Brain charts for the human lifespan

Over the past few decades, neuroimaging has become a ubiquitous tool in basic research and clinical studies of the human brain. However, no reference standards currently exist to quantify individual differences in neuroimaging metrics over time, in contrast to growth charts for anthropometric traits such as height and weight1. Here we assemble an interactive open resource to benchmark brain morphology derived from any current or future sample of MRI data ( http://www.brainchart.io/ ). With the goal of basing these reference charts on the largest and most inclusive dataset available, acknowledging limitations due to known biases of MRI studies relative to the diversity of the global population, we aggregated 123,984 MRI scans, across more than 100 primary studies, from 101,457 human participants between 115 days post-conception to 100 years of age. MRI metrics were quantified by centile scores, relative to non-linear trajectories2 of brain structural changes, and rates of change, over the lifespan. Brain charts identified previously unreported neurodevelopmental milestones3, showed high stability of individuals across longitudinal assessments, and demonstrated robustness to technical and methodological differences between primary studies. Centile scores showed increased heritability compared with non-centiled MRI phenotypes, and provided a standardized measure of atypical brain structure that revealed patterns of neuroanatomical variation across neurological and psychiatric disorders. In summary, brain charts are an essential step towards robust quantification of individual variation benchmarked to normative trajectories in multiple, commonly used neuroimaging phenotypes.

Common Variant in ALDH2 Modifies the Risk of Breast Cancer Among Carriers of the p.K3326* Variant in BRCA2

PURPOSE

The BRCA2 p.K3326* variant is considered a low-penetrance variant for breast cancer. Aldehydes that accumulate in cells under insufficient aldehyde oxidation were most recently shown to trigger carcinogenesis by promoting depletion of BRCA2 protein. Allele T of the common variant rs10744777 in the ALDH2 gene was associated with reduced expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase, the main enzyme in aldehyde oxidation. We hypothesized that this allele could modify breast cancer risk in women with the BRCA2 p.K3326* low-penetrance variant through reduced function of ALDH2, increased accumulation of cellular aldehydes, and depletion of BRCA2 protein.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We genotyped 11,873 Polish women diagnosed with breast cancer and 7,615 ethnically matched controls for these two variants. Next, we extended our analysis of rs10744777 to 231 carriers of pathogenic BRCA2 mutations.

RESULTS

BRCA2 p.K3326* variant was associated with significant increase in breast cancer risk only in those who were homozygous for the T allele of the ALDH2 rs10744777 variant (odds ratio = 1.72; 95% CI, 1.19 to 2.48; P = .003). The BRCA2 p.K3326* variant did not increase the risk of breast cancer among those who were heterozygous or homozygous for the C allele of the ALDH2 rs10744777 variant (odds ratio = 1.05; 95% CI, 0.73 to 1.51; P = .81). In the carriers of high-risk BRCA2 mutations, the TT genotype of rs10744777 conferred a modest (18%) and not significant increase in breast cancer risk.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that BRCA2 p.K3326* variant, which is low-penetrance by itself, confers increased breast cancer risk on the background of the TT genotype of the ALDH2 rs10744777 variant in the Polish population.

Bioremediation of trace cobalt from simulated spent decontamination solutions of nuclear power reactors using E. coli expressing NiCoT genes

Removal of radioactive cobalt at trace levels (approximately nM) in the presence of large excess (10(6)-fold) of corrosion product ions of complexed Fe, Cr, and Ni in spent chemical decontamination formulations (simulated effluent) of nuclear reactors is currently done by using synthetic organic ion exchangers. A large volume of solid waste is generated due to the nonspecific nature of ion sorption. Our earlier work using various fungi and bacteria, with the aim of nuclear waste volume reduction, realized up to 30% of Co removal with specific capacities calculated up to 1 microg/g in 6-24 h. In the present study using engineered Escherichia coli expressing NiCoT genes from Rhodopseudomonas palustris CGA009 (RP) and Novosphingobium aromaticivorans F-199 (NA), we report a significant increase in the specific capacity for Co removal (12 microg/g) in 1-h exposure to simulated effluent. About 85% of Co removal was achieved in a two-cycle treatment with the cloned bacteria. Expression of NiCoT genes in the E. coli knockout mutant of NiCoT efflux gene (rcnA) was more efficient as compared to expression in wild-type E. coli MC4100, JM109 and BL21 (DE3) hosts. The viability of the E. coli strains in the formulation as well as at different doses of gamma rays exposure and the effect of gamma dose on their cobalt removal capacity are determined. The potential application scheme of the above process of bioremediation of cobalt from nuclear power reactor chemical decontamination effluents is discussed.

