Cortactin regulates cofilin and N-WASp activities to control the stages of invadopodium assembly and maturation.

Invadopodia are matrix-degrading membrane protrusions in invasive carcinoma cells. The mechanisms regulating invadopodium assembly and maturation are not understood. We have dissected the stages of invadopodium assembly and maturation and show that invadopodia use cortactin phosphorylation as a master switch during these processes.

Effect of the tropical grass Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Stapf on microbial population and activity in petroleum-contaminated soil.

The effect of the tropical pasture grass Brachiaria brizantha on numbers of bacteria, fungi and degraders of alkanes, aromatics, cycloalkanes and crude oil in petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated and uncontaminated savannah soil was evaluated. Substrate induced soil respiration and soil pH were compared between planted and unplanted soil. B.

Influence of fertilizer levels on phytoremediation of crude oil-contaminated soils with the tropical pasture grass Brachiaria brizantha (hochst. ex a. rich.) stapf.

Determination of fertilizer levels in phytoremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons is a complex issue, since nutrient demands of the plant and of degrading microorganisms in the rhizosphere have to be considered In the present work, three fertilizer levels were tested in a greenhouse experiment with the aim of optimizing growth of the tropical pasture grass Brachiaria brizantha and enhance microbial degradation of heavy crude oil in soil Fertilizer was applied twice in a concentration of 200, 300, and 400 mg each of N, P, and K per kg soil before and after the first sampling (14 wk). The medium fertilizer concentration resulted in best root growth and highest absolute oil dissipation (18.4%) after 22 wk The highest concentration produced best shoot growth and highest relative oil dissipation after 14 wk (10.

Absence of selectivity in the loss of neurons from the developing cortical subplate of the rat.

Neurons of the cortical subplate display evidence of cell death, although a significant population survives to the mature brain. The present study examined different populations of neurons to determine if the loss of cells was specific for a particular cell type. Immunocytochemical procedures for neurons expressing GluR2/3, GAD, or NPY, were used on tissue sections taken from animals at gestational day 18 to postnatal day 21.