Pflanzenproteine: Ihre wirtschaftliche Bedeutung und Nutzung

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Photoautotrophe Organismen (Pflanzen) sind die primären Proteinproduzenten auf der Erde. Die Erzeugung von Tier- und Mikrobenprotein geht von organischen...     

Hemophilia B (factor IX deficiency) with concomitant factor XII degradation in a male crossbreed cat

A male cat suffered from a severe haemorrhagic disorder manifesting as deep, partly infected cutaneous haematomas, enhanced and prolonged bleeding after injuries and subsequent lameness at several occasions. Bleeding resulted in severe anaemia with haematocrit falling to as low as 0.10 L/L. Haemophilia B was diagnosed based on factor IX deficiency with a functional residual activity of 5% and factor IX antigen of 8%, respectively. Additionally, factor XII activity was reduced to 32% of normal. The mutation 31217G==>A in exon 8 of the factor IX gene, predicting the amino acid exchange G366R was identified as the cause of moderate factor IX deficiency. This is the first mutation identified in cats with haemophilia B. Treatment was limited to local therapy and palliation, insufficient to prevent lethal outcome due to severe anaemia.     

The "Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut": past, present and future of research in infectious diseases of animals

The Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, founded in 1910 by Friedrich Loeffler, the discoverer of the first animal virus, foot-and-mouth disease virus, is the oldest virological research facility in the world. Beyond viruses, its area of competence has significantly expanded since its foundation and now also covers bacterial, parasitic and prion diseases of livestock, poultry and aquatic animals. Presently located at four sites within Germany (Insel Riems, Jena,Tübingen,Wusterhausen) the tasks of the institute as delineated in the Animal Disease Act encompass research on infectious animal diseases including zoonoses, import/export examinations, epidemiological studies in case of outbreaks of notifiable animal diseases, acting as reference laboratory for notifiable animal diseases and nationwide quality management of diagnosis of notifiable animal diseases. It is obliged to publish and maintain up-to-date diagnostic regimes for notifiable animal diseases, and it publishes a yearly report on animal health in Germany. With the increasing importance of infectious diseases of animals, in particular those potentially harmful to man (zoonoses), the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut will be moving into new facilities including laboratories and animal facilities up to the highest biosafety level at its main site Insel Riems on the occasion of its 100th anniversary.     

Dialkyl 3,3'-thiodipropionate and dialkyl 2,2'-thiodiacetate antioxidants by lipase-catalyzed esterification and transesterification

Medium- and long-chain dialkyl 3,3'-thiodipropionate antioxidants such as dioctyl 3,3'-thiodipropionate, didodecyl 3,3'-thiodipropionate, dihexadecyl 3,3'-thiodipropionate, and di-(cis-9-octadecenyl) 3,3'-thiodipropionate were prepared in high yield by lipase-catalyzed esterification and transesterification of 3,3'-thiodipropionic acid and its dimethyl ester, respectively, with the corresponding medium- or long-chain 1-alkanols, i.e., 1-octanol, 1-dodecanol, 1-hexadecanol, and cis-9-octadecen-1-ol, in vacuo (80 kPa) at moderate temperatures (60-80 degrees C) without solvents. Immobilized lipase B from Candida antarctica (Novozym 435) was the most active biocatalyst for the preparation of medium- and long-chain dialkyl 3,3'-thiodipropionates showing enzyme activities up to 1489 units/g, whereas the immobilized lipases from Rhizomucor miehei (Lipozyme RM IM) and Thermomyces lanuginosus (Lipozyme TL IM) were by far less active ( approximately 10 enzyme units/g). Maximum conversions to dialkyl 3,3'-thiodipropionates were as high as 92-98% after 4 h of reaction time. Similarly, dihexadecyl 2,2'-thiodiacetate was prepared in high yield using 2,2'-thiodiacetic acid or diethyl 2,2'-thiodiacetate and 1-hexadecanol as the starting materials and Novozym 435 as the biocatalyst.     

Structure of the exon junction core complex with a trapped DEAD-box ATPase bound to RNA

In higher eukaryotes, a multiprotein exon junction complex is deposited on spliced messenger RNAs. The complex is organized around a stable core, which serves as a binding platform for numerous factors that influence messenger RNA function. Here, we present the crystal structure of a tetrameric exon junction core complex containing the DEAD-box adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) eukaryotic initiation factor 4AIII (eIF4AIII) bound to an ATP analog, MAGOH, Y14, a fragment of MLN51, and a polyuracil mRNA mimic. eIF4AIII interacts with the phosphate-ribose backbone of six consecutive nucleotides and prevents part of the bound RNA from being double stranded. The MAGOH and Y14 subunits lock eIF4AIII in a prehydrolysis state, and activation of the ATPase probably requires only modest conformational changes in eIF4AIII motif I.     

In vitro cytotoxicity of nonpolar constituents from different parts of kava plant (Piper methysticum)

Kava (Piper methysticum), a perennial shrub native to the South Pacific islands, has been used to relieve anxiety. Recently, several cases of severe hepatotoxicity have been reported from the consumption of dietary supplements containing kava. It is unclear whether the kava constituents, kavalactones, are responsible for the associated hepatotoxicity. To investigate the key components responsible for the liver toxicity, bioassay-guided fractionation was carried out in this study. Kava roots, leaves, and stem peelings were extracted with methanol, and the resulting residues were subjected to partition with a different polarity of solvents (hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water) for evaluation of their cytotoxicity on HepG2 cells based on the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase enzyme leakage assays. Organic solvent fractions displayed a much stronger cytotoxicity than water fractions for all parts of kava. The hexane fraction of the root exhibited stronger cytotoxic effects than fractions of root extracted with other solvents or extracts from the other parts of kava. Further investigations using bioassay-directed isolation and analysis of the hexane fraction indicated that the compound responsible for the cytotoxicity was flavokavain B. The identity of the compound was confirmed by (1)H and (13) C NMR and MS techniques.     

Generation of gut-homing IgA-secreting B cells by intestinal dendritic cells

Normal intestinal mucosa contains abundant immunoglobulin A (IgA)-secreting cells, which are generated from B cells in gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT). We show that dendritic cells (DC) from GALT induce T cell-independent expression of IgA and gut-homing receptors on B cells. GALT-DC-derived retinoic acid (RA) alone conferred gut tropism but could not promote IgA secretion. However, RA potently synergized with GALT-DC-derived interleukin-6 (IL-6) or IL-5 to induce IgA secretion. Consequently, mice deficient in the RA precursor vitamin A lacked IgA-secreting cells in the small intestine. Thus, GALT-DC shape mucosal immunity by modulating B cell migration and effector activity through synergistically acting mediators.