Revision of the Metarbelodes Strand, 1909 genus-group(Lepidoptera: Cossoidea: Metarbelidae) with descriptions of two new genera and 33 new species from high elevations of eastern and southern Africa.

The African genus-group Metarbelodes Strand, 1909 of the family Metarbelidae comprises three genera: the monotypic Metarbelodes; Zambezia, gen. nov. with five new species (i.e., Zambezia diredaouaensis sp. nov.; Zambezia madambae sp. nov.; Zambezia jennyhuntae sp. nov.; Zambezia durrellbarnesi sp. nov.; Zambezia darrelplowesi sp. nov.); and Lukeniana, gen. nov. with 28 new species (i.e., Lukeniana enaiposha sp. nov.; Lukeniana raymondrevellii sp. nov.; Lukeniana rajaeii sp. nov.; Lukeniana tubiraensis sp. nov.; Lukeniana lutztoepferi sp. nov.; Lukeniana madrandelei sp. nov.; Lukeniana friederikebauerae sp. nov.; Lukeniana chapmani sp. nov.; Lukeniana michaelgrzimeki sp. nov.; Lukeniana kammeri sp. nov.; Lukeniana timdavenporti sp. nov.; Lukeniana mzuzuensis sp. nov.; Lukeniana mbalaensis sp. nov.; Lukeniana robplowesi sp. nov.; Lukeniana hausmanni sp. nov.; Lukeniana lenzi sp. nov.; Lukeniana stueningi sp. nov.; Lukeniana utaheidenreichae sp. nov.; Lukeniana georgeadamsoni sp. nov.; Lukeniana mikerobertsi sp. nov.; Lukeniana andreashempi sp. nov.; Lukeniana kakamegaensis sp. nov.; Lukeniana jankiellandi sp. nov.; Lukeniana bergsteni sp. nov.; Lukeniana carolae sp. nov.; Lukeniana stevecollinsi sp. nov.; Lukeniana butleri sp. nov.; Lukeniana kollhorsti sp. nov.), plus Lukeniana obliqualinea (Bethune-Baker, 1909), new comb. Metarbelodes is recorded only from the Bvumba Mountains in eastern Zimbabwe; Zambezia is represented by one species in the northern escarpment of the Harar Plateau (East-Central Ethiopia) and four species on the Southern African Plateau and the adjacent Bvumba Mountains; and Lukeniana occurs near the northern edge of the Southern African Plateau, but primarily in areas associated with the East African Rift System (EARS; both the Western and Eastern Branch). We provide detailed descriptions and images of all species and the first identification key. This revision represents the first comprehensive taxonomic treatment of the group and provides the basis for future work on this rare and cryptic, but diverse group of moth.

RN181, a novel ubiquitin E3 ligase that interacts with the KVGFFKR motif of platelet integrin alpha(IIb)beta3.

We previously identified proteins that bind with high affinity to a peptide corresponding to the cytoplasmic regulatory domain (KVGFFKR) of the platelet-specific integrin subunit alpha(IIb). These included a hypothetical protein termed HSPC238, recently renamed as RING finger protein, RN181. Here, we establish the presence of RN181 in human platelets by RT-PCR, Western blotting and mass spectrometry and confirm its affinity for the platelet integrin. We demonstrate that RN181 has ubiquitin E3 ligase activity and that all other components of the ubiquitination pathway are abundant in platelets, suggesting a novel link of integrin signal transduction pathways with ubiquitin-conjugation events.

Suppression of NF-kappaB activation by curcumin leads to inhibition of expression of cyclo-oxygenase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in human articular chondrocytes: Implications for the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) play a key role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Anti-inflammatory agents capable of suppressing the production and catabolic actions of these cytokines may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of OA and a range of other osteoarticular disorders. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of curcumin (diferuloylmethane), a pharmacologically safe phytochemical agent with potent anti-inflammatory properties on IL-1beta and TNF-alpha signalling pathways in human articular chondrocytes maintained in vitro. The effects of curcumin were studied in cultures of human articular chondrocytes treated with IL-1beta and TNF-alpha for up to 72h. Expression of collagen type II, integrin beta1, cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was monitored by western blotting. The effects of curcumin on the expression, phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of protein components of the NF-kappaB system were studied by western blotting and immunofluorescence, respectively. Treatment of chondrocytes with curcumin suppressed IL-1beta-induced NF-kappaB activation via inhibition of IkappaBalpha phosphorylation, IkappaBalpha degradation, p65 phosphorylation and p65 nuclear translocation. Curcumin inhibited the IL-1beta-induced stimulation of up-stream protein kinase B Akt. These events correlated with down-regulation of NF-kappaB targets including COX-2 and MMP-9. Similar results were obtained in chondrocytes stimulated with TNF-alpha. Curcumin also reversed the IL-1beta-induced down-regulation of collagen type II and beta1-integrin receptor expression. These results indicate that curcumin has nutritional potential as a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory agent for treating OA through suppression of NF-kappaB mediated IL-1beta/TNF-alpha catabolic signalling pathways in chondrocytes.

Wide Ranging Insect Infestation of the Pioneer Mangrove Sonneratia alba by Two Insect Species along the Kenyan Coast.

