Ab initio molecular dynamics of the reactivity of vitamin C toward hydroxyl and $$ {HO}_2/{O}_2^{-} $$ radicals

Vitamin C is one of the most abundant exogenous antioxidants in the cell, and it is of the utmost importance to elucidate its mechanism of action against radicals. In this study, the reactivity of vitamin C toward OH and \( {HO}_2/{O}_2^{-} \) radicals in aqueous medium was analyzed by ab initio molecular dynamics using CPMD code. The simulations led to results similar to those of static studies or experiments for the pair of \( {HO}_2/{O}_2^{-} \) radicals but bring new insights for the reactivity with hydroxyl radical: the reaction takes place before the formation of an adduct and consists of two steps: first an electron is transferred to hydroxyl radical and then the ascorbyl radical loses a proton.

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Graphical Abstract Reactivity of vitamin C toward hydroxyl and \( {HO}_2/{O}_2^{-} \) radicals

     

Interpretation of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA marker data for fingerprinting sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) genotypes

In this paper we present a method for the generation of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers for sweet potato. These were applied to produce genetic fingerprints of six clonal cultivars and to estimate genetic distances between these cultivars. The level of polymorphism within the species was extremely high. From the 36-decamer random primers used, 170 fragments were amplified, of which 132 (77.6%) were polymorphic. Ten primers resulted in no detected amplification. Of the remaining 26 primers for which amplification was achieved, only one did not reveal polymorphism. Six primers used alone enabled the discrimination of all six genotypes. Pattern analysis, which employed both a classification and ordination method, enabled the grouping of cultivars and the identification of primers which gave greatest discrimination among the cultivars.     

Interruption-deficient mutants of bacteriophage T5 I. Isolation and general properties.

Mutations of bacteriophage T5 were isolated which lack one or more of the natural single-chain interruptions that occur in the mature DNA of this virus. Interruption-deficient mutants were detected by screening survivors of hydroxylamine mutagenesis for altered DNA structure by electrophoresis in agarose slab gels. Over 60 independent mutants were isolated from a survey of approximately 800 phages particles. All of the mutants were viable and could be grouped into two classes. Mutants in one class lacked one of the localized sites where interruptions occur in T5 DNA. To date, mutants that affect five different sites have been obtained. Mutants in the other class were essentially free from interruptions or had a reduced frequency of interruptions throughout the genome. The members of this class included several amber mutants. Complementation tests indicated that at least two genes are required for the presence of interruptions in mature T5 DNA.     

Impact of Land-Use Patterns on Chemical Properties of Trace Elements in Soils of Rural,Semi-Urban,and Urban Zones of the Niger Delta,Nigeria

The study of the concentrations of Cr, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cu in soils under different land uses in rural, semi-urban, and urban zones in the Niger Delta was carried out with a view to providing information on the effects of the different land uses on the concentrations of trace elements in soils. Our results indicate significant variability in concentrations of these metals in soils under different land uses in rural, semi-urban, and urban zones. The maximum concentrations of metals in the examined soil samples were 707.5 mg.kg^?1, 161.0 mg.kg^?1, 2.6 mg.kg^?1, 59.6 mg.kg^?1, 1061.3 mg.kg^?1, and 189.2 mg.kg^?1 for Cr, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cu, respectively. In the rural zone, the cassava processing mill is a potent source of Ni, Cr, Cu, and Zn while agricultural activities are a source of Cd, and automobile emissions and the use of lead oxide batteries constitute the major sources of Pb. In the urban zone, soils around the wood processing mill showed elevated concentrations of Cu, Cr, Zn, and Ni, while soils around automobile mechanic works and motor parks showed elevated levels of Pb. Elevated Cd concentrations were observed in soils under the following land uses: urban motor park, playground, welding and fabrication sheds, and metallic scrap dump. The contamination/pollution index of metals in the soil follows the order: Ni > Cd > Cr > Zn > Cu > Pb. The multiple pollution index of metals at different sites were greater than 1, indicating that these soils fit into “slight pollution” to “excessive pollution” ranges with significant contributions from Cr, Zn, Cd, Ni, and Cu.     

Cysteine peptidases and their inhibitors in breast and genital cancer

Cysteine proteinases and their inhibitors probably play the main role in carcinogenesis and metastasis. The metastasis process need external proteolytic activities that pass several barriers which are membranous structures of the connective tissue which includes, the basement membrane of blood vessels. Activities of the proteinases are regulated by endogenous inhibitors and activators. The imbalance between cysteine proteinases and cystatins seems to be associated with an increase in metastatic potential in some tumors. It has also been reported that proteinase inhibitors, specific antibodies for these enzymes and inhibition of the urokinase receptor may prevent cancer cell invasion. Some proteinase inhibitor could serve as agents for cancer treatment.     