pH dependent Ni(II) binding and aggregation of Escherichia coli and Helicobacter pylori NikR

NikR proteins are bacterial metallo-regulatory transcription factors that control the expression of the nickel uptake system and/or nickel containing enzymes such as urease, and are involved in the acid stress response. Here, a comparative study is reported on NikR from Helicobacter pylori (HpNikR) and Escherichia coli (EcNikR), as well as the Q2E mutant of EcNikR. Most attention was focused on the Ni(II) binding properties of these proteins, as a function of pH. The influence of the pH on the Ni(II) binding and aggregation properties was studied using gel filtration analysis and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy in the presence of an increasing concentration of nickel. Q2E and wt EcNikR are identical in Ni(II) binding but the Q2E mutant is impaired to some extent in DNA-binding. For EcNikR it is shown that between pH 6 and 8, addition of Ni(II) above 1 equiv. induces mass aggregation and precipitation, concomitant with binding of Ni(II) up to a maximum of 5-8 Ni(II) ions per monomer. The Ni(II) site with highest affinity is the well-described square planar site with three histidines and one cysteine ligands. Aggregation is complete in the presence of less than 1 extra equiv. of Ni(II) and aggregation is fully reversible and precipitates are rapidly solubilized by addition of EDTA. The sensitivity of EcNikR to aggregation decreases with decreasing pH, concurrent with histidines being the main ligands of the site responsible for aggregation. HpNikR does not display aggregation except at alkaline pH, where 3 Ni(II) equiv. are needed. The participation of a cluster consisting of surface-exposed histidines present in EcNikR but not in HpNikR, is proposed to be involved in aggregation. Our results on HpNikR are compatible with the crystallographic data and with the ability of this protein to bind more than one nickel.

Identification of the nik gene cluster of Brucella suis: regulation and contribution to urease activity

Analysis of a Brucella suis 1330 gene fused to a gfp reporter, and identified as being induced in J774 murine macrophage-like cells, allowed the isolation of a gene homologous to nikA, the first gene of the Escherichia coli operon encoding the specific transport system for nickel. DNA sequence analysis of the corresponding B. suis nik locus showed that it was highly similar to that of E. coli except for localization of the nikR regulatory gene, which lies upstream from the structural nikABCDE genes and in the opposite orientation. Protein sequence comparisons suggested that the deduced nikABCDE gene products belong to a periplasmic binding protein-dependent transport system. The nikA promoter-gfp fusion was activated in vitro by low oxygen tension and metal ion deficiency and was repressed by NiCl(2) excess. Insertional inactivation of nikA strongly reduced the activity of the nickel metalloenzyme urease, which was restored by addition of a nickel excess. Moreover, the nikA mutant of B. suis was functionally complemented with the E. coli nik gene cluster, leading to the recovery of urease activity. Reciprocally, an E. coli strain harboring a deleted nik operon recovered hydrogenase activity by heterologous complementation with the B. suis nik locus. Taking into account these results, we propose that the nik locus of B. suis encodes a nickel transport system. The results further suggest that nickel could enter B. suis via other transport systems. Intracellular growth rates of the B. suis wild-type and nikA mutant strains in human monocytes were similar, indicating that nikA was not essential for this step of infection. We discuss a possible role of nickel transport in maintaining enzymatic activities which could be crucial for survival of the bacteria under the environmental conditions encountered within the host.

Two-component systems in Pseudomonas aeruginosa: why so many?

