Formate-producing capacity provided by reducing ability of Streptococcus thermophilus nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidase determines yogurt acidification rate.

Yogurt is made by fermenting milk with 2 lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. To comprehensively understand the protocooperation mechanism between S. thermophilus and L. bulgaricus in yogurt fermentation, we examined 24 combinations of cocultures comprising 7 fast- or slow-acidifying S. thermophilus strains with 6 fast- or slow-acidifying L. bulgaricus strains. Furthermore, 3 NADH oxidase (Nox)-deficient mutants (Δnox) and one pyruvate formate-lyase deficient mutant (ΔpflB) of S. thermophilus were used to evaluate the factor that determines the acidification rate of S. thermophilus. The results revealed that the acidification rate of S. thermophilus monoculture determined the yogurt fermentation rates, despite the coexistence of L. bulgaricus, whose acidification rate was either fast or slow. Significant correlation was found between the acidification rate of S. thermophilus monoculture and the amount of formate production. Result using ΔpflB showed that the formate was indispensable for the acidification of S. thermophilus. Moreover, results of the Δnox experiments revealed that formate production required Nox activity, which not only regulated dissolved oxygen, but also the redox potential. The Nox provided the large decrease in redox potential required by pyruvate formate-lyase to produce formate. A highly significant correlation was found between formate accumulation and Nox activity in S. thermophilus. In conclusion, the formate production ability provided by the action of Nox activity determines the acidification rate of S. thermophilus, and consequently, regulates yogurt coculture fermentation.

Estrogen and aging affect synaptic distribution of phosphorylated LIM kinase (pLIMK) in CA1 region of female rat hippocampus.

17beta-Estradiol (E) increases axospinous synapse density in the hippocampal CA1 region of young female rats, but not in aged rats. This may be linked to age-related alterations in signaling pathways activated by synaptic estrogen receptor alpha (ER-alpha) that potentially regulate spine formation, such as LIM-kinase (LIMK), an actin depolymerizing factor/cofilin kinase. We hypothesized that, as with ER-alpha, phospho-LIM-kinase (pLIMK) may be less abundant or responsive to E in CA1 synapses of aged female rats. To address this, cellular and subcellular distribution of pLIMK-immunoreactivity (IR) in CA1 was analyzed by light and electron microscopy in young and aged female rats that were ovariectomized and treated with either vehicle or E. pLIMK-IR was found primarily in perikarya within the pyramidal cell layer and dendritic shafts and spines in stratum radiatum (SR). While pLIMK-IR was occasionally present in terminals, post-embedding quantitative analysis of SR showed that pLIMK had a predominant post-synaptic localization and was preferentially localized within the postsynaptic density (PSD). The percentage of pLIMK-labeled synapses increased (30%) with E treatment (P<0.02) in young animals, and decreased (43%) with age (P<0.002) regardless of treatment. The pattern of distribution of pLIMK-IR within dendritic spines and synapses was unaffected by age or E treatment, with the exception of an E-induced increase in the non-synaptic core of spines in young females. These data suggest that age-related synaptic alterations similar to those seen with ER-alpha occur with signaling molecules such as pLIMK, and support the hypothesis that age-related failure of E treatment to increase synapse number in CA1 may be due to changes in the molecular profile of axospinous synapses with respect to signaling pathways linked to formation of additional spines and synapses in response to E.

Molecular cloning and sequencing of a nuclear gene encoding tRNA(Gln) (UUG) from Arabidopsis thaliana.

A gene encoding cytoplasmic tRNA(Gln) (UUG) was isolated from an Arabidopsis DNA library. The coding sequence of the gene revealed 85% sequence identity with that of its animal counterparts. This is the first report of a nuclear tRNA(Gln) gene from higher plants.

Boar transition protein 2 and 4 isolated from late spermatid nuclei by high-performance liquid chromatography.

