Host range, symptom expression and RNA 3 sequence analyses of six Australian strains of Cucumber mosaic virus

We have characterised six Australian Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) strains belonging to different subgroups, determined by the sequence of their complete RNA 3 and by their host range and the symptoms they cause on species in the Solanaceae, Cucurbitaceae and on sweet corn. These data allowed classification of strains into the known three CMV subgroups and identification of plant species able to differentiate the Australian strains by symptoms and host range. Western Australian strains 237 and Twa and Queensland strains 207 and 242 are closely related members of CMV subgroup IA, which cause similar severe symptoms on Nicotiana species. Strains 207 and 237 (subgroup IA) were the only strains tested which systemically infected sweet corn. Strain 243 caused the most severe symptoms of all strains on Nicotiana species, tomato and capsicum and appears to be the first confirmed subgroup IB strain reported in Australia. Based on pair-wise distance analysis and phylogeny of RNA 3, as well as mild disease symptoms on Nicotiana species, CMV 241 was assigned to subgroup II, as the previously described Q-CMV and LY-CMV.

Impacts of grazing management options on pasture and animal productivity in a Heteropogon contortus (black speargrass) pasture in central Queensland. 3. Diet composition in autumn

The diet selected in autumn by steers fistulated at the oesophageous was studied in a subset of treatments in an extensive grazing study conducted in a Heteropogon contortus pasture in central Queensland between 1988 and 2001. These treatments were a factorial array of three stocking rates (4, 3 and 2 ha/steer) and three pasture types (native pasture, legume-oversown native pasture and animal diet supplement/spring-burning native pasture). Seasonal rainfall throughout this study was below the long-term mean and mean annual pasture utilisation ranged from 30 to 61%. Steers consistently selected H. contortus with levels decreasing from 47 to 18% of the diet as stocking rate increased from 4 ha/steer to 2 ha/steer. Stylosanthes scabra cv. Seca was always selected in legume-oversown pastures with diet composition varying from 35 to 66% despite its plant density increasing from 7 to 65 plants/m(2) and pasture composition from 20 to 50%. Steers also selected a diet containing Chrysopogon fallax, forbs and sedges in higher proportions than they were present in the pasture. Greater availability of the intermediate grasses Chloris divaricata and Eragrostis spp. was associated with increased stocking rates. Bothriochloa bladhii was seldom selected in the diet, especially when other palatable species were present in the pasture, despite B. bladhii often being the major contributor to total pasture yield. It was concluded that a stocking rate of 4 ha/steer will maintain the availability of H. contortus in the pasture.

Latent TGF-beta Binding Proteins : Adhesive functions and matrix association of LTBP-2 and potential functions of LTBP-1 and LTBP-3 in mesothelioma

Latent transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) binding proteins (LTBPs) -1, -3 and -4 are ECM components whose major function is to augment the secretion and matrix targeting of TGF-beta, a multipotent cytokine. LTBP-2 does not bind small latent TGF-beta but has suggested functions as a structural protein in ECM microfibrils. In the current work we focused on analyzing possible adhesive functions of LTBP-2 as well as on characterizing the kinetics and regulation of LTBP-2 secretion and ECM deposition. We also explored the role of TGF-beta binding LTBPs in endothelial cells activated to mimic angiogenesis as well as in malignant mesothelioma. We found that, unlike most adherent cells, several melanoma cell lines efficiently adhered to purified recombinant LTBP-2. Further characterization revealed that the adhesion was mediated by alpha3beta1 and alpha6beta1 integrins. Heparin also inhibited the melanoma cell adhesion suggesting a role for heparan sulphate proteoglycans. LTBP-2 was also identified as a haptotactic substrate for melanoma cell migration. We used cultured human embryonic lung fibroblasts to analyze the temporal and spatial association of LTBP-2 into ECM. By We found that LTBP-2 was efficiently assembled to the ECM only in confluent cultures following the deposition of fibronectin (FN) and fibrillin-1. In early, subconfluent cultures it remained primarily in soluble form after secretion. LTBP-2 colocalized transiently with FN and fibrillin-1. Silencing of fibrillin-1 expression by lentiviral shRNAs profoundly disrupted the deposition of LTBP-2 indicating that the ECM association of LTBP-2 depends on a pre-formed fibrillin-1 network. Considering the established role of TGF-beta as a regulator of angiogenesis we induced morphological activation of endothelial cells by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and followed the fate of LTBP-1 in the endothelial ECM. This resulted in profound proteolytic processing of LTBP-1 and release of latent TGF-beta complexes from the ECM. The processing was coupled with increased activation of MT-MMPs and specific upregulation of MT1-MMP. The major role of MT1-MMP in the proteolysis of LTBP-1 was confirmed by suppressing the expression with lentivirally induced short-hairpin RNAs as well as by various metalloproteinases inhibitors. TGF-beta can promote tumorigenesis of malignant mesothelioma (MM), which is an aggressive tumor of the pleura with poor prognosis. TGF-beta activity was analyzed in a panel of MM tumors by immunohistochemical staining of phosphorylated Smad-2 (P-Smad2). The tumor cells were strongly positive for P-Smad2 whereas LTBP-1 immunoreactivity was abundant in the stroma, and there was a negative correlation between LTBP-1 and P-Smad2 staining. In addition, the high P-Smad2 immunoreactivity correlated with shorter survival of patients. mRNA analysis revealed that TGF-beta1 was the most highly expressed isoform in both normal human pleura and MM tissue. LTBP-1 and LTBP-3 were both abundantly expressed. LTBP-1 was the predominant isoform in established MM cell lines whereas the expression of LTBP-3 was high in control cells. Suppression of LTBP-3 expression by siRNAs resulted in increased TGF-beta activity in MM cell lines accompanied by decreased proliferation. Our results suggest that decreased expression of LTBP-3 in MM could alter the targeting of TGF-beta to the ECM and lead to its increased activation. The current work emphasizes the coordinated process of the assembly and appropriate targeting of LTBPs with distinct adhesive or cytokine harboring properties into the ECM. The hierarchical assembly may have implications in the modulation of signaling events during morphogenesis and tissue remodeling.

