Bacteria in combination with fertilizers promote root and shoot growth of maize in saline-sodic soil

Salinity is the leading abiotic stress hampering maize (Zea mays L.) growth throughout the world, especially in Pakistan. During salinity stress, the endogenous ethylene level in plants increases, which retards proper root growth and consequent shoot growth of the plants. However, certain bacteria contain the enzyme 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase, which converts 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (an immediate precursor of ethylene biosynthesis in higher plants) into ammonia and α-ketobutyrate instead of ethylene. In the present study, two Pseudomonas bacterial strains containing ACC-deaminase were tested separately and in combinations with mineral fertilizers to determine their potential to minimize/undo the effects of salinity on maize plants grown under saline-sodic field conditions. The data recorded at 30, 50 and 70 days after sowing revealed that both the Pseudomonas bacterial strains improved root and shoot length, root and shoot fresh weight, and root and shoot dry weight up to 34, 43, 35, 71, 55 and 68%, respectively, when applied without chemical fertilizers: these parameter were enhanced up to 108, 95, 100, 131, 100 and 198%, respectively, when the strains were applied along with chemical fertilizers. It can be concluded that ACC-deaminase Pseudomonas bacterial strains applied alone and in conjunction with mineral fertilizers improved the root and shoot growth of maize seedlings grown in saline-sodic soil.

Suppression of amino acid transporter LAT3 expression on proliferation of K562 cells / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The activity of the mTOR pathway is frequently increased in acute myeloid leukemia, and is tightly related with cellular proliferation. Leucine is tightly linked to the mTOR pathway and can activate it, thereby stimulating cellular proliferation. LAT3 is a major transporter for leucine, and suppression of its expression can reduce cell proliferation. Here, we show that suppression of LAT3 expression can reduce proliferation of the acute leukemia cell line, K562. We investigated the mRNA and protein expression of LAT3 in several leukemia cell lines and normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) using RT-PCR and Western blotting. We also evaluated cell viability using a methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay after blocking LAT3 expression with either shRNA targeted to LAT3 or a small molecular inhibitor BCH (2-aminobicyclo-(2,2,1)-heptane-2-carboxylic acid). LAT3 mRNA and protein expression was detected in leukemia cell lines, but not in normal PBMNCs. Using K562 cells, it was found that cellular proliferation and mTOR pathway activity were significantly reduced when LAT3 was blocked with either shRNA or BCH. Our results suggest that leukemia cell proliferation can be significantly suppressed by blocking LAT3. This finding may lead to a new strategy to develop clinical therapy for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia.

Comparison of two dietary markers in the determination of amino acid digestibiliy in some foodstuffs for growing broiler chickens

Se determinó la digestibilidad ileal aparente de aminoácidos en maíz, sorgo, pasta de soya, gluten de maíz, harina de pescado, harina de carne y hueso, y salvado de trigo en pollos de engorda, utilizando dióxido de titanio y óxido de cromo como marcadores inertes de la dieta. Doce pollos fueron alimentados en dos ocasiones con 30g de cada ingrediente, con uno de los dos marcadores dietéticos, mediante la técnica de alimentación forzada. Se llevaron a cabo análisis de varianza con los resultados para determinar efectos de ingredientes y de marcadores. Se encontraron diferencias significativas en la digestibilidad de aminoácidos entre ingredientes, cuyo rango fue de 0,53 para cisteína en la harina de carne y hueso, hasta 0,97 para tirosina en pasta de soya. En todos los ingredientes los coeficientes de digestibilidad de aminoácidos calculados con base en titanio fueron mayores (P<0,05) que aquellos determinados con base en cromo. La excepción fue para salvado de trigo donde no se encontró efecto significativo del marcador utilizado (P>0,05). Los coeficientes de digestibilidad de aminoácidos mostraron una menor variación cuando el dióxido de titanio fue usado como marcador dietético. Se concluye que el dióxido de titanio es más confiable que el cromo como marcador dietético, siendo menos variable y obteniéndose mayor digestibilidad, lo cual indica una mayor recuperación

Calcio y deoxipiridinolina en tres muestras distintas de orina e ingesta de calcio: interrelaciones / Calcium and deoxipyridinoline in three different samples of urine and calcium intake: interrelationship

