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At least 631 records · Page 35Linked to original sources

Heterokaryosis between Aspergillus oryzae cyclopiazonic acid-defective strains: method for estimating the risk of inducing toxin production among cyclopiazonic acid-defective industrial strains.

Aspergillus oryzae strains are used extensively in the food industry. Some of these strains excrete alpha-cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), a mycotoxin which may provoke toxicoses in rats. Physicochemical methods may reveal the presence of this toxin, but they are inadequate to screen CPA-nonproducing (CPA-) strains. CPA production is revealed by either bacterial growth inhibition or alkalinization of the culture medium. This first biological property was used to devise a time-saving screening method to isolate mutants affected in their ability to produce CPA. The second method was used as a further test. After N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine treatment, we isolated CPA- mutants from CPA producer strains (CPA+) and CPA+ mutants from CPA- strains. The mutants unable to produce CPA may be used in the food industry to reduce or eliminate the risk of intoxication in humans. Heterokaryon formation between different mutant strains was carried out to evaluate the risks of obtaining CPA from a mixture of mutants modified in their ability to synthesize this toxin. Pairings between two CPA+ strains always gave rise to CPA+ heterokaryons. Pairings between CPA+ and CPA- strains led, most often, to CPA+ heterokaryons. This could be directly correlated to the more frequent genotype (CPA+) in the heterokaryon. CPA hypoproducer and hyperproducer heterokaryons were obtained. Pairings between CPA- strains always gave rise to CPA- heterokaryons. These results suggest that the risks of producing this toxin from two CPA- individuals are not high.

Aspergillus↗

Defective activation-induced cell death in NOD T lymphocytes: 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 restores defect.

The aim of this study was first to analyze strain differences in apoptosis resistance of NOD peripheral T lymphocytes in in vitro models of death by neglect and activation-induced cell death (AICD). Especially AICD is known to play a key role in peripheral tolerance, keeping autoimmune effector cells under control. Second, we studied the effects of in vivo treatment of NOD mice with 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3)], an immunomodulator known to prevent diabetes and insulitis in NOD mice, on in vitro T lymphocyte apoptosis resistance.

Animals↗

A defect in atToc159 of Arabidopsis thaliana causes severe defects in leaf development.

Plastid protein import 2 (ppi2), a mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana, lacks a homologue of a component of the translocon at the outer envelope membrane of chloroplasts (Toc), designated Toc159 of the pea. Toc159 is thought to be essential for the import of photosynthetic proteins into chloroplasts. In order to investigate the effect of protein import on the plant development, we examined the morphologies of the developing leaves and the shoot apical meristems (SAM) in the ppi2 plants. Our histological analysis revealed that the development of leaves is severely affected in ppi2, while the structure of SAM is normal. Abnormalities in leaves became obvious in the later stages of leaf development, resulting in the generation of mature leaves with fewer mesophyll cells and more intercellular spaces as compared with the wild type. Palisade and spongy tissues of the mature leaves were indistinguishable in ppi2. Replication of chloroplast DNA was also suggested to be impaired in ppi2. Our results suggest that protein import into chloroplasts is important for the normal development of leaves.

Arabidopsis↗

Functional defects of NK cells treated with chloroquine mimic the lytic defects observed in perforin-deficient mice.

NK cells are the primary effectors mediating acute rejection of incompatible bone marrow cell grafts. To reduce rejection, we evaluated the ability of chloroquine (CHQ) to prevent perforin-dependent NK cell activity. Perforin is a key cytotoxic component released from the lytic granules of activated NK cells. Generation of functional perforin requires an acidic protease activity that occurs in the secretory, lytic lysosomes. Our hypothesis was that CHQ, a lysosomotropic reagent, would raise the pH of the acidic compartment in which perforin is processed and thereby block perforin maturation and cytotoxicity. We have measured NK cytotoxicity in vivo by clearance of YAC-1 tumor cells from the lungs and by rejection of incompatible bone marrow transplants and in vitro by cytolysis of YAC-1 and Jurkat cells. The engraftment of bone marrow cells was monitored by recolonization of the spleen with hemopoietic cells from transplants of MHC class I-deficient bone marrow cells into lethally irradiated recipient mice. Transplant rejection was compared in two inbred strains of mice: 129, which apparently use perforin-dependent cytotoxicity, and C57BL/6, in which rejection can be perforin-independent. CHQ treatment reduced NK cell activity in 129 mice in which perforin is important for mediating rejection. CHQ affected the fraction of NK cell cytolysis that was Fas independent. In addition, we found that CHQ prevents perforin processing by LAK cells in vitro. These data indicate that CHQ may impair rejection of incompatible bone marrow transplants and other functions mediated by NK and cytotoxic T cells.

Animals↗

Architectural defects in the spleens of Nkx2-3-deficient mice are intrinsic and associated with defects in both B cell maturation and T cell-dependent immune responses.

Mice lacking the homeodomain transcription factor Nkx2-3 are either asplenic or develop a spleen of significantly reduced size with poorly organized white pulp. In this report, we analyze the effect of this mutation on B lymphocyte development and differentiation. Follicular dendritic cells in spleen, but not lymph node, of Nkx2-3(-/-) mice fail to express a developmental Ag (follicular dendritic cell-M2) and show an abnormal association with B cells, despite essentially normal expression of several chemokine genes. Bone marrow reconstitution studies show the splenic disorganization and absence of marginal zone B cells to be of stromal rather than hemopoietic origin. Furthermore, Nkx2-3(-/-) mice show an excess of conventional B cells in mesenteric lymph node and peritoneal cavity, whereas transitional B cells are rare in spleen but overrepresented in bone marrow. Finally, immunization of Nkx2-3(-/-) mice with a T cell-dependent Ag elicits clusters of germinal center B cells, although these fail to develop to the same extent as in controls and there is no evidence of affinity maturation in serum Ab. Similarly, Ab-forming cells fail to aggregate into foci early in the response. Collectively, these data indicate a substantial role for Nkx2-3 in the correct association of lymphocytes and splenic stromal elements that is independent of chemokine expression.

Anemia↗