Alterations of Placental Sodium in Preeclampsia: Trophoblast Responses.

Background: Evidence suggests that increasing salt intake in pregnancy lowers blood pressure, protecting against preeclampsia. We hypothesized that sodium (Na) evokes beneficial placental signals that are disrupted in preeclampsia.

Methods: Blood and urine were collected from nonpregnant women of reproductive age (n=26) and pregnant women with (n=50) and without (n=55) preeclampsia, along with placental biopsies.

Gas-Phase Alkali-Metal Cation Affinities of Stabilized Enolates.

The chemistry of alkali-metal enolates is dominated by ion pairing. To improve our understanding of the intrinsic interactions between the alkali-metal cations and the enolate anions, we have applied Cooks' kinetic method to determine relative M (M=Li, Na, K) affinities of the stabilized enolates derived from acetylacetone, ethyl acetoacetate, diethyl malonate, ethyl cyanoacetate, 2-cyanoacetamide, and methyl malonate monoamide in the gas phase. Quantum chemical calculations support the experimental results and moreover afford insight into the structures of the alkali-metal enolate complexes.

Live Monitoring of Anionic Living Polymerizations by Electrospray-Ionization Mass Spectrometry.

Anionic polymerizations are of exceptional practical importance, but difficult to analyze due to the high reactivity of the growing polymer chains. Here, we demonstrate that electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) permits direct observation of the active carbanionic intermediates formed in the anionic ring-opening polymerization of 1-cyanocyclopropanecarboxylate in tetrahydrofuran. This includes the identification of a side product, as well as real-time analysis of the polymerization reaction.

In-Situ Analysis of Anionic Coordination Polymerizations by Electrospray-Ionization Mass Spectrometry.

Anionic coordination polymerizations proceed via highly reactive intermediates, whose in situ analysis has remained difficult. Here, we show that electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry is a promising method to obtain detailed information on the polymerization process. Focusing on polymerization reactions of 1,3-dienes initiated by CoCl /RLi (R=Me, nBu, tBu, Ph), we directly observe the growing polymer chains and characterize the active anionic cobalt centers by gas-phase fragmentation experiments.

Direct Detection of Free and Counterion-Bound Carbanions by Electrospray-Ionization Mass Spectrometry.

We propose electrospray-ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry as a robust and powerful method for the in situ analysis of carbanions. ESI mass spectrometry selectively probes the charged components of the sampled solution and, thus, is ideally suited for the detection of free carbanions. We demonstrate the potential of this method by analyzing acetonitrile solutions of 15 different carbon acids AH, whose acidities cover a range of 11.

Physiological and Molecular Responses to Altered Sodium Intake in Rat Pregnancy.

Background In pregnancy, a high plasma volume maintains uteroplacental perfusion and prevents placental ischemia, a condition linked to elevated maternal blood pressure ( BP ). Reducing BP by increasing Na intake via plasma volume expansion appears contra-intuitive. We hypothesize that an appropriate Na intake in pregnancy reduces maternal BP and adapts the renin-angiotensin system in a pregnancy-specific manner.

Reversible Immobilization of Proteins in Sensors and Solid-State Nanopores.

The controlled functionalization of surfaces with proteins is crucial for many analytical methods in life science research and biomedical applications. Here, a coating for silica-based surfaces is established which enables stable and selective immobilization of proteins with controlled orientation and tunable surface density. The coating is reusable, retains functionality upon long-term storage in air, and is applicable to surfaces of complex geometry.

Placental expression of the angiogenic placental growth factor is stimulated by both aldosterone and simulated starvation.

Aldosterone is an important factor supporting placental growth and fetal development. Recently, expression of placental growth factor (PlGF) has been observed in response to aldosterone exposure in different models of atherosclerosis. Thus, we hypothesized that aldosterone up-regulates growth-adaptive angiogenesis in pregnancy, via increased placental PlGF expression.

