The effects of selenium,vitamin E and their combination on the composition of fatty acids and proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The aim of our studies was to test the effect and role of vitamin E and selenium supplements on yeast cell. In this study, the effects of selenium (Se), vitamin E (Vit. E), and their combination (Se plus Vit. E) on the composition of fatty acids and proteins were examined in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains WET136 and 522. S. cerevisiae cells were grown up in YEPD medium supplemented with Se, Vit. E or their combination. It was found that the level of stearic acid was increased in all supplemented groups (p<0·05; p<0·001). The content of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids was decreased (p<0·05; p<0·01; p<0·001) in Vit. E and Vit. E plus Se supplemented S. cerevisiae. On the other hand, Se alone caused an increase (p<0·001) in the saturated fatty acids but a decrease (p<0·05; p<0·001) in the unsaturated fatty acids. Total proteins in S. cerevisiae were significantly increased (p<0·001) by Vit. E supplement. There was no significant change observed in S. cerevisiae supplemented with Se. These findings indicate that membrane composition of S. cerevisiae is affected by both Vit. E and Se supplements. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of dietary selenium and vitamin E on the levels of fatty acids in brain and liver tissues of lambs

In this study, the effects of dietary vitamin E, selenium, and their combination on the levels of fatty acid composition of the brain and liver tissues were examined. In brain tissue, the amounts of most fatty acids increased in vitamin E, combination and selenium groups compared with control group values. While the proportions of myristic, pentadecanoic, palmitic, linoleic, and total saturated fatty acids were decreased in vitamin E, Se and combination groups, eicosapentaenoic, total unsaturated and MUFA were increased in the same groups. In addition, the proportions arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic, total unsaturated, ω6 and MUFA in the combination group were higher than in the control group. In liver tissue, the amounts of myristic, pentadecanoic, palmitic, eicosedienoic, eicosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic, ω3 and PUFA were higher in the combination group than in the control group. Also the proportions of eicosapentaenoic, docosahexaenoic acids in supplemented groups were higher than those in the control group. We conclude that dietary vitamin E and selenium have an influence on the levels of fatty acids in the brain and liver. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A new correction procedure for calibrating dental caries frequency

The incisors and canines and the premolars and molars show differential resistance to cariogenic factors. The anterior teeth have a lower caries frequency than the posterior teeth. However, these tooth classes are lost differentially in postmortem stages due to their anatomical structures. This differential postmortem tooth loss distorts proportions between the anterior and posterior tooth classes. The disproportionality can affect the calculation of total caries prevalence. In this paper, we propose a new calibration procedure which removes this disproportionality and call it the proportional correction factor. For this procedure, the caries rates of anterior and posterior teeth are corrected by multiplying the anterior teeth by three-eighths and the posterior teeth by five-eighths. These fractions are derived from the human dental formula which contains three anterior and five posterior teeth by side. The correction factor is more effective if the proportion of anterior to the posterior teeth is extremely distorted. When this procedure is used with the caries correction factor, it provides a useful way to approach to an almost true caries prevalence. Am J Phys Anthropol 108:237–240, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

In silico characterization of a novel dehalogenase (DehHX) from the halophile <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas halophila</Emphasis> HX isolated from Tuz Gölü Lake,Turkey: insights into a hypersaline-adapted dehalogenase

Halogenated compounds represent potential long-term threats to human well-being and health and, therefore, the quest for microorganisms capable of degrading these hazardous substances merits urgent consideration. We have isolated a novel dehalogenase-producing bacterium from the hypersaline environment of Tuz Gölü Lake, Turkey and subsequently identified this isolate as Pseudomonas halophila HX. Under optimal culture conditions (pH 8.0, 15% NaCl, 30 °C, 200 rpm, 96 h culture time), the strain almost completely degraded (99.3%) 2,2-dichloropropionic acid (20 mM). The dehalogenase gene (dehHX) of the bacterium was amplified by PCR, and the deduced amino acid sequence of the DehHX was found to belong to a Group I dehalogenase and to share an 82% sequence identity to the dehalogenase DehI of Pseudomonas putida strain PP3. Interestingly, the pI of DehHX was more acidic (pI 3.89) than those of the non-halophilic dehalogenases (average measured pI 5.95). Homology-based structural modeling revealed that the surface of DehHX was unusually negatively charged due to the higher presence of acidic residues, which accounts for the uncommonly low pI seen in DehHX and explains the mechanism of adaptation that contributes to the exceptional halotolerance of the enzyme. The excess surface acidic residues were beneficial in enhancing the water-binding capacity, a crucial feature for preserving the stability and solubility of DehHX in highly saline conditions. In summary, we suggest that bio-prospecting for halogenated compound-degrading microorganisms in highly saline environments is a practical and safe strategy for the bioremediation of contaminated coastal areas.     