Screening the Pseudomonas aeruginosa genome has led to the identification of the highest number of putative genes encoding two-component regulatory systems of all bacterial genomes sequenced to date (64 and 63 encoding response regulators and histidine kinases, respectively). Sixteen atypical kinases, among them 11 devoid of an Hpt domain, and three independent Hpt modules were retrieved. These data suggest that P. aeruginosa possesses complex control strategies with which to respond to environmental challenges.

Membrane targeting and translocation of bacterial hydrogenases

Periplasmic or membrane-bound bacterial hydrogenases are generally composed of a small subunit and a large subunit. The small subunit contains a peculiar N-terminal twin-arginine signal peptide, whereas the large subunit lacks any known targeting signal for export. Genetic and biochemistry data support the assumption that the large subunit is cotranslocated with the small subunit across the cytoplasmic membrane. Indeed, the signal peptide carried by the small subunit directs both the small and the large subunits to the recently identified Mtt/Tat pathway, independently of the Sec machinery. In addition, the twin-arginine signal peptide of hydrogenase is capable of directing protein import into the thylakoidal lumen of chloroplasts via the homologous deltapH-driven pathway, which is independent of the Sec machinery. Therefore, the translocation of hydrogenase shares characteristics with the deltapH-driven import pathway in terms of Sec-independence and requirement for the twin-arginine signal peptide, and with protein import into peroxisomes in a "piggyback" fashion.

Co-translocation of a periplasmic enzyme complex by a hitchhiker mechanism through the bacterial tat pathway

Bacterial periplasmic nickel-containing hydrogenases are composed of a small subunit containing a twin-arginine signal sequence and a large subunit devoid of an export signal. To understand how the large subunit is translocated into the periplasm, we cloned the hyb operon encoding the hydrogenase 2 of Escherichia coli, constructed a deletion mutant, and studied the mechanism of translocation of hydrogenase 2. The small subunit (HybO) or the large subunit (HybC) accumulated in the cytoplasm as a precursor when either of them was expressed in the absence of the other subunit. Therefore, contrary to most classical secretory proteins, the signal sequence of the small subunit itself is not sufficient for membrane targeting and translocation if the large subunit is missing. On the other hand, the small subunit was required not only for membrane targeting of the large subunit, but also for the acquisition of nickel by the large subunit. Most interestingly, the signal sequence of the small subunit determines whether the large subunit follows the Sec or the twin-arginine translocation pathway. Taken together, these results provide for the first time compelling evidence for a naturally occurring hitchhiker co-translocation mechanism in bacteria.

Requirement for nickel of the transmembrane translocation of NiFe-hydrogenase 2 in Escherichia coli

The cellular location of membrane-bound NiFe-hydrogenase 2 (HYD2) from Escherichia coli was studied by immunoblot analysis and by activity staining. Treatment of spheroplasts with trypsin was able to release active HYD2 into the soluble fraction, indicating that HYD2 is attached to the periplasmic side of the cytoplasmic membrane and that HYD2 undergoes a trans-membrane translocation during its biosynthesis. By using a nik mutant deficient in the high affinity specific nickel transport system, we show that the intracellular availability of nickel is essential for the processing of the large subunit and for the transmembrane translocation of HYD2. We also demonstrate that the processing of the precursor, which is related with nickel incorporation, can occur in the membrane-depleted soluble fraction and that it is associated with the increase in resistance to proteolysis of the processed form of the large subunit. The mechanism of the transmembrane translocation of HYD2 is discussed.

Involvement of the GroE chaperonins in the nickel-dependent anaerobic biosynthesis of NiFe-hydrogenases of Escherichia coli

