Zebrafish alpha-crystallins: protein structure and chaperone-like activity compared to their mammalian orthologs.

Purpose: The vertebrate small heat shock proteins alphaA- and alphaB-crystallin contribute to the transparency and refractive power of the lens and may also prevent the aggregation of non-native proteins that would otherwise lead to cataracts. We previously showed that zebrafish (Danio rerio) and human alphaB-crystallin have diverged far more in primary structure and expression pattern than the orthologous alphaA-crystallins. In this current study we further compare the structure and function of zebrafish and mammalian alpha-crystallins.

Comparison of memory and combined exercise and memory-anchoring procedures on ratings of perceived exertion during short duration, near-peak-intensity cycle ergometer exercise.

The purpose of this study was to compare ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) following memory-anchoring and two different types of combined exercise and memory-anchoring during short duration, near-peak-intensity cycle exercise. Thirty recreationally trained males volunteered to participate. The M group, n = 10, received only verbal instructions prior to the experimental trial.

Allelochemicals of Polygonella myriophylla: chemistry and soil degradation.

Gallic acid and hydroquinone have been identified as the major allelochemicals of the known allelopathic plant Polygonella myriophylla. Both of these compounds occur in the foliage as glycosides. Quercetin and rhamnetin were identified as the major flavonoid constituents, but in much lower concentration.

Spectacles, distinctiveness, and face recognition: a web-based experiment.

This study sought to clarify previous research in the face recognition literature regarding memory for faces with spectacles. A second aim of this research was to further investigate Valentine's face-space model, a leading model of face recognition that predicts better performance on distinctive faces compared to typical faces. Prior to this experiment, independent observers provided distinctiveness ratings for faces with, and without, spectacles.

Evaluation of dose-response curve analysis in delineating shared or different molecular sites of action for osteolathyrogens.

Single-chemical and mixture concentration-response curves generated using a frog embryo model were examined for value in assessing whether chemicals exert toxic effects at the same or at different molecular sites of action. Toxicity tests were conducted on a series of osteolathyrogens, i.e.

The world wide web and the laboratory: a comparison using face recognition.

In recent years, a growing number of psychological researchers have turned to the World Wide Web (WWW) as a resource to access participants in experimental studies. While there are benefits to this approach in conducting psychological research (e.g.

Take a chance on nursing mentorships. Enhance leadership with this win-win strategy.

Mentoring in nursing traditionally occurs at the master's or doctoral level, but the mutual career enhancement gained by such an alliance can be experienced at all stages of a nursing career. This article presents e-mail examples to illustrate antecedent relationship factors and the progression of phases in a mentorship between a clinically experienced RN and a doctorally prepared nursing professor. Application of this concept from a business model reveals parallels to nursing and blends perspectives from both disciplines.

A Comparative View of Alpha Crystallins: The contribution of comparative studies to understanding function.

Integration between comparative biology and cellular/molecular biology has helped advance understanding of the structure, function and physiology of the vertebrate small heat shock proteins αA- and αB-crystallin. These proteins are expressed at high concentration in the eye lens where they contribute to transparency and refractive power. But they also function similarly to molecular chaperones by preventing the aggregation of denatured proteins that can cause opacities, or cataracts.

Exposure to the metabolic inhibitor sodium azide induces stress protein expression and thermotolerance in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Historically, sodium azide has been used to anesthetize the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans; however, the mechanism by which it survives this exposure is not understood. In this study, we report that exposure of wild-type C elegans to 10 mM sodium azide for up to 90 minutes confers thermotolerance (defined as significantly increased survival probability [SP] at 37 degrees C) on the animal. In addition, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed enhanced Hsp70 expression, whereas Western blot analysis revealed the induction of Hsp16.

Biochemical and toxicological evaluation of agent-cofactor reactivity as a mechanism of action for osteolathyrism.

