Mammalian zona pellucida (ZP) is composed of three to four glycoproteins, which plays an important role during fertilization. Mutations in the genes encoding zona proteins are reported in women with ...empty follicle syndrome, degenerated oocytes and those with an abnormal or no ZP further emphasizing their relevance during fertility. Immunization with either native or recombinant ZP glycoproteins/proteins leads to curtailment of fertility in various animal species. Observed infertility is frequently associated with ovarian pathology characterized by follicular atresia and degenerative changes in ZP, which may be due to oophoritogenic T cell epitope(s) within ZP glycoproteins. To avoid ovarian dystrophy, B cell epitopes of ZP glycoproteins have been mapped by using bio‐effective monoclonal antibodies. Immunization with the immunogens encompassing the mapped B cell epitopes by and large led to amelioration of follicular atresia. However, their use for human application will require more rigorous research to establish their safety and reversibility of the contraceptive effect. Nonetheless, to minimize human‐animal conflicts, ZP‐based contraceptive vaccines have been used successfully in the population management of free‐ranging animal species such as feral horses, white‐tailed deer and elephants. To control zoonotic diseases, attempts are also underway to control the population of other animal species including stray dogs, which acts as one of the major vectors for the rabies virus.
In many developmental and pathological processes, including cellular migration during normal development and invasion in cancer metastasis, cells are required to withstand severe deformations. The ...structural integrity of eukaryotic cells under small deformations has been known to depend on the cytoskeleton including actin filaments (F-actin), microtubules (MT), and intermediate filaments (IFs). However, it remains unclear how cells resist severe deformations since both F-actin and microtubules yield or disassemble under moderate strains. Using vimentin containing IFs (VIFs) as a model for studying the large family of IF proteins, we demonstrate that they dominate cytoplasmic mechanics and maintain cell viability at large deformations. Our results show that cytoskeletal VIFs form a stretchable, hyperelastic network in living cells. This network works synergistically with other cytoplasmic components, substantially enhancing the strength, stretchability, resilience, and toughness of cells. Moreover, we find the hyperelastic VIF network, together with other quickly recoverable cytoskeletal components, forms a mechanically robust structure which can mechanically recover after damage.
Invasion of trophoblast cells is spatio-temporally regulated by various cytokines and growth factors. In pregnancy, complications like preeclampsia, shallow invasion of trophoblast cells and low ...amounts of epidermal growth factor (EGF) have been reported. In the present study, regulatory mechanisms associated with EGF-mediated invasion in HTR-8/SVneo trophoblastic cells have been delineated. Treatment of HTR-8/SVneo cells with EGF (10 ng/ml) led to eight fold increase (p < 0.05) in invasion. Increased invasion of HTR-8/SVneo cells by EGF was associated with an increase in phosphorylation of ERK½. In addition, significant phosphorylation of STAT1 (ser 727) and STAT3 (both tyr 705 and ser 727 residues) was also observed, accompanied by a decrease in total STAT1. Inhibition of ERK½ phosphorylation by U0126 (10 μM) led to a significant decrease in EGF-mediated invasion with simultaneous decrease in the phosphorylated forms of STAT3 and STAT1. Decrease in total STAT1 was also reversed on inhibition of ERK½. Interestingly, inhibition of STAT3 by siRNA led to a significant decrease in EGF-mediated invasion of HTR-8/SVneo cells and phosphorylation of STAT1, but it did not have any effect on the activation of ERK½. On the other hand, inhibition of STAT1 by siRNA, also led to a significant decrease in the EGF-mediated invasion of HTR-8/SVneo cells, showed concomitant decrease in ERK½ phosphorylation and STAT3 phosphorylation at ser 727 residue. These results suggest cross-communication between ERK½ and JAK-STAT pathways during EGF-mediated increase in invasion of trophoblast cells; phosphorylation at ser 727 residue of both STAT3 and STAT1 appears to be critical.
