Phytosterols accumulation in the seeds of Linum usitatissimum L.

A comparative study was performed to determine the free sterols content and composition during the development of three varieties of linseed (H52, O116 and P129). Seed samples were collected at regular intervals from 7 to 60 days after flowering (DAF). Ten compounds were identified: cholesterol, campesterol, brassicasterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, Δ5-avenasterol, cycloartenol; 24-methylene cycloartanol, obtusifoliol, citrostadienol. The maximum level of 4-desmethylsterols (1515 mg/100 g oil) was reached at 7 DAF in P129 variety. H52 had the highest level of 4-4 dimethylsterols (355 mg/100 g oil) at 28 DAF. The greatest amount of 4-monomethylsterols (35 mg/100 g oil) was detected in H52 at 14 DAF. During linseed development, β sitosterol (830 mg/100 g oil) was the major 4-desmethylsterols, followed by campesterol (564 mg/100 g oil) and stigmasterol (265 mg/100 g oil). Some of these compounds followed nearly the same accumulation pattern during linseed maturation.     

A polypeptide binding conformation of calreticulin is induced by heat shock, calcium depletion, or by deletion of the C-terminal acidic region

It is widely believed that the chaperone activity of calreticulin is mediated by its ability to bind glycoproteins containing monoglucosylated oligosaccharides. However, calreticulin is also a polypeptide binding protein. Here we show that heat shock, calcium depletion, or deletion of the C-terminal acidic domain enhance binding of purified calreticulin to polypeptide substrates and enhance calreticulin's chaperone activity. These conditions also enhance calreticulin oligomerization, but oligomerization per se is not required for enhanced polypeptide binding. In cells, calreticulin oligomerization intermediates accumulate in response to conditions that induce protein misfolding (heat shock and tunicamycin treatments), and upon calcium depletion. Additionally, in cells, calreticulin binds to deglycosylated major histocompatibility complex class I heavy chains when significant levels of calreticulin oligomerization intermediates are induced. Thus, cell stress conditions that generate nonnative substrates of calreticulin also affect the conformational properties of calreticulin itself, and enhance its binding to substrates, independent of substrate glucosylation.     

The effect of calcium carbonate and potassium sulphate on the efficiency of ammonium as tested by barley seedlings

Summary Using the Neubauer technique and the slope ratio, it was found that efficiency of (NH₄)₂SO₄ in the presence of 12.5 or 25.0 g CaCO₃ per pot relative to its efficiency without CaCO₃ was 0.6 and 0.47, respectively.Application of 4 or 6 mg K/pot, the efficiency of (NH₄)₂SO₄ was 0.56 and 0.33, respectively, relative, to its efficiency without K application.The Dean's a value was found to vary with percent CaCO₃ or K₂SO₄ application.     

Biomedical potential of chitosan-silver nanoparticles with special reference to antioxidant,antibacterial, hemolytic and in vivo cutaneous wound healing effects

The aim of the present study was to prepare chitosan-PVA-silver nanoparticles (CS-AgNPs) through green method. Chitosan and PVA polymers acted as stabilizing agents. DLS and TEM analyses showed that CS-AgNPs were homogeneously dispersed in matrix with an average size of 190–200?nm. The CS-AgNPs were tested for their antioxidant and antibacterial properties and the results revealed that they exhibited higher antioxidant activity than CS powder. Moreover, CS-AgNPs were characterized by a low cytotoxicity effect at 5–200?μg/ml against Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO-K1) cells. In addition, the prepared CS-Ag NPs were found to promote significantly the wound healing, as determined by the wound contraction ratio and histological examination. A significant improvement in wound healing progression and in oxidative stress damage were observed for CS, CS-PVA and CS-AgNPs-treated wound tissues, when compared to control and CICAFLORA®-treated groups. The wound healing effect could be attributed to the antibacterial and antioxidant synergy of AgNPs and CS. Results strongly support the possibility of using CS-AgNPs for wound care applications.     

Parasites rather than phoronts: Teratorhabditis synpapillata nematodes reduce lifespan of their Rhynchophorus ferrugineus host in a life stage‐dependent manner

Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) red palm weevils are often reported in association with different organisms including nematodes. The significance of this interaction and whether nematodes can influence their life‐history traits is unclear. We collected Rhynchophorus ferrugineus red palm weevils at different developmental stages and locations in Tunisia, observed and dissected them in search for nematodes and other interacting organisms, established laboratory colonies and identified the nematodes associated with them, and conducted nematode–insect interaction assays to determine the capacity of the nematodes to influence their life‐history traits. We observed Beauveria bassiana fungi in larvae, nymph, and adults; Centrouropoda and Uroobovella acari associated with the adults, and Teratorhabditis synpapillata nematodes associated with larvae and adults. Nematode–insect interaction bioassays revealed that T. synpapillata nematodes reduce the lifespan of the insect larvae in a population‐dependent manner, but do not influence the lifespan of adults. Our study uncovers an important factor that may determine population dynamics of this important palm pests and provides evidence to conclude that these organisms establish a parasitic relationship, rather than a phoretic relationship.     

