System Of Higher Organisms Research Articles

Neuroprotection and antioxidative effects of Sijunzi Tang Decoction in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

IntroductionKnowledge about the pharmacological properties of traditional TCM formulas is scarce as is their impact on aging. This study evaluated the potential effects of Sijunzi Tang Decoction (SJZTD), Si-Wu-Tang Decoction (SWTD), and Liuwei Dihuang Decoction (LWDHD) against oxidative stress and glucotoxic stress-induced neuronal dysfunction and lifespan reduction. MethodsNematodes (C. elegans) were cultivated under 10mmol/L paraquat or 400mmol/L glucose to assess the protective effects of a systemic Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment. Lifespan was determined by calculation of Kaplan-Meier survival curves, formation of reactive oxygen species was quantified by hydroethidine staining, and neuronal functions were evaluated by worm tracking analysis. ResultsA 10% SJZTD solution largely normalized nematode survival under both oxidative stress (increased 3-day-survival rate by 143%) and glucotoxic stress (extended mean lifespan from 19.90 to 23.71 days). Under high glucose conditions we demonstrated both antioxidative effects (reduced Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) formation by 71%) and neuroprotective effects (improved whole nematode motility by 179%). SWTD and LWDHD failed to confer protection in our model system. ConclusionsThe neuroprotective effects for SJZT decoction against glucotoxic stress due to pronounced antioxidant properties were demonstrated. Future studies should be extended to protection of the neurovascular system in higher organisms.

Accelerating in vitro studies on circadian clock systems using an automated sampling device.

KaiC, a core protein of the cyanobacterial circadian clock, is rhythmically autophosphorylated and autodephosphorylated with a period of approximately 24 h in the presence of two other Kai proteins, KaiA and KaiB. In vitro experiments to investigate the KaiC phosphorylation cycle consume considerable time and effort. To automate the fractionation, quantification, and evaluation steps, we developed a suite consisting of an automated sampling device equipped with an 8-channel temperature controller and accompanying analysis software. Eight sample tables can be controlled independently at different temperatures within a fluctuation of ±0.01°C, enabling investigation of the temperature dependency of clock activities simultaneously in a single experiment. The suite includes an independent software that helps users intuitively conduct a densitometric analysis of gel images in a short time with improved reliability. Multiple lanes on a gel can be detected quasi-automatically through an auto-detection procedure implemented in the software, with or without correction for lane ‘smiling.’ To demonstrate the performance of the suite, robustness of the period against temperature variations was evaluated using 32 datasets of the KaiC phosphorylation cycle. By using the software, the time required for the analysis was reduced by approximately 65% relative to the conventional method, with reasonable reproducibility and quality. The suite is potentially applicable to other clock or clock-related systems in higher organisms, relieving users from having to repeat multiple manual sampling and analytical steps.

Drosophila neuronal injury model allows for temporal dissection of neurodegenerative events.

Drosophila neuronal injury model allows for temporal dissection of neurodegenerative events.

Is it Quantum Sentience or Quantum Consciousness? A Review of Social Behaviours Observed in Primitive and Present-Day Microorganisms

Social and intelligent behavioural designs have been observed in primitive and present day microorganisms in all three kingdoms of life. These behavioural patterns help microorganisms, to understand, evaluate and judge their constantly varying environment. Behaviour is represented as conscious moment, which occurs due to an event, which may be intentional or unintentional. Microorganisms have the capability of displaying behaviours, which can be compared to cognitive actions of the neural system in higher organisms. This review is a collection of social behaviours observed in present-day microorganisms as well as predicted behaviours in microfossils that have been studied so far. The intent of this review is to prove the origin and existence of consciousness or sentient awareness in microorganisms based on which these social behaviours originated and its comparison to multifaceted conscious behaviours observed in higher beings; its correlation to quantum generated consciousness which enables organisms to understand and judge perceptions, which gives the organism a prospect to behave as per will.

1H, 13C and 15N resonance assignments of the kinetochore localisation domain of BUBR1, a central component of the spindle assembly checkpoint

Human BUBR1 is a 120 kDa protein that plays a central role in the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC), the evolutionary conserved and self-regulatory system of higher organisms that monitors and repairs defects in chromosome segregation in mitotic cells. BUBR1 is organised into several domains, with an N-terminal region responsible for its localisation into the kinetochore, the multi-component proteinaceous network that assembles onto chromosomes upon mitotic entry. We have expressed and purified uniformly-(15)N/(13)C N-terminal BUBR1 and assigned backbone and side-chain resonances bound to an unlabelled peptide from the protein Blinkin, an element essential for recruitment of BUBR1 to the kinetochore. These assignments provide insights on the Blinkin interaction interface and form the basis of the three-dimensional structure determination of a BUBR1-Blinkin complex.

New Bacterial Defense Against Phage Invaders Identified

On page 1709 of this issue of Science , a team reports that bacteria use a system, apparently akin to the RNA interference system of higher organisms, to block reproduction of viruses that attack them, thus making themselves resistant to infection. (Read more.)

