scholarly journals Transcription of Genes Involved in Biomineralization in Two Mantle Morphs of Pearl Oyster, Pinctada Persica

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Parvizi ◽  
Arash Akbarzadeh ◽  
Ahmad Farhadi ◽  
Sophie Arnaud-Haond ◽  
Mohammad Sharif Ranjbar
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Soft Tissues ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Pearl Oyster ◽  
Color Variation ◽  
Mantle Tissue ◽  
Pearl Oysters ◽  
Color Morphs ◽  
Pearl Quality

Abstract A few species of mollusks display color variation in their soft tissues. In pearl oysters, the color polymorphism in mantle tissue is associated with the color and radiance of shell and pearl. The study of biomineralization related genes in mantle tissue of pearl oysters can be used as a suitable approach to better identify the molecular mechanisms that influence shell and pearl quality and color variations. In this study, we investigated the transcription of biomineralization-related genes in black and orange mantle morphotypes of pearl oyster, Pinctada persica in both warm and cool seasons using quantitative real-time PCR. Our results showed that the genes involved in biomineralization of the prismatic and nacre layer, i.e.; ASP, KRMP, MRNP34, SHELL, SHEM1B, LINKINE, PIF, SHEM5, NACREIN, and in pigmentation (TYR2A) were significantly highly expressed in orange phenotype compared to those of black one, suggesting the existence of different genetic processes between two color morphs of mantle tissue and the more active role of genes in orange morphotype. In black mantle phenotype, ASP, KRMP, SHEM5 and PIF and in the orange phenotype, only KRMP and PRISM showed difference in seasonal expression. This study provides an accurate understanding of the mantle trait of P. persica.

scholarly journals Natural Compounds in Sex Hormone-Dependent Cancers: The Role of Triterpenes as Therapeutic Agents

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Codruţa Şoica ◽  
Mirela Voicu ◽  
Roxana Ghiulai ◽  
Cristina Dehelean ◽  
Roxana Racoviceanu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Sex Hormone ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
New Treatment ◽  
Highly Correlated

Sex hormone-dependent cancers currently contribute to the high number of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The study and elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of these tumors was a double-edged sword, leading to the expansion and development of new treatment options, with the cost of triggering more aggressive, therapy resistant relapses. The interaction of androgen, estrogen and progesterone hormones with specific receptors (AR, ER, PR) has emerged as a key player in the development and progression of breast, ovarian, prostate and endometrium cancers. Sex hormone-dependent cancers share a common and rather unique carcinogenesis mechanism involving the active role of endogenous and exogenous sex hormones to maintain high mitotic rates and increased cell proliferation thus increasing the probability of aberrant gene occurrence and accumulation highly correlated with abnormal cell division and the occurrence of malignant phenotypes. Cancer related hormone therapy has evolved, currently being associated with the blockade of other signaling pathways often associated with carcinogenesis and tumor progression in cancers, with promising results. However, despite the established developments, there are still several shortcomings to be addressed. Triterpenes are natural occurring secondary metabolites biosynthesized by various pathways starting from squalene cyclization. Due to their versatile therapeutic potential, including the extensively researched antiproliferative effect, these compounds are most definitely a cornerstone in the research and development of new natural/semisynthetic anticancer therapies. The present work thoroughly describes the ongoing research related to the antitumor activity of triterpenes in sex hormone-dependent cancers. Also, the current review highlights both the biological activity of various triterpenoid compounds and their featured mechanisms of action correlated with important chemical structural features.

scholarly journals Environmentally Driven Color Variation in the Pearl Oyster Pinctada margaritifera var. cumingii (Linnaeus, 1758) Is Associated With Differential Methylation of CpGs in Pigment- and Biomineralization-Related Genes

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre-Louis Stenger ◽  
Chin-Long Ky ◽  
Céline M. O. Reisser ◽  
Céline Cosseau ◽  
Christoph Grunau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Organization ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Common Knowledge ◽  
Pearl Oyster ◽  
Differential Methylation ◽  
Color Variation ◽  
Epigenetic Factors ◽  
Pinctada Margaritifera ◽  
Depth Variation ◽  
Biomineralization Process

