Process for extracting gelatin from marine snail (Hexaplex trunculus): Chemical composition and functional properties

Gelatin was extracted, for the first time, from the meat of Tunisian marine snail by the acid extraction process with a yield of 3 g/100 g. Snail meat gelatin (SMG) had high protein (88.62%) but low fat (0.77%) content and contained a high number of imino acids. SMG showed high band intensity for α- and β-components and some degradation peptides. The absorption bands of SMG in Fourier transform infrared spectra were mainly situated in the amide band region (amide I and amide II). The gel strength of the SMG (103 g) was lower than those from other marine species reported in the literature. SMG exhibited a low foam capacity (75.44%) but a high emulsifying stability (38.12 min) and WHC (120%). It can be concluded from the present study that snail meat is a prospective source to produce gelatin in good quality with desirable functional properties.     

Purification and biochemical properties of Hexaplex trunculus digestive lipase

Enzymes from fish and aquatic invertebrates have recently been characterized and their study has led to the emergence of some new applications of these classes of enzymes. However, very little is known about lipases from mollusks. A lipolytic activity was located in the marine snail digestive glands (hepatopancreas), from which a marine snail digestive lipase named mSDL was purified. Pure mSDL has a molecular mass of about 70 kDa as determined by SDS/PAGE analysis. Unlike the known digestive lipases while acting at 37 °C, the mSDL displayed its maximal activity on long and short-chain triacylglycerols at 50 °C. A specific activity of 400 U/mg and 100 U/mg was obtained with TC4 or olive oil as substrate respectively. Only 25% of the maximal activity was measured at 37 °C. Interestingly, neither colipase, nor bile salts were detected in the marine snail hepatopancreas, which suggests that colipase evolved in invertebrates simultaneously with the appearance of an exocrine pancreas and a true liver which produces bile salts. No similarity was found between the N-terminal amino acids sequence of the mSDL and those of the known digestive lipases. Altogether, these results suggest that the mSDL is a member of a new group of digestive lipases belonging to invertebrates.     

Characterization of Wheat Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Markers Associated with the H11 Hessian Fly Resistance Gene

In Tunisia, the Hessian fly Mayetiola destructor Say is a major pest of durum wheat （Triticum durum Desf.） and bread wheat （T. aestivum L.）. Genetic resistance is the most efficient and economical method of control of this pest. To date, 31 resistance genes, designated H1-H31, have been identified in wheat. These genes condition resistance to the insect genes responsible for virulence. Using wheat cultivars differing for the presence of an individual Hessian fly resistance gene and random amplified polymorphic DNA （RAPD） analysis, we have identified a polymorphic 386-bp DNA marker （Xgmib1-1A.1） associated with the H11 Hessian fly resistance gene. Blast analysis showed a high identity with a short region in the wild wheat （T. monococcum） genome, adjacent to the leaf rust resistance Lr10 gene. A genetic linkage was reported between this gene （Lr10） and Hessian fly response in wheat. These data were used for screening Hessian fly resistance in Tunisian wheat germplasm. Xgmib1-1A.1-like fragments were detected in four Tunisian durum and bread wheat varieties. Using these varieties in Hessian fly breeding programs in Tunisia would be of benefit in reducing the damage caused by this fly.     

Purification and biochemical characterization of a turkey preduodenal esterase

A preduodenal esterase was purified to homogeneity from turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) pharyngial tissue. Pure turkey pregastric esterase (TPrE) was obtained after anion exchange chromatography (DEAE-cellulose), Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration, anion exchange chromatography (Mono-Q sepharose) and affinity chromatography (Blue-Gel Affi Gel). The pure enzyme has an apparent molecular mass of 50 kDa, as determined by SDS/PAGE analysis. The optimum pH and temperature for enzyme activity using tributyrin as substrate were 8.5 and 48 °C, respectively. Under these conditions, the specific activity measured was 650 U/mg. No significant lipolytic activity was found when was tested on triolein or liprocil as substrates or with monolayer dicaprin with TPrE. In contrast, TPrE displayed a maximal activities of 800, 680 and 520 U/mg with vinyl acetate, vinyl propionate and vinyl butyrate, respectively. This enzyme retained 75% of its maximal activity when incubated for 30 min at pH 4 and 50 °C, but it was completely inactivated after an incubation for 10 min at 60 °C. The TPrE N-terminal amino acid sequence showed similarities to the N-terminal sequence of a thioesterase from mallard duck, but no similarity with known preduodenal lipases was found.     

Leberagin-C,A disintegrin-like/cysteine-rich protein from Macrovipera lebetina transmediterranea venom,inhibits alphavbeta3 integrin-mediated cell adhesion

Leberagin-C, a new member of the disintegrin-like/cysteine-rich (D/C) family, was purified to homogeneity from the venom of Tunisian snake Macrovipera lebetina transmediterranea. It is a monomeric protein with a molecular mass of 25,787 Da. Its complete sequence of 205 amino acid residues was established by cDNA cloning. The leberagin-C shows many conserved sequences with other known D/C proteins, like the SECD binding sites and a pattern of 28 cysteines. It is the first purified protein from M. lebetina transmediterranea with only two disintegrin-like/cysteine-rich domains. Leberagin-C is able to inhibit platelet aggregation induced by thrombin and arachidonic acid with IC₅₀ of 40 and 50 nM respectively. It was also able to inhibit the adhesion of melanoma tumour cells on fibrinogen and fibronectin, by interfering with the function of alphavbeta3 and, to a lesser extent, with alphavbeta6 and alpha5beta1 integrins. To our knowledge, leberagin-C is the sole described D/C protein that does not specifically interact with the alpha2beta1 integrin. Structure–activity relationship study of leberagin-C suggested that there are some important amino acid differences with jararhagin, the most studied PIII metalloprotease from Bothrops jararaca, notably around the SECD motif in its disintegrin-like domain. Other regions implicated in leberagin-C specificities could not be excluded.     