The boar late spermatid nuclei retaining transition proteins (TPs) could be obtained from the testis by the use of antipain to inhibit TP-degrading proteinases of the nuclei. The enzymes detected in acid extract including the basic proteins were inactivated by reduction and carboxymethylation of the proteins. The reduced and carboxymethylated basic proteins were fractionated by differential precipitation between 3% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and 3-20% TCA. From the 3% TCA-precipitate, boar TP2 and TP4 were isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on Nucleosil 300 7C18. The two TPs were characterized by acid urea- and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoreses and amino acid analysis. Boar TP2 closely resembled rat and mouse TP2s, and ram protein 3 in its high content of serine and basic amino acids, the presence of cysteine and molecular weight. Boar TP4 was similar to ram protein P1 in its high content of basic amino acids, the presence of cysteine and molecular weight. But the TP2 and TP4 differed in electrophoretic mobility on acid urea-gel and solubility in 3% TCA from those of the other species. The HPLC used here also enabled us to efficiently separate boar TP1, TP2, TP3 and TP4, and to estimate that the amount of the TP2, TP3 and TP4 was about 1/8, 1/4 and 1/4 that of the TP1, respectively.

Changes in chromatin structure of boar late spermatids to mature spermatozoa by using modification with dansyl chloride.

Changes in the chromatin structure of boar late spermatids maturing to spermatozoa were studied by chemical modification of their nuclei with dansyl (Dns) chloride. Protamine was isolated from the dansylated boar spermatid and sperm nuclei, and its dansylated sites and degrees of dansylation were determined by sequence analysis. The N-terminal Ala-1, Tyr-3 and Tyr-42 of the protamine molecule in cauda epididymal sperm nuclei were dansylated 27%, 22% and 40%, respectively, whereas the respective residues in late spermatid nuclei were about 1.5-times as reactive as those in cauda epididymal sperm nuclei. However, the dansyl ratio of Tyr-3 to Tyr-42 remained unchanged from the late spermatid to mature sperm nuclei. SDS treatment did not affect the reactivity of cauda epididymal protamine and that of Ala-1 of caput epididymal protamine, but raised that of Tyr-3 and Tyr-42 of caput epididymal protamine by a factor of about 1.5. As a result of the SDS treatment, caput epididymal protamine came to have almost the same reactivity as late spermatid protamine. These facts suggest that the fundamental structure, in terms of DNA-protamine interaction, of sperm chromatin was already formed at the stage of the late spermatid, and then during epididymal transit the sperm chromatin was more tightly condensed, with increasing disulfide cross-links, thereby acquiring insensitivity towards the SDS-treatment.

Rice (Oryza sativa) contains a novel isoform of glutamate decarboxylase that lacks an authentic calmodulin-binding domain at the C-terminus.

We have isolated full-length cDNAs for two distinct isoforms of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), designated OsGAD1 and OsGAD2 from a rice shoot cDNA library. Open reading frames found in OsGAD1 and OsGAD2 cDNAs encode putative proteins of 501 (56.7 kDa) and 500 amino acids (55.6 kDa), respectively. They show 69% identity to each other and 67-78% identity to dicotyledonous counterpart sequences determined so far. Comparative analysis of relevant genomic clones obtained from the rice genomic library with these cDNAs as probes demonstrated that the number and sizes of introns deduced for these two genes differ considerably. Interestingly, in the regions in the putative gene products corresponding to the C-terminal 30-amino-acid peptide known as the calmodulin-binding domain of plant GADs, OsGAD1 possesses a typical motif, while OsGAD2 contains several substitutions of amino acids that contribute strongly to the binding of calmodulin (CaM). An in vitro CaM-binding assay of these proteins over-expressed in Escherichia coli revealed that OsGAD1 can in fact bind specifically to bovine CaM but OsGAD2 cannot. RNA analysis showed that transcripts of OsGAD1 and OsGAD2 were present in all tissues examined, but their expression was differentially regulated, at least in roots and maturing seeds.

Active forms of chymotrypsin C isolated from autolyzed porcine pancreas glands.