A reanalysis of 409 European-Ancestry and African American schizophrenia pedigrees reveals significant linkage to 8p23.3 with evidence of locus heterogeneity

The detection and replication of schizophrenia risk loci can require substantial sample sizes, which has prompted various collaborative efforts for combining multiple samples. However, pooled samples may comprise sub-samples with substantial population genetic differences, including allele frequency differences. We investigated the impact of population differences via linkage reanalysis of Molecular Genetics of Schizophrenia 1 (MGS1) affected sibling-pair data, comprising two samples of distinct ancestral origin: European (EA: 263 pedigrees) and African-American (AA: 146 pedigrees). To exploit the linkage information contained within these distinct continental samples, we performed separate analyses of the individual samples, allowing for within-sample locus heterogeneity, and the pooled sample, allowing for both within-sample and between-sample heterogeneity. Significance levels, corrected for the multiple tests, were determined empirically. For all suggestive peaks, stronger linkage evidence was obtained in either the EA or AA sample than the combined sample, regardless of how heterogeneity was modeled for the latter. Notably, we report genomewide significant linkage of schizophrenia to 8p23.3 and evidence for a second, independent susceptibility locus, reaching suggestive linkage, 29 cM away on 8p21.3. We also detected suggestive linkage on chromosomes 5p13.3 and 7q36.2. Many regions showed pronounced differences in the extent of linkage between the EA and AA samples. This reanalysis highlights the potential impact of population differences upon linkage evidence in pooled data and demonstrates a useful approach for the analysis of samples drawn from distinct continental groups.

Chiral Synthons from Monoterpenes.1 Stereoselective Syntheses of (-)5S, 6S, 9R-6-Isopropyl-9-Methyl-2-Oxaspiro[4.4]Nonan-3-One and (-) 3aR, 6R, 7aR-3a-Methyl-6-Isopropenylhexahydrobenzofuran-2-One

Highly stereoselective syntheses of two C-12 chiral synthons 3 and 9, mentioned in the title, starting from the monoterpenes R-1 imonene and R-carvone, using radical cyc 1 sation as key reaction, are described.

A novel DNA intercalator, butylamino-pyrimido[4',5':4,5]selenolo(2,3-b)quinoline, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemic cells

DNA intercalators are one of the most commonly used chemotherapeutic agents. Novel intercalating compounds of pyrimido[4',5':4,5]selenolo(2,3-b)quinoline series having a butylamino or piperazino group at fourth position (BPSQ and PPSQ, respectively) are studied. Our results showed that BPSQ induced cytotoxicity whereas PPSQ was cytostatic. The cytotoxicity induced by BPSQ was concentration- and time-dependent. Cell cycle analysis and tritiated thymidine assay revealed that BPSQ affects the cell cycle progression by arresting at S phase. The absence of p-histone H3 and reduction in the levels of PCNA in the cells treated with BPSQ further confirmed the cell cycle arrest. Further, annexin V staining, DNA fragmentation, nuclear condensation and changes in the expression levels of BCL2/BAD confirmed the activation of apoptosis. Activation of caspase 8 and lack of cleavage of caspase 9, caspase 3 and PARP suggest the possibility of BPSQ triggering extrinsic pathway for induction of apoptosis, which is discussed. Hence, we have identified a novel compound which would have clinical relevance in cancer chemotherapeutics.