Se estudiaron 14 mujeres, de 22 a 35 años, premenopaúsicas, clínicamente sanas, residentes en Comodoro Rivadavia (Chubut), con valores normales de densidad mineral ósea de columna lumbar y cuello de fémur; los promedios ñ DE de peso e índice de masa corporal fueron, respectivamente: 57,7 ñ 3,8 (kg); 21,8 ñ 1,7 kg/m². La ingesta de calcio (ICa) se calculó en base a una encuesta alimentaria. En orina basal (A), con sobrecarga de agua (B) y de 24 h (C), se determinaron: calcio (Ca), deoxipiridinolina (D-Pir) y creatinina (crea), calculando las relaciones Ca/crea y D-Pir/crea. Los resultados promedio ñ DE fueron: ICa (mg/día): 720 ñ 284; Ca/crea (mg/mg): A: 0,065 ñ 0,039; B: 0,050 ñ 0,022; C: 0,089 ñ 0,027; D-Pir/crea (nM/mM) A: 5,9 ñ 2,2; B: 5,5 ñ 2,0; C: 5,1 ñ 1,4. Ca/crea en A y B no fueron significativamente menores que C (p 0,025); Ca/crea en C correlacionó con ICa (p = 0,002). D-Pir/crea en A, B y C no fueron diferentes. Estos resultados sugieren que: 1) las muestras A y B podrían utilizarse indistintinamente para determinar las relaciones urinarias Ca/crea y D-Pir/crea; 2) Ca/crea en C muestra una elevada correlación con ICa; 3) los valores normales de densidad de masa ósea (DMO) y D-Pir/crea en éstas mujeres premenopaúsicas, indican una adaptación al amplio rango de ICa

Heterogeneity of transport systems for L-glutamine in mouse mammary gland.

The characteristics of the transport systems of L-glutamine in lactating mouse mammary gland have been studied. L-glutamine uptake was mediated by three Na+-dependent and one Na+-independent systems. The 2-(methylamino)isobutyric acid-sensitive component of Na+-dependent uptake exhibited the usual characteristics of system A. The other two Na+-dependent systems, which we have named BCI(-)-dependent and BCl(-)-independent, are the new systems identified. These are broad specificity systems and were discriminated on the basis of inhibition analysis, Cl- dependency and the effect of preloading mammary tissue with amino acids. While L-aspargine inhibited the uptake of L-glutamine via both these broad specificity systems, L-homoserine inhibited the uptake of L-glutamine via only BCl(-)-dependent system. The uptake of L-glutamine via the BCl(-)-independent system was upregulated by preloading mammary tissue with L-serine, while BCl(-)-dependent system was unaffected. The Na+-independent uptake of L-glutamine was inhibited by 2-aminobicyclo-(2,2,1)heptane carboxylic acid and other neutral amino acids, and identified as the system L.

Characterisation of the routes of methionine transport in mouse mammary glands.

The sites of methionine uptake by mammary glands from late pregnant and lactating mice were studied in vitro. Using the specific A system inhibitor, N-(methylamino) isobutyric acid (MeAIB) and the specific L system inhibitor, 2-amino-bicyclo (2.2.1) heptane 2-carboxylic acid (BCH), we have defined four modes of methionine entry into these tissues. (i) A sodium-dependent A system with a Vmax of 13.4 and 18.8 n mol/g cells/min in pregnant and lactating mice, respectively. This mode of entry was completely inhibited by MeAIB and its Km value was similar (0.45 mM) in both groups. (ii) A sodium-dependent mode with a Vmax of 6.7 and 12.4 n mol/g cells/min and a Km of 0.24 and 0.46 mM in pregnant and lactating mice, respectively. This mode of entry was insensitive to inhibition by MeAIB, and was similar to the ASC (alanine, serine, cysteine) system in other tissues. (iii) A sodium-independent L system with a Vmax of 13.8 and 30.0 n mol/g cells/min and a Km of 0.27 and 0.46 mM in pregnant and lactating mice, respectively. This mode of entry was completely inhibited by BCH. (iv) A sodium-independent non-specific entry amounting to 25 per cent of the total entry at 0.1 mM external methionine which was not inhibited by high concentration of BCH. The results of our studies show an increase in the number of active carriers of the A, ASC and L systems of methionine uptake in mammary glands of mouse during lactation.