The present investigation aimed to identify reliable morphological markers that could serve as indicators for
Phytophthora infestans
Mont. resistance in potato germplasm. A total of 86 potato ...genotypes were subjected to genetic diversity assessment using simple sequence repeats, followed by a field trial alongside to evaluate resistance responses and morphological characteristics. Two genotypes (LA CHIPPER and J/95–144) exhibited high resistance to late blight (LB), while four genotypes (BR 6609–7, NO–NOVA, MP/99–406, and CP–4174) displayed moderate resistance. The disease response was juxtaposed DUS characters, thus leading to the identification of critical traits (semi-compact to compact foliage, solid stem, angular stem cross-section, no secondary stem coloration, anthocyanin pigmentation on the stem, smooth tuber skin, and white to creamy tuber flesh coloration). These DUS parameters could be utilized for developing high-yielding, LB-resistant potato cultivars in future breeding programs.
Application of manure, biosolids, and recycled wastewater to croplands could be a potential pathway through which trace organic compounds (TOrCs) may be taken up by food crops. We present a framework ...to prepare a short list of TOrCs for detailed risk assessment and evaluation in terms of bioaccumulation. The framework was modified from Lipinski's method to predict drug permeability based on four critical properties: (i) molecular weight (MW); (ii) lipophilicity (expressed as logKow, the octanol–water partition coefficient); (iii) H‐bond acceptors; and (iv) H‐bond donors. The literature shows that the compounds with MW ranging from 200 to 500 can readily diffuse through mammalian membranes, the uptake of compounds with logKow >5 is hindered, and an excessive number of H‐bond donors and H‐bond acceptors reduces the permeability across a mammalian membrane bilayer. In general, mammalian and plant membranes are similar in structure and functions. Based on these four properties, we developed the “Rule of 3,” which states that greater absorption and higher permeability of a TOrC is likely when its logKow is <3, its MW is <300, H‐bond donors are <3, and H‐bond acceptors are <6. Applicability of the framework was tested with published data, which showed that uptake and bioaccumulation of TOrCs in plants decreased in the order: Rule of 3 > Rule of 3 to 5 (logKow between 3 and 5, MW between 300 and 500, H‐bond acceptors between 3 and 6, and H‐bond donors between 3 and 5) > Rule of 5 (logKow >5, MW >500, H‐bond acceptors >10, and H‐bond donors <5). We conclude that TOrCs following the “Rule of 3” could be prioritized for detailed risk assessment involving dietary exposure.
Core Ideas
The “Rule of 3” is an important tool to predict uptake by crops.
Organic chemicals with certain chemical properties may not be taken up by crops.
Organic compounds following the “Rule of 3” may be better candidates for phytoremediation.
Increased streamflow and its associated impacts on water quality have frequently been linked to changes in land use and land cover (LULC) such as tile drainage, cultivation of prairies, and increased ...adoption of soybeans (Glycine max) in modern day cropping systems. This study evaluated the relative importance of changes in precipitation and LULC on streamflow in 29 Hydrologic Unit Code 008 watersheds in the upper midwestern United States. The evaluation was done by statistically testing the changes in slope and intercept of the relationships between ln(annual streamflow) versus annual precipitation for the periods prior to 1975 (prechange period) and after 1976 (postchange period). A significant shift either in slope or intercept of these relationships was assumed to be an indication of LULC changes whereas a lack of significant shift suggested a single relationship driven by precipitation. All 29 watersheds showed no statistical difference in slope or intercept of the relationships between the two periods. However, a simpler model that kept the slope constant for the two periods showed a slight upward shift in the intercept value for 10 watersheds in the postchange period. A comparison of 5 year moving averages also revealed that the increased streamflows in the postchange period are mainly due to an increase in precipitation. Minimal or the lack of LULC change impact on streamflow results from comparable evapotranspiration in the two time periods. We also show how incorrect assumptions in previously published studies minimized precipitation change impacts and heightened the LULC change impacts on streamflows.