Four active forms of chymotrypsin C (C1, C2A, C2B, and C3) were isolated from the autolyzed porcine pancreas glands. Their molecular weights were estimated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to be 29 100 for C1, 26 300 for C2A and C3, and 25 500 for C2B. The kinetic analyses of esterase activity of the enzymes toward Ac-LLeu-OEt and Ac-LPhe-OEt showed that chymotrypsin C1 hydrolyzed the two substrates more efficiently than did chymotrypsin C3. Chymotrypsin C1 consisted of chain A (H-Cys-...-Asn-OH, Mr 886) and chain BC (H-Val-...-Lys-OH, Mr 28 200). Chymotrypsin C3 consisted of the two components of C3L and C3S that could be dissociated in the presence of 2.3% SDS. C3L consisted of the chain A and the chain C (H-Ser-...-Lys-OH, Mr 13 600). C3S was the chain B (H-Val-...-Lys-OH, Mr 11 800). These kinetic and chemical analyses show that chymotrypsins C1 and C3 correspond to chymotrypsin A delta and A alpha, respectively.

Differential distribution of estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha and ER-beta in the midbrain raphe nuclei and periaqueductal gray in male mouse: Predominant role of ER-beta in midbrain serotonergic systems.

We examined the distribution of estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha and ER-beta immunoreactive (ir) cells in the dorsal (DRN) and median/paramedian (MPRN) raphe nuclei in male mice. ER-alpha ir neurons were scattered across the three subdivisions (ventral, dorsal, and lateral) of the DRN and the MPRN. Robust ER-beta ir cells were observed throughout the raphe nuclei, and were particularly abundant in the ventral and dorsal subdivisions of the DRN. Using dual-label immunocytochemistry for ER-alpha or ER-beta with tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH), the rate-limiting enzyme for 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) synthesis, over 90% of ER-beta ir cells exhibited TPH-ir in all DRN subdivisions, whereas only 23% of ER-alpha ir cells contained TPH. Comparisons of ER-alpha knockout (alphaERKO) as well as ER-beta knockout (betaERKO) mice with their respective wild-type (WT) littermates revealed that gene disruption of either ER-alpha or ER-beta did not affect the other ER subtype expression in the raphe nuclei. In situ hybridization histochemistry revealed that there was a small but statistically significant decrease in TPH mRNA expression in the ventral DRN subdivision in betaERKO mice compared with betaWT mice, whereas TPH mRNA levels were not affected in alphaERKO mice. These findings support a hypothesis that ER-beta activation may contribute to the estrogenic regulation of neuroendocrine and behavioral functions, in part, by acting directly on 5-HT neurons in the raphe nuclei in male mice.

Mechanism of glial activation by S100B: involvement of the transcription factor NFkappaB.

Compelling evidence links chronic activation of glia and the subsequent cycle of neuroinflammation and neuronal dysfunction to the progression of neurodegeneration in disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). S100B, a glial-derived cytokine, is significantly elevated in the brains of AD patients and high concentrations of S100B are believed to be detrimental to brain function. As a first step toward elucidating the mechanisms by which S100B might be serving this detrimental role, we examined the mechanisms by which S100B stimulates glial inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), an oxidative stress related enzyme that has been linked to neuropathology through the production of neurotoxic peroxynitrite. We report here that S100B stimulates iNOS in rat primary cortical astrocytes through a signal transduction pathway that involves activation of the transcription factor NFkappaB. NFkappaB activation was demonstrated by nuclear translocation of the p65 NFkappaB subunit, stimulation of NFkappaB-specific DNA binding activity, and stimulation of NFkappaB-dependent transcriptional activity. Furthermore, S100B-induced iNOS promoter activation was inhibited upon mutation of the NFkappaB response element in the promoter, and transfection of cells with an NFkappaB inhibitor blocked S100B-induced iNOS promoter activation and nitric oxide production. These studies define a signal transduction pathway by which S100B activation of glia could participate in the generation of oxidative stress in the brain.