Today, it is common knowledge that environmental factors can change the color of many animals. Studies have shown that the molecular mechanisms underlying such modifications could involve epigenetic factors. Since 2013, the pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera var. cumingii has become a biological model for questions on color expression and variation in Mollusca. A previous study reported color plasticity in response to water depth variation, specifically a general darkening of the nacre color at greater depth. However, the molecular mechanisms behind this plasticity are still unknown. In this paper, we investigate the possible implication of epigenetic factors controlling shell color variation through a depth variation experiment associated with a DNA methylation study performed at the whole genome level with a constant genetic background. Our results revealed six genes presenting differentially methylated CpGs in response to the environmental change, among which four are linked to pigmentation processes or regulations (GART, ABCC1, MAPKAP1, and GRL101), especially those leading to darker phenotypes. Interestingly, the genes perlucin and MGAT1, both involved in the biomineralization process (deposition of aragonite and calcite crystals), also showed differential methylation, suggesting that a possible difference in the physical/spatial organization of the crystals could cause darkening (iridescence or transparency modification of the biomineral). These findings are of great interest for the pearl production industry, since wholly black pearls and their opposite, the palest pearls, command a higher value on several markets. They also open the route of epigenetic improvement as a new means for pearl production improvement.

The Role of Biology in the Fossilization of Embryos and Other Soft-Bodied Organisms: Microbial Biofilms and Lagerstätten

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 83-100
Author(s):  
Rudolf A. Raff ◽  
Elizabeth C. Raff
Keyword(s):  
Soft Tissue ◽  
Soft Tissues ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Microbial Interactions ◽  
Skin Texture ◽  
Microbial Biofilms ◽  
Insect Wings ◽  
Large Animals ◽  
Simple Systems

Soft-tissue fossils are among the most striking and informative remains of extinct organisms. Although relatively rare, they are diverse, ranging from single microbial cells to nuclei and chromosomes; algae; metazoan embryos and larvae; flowers; complete, small, soft-bodied metazoans, metazoan tissues; integumentary structures such as melanosomes; skin texture, vertebrate feathers and hair, insect wings with color patterns, and sometimes even the entire bodies of large animals. The susceptibility of newly dead soft tissues to physical destruction, consumption, and microbial decay makes their preservation unlikely under most taphonomic conditions. In addition, their vulnerability to rapid autolysis, bioturbation, and destructive physical processes requires that rapid biological events must occur as the critical first steps of fossilization. An understanding of the processes by which biological remains enter the fossil record is important in inferring what non-microbial and microbial processes were operative in Lagerstätten. Paleontologists have recognized that microbial biofilms often accompany soft-tissue fossils, and have suggested that bacteria play an active role in soft tissue fossilization, but that role must be determined experimentally with living bacteria and dead tissue.Marine embryos and marine bacteria are used to investigate the processes that mediate early steps in soft-tissue preservation because they offer simple systems for laboratory investigation of the roles of autolysis-blocking environments, microbial interactions, biofilm formation, and authigenic mineralization in taphonomy. Understanding microbially mediated preservation of embryos may supply new insights into a more general biology of fossilization.

scholarly journals ​Isolation and Characterization of a Vibrio Sp. Strain MA3 Possibly Associated with Mass Mortalities of the Pearl Oyster Pinctada fucata

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akihiro SAKATOKU ◽  
Kaito Hatano ◽  
Shoki Tanaka ◽  
Tadashi Isshiki
Keyword(s):  
Soft Tissues ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Pearl Oyster ◽  
Vibrio Alginolyticus ◽  
Pinctada Fucata ◽  
Causative Organism ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Isolation And Characterization ◽  
Pearl Oysters ◽  
Mass Mortalities