Key Points:
Increased precipitation is the main driver of increased streamflow
Agricultural land use and land cover changes had minimal impacts on streamflow
Incorrect assumptions in previous studies minimized precipitation impacts
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•We successfully fabricate superhydrophobic silica coating with durable and restorable properties.•The mechanism explains the restoring property of superhydrophobicity.•We examine the ...stability against outdoor environment conditions, mild acidic solution, and heat treatment.•We report a reversible transition from Wenzel state to Cassie Baxter state.
The durability and restorable properties of superhydrophobicity are a most important issue essential for utilization of superhydrophobic materials in industrial and domestic fields. In this work, we have focused on the sol–gel dip coating synthesis, durability, and restoring properties of a superhydrophobic surface composed of spherical silica particles with low energy free surface successfully achieved on the surface of glass substrates. The water contact angle (WCA) of the as-prepared superhydrophobic coatings reached as high as 170±1° (WCA=170±1°) and the sliding angle was 3±1° (WSA=3±1°). The behavior of wettability on superhydrophobic coating surface under various external disturbances including outdoor environments, heat, and mild acidic condition is investigated. It is shown in particular that degradation and repairing of surface methyl groups between two such surfaces leads to a fully restorable coating surface by the surface modification with trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) at room temperature. The coating also holds good thermal stability; it holds superhydrophobicity up to 550°C and gets degrade into superhydrophilicity above 600°C without deforming surface morphology. The results confirm the durability of the silica coating under different external disturbances and sol–gel dip coating method and restoring property provide the best solution to fabricate superhydrophobic silica coating surface with extended durability at low cost.
We describe a facile method for mapping protein:ligand binding sites and conformational epitopes. The method uses a combination of Cys scanning mutagenesis, chemical labeling, and yeast surface ...display. While Ala scanning is widely used for similar purposes, often mutation to Ala (or other amino acids) has little effect on binding, except at hotspot residues. Many residues in physical contact with a binding partner are insensitive to substitution with Ala. In contrast, we show that labeling of Cys residues in a binding site consistently abrogates binding. We couple this methodology to yeast surface display and deep sequencing to map conformational epitopes targeted by both monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal sera as well as a protein:ligand binding site. The method does not require purified protein, can distinguish buried and exposed residues, and can be extended to other display formats, including mammalian cells and viruses, emphasizing its wide applicability.
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•Yeast surface display of Cys scanning mutant library of a protein•Displayed proteins labeled with a Cys reactive probe•Fluorescence-activated cell sorting to detect ligand binding before/after labeling•Deep sequencing of sorted populations to identify binding site residues
Najar et al. describe a facile method to delineate conformational epitopes, protein-protein, and protein-ligand interfaces with single-residue resolution using cysteine labeling and yeast surface display coupled with deep sequencing.
Timely identification of individuals "at-risk" for myopia progression is the leading requisite for myopia practice as it aids in the decision of appropriate management. This study aimed to develop ...'myopia progression risk assessment score' (MPRAS) based on multiple risk factors (10) to determine whether a myope is "at-risk" or "low-risk" for myopia progression. Two risk-score models (model-1: non-weightage, model-2: weightage) were developed. Ability of MPRAS to diagnose individual "at-risk" for myopia progression was compared against decision of five clinicians in 149 myopes, aged 6-29 years. Using model-1 (no-weightage), further 7 sub-models were created with varying number of risk factors in decreasing step-wise manner (1a: 10 factors to 1g: 4 factors). In random eye analysis for model-1, the highest Youden's J-index (0.63-0.65) led to the MPRAS cut-off score of 41.50-43.50 for 5 clinicians with a sensitivity ranging from 78 to 85% and specificity ranging from 79 to 87%. For this cut-off score, the mean area under the curve (AUC) between clinicians and the MPRAS model ranged from 0.89 to 0.90. Model-2 (weighted for few risk-factors) provided similar sensitivity, specificity, and AUC. Sub-model analysis revealed greater AUC with high sensitivity (89%) and specificity (94%) in model-1g that has 4 risk factors compared to other sub-models (1a-1f). All the MPRAS models showed good agreement with the clinician's decision in identifying individuals "at-risk" for myopia progression.
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