Concentrations of Some Metabolites Produced by Fungi of the Genus Fusarium and Selected Elements in Spring Spelt Grain

The aim of this study was to determine the content of selected elements and metabolites produced by fungi of the genus Fusarium in spelt (Triticum spelta L.) grain and husks and common wheat (T. aestivum L.) grain. Concentrations of trichothecenes, a volatile metabolite trichodiene (TRICH), as well as ergosterol (ERG) and adenosine 5′‐triphosphate (ATP) (a total microbial biomass indicator), were assessed. Toxin concentrations in spelt grain and husks harvested in 2003 and 2004 were comparable. Average deoxynivalenol concentrations reached 450 and 523 μg/kg in grain and 2,162 and 855 μg/kg in husks, respectively. Spelt grain, in comparison with common wheat grain, contained significantly higher concentrations of P, S, Mg, Zn, and Cu and a lower concentration of Al, whereas the concentrations of Ca, Fe, and Pb were significantly higher in the husks than in the grain of this cereal. A comparison of concentrations of Fusarium spp. metabolites in the grain of spelt and common wheat showed that the total concentration of mycotoxins and TRICH was slightly lower in T. spelta, whereas common wheat grain contained lower concentrations of ERG and ATP. The obtained results indicate that spelt husks contain considerable concentrations of trichothecenes.     

Resistenzeigenschaften im Gersten- und Weizensortiment Gatersleben

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

β-d-Glucosyl and O-malonyl-β-d-glucosyl conjugates of pentachlorophenol in soybean and wheat: Identification and enzymatic synthesis

The polar metabolite fraction formed by soybean cell suspension cultures from [¹⁴C]pentachlorophenol (PCP) was fractionated by repeated high-performance liquid chromatography. The β-d-glucopyranosyl conjugate of PCP was identified by cochromatography, by chemical and enzymatic degradation, and by mass spectroscopic comparison with the authentic compound. The O-(malonyl)-β-d-glucopyranosyl conjugate of PCP was identified by chromatographic and electrophoretic comparison with the enzymatically synthesized compound, by specific chemical and enzymatic degradation, and by mass spectroscopy. Soluble protein extracts from both soybean and wheat cells catalyzed (a) the UDPG-dependent conversion of PCP to the β-d-glucopyranosyl conjugate, and (b) the malonyl-SCoA-dependent further conversion to the O-(malonyl)-β-d-glucopyranosyl conjugate. These enzymes were partially purified and had apparent molecular weights between 40,000 and 48,000. Free PCP was again released from the conjugates upon incubation with plant malonyl esterase and/or β-glucosidase preparations.     

Gaschromatographische Untersuchungen an elektronenbestrahlten Fetten

Zusammenfassung Untersuchungen über die chemischen Veränderungen in Fetten, die mit 100 Mrad bestrahlt wurden, ergaben, daß Verbindungen mit mittelkettigen Fettsäuren entstehen. Neben einer Abspaltung endständiger Methylgruppen tritt besonders eine Trennung der mittelständigen C-C-Bindungen auf, wodurch gesättigte und ungesättigte C₆- bis C₁₁-Bruchstücke nachweisbar werden. Die Doppelbindungen selbst sind relativ stabil, doch werden die der Doppelbindung benachbarten C-C-Einfachbindungen bevorzugt gespalten. Neben der Bildung von Fettsäuren findet auch eine solche von Carbonylverbindungen statt. Mehr als 20 verschiedene Ketone und Aldehyde konnten gaschromatographisch nachgewiesen werden. Die Aufspaltung der Ester-C-O-C-Bindung ist meist von einer Zerstörung der Fettsäurekette begleitet, wodurch Carbonylverbindungen mit 6 bis 12 C-Atomen entstehen. Relativ große Mengen von ungesättigten C₉-Ketonen und geringe Menge von Ketonen mit mehr als 13 C-Atomen werden in bestrahltem Tripalmitin sowie in bestrahlter Palmitinsäure gefunden. In ungesättigten Ölen treten diese Verbindungen nicht auf, dagegen enthalten diese mehr C₁₁-und C₁₂-Ketone.

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Summary Experiments on the chemical transformation of fats irradiated at 100 Mrads have shown the formation of fatty acid, median-branched bonds.Besides a separation of terminal branchings of methyl groups appears more particularly a scission of the median branchings C-C, following which saturated and unsaturated fragments from C₆ to C₁₁ have been made apparent. The double bonds themselves are relatively stable, while the single bonds adjacent to the double one, are in majority separated. Aside from the formation of fatty acids occurs also the formation of carbonyl bonds.More than 20 different ketones and aldehydes have been detected by gas chromatography. The scission of the bond ester-C-O-C is generally accompanied by a destruction of the fatty acid chain, following which appears the carbonyl bonds, with 6 to 12 atoms of carbon.Relatively great quantities of unsaturated C₉ ketones and small quantities of ketones with more than 13 atoms of carbon have been found in irradiated tripalmitin and in irradiated palmitic acid. In unsaturated oils these compounds are not found, but, on the other hand these oils have a greater content in C₁₁ and C₁₂ ketones.

