Metabolism of the mesoionic compound (MI‐D) by mouse liver microsome,detection of its metabolite In Vivo,and acute toxicity in mice

The mesoionic derivative 4‐phenyl‐5‐[4‐nitrocinnamoyl]‐1,3,4‐thiadiazolyl‐2‐phenylamine chloride (MI‐D) has antitumoral and anti‐inflammatory effects. In this study, we present aspects of its metabolism and toxicity in mice. MI‐D was metabolized in vitro by liver microsome, generating a main product with a much shorter retention time than MI‐D in high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis but with a spectrum similar to that of the original molecule. Mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization in positive mode analysis of the purified compound by HPLC indicated that the product of metabolism has four additional hydroxyl groups (m/z = 465) compared with MI‐D (m/z = 401). The HPLC analyses of plasma and urine samples from mice treated with MI‐D showed the presence of the metabolite product. The kinetic parameters K_m (19.5 ± 4.5 μM) and V_max [1.5 ± 0.4 units of fluorescence/(100 μg of microsomal protein/mL/s)] were estimated, confirming the metabolism of MI‐D and indicating that the reaction follows Michaelis‐Menten kinetics. Acute toxicity was established on the basis of an estimation of mean lethal dose (LD‐50; 181.2 mg/kg) and histopathological analysis of animals that survived the LD‐50 test. Abdominal adhesions, inflammatory foci, and formation of granulomas were observed. Altogether, the results contribute to the advancement of research in support of MI‐D as a future chemotherapeutic drug. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 23:394–405, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/jbt.20303     

Phylogeographic analysis of paternal lineages in NE Portuguese Jewish communities

The establishment of Jewish communities in the territory of contemporary Portugal is archaeologically documented since the 3rd century CE, but their settlement in Trás‐os‐Montes (NE Portugal) has not been proved before the 12th century. The Decree of Expulsion followed by the establishment of the Inquisition, both around the beginning of the 16th century, accounted for a significant exodus, as well as the establishment of crypto‐Jewish communities. Previous Y chromosome studies have shown that different Jewish communities share a common origin in the Near East, although they can be quite heterogeneous as a consequence of genetic drift and different levels of admixture with their respective host populations. To characterize the genetic composition of the Portuguese Jewish communities from Trás‐os‐Montes, we have examined 57 unrelated Jewish males, with a high‐resolution Y‐chromosome typing strategy, comprising 16 STRs and 23 SNPs. A high lineage diversity was found, at both haplotype and haplogroup levels (98.74 and 82.83%, respectively), demonstrating the absence of either strong drift or founder effects. A deeper and more detailed investigation is required to clarify how these communities avoided the expected inbreeding caused by over four centuries of religious repression. Concerning haplogroup lineages, we detected some admixture with the Western European non‐Jewish populations (R1b1b2‐M269, ～28%), along with a strong ancestral component reflecting their origin in the Middle East [J1(xJ1a‐M267), ～12%; J2‐M172, ～25%; T‐M70, ～16%] and in consequence Trás‐os‐Montes Jews were found to be more closely related with other Jewish groups, rather than with the Portuguese non‐Jewish population. Am J Phys Anthropol 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Features of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a culture starter for the production of the distilled sugar cane beverage,cachaça in Brazil

