Roles of catalase and cytochrome C in hydroperoxide-dependent lipid peroxidation and chemiluminescence in rat heart and kidney mitochondria

A recent report (Radi et al., J. Biol. Chem. 266:22028–22034, 1991) showed that rat heart mitochondria contain catalase. The protective role of mitochondrial catalase was tested by exposing heart or kidney mitochondria and mitoplasts to two oxidants (H₂O₂) or tert-butyl hydroperoxide, t-BOOH), estimating lipid peroxidation (as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, TBARS) and overall oxidative stress (as chemiluminescence). Additional controls included heart and kidney preparations from aminotriazole-treated (catalase-depleted) rats. Both oxidants increased TBARS in catalase-free preparations to similar extents over their respective controls (between 200 to 350%). In catalase-containing preparations, H₂O₂ lipid peroxidation increased by only 40 to 96% over controls. Similar qualitative results were obtained when measuring chemiluminescence. The catalytic role of cytochrome c in mitochondrial lipid peroxidation was investigated by exposing either control or cytochrome-c-depleted kidney mitoplasts (catalase free) to either H₂O₂ or t-BOOH. Hydrogen-peroxide-dependent mitochondrial lipid peroxidation varied with cytochrome c concentrations, remaining close to controls when cytochrome c concentration decreased by 66%, even though there was no catalase present. Tert-butyl hydroperoxide-dependent lipid peroxidation was less affected by cytochrome c remaining 2.3-fold above controls under the same conditions, suggesting that organic peroxides are more likely to remain in the less polar membrane environment being decomposed by heme or nonheme iron imbedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Chemiluminescence was less affected by cytochrome c depletion. Comparing control and cytochrome-c-deficient mitochondria, chemiluminescence was 1.7-fold and 2.8-fold higher when control preparations were challenged with t-BOOH or H₂O₂, respectively.     

Casearia Essential Oil: An Updated Review on the Chemistry and Pharmacological Activities

Casearia species are found in the America, Africa, Asia, and Australia and present pharmacological activities, besides their traditional uses. Here, we reviewed the chemical composition, content, pharmacological activities, and toxicity of the essential oils (EOs) from Casearia species. The EO physical parameters and leaf botanical characteristics were also described. The bioactivities of the EOs from the leaves and their components include cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antifungal, and antiviral activities. The main components associated with these activities are the α-zingiberene, (E)-caryophyllene, germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene, spathulenol, α-humulene, β-acoradiene, and δ-cadinene. Data on the toxicity of these EOs are scarce in the literature. Casearia sylvestris Sw. is the most studied species, presenting more significant pharmacological potential. The chemical variability of EOs components was also investigated for this species. Caseria EOs have relevant pharmacological potential and must be further investigated and exploited.     

Antiproliferative Potential of Olneya tesota PF2 Lectin in Human Acute Monocytic Leukemia Cells

Acute monocytic leukemia is a type of myeloid leukemia that develops in monocytes. The current clinical therapies for leukemia are unsatisfactory due to their side effects and nonspecificity toward target cells. Some lectins display antitumor activity and may specifically recognize cancer cells by binding to carbohydrate structures on their surface. Therefore, this study evaluated the response of the human monocytic leukemia cell lines THP-1 to the Olneya tesota PF2 lectin. The induction of apoptosis and reactive oxygen species production in PF2-treated cells was evaluated by flow cytometry, and the lectin-THP-1 cell interaction and mitochondrial membrane potential were evaluated by confocal fluorescence microscopy. PF2 genotoxicity was evaluated by DNA fragmentation analysis via gel electrophoresis. The results showed that PF2 binds to THP-1 cells, triggers apoptosis and DNA degradation, changes the mitochondrial membrane potential, and increases reactive oxygen species levels in PF2-treated THP-1 cells. These results suggest the potential use of PF2 for developing alternative anticancer treatments with enhanced specificity.     

