Bral2 is a link protein stabilizing the binding between lecticans and hyaluronan in perineuronal nets and axonal coats (ACs) in specific brain regions. Using the real-time iontophoretic method and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance, we determined the extracellular space (ECS) volume fraction (α), tortuosity (λ), and apparent diffusion coefficient of water (ADCW ) in the thalamic ventral posteromedial nucleus (VPM) and sensorimotor cortex of young adult (3-6 months) and aged (14-20 months) Bral2-deficient (Bral2-/- ) mice and age-matched wild-type (wt) controls. The results were correlated with an analysis of extracellular matrix composition. In the cortex, no changes between wt and Bral2-/- were detected, either in the young or aged mice. In the VPM of aged but not in young Bral2-/- mice, we observed a significant decrease in α and ADCW in comparison with age-matched controls. Bral2 deficiency led to a reduction of both aggrecan- and brevican-associated perineuronal nets and a complete disruption of brevican-based ACs in young as well as aged VPM. Our data suggest that aging is a critical point that reveals the effect of Bral2 deficiency on VPM diffusion. This effect is probably mediated through the enhanced age-related damage of neurons lacking protective ACs, or the exhausting of compensatory mechanisms maintaining unchanged diffusion parameters in young Bral2-/- animals. A decreased ECS volume in aged Bral2-/- mice may influence the diffusion of neuroactive substances, and thus extrasynaptic and also indirectly synaptic transmission in this important nucleus of the somatosensory pathway.
- MeSH
- agrekany metabolismus MeSH
- analýza rozptylu MeSH
- difuzní magnetická rezonance MeSH
- extracelulární matrix - proteiny nedostatek genetika MeSH
- extracelulární prostor diagnostické zobrazování genetika MeSH
- gangliová stimulancia farmakologie MeSH
- kvartérní amoniové sloučeniny farmakologie MeSH
- messenger RNA MeSH
- myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
- myši transgenní MeSH
- myši MeSH
- neurony cytologie účinky léků MeSH
- novorozená zvířata MeSH
- proteiny nervové tkáně nedostatek genetika MeSH
- stárnutí fyziologie MeSH
- techniky in vitro MeSH
- thalamus cytologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- myši MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
The alarming occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes in food production demands continuous monitoring worldwide. One reservoir of resistance genes is thought to be eDNA. There is currently little available information in Europe about either the extracellular DNA distribution of the bacterium or the spread of resistance genes in L. monocytogenes. Therefore, our aims were to give insight into the Listeria monocytogenes resistance situation in the Czech Republic and assess the presence of resistance genes in their extracellular DNA (eDNA). First, susceptibility tests were performed on 49 isolates of L. monocytogenes with selected antibiotics. Next, we tested DNA of suspected isolates for the presence of resistance genes in both planktonic cells and the eDNA of biofilms. Finally, fluorescent confocal microscopy was used to observe the eDNA pattern of selected isolates under conditions that mimicked the food processing environment and the human body. Susceptibility tests found isolates intermediate resistant to chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin as well as isolates resistant to ciprofloxacin. For all suspected isolates, PCR confirmed the presence of the gene lde encoding efflux pump in both types of DNA. When the biofilm was observed using confocal laser scanning microscope, the eDNA distribution patterns varied considerably according to the culture conditions. Furthermore, the food and clinical isolates varied in terms of the amount of eDNA detected. The presence of an efflux pump in both types of DNA suggests that the eDNA might serve as a reservoir of resistance genes. Surprising differences were observed in the eDNA pattern. Our results suggest that the current risk of the spread of L. monocytogenes resistance genes is low in the Czech Republic, but they also indicate the need for continuous long-term monitoring of the situation.