Aims: To evaluate the dominance and persistence of strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae during the process of sugar cane fermentation for the production of cachaça and to analyse the microbial compounds produced in each fermentative process. Methods and Results: Three S. cerevisiae strains were evaluated during seven consecutive 24‐h fermentation batches using recycled inocula. The UFLA CA 116 strain had the largest population of viable organisms, and the maximum population was achieved in the fourth batch after 96 h of fermentation. The UFLA CA 1162 and UFLA CA 1183 strains grew more slowly, and the maximum population was reached in the seventh batch. Molecular characterization of isolated yeast cells using PFGE (pulse field gel electrophoresis) revealed that more than 86% of the isolates corresponded to the initially inoculated yeast strain. The concentration of aldehydes, esters, methanol, alcohol and volatile acids in the final‐aged beverages were within the legal limits. Conclusions: Cachaça produced by select yeast strains exhibits analytical differences. UFLA CA 1162 and UFLA CA 116 S. cerevisiae isolates can be considered the ideal strains for the artisanal production of cachaça in Brazil. Significance and Impact of the Study: The use of select yeast strains can improve the quality and productivity of cachaça production. Our findings are important for the appropriate monitoring of yeast during sugar cane fermentation. In addition, we demonstrate that UFLA CA 116 and UFLA CA 1162, the ideal yeast strains for cachaça production, are maintained at a high population density. The persistence of these yeast strains in the fermentation of sugar cane juice promotes environmental conditions that prevent or decrease bacterial contamination. Thus, the use of select yeast strains for the production of cachaça is a viable economic alternative to standardize the production of this beverage.     

Polarized light based scheme to monitor column performance in a continuous foam fractionation column

Background  

A polarized light scattering technique was used to monitor the performance of a continuously operated foam fractionation process. The S ₁₁ and S ₁₂ parameters, elements of the light scattering matrix, combined together (S ₁₁ +S ₁₂) have been correlated with the bubble size and liquid content for the case of a freely draining foam. The performance of a foam fractionation column is known to have a strong dependence on the bubble size distribution and liquid hold up in foam. In this study the enrichment is used as a metric, representative of foam properties and column performance, and correlated to the S ₁₁ +S ₁₂ parameter.     

Analysis of various conditions in order to measure electromyography of isometric contractions in water and on air

The aim of this study was to verify if there are differences in the amplitude of signals from surface electromyography (EMG) during maximal and submaximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC and 50% MVC, respectively) under different conditions, in our case, water and air, with and without extra protection (water-resistant tape) on the electrode. The isometric force and muscle activation of the MVC and 50% MVC of the biceps brachial muscle of nine healthy trained men were measured simultaneously, performed in water and on air, with and without protection of the EMG electrode. The multivariate analysis of variance with a post hoc Tukey test was applied to detect significant differences between the levels of muscular force. For the amplitude values of the EMG signal, the Wilcoxon signed rank test was applied to compare all experimental conditions in order to detect a significance of p < 0.05. The values of isometric force were not significantly different among conditions (MVC and 50% MVC). The results showed a significant difference among conditions in the water without extra protection compared to the conditions on air with and without extra protection and in water with extra protection. Reduced EMG amplitude was seen in water without extra protection from 37.04% to 55.81% regarding the other conditions. However, no significant difference was seen among conditions in water with extra protection in relation the conditions on air (with and without extra protection). This study suggest that it is necessary to use a water-resistant tape as an extra protection on the electrode when using EMG underwater, to avoid having a significant decrease in the EMG amplitude underwater and not to suffer interference from the water. There was no significant difference among the recordings of EMG with and without the use of protection on air; therefore, the protection does not influence the recording of EMG amplitude and isometric force on air.     

Fuel ethanol after 25 years

After 25 years, Brazil and North America are still the only two regions that produce large quantities of fuel ethanol, from sugar cane and maize, respectively. The efficiency of ethanol production has steadily increased and valuable co-products are produced, but only tax credits make fuel ethanol commercially viable because oil prices are at an all-time low. The original motivation for fuel-ethanol production was to become more independent of oil imports; now, the emphasis is on its use as an oxygenated gasoline additive. There will only be sufficient, low-cost ethanol if lignocellulose feedstock is also used.     

