Sympathetic neurons undergo programmed cell death (PCD) when deprived of NGF. We used an inhibitor to examine the function of interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme (ICE) family proteases during sympathetic neuronal death and to assess the metabolic and genetic status of neurons saved by such inhibition. Bocaspartyl(OMe)-fluoromethylketone (BAF), a cell-permeable inhibitor of the ICE family of cy...

Two channels, one program he biophysical and structural characteristics of chloride ion channels have been studied extensively, but little is known about the molecular regulation and signaling pathways associated with these highly conserved proteins. Rutledge et al. (page 435) analyzed the activation of the CLH-3 chloride ion channel in C. elegans during meioitic cell cycle progression and in r...

β-N-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA), a neurotoxic non-protein amino acid, plays a significant role as an environmental risk factor in neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. BMAA producers occur globally, colonizing almost all habitats and represent species from distinct phytoplanktonic groups, i.e., cyanobacteria, diatoms, and dinoflagellates. Bioaccumulation of BMAA in...

Two biological aerated filters (BAF) were setup for ammonia removal treatment of the circulation water in a marine aquaculture. One of the BAFs was bioaugmented with a heterotrophic nitrifying bacterium, Lutimonas sp. H10, where the ammonia removal was not improved and the massive inoculation was even followed by a nitrification breakdown from day 9 to 18. The nitrification was remained stable ...

Evaluating the degree of metal exposure and bioaccumulation in estuarine organisms is important for understanding the fate of metals in estuarine food webs. We investigated the bioaccumulation of Hg, methylmercury (MeHg), Cd, Se, Pb, and As in common intertidal organisms across a watershed urbanization gradient of coastal marsh sites in New England to relate metal exposure and bioaccumulation i...

Spatial patterns in mercury cycling and bioaccumulation at the landscape level in the Everglades were investigated by collecting and analyzing multimedia samples for mercury species and biogeochemical characteristics from 228 randomly located stations. Higher total mercury (THg) in environmental compartments (surface water, soil, flocculent detrital material (floc), and periphyton) generally oc...

Abstract Synthetic lethality — a genetic interaction that results in cell death when two deficiencies co-occur but not either deficiency occurs alone can be co-opted for cancer therapeutics. A pair of paralog genes is among the most straightforward synthetic lethal by virtue their redundant functions. Here we demonstrate paralog-based targeting Vaccinia-Related Kinase 1 (VRK1) 2 (VRK2)-methylat...

Integrating bioavailability into risk assessments is an effective way to objectively assess human health risks. In this study, the of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in contaminated soil from a coking plant was evaluated using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) passive sampling method. The results showed that factor (BAF) each PAH, predicted PDMS fibers, ranged 0.46% 9.74%. method more stab...

Marine food webs are the most important link between the global contaminant, methylmercury (MeHg), and human exposure through consumption of seafood. Warming temperatures may increase human exposure to MeHg, a potent neurotoxin, by increasing MeHg production as well as bioaccumulation and trophic transfer through marine food webs. Studies of the effects of temperature on MeHg bioaccumulation ar...