- MeSH
- antibakteriální látky farmakologie MeSH
- bakteriální geny genetika MeSH
- bakteriální léková rezistence genetika MeSH
- biofilmy * MeSH
- DNA bakterií genetika metabolismus MeSH
- extracelulární prostor genetika MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Listeria monocytogenes účinky léků genetika růst a vývoj izolace a purifikace MeSH
- mikrobiální testy citlivosti MeSH
- mikrobiální viabilita účinky léků MeSH
- potravinářská mikrobiologie MeSH
- shluková analýza MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
mikroRNA (miRNA, miR) jsou malé nekódující molekuly RNA, které se podílejí na regulaci genové exprese a zasahují prakticky do všech myslitelných signálních, metabolických či regulačních okruhů, čímž se podílejí na udržování homeostázy. Jejich hladiny se mění vlivem vnějších stimulů či při přítomnosti nemoci, a to nejen ve tkáních, ale i v tělních tekutinách (v krvi, moči). Jedna miRNA je často zapojena do regulace více signálních drah, ať již funkčně propojených či zcela nezávislých, čímž nám umožňují nové pohledy na patofyziologii nemocí a přináší nové cíle pro terapii. Přítomnost miRNA v extracelulárním prostoru dělá z miRNA potenciální nové biomarkery různých nemocí použitelných při diagnostice, odhadu prognózy nebo rizikové stratifikaci pacientů. V rámci tohoto souhrnného článku jsou uvedeny základní informace týkající se miRNA a jejich funkce a poté u vybraných nemocí popsány konkrétní miRNA, které jsou zapojeny do jejich patofyziologie nebo které by mohly být potenciálně využitelné v klinické praxi.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are small, non-coding RNA molecules that are involved in the regulation and fine-tuning of gene expression. They regulate almost all thinkable signalling pathways and thus participate in the maintenance of homeostasis. The levels of individual miRNAs are affected by various external stimuli and they also change in the presence of diseases; these changes can be detected in tissues and bodily fluids (i.e. blood or urine). One miRNA commonly regulates more signalling cascades, either interconnected or independent, and this enables us to better understand the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases and reveal novel targets for therapy. Moreover, the presence of miRNAs in the extracellular space makes them potentially usable as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers of various diseases that can be employed in differential diagnostics and risk stratification of individual patients. This review article summarises basic information about miRNAs and their function. Further, selected miRNAs and their roles in the pathophysiology of some cardiovascular diseases will be described, focusing on those potentially usable in clinical practice.
- MeSH
- ateroskleróza diagnóza etiologie patofyziologie MeSH
- diferenciální diagnóza MeSH
- extracelulární prostor fyziologie genetika MeSH
- fibrilace síní diagnóza patofyziologie MeSH
- hypertenze diagnóza etiologie MeSH
- kardiovaskulární nemoci MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mikro RNA * biosyntéza klasifikace terapeutické užití MeSH
- nemoci srdečních chlopní diagnóza patofyziologie MeSH
- prognóza MeSH
- rizikové faktory MeSH
- srdeční selhání diagnóza etiologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- souhrny MeSH
Production of the lignocellulose-degrading enzymes endo-1,4-β-glucanase, 1,4-β-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, endo-1,4-β-xylanase, 1,4-β-xylosidase, Mn peroxidase, and laccase was characterized in a common wood-rotting fungus Fomes fomentarius, a species able to efficiently decompose dead wood, and compared to the production in eight other fungal species. The main aim of this study was to characterize the 1,4-β-glucosidase produced by F. fomentarius that was produced in high quantities in liquid stationary culture (25.9 U ml(-1)), at least threefold compared to other saprotrophic basidiomycetes, such as Rhodocollybia butyracea, Hypholoma fasciculare, Irpex lacteus, Fomitopsis pinicola, Pleurotus ostreatus, Piptoporus betulinus, and Gymnopus sp. (between 0.7 and 7.9 U ml(-1)). The 1,4-β-glucosidase enzyme was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by both anion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. A single 1,4-β-glucosidase was found to have an apparent molecular mass of 58 kDa and a pI of 6.7. The enzyme exhibited high thermotolerance with an optimum temperature of 60 °C. Maximal activity was found in the pH range of 4.5-5.0, and K (M) and V (max) values were 62 μM and 15.8 μmol min(-1) l(-1), respectively, when p-nitrophenylglucoside was used as a substrate. The enzyme was competitively inhibited by glucose with a K (i) of 3.37 mM. The enzyme also acted on p-nitrophenylxyloside, p-nitrophenylcellobioside, p-nitrophenylgalactoside, and p-nitrophenylmannoside with optimal pH values of 6.0, 3.5, 5.0, and 4.0-6.0, respectively. The combination of relatively low molecular mass and low K (M) value make the 1,4-β-glucosidase a promising enzyme for biotechnological applications.