Disruption of glycolytic flux is a signal for inflammasome signaling and pyroptotic cell death.

When innate immune cells such as macrophages are challenged with environmental stresses or infection by pathogens, they trigger the rapid assembly of multi-protein complexes called inflammasomes that are responsible for initiating pro-inflammatory responses and a form of cell death termed pyroptosis. We describe here the identification of an intracellular trigger of NLRP3-mediated inflammatory signaling, IL-1β production and pyroptosis in primed murine bone marrow-derived macrophages that is mediated by the disruption of glycolytic flux. This signal results from a drop of NADH levels and induction of mitochondrial ROS production and can be rescued by addition of products that restore NADH production.

Gestation-specific reference intervals for comprehensive spot urinary steroid hormone metabolite analysis in normal singleton pregnancy and 6 weeks postpartum.

Background: Normal pregnancy depends on pronounced adaptations in steroid hormone concentrations. Although in recent years, the understanding of these hormones in pregnancy has improved, the interpretation is hampered by insufficient reference values. Our aim was to establish gestation-specific reference intervals for spot urinary steroid hormone levels in normal singleton pregnancies and 6 weeks postpartum.

Carotene-degrading activities from Bjerkandera adusta possess an application in detergent industries.

Four extracellular enzymes, a versatile peroxidase, a manganese peroxidase, a dye-decolorizing peroxidase and a lignin peroxidase were discovered in liquid cultures of the basidiomycete Bjerkandera adusta. All of them cleaved β-carotene effectively. Expression was enhanced in the presence of β-carotene or Coomassie Brilliant Blue and peaked after 7-9 days.

Escherichia coli as a production host for novel enzymes from basidiomycota.

Many enzymes from basidiomycota have been identified and more recently characterized on the molecular level. This report summarizes the potential biotechnological applications of these enzymes and evaluates recent advances in their heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. Being one of the most widely used hosts for the production of recombinant proteins, there are, however, recurrent problems of recovering substantial yields of correctly folded and active enzymes.

Normotensive blood pressure in pregnancy: the role of salt and aldosterone.

A successful pregnancy requires an accommodating environment. Salt and water availability are critical for plasma volume expansion. Any changes in sodium intake would alter aldosterone, a hormone previously described beneficial in pregnancy.

Cohesiveness tunes assembly and morphology of FG nucleoporin domain meshworks - Implications for nuclear pore permeability.

Nuclear pore complexes control the exchange of macromolecules between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. A selective permeability barrier that arises from a supramolecular assembly of intrinsically unfolded nucleoporin domains rich in phenylalanine-glycine dipeptides (FG domains) fills the nuclear pore. There is increasing evidence that selective transport requires cohesive FG domain interactions.

Salmonella require the fatty acid regulator PPARδ for the establishment of a metabolic environment essential for long-term persistence.

Host-adapted Salmonella strains are responsible for a number of disease manifestations in mammals, including an asymptomatic chronic infection in which bacteria survive within macrophages located in systemic sites. However, the host cell physiology and metabolic requirements supporting bacterial persistence are poorly understood. In a mouse model of long-term infection, we found that S.

Viscoelasticity of thin biomolecular films: a case study on nucleoporin phenylalanine-glycine repeats grafted to a histidine-tag capturing QCM-D sensor.

Immobilization of proteins onto surfaces is useful for the controlled generation of biomolecular assemblies that can be readily characterized with in situ label-free surface-sensitive techniques. Here we analyze the performance of a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) sensor surface that enables the selective and oriented immobilization of histidine-tagged molecules for morphological and interaction studies. More specifically, we characterize monolayers of natively unfolded nucleoporin domains that are rich in phenylalanine-glycine repeats (FGRDs).

PP010. Does aldosterone participate in placental angiogenesis via PLGF?

Introduction: Angiogenic signals are a vital signal of placental integrity. Aldosterone has recently been shown to enhance placental growth factor (PlGF) expression in the peripheral vasculature [1] and to promote trophoblast growth [2]. The plgf gene possesses a functional mineralocorticoid receptor responsive element in the promoter region.

