Assays to Investigate the N-Glycosylation State and Function of Plant Pattern Recognition Receptors.

The biogenesis and functionality of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) are critical for robust plant immune responses. Here, we present methods to determine the N-glycosylation state and ligand-induced activity of these receptors for comparative quantitative analysis. These techniques can be used to identify mutants and chemical inhibitors affecting PRR biogenesis and functionality. When combined, these techniques can provide useful insights on biological processes necessary to synthesize a properly membrane-localized and ligand-responsive PRR.

Feeding and communication impairments in infants with central grey matter lesions following perinatal hypoxic-ischaemic injury.

BACKGROUND: Basal ganglia and thalamic (BGT) injury is common after acute perinatal hypoxia-ischaemia. Cerebral palsy is the most obvious consequence of BGT injury affecting 70-75% of survivors and is predictable from neonatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However there is no equivalent predictive data for other specific outcomes. Feeding and communication impairments are also common in children following hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) and BGT injury. AIMS: To describe, in infants with HIE and BGT injury, the prevalence of feeding and communication impairments; and to evaluate the accuracy of early MRI for predicting these outcomes. METHODS: 175 term infants with HIE and BGT injury were studied. Brain lesions were classified by site and severity from the MRI scans. Motor, feeding and communication impairments were documented at 2 years. RESULTS: Feeding and communication impairments occurred in 65% and 82% of 126 survivors respectively and related strongly to the severity of motor impairment. Forty-one children had a gastrostomy or long-term nasogastric tube. Injury severity in all brain regions was significantly associated with feeding and communication impairment on univariate analysis. On logistic regression analysis BGT (OR 10.9) and mesencephalic lesions (OR 3.7) were independently associated with feeding impairment; BGT (OR 10.5) and pontine lesions (OR 3.8) were associated with gastrostomy; the severity of BGT lesions (OR 20.1) was related to the severity of communication impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Feeding and communication impairment are very common in children with BGT and brainstem injury of neonatal origin and can be well predicted from early MRI scans.

In vivo activity of anprocide alone, and in vitro activity in combination with conventional antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms.

The alarming spread of multiple drug resistance in Staphylococcus aureus, combined with the frequent occurrence of S. aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis in biofilm-type infections, indicates a growing need for new therapies. The experimental steroidal amide anprocide [3beta-acetoxy-17beta-(l-prolyl)amino-5alpha-androstane] significantly reduced c.f.u. ml(-1) per suture (P <0.0001) in a murine model of topical S. aureus infection. In chequerboard assays with planktonic-grown S. aureus and S. epidermidis, anprocide was synergistic with bacitracin, oxacillin, clindamycin or ceftriaxone. Anprocide was also synergistic in combination with bacitracin or oxacillin against some isolates of biofilm-grown S. aureus and S. epidermidis.

Retrotransposition of the Ll.LtrB group II intron proceeds predominantly via reverse splicing into DNA targets.

Catalytic group II introns are mobile retroelements that invade cognate intronless genes via retrohoming, where the introns reverse splice into double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) targets. They can also retrotranspose to ectopic sites at low frequencies. Whereas our previous studies with a bacterial intron, Ll.LtrB, supported frequent use of RNA targets during retrotransposition, recent experiments with a retrotransposition indicator gene indicate that DNA, rather than RNA, is a prominent target, with both dsDNA and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) as possibilities. Thus retrotransposition occurs in both transcriptional sense and antisense orientations of target genes, and is largely independent of homologous DNA recombination and of the endonuclease function of the intron-encoded protein, LtrA. Models based on both dsDNA and ssDNA targeting are presented. Interestingly, retrotransposition is biased toward the template for lagging-strand DNA synthesis, which suggests the possibility of the replication folk as a source of ssDNA. Consistent with some use of ssDNA targets, many retrotransposition sites lack nucleotides critical for the unwinding of target duplex DNA. Moreover, in vitro the intron reverse spliced into ssDNA more efficiently than dsDNA substrates for some of the retrotransposition sites. Furthermore, many bacterial group II introns reside on the lagging-strand template, hinting at a role for DNA replication in intron dispersal in nature.

The Reaction of LiAlH(4) with 1,4-Di-tert-butyl-1,4-diazabutadiene: Imine-Containing Aluminum Hydrides Stabilized by Lithium Coordination.

The reaction of 1,4-di-tert-butyl-1,4-diazabutadiene, 1, with purified LiAlH(4) (free from Al metal) in diethyl ether has been investigated in detail, and a range of products have been isolated. The lithium diamidoaluminum dihydride [Li{N(t-Bu)CHCH(2)N-t-Bu}(2)AlH(2)], 2, the dimeric diamidoaluminum hydride [cis-{[&mgr;-N(t-Bu)CH(2)CH(2)N-t-Bu]AlH}(2)], 3, or the heteroleptic lithium tetraamidoaluminum species [(Et(2)O)Li{N(t-Bu)CH(2)}(2)(CHN-t-Bu)(2)Al], 4, can be selectively obtained depending on the order of addition or stoichiometry of the reactants. We have rationalized these results in terms of the unstable adducts which are likely to be present in solution at low temperature. The X-ray crystal structures of 2 and the dimeric lithium aluminum hydride adduct [{[HN(t-Bu)CH(t-Bu)CHN-t-Bu]Li(&mgr;-H)(2)AlH(2)}(2)], 7, are described.

