The expression pattern of TIR8 is conserved among vertebrates

IL-1R/TLRs play an important role in the inflammatory responses. Their signaling pathway is tightly regulated to keep inflammation under control. The regulation involves both extracellular and intracellular mechanisms. TIR8, also known as SIGIRR (Single Immunoglobulin IL-1R-Related molecule), is an orphan receptor belonging to the IL-1R/TLRs super-family. Recent studies suggest its role in modulating the inflammatory response in the gastrointestinal tract in mice, acting as an IL-1 receptor family antagonist. We identified the sequence and analyzed the expression of TIR8 in a wide panel of organs and tissues in different animals. There was high homology of the cDNA sequence among human, mouse and the domestic species (74–85%). The pattern of expression of this receptor was similar in all the species examined (high levels in kidney and gastrointestinal tract) and similar to the human. These results demonstrate that TIR8 is conserved, in evolutionary terms, both with regard to sequence and pattern of expression, a finding consistent with a key function of this molecule in modulating inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.     

Determination of volatile organic compound patterns characteristic of five unifloral honey by solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled to chemometrics

We report the evaluation of the floral origin of honey by analysis of its volatile organic compounds (VOCs) profile, joined with the use of combined pattern recognition techniques. Honey samples, from five floral origins, were analyzed by headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, selecting 35 VOCs out of the entire profiles, which were analyzed by hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), stepwise discriminant analysis (SDA), and K-nearest-neighbor (KNN). Both HCA and SDA were used as exploratory tools to select a group of VOCs representing similitude and differences among studied origins. Thus, six out of 35 VOCs were selected, verifying their discriminating power by KNN, which afforded 93% correct classification. Therefore, we drastically reduced the amount of compounds under consideration but kept a good differentiation between floral origins. Selected compounds were identified as octanal, benzeneacetaldehyde, 1-octanol, 2-methoxyphenol, nonanal, and 2-H-1-benzopyran-2-one. The analysis of VOC profiles, coupled to HCA, SDA, and KNN, provides a feasible alternative to evaluate the botanical source of honey.     

Flavonoid-induced autophagy in hormone sensitive breast cancer cells

The activity of 8-prenylapigenin (8-PA) and its 3'-methoxylated analogue isocannflavin B (IsoB) was investigated in estrogen-dependent T47-D and estrogen-independent MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines. 8-PA showed a biphasic effect on T47-D cell proliferation, while no significant effect was observed on MDA-MB-231 cells. Conversely, IsoB exhibited only an inhibitory effect on T47-D cell proliferation, accompanied by the appearance of an intense intracytoplasmic vacuolization of autophagic origin. Moreover, biochemical analysis showed that IsoB reduced Akt phosphorylation and p21^Cip1 expression in T47-D cells. These data show that the prenylflavone moiety is a versatile platform for the induction and modulation of bioactivity.     

Effect of Transglutaminase on Protein Electrophoretic Pattern of Rice,Soybean, and Rice‐Soybean Blends

The interactions taking place in composite dough containing rice flour and soybean proteins (5% w/w) in the presence of transglutaminase, an enzyme with cross‐linking activity, were studied using different electrophoretic analyses. The interaction between rice proteins and soybean proteins was intensified by the formation of new intermolecular covalent bonds catalyzed by transglutaminase and the indirect formation of disulfide bonds among proteins. The main protein fractions involved in those interactions were both β‐conglycinin and glycinin of soybean and the glutelins of the rice flour, although albumins and globulins were also cross‐linked. The addition of soybean proteins to rice flour improves the amino acid balance and they also might play an important role on the rice dough properties because soybean proteins interact with rice proteins, yielding protein aggregates of high molecular weight.     