Effects of ferrous iron on the performance and microbial community in aerobic granular sludge in relation to nutrient removal

Lab‐scale experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of ferrous iron on nutrient removal performance and variations in the microbial community inside aerobic granular sludge for 408 days. Two reactors were simultaneously operated, one without added ferrous iron (SBR1), and one with 10 mg Fe²⁺ L^?1 of added ferrous iron (SBR2). A total of 1 mg Fe²⁺ L^?1 of added ferrous iron was applied to SBR1 starting from the 191st day to observe the resulting variations in the nutrient removal performance and the microbial community. The results show that ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB) could not oxidize ammonia due to a lack of iron compounds, but they could survive in the aerobic granular sludge. Limited ferrous iron addition encouraged nitrification. Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) from both reactors could not be maintained regardless of the amount of ferrous iron that was applied. EBPR was established in both reactors when the concentration of mixed liquor suspended solid (MLSS) and the percentage of Accumulibacteria increased. A total of 10 mg Fe²⁺ L^?1 of added ferrous iron had a relatively adverse effect on the growth of AOB species compared to 1 mg Fe²⁺ L^?1 of added ferrous iron, but it encouraged the growth of Nitrospira sp. and Accumulibacteria, which requires further study. It could be said that the compact and stable structure of aerobic granular sludge preserved AOB and NOB from Fe‐deficient conditions, and wash‐out during the disintegration period. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:716–725, 2017     

Determination of HER-2/Neu status in hepatocellular carcinoma cases

Specific chromosome abnormalities and genetic changes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been demonstrated by conventional cytogenetic studies or molecular cytogenetic approaches like comparative genomic hybridization and loss of heterozygosity analyses. HER-2/Neu amplification and expression has been studied as a molecular target for treatment of HCC, and there are conflicting results. We aimed to determine HER-2/Neu status in archive materials of HCC patients by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Among the 35 patients, 2 had HER-2/Neu amplification and 3 had increased chromosome 17 copy number. All these patients had grade 2 or 3 tumor with a diameter of 3-12 cm. We conclude that although HER-2/Neu amplification is not the primary mechanism in the development of liver tumors, it might play a role in one of the steps of multistage carcinogenesis.     

P. gingivalis accelerates gingival epithelial cell progression through the cell cycle

P. gingivalis, an opportunistic pathogen in periodontal disease, can reside within the epithelial cells that line the gingival crevice. A proteomic analysis revealed that infection of gingival epithelial cells with P. gingivalis induces broadly based changes in the level and phosphorylation status of proteins that exert multi-level control on the eukaryotic cell cycle. Pathways that were impacted by P. gingivalis included those involving cyclins, p53 and PI3K. The predicted infection-dependent phenotype was confirmed by cytofluorimetry that showed an enhanced proliferation rate of gingival epithelial cells infected with P. gingivalis associated with accelerated progression through the S-phase. Elevated cell proliferation was dependent on the presence of the long fimbriae of P. gingivalis. The ability of P. gingivalis, a common inhabitant of the subgingival crevice, to accelerate cell cycling could have biological consequences for barrier and signaling functions, and for physiological status, of the gingival epithelium.     

Expression of ASC in renal tissues of familial mediterranean fever patients with amyloidosis: postulating a role for ASC in AA type amyloid deposition

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is characterized by recurrent attacks of fever and serositis; in some cases, ensuing amyloidosis results in kidney damage. Treatment with colchicine reduces the frequency and severity of FMF attacks and prevents amyloidosis, although the mechanisms behind these effects are unknown. Pyrin, the protein product of the MEFV gene, interacts with ASC, a key molecule in apoptotic and inflammatory processes. ASC forms intracellular speck-like aggregates that presage cell death. Here we show that cell death after ASC speck formation is much slower in nonmyeloid cells than in myeloid cells. Additionally, we demonstrate that colchicine prevents speck formation and show that specks can survive in the extracellular space after cell death. Because we also found that ASC is expressed in renal glomeruli of patients with FMF but not in those of control patients, we posit that high local ASC expression may result in speck formation and that specks from dying cells may persist in the extracellular space where they have the potential (perhaps in association with pyrin) to nucleate amyloid. The fact that speck formation requires an intact microtubule network as shown here could potentially account for the ability of prophylactic colchicine to prevent or reverse amyloidosis in patients with FMF.     

Genotoxic action of fungicide Conan 5FL (hexaconazole) on mammalian cells in vivo and in vitro

The genotoxic effects of fungicide Conan 5FL (containing 50 g/L hexaconazole) in mouse bone-marrow cells and human lymphocytes have been evaluated. Three different concentrations of Conan 5FL (17.50, 35.00 and 70.00 microg/mL for human lymphocytes and 17.50, 35.00 and 70.00 mg/kg for mouse bone marrow cells) were studied. Conan 5FL induced significant increases (except 17.50 mg/kg for mouse bone marrow) in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations (CAs) in both test systems. This fungicide caused structural and numerical abnormalities in both mammalian cells. These are sister chromatid union, chromatid and chromosome breaks, fragments, dicentric and ring chromosomes, and polyploidy. Significant increase was found in induction and in minimum-maximum numbers of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) at all treatments compared with the negative control. Conan 5FL did not affect the replication index (RI) in human lymphocyte cultures, however, it significantly decreased the mitotic index (MI) in all treatment concentrations in both test systems. Using of Conan 5FL should be reconsidered due to its possible cytotoxic, clastogenic and mutagenic effects.     

Melanocortin-4 Receptor Gene Polymorphisms in Obese Patients

Obesity is a complex disease caused by both genetics and environmental factors. Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) (MIM 155541) gene polymorphisms were reported to be the cause of monogenic obesity in humans. We studied three polymorphisms (Val50Met, Val103Ile, and Ser58Cys) and a mutation (Asn274Ser) of the MC4R gene in 203 obese patients and in 110 healthy subjects in the Turkish population. A high incidence of Val103Ile and Val50Met polymorphisms as well as the Asn274Ser mutation was found in the obese patients, whereas no significant correlation was found regarding the Ser58Cys polymorphism. We conclude that there is a concordance between the polymorphisms (Val103Ile, Val50Met, Ser58Cys) that were first studied in the Turkish population with obesity.