Identification of Outer Membrane Proteins Altered in Response to UVC-Radiation in Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus

Vibrio parahaemolyticus and V. alginolyticus, marine foodborne pathogens, were treated with UVC-radiation (240 J/m²) to evaluate alterations in their outer membrane protein profiles. Outer membrane protein patterns of UVC-irradiated bacteria were found altered when analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Altered proteins were identified by mass spectrometry (MS and MS/MS) and analysis revealed that OmpW, OmpA, Long-chain fatty acid transport protein, Outer membrane receptor protein, Putative uncharacterized protein VP0167, Maltoporin (lamB), Polar flagellin B/D, Agglutination protein Peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein and MltA-interacting protein MipA were appeared, thereby they can be considered as UVC-stress proteins in some vibrios. In addition, expression of OmpK decreased to non-detectable level. Furthermore, we observed a decrease or an increase in the expression level of other outer membrane proteins.     

Germination kinetics and seed reserve mobilization in two flax (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Linum usitatissimum</Emphasis> L.) cultivars under moderate salt stress

Because of its high contents of protein, α-linolenic-rich oil, lignans, and fiber, demand is increasing for flax(Linum usitatissi-mum L.) and flax seed oil as a food source. In this comparative survey, we examined germination and the mobilization of seed storage products (lipids and soluble proteins) of 3-d-old seedlings from two flax cultivars (N 51 and H 52) challenged with moderate salinity (up to 200 mM NaCl). At the highest salt concentration, germination appeared to be cultivar-dependent, with that of ‘N 51’ being less impaired and delayed than in ’H 52’. Sodium chloride inhibited germination via osmotic and toxic effects, so that seed viability was altered, especially in ‘H 52’. At 200 mM NaCl, lipid mobilization was delayed in the earliest germination phases. This response was associated with increased proportions of linolenic acid contents in both cultivars and more linolenic acid-rich molecular species of TAGs. Irrespective of the salt level, soluble protein contents in both cultivars decreased over time, although a salt-related precocity of protein degradation occurred at 200 mM NaCl.     

Evolution of tocopherols in relation of unsaturated fatty acids during maturation of seeds of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)

The oil content increases during the maturation of seeds (rise of 30%), but decreases at the end of seed maturation. Differences between SDS-PAGE total protein profiles were shown. Polyunsaturated fatty acids contents increase during middle-maturation. Contents of alpha and gamma tocopherols increase with time. This increase is explained by the fact that tocopherols participate actively in the protection of membranes whose phospholipids consist of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs).     

Development of an animal‐component free medium for vero cells culture

This work describes the development of an animal‐component free medium (IPT‐AFM) that allows an optimal growth of Vero cells, an adherent cell line used for the production of viral vaccines. Statistical experimental design was applied to identify crucial nutrients that affect cell growth. Using Medium 199 or MEM as a basal medium, a serum‐free medium (SFM) referred as IPT‐SFM that only enclosed transferrin as a component of animal origin was developed at first. Then, the composition of IPT‐SFM was further improved to obtain an animal‐component free medium named IPT‐AFM. IPT‐AFM contains M199 as a basal medium, plant hydrolysates, epidermal growth factor, ethanolamine, ferric citrate, and vitamin C. Among various plant hydrolysates, specific combinations of soy (Hypep 1510) and wheat gluten (Hypeps 4601 and 4605) hydrolysates, were identified to promote cell growth; whereas individual Hypeps had a minor positive effect on cell growth. Nevertheless, the removal of serum did influence cell attachment. Coating tissue‐culture flasks with teleostean, a product extracted from cold water fish skin, had not only enhanced cell attachment but also improved cell growth performance in static cultures. Different non‐animal proteases were also assessed as an alternative to trypsin. TrypLE Select, a recombinant trypsin, gave the best cell growth performances. Kinetics of cell growth in IPT‐AFM were investigated in T‐flasks, cell growth was comparable with that obtained in MEM+10% fetal calf serum (FCS). A mean cell division number equal to 2.26 ± 0.18 and a specific growth rate μ 0.019 ± 0.003 h^?1 were achieved in IPT‐AFM. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009