Isolation and antihypertensive effect of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides from spinach Rubisco

Four new inhibitory peptides for angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE), that is, MRWRD, MRW, LRIPVA, and IAYKPAG, were isolated from the pepsin-pancreatin digest of spinach Rubisco with the use of HPLC. IC(50) values of individual peptides were 2.1, 0.6, 0.38, and 4.2 microM, respectively. MRW and MRWRD had an antihypertensive effect after oral administration to spontaneously hypertensive rats. Maximal reduction occurred 2 h after oral administration of MRW, whereas MRWRD showed maximal decrease 4 h after oral administration at doses of 20 and 30 mg/kg, respectively. IAYKPAG also exerted antihypertensive activity after oral administration at the dose of 100 mg/kg, giving a maximum decrease 4 h after oral administration. IAYKP, IAY, and KP, the fragment peptides of IAYKPAG, also exerted antihypertensive activity. LRIPVA [corrected] did not show any antihypertensive effect at a dose of 100 mg/kg despite its potent ACE-inhibitory activity.     

Response of oat-triticale mixture to post-emergence weed harrowing

ABSTRACT

In experiments with weed harrowing crops are negatively affected by competing weeds but also by the destructive effect of used implement. This research was carried out to find growth stages during which mixture of oat (Avena sativa L.) and triticale (× Triticosecale Wittm.) was resistant to harrowing and was able to effectively recover from this physical disturbance. Plots were harrowed 1–3 times on the same day at six consecutive stages of mixture growth with spring-tine harrow. After the latest harrowing, all plots were sprayed with herbicide to exclude competitive effect of weeds on the mixture. Compared to non-harrowed plots plant density of mixture was significantly reduced after a single cultivation at 1- and 2-leaf stage (20% and 23% respectively), two cultivations at 3-leaf stage (22%) and three at the beginning of the tillering (21%). No yield penalty was noticed for the density reductions, thus showing high ability of mixture to recover from physical disturbance. We recommend plant emergence as an appropriate growth stage for single harrowing of oat-triticale mixture. Two cultivations on the same day should not be planned earlier than at the beginning of tillering.     

Enchytraeid communities in successional habitats (from meadow to forest)

The study was conducted in two successional series: natural on mesotrophic soils (a meadow, two birch woods and a mixed coniferous forest), and human-made on sandy soils (old field, birch plantation and pine forest). In both these series species richness and diversity of enchytraeid communities decreased with advancing succession. In the first two successional stages, enchytraeid communities showed a high degree of similarity (the meadow and 30-year-old birch thicket, ore the old field and 10-year-old birch plantation). Variation in soil in the same plant communities cause differences in animal communities. The abundance of enchytraeids varied from 14 to 51 × 10³ m⁻² individuals. In the majority of habitats C. sphagnetorum was the dominant species. Soil pH showed a positive correlation with species diversity and negative with number of C. sphagnetorum. The body size of this species was small at low pH (presumably as a result of frequent reproduction). It is suggested that the way of reproduction of the dominant species could confer a competitive advantage, thereby accounting for the simplification of enchytraeid communities in later stages of succession.     

Estimation of litter size variability phenotypes in Large White sows

The objective of this study was to obtain new phenotypes of phenotypic variability for the total number born (TNB) in pigs using the residual variance of TNB. The analysis was based on 246,799 Large White litter observations provided by Topigs Norsvin. Three animal models were used to obtain estimates of residual variance for TNB: the basic model (BM) containing fixed effects of farm–year and season and random effects of animal and permanent environmental sow, the basic model with an additional fixed effect of parity (BMP) and a random regression model (RRM). The within-individual variance of the residuals was calculated and log-transformed to obtain three new variability traits: LnVarBM, LnVarBMP and LnVarRRM. Then, (co)variance components, heritability, the genetic coefficient of variation at the standard deviation level (GCV_SDe) and genetic correlations between the three LnVar's and between the LnVar's and mean total number born (mTNB) were estimated with uni-, bi- and trivariate models. Results indicated that genetically LnVar's are the same trait and are positively correlated with the mTNB (~0.60). Thus, both traits should be included in breeding programmes to avoid an increase in TNB variability while selecting for increased TNB. Heritability of the LnVar's was estimated at 0.021. The GCV_SDe for LnVar's showed that a change of 8% in residual standard deviation of TNB could be obtained per generation. Those results indicate that phenotypic variability of litter size is under genetic control, thus it may be improved by selection.     