Novel genetic tools for diaminopimelic acid selection in virulence studies of Yersinia pestis.

Molecular studies of bacterial virulence are enhanced by expression of recombinant DNA during infection to allow complementation of mutants and expression of reporter proteins in vivo. For highly pathogenic bacteria, such as Yersinia pestis, these studies are currently limited because deliberate introduction of antibiotic resistance is restricted to those few which are not human treatment options. In this work, we report the development of alternatives to antibiotics as tools for host-pathogen research during Yersinia pestis infections focusing on the diaminopimelic acid (DAP) pathway, a requirement for cell wall synthesis in eubacteria.

Chemokine receptor CXCR2 mediates bacterial clearance rather than neutrophil recruitment in a murine model of pneumonic plague.

Pulmonary infection by Yersinia pestis causes pneumonic plague, a necrotic bronchopneumonia that is rapidly lethal and highly contagious. Acute pneumonic plague accompanies the up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, suggesting that the host innate immune response may contribute to the development of disease. To address this possibility, we sought to understand the consequences of neutrophil recruitment during pneumonic plague, and we studied the susceptibility of C3H-HeN mice lacking the CXC chemokine KC or its receptor CXC receptor 2 (CXCR2) to pulmonary Y.

Host Defense and the Airway Epithelium: Frontline Responses That Protect against Bacterial Invasion and Pneumonia.

Airway epithelial cells are the first line of defense against invading microbes, and they protect themselves through the production of carbohydrate and protein matrices concentrated with antimicrobial products. In addition, they act as sentinels, expressing pattern recognition receptors that become activated upon sensing bacterial products and stimulate downstream recruitment and activation of immune cells which clear invading microbes. Bacterial pathogens that successfully colonize the lungs must resist these mechanisms or inhibit their production, penetrate the epithelial barrier, and be prepared to resist a barrage of inflammation.

The first characterized asparaginase from a basidiomycete, Flammulina velutipes.

Flammulina velutipes enjoys high popularity as an edible mushroom in Asian cuisines. Investigating the secretion of peptidases in nutrient media enriched with gluten, an enzyme was noticed that catalyzed the deamidation of L-asparagine and L-glutamine. The enzyme was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by foaming and SEC.

Ultrathin nucleoporin phenylalanine-glycine repeat films and their interaction with nuclear transport receptors.

Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) are highly selective gates that mediate the exchange of all proteins and nucleic acids between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Their selectivity relies on a supramolecular assembly of natively unfolded nucleoporin domains containing phenylalanine-glycine (FG)-rich repeats (FG repeat domains), in a way that is at present poorly understood. We have developed ultrathin FG domain films that reproduce the mode of attachment and the density of FG repeats in NPCs, and that exhibit a thickness that corresponds to the nanoscopic dimensions of the native permeability barrier.

Effects of glucagon-like peptide 1 and oxyntomodulin on neuronal activity of ghrelin-sensitive neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and oxyntomodulin (OXM) are structurally related gastrointestinal hormones that are secreted in response to food intake. They reduce food intake and body weight and exert partly overlapping actions on glucose homeostasis and gastrointestinal function. The hypothalamic arcuate (ARC) nucleus is among the central structures expressing a high density of GLP-1 receptors (GLP-1R), which are known to be activated by both peptides.

Dual-function antibodies to Yersinia pestis LcrV required for pulmonary clearance of plague.

Yersinia pestis causes pneumonic plague, a necrotic pneumonia that rapidly progresses to death without early treatment. Antibodies to the protective antigen LcrV are thought to neutralize its essential function in the type III secretion system (TTSS) and by themselves are capable of inducing immunity to plague in mouse models. To develop multivalent LcrV antibodies as a therapeutic treatment option, we screened for monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to LcrV that could prevent its function in the TTSS.