Crystal structure of 3-acetylcoumarin-o-aminobenzoylhydrazone and synthesis, spectral and thermal studies of its transition metal complexes

Transition metal [Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II)] complexes of a new Schiff base, 3-acetylcoumarin-o-aminobenzoylhydrazone were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, magnetic moments, conductivity measurements, spectral [Electronic, IR, H-1 and C-13 NMR, EPR] and thermal studies. The ligand crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/n with a = 9.201(5), b = 16.596( 9), c = 11.517(6) angstrom, beta= 101.388(9)degrees, V = 1724.2 (17) angstrom(3) and Z = 4. Conductivity measurements indicated Mn(II) and Co(II) complexes to be 1 : 1 electrolytes whereas Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes are non-electrolytes. Electronic spectra reveal that all the complexes possess four-coordinate geometry around the metal.

Competing magnetic interactions in a dinuclear Ni(II) complex: Antiferromagnetic O-H center dot center dot center dot O moiety and ferromagnetic N-3(-) ligand

Synthesis, structural characteristics, magnetic studies and DFT calculations in Ni(II) dinuclear complexes containing two bridging N-3(-) and an O-(HO)-O-... linkage reveal the existence of ferromagnetic interactions between Ni(II) centers via N-3(-) ligands and antiferromagnetic interactions through the H-bonded moiety. The overall magnetic behavior of the system depends on the delicate balance between these two competing interactions.

Study of the reaction between 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene and 8-hydroxyquinoline in the solid state

1.2,3-Trihydroxybenzene (THB) reacts with 8-hydroxyquinoline (8HQ) in the solid state forming an orange-coloured charge transfer complex THB* (8HQ)(2). When the reaction was carried out in a petri dish, or when the vapours of 8HQ were allowed to react with solid THB (gravimetric study), the reaction product separated out as good quality, shiny single crystals. X-Ray diffraction studies on single crystals showed that they belong to the orthorhombic system with a = 15.408(1), b = 16.276(1), c = 7.825(1) Angstrom, Z = 4, D-x = 1.413 g cm(-3) and space group Pnaa. From the crystallographic evidence it has been found that the proton of the middle OH group of THB is transferred to the N atom of 8HQ. This accounts for the observed colour change. Kinetic studies on the solid state reaction showed that the 8HQ molecules diffuse towards THB, and the lateral diffusion occurs through surface migration, grain boundary diffusion and vapour phase diffusion. Gravimetric studies of the reaction between solid THB and 8HQ vapour showed that the diffusion of 8HQ molecules into the crystal lattice of THB has a higher energy of activation than that observed when the reactants are in contact. The nature of the crystal packing in the reaction product indicates diffusion of 8HQ molecules into the crystal lattice of THB along the c-axis, to occupy the cavities present between the THB molecules in the unit cell.

High-pressure synchrotron X-ray diffraction study of the pyrochlores: Ho2Ti2O7, Y2Ti2O7 and Tb2Ti2O7

Synchrotron-based X-ray diffraction was used to study the phase diagrams and determine the compressibilities of the pyrochlore rare-earth titanates Ho2Ti2O7, Y2Ti2O7 and Tb2Ti2O7 to 50GPa. The bulk moduli of the cubic phase of these materials were calculated to be 213 +/- 2, 204 +/- 3 and 199 +/- 1GPa, respectively. The onset of a structural phase change from cubic to monoclinic was observed near 37, 42 and 39GPa, respectively. The bulk modulus for the high pressure monoclinic phase of Y2Ti2O7 has been determined to be 185 +/- 3GPa.