Biochemical characteristics and genetic diversity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vibrio</Emphasis> spp. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aeromonas hydrophila</Emphasis> strains isolated from the Lac of Bizerte (Tunisia)

This study characterized the phenotypic and genetic properties of Vibrio spp. and Aeromonas hydrophila strains isolated from seawater and mussels (Mytilus edulis and Crassostrea gigas) cultured in mollusc farm localized in the lac of Bizerte. The 37 strains (31 strains of V. alginolyticus, one strain of V. fluvialis, one strain of V. parahaemolyticus and four strains of A. hydrophila) typed by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR (ERIC-PCR) showed a high polymorphism. Most of the isolates were resistant to at least two antimicrobial agents. All the tested strains were resistant to ampicillin. PCR was used to detect the presence of eight Vibrio cholerae virulence genes in the genome of the Vibrio spp. isolates. The results showed a wide dissemination of these genes in the genome of all Vibrio spp. isolates tested. Differentiation of these strains with the ERIC 2-PCR technique revealed no association between the presence of virulence genes and a particular fingerprinting pattern.     

Time-dependent effects of exposure to static magnetic field on glucose and lipid metabolism in rat

In the following study, we investigate the effects of static magnetic field (SMF) (128 mT, 1 h/day during 5 or 15 consecutive days) on anthropometric parameters, glucose and lipid metabolism in rats. Exposure to SMF during 5 days induced a decrease (-8%, p < 0.05) in relative liver weight and serum insulin concentration (-56%, p < 0.001), while blood glucose level was increased (+10%, p < 0.001). By contrast, the same treatment failed to alter body weight, relative kidney weight and levels of lactate, cholesterol, triglycerides and phospholipids. Exposure to SMF during 15 days induced a decrease (-15 %, p < 0.001) in body weight, liver weight (-15 %, p < 0.05), insulin concentration (-63%, p < 0.001), plasmatic lactate level (-55%, p < 0.05) and increased glucose (+24%, p < 0.001), cholesterol (+30%, p < 0.01,) and phospholipids levels (+58%, p < 0.001), whereas, triglycerides decreased (-28%, p < 0.001). These results showed that SMF effects on glucose and lipid metabolism are time-dependent.     

Parasitoses and immunodepression

The immunodepression, related or not to AIDS, induces the emergence of opportunistic parasitosis and mycosis. Our objective is to analyze these pathogenic agents, their clinical expression and gravity in immunocompromised individuals. Our retrospective 9 years study reported parasitic and fungic infections complicating immunodepression. Among 31 HIV infected patients, we diagnosed the following parasitosis: Cryptosporidium (7 cases), Isospora belli (2 cases) and Enterocytozoon bieneusi (1 case). Pulmonary pneumocystosis was diagnosed in 6 cases, cerebral toxoplasmosis in 6 cases and meningo-cerebral cryptococcosis in 1 case. The systemic candidasis was diagnosed in 13 leukaemic patients. The intestinal anguilluliasis was found in 5 patients treated with cortico?ds for long periods. A case of Kala azar was observed in a 83 years man treated with cortico?ds. A disseminated aspergillosis occurred in a child with a Chediack Higashi syndrome. A gingivo-labial fusariosis was diagnosed in a leukaemic patient. This emergency of the new parasitic and fungal agents requires a better understanding of these affections in order to improve their early diagnosis and treatments.     

Purification of turkey pancreatic phospholipase A2

Turkey pancreatic phospholipase (TPP) has been purified from delipidated pancreases. The purification included ammonium sulfate fractionation, acidic (pH 5) treatment, followed by sequencial column chromatographies on DEAE-cellulose, Sephadex G-75, and reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography. The purified enzyme was found to be a monomeric protein with molecular mass of 14 kDa. The optimal activity was measured at pH 8 and 37 degrees C using egg yolk emulsion as substrate. Our results show that the enzyme (TPP) was not stable for 1 h at 60 degrees C, and that bile salt and Ca2+ were required for the expression of the purified enzyme. The sequence of the N-terminal amino acids of the purified enzyme shows a very close similarity between TPP and all other known pancreatic phospholipases.     

Purification and characterization of a novel lipase from the digestive glands of a primitive animal: the scorpion

Higher animal's lipases are well characterized, however, much less is known about lipases from primitive ones. We choose the scorpion, one of the most ancient invertebrates, as a model of a primitive animal. A lipolytic activity was located in the scorpion digestive glands, from which a scorpion digestive lipase (SDL) was purified. Pure SDL, a glycosylated protein, has a molecular mass of 50 kDa, it presents the interfacial activation phenomenon. It was found to be more active on short-chain triacylglycerols than on long-chain triacylglycerols. SDL is a serine enzyme and possesses one accessible sulfhydryl group which is not essential for the catalysis. Among the NH2-terminal 33 residues, a 17 amino acids sequence shows similarities with sequence of Drosophila melanogaster putative lipase. Interestingly, neither colipase, nor bile salts were detected in the scorpion hepatopancreas. This indicates that colipase evolved in vertebrates simultaneously with the appearance of an exocrine pancreas and a true liver which produces bile salts. Furthermore, polyclonal antibodies directed against SDL failed to recognise the classical digestive lipases. Altogether, these results suggest that SDL is a member of a new group of digestive lipases belonging to invertebrates.