Prenatal alcohol exposure alters the cerebral cortex proteome in weanling rats.

Maternal consumption of alcohol during pregnancy impairs neurodevelopment in offspring. Utilizing a rodent model of continuous moderate dose alcohol exposure throughout gestation [gestation day 1 (GD1)-GD22; BAC ~70 mg/dL], the impact of developmental alcohol exposure on juvenile cerebral cortex protein abundances was determined. At weaning, cerebral cortex tissue was collected from pups for 2D SDS-PAGE based proteome analysis with statistical analysis by Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA).

Developmental cigarette smoke exposure: liver proteome profile alterations in low birth weight pups.

Cigarette smoke is composed of over 4000 chemicals many of which are strong oxidizing agents and chemical carcinogens. Chronic cigarette smoke exposure (CSE) induces mild alterations in liver histology indicative of toxicity though the molecular pathways underlying these alterations remain to be explored. Utilizing a mouse model of 'active' developmental CSE (gestational day (GD) 1 through postnatal day (PD) 21; cotinine >50ng/mL) characterized by low birth weight offspring, the impact of developmental CSE on liver protein abundances was determined.

Developmental cigarette smoke exposure: kidney proteome profile alterations in low birth weight pups.

The Brenner hypothesis states that a congenital reduction in nephron number predisposes to adult-onset hypertension and renal failure. The reduction in nephron number induced by proportionally smaller kidney mass may predispose offspring to glomerular hyperfiltration with maturity onset obesity. Developmental cigarette smoke exposure (CSE) results in intrauterine growth retardation with a predisposition to obesity and cardiovascular disease at maturity.

Multi-Segment Direct Inject nano-ESI-LTQ-FT-ICR-MS/MS For Protein Identification.

Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) interfaced to electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) is commonly used for the identification of peptides from proteolytically cleaved proteins embedded in a polyacrylamide gel matrix as well as for metabolomics screening. HPLC separations are time consuming (30-60 min average), costly (columns and mobile phase reagents), and carry the risk of column carry over between samples. The use of a chip-based nano-ESI platform (Advion NanoMate) based on replaceable nano-tips for sample introduction eliminates sample cross-contamination, provides unchanging sample matrix, and enhances spray stability with attendant increases in reproducibility.

GAC1, a gene encoding a putative GTPase-activating protein, regulates bikaverin biosynthesis in Fusarium verticillioides.

Fusarium verticillioides (teleomorph Gibberella moniliformis) is an ascomycete known to produce a variety of secondary metabolites, including fumonisins, fusaric acid and bikaverin. These metabolites are synthesized when the fungus is under stress, notably nutrient limitations. To date we have limited understanding of the complex regulatory process associated with fungal secondary metabolism.