In vitro reactivity for each of four osteolathyrogens with a model compound for the lysyl oxidase (LO) cofactor was evaluated and coupled with mixture toxicity testing to evaluate agent-cofactor reactivity as a potential mechanism of action for osteolathyrism. Reactivity of the model cofactor (mLTQ: 4-butylamino-5-methyl-o-quinone), with each of two ureides, semicarbazide (SC) and thiosemicarbazide (TSC), and each of two aminonitriles, aminoacetonitrile (AAN) and beta-aminopropionitrile (betaAPN), was assessed using UV-vis spectrophotometry; both in the absence and presence of Cu(II)-bipyridine (bipy) complex. Two sets of mixture toxicity experiments were conducted using a frog embryo assay that assessed the incidence of osteolathyrism in the notochord of tadpoles after 96-h exposure.

Sequence and spatial expression of zebrafish (Danio rerio) alphaA-crystallin.

Purpose: To determine the nucleotide sequence, amino acid sequence and tissue specificity of zebrafish alphaA-crystallin.

Methods: RACE, both 3' and 5', was used to clone the zebrafish alphaA-crystallin gene. The peptide sequence of the encoded protein was deduced and compared to cavefish, shark, amphibian, bird and human orthologues using the CLUSTAL W algorithm.

Analysis of the combined osteolathyritic effects of beta-aminopropionitrile and diethyldithiocarbamate on xenopus development.

In order to examine the mechanistic basis between combined effects and mechanisms of action, two osteolathyrogens, beta-aminopropionitrile (betaAPN) and diethyldithiocarbamate (DTC), were tested together on Xenopus embryos. In a separate test, DTC was also tested with copper sulfate to determine the importance of copper in DTC-induced osteolathyrism. Frog embryos (Xenopus laevis) were exposed for 96 h, with daily solution removal and replacement.

Comparative evaluation of the combined osteolathyritic effects of two nitrile combinations on xenopus embryos.

Two nitrile combinations, beta-aminopropionitrile (beta APN) with aminoacetonitrile (AAN) and betaAPN with beta APN (as a sham combination), were evaluated using the frog embryo mixture toxicity assay to determine their combined osteolathyritic effects and to compare the results with theoretical effects for two combined effects models. In separate tests each nitrile was tested with copper sulfate to determine the importance of copper in osteolathyrogen-induced disruption of connective tissue cross-linking. Frog embryos (Xenopus laevis) were exposed for 96 h, with daily solution removal and replacement.

Combined osteolathyric effects of beta-aminopropionitrile and penicillamine on Xenopus embryos: statistical comparison with dose-addition and independence.

The combined osteolathyric effects of beta-aminopropionitrile (beta APN) and penicillamine (PNC) on developing Xenopus embryos were determined and compared with theoretical effects for the dose-addition and independence models. The testing protocol utilized a 1.2-factor matrix design that generated two single chemical and seven mixture concentration-response curves within 36 treatments.

Developmental toxicity of carboxylic acids to Xenopus embryos: a quantitative structure-activity relationship and computer-automated structure evaluation.

The developmental toxicity for each of 45 carboxylic acids was determined for Xenopus embryos. Acids tested included 12 unbranched, saturated aliphatics, 12 branched, saturated aliphatics, 12 unsaturated aliphatics, and 9 aromatics. Embryos were collected following hormone-induced breeding and exposed to at least eight concentrations of the acid, along with a control.

Joint actions of carboxylic acid binary mixtures on Xenopus embryo development: comparison of joint actions for malformation types.

The joint action for malformations induced by 18 binary mixtures of four carboxylic acids was determined, using Xenopus embryos. The acids were selected to evaluate whether joint actions for mixtures changed when the data were analyzed by specific malformations or malformation syndromes as opposed to joint actions determined when any type of malformation was included in the analysis. Each of six binary combinations of the acids were tested three or four times in 96-h static-renewal tests, starting with late-blastula stage embryos.