A robust approach to estimate relative phytoplankton cell abundances from metagenomes

Phytoplankton account for >45% of global primary production, and have an enormous impact on aquatic food webs and on the entire Earth System. Their members are found among prokaryotes (cyanobacteria) and multiple eukaryotic lineages containing chloroplasts. Genetic surveys of phytoplankton communities generally consist of PCR amplification of bacterial (16S), nuclear (18S) and/or chloroplastic (16S) rRNA marker genes from DNA extracted from environmental samples. However, our appreciation of phytoplankton abundance or biomass is limited by PCR-amplification biases, rRNA gene copy number variations across taxa, and the fact that rRNA genes do not provide insights into metabolic traits such as photosynthesis. Here, we targeted the photosynthetic gene psbO from metagenomes to circumvent these limitations: the method is PCR-free, and the gene is universally and exclusively present in photosynthetic prokaryotes and eukaryotes, mainly in one copy per genome. We applied and validated this new strategy with the size-fractionated marine samples collected by Tara Oceans, and showed improved correlations with flow cytometry and microscopy than when based on rRNA genes. Furthermore, we revealed unexpected features of the ecology of these ecosystems, such as the high abundance of picocyanobacterial aggregates and symbionts in the ocean, and the decrease in relative abundance of phototrophs towards the larger size classes of marine dinoflagellates. To facilitate the incorporation of psbO in molecular-based surveys, we compiled a curated database of >18,000 unique sequences. Overall, psbO appears to be a promising new gene marker for molecular-based evaluations of entire phytoplankton communities.     

Evaluation of Probiotic Properties of Novel Brazilian Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Strains

Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins - Beneficial effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains have been widely reported. Knowing that the effects of probiotic bacteria are strain-dependent,...     

Natural lignin modulators improve bagasse saccharification of sugarcane and energy cane in field trials

The burgeoning cellulosic ethanol industry necessitates advancements in enzymatic saccharification, effective pretreatments for lignin removal, and the cultivation of crops more amenable to saccharification. Studies have demonstrated that natural inhibitors of lignin biosynthesis can enhance the saccharification of lignocellulose, even in tissues generated several months post-treatment. In this study, we applied daidzin (a competitive inhibitor of coniferaldehyde dehydrogenase), piperonylic acid (a quasi-irreversible inhibitor of cinnamate 4-hydroxylase), and methylenedioxy cinnamic acid (a competitive inhibitor of 4-coenzyme A ligase) to 60-day-old crops of two conventional Brazilian sugarcane cultivars and two energy cane clones, bred specifically for enhanced biomass production. The resultant biomasses were evaluated for lignin content and enzymatic saccharification efficiency without additional lignin-removal pretreatments. The treatments amplified the production of fermentable sugars in both the sugarcane cultivars and energy cane clones. The most successful results softened the most recalcitrant lignocellulose to the level of the least recalcitrant of the biomasses tested. Interestingly, the softest material became even more susceptible to saccharification.     

Sex and reproduction of the alfonsino Beryx splendens (Pisces, Berycidae) from the Macaronesian archipelagos

This paper provides comparative information on the reproductive biology of the alfonsino, Beryx splendens Lowe, 1834, species with commercial interest in the Azores, Madeira and the Canary Islands. A total of 846 individuals from Azores (14.0–42.0 cm fork length), 621 from Madeira (17.2–50.0 cm fork length) and 643 from the Canaries (18.2–38.9 cm fork length) were used for the study. The alfonsino is gonochoric with no evidence of sexual dimorphism. Females are more abundant than males; this dominance probably reflects certain differences in the spatial distribution and/or the catchability of males and females in the Macaronesian archipelagos. The spawning season was distinct for the three Macaronesian areas, with an observed North–South variation in the reproductive period: September–March in the Azores, March–June in Madeira and July–September in the Canary Islands. The size at sexual maturity estimated for Madeira and the Canary Islands is similar (32 and 30 cm fork length, respectively), while for the Azores it is reached at smaller length (23 cm fork length). The differences observed in the size at sexual maturity can be explained by the different exploitation levels in each archipelago. Life‐history parameters of the alfonsino suggest that this species has a specialistic life‐history strategy and fisheries based on this species are more susceptible to growth overfishing and population depletion.