Abstract In the summers of 2019 and 2020, a previously undescribed disease occurred in both juvenile and adult shellfish, causing mass mortalities in cultured pearl production, characterized by the major symptom of extreme atrophy of the soft tissues, including the mantle. However, the causative organism was uncertain. We isolated Vibrio sp. strain MA3 from the mantles of diseased pearl oysters Pinctada fucata. Analyses of 16S rRNA gene and DNA gyrase sequence homologies and its biochemical and morphological characteristics suggested that strain MA3 is a new strain of Vibrio alginolyticus. In addition, a hemolysin gene (Vhe1) of strain MA3 was detected as one of the virulence factors, and the complete sequence was determined. BLAST searches showed that Vhe1 shares 99.8% nucleotide sequence identity with Vibrio alginolyticus strain A056 lecithin-dependent hemolysin (ldh) gene, complete cds. Experimental infection of healthy oysters via injection with strain MA3 indicated it could cause high mortalities of the typically affected oysters from which the strain was isolated. These results suggest that the newly isolated Vibrio sp. strain MA3 is a putative causal agent of the recent disease outbreaks in Akoya pearl oysters.

scholarly journals The Role of Osteoprotegerin and Its Ligands in Vascular Function

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luc Rochette ◽  
Alexandre Meloux ◽  
Eve Rigal ◽  
Marianne Zeller ◽  
Yves Cottin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Vascular Function ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Inflammatory Marker ◽  
Vascular Diseases ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Specific Cell ◽  
Surface Receptors ◽  
Rank System

The superfamily of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptors includes osteoprotegerin (OPG) and its ligands, which are receptor activators of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). The OPG/RANKL/RANK system plays an active role in pathological angiogenesis and inflammation as well as cell survival. It has been demonstrated that there is crosstalk between endothelial cells and osteoblasts during osteogenesis, thus establishing a connection between angiogenesis and osteogenesis. This OPG/RANKL/RANK/TRAIL system acts on specific cell surface receptors, which are then able to transmit their signals to other intracellular components and modify gene expression. Cytokine production and activation of their receptors induce mechanisms to recruit monocytes and neutrophils as well as endothelial cells. Data support the role of an increased OPG/RANKL ratio as a possible marker of progression of endothelial dysfunction in metabolic disorders in relationship with inflammatory marker levels. We review the role of the OPG/RANKL/RANK triad in vascular function as well as molecular mechanisms related to the etiology of vascular diseases. The potential therapeutic strategies may be very promising in the future.

Role of spectrin in membrane fusion and in shape change of human erythrocyte ghost

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 328-329
Author(s):  
Hideo Hayashi ◽  
Yoshikazu Hirai ◽  
John T. Penniston
Keyword(s):  
Conformational Changes ◽  
Human Erythrocyte ◽  
Shape Change ◽  
Membrane Surface ◽  
Slight Modification ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Main Role ◽  
Bank Blood ◽  
Human Erythrocyte Ghost

Spectrin is a membrane associated protein most of which properties have been tentatively elucidated. A main role of the protein has been assumed to give a supporting structure to inside of the membrane. As reported previously, however, the isolated spectrin molecule underwent self assemble to form such as fibrous, meshwork, dispersed or aggregated arrangements depending upon the buffer suspended and was suggested to play an active role in the membrane conformational changes. In this study, the role of spectrin and actin was examined in terms of the molecular arrangements on the erythrocyte membrane surface with correlation to the functional states of the ghosts.Human erythrocyte ghosts were prepared from either freshly drawn or stocked bank blood by the method of Dodge et al with a slight modification as described before. Anti-spectrin antibody was raised against rabbit by injection of purified spectrin and partially purified.

Elucidation of block boundaries as the dissolution channels in hydrated cement

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 484-485
Author(s):  
N.V. Belov ◽  
U.I. Papiashwili ◽  
B.E. Yudovich
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Grain Boundaries ◽  
Benzoyl Peroxide ◽  
Phase Contrast ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Hardened Cement ◽  
Hydrated Cement ◽  
Hardened Cement Paste

It has been almost universally adopted that dissolution of solids proceeds with development of uniform, continuous frontiers of reaction.However this point of view is doubtful / 1 /. E.g. we have proved the active role of the block (grain) boundaries in the main phases of cement, these boundaries being the areas of hydrate phases' nucleation / 2 /. It has brought to the supposition that the dissolution frontier of cement particles in water is discrete. It seems also probable that the dissolution proceeds through the channels, which serve both for the liquid phase movement and for the drainage of the incongruant solution products. These channels can be appeared along the block boundaries.In order to demonsrate it, we have offered the method of phase-contrast impregnation of the hardened cement paste with the solution of methyl metacrylahe and benzoyl peroxide. The viscosity of this solution is equal to that of water.