Gender differences in exercise - induced intravascular haemolysis during race training in thoroughbred horses

Exercise-induced intravascular haemolysis and “sport anemia” are widely reported in human sports medicine. It has been recognized also in horses, however, the clinical importance and the onset of this condition seem different than in human. In this study we investigated the episodes of intravascular haemolysis, indicated by the increase in plasma haemoglobin and the decrease in serum haptoglobin levels, after routine training sessions in race horses. Heart rate and changes in haematological parameters confirmed, that the exertion was relatively high. Intravascular haemolysis did not appear in stallions but was detected in mares after two training sessions. It has been determined that serum haptoglobin levels were higher in mares than in stallions before and after all training sessions. It is postulated that intravascular haemolysis induced by training is of limited clinical importance because it occurred only in mares which are better adapted due to higher haptoglobin level at rest, and it had no cumulative effect. Therefore gender differences should be taken into consideration in experiments with athletic horses.     

Polymorphism analysis of housekeeping genes for identification and differentiation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clavibacter michiganensis</Emphasis> subspecies

The utility of polymorphism analysis was determined for differentiation of the following subspecies of the Gram-positive plant pathogenic bacterium, Clavibacter michiganensis: C. m. subsp. michiganensis, C. m. subsp. sepedonicus, C. m. subsp. insidiosus C. m. subsp. nebraskensis, and C. m. subsp. tessellarius. Specific primers designed for amplification of the housekeeping genes recA, rpoB, and rpoD generated 827-, 1037-, and 862-bp DNA fragments, respectively. PCR products obtained from 40 C. michiganensis strains were analysed using RFLP with four restriction endonucleases, and those PCR products with specific RFLP patterns were sequenced. The genotypes discriminated after PCR–RFLP were specific for each subspecies and also allowed for differentiation of C. m. subsp. michiganensis strains. Sequence analysis of the recA, rpoB, and rpoD gene fragments also distinguished C. michiganensis subspecies and was useful for phylogenetic analysis of all subspecies. For rapid, inexpensive, and effective differentiation of the five subspecies in this research, we recommend the amplification of recA and/or rpoD gene fragments and digestion of the PCR products with the restriction endonuclease FnuDII.     

The effect of contrasting management types on two distinct taxonomic groups in a large-scaled windthrow

Improving ways of managing disturbed areas is in urgent need of further research. We assessed the effect of two contrasting management types—salvage logging and set aside for natural regeneration—applied to a large-scale windthrow in NE Poland on two distinct taxonomic groups of animals: scuttle flies and birds. In total, 5,368 individual scuttle flies were trapped and 1,649 individual birds were recorded. In both taxonomic groups, we recorded the “winners and losers” of the effects of salvage logging. The responses of particular species in both groups were independent of their body size. Species diversity, assessed by rarefaction, increased as a result of the logging in birds and declined in scuttle flies. The species richness, corrected for unseen species of scuttle flies and birds, was higher on the managed windthrow when compared to the natural one. Comparison of the results obtained with published data from the intact stands of Białowieża Primeval Forest suggests that salvage logging reduced the similarity of the fly and bird community to those reported from undisturbed, natural forest areas. Our results concern mostly the common species. We conclude that salvage logging has considerable influence on assemblages of common species in the post-disturbance forests. Birds and flies did not respond similarly to salvage logging in term of species diversity, although both groups included species that were attracted to either managed or unmanaged windthrow sites.     

Conjugated linoleic acid regulates phosphorylation of PPARγ by modulation of ERK 1/2 and p38 signaling in human macrophages/fatty acid-laden macrophages

Stimulation of macrophages by a variety fatty acids causes activation of MAP kinases (MAPKs). The consequences arising from down-regulation of MAPKs may be a limitation in the activity of PPARγ, which is modulated by a modification catalyzed by these kinases. Phosphorylation of MAP kinases-ERK1/2 and p38 as well as PPARγ was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting in human macrophages cultured with conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs). We demonstrated that CLA isomers alter MAP kinase phosphorylation and PPARγ activation. Phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was diminished in cells cultivated with cis-9,trans-11 CLA, whereas phosphorylation of p38 was reduced by trans-10,cis-12 CLA. PPARγ was phosphorylated mainly by ERK1/2, and consequently, PPARγ phosphorylation was suppressed mainly by cis-9,trans-11 isomer. In human adipocytes, cis-9,trans-11 C 18:2 raised the activation of PPAR and several of its downstream target genes. We suggest that a similar process may also occur in human macrophages.     

An investigation of the level of reducing sugars in diploid potatoes before and after cold storage

Summary The reducing sugar content and chip colour were studied in diploid potatoes bred for superior table and chipping quality. The reducing sugar content in the tubers of 119 diploid clones was estimated before and after cold storage (4–6°C) in the years 1987–1991, and reducing sugar and chip colour were determined in 1990 and 1991 for 36 clones. Thirty two clones had a significantly lower reducing sugar content after cold storage than cv. Mila. The year of evaluation, storage temperature and genotype significantly affected the reducing sugar content.