Apricot Melanoidins Prevent Oxidative Endothelial Cell Death by Counteracting Mitochondrial Oxidation and Membrane Depolarization

The cardiovascular benefits associated with diets rich in fruit and vegetables are thought to be due to phytochemicals contained in fresh plant material. However, whether processed plant foods provide the same benefits as unprocessed ones is an open question. Melanoidins from heat-processed apricots were isolated and their presence confirmed by colorimetric analysis and browning index. Oxidative injury of endothelial cells (ECs) is the key step for the onset and progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), therefore the potential protective effect of apricot melanoidins on hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative mitochondrial damage and cell death was explored in human ECs. The redox state of cytoplasmic and mitochondrial compartments was detected by using the redox-sensitive, fluorescent protein (roGFP), while the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was assessed with the fluorescent dye, JC-1. ECs exposure to hydrogen peroxide, dose-dependently induced mitochondrial and cytoplasmic oxidation. Additionally detected hydrogen peroxide-induced phenomena were MMP dissipation and ECs death. Pretreatment of ECs with apricot melanoidins, significantly counteracted and ultimately abolished hydrogen peroxide-induced intracellular oxidation, mitochondrial depolarization and cell death. In this regard, our current results clearly indicate that melanoidins derived from heat-processed apricots, protect human ECs against oxidative stress.     

Platelet adhesiveness and aggregation in combined factor V and factor VIII deficiency and in combined factor VII and factor VIII deficiency.

Platelet aggregation and adhesiveness were studied in 3 patients with combined factor V and factor VIII deficiency and in 3 patients with combined factor VII and factor VIII deficiency. The first three patients belonged to three different kindreds whereas the second group belonged to the same kindred. Serotonin C14 uptake and release was also found to be normal in these patients. These studies indicate that platelet function is normal in combined defects of factor VIII. These findings were in agreement with the presence of a normal bleeding time and a normal factor VIII antigen level in all these patients.     

E-Readers and Visual Fatigue

The mass digitization of books is changing the way information is created, disseminated and displayed. Electronic book readers (e-readers) generally refer to two main display technologies: the electronic ink (E-ink) and the liquid crystal display (LCD). Both technologies have advantages and disadvantages, but the question whether one or the other triggers less visual fatigue is still open. The aim of the present research was to study the effects of the display technology on visual fatigue. To this end, participants performed a longitudinal study in which two last generation e-readers (LCD, E-ink) and paper book were tested in three different prolonged reading sessions separated by - on average - ten days. Results from both objective (Blinks per second) and subjective (Visual Fatigue Scale) measures suggested that reading on the LCD (Kindle Fire HD) triggers higher visual fatigue with respect to both the E-ink (Kindle Paperwhite) and the paper book. The absence of differences between E-ink and paper suggests that, concerning visual fatigue, the E-ink is indeed very similar to the paper.     

Correction to: Genetic diversity and reproductive ecology of the sage-leaved rockrose,Cistus salviifolius L., in the Swiss Alps

Plant Ecology - Figure 1 has been published incorrectly in the original article. The correct version of Figure 1 is provided in this correction.     

Effect of positive charges in the structural interaction of crabrolin isoforms with lipopolysaccharide

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) appear as chemical compounds of increasing interest for their role in killing bacteria and, more recently, for their ability to bind endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) that is released during bacterial infection and that may lead to septic shock. This dual role in the mechanism of action can further be enhanced in a synergistic way when two or more AMPs are combined together. Not all AMPs are able to bind LPS, suggesting that several modes of binding to the bacterial surface may exist. Here we analyze a natural AMP, crabrolin, and two mutated forms, one with increased positive charge (Crabrolin Plus) and the other with null charge (Crabrolin Minus), and compare their binding abilities to LPS. While Crabrolin WT as well Crabrolin Minus do not show binding to LPS, the mutated Crabrolin Plus exhibits binding and forms a well defined structure in the presence of LPS. The results strengthen the importance of positive charges for the binding to LPS and suggest the mutated form with increased positive charge as a promising candidate for antimicrobial and antiseptic activity.     

Bioreactor production of 2,3-butanediol by Pantoea agglomerans using soybean hull acid hydrolysate as substrate

Production of 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BD) by Pantoea agglomerans strain BL1 was investigated using soybean hull hydrolysate as substrate in batch reactors. The cultivation media consisted of a mixture of xylose, arabinose, and glucose, obtained from the hemicellulosic fraction of the soybean hull biomass. We evaluated the influence of oxygen supply, pH control, and media supplementation on the growth kinetics of the microorganism and on 2,3-BD production. P. agglomerans BL1 was able to simultaneously metabolize all three monosaccharides present in the broth, with average conversions of 75% after 48 h of cultivation. The influence of aeration conditions employed demonstrated the mixed acid pathway of 2,3-BD formation by enterobacteria. Under fully aerated conditions (2 vvm of air), up to 14.02 g L⁻¹ of 2.3-BD in 12 h of cultivation were produced, corresponding to yields of 0.53 g g⁻¹ and a productivity of 1.17 g L⁻¹ h⁻¹, the best results achieved. These results suggest the production potential of 2,3-BD by P. agglomerans BL1, which has been recently isolated from an environmental consortium. The present work proposes a solution for the usage of the hemicellulosic fraction of agroindustry biomasses, carbohydrates whose utilization are not commonly addressed in bioprocess.

     

New Approaches for Absolute Quantification of Stable‐Isotope‐Labeled Peptide Standards for Targeted Proteomics Based on a UV Active Tag

Targeted proteomics depends on the availability of stable isotope labeled (SIL) peptide standards, which for absolute protein quantification need to be absolutely quantified. In the present study, three new approaches for absolute quantification of SIL peptides are developed. All approaches rely on a quantification tag (Qtag) with a specific UV absorption. The Qtag is attached to the peptide during synthesis and is removed by tryptic digestion under standard proteomics workflow conditions. While one quantification method (method A) is designed to allow the fast and economic production of absolutely quantified SIL peptides, two other methods (methods B and C) are developed to enable the straightforward re‐quantification of SIL peptides after reconstitution to control and monitor known problems related to peptide solubility, precipitation, and adhesion to vials. All methods yield consistent results when compared to each other and when compared to quantification by amino acid analysis. The precise quantitation methods are used to characterize the in vivo specificity of the H3 specific histone methyltransferase EZH2.