- MeSH
- Coriolaceae chemie enzymologie genetika MeSH
- extracelulární prostor chemie enzymologie genetika MeSH
- fungální proteiny chemie genetika izolace a purifikace metabolismus MeSH
- kinetika MeSH
- stabilita enzymů MeSH
- substrátová specifita MeSH
- transport proteinů MeSH
- xylosidasy chemie genetika izolace a purifikace metabolismus MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Since the placenta is being continuously remodeled during normal placental development, extracellular nucleic acids of both fetal and placental origin, packed into either trophoblast-derived apoptotic bodies or shedding syncytiotrophoblast microparticles, may be detected in maternal circulation during the course of normal gestation. Placental-insufficiency-related pregnancy complications have been shown to be associated with excessive placental trophoblast apoptosis and shedding of placenta debris. Recent advances in the field are reviewed with a focus on the diagnostic potential of particular molecular biomarkers and their eventual implementation in the currently used predictive and diagnostic algorithms for placental-insufficiency-related pregnancy complications.
- MeSH
- biologické markery krev MeSH
- DNA krev MeSH
- extracelulární prostor genetika MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- matky MeSH
- placentární insuficience krev diagnóza genetika patologie MeSH
- RNA krev MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
A strictly anaerobic mesophilic chitinolytic bacterial strain identified as Clostridium paraputrificum J4 was isolated from human feces. In response to various types of growth substrates, the bacterium produced an array of chitinolytic enzymes representing significant components of the J4 strain secretome. The excreted active proteins were characterized by estimating the enzymatic activities of endochitinase, exochitinase, and N-acetylglucosaminidase induced by cultivation in medium M-10 with colloidal chitin. The enzyme activities produced by J4 strain cultivated in medium M-10 with glucose were significantly lower. The spectrum of extracellularly excreted proteins was separated by SDS-PAGE. The chitinase variability was confirmed on zymograms of renatured SDS-PAGE. The enzymes were visualized under ultraviolet light by using 4-methylumbelliferyl derivatives of N-acetyl-β-D: -glucosaminide, N,N´-diacetyl-β-D: -chitobiose, or N,N´,N˝-triacetyl-β-D: -chitotriose for β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, chitobiosidase, or endochitinase activities, respectively. Protein components of the secretome were separated by 2D-PAGE analysis. The distinct protein bands were excised, isolated, and subsequently characterized by using MALDI-TOF/TOF tandem mass spectrometry. The final identification was performed according to sequence homology by database searching.