How do histone modifications contribute to transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in C. elegans?

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 1019-1034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel M. Woodhouse ◽  
Alyson Ashe
Keyword(s):  
Histone Modifications ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Epigenetic Inheritance ◽  
Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽  
Histone Methyltransferases ◽  
Transgenerational Epigenetic Inheritance ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Gene Regulatory

Gene regulatory information can be inherited between generations in a phenomenon termed transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (TEI). While examples of TEI in many animals accumulate, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has proven particularly useful in investigating the underlying molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon. In C. elegans and other animals, the modification of histone proteins has emerged as a potential carrier and effector of transgenerational epigenetic information. In this review, we explore the contribution of histone modifications to TEI in C. elegans. We describe the role of repressive histone marks, histone methyltransferases, and associated chromatin factors in heritable gene silencing, and discuss recent developments and unanswered questions in how these factors integrate with other known TEI mechanisms. We also review the transgenerational effects of the manipulation of histone modifications on germline health and longevity.

Mesophyll conductance: the leaf corridors for photosynthesis

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 429-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Gago ◽  
Danilo M. Daloso ◽  
Marc Carriquí ◽  
Miquel Nadal ◽  
Melanie Morales ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Main Role ◽  
Mesophyll Conductance ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Cell Structures ◽  
Leaf Tissues ◽  
Change Framework ◽  
Chloroplast Stroma

Besides stomata, the photosynthetic CO2 pathway also involves the transport of CO2 from the sub-stomatal air spaces inside to the carboxylation sites in the chloroplast stroma, where Rubisco is located. This pathway is far to be a simple and direct way, formed by series of consecutive barriers that the CO2 should cross to be finally assimilated in photosynthesis, known as the mesophyll conductance (gm). Therefore, the gm reflects the pathway through different air, water and biophysical barriers within the leaf tissues and cell structures. Currently, it is known that gm can impose the same level of limitation (or even higher depending of the conditions) to photosynthesis than the wider known stomata or biochemistry. In this mini-review, we are focused on each of the gm determinants to summarize the current knowledge on the mechanisms driving gm from anatomical to metabolic and biochemical perspectives. Special attention deserve the latest studies demonstrating the importance of the molecular mechanisms driving anatomical traits as cell wall and the chloroplast surface exposed to the mesophyll airspaces (Sc/S) that significantly constrain gm. However, even considering these recent discoveries, still is poorly understood the mechanisms about signaling pathways linking the environment a/biotic stressors with gm responses. Thus, considering the main role of gm as a major driver of the CO2 availability at the carboxylation sites, future studies into these aspects will help us to understand photosynthesis responses in a global change framework.

Potential Uses of Vinegar as a Medicine and Related in vivo Mechanisms

2016 ◽  
Vol 86 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 127-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zeshan Ali ◽  
Zhenbin Wang ◽  
Rai Muhammad Amir ◽  
Shoaib Younas ◽  
Asif Wali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Structure ◽  
Review Paper ◽  
Heart Diseases ◽  
Folk Medicine ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Current Review ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Positive Effect

While the use of vinegar to fi ght against infections and other crucial conditions dates back to Hippocrates, recent research has found that vinegar consumption has a positive effect on biomarkers for diabetes, cancer, and heart diseases. Different types of vinegar have been used in the world during different time periods. Vinegar is produced by a fermentation process. Foods with a high content of carbohydrates are a good source of vinegar. Review of the results of different studies performed on vinegar components reveals that the daily use of these components has a healthy impact on the physiological and chemical structure of the human body. During the era of Hippocrates, people used vinegar as a medicine to treat wounds, which means that vinegar is one of the ancient foods used as folk medicine. The purpose of the current review paper is to provide a detailed summary of the outcome of previous studies emphasizing the role of vinegar in treatment of different diseases both in acute and chronic conditions, its in vivo mechanism and the active role of different bacteria.

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