Aluminum Amides Derived from Metalation of N,N'-Bis(trimethylsilyl)ethylenediamine.

The reaction of N,N'-bis(trimethylsilyl)ethylenediamine with H(3)Al.NMe(3) gives products based on metalation (H(2) elimination), [{[CH(2)N(SiMe(3))](2)AlH}(2)] (1) and [{CH(2)N(SiMe(3))}(2)AlN(SiMe(3))CH(2)CH(2)N(H)SiMe(3)] (2), as well as products derived from N-Si bond cleavage and metalation, [{[CH(2)N(SiMe(3))](2)AlH}(2){HAlN(SiMe(3))CH(2)CH(2)NAlH(2)}] (4) and [H(2)Al{CH(2)N(SiMe(3))}(2)AlN(SiMe(3))CH(2)CH(2)NAl(H)(2).NMe(3)}] (5). Similarly, [Me(3)SiN(H)CH(2)CH(2)N(SiMe(3))AlCl(2)] (3) was isolated as the redistributed/metalated product from the reaction of the same diamine with H(2)Al(Cl).NMe(3). The following crystal data were obtained: (1) monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c (No. 14), a = 13.636(4) Å, b = 9.565(3) Å, c = 22.683(4) Å, beta = 105.67(2) degrees, Z = 4; (2) monoclinic, space group C2/c (No. 15), a = 31.887(3) Å, b = 10.145(6) Å, c = 17.718(3) Å, beta = 100.36(1) degrees, Z = 8; (3) triclinic, space group P&onemacr; (No. 2), a = 11.762(3) Å, b = 11.927(3) Å, c = 7.288(2) Å, alpha = 107.46(2) degrees, beta = 95.29(2) degrees, gamma = 110.41(2) degrees, Z = 2; (4) triclinic, space group P&onemacr; (No. 2), a = 13.884(4) Å, b = 15.379(4) Å, c = 11.044(2) Å, alpha = 102.11(2) degrees, beta = 103.85(2) degrees, gamma = 109.28(2) degrees, Z = 2; (5) triclinic, space group P&onemacr; (No. 2), a = 10.925(5) Å, b = 11.060(5) Å, c = 12.726(4) Å, alpha = 92.38(3) degrees, beta = 95.67(2) degrees, gamma = 96.90(2) degrees, Z = 2.

Secondary Amine Stabilized Aluminum Hydrides Derived from N,N'-Di-tert-butylethylenediamines.

The metalation of substituted N,N'-di-tert-butylethylenediamines by various aluminum hydride sources has been investigated. HN(t-Bu)CH(t-Bu)CH(2)N(H)(t-Bu) forms a dimeric lithium chelated adduct of LiAlH(4), [{[HN(t-Bu)CH(t-Bu)CH(2)N(H)(t-Bu)]Li(&mgr;-H)(2)AlH(2)}(2)], 4, which thermally decomposes to yield the tetrameric lithium diamidoaluminum hydride [{Li[N(t-Bu)CH(t-Bu)CH(2)N(t-Bu)]AlH(2)}(4)], 5. The same diamine reacts with AlH(3).NMe(3) or AlH(3) diethyl etherate to give the secondary amine stabilized amidoaluminum hydride species [{HN(t-Bu)CH(t-Bu)CH(2)N(t-Bu)}AlH(2)], 2. Similarly, the same aluminum hydride sources react with the diamine rac-HN(t-Bu)CH(Me)CH(Me)N(H)(t-Bu) to yield [{rac-HN(t-Bu)CH(Me)CH(Me)N(t-Bu)}AlH(2)], 3. Compounds 2 and 3 are stable with respect to elimination of hydrogen to form diamidoaluminum hydrides, but can be converted to the alane rich species, [H(2)Al{N(t-Bu)CH(t-Bu)CH(2)N(t-Bu)}AlH(2)],6, and [H(2)Al{rac-N(t-Bu)CH(Me)CH(Me)N(t-Bu)}AlH(2)], 7, by reaction with AlH(3).NMe(3) under special conditions. The varying reactivity of the three aluminum hydride sources in these reactions has enabled mechanistic information to be gathered, and the effect of the different steric requirements in the diamines on the stability of the complexes is discussed. Crystals of 3are monoclinic, space group P2(1)/n (No. 14), with a = 8.910(4), b = 14.809(1), and c = 12.239(6) Å, beta = 109.76(2) degrees, V = 1520(1) Å(3), and Z = 4. Crystals of 4 are orthorhombic, space group Pbca (No. 61), with a = 15.906(9), b = 24.651(7), and c = 9.933(7) Å, V = 3895(3) Å(3), and Z = 4. Crystals of 6 are monoclinic, space group P2(1)/c (No. 14), with a = 8.392(1), b = 17.513(2), and c = 12.959(1) Å, beta = 107.098(8) degrees, V = 1820.4(3) Å(3), and Z = 4.