Identification of two catalytic subunits of tRNA splicing endonuclease from Arabidopsis thaliana.

tRNA splicing endonuclease is essential for the correct removal of introns from precursor tRNA molecules of Archaea and Eucarya. The only well-characterized eucaryotic enzyme until now is the endonuclease from yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). This protein has a heterotetrameric structure. Two of the four subunits, i.e. Sen34 and Sen44, contain the active sites for cleavage at the 3'- and 5'-splice sites, respectively. We have identified three novel genes from Arabidopsis thaliana, encoding putative subunits of tRNA splicing endonuclease. They are designated as AtSen1, AtSen2, and AtpsSen1. Both genes AtSen1 and AtSen2 seem to be functionally active, as deduced from corresponding cDNA sequences. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of the these two Arabidopsis proteins revealed 72% identity. However, AtpsSen1 is more similar to AtSen1, but is very likely a pseudogene, as concluded from extended stretches of deletions and the presence of in-frame stop codons. All putative proteins contain a conserved domain at their C-terminus common to counterparts from other organisms. Interestingly, they are more similar to the yeast catalytic subunit Sen44 than to Sen34. Southern analysis with various probes revealed that each gene is present as single copies in the nuclear genome. The evolutionary implications of these findings are discussed.

Characterization of nuclear tRNA(Tyr) introns: their evolution from red algae to higher plants.

We have previously isolated numerous intron-containing nuclear tRNA(Tyr) genes derived from either monocotyledonous (Triticum) or dicotyledonous (Arabidopsis, Nicotiana) plants by screening the corresponding genomic phage libraries with a synthetic tRNA(Tyr)-specific oligonucleotide. Here we have characterized additional tRNA(Tyr) genes from phylogenetically divergent plant species representing red algae (Champia), brown algae (Cystophyllum), green algae (Ulva), stonewort (Chara), liverwort (Marchantia), moss (Polytrichum), fern (Rumohra) and gymnosperms (Ginkgo) using amplification of the coding sequences from the corresponding genomic DNAs by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All novel tRNA(Tyr) genes contain intervening sequences of variable sequence and length ranging in size from 11 to 21 bp. However, two features are conserved in all plant pre-tRNA(Tyr) introns: they possess a uridine and less frequently an adenosine at the 5' boundary and can adopt similar intron secondary structures in which an extended anticodon helix of 4-5 bp is formed by base-pairing between nucleotides of the intron and the anticodon loop. In order to elucidate the potential role of the highly conserved uridine at the first intron position, we have replaced it by all other nucleosides in an Arabidopsis pre-tRNA(Tyr) and have studied in wheat germ extract its effect on splicing and on conversion of U to psi in the GpsiA anticodon. Furthermore, we discuss the putative acquisition of tRNA(Tyr) introns at an early step of evolution after the separation of Archaea and Eucarya.

Transition protein 4 from boar late spermatid nuclei is a topological factor that stimulates DNA-relaxing activity of topoisomerase I.

Transition protein 4 (TP4) from boar late spermatid nuclei, having higher affinity for double-stranded DNA and a local melting activity of DNA, stimulated SV40 DNA-relaxing activity of eukaryotic topoisomerase I at TP4/DNA molar ratios of 6.6-11. A TP4-spermidine mixture stimulated the activity of topoisomerase I much more than spermidine alone, but no more than TP4 alone, and poly-L-arginine did not. These results suggest that TP4 contributes to the chromatin reorganization in the late spermatid nuclei from nucleosomal-type structure with negatively supercoiled DNA to nucleoprotamine structure with no supercoiled DNA.

Spatiotemporal distribution of gp130 cytokines and their receptors after status epilepticus: comparison with neuronal degeneration and microglial activation.