Insect infestation of mangroves currently threatens mangrove forest health and management. In the Western Indian Ocean region, little is known about insect damage to mangroves despite the fact that numerous infestations have occurred. In Kenya, infestations of Sonneratia alba have persisted for almost two decades, yet the taxonomic identity of the infesting pest(s), the extent of infestation, the pests' biology, the impacts of infestation on host and the ecosystem, the host's defensive strategies to the infestation are poorly understood. S. alba is a ubiquitous, pioneer mangrove species of the Indo-Pacific, occurring along the waterfront in a variety of mangrove ecosystem settings. Our main objectives were to identify the pest(s) responsible for the current dieback of S. alba in Kenya, and to determine the extent of infestation. To identify the pests responsible for infestation, we trapped emergent insects and reared larvae in the laboratory. To determine the overall extent of infestation within the S. alba zone, we assessed nine sites along the entire Kenyan coastline for the presence or absence of infested mangroves. Insect infestation in two mangrove embayments (Gazi and Mida) was quantified in depth. Two wood-boring insects were identified: a metarbelid moth (Lepidoptera, Cossoidea) of undescribed genus and the beetle Bottegia rubra (Cerambycidae, Lamiinae).The metarbelid moth infests mangroves in both northern (from Ngomeni to Kiunga) and southern regions (from Vanga to Mtwapa) of the Kenyan coast. B. rubra appeared in low density in Gazi, and in high density in Mida, Kilifi, and Ngomeni, with densities gradually decreasing northward. Insect infestation levels reached 18% in Gazi and 25% of S. alba stands in Mida. Our results indicate that B. rubra has the ability to infest young mangrove trees and expand its range, posing a danger to rehabilitation efforts where plantations have been established. Thus, there is great need for forest managers to address the recent increased levels of infestation in Kenyan mangroves; apart from the ecological interest such plant-herbivore relations bring in this ecosystem.

Description of two new genera and two new species of Metarbelidae (Lepidoptera, Cossoidea) from the Northeastern Congolian Lowland Forests Ecoregion (Central Africa).

The genera Dianfosseya gen. nov. and Janegoodallia gen. nov. and their single species D. leakeyi sp. nov. and J. davenporti sp. nov. are both described from Isiro, north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa (Afrotropical Region). Wing pattern and male genitalia of the new species are depicted and notes on the habitat are presented.

Differential regulation of the human tyrosine hydroxylase isoforms via hierarchical phosphorylation.

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of the catecholamines dopamine, noradrenaline, and adrenaline. In response to short term stimuli TH activity is primarily controlled by phosphorylation of serine 40. We have previously shown that phosphorylation of serine 19 in TH can indirectly activate TH via a hierarchical mechanism by increasing the rate of phosphorylation of serine 40. Here we show that phosphorylation of serine 31 in rat TH increases the rate of serine 40 phosphorylation 9-fold in vitro. Phosphorylation of serine 31 in intact bovine chromaffin cells potentiated the forskolin-induced increase in serine 40 phosphorylation and TH activity more than 2-fold. Humans are unique in that they contain four TH isoforms but to date no significant differences have been shown in the regulation of these isoforms. Phosphorylation of the human TH isoform 1 at serine 31 by extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) also produced a 9-fold increase in the rate of phosphorylation of serine 40, whereas little effect was seen in the TH isoforms 3 and 4. ERK did not phosphorylate human TH isoform 2. The effect of serine 19 phosphorylation on serine 40 (44 in TH2) phosphorylation is stronger in TH2 than in TH1. Thus hierarchical phosphorylation provides a mechanism whereby the two major human TH isoforms (1 and 2) can be differentially regulated with only isoform 1 responding to the ERK pathway, whereas isoform 2 is more sensitive to calcium-mediated events.

Phosphorylation of CaMKII at Thr253 occurs in vivo and enhances binding to isolated postsynaptic densities.

Autophosphorylation of Ca(2+)-calmodulin stimulated protein kinase II (CaMKII) at two sites (Thr286 and Thr305/306) is known to regulate the subcellular location and activity of this enzyme in vivo. CaMKII is also known to be autophosphorylated at Thr253 in vitro but the functional effect of phosphorylation at this site and whether it occurs in vivo, is not known. Using antibodies that specifically recognize CaMKII phosphorylated at Thr253 together with FLAG-tagged wild type and phospho- and dephospho-mimic mutants of alpha-CaMKII, we have shown that Thr253 phosphorylation has no effect on either the Ca(2+)-calmodulin dependent or autonomous kinase activity of recombinant alpha-CaMKII in vitro. However, the Thr253Asp phosphomimic mutation increased alpha-CaMKII binding to subcellular fractions enriched in post-synaptic densities (PSDs). The increase in binding was similar in extent, and additive, to that produced by phosphorylation of Thr286. Thr253 phosphorylation was dynamically regulated in intact hippocampal slices. KCl induced depolarisation increased Thr253 phosphorylation and the phospho-Thr253-CaMKII was specifically recovered in the subcellular fraction enriched in PSDs. These results identify Thr253 as an additional site at which CaMKII is phosphorylated in vivo and suggest that this dynamic phosphorylation may regulate CaMKII function by altering its distribution within the cell.

Identification of PSF as a protein kinase Calpha-binding protein in the cell nucleus.

Protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms are present in the cell nucleus in diverse cell lines and tissues. Since little is known about proteins interacting with PKC inside the cell nucleus, we used Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cells, in which PKCalpha is present in the nucleus, to screen for nuclear binding partners for PKC. Applying overlay assays, we detected several nuclear proteins which bind to PKCalpha. Specificity of binding was shown by its dependence on PKC activation by phorbol ester, calcium, and phosphatidylserine. The PKC-binding proteins were partially purified and analyzed by microsequencing and mass spectrometry. Four proteins could be identified: PTB-associated splicing factor (PSF), p68 RNA helicase, and the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) proteins A3 and L. In the case of PSF, binding to PKC could also be demonstrated in a GST-pull-down assay using GST-PKCalpha, expressed in insect cells. Phosphorylation experiments revealed that PSF is a weak in vitro substrate for PKCalpha.