Early habituation of maize (Zea mays) suspension‐cultured cells to 2,6‐dichlorobenzonitrile is associated with the enhancement of antioxidant status

The cellulose biosynthesis inhibitor 2,6‐dichlorobenzonitrile (DCB) has been widely used to gain insights into cell wall composition and architecture. Studies of changes during early habituation to DCB can provide information on mechanisms that allow tolerance/habituation to DCB. In this context, maize‐cultured cells with a reduced amount of cellulose (～20%) were obtained by stepwise habituation to low DCB concentrations. The results reported here attempt to elucidate the putative role of an antioxidant strategy during incipient habituation. The short‐term exposure to DCB of non‐habituated maize‐cultured cells induced a substantial increase in oxidative damage. Concomitantly, short‐term treated cells presented an increase in class III peroxidase and glutathione S‐transferase activities and total glutathione content. Maize cells habituated to 0.3–1 µM DCB (incipient habituation) were characterized by a reduction in the relative cell growth rate, an enhancement of ascorbate peroxidase and class III peroxidase activities, and a net increment in total glutathione content. Moreover, these cell lines showed increased levels of glutathione S‐transferase activity. Changes in antioxidant/conjugation status enabled 0.3 and 0.5 µM DCB‐habituated cells to control lipid peroxidation levels, but this was not the case of maize cells habituated to 1 μM DCB, which despite showing an increased antioxidant capacity were not capable of reducing the oxidative damage to control levels. The results reported here confirm that exposure and incipient habituation of maize cells to DCB are associated with an enhancement in antioxidant/conjugation activities which could play a role in incipient DCB habituation of maize‐cultured cells.     

Assessing lignocellulosic biomass production from crop residues in the European Union: Modelling,analysis of the current scenario and drivers of interannual variability

This study assesses crop residues in the EU from major crops using empirical models to predict crop residues from yield statistics; furthermore it analyses the inter‐annual variability of those estimates over the period 1998‐2015, identifying its main drivers across Europe. The models were constructed based on an exhaustive collection of experimental data from scientific papers for the crops: wheat, barley, rye, oats, triticale, rice, maize, sorghum, rapeseed, sunflower, soybean, potato and sugarbeet. We discuss the assumptions on the relationship between yield and the harvest index, adopted by previous studies, to interpret the experimental data, quantify the uncertainties of these models, and establish the premises to implement them at regional scale –i.e., NUTS level 3– within the EU. To cope this, we created a consolidated sub‐national statistical data along with an algorithm able to aggregate (figures are provided at country level) and disaggregate (production at 25 km grid is provided assupplementary material) estimates. The total lignocellulosic biomass production in the EU28 over the review period, according to our models, is 419 Mt, from which wheat is the major contributor (155 Mt). Our results show that maize and rapeseed are the two crops with the highest residue yield, respectively 8.9 and 8.6 t ha‐1. The spatial analysis revealed that these three crops, which, according to our results, are feedstocks highly suitable a priori for second generation biofuels in the EU and are unevenly distributed across Europe. Weather fluctuation was identified as the major driver in residue production from cereals, while, in the case of starch crops and oilseeds – which are predominant in northern Europe – corresponded to the marked production trend likely influenced by the agricultural policies and agro‐management over the review period. Our results, among others, could help to understand and quantify the ecological boundaries of the bioeconomy from agriculture.     

Synthesis and evaluation of 1,3,5-triazine derivatives as sunscreens useful to prevent skin cancer

The incidence of skin cancers such as non-melanoma skin cancer and malignant melanoma has increased in the last few years mainly because of chronic exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Sunscreens protect the skin against harmful UV radiations; however, some limitations of these products justify the discovery of new UV filters. Novel 1,3,5-triazine derivatives (12a-h) obtained by the optimization of prototype resveratrol were synthesized and characterized. All compounds exhibited sun protection factor (SPF) and UVA protection factor (UVAPF) in the range of 3–17 and 3–13, respectively. These values were superior to resveratrol and the UV filter ethylhexyl triazone (EHT) currently available on the market. In addition, all compounds demonstrated in vitro antioxidant activity and thermal stability with the decomposition at temperatures above 236 °C. In conclusion, the novel 1,3,5-triazine derivatives have emerged as new UV filters with antioxidant effect useful to prevent skin cancer.     

Intracellular accumulation of amino acids increases synaptic potentials in rat hippocampal slices

Amino Acids - The application of high concentrations of taurine induces long-lasting potentiation of synaptic responses and axon excitability. This phenomenon seems to require the contribution of a...