Although numerous studies have demonstrated the neurotrophic capacity of gp130 cytokines, it remains unclear whether endogenously expressed cytokines actually function in a direct neuromodulatory manner. Therefore, using the lithium-pilocarpine status epilepticus model, we performed a detailed in situ hybridization time-course study of five gp130 cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, leukemia inhibitory factor [LIF], IL-11, oncostatin-m [OSM], and ciliary neurotrophic factor), gp130, and the receptors of the cytokines we found to be induced (IL-6 receptor [IL-6R], LIF receptor [LIF-R], and IL-11 receptor [IL-11R]). Additionally, to further understand the regulation of these cytokines, we compared their expression with the pattern of neuronal degeneration and microglial activation. Under control conditions, all cytokines, except LIF, exhibited faint to moderate expression in hippocampal principal layers. After seizure, IL-6, LIF, and IL-11 exhibited a rapid, robust, and transient upregulation in non-principal cells. LIF also exhibited a remarkably early and transient induction in the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus. OSM exhibited only a mild and inconsistent induction. All receptors examined were strongly expressed only in hippocampal principal layers under control conditions. A mild and late induction of the IL-6R, LIF-R, and IL-11R occurred after seizure with a scattered distribution. A progressive and chronic induction of gp130 was observed in cells that appeared to be associated with blood vessels. Degeneration of hilar interneurons and CA1 pyramidal cells was early and progressive. Granule neurons of the dentate gyrus, however, exhibited a delayed and precipitous pattern of degeneration, specifically in the lateral portion of the superior blade. Microglial activation was maximal 24-48 h post-seizure. We speculate that gp130 cytokines play a paracrine, neuromodulatory role in the hippocampus since both before and after seizure, principal cells appear to be the major cell type expressing the receptors for these cytokines. Furthermore, we suggest that activity-dependent mechanisms may be involved in the regulation of cytokines expressed early, and that relatively late occurring cytokine expression may be elicited by injury-related stimuli.

Differential expression of suppressors of cytokine signaling-1, -2, and -3 in the rat hippocampus after seizure: implications for neuromodulation by gp130 cytokines.

Numerous studies have investigated the expression of various cytokine families in the CNS after brain injury. The gp130 or interleukin (IL)-6-type cytokines have received a great deal of focus, and it is clear that they exhibit an acute and robust upregulation in various brain injury models. We are interested to determine, however, whether endogenously expressed cytokines in the CNS act in a direct neuromodulatory manner. In an accompanying study, we examined the expression of five gp130 cytokines and their receptors in the lithium-pilocarpine model of status epilepticus. We follow up that study here by trying to determine if gp130 signal transduction occurs in hippocampal principal neurons after seizure. Therefore, using the expression of suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS)-1 and -3 as indices of gp130 signal transduction, we performed a detailed in situ hybridization seizure time-course study in the adult rat hippocampus. For comparison, we also examined SOCS-2, which is involved in insulin-like growth factor signaling. We found that while SOCS-1 and -3 were faintly expressed under basal conditions, only SOCS-3 exhibited a rapid, robust, and transient induction. This occurred first in non-principal cells, which appeared to be glial, peaking at approximately 12 h post-seizure. Subsequently, a robust induction of SOCS-3 occurred in pyramidal and granule neurons, peaking at approximately 24 h. SOCS-2 displayed a relatively higher level of basal expression, particularly in CA3, and a mild and transient downregulation by 24 h. These findings corroborate the hypothesis that seizure-induced gp130 cytokines play a direct neuromodulatory role in the hippocampus. Since in our previous study we did not detect cytokine receptor expression in non-principal cells, it is unclear what elicits SOCS-3 expression in this population.

The amino acid sequence of a boar transition protein 3.