Organometallic Chemistry of Diphosphazanes. 11. Reactions of fac-[Mo(CO)3(MeCN){.eta.2-Ph2PN(Pri)PPh(DMP)}] (DMP = 3,5-Dimethyl-1-Pyrazolyl) with Diphosphazanes and Diphosphinoalkanes and Oxidative Addition with Iodine

The use of fac-[Mo(CO)(3)(MeCN)(eta(2)-L(1))] (1a) {L(1) = Ph(2)PN(Pr-i)PPh(DMP)}(2) as a precursor to metalloligands and bimetallic, heterotrimetallic, and heptacoordinated complexes is reported. The reaction of 1a with diphosphazane, dppa, or a diphosphinoalkane such as dppm or dppe yields the fac-eta(1)-diphosphine substituted metalloligands, fac-[Mo(CO)(3)(eta(2)-L(1))(eta(1)-PXP)] {PXP = dppa (2), dppm (3), and dppe (4)}. These undergo isomerization to yield the corresponding mer-diphosphine complexes (5-7). Oxidation of the uncoordinated phosphorus atom of the mer-eta(1)-dppm-substituted complex eventually provides mer-[Mo(CO)(3)-(eta(2)-L(1)){eta(1)-Ph(2)PCH(2)P(O)Ph(2)}](8). The structure of the latter complex has been confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction {triclinic system, P ($) over bar 1; a = 11.994(3), b = 14.807(2), c = 15.855(3) Angstrom; alpha = 114.24(1), beta = 91.35(2), and gamma = 98.95(1)degrees; Z = 2, 4014 data (F-0 > 5 sigma(F-0)), R = 0.066, R(W) = 0.069}. Treatment of the dppe metalloligand 7 with [PtCl2(COD)] yields the heterotrimetallic complex cis-[PtCl2{mer-[Mo(CO)(3)(eta(2)-L(1))(eta(1)-dppe]}(2)] (9). Attempts to prepare a related trimetallic complex with the dppm-containing metalloligand were unsuccessful; only the tetracarbonyl complex cis-[Mo(CO)(4)(eta(2)-L(1))] (1b) and cis-[PtCl2(eta(2)-dppm)] were obtained. Reaction of la with dppe in the ratio 2:1 yields the mer-mer dinuclear complex [{mer-[Mo(CO)(3)(eta(2)-L(1))]}(2)(mu-dppe)] (10) bridged by dppe. Oxidation of 1a with iodine yields the Mo(II) heptacoordinated complex [MoI2(CO)(2)(eta(3)-L(1))] (11) with tridentate PPN coordination. The same Mo(II) complex 11 is also obtained by the direct oxidation of the tetracarbonyl complex cis-[Mo(CO)(4)(eta(2)-L(1))] (1b) with iodine. The structure of 11 has been confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies {monoclinic system, Cc; a = 10.471(2), b = 19.305(3), c = 17.325(3) Angstrom; beta = 95.47(2)degrees; Z = 4, 3153 data (F-0 > 5 sigma(F-0)), R = 0.049, R(W) = 0.051}. This complex exhibits an unusual capped-trigonal prismatic geometry around the metal. A similar heptacoordinated complex 12 with a chiral diphosphazane ligand {L(3) = (S,R)-P(h)2PN-(*CHMePh)*PPh(DMP)} has also been synthesized.

[n]peristylanes and [n]oxa[n]peristylanes (n = 3-6): A theoretical study

Theoretical studies at the HF and Becke3LYP levels using 6-31G* basis sets were carried out on a series of [n]peristylanes and [n]oxa[n]peristylanes (n = 3-6) to understand their structure and energetics. The structures of the [3]- and [4]peristylanes (1, 2) and their era-derivatives (5, 6) were calculated to have the anticipated high symmetry, C-nv. In contrast, a C-s structure (9) at HF/6-31G* and another (25) at the Becke3LYP/6-31G* level were calculated for the [5]oxa[5]peristylane. The energy difference between them is extremely small even though there are major differences in the structures indicating every soft potential energy surface: On the other hand, the potential energy surface of [6]oxa[6]peristylane is not as soft. Similar structures were also calculated for the top rings. Calculations on the seco-compounds 11-14 and 15-19 (Table 4) indicate that there is no unusual strain involved in the formation of 27 from 19. The Li+ interaction energies of the [n]oxa[n]peristylanes are 61.7 (n = 3), 72.8 (n = 4), 84.2 (n = 5) and 91.7 (n = 6) kcal mol(-1) at the Becke3LYP/6-3IG* level. Dramatic differences between the C-C bond lengths obtained from the solid state X-ray diffraction studies and those from the calculations for the [n]oxa[n]peristylanes were also observed.