- MeSH
- 2D gelová elektroforéza MeSH
- acetylglukosaminidasa chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- bakteriální proteiny chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- chitinasy chemie genetika metabolismus MeSH
- Clostridium chemie enzymologie genetika izolace a purifikace MeSH
- extracelulární prostor chemie enzymologie genetika MeSH
- feces mikrobiologie MeSH
- hmotnostní spektrometrie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- transport proteinů MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
OBJECTIVE: Comamonas testosteroni Pb50 is a microorganism that possesses high tolerance for phenol and shows strong phenol degrading activity. This bacterial strain is capable of utilizing phenol as the sole carbon and energy source. Although examples are known in which the C. testosteroni utilizes phenol for growth or metabolism, much less information are known on the nature of the phenol-oxidizing enzymes in this microorganism. Therefore, the occurrence and cellular location of phenol hydroxylase (EC 1.14.13.7), the enzyme participating in the first step of phenol degradation, catalyzing its hydroxylation to catechol in a bacterial Comamonas testosteroni Pb50 strain grown in the presence of phenol as a sole carbon and energy source are the aims of this study. METHODS: Combination of fractionation with polyethylene glycol 6000 and gel permeation chromatography on columns of Sepharose 4B and Sephacryl S-300 was used for isolation of phenol hydroxylase detectable in the medium in which C. testosteroni was cultivated. The sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and gel chromatography on Sephacryl S-300 were used to evaluate the molecular mass of the enzyme. The enzyme activity was followed by HPLC (phenol consumption and/or catechol formation). RESULTS: Whereas low activity of phenol hydroxylase was detected in cytosol isolated from C. testosteroni, more than 16-fold higher activity of this enzyme was found in the medium in which C. testosteroni was cultivated. The presence of phenol hydroxylase extracellular activity suggests that this microorganism may secrete the enzyme into the extracellular medium. Using the procedure consisting of fractionation with polyethylene glycol 6000 and gel permeation chromatography on columns of Sepharose 4B and Sephacryl S-300, the enzyme was isolated from the medium to homogeneity. The formation of catechol mediated by purified phenol hydroxylase is strictly dependent on the presence of NADPH, which indicates that this enzyme is the NADPH-dependent phenol hydroxylase. The enzyme is a homotetramer having a molecular mass of 240 000, consisting of four subunits having a molecular mass of 60 000. The optimum pH of the enzyme for the phenol oxidation is pH 7.6. CONCLUSION: The results are the first report showing isolation and partial characterization of extracellular NADPH-dependent phenol hydroxylase of a bacterial C. testosteroni Pb50 strain capable of oxidizing phenol to catechol. The data demonstrate the progress in resolving the enzymes responsible for the first step of phenol degradation by bacteria.
- MeSH
- časové faktory MeSH
- Comamonas testosteroni enzymologie genetika MeSH
- elektroforéza v polyakrylamidovém gelu MeSH
- extracelulární prostor enzymologie genetika MeSH
- fenol metabolismus MeSH
- katalýza MeSH
- katecholy metabolismus MeSH
- klonování DNA MeSH
- koncentrace vodíkových iontů MeSH
- NADP metabolismus MeSH
- oxidace-redukce MeSH
- oxygenasy se smíšenou funkcí genetika izolace a purifikace metabolismus MeSH
- vysokoúčinná kapalinová chromatografie MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
This study evaluated quantification of fetal extracellular DNA in maternal plasma for differentiation between cases at risk of onset of placental-insufficiency-related complications and normal pregnancies. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction, fetal (sex-determining region Y [SRY] and hypermethylated RASSF1A sequence) and total (beta-globin [GLO] gene) extracellular DNA was examined in 70 normal pregnancies, 18 at risk of placental-insufficiency-related pregnancy complications, 24 preeclampsia with or without (w or w/o) intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) (median 34.0 week), and 11 IUGR (median 28.5 week). IUGR was diagnosed when estimated fetal weight was below the 10th percentile for evaluated gestational age. Although increased levels of extracellular DNA were detected in pregnancies with preeclampsia w or w/o IUGR relative to controls (RASSF1A, p < 0.001; SRY, p = 0.009; GLO, p < 0.001), quantities of fetal extracellular DNA in IUGR were not statistically significant (RASSF1A, p = 0.21; SRY, p = 0.2). RASSF1A, SRY, and GLO achieved 93.1%, 93.6%, and 92.1% accuracy for differentiation between normal pregnancy and preeclampsia w or w/o IUGR. Lower sensitivity was observed for pregnancies with onset of IUGR (RASSF1A, 60.0%; SRY, 80.0%; GLO, 72.7%), but did not influence final accuracy (RASSF1A, 91.6%; SRY, 92.5%; GLO, 89.5%). Among 18 patients at risk, 8 pregnancies involving 3 female and 5 male fetuses developed preeclampsia (n = 4), IUGR (n = 3), and chronic placentopathy causing hypoxia (n = 1). Elevation of extracellular DNA was demonstrated in 3/5 (SRY), 1/8 (hypermethylated RASSF1A), and 4/8 (GLO) patients at the earliest 26 weeks and at the latest 2 weeks before the onset of symptoms. These data indicate that fetal and total extracellular DNA concentrations can be significantly elevated in plasma of patients who later developed placental-insufficiency-related pregnancy complications. However, this is strongly individualized, and not a rule for all cases, and probably depends on the actual occurrence of excessive placental trophoblast apoptosis.
