P. pastoris cultured in YPM medium. Surprisingly, deletion or overexpression of ROP has no effect on AOXI gene expression and growth of P. pastoris cultured in a minimal medium containing yeast nitrogen base and methanol (YNBM). Subcellular localization studies indicate that ROP translocates from cytosol to nucleus of cells cultured in YPM but not YNBM. In vitro DNA binding studies indicate that AOXI promoter sequences containing 5' CYCCNY 3' motifs serve as binding sites for Mxr1p as well as ROP. Thus, Mxr1p and ROP exhibit the same DNA binding specificity but regulate methanol metabolism antagonistically in P. pastoris. This is the first report on the identification of a transcriptional repressor of methanol metabolism in any yeast species.