The discovery of Foxl2 paralogs in chondrichthyan, coelacanth and tetrapod genomes reveals an ancient duplication in vertebrates

The Foxl2 (forkhead box L2) gene is an important member of the forkhead domain family, primarily responsible for the development of ovaries during female sex differentiation. The evolutionary studies conducted previously considered the presence of paralog Foxl2 copies only in teleosts. However, to search for possible paralog copies in other groups of vertebrates and ensure that all predicted copies were homolog to the Foxl2 gene, a broad evolutionary analysis was performed, based on the forkhead domain family. A total of 2464 sequences for the forkhead domain were recovered, and subsequently, 64 representative sequences for Foxl2 were used in the evolutionary analysis of this gene. The most important contribution of this study was the discovery of a new subgroup of Foxl2 copies (ortholog to Foxl2B) present in the chondrichthyan Callorhinchus milii, in the coelacanth Latimeria chalumnae, in the avian Taeniopygia guttata and in the marsupial Monodelphis domestica. This new scenario indicates a gene duplication event in an ancestor of gnathostomes. Furthermore, based on the analysis of the syntenic regions of both Foxl2 copies, the duplication event was not exclusive to Foxl2. Moreover, the duplicated copy distribution was shown to be complex across vertebrates, especially in tetrapods, and the results strongly support a loss of this copy in eutherian species. Finally, the scenario observed in this study suggests an update for Foxl2 gene nomenclature, extending the actual suggested teleost naming of Foxl2A and Foxl2B to all vertebrate sequences and contributing to the establishment of a new evolutionary context for the Foxl2 gene. © 2013 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved.

Study of the embryofeto-toxicity of Crown-of-Thorns (Euphorbia milii) latex, a natural molluscicide

The crude latex of Crown-of-Thorns (Euphorbia milii var. hislopii) is a potent plant molluscicide and a promising alternative to the synthetic molluscicides used in schistosomiasis control. The present study was undertaken to investigate the embryofeto-toxic potential of E. milii latex. The study is part of a comprehensive safety evaluation of this plant molluscicide. Lyophilized latex (0, 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight) in corn oil was given by gavage to Wistar rats (N = 100) from days 6 to 15 of pregnancy and cesarean sections were performed on day 21 of pregnancy. The numbers of implantation sites, living and dead fetuses, resorptions and corpora lutea were recorded. Fetuses were weighed, examined for external malformations, and fixed for visceral examination, or cleared and stained with Alizarin red S for skeleton evaluation. A reduction of body weight minus uterine weight at term indicated that E. milii latex was maternally toxic over the dose range tested. No latex-induced embryolethality was noted at the lowest dose (125 mg/kg) but the resorption rate was markedly increased at 250 mg/kg (62.5%) and 500 mg/kg (93.4%). A higher frequency of fetuses showing signs of delayed ossification (control: 17.4%; 125 mg/kg: 27.4% and 250 mg/kg: 62.8%; P<0.05 vs control) indicated that fetal growth was retarded at doses ³ 125 mg latex/kg body weight. No increase in the proportion of fetuses with skeletal anomalies was observed at the lowest dose but the incidence of minor skeletal malformations was higher at 250 mg/kg body weight (control: 13.7%; 125 mg/kg: 14.8%; 250 mg/kg: 45.7%; P<0.05 vs control). Since a higher frequency of minor malformations was noted only at very high doses of latex which are embryolethal and maternally toxic, it is reasonable to conclude that this plant molluscicide poses no teratogenic hazard or, at least, that this possibility is of a considerably low order of magnitude

Purification, biochemical and functional characterization of miliin, a new thiol-dependent serine protease isolated from the latex of Euphorbia milii

Miliin, a new thiol-dependent serine protease purified from the latex of Euphorbia milii possesses a molecular weight of 79 kDa, an isoelectric point of 4.3 and is optimally active at 60 degrees C in the pH range of and 7.5-11.0. Activity tests indicate that milliin is a thiol-dependent serine protease.

Characterization, subsite mapping and N-terminal sequence of miliin, a serine-protease isolated from the latex of Euphorbia milii

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Inhibitory effects of Solidago chilensis Meyen hydroalcoholic extract on acute inflammation

Aim of the study: Alcoholic or hydroalcoholic preparations of the plant Solidago chilensis Meyen (Asteraceae) are employed in popular medicines to treat inflammation. The anti-inflammatory effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts of the plant (93% ethanol) were investigated and the main components of the extract were identified. Materials and methods: Ear oedema was induced in male Wistar rats by topical application of the chloroform fraction of latex-extract from Euphorbia milii. Leukocyte mobilisation was quantified after air-pouch inflammation evoked by oyster glycogen. Leukocyte-endothelial interactions and mast cell degranulation were quantified by intravital microscopy. The extract itself was characterised via HPLC-DAD-MS and HPLC-MS/MS. Results: Topical (12.5-50 mg/kg) or intraperitoneal (25 or 50 mg/kg) administrations of the extract reduced ear oedema formation (>25% reduction). Intraperitoneal applications of 25 mg/kg of extract inhibited the migration of polymorphonuclear cells into the inflamed cavity (about 50%). In addition, the rolling behaviour and adherence of circulating leukocytes to postcapillary venules of the mesentery network was diminished (50%), but the mast cell degranulation in the perivascular area was not affected. The major components of the extract were identified as caffeoylquinic acid derivatives and the flavonoid rutin. Conclusions: The data presented herein show local and systemic anti-inflammatory effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts of Solidago chilensis, and implicate the inhibition of leukocyte-endothelial interactions as an important mechanism of the extract`s action. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Some monogenoidea parasitic on peruvian marine fishes, with description of Anoplocotyloides chorrillensis new species and new records

The presence of four Monogenoidea parasitic on marine fishes from the central Peruvian coast is recorded. One of them, Anoplocotyloides chorrillensis (Monocotylidae) described from the gills of Rhinobatos planiceps (Rhinobatidae) is considered a new species. The three other species are: Caballerocotyla autralis Oliva, 1986 (Capsalidae); Callorhynchocotyle marplatensis Suriano & Incorvaia, 1982 (Hexabothriidae) and Anoplocotyloides papillatus (Doran, 1953) (Monocotylidae) parasitic on Sarda chiliensis chiliensis (Scombridae), Callorhinchus callorhinchus (Callorhinchidae) and Rhinobatos planiceps (Rhinobatidae) respectively.