The boar transition protein 3 (TP3) was extracted with acid from the isolated late spermatid nuclei or directly from the testes, fractionated with trichloroacetic acid, and reduced and carboxymethylated (RCM-). RCM-TP3 from the nuclei was purified by HPLCs on Nucleosil 300 7C18 and Hitachi #3057, and that from the testes, by ion-exchange chromatography on CM-Sephadex C-25 and HPLCs on Nucleosil 300 7C18 and Chemcosorb 7C8. The two TP3 preparations were identical in acid-urea- and SDS-gel electrophoretic mobilities and amino acid composition. The primary structure of TP3 was determined by manual Edman degradation of the peptides obtained by lysyl endopeptidase-digestion or by alpha-chymotrypsin-digestion of RCM-TP3 from the testes, and by automated Edman degradation of it. Boar TP3 is a basic protein of 76 residues: H-AKVTEKSWQPQTTSTKRWKKRKTPSQPRSRGKVRKIYKKVKRPLHVCSRKKYSPKVITTSRRQKRAR RANKFETIP-OH, and it shows 27% homology with boar TP1. TP3 is composed of an N-terminal region (1-19) having two characteristic tryptophan residues (8 and 18) which is absent in the known TP1 group, and a C-terminal region (20-76) having a close resemblance to boar TP1.

Purification and characterization of a novel acrosin-like enzyme from boar cauda epididymal sperm.

A trypsin-like protease was extracted with 1% cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) at pH 7.0 from boar cauda epididymal sperm nuclei whose acrosin had previously been removed by acid extraction. The CTAB-extracted sperm protease (CSP) was purified by ion-exchange chromatography on CM-23, gel filtration on Sephadex G-100, affinity chromatography on benzamidine-CH-Sepharose 4B, and HPLC on CM-5PW. CSP is a two chain protein composed of M(r) 2.6K and M(r) 37K chains, which are covalently cross-linked by disulfide bonds. CSP exhibited a pH optimum between pH 8.0 and 9.0, and was inhibited by diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate, antipain, leupeptin, and 1-chloro-3-tosylamide-7-amino-L-2-heptanone. The activity of CSP was enhanced about 1.2-fold with 50 mM CaCl2, with which acrosin is enhanced 2.0-fold. The catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) of CSP toward Bz-L-Arg-OEt, Tos-L-Arg-OMe, and Tos-L-Lys-OMe in the presence of 50 mM CaCl2 differed from that of acrosin by factors of 0.53, 1.2, and 0.80, respectively. Amino acid sequencing of V8-digested peptides of CSP, and its L- and H-chains showed that the amino acid sequence of CSP was closely related to, but different from, that of acrosin. These results suggest that CSP is a novel acrosin-like enzyme that differs from acrosin in its location in the sperm head, the effect of calcium ions on its activity, and its substrate specificity.

Interaction of nucleosome core DNA with transition proteins 1 and 3 from boar late spermatid nuclei.

The DNA binding properties of boar transition protein 1 and 3 (TP1 and TP3) were studied by means of physicochemical techniques. The ultraviolet difference absorption spectra upon TP1 and TP3 binding to rat liver nucleosome core DNA (double-stranded DNA) showed TP1- and TP3-induced hyperchromicity at 260 nm, which is suggestive of local melting of DNA. CD measurements of TP1-DNA and TP3-DNA complexes indicated that the binding of TP1 and TP3 induced different conformational changes in DNA, probably including local melting of DNA. Thermal melting studies on the binding of TP1 and TP3 to DNA showed that although at 1 mM NaCl TP1 and TP3 caused slight stabilization of the DNA against thermal melting, destabilization of the DNA was observed at 50 mM NaCl. From the results of quenching of the tyrosine fluorescence of TP1 and the tryptophan fluorescence of TP3 upon their binding to double-stranded and single-stranded boar liver nucleosome core DNA at 50 mM NaCl, the apparent association constants for the binding of TP1 to double- and single-stranded DNA were calculated to be 8.0 x 10(4) and 1.3 x 10(5) M-1, respectively, and those for the binding of TP3 to double- and single-stranded DNA to be 7.1 x 10(4) and 1.8 x 10(5) M-1, respectively. These results suggest that TP1 and TP3, having higher affinity for single-stranded DNA, induce local destabilization of DNA, probably through the stacking of Tyr32 and Trp18 with nucleic acid bases, respectively.