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Résumé Des expériences sur les transformations chimiques des matières grasses, irradiées à 100 Mrad, ont montré la formation de liaisons à branchements médians d'acides gras.A côté d'une séparation de branchements terminaux de groupes méthyles, apparait en particulier une scission des branchements médians C-C, à la suite de laquelle des fragments saturés et non saturés de C₆ jusqu'à C₁₁ ont été mis en évidence. Les liaisons doubles mêmes sont relativement stables, cependant les liaisons simples, voisines à la liaison double, se trouvent en prédominance séparées.A côté de la formation d'acides gras, la formation de liaisons carbonylées a également lieu.Plus de 20 différents cétones et aldéhydes ont pu être mis en évidence par la chromatographie en phase gazeuse. La scission de la liaison ester-C-O-C-est généralement accompagnée d'une destruction de la chaîne d'acide gras, à la suite de laquelle naissent les liaisons carbonylées de 6 à 12 atomes de carbone.Des quantités relativement grandes des cétones C₉ non saturés et de petites quantités de cétones avec plus de 13 atomes de carbone ont été trouvées dans la tripalmine irradiée, ainsi que dans l'acide palmitique irradié. Dans les huiles non saturées, ces combinaisons ne se trouvent pas, par contre ces huiles contiennent davantage de cétones C₁₁ et C₁₂.

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The influence of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 pufa) on lactobacilli adhesion to the intestinal mucosa and on immunity in gnotobiotic piglets

The effect of application of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFA) on intestinal colonization by Lactobacillus paracasei and on cellular immunity has been investigated in gnotobiotic pigs. The administration of polyunsaturated fatty acids positively affected the adhesion of Lactobacillus paracasei to the jejunal mucosa of gnotobiotic piglets. When compared to the control group, the number of Lactobacillus paracasei adhering to the jejunal mucosa was by 12% higher in piglets of the experimental group (5.10 log 10/cm2 vs. 4.55 log 10/cm2). The respective counts of Lactobacillus paracasei adhering to the ileal and colonic mucosa of 28 day old gnotobiotic piglets reached 4.45 and 5.05 log 10/cm2 in group C and 4.44 and 4.95 log 10/cm2 in group E. Omega-3 PUFA supplementation increased the phagocytic activity of neutrophils by almost 100% on day 28 of life as well as the subpopulations of lymphocytes (CD8) in the peripheral blood of germ-free piglets on day 21 of life. Our results indicate that the action of probiotics in the gut may be modulated by dietary PUFA. The stimulatory effect of PUFA upon adhesion of lactobacilli could be used for enhancing the effectiveness of probiotics in inhibiting digestive tract pathogens.     

Saccharomyces Cerevisae and Arabidopsis Thaliana: Useful Model Systems for the Identification of Molecular Mechanisms Involved in Resistance of Plants to Toxins

Secondary metabolites produced by pathogens during the infection process are thought to play a role as pathogenicity or virulence determinants in many plant diseases. Baker's yeast and the plant Arabidopsis thaliana are attractive models for elucidating molecular mechanisms of resistance to toxic substances. For the Fusarium mycotoxin deoxynivalenol, the following resistance mechanisms were identified in yeast: (1) reduced toxin uptake due to the ABC transporter protein Pdr5p (molecular efflux pump), (2) detoxification by the acetyltransferase Ayt1p, and (3) modification of the ribosomal target by amino acid changes in the ribosomal protein L3 (Rpl3p). PDR5-like genes exist in plant genomes as large gene families and could play an important role as a first line of defence against a broad range of toxic metabolites. Amino acid alterations in the highly conserved RPL3 genes could likewise play a role in trichothecene resistance in plants. The knowledge obtained using model systems should be valuable in biotechnological approaches to disease control and marker-assisted resistance breeding.     

Gemeine Strahlenmücke,Philia febrilis L., als Buchenkeimlingstöter

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Effect on the immune system of germ-free piglets of probiotics potentiated with polyunsaturated fatty acids

The present study investigated the influence of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on the immune system of germ-free piglets. Oil with increased content of omega-3 PUFA was administered to piglets from the experimental group (EG) for four weeks. Piglets from the control group (CG) received identical volumes of saline solution. At the age of 21 days both groups of germ-free piglets were inoculated perorally with Lactobacillus casei subsp. casei at a dose of 2 ml (1x10(8) mli). At the age of 28 days, i.e. after one-week colonisation of germ-free piglets with Lactobacillus casei subsp. casei, significant differences were recorded in phagocytic activity of neutrophils (PANe) and phagocytic activity of potentially phagocytizing cells (PA) (P < 0.05). Between EG and CG there have been observed no significant differences in absolute numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes and numbers of IgM cells and in additional investigated parameters - number of CD2+ T lymphocytes, index of phagocytic activity of neutrophils (IPANe) and index of phagocytic activity (IPA).The total number of leukocytes (Le) in EG was also higher. Of the parameters determined in blood serum we observed a significant increase in concentration of alpha linolenic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids and a parallel decrease in the level of arachidonic acid.     

Ein neues Hilfsmittel zur Waldbrandbek?mpfung in den Vereinigten Staaten

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