Whole-genome DNA microarrays were used to examine the gene expression profile of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 during U(VI) and Cr(VI) reduction. The same control, cells pregrown with nitrate and incubated with no electron acceptor, was used for the two time points considered and for both metals. U(VI)-reducing conditions resulted in the upregulation (> or = 3-fold) of 121 genes, while 83 genes we...

Chronic ingestion of high concentrations of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] in drinking water induces intestinal tumors in mice; however, information on its toxicity on intestinal smooth muscle cells is limited. The present study aimed to assess the in vitro and in vivo toxicological effects of Cr(VI) on intestinal smooth muscle cells. Human intestinal smooth muscle cells (HISM cells) were culture...

Environmental stress often leads to an increased production of reactive oxygen species that are involved in plastid-to-nucleus retrograde signaling. Soon after the release of singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) in chloroplasts of the flu mutant of Arabidopsis, reprogramming of nuclear gene expression reveals a rapid transfer of signals from the plastid to the nucleus. We have identified extraplastidic sig...

The expression of the heavy-metal-binding proteins, metallothioneins (MTs), are induced by heavy metals such as Cd, Cu, Zn, and Hg. MTs attenuate toxic heavy metals by sequestering them and decreasing their intracellular concentrations. However, Cr(VI) inhibits MT gene transcription in higher eukaryotes. In this study, we found that Cr affect Tetrahymena thermophila proliferation, and the letha...

Background Mucopolysaccharidosis VI (MPS VI, Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder determined by mutations in the arylsulfatase B gene located in chromosome 5. Pathogenic mutations of this gene result in reduced or absent activity of enzyme arylsulfatase B (N-acetylgalactosamine 4-sulfatase, ARSB). Incomplete degradation and cellular accumulation of glyco...

BACKGROUND We tested the hypothesis that intracoronary injection of a recombinant adenovirus encoding adenylyl cyclase type VI (AC(VI)) would increase cardiac function in pigs. METHODS AND RESULTS Left ventricular (LV) dP/dt and cardiac output in response to isoproterenol and NKH477 stimulation were assessed in normal pigs before and 12 days after intracoronary delivery of histamine followed ...

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The type VI secretion system (T6SS) is a supra-molecular bacterial complex that resembles phage tails. It is a killing machine which fires toxins into target cells upon contraction of its TssBC sheath. Here, we show that TssA1 is a T6SS component forming dodecameric ring structures whose dimensions match those of the TssBC sheath and which can accommodate the inner Hcp tube. The TssA1 ring comp...

Loss-of-function mutations in capillary morphogenesis gene 2 (CMG2/ANTXR2), a transmembrane surface protein, cause hyaline fibromatosis syndrome (HFS), a severe genetic disorder that is characterized by large subcutaneous nodules, gingival hypertrophy and severe painful joint contracture. Here we show that CMG2 is an important regulator of collagen VI homoeostasis. CMG2 loss of function promote...

Chromium (VI) is a well-known pollutant that present in industrially polluted soil and water, has been reported to be mutagenic carcinogenic. In the study, we investigated effective use of Leptolyngbya boryana (cyanobacterium) as an eco-friendly option overcome Cr toxicity tannery effluents. The main objective this study was identify reductase (ChrR) gene its variability context stress. Industr...