We analyzed the involvement of chaperonins GroES and GroEL in the biosynthesis of the three hydrogenase isoenzymes, HYD1, HYD2, and HYD3, of Escherichia coli. These hydrogenases are NiFe-containing, membrane-bound enzymes composed of small and large subunits, each of which is proteolytically processed during biosynthesis. Total hydrogenase activity was found to be reduced by up to 60% in groES and groEL thermosensitive mutant strains. This effect was specific because it was not seen for another oligomeric, membrane-bound metalloenzyme, i.e., nitrate reductase. Analyses of the single hydrogenase isoenzymes revealed that a temperature shift during the growth of groE mutants led to an absence of HYD1 activity and to an accumulation of the precursor of the large subunit of HYD3, whereas only marginal effects on the processing of HYD2 and its activity were observed under these conditions. A decrease in total hydrogenase activity, together with accumulation of the precursors of the large subunits of HYD2 and HYD3, was also found to occur in a nickel uptake mutant (nik). The phenotype of this nik mutant was suppressed by supplementation of the growth medium with nickel ions. On the contrary, Ni2+ no longer restored hydrogenase activity and processing of the large subunit of HYD3 when the nik and groE mutations were combined in one strain. This finding suggests the involvement of these chaperonins in the biosynthesis of a functional HYD3 isoenzyme via the incorporation of nickel. In agreement with these in vivo results, we demonstrated a specific binding of GroEL to the precursor of the large subunit of HYD3 in vitro. Collectively, our results are consistent with chaperonin-dependent incorporation of nickel into the precursor of the large subunit of HYD3 as a prerequisite of its proteolytic processing and the acquisition of enzymatic activity.

Solid state and solution stereochemistry of crown ethers and models. ortho-Dimethoxydiphenyl ether and related dibenzo-15-crown-5 and tetrabenzo-30-crown-10 ethers as studied by X-ray crystallography and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy

Solid phase 45.3 MHz 13C NMR spectra of ortho-dimethoxydiphenyl ether, 1, dibenzo[b,e]-15-crown-5- ether, 2, and tetrabenzo[b,e,q,t]-30-crown-10 ether, 3, have been obtained. Chemical shift trends are discussed in terms of the asymmetric units and structural features available from X-ray crystallographic data. Comparison with solution 13C spectra are made. The crystal structures of 1 and 3 were determined by X-ray diffraction at room temperature. 1 crystallizes in space group P21/a with a = 13.366(1), b = 8.230(1), c = 12.303(1) Å, β = 116.63(1)°, Z = 4. 3 crystallizes in space group P21/c with a = 7.903(1), b = 26.337(2), c = 7.852(1) Å, β = 97.28(1)°, Z = 2. The structures were solved by direct methods and refined by full-matrix least squares to residuals of 0.055 using 1727 reflections for 1 and of 0.042 using 2590 reflections for 3.

The 18-crown-6.2 chloroacetonitrile complex. X-ray crystal structure and solid phase motions of guest and host as studied by variable temperature 13C CPMAS NMR spectroscopy

The title complex has two distinct 18-crown-6 moieties of approximate D3d symmetry in the unit cell. The 45.3 MHz 13C CPMAS spectra have two regions of broadening for the crown ether carbons. At high temperatures a dipolar washout mechanism is operative, leading to broadening when molecular motion has a correlation time approximately equal to the inverse of the decoupling field. At lower temperatures broadening occurs when the motional correlation time is equal to the inverse of the chemical shift difference. The activation energy for 18-crown-6 reorientation in this solid is calculated to be ca. 48 kJ/mol. For the chloroacetonitrile, the CH2 carbon also shows dipolar washout, but at a temperature much lower than the 18-crown-6. The activation energy for reorientation for this "guest species" is ca. 42 kJ/mol.

13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra in the solid state of 18-crown-6•NaNCS•H2O, some dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6 ethers, and their complexes with phenoxides and phenol

High resolution 13C CPMAS spectra for three configurationally isomeric dicyclohexyl-18-crown-6 ethers and three complexes derived therefrom are presented. Spectra are consistent with conformationally locked crown ether structures at 298 K. Data are discussed in terms of the symmetry properties of the macrocycles and stereochemical effects on 13C chemical shifts in the solid phase. For the complex of 18-crown-6 with NaSCN and H2O, a single line is observed at 298 K. Temperature reduction removes the chemical shift averaging as the different torsional angles of the solid crown ether undergo distortions that become slow on the nuclear magnetic resonance timescale.

