Characterization of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cepae from Onion in Turkey Based on Vegetative Compatibility and rDNA RFLP Analysis

Seventy‐five isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cepae, the causal agent of basal plate rot on onion, were obtained from seven provinces of Turkey. The isolates were characterized by vegetative compatibility grouping (VCGs) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the nuclear ribosomal DNA intergenic spacer region (IGS). Forty‐eight vegetative compatibility groups were found, each containing a single isolate. Only one isolate formed strong heterokaryons with the reference isolates of VCG 0423. Five isolates were heterokaryon self‐incompatible. Restriction fragment analysis with six different enzymes revealed 13 IGS types among 75 F. oxysporum isolates from Turkey as well as 16 reference isolates from Colorado, USA. The majority of single‐member VCGs produced identical RFLP banding patterns with minor deviations, considerably different from those of the reference VCG isolates. These results suggested that isolates of F. oxysporum f.sp. cepae in Turkey derived from distinct clonal lineages and mutations at one or more vegetative compatibility loci restrict heterokaryon formation.     

Effect of a Prolonged Dietary Iron Intake on the Gene Expression and Activity of the Testicular Antioxidant Defense System in Rats

Biological Trace Element Research - This study is aimed at evaluating the effect of dietary zinc-methionine (Zn-Met) supplementation during 3 months prepartum up to 9 months...     

Exploring MDR‐TB Inhibitory Potential of 4‐Aminoquinazolines as Mycobacterium tuberculosis N‐Acetylglucosamine‐1‐Phosphate Uridyltransferase (GlmUMTB) Inhibitors

Drug resistance tuberculosis is one of the challenging tasks that dictates the desperate need for the development of new antitubercular agents which operate via novel modes of action. Here, we are reporting on 4‐aminoquinazolines as M. tuberculosis N‐acetylglucosamine‐1‐phosphate uridyltransferase (GlmU^MTB) inhibitors to overcome the problem of the MDR‐TB. Amongst the synthesized compounds, two of them were observed to be the effective compounds of the series (IC₅₀=6.4 μM (H37Rv), MIC=25 μM (MDR‐TB) and IC₅₀=2.9 μM (H37Rv), MIC=6.25 μM (MDR‐TB), respectively).     

Ionic liquid-based microwave-assisted extraction of lipid and eicosapentaenoic acid from Nannochloropsis oceanica biomass: experimental optimization approach

Journal of Applied Phycology - Lipids and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) compounds from Nannochloropsis oceanica biomass were extracted using a combination of ionic liquids (ILs) and...     

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha P2 promoter variants associate with insulin resistance

This study aimed to investigate the associations of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (HNF4) alpha single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotype with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome parameters. Nine SNPs spanning the HNF4 alpha P2 promoter (rs4810424, rs1884613 and rs1884614) and coding region (rs2144908, rs6031551, rs6031552, rs1885088, rs1028583 and rs3818247) were genotyped in 160 subjects without diabetes or metabolic syndrome. The HNF4 alpha P2 promoter SNPs rs4810424, rs1884613 and rs1884614 were associated with insulin resistance (p = 0.017; 0.037; 0.024) and body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.03; 0.035; 0.039). The intron 1D SNP rs2144908 was associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) (p = 0.020) and the intron 9 SNP rs3818247 showed association with systolic (p = 0.02) and diastolic (p = 0.034) blood pressure. HNF4 alpha common haplotype CCCGTC associated with higher insulin resistance (p = 0.022), fasting blood glucose (FBG) (p = 0.035) and lower HDLc (p = 0.001). In conclusion, subjects with HNF4 alpha P2 variants and haplotypes have been shown to have a higher insulin resistance and are therefore at a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus.     

Association of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene I/D polymorphism and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

This study was conducted in Turkish patients with polycystic ovary syndrome to determine the frequency of I/D polymorphism genotypes of angiotensin converting enzyme gene, and to examine the role of this polymorphism in polycystic ovary syndrome development. Genomic DNA obtained from 200 persons (100 patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and 100 healthy controls) was used in the study. DNA was multiplied by polymerase chain reaction using I and D allele-specific primers. Polymerase chain reaction products were assessed with a charge coupled device (CCD) camera by being exposed to 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. There was statistically significant difference between the groups with respect to genotype distribution (p < 0.001). The D allele frequency was indicated as 68% and I allele was as 32% in the patients, whereas it was 51.5-48.5% respectively in the control group. As a result of our study we may assert that angiotensin converting enzyme gene I/D polymorphism DD genotype should be considered as a genetic marker in polycystic ovary syndrome development in this Turkish study population.     

