Adaptive recognition by nucleic acid aptamers

Nucleic acid molecules play crucial roles in diverse biological processes including the storage, transport, processing, and expression of the genetic information. Nucleic acid aptamers are selected in vitro from libraries containing random sequences of up to a few hundred nucleotides. Selection is based on the ability to bind ligand molecules with high affinity and specificity. Three-dimensional structures have been determined at high resolution for a number of aptamers in complex with their cognate ligands. Structures of aptamer complexes reveal the key molecular interactions conferring specificity to the aptamer-ligand association, including the precise stacking of flat moieties, specific hydrogen bonding, and molecular shape complementarity. These basic principles of discriminatory molecular interactions in aptamer complexes parallel recognition events central to many cellular processes involving nucleic acids.     

Accurate determination of oosporein in fungal culture broth by differential pulse polarography

A simple and accurate differential pulse polarographic method has been developed for the determination of oosporein in the culture broth of the fungus Beauveria brongniartii. This hydroxybenzoquinone derivative is the only major secondary metabolite secreted by this entomopathogenic fungus, which is used as biological pest control agent (BCA) against Melolontha melolontha larvae. It can be found in the host organism as well as in the formulated product. The polarographic behavior of oosporein was examined in various buffer systems over the pH range 3-10. In Britton-Robinson buffer/methanol solution (3:7 v/v, pH 5.5) the differential pulse polarograms exhibited reproducible peaks at E(p) = -0.18 V vs silver/silver chloride/potassium chloride (3 M). Under these conditions, a plot of peak height vs concentration of oosporein was found to be linear over the range 5.9 x 10(-)(7) to 2.5 x 10(-)(5) M (0.18-7.74 microg mL(-)(1); r = 0.9998). The detection limit was calculated to be 54 ng mL(-)(1). To evaluate the concentration of oosporein, the standard addition method was applied. The analysis of oosporein in the culture broth led to a mean value of 524.9 microg mL(-)(1) broth with a relative standard deviation (S(rel)) of +/-2.6%. The proposed polarographic method is accurate, not time-consuming, and it is of low cost because no separation steps are necessary.     

A rational chemical synthesis of C60

Isolable quantities of C60, the smallest stable fullerene, have been synthesized in 12 steps from commercially available starting materials by rational chemical methods. A molecular polycyclic aromatic precursor bearing chlorine substituents at key positions forms C60 when subjected to flash vacuum pyrolysis at 1100 degrees C. No other fullerenes are formed as by-products. The methods we have developed for the target-specific synthesis of fullerenes, applied here to a synthesis of C60, should make possible the directed laboratory preparation of other fullerenes as well, including those not accessible by graphite vaporization.     

Radiation exposure of the pet owner during standardised X-ray diagnostic examinations of dogs and cats

In Germany pet owners are present during X-ray examinations of dogs and cats. Due to a change in the German X-ray Ordinance and the directive "Radiation Protection in Veterinary Medicine" it is necessary to determine the body dose of the pet owners.This study in the Clinic for Small Animals includes at least ten measurements for each of thirteen X-ray examinations of a dog and four of a cat. The equivalent doses of eye lens, thyroid, chest, hands, gonads, and lower leg were measured using TLD (LiF:Mg,Cu,P).The maximum value of 52 microSv was measured on the right hand.The 99 % -quantiles amount to 13 microSv for eye lens, 9 microSv for thyroid, 2.3 microSv for chest (under lead apron), 14 microSv for both hands, 2.1 microSv for gonads (under lead apron), and 2.0 microSv for lower leg. In every case the median and mean values at the seven measuring positions are lower than 2.5 microSv per radiograph. In view of the constant measured equivalent doses under the lead apron of less than 5 microSv for the trunk and gonads per X-ray examination the measurement of the personal dose of the pet owner during every X-ray examination of small animals is not justified. Alternatively, with reference to up-to-date measurements and the presented paper a certificate of exemption from the dose determination for pet owners could be applied for from the local authority.     

CB1 cannabinoid receptors and on-demand defense against excitotoxicity

Abnormally high spiking activity can damage neurons. Signaling systems to protect neurons from the consequences of abnormal discharge activity have been postulated. We generated conditional mutant mice that lack expression of the cannabinoid receptor type 1 in principal forebrain neurons but not in adjacent inhibitory interneurons. In mutant mice,the excitotoxin kainic acid (KA) induced excessive seizures in vivo. The threshold to KA-induced neuronal excitation in vitro was severely reduced in hippocampal pyramidal neurons of mutants. KA administration rapidly raised hippocampal levels of anandamide and induced protective mechanisms in wild-type principal hippocampal neurons. These protective mechanisms could not be triggered in mutant mice. The endogenous cannabinoid system thus provides on-demand protection against acute excitotoxicity in central nervous system neurons.     

Inhibition of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 by plant extracts used as traditional antidiabetic medicines

Elevated glucocorticoids are a key risk factor for metabolic diseases, and the glucocorticoid-activating enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (11β-HSD1) represents a promising therapeutic target. We measured the potential of six traditional antidiabetic medicinal plants extracts to inhibit 11β-HSD1 activity and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) activation in transfected HEK-293 cells. Leave extracts of Eriobotrya japonica preferentially inhibited 11β-HSD1 over 11β-HSD2. Extracts of roasted but not native coffee beans preferentially inhibited 11β-HSD1 over 11β-HSD2, emphasizing the importance of sample preparation. Thus, natural compounds inhibiting 11β-HSD1 may contribute to the antidiabetic effect of the investigated plant extracts.     

Spring shoot growth in douglas-fir may be initiated by gibberellins exported from the roots

Trials conducted under controlled environments demonstrated that the delay of bud activity of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) seedlings occasioned by low temperature of the soil could be eliminated by application of gibberellic acid. Analyses of field-grown plants showed a parallel increase in bud activity, level of gibberellin-like compounds in xylem sap, and soil temperature during February and March.     

An investigation of the incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in random populations of Swiss horses

The incidence of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Switzerland was determined in three groups of horses selected at random. Group A (97 horses) and Group B (93 horses) had no history of respiratory disease, but Group C (113 horses) had a history of lower respiratory tract disease. All horses were examined by auscultation of the respiratory tract under forced breathing, endoscopic examination of the upper and lower respiratory tract, arterial blood gas analysis at rest and cytological examination of respiratory secretions (RS). Fifty-four per cent of the horses in Group A and 54.8 per cent of Group B were diagnosed as suffering clinical COPD and only 12.4 per cent of horses in Group A and 8.6 per cent in Group B had no detectable abnormalities in their lower respiratory tracts. In Group B, 19.4 per cent were considered to be suffering from parasitic pulmonary disease indicated by elevated numbers of eosinophils in their RS. Pharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia was exhibited in 70.1 per cent of Group A and 74.2 per cent of Group B. Cytological examination of RS was useful to determine if the secretions found in the trachea originated from the upper or lower respiratory tract. Arterial blood gas analysis revealed no significant differences between healthy horses and those with subclinical or mild COPD.