- MeSH
- beta-globiny genetika metabolismus MeSH
- časové faktory MeSH
- DNA genetika MeSH
- extracelulární prostor genetika MeSH
- genetické markery genetika MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- matky MeSH
- metylace DNA MeSH
- nádorové supresorové proteiny krev genetika MeSH
- placentární insuficience krev diagnóza genetika MeSH
- plod cytologie MeSH
- protein oblasti určující pohlaví na chromozomu Y krev genetika MeSH
- riziko MeSH
- studie případů a kontrol MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Under carbon starvation, Aspergillus nidulans released a metallo-proteinase with activities comparable to those of PrtA, the major extracellular serine proteinase of the fungus. The relative molar mass of the enzyme was 19 kDa as determined with both denaturing and renaturing SDS PAGE, while its isoelectric point and pH and temperature optima were 8.6, 5.5 and 65 degrees C, respectively. The enzyme was stable at pH 3.5-10.5 and was still active at 95 degrees C in the presence of azocasein substrate. MALDI-TOF MS analysis demonstrated that the proteinase was encoded by the pepJ gene (locus ID AN7962.3), and showed high similarity to deuterolysin from Aspergillus oryzae. The size of the mature enzyme, its EDTA sensitivity and heat stability also supported the view that A. nidulans PepJ is a deuterolysin-type metallo-proteinase.
Our previous studies have shown that the combined administration of drugs elevating extracellular adenosine, i.e. dipyridamole (DP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP), enhances murine hematopoiesis and potentiates the action of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). In this study, colony-stimulating activity (CSA) of blood serum of mice treated with DP+AMP, G-CSF or all these drugs in combination, i.e. the ability of the sera to stimulate the growth of GM-CFC colonies, was assayed in vitro. Furthermore, the concentration of GM-CSF and IL-6 in the sera was determined. Administration of DP+AMP was found to enhance significantly serum CSA at all time intervals of serum sampling including 24 h after the last injection of the tested drugs. Additive effects of DP+AMP and G-CSF on serum CSA were noted at early intervals after administration of the drugs. Furthermore, IL-6 levels were significantly elevated in the sera of mice which were administered DP+AMP either alone or in combination with G-CSF. Our results show that the effects of DP+AMP are indirect, mediated through the induction of some cytokine(s) and/or growth factor(s) and that extracellular adenosine can act in cooperation with G-CSF. These findings contribute to the further elucidation of the role of adenosine in hematopoiesis.
- MeSH
- adenosin analogy a deriváty imunologie MeSH
- adenosinmonofosfát aplikace a dávkování krev MeSH
- dipyridamol aplikace a dávkování krev MeSH
- ELISA normy využití MeSH
- extracelulární prostor genetika imunologie účinky léků MeSH
- faktor stimulující kolonie granulocytů izolace a purifikace účinky léků MeSH
- financování organizované využití MeSH
- myši inbrední CBA krev MeSH
- myši inbrední ICR krev MeSH