High tryptophan diet reduces CA1 intraneuronal β-amyloid in the triple transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that impairs mnesic functions. The histopathology of the disease is manifested by the accumulation of intracellular β‐amyloid (Aβ) and subsequent formation of neuritic plaques as well as the presence neurofibrillary tangles in specific brain regions associated with learning and memory including the hippocampus. Here, we analysed the effect of chronic (1 month) food diets containing low (LTrP), normal (NTrP) and high tryptophan (HTrP), 0.04, 0.20 and 0.40 g/100 g, respectively, on CA1 serotonin transporter (SERT) fibre density, intraneuronal Aβ deposition and total number of serotonergic (5‐HT) neurons in an AD triple transgenic (3xTg‐AD) mouse model. Nontransgenic (non‐Tg) animals fed with HTrP displayed increased SERT fibre density in CA1 (35%) and in stratum lacunosum moleculare (S.Mol) (48%) compared to LTrP diet. Transgenic animals showed increased SERT fibre density in CA1 S.Mol compared to diet‐matched non‐Tg irrespective of dietary tryptophan content (104% for LTrP, 74% for NTrP and 35% for HTrP); no differences were observed in the total number of 5‐HT neurons neither in the dorsal nor in the median raphe nuclei. However, and more relevant to AD, HTrP diet reduced intraneuronal Aβ density (by a 17%) in transgenic animals compared to transgenic animals fed with NTrP diet. Our results show that increased dietary TrP intake reduces intraneuronal Aβ load in the 3xTg‐AD mouse model of AD, suggesting that enhanced TrP intake and in consequence a potential increase in 5‐HT neurotransmission may be effective in reducing plaque pathology in AD.     

Hazards of living on the edge of water: The case of Minnesota Point,Duluth, Minnesota

Based on a systematic sample survey among the residents of Minnesota Point, a fresh-water spit/baymouth bar on the southwest shore of Lake Superior, this study tests a number of hypotheses related to the perceived causes of lake level fluctuation and shore property hazards. The study found that, despite significant differences in property setting and the nature of flood and erosion hazards between the lakeside and the bayside of the spit, the majority of the respondents perceived that their property hazards were induced primarily by the manipulation of lake levels by the International Joint Commission (IJC). Consequently, one in every two respondents would like to lower the lake level by amounts ranging from 30 cm to more than 1 m. The study points out the physical limitations of controlling water levels and recommends that greater attention should be given to shoreline management, which could proivde guidelines for protecting existing coastal structures and for developing minimum standards for future encroachment of the remaining unused sections of the shoreline.Formly of the Department of Geography, University of Minnesota, Duluth, Minnesota 55812.     

Continuous biosynthesis of biodiesel from waste cooking palm oil in a packed bed reactor: optimization using response surface methodology (RSM) and mass transfer studies

This study aimed to develop an optimal continuous procedure of lipase-catalyzes transesterification of waste cooking palm oil in a packed bed reactor to investigate the possibility of large scale production further. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was used to optimize the two important reaction variables packed bed height (cm) and substrate flow rate(ml/min) for the transesterification of waste cooking palm oil in a continuous packed bed reactor. The optimum condition for the transesterification of waste cooking palm oil was as follows: 10.53 cm packed bed height and 0.57 ml/min substrate flow rate. The optimum predicted fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) yield was 80.3% and the actual value was 79%. The above results shows that the RSM study based on CCRD is adaptable for FAME yield studied for the current transesterification system. The effect of mass transfer in the packed bed reactor has also been studied. Models for FAME yield have been developed for cases of reaction control and mass transfer control. The results showed very good agreement compatibility between mass transfer model and the experimental results obtained from immobilized lipase packed bed reactor operation, showing that in this case the FAME yield was mass transfer controlled.