Characterization and multiplexing of EST-SSR primers in Cynodon (Poaceae) species1

? Premise of the study: Cynodon species are multiple-use grasses that display varying levels of adaptation to biotic and abiotic stress. Previously identified EST-SSR primers were characterized and multiplexed to assess the level of genetic diversity present within a collection of almost 1200 Cynodon accessions from across Australia. ? Methods and Results: Two multiplex reactions were developed comprising a total of 16 EST-SSR markers. All SSR markers amplified across different Cynodon species and different levels of ploidy. The number of alleles ranged from one to eight per locus and the total number of alleles for the germplasm collection was 79. ? Conclusions: The 16 markers show sufficient variation for the characterization of Cynodon core collections and analysis of population genetic diversity in Cynodon grasses.     

A recombinant multivalent combination vaccine protects against Chlamydia and genital herpes

Chlamydia trachomatis and Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) genital infections pose a considerable public health challenge worldwide. Considering the high incidence of coinfections by the two pathogens, a combination vaccine that can be administered as a single regimen would be highly desirable. Recombinant Vibrio cholerae ghosts (rVCG) offer an attractive approach for the induction of humoral and cellular immune responses against human and animal pathogens. In this study, we evaluated a bivalent combination vaccine formulation comprising rVCG expressing chlamydial MOMP and HSV-2 glycoprotein D in mice for immunogenicity and protective efficacy against genital challenge with either pathogen. Mice immunized with the combination vaccine elicited secretory IgA and IgG2a antibodies to both chlamydial and HSV-2 antigens in serum and vaginal secretions. Robust antigen-specific mucosal and systemic T helper type 1 responses were induced in mice as measured by increased interferon-gamma levels produced by immune T cells in response to restimulation with target antigen in vitro. In addition, mice immunized with the combination vaccine were prophylactically protected from genital challenge with high doses of live Chlamydia and HSV-2. Thus, the combination vaccine regimen delivered by rVCG elicited adequate immune effectors that simultaneously protected against the individual pathogens.     

Concentrations and Health Risk of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Some Brands of Biscuits in the Nigerian Market

Concentrations of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in 40 brands of biscuits in the Nigerian market. The analyses were performed by gas chromatography-flame ionisation detection (GC-FID) after Soxhlet extraction of the sample with hexane/dichloromethane and clean-up of the extract. The concentrations of Σ16 PAHs in these biscuit samples were in the range of 35.7–645.3 μg kg^?1, 75.9–490.7 μg kg^?1, 91.5–537 μg kg^?1, 18.4–522.2 μg kg^?1, 123.5–393.8 μg kg^?1, 167.2–880 μg kg^?1, 136.5–316 μg kg^?1, and 135.5–241.6 μg kg^?1 for shortcake, digestives, cookies, shortbread, wafers, crackers, Pringles, and cabin, respectively. The concentrations of Σ8 carcinogenic PAHs in the samples ranged from not detected (nd)–323.3 μg kg^?1, 15.7–138 μg kg^?1, 9.7–312.9 μg kg^?1, nd–331.7 μg kg^?1, nd–220.9 μg kg^?1, nd–53.3 μg kg^?1, 18.4–56.6 μg kg^?1, and 6.6–170.8 μg kg^?1 for shortcake, digestives, cookies, shortbread, wafers, crackers, Pringles, and cabin, respectively. The margin of exposure (MOE), based on PAH8 as an indicator for the occurrence and effects of PAHs in food, was less than 10,000, the serious health effects value, in 30% and 8% of the brands for the child and adult scenarios, respectively.     

Protein microarray signature of autoantibody biomarkers for the early detection of breast cancer

Cancer patients spontaneously generate autoantibodies (AAb) to tumor-derived proteins. To detect AAb, we have probed novel high-density custom protein microarrays (NAPPA) expressing 4988 candidate tumor antigens with sera from patients with early stage breast cancer (IBC), and bound IgG was measured. We used a three-phase serial screening approach. First, a prescreen was performed to eliminate uninformative antigens. Sera from stage I-III IBC (n = 53) and healthy women (n = 53) were screened for AAb to all 4988 protein antigens. Antigens were selected if the 95th percentile of signal of cases and controls were significantly different (p < 0.05) and if the number of cases with signals above the 95th percentile of controls was significant (p < 0.05). These 761 antigens were screened using an independent set of IBC sera (n = 51) and sera from women with benign breast disease (BBD) (n = 39). From these, 119 antigens had a partial area under the ROC curve (p < 0.05), with sensitivities ranging from 9-40% at >91% specificity. Twenty-eight of these antigens were confirmed using an independent serum cohort (n = 51 cases/38 controls, p < 0.05). Using all 28 AAb, a classifier was identified with a sensitivity of 80.8% and a specificity of 61.6% (AUC = 0.756). These are potential biomarkers for the early detection of breast cancer.