Note: Molecular identification of ‘Candidatus phytoplasma asteris’ inducing histological anomalies inSilene nicaeensis

Numerous plants ofSilene nicaeensis having symptoms resembling those associated with the presence of phytoplasmas were observed in an extensive coastal area in the south of Italy. Microscopic observation showed histological abnormalities in the organization of tissues in symptomatic plants, and molecular tests, including PCR/RFLP analyses and nucleic acid sequencing, revealed the presence of phytoplasmas belonging to the aster yellows group (‘Candidatus phytoplasma asteris’). This is the first report of phytoplasma infection inS. nicaeensis, a wild species that colonizes the Calabrian coast. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting June 12, 2008     

Lime and Nutrients Effects on Jatropha curcas Cultivated on an Amazonian Soil

We evaluated the effects of macronutrient and micronutrient omission, and of liming, on Jatropha curcas (JC) in greenhouse study. The experimental design was a factorial combination of 2 liming treatments (nil or 4.5 t. ha^?1 of dolomitic lime) x 7 combinations of fertility status, with five replications. The concentrations and uptake of nutrients by JC plants follow the order: nitrogen > potassium > calcium ≥ Magnesium > sulfur > phosphorus > iron > boron > manganese > zinc > copper (N > K > Ca ≥ Mg > S > P > Fe > B > Mn > Zn > Cu), but the growth of JC plants was negatively affected mainly by omission of macronutrients, in the following order: P > N = K = S, on limed soil. Phosphorus is the most critical element for development. JC is responsive to micronutrients only when applied together with macronutrients. Potassium chloride is not recommended as K⁺ source for JC crop. Lime is recommended to improve growth and nutritional status of JC plants.     

Metam Sodium (MS) in Water and Cane Juice at Different Processing Conditions According to the Industrial Case. Part 1. Effects of Matrix,pH, Temperature,Processing Time,and Photolysis

The process for extracting sugarcane juice (Saccharum officinarum) represents the point of greatest contamination in sugarcane mills. Sodium dithiocarbamate also known as metam-sodium or MS is added to inhibit the growth of microorganisms especially Leuconostoc mesenteroides which is responsible for forming polysaccharides. Metam-sodium, upon decomposition, produces highly toxic byproducts. According to literature, under acidic conditions, MS is hydrolyzed resulting in methylamine (MA), CH₃NH₂, and carbon disulfide (CS₂), and in dilute alkaline solutions, MS produces an oxidation reaction characterized by the formation of elemental sulfur (S) and methyl isothiocyanate (MITC). In this paper, it was studied how MS decomposes to MITC and/or MA considering the effects of the matrix (methanol and water); of temperature (4 and 25 °C); of processing time (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 days); and of pH (4.0, 4.5, 7.0). A second experimental design considering the effects of the matrix (water and sugarcane juice); of temperature (4, 25, 35, 45 °C); of processing time (30, 300 min); and of pH (4.0, 4.5, 7.0) was derived from the results obtained considering MITC and/or MA formation. According to the statistical analysis of these results (p < 0.05), the order of the influential factors was as follows: time > matrix > pH > temperature. Results also indicated that the water matrix at pH = 4.5 and 45 °C had the lowest degradation rate (k), with a value of 8.82 day^?1, while for the sugarcane juice matrix at the same pH and temperature conditions was larger, with a k value of 30.07 day^?1. These results show that the matrix is also important for the degradation of dithiocarbamate to MITC and to MA.     

A combined procedure to evaluate the global antioxidant response of bread

Baking is the most representative manufacturing process applied to bread, involving thermal and moisture conditions that facilitate the Maillard reaction (MR) and, at the same time, the destruction-formation of natural-labile and thermally-induced antioxidant compounds respectively. In the present paper, the use of a new approach to measure the Global Antioxidant Response (GAR) of cereal derivatives is proposed: a combination of in vitro digestion – which enables measurement of the bioaccessible fraction – and the QUENCHER, which makes it possible to determine the antioxidant activity of the insoluble fraction, since it is a simple and direct procedure for determining the total antioxidant capacity of solid products. After digestion, the results obtained by the antioxidant assays are up to 20-fold higher than those reported using the standard extraction methods. The non-extractable residue displayed significant antioxidant activity that accounted for up to 17% of the total antioxidant activity. Moreover, the GAR obtained in some of the assays developed was 10–40% higher than the antioxidant activity registered by the QUENCHER procedure in wheat bread, and the difference was even higher in wheat bran bread. Therefore, the use of the GAR approach could avoid underestimation of the antioxidant activity of cereal derivatives.