Systems Biology of Circadian Rhythms: An Outlook

The circadian system in higher organisms temporally orchestrates rhythmic changes in a vast number of genes and gene products in different organs. Complex interactions between these components, both within and among cells, ultimately lead to rhythmic behavior and physiology. Identifying the plethora of circadian targets and mapping their interactions with one another is therefore essential to comprehend the molecular mechanisms of circadian regulation. The emergence of new technology for unbiased identification of biomolecules and for mapping interactions at the genome-wide scale is offering powerful tools to decipher the regulatory networks underpinning circadian rhythms. In this review, the authors discuss the potential application of these genome-wide approaches in the study of circadian rhythms.

Control of gene activity in higher eukaryotic cells by prokaryotic regulatory elements

Regulated gene expression systems for the study of gene function in prokaryotes and yeast have been available for several years. However, comparable systems in higher organisms are more complex and problematic. Recently, regulatory proteins from distant species have been used to establish highly specific control systems in eukaryotic cells. This is possible because their action can be modulated by effectors that are inert to the physiology of the organism or cell and therefore do not elicit pleiotropic effects. Such monospecific regulatory circuits open up new possibilities for the study of gene function in vivo.

Psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology: The basis for a novel therapeutic approach in aging

Along with the nervous and the endocrine systems, the immune system is one of the three major integrative systems in higher organisms. Growing evidence demonstrates an intimate relationship between the immune system and the endocrine and nervous systems: The psychoneuroendocrine system can influence the immune response and thereby the capacity of the organism to cope with illness, and the immune system can have an impact on neuroendocrine function. Such cross-talk among systems is dependent upon feedback loops working to maintain homeostatic equilibrium.

Episome-like behaviour of donor DNA in transformed strains of Neurospora crassa.

TRANSFORMATION is a well established process for the transfer of genetic information in bacteria1,2. Although such a system in higher organisms remains to be fully elucidated, certain features of gene transfer in eukaryotes have similarities with bacterial transformation3. The occurrence of inositol-independent (inl+) transformants has been reported in Neurospora when an inositol requiring (inl−) mutant strain (89601) is treated with a wild-type (RL3-8A) DNA preparation4,5. Although these transformants are stable for inositol independence (inl+) during the somatic cell cycle they differ in the ability to transmit this character to their sexual progeny. Essentially there are two groups of transformants, one capable of Mendelian transmission and another showing only a rare non-Mendelian transmission of the transformed character (inl+)5 (Table 1). Such differences in modes of genetic transmission can be explained if the donor DNA exists as an episome in the transformed strains. Thus the physical status of the episomes determines the Mendelian and non-Mendelian transmission of the genetic character controlled by them. When integrated they are transmitted in a Mendelian way like any other chromosomal gene; whereas in the non-integrated (autonomous) form their nucleolytic degradation (or slow replication followed by segregation) during meiosis can lead to non-Mendelian transmission. This hypothesis is supported by demonstration of a continued aberrant transmission of the inositol independence to the sexual progeny in the subsequent generations5. Here we describe experiments which establish further the validity of the above hypothesis.

Absence of mutation following ultrasonic treatment of Bacillus subtilis cells and transforming deoxyribonucleic acid.

Possible mutagenic effects of ultrasound at medical dosages have been assessed using genetic systems of Bacillus subtilis. The induction of mutations, after treatment of cells and of extracted transforming DNA with ultrasound has been tested. High-frequency (2 MHz diagnostic regime and higher intensities) ultrasound was unable to increase significantly the spontaneous frequency of back-mutation of an auxotrophic strain. Moreover, high-frequency treatments (1.5 MHz diagnostic and therapeutic regimes) were incapable of producing detectable levels of mutagenic lesions after in vitro irradiation of transforming DNA. Slight decreases in transforming activity of the treated DNA were apparent while the degree of linkage between two contiguous markers was unaffected. It is concluded that the ultrasound treatments employed under the conditions pertaining do not result in production of detectable mutagenic effects in cells or in vitro treated DNA. Before extrapolating such results to the human hazard situation, it is suggested that tests using genetic systems of higher organisms should be carried out.

The Synthesis of Ribosomal RNA in Different Organisms: Structure and Evolution of the rRNA Precursor

The synthesis of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) provides at present the only system in higher organisms in which the activity of a gene and its product can be studied directly. It is the only case in which a gene of known function can be isolated (Birnstiel et al., 1966), the behavior of the corresponding chromosomal region can be studied cytologically (McClintock, 1934), and the direct product of transcription and its maturation and transport into the cytoplasm can be followed in great detail (Perry, 1967; Weinberg, Loening, Willems, and Penman, 1967; Darnell, 1968; Maden, 1970).

The Resolving Power of Genetic Fine Structure Analysis in Higher Organisms as Exemplified by Drosophila

Genetic fine structure analysis of a single cistron in Drosophila melanogaster is presented. Large scale sampling, approximating that used in microbial studies, is made possible by the use of a selective scheme generally applicable to all genetic systems in higher organisms. Utilizing this system, it is demonstrated (1) that the mechanism of recombination in higher organisms does indeed permit recombination within a cistron, and (2) that the resolving power of genetic analysis by recombination approaches that of microbial systems.