An infrared spectroscopic study of the low-spin to intermediate-spin state ((1)A(1)-T-3(1)) transition in rare earth cobaltates, LnCoO(3) (Ln = La, Pr and Nd)

Low-spin (LS) to intermediate-spin (IS) state transitions in crystals of LnCoO(3) (Ln = La, Pr and Nd) have been investigated by variable temperature infrared spectroscopy. The spectra reveal the occurrence of the transition around 120, 220 and 275 K, respectively, in LaCoO3,PrCoo(3) and NdCoO3, at which temperatures the intensities of the stretching and the bending modes associated with the LS state decrease, accompanied by an increase in the intensities of the bands due to IS state. The characteristic frequencies of both the spin states decrease with increase in temperature, showing anomalies around the transition. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

Synthesis of new (Bi, La)(3)MSb(2)O(11) phases (M = Cr, Mn, Fe) with KSbO(3)-type structure and their magnetic and photocatalytic properties

Synthesis and structure of new (Bi, La)(3)MSb(2)O(11) phases (M = Cr, Mn, Fe) are reported in conjunction with their magnetic and photocatalytic properties. XRD refinements reflect that Bi(3)CrSb(2)O(11), Bi(2)LaCrSb(2)O(11), Bi(2)LaMnSb(2)O(11) and Bi(2)LaFeSb(2)O(11) adopt KSbO(3)-type structure (space group, Pn (3) over bar). The structure can be described through three interpenetrating networks where the first is the (M/Sb)O(6) octahedral network and other two are the identical networks having Bi(6)O(4) composition. The magnetic measurements on Bi(2)LaCrSb(2)O(11) and Bi(2)LaMnSb(2)O(11) show paramagnetic behaviour with magnetic moments close to the expected spin only magnetic moments of Cr(+3) and Mn(+3). The UV-Visible diffuse reflectance spectra are broad and indicate that these materials possess a bandgap of similar to 2 eV. The photocatalytic activity of these materials has been investigated by degrading Malachite Green (MG) under exposure to UV light.

A Novel Anticancer Agent, 8-Methoxypyrimido4 `,5 `: 4,5]thieno(2,3-b) Quinoline-4(3H)-One Induces Neuro 2a Neuroblastoma Cell Death through p53-Dependent, Caspase-Dependent and Independent Apoptotic Pathways

Neuroblastoma is the most common cancer in infants and fourth most common cancer in children. Despite recent advances in cancer treatments, the prognosis of stage-IV neuroblastoma patients continues to be dismal which warrant new pharmacotherapy. A novel tetracyclic condensed quinoline compound, 8-methoxypyrimido 4 `,5 `: 4,5] thieno(2,3-b) quinoline-4(3H)-one (MPTQ) is a structural analogue of an anticancer drug ellipticine and has been reported to posses anticancer property. Study on MPTQ on neuroblastoma cells is very limited and mechanisms related to its cytotoxicity on neuroblastoma cells are completely unknown. Here, we evaluated the anticancer property of MPTQ on mouse neuro 2a and human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and investigated the mechanisms underlying MPTQ-mediated neuro 2a cell death. MPTQ-mediated neuro 2a and SH-SY5Y cell deaths were found to be dose and time dependent. Moreover, MPTQ induced cell death reached approximately 99.8% and 90% in neuro 2a and SH-SY5Y cells respectively. Nuclear oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation and Terminal dUTP Nick End Labelling assays indicated MPTQ-mediated neuro 2a cell death involved apoptosis. MPTQ-mediated apoptosis is associated with increased phosphorylation of p53 at Ser15 and Ser20 which correlates with the hyperphosphorylation of Ataxia-Telangiectasia mutated protein (ATM). Immunocytochemical analysis demonstrated the increased level of Bax protein in MPTQ treated neuro 2a cells. MPTQ-mediated apoptosis is also associated with increased activation of caspase-9, -3 and -7 but not caspase-2 and -8. Furthermore, increased level of caspase-3 and cleaved Poly ( ADP Ribose) polymerase were observed in the nucleus of MPTQ treated neuro 2a cells, suggesting the involvement of caspase-dependent intrinsic but not extrinsic apoptotic pathway. Increased nuclear translocation of apoptosis inducing factor suggests additional involvement of caspase-independent apoptosis pathway in MPTQ treated neuro 2a cells. Collectively, MPTQ-induced neuro 2a cell death is mediated by ATM and p53 activation, and Bax-mediated activation of caspase-dependent and caspase-independent mitochondrial apoptosis pathways.