Novel stereochemical equilibria in crown ethers. Detection of additional conformations of cis-syn-cis- and cis-anti-cis-dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 by 100.6-MHz 13C nuclear magnetic resonance at 173 K

High field, 13C nmr has been utilized for the analysis of new conformational equilibria in each of the title crown ethers at low temperature. Evidence indicates that these equilibria arise from restricted rotation in the macrocyclic portions of these molecules. The conformational free energy differences between the isomers are small (0.1–0.3 kcal/mol) while barriers to their interconversion are of the order of 8.5–9.0 kcal/mol. Comparisons are made with the degenerate equilibria involving inversion of the cyclohexane rings.

Application of 13C nuclear magnetic resonance to the conformational analysis of vicinally di- and trisubstituted cyclohexanes: halohydrins, methoxyhalohydrins, and their acetates

Low temperature 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy has been employed to obtain the chemical shifts and to examine the conformational equilibria of the four chlorohydrins and bromohydrins of 3-methoxycyclohexene. The corresponding acetates and the unsubstituted halohydrins have also been examined. The observed chemical shifts were compared with those calculated from additivity considerations. Limitations of this approach are discussed. Relative peak area measurements have been used to obtain conformational free energies in favourable cases.

Intravenous administration sets--an overview

Intravenous administration sets continue to become more sophisticated in response to advances in medical therapy. A number of design options are available to meet specialized needs. It behooves the pharmacist to become familiar with them in order to insure that sets compatible with and optimal for their intended application are selected in his or her institution. Doing so will fully execute his or her increasing responsibilities in I.V. therapy.

Resistance of herpes channel catfish virus (HCCV) to temperature, pH, salinity and ultraviolet irradiation

The effect of temperature, pH, salinity and ultraviolet irradiation on the infectivity of Herpes Channel Catfish Virus (HCCV) has been determined. It has been shown that the pH and the culture medium is an important factor in maintaining virus infectivity. The temperatures higher than 4 degrees C rapidly inactivate the virus while this one can be grown successfully after several months of storage at -75 degrees C and at -20 degrees C. In common with other herpesviruses, HCCV is quickly inactivated by UV irradiation. The signification of these findings on the mode of viral infection and of viral harvesting, disinfection measures and marine farming of Ictalurids is important.

Isolation and preliminary characterization of herpes Channel Catfish virus DNA

The DNA of Channel Catfish virus (CCV) was selectively extracted from infected cells with a 5% solution of sodium deoxycholate, deproteinized using sodium sarcosinate and pronase, and purified by phenol extraction followed by equilibrium density gradient centrifugation in a cesium chloride solution. CCV DNA displays a buoyant density of 1.715 g/cm3 in such a solution, as would be expected from a duplex DNA containing 56.1% of guanine plus cytosine. As estimated from both its sedimentation coefficient and length in the electron microscope, CCV DNA is a linear duplex molecule of approximately 85 x 10(6) daltons.

Purification of Channel Catfish virus, a fish herpesvirus

Channel Catfish virus was highly purified from host cells by precipitation with PEG-6000 and isopycnic centrifugation in a metrizamide gradient. As calculated from reconstruction experiments, only 0.09 and 0.05% respectively of the host DNA and the host proteins were recovered at the position of the viral band. The final recovery of infectivity was about 30%. Electron microscopy showed mostly intact viral particles.

Purification and biochemical properties of Egtved viral RNA

32P-labeled Egtved virus RNA was released from highly purified virus by phenol-SDS extraction. The single-stranded nature of the RNA was demonstrated by (1) its buoyant density of 1.69 g/cm3 in Cs2-SO4, (2) its susceptibility to digestion by pancreatic ribonuclease in either 1 X SSC or 0.01 X SSC (standard saline citrate), (3) its base composition (29.3% C, 23.6% A, 14.5% U. 32.6% G). This Egtved virus is different from the other rhabdoviruses since the base composition of its genomic RNA is lower in its composition of A + U. Such a result could have possible taxonomic implications concerning the orignin and evolution of Egtved Virus relative to the other known rhabdoviruses.