In vivo localisation of the mitotic POLO kinase shows a highly dynamic association with the mitotic apparatus during early embryogenesis in Drosophila

The gene polo encodes a highly conserved serine/threonine protein kinase that has been implicated in several functions during cell division. Polo-like kinases are important positive regulators of cell cycle progression and have also been implicated in the exit from mitosis through the activation of the anaphase-promoting complex. Several data indicate that Plks are required for centrosome function, bipolar spindle organisation and cytokinesis. The intracellular localisation of Plks reflects their multiple roles in cell division, however, in vivo studies that describe the distribution of this protein during different stages of mitosis have never been performed. In the present work, we report the in vivo distribution of a GFP-POLO fusion protein expressed in stable transformants and analysed during the early embryonic development of Drosophila melanogaster. The GFP-POLO protein can be detected in unfertilised oocytes associated with the centromeric region of chromosomes of the polar body and followed until the formation of mitotic domains in later development. Detailed analysis of the dynamic localisation of GFP-POLO during syncytial mitotic cycles shows the timing of localisation to the centrosomes, centromeres and midbody. The results also indicate that GFP-POLO is present in astral microtubules early in mitosis, accumulates around the nuclear envelope until nuclear envelop breakdown and at metaphase associates to spindle microtubules. These in vivo studies show a highly dynamic association of POLO with multiple compartments of the mitotic apparatus. Furthermore, the wide distribution of the GFP-POLO protein to all compartments of the mitotic apparatus provides a valuable tool for future studies on cell cycle during development.     

Mitochondrial portraits of the Madeira and Açores archipelagos witness different genetic pools of its settlers

We have studied the matrilineal genetic composition of the Madeira and Açores north Atlantic archipelagos, which were settled by the Portuguese in the 15th century. Both archipelagos, and particularly Madeira, were involved in a complex commercial network established by the Portuguese, which included the trading of slaves across the Atlantic. One hundred and fifty-five mtDNAs sampled from the Madeira and 179 from the Açores archipelagos were analysed for the hypervariable segment I (HVS-I), and for haplogroup-diagnostic coding-region RFLPs. The different settlement histories of both groups of islands are well reflected in their present day mtDNA pool. Although both archipelagos show identical diversity values, they are clearly different in their haplogroup content. Madeira displays a stronger sub-Saharan imprint, with haplogroups L1–L3 constituting about 13% of the lineages. Also, the relative frequencies of L sub-clusters in Madeira and mainland Portugal suggests that, at least in part, African presence in Madeira can be attributed to a direct gene flow from West Africa and not via Portugal. A comparison of the genetic composition of these two archipelagos with the Canary Islands, specially taking into account that their European source population was essentially from the Iberian Peninsula, testifies the stronger impact of the North African U6 cluster in the Canaries. This group is present in Madeira at a moderate frequency, but very reduced in the Açores. Nevertheless the recorded introduction of Canary native Guanches, who are characterized by the presence of particular sub-clade U6b1, has left no detectable imprints in the present day population of Madeira.     

Activity of Euphorbia splendens var. hislopii N.E.B. (Euphorbiaceae) latex against Lymnaea columella (Say, 1817) (Pulmonata: Lymnaeidae), intermediate host of Fasciola hepatica, Linnaeus, 1758 (Trematoda: Fasciolidae). 2: limited field-testing

The molluscicidal evaluation of Euphorbia splendens var. hislopii (Crown of thorns) against Lymnaea columella snails, intermediate host of Fasciola hepatica, in irrigation ditches of the Pisciculture Station at Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, was studied under limited field conditions. An aqueous solution of the latex at 5 mg/l was tested in two irrigation ditches (experimental and control ditches), after initial sampling of the snail population present. Twenty-four hours after application of the product, it was verified that 97.4% of free L. columella snails and 100% of snails of the same species captive in cages and used as sentinels at three points equidistant from the application site in the experimental ditch, died. For Biomphalaria tenagophila and Melanoides tuberculata snails, present in the experimental ditch, the mortality was 100%, for the species Pomacea spp. the mortality was 40%. No mortality was verified in the free mollusks, or in the sentinels in the ditch used as control. E. splendens var. hislopii latex is thus an efficient natural molluscicide, which may be used as an alternative control agent against L. columella.