Cerebrospinal fluid S100B is elevated in the earlier stages of Alzheimer's disease.

Postmortem demonstration of increased expression of biologically active S100B in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and its relation to progression of neuropathological changes across the cortical regions suggests involvement of this astrocytic cytokine in the pathophysiology of AD. The hypothesis that the overexpression of S100B in Alzheimer brain is related to the progression of clinical symptoms was addressed in living persons by measuring S100B concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from AD patients with a broad range of clinical dementia severity and from healthy older persons. The effect of normal aging on CSF S100B concentrations also was estimated. CSF S100B did not differ between all 68 AD subjects (0.98+/-0.09 ng/ml (mean+/-S.E.M.)) and 25 healthy older subjects (0.81+/-0.13 ng/ml). When AD subjects were divided into mild/moderate stage and advanced stage clinical dementia severity by the established Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR) criteria, S100B was significantly higher in the 46 mild/moderate stage AD subjects (1.17+/-0.11 ng/ml) than in either the 22 advanced stage AD subjects (0.60+/-0.12 ng/ml) or the healthy older subjects. Consistent with higher CSF S100B in mild to moderate AD, there was a significant correlation among all AD subjects between CSF S100B and cognitive status as measured by the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) score. CSF S100B did not differ between healthy older subjects and healthy young subjects. These results suggest increased CNS expression of S100B in the earlier stages of AD, and are consistent with a role for S100B in the initiation and/or facilitation of neuritic plaque formation in AD brain.

Amyloid-beta peptide activates cultured astrocytes: morphological alterations, cytokine induction and nitric oxide release.

A common feature of many neurodegenerative disorders is an abundance of activated glial cells (astrocytes and microglia). In Alzheimer's disease (AD), activated astrocytes are in close apposition to and surrounding the amyloid plaques. The mechanisms by which the astrocytes become activated in AD and the consequences of reactive astrocytosis to disease progression are not known. We examined the possibility that the amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptide, a major constituent of the amyloid plaque, could act as a stimulus leading to activation. We found that treatment of rat cortical astrocyte cultures with aggregated Abeta 1-42 peptide induces activation, as assessed by reactive morphological changes and upregulation of selective glial mRNA and proteins, such as the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta. Abeta also stimulates inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA levels and nitric oxide (NO) release. Abeta 1-42, a major form of amyloid associated with neurotoxicity, activated astrocytes in a time- and dose-dependent manner, whereas a scrambled Abeta 1-42 sequence or Abeta 17-42 had little or no effect. We also determined that the Abeta activity can be found in a supernatant fraction containing soluble Abeta oligomers. Our data suggest that Abeta plays a role in the reactive astrocytosis of AD and that the inflammatory response induced upon glial activation is a critical component of the neurodegenerative process.

Hippocampal cells encode places by forming small anatomical clusters.

The hippocampus has been hypothesized to function as a "spatial" or "cognitive" map, however, the functional cellular organization of the spatial map remains a mystery. The majority of electrophysiological studies, thus far, have supported the view of a random-type organization in the hippocampus. However, using immediate early genes (IEGs) as an indicator of neuronal activity, we recently observed a cluster-type organization of hippocampal principal cells, whereby a small number ( approximately 4) of nearby cells were activated in rats exposed to a restricted part of an environment. To determine the fine structure of these clusters and to provide a 3D image of active hippocampal cells that encode for different parts of an environment, we established a functional mapping of IEGs zif268 and Homer1a, using in situ hybridization and 3D-reconstruction imaging methods. We found that, in rats exposed to the same location twice, there were significantly more double IEG-expressing cells, and the clusters of nearby cells were more "tightly" formed, in comparison to rats exposed to two different locations. We propose that spatial encoding recruits specific cell ensembles in the hippocampus and that with repeated exposure to the same place the ensembles become better organized to more accurately represent the "spatial map."