H2O2 production by copper amine oxidase, a component of the ecto-apyrase (ATPase)-containing protein complex(es) in the pea cell wall, is regulated by an elicitor and a suppressor from Mycosphaerella pinodes

Blue native PAGE analysis for cell wall proteins from pea epicotyls demonstrated that cell wall-associated ecto-apyrase (ATPase) formed a large protein complex(es) ranging from 450 to 900?kDa; one of the components of the complex was copper amine oxidase (CuAO), which catalyzes the oxidation of amines with the subsequent generation of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide. CuAO activity was coordinately regulated in vitro with ATP-hydrolyzing activity by an elicitor and a suppressor from Mycosphaerella pinodes. Moreover, treatment of cell wall proteins with the suppressor caused the appearance of the apyrase monomer. On the basis of these results, M. pinodes may target the apyrase-containing protein complex(es) of the host to attenuate cell wall-based, extracellular defense(s) including the production of hydrogen peroxide.     

The pulvinar regulates information transmission between cortical areas based on attention demands

Selective attention mechanisms route behaviorally relevant information through large-scale cortical networks. Although evidence suggests that populations of cortical neurons synchronize their activity to preferentially transmit information about attentional priorities, it is unclear how cortical synchrony across a network is accomplished. Based on its anatomical connectivity with the cortex, we hypothesized that the pulvinar, a thalamic nucleus, regulates cortical synchrony. We mapped pulvino-cortical networks within the visual system, using diffusion tensor imaging, and simultaneously recorded spikes and field potentials from these interconnected network sites in monkeys performing a visuospatial attention task. The pulvinar synchronized activity between interconnected cortical areas according to attentional allocation, suggesting a critical role for the thalamus not only in attentional selection but more generally in regulating information transmission across the visual cortex.     

Rheological properties and structural changes in raw and cooked abalone meat

SUMMARY: In a study of the relationship between structural changes and rheological parameters of raw and cooked abalone meat, abalone Haliotis discus was cooked in boiling water for 3 h, then cut up and separated into cross- and vertical sections. Structural change was observed using a light microscope and scanning electron micrography. The rheological parameters were obtained by stress-relaxation experiments. Microscopic photography revealed that structural change between muscle fibers in both sections of the cooked meat was greater than that in the raw meat. The elastic modulus and rupture strength in both sections of cooked meat showed no difference between the cross- and vertical sections, and were smaller than those for the raw meat. The relaxation time for the cooked meat was also greater than for the raw meat. These results were mainly because of collagen being gelatinized during heating. These changes were also observed by staining collagen and differential scanning calorimetry.     

Bacterial DNA activates immunity in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis thaliana</Emphasis>

To initiate defense responses against invasion of pathogenic organisms, animals and plants must recognize microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs). In this study, the elicitor activity of bacterial DNA on the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana was examined. EcoRI-digested plasmid DNA induced defense responses such as generation of reactive oxygen species and deposition of callose, whereas SmaI- and HapII-digested plasmid DNA and EcoRI-digested herring DNA did not remarkably induce these responses. Further, methylation of the CpG sequence of plasmid DNA and Escherichia coli DNA reduced the level of the defense responses. The endocytosis inhibitors wortmannin and amantadine significantly inhibited DNA-induced defense responses. These results suggest that non-methylated CpG DNA, as a MAMP, induced defense responses in Arabidopsis and that non-methylated DNA seems to be translocated into the cytoplasm by endocytosis.     

Decontamination of aflatoxin-forming fungus and elimination of aflatoxin mutagenicity with electrolyzed NaCl anode solution.

Electrolysis of a 0.1% (17.1 mM) solution of NaCl using separate anode and cathode compartments gives rise to solutions containing active chemical species. The strongly acidic "anode solution" (EW+) has high levels of dissolved oxygen and available chlorine in a form of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) with a strong potential for sterilization, which we have investigated here. Exposing Aspergillus parasiticus at an initial density of 10(3)spores in 10 microL to a 50-fold volume (500 microL) of EW+ containing ca. 390 micromol HOCl for 15 min at room temperature resulted in a complete inhibition of fungal growth, whereas the cathode solution (EW-) had negligible inhibitory effects. Moreover, the mutagenicity of aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) for Salmonella typhimurium TA-98 and TA-100 strains was strongly reduced after AFB(1) exposure to the EW+ but not with the EW-. In high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, the peak corresponding to AFB(1) disappeared after treatment with the EW+, indicating decomposition of the aflatoxin. In contrast, the routinely used disinfectant sodium hypochlorite, NaOCl, of the same available chlorine content as that of EW+ but in a different chemical form, hypochlorite (OCl-) ion, did not decompose AFB(1) at pH 11. However, NaOCl did decompose AFB(1) at pH 3, which indicated that the principle chemical formula to participate in the decomposition of AFB(1) is not the OCl- ion but HOCl. Furthermore, because the decomposition of AFB(1) was suppressed by pretreating the EW+ with the OH radical scavenger thiourea, the chemical species responsible for the AFB(1)-decomposing property of the EW+ should be at least due to the OH radical originated from HOCl. The OH in EW+ was proved by electron spin resonance analysis.     

Large-scale ecological restoration of high-diversity tropical forests in SE Brazil

The complex interactions among endangered ecosystems, landowners’ interests, and different models of land tenure and use, constitute an important series of challenges for those seeking to maintain and restore biodiversity and augment the flow of ecosystem services. Over the past 10 years, we have developed a data-based approach to address these challenges and to achieve medium and large-scale ecological restoration of riparian areas on private lands in the state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Given varying motivations for ecological restoration, the location of riparian areas within landholdings, environmental zoning of different riparian areas, and best-practice restoration methods were developed for each situation. A total of 32 ongoing projects, covering 527,982 ha, were evaluated in large sugarcane farms and small mixed farms, and six different restoration techniques have been developed to help upscale the effort. Small mixed farms had higher portions of land requiring protection as riparian areas (13.3%), and lower forest cover of riparian areas (18.3%), than large sugarcane farms (10.0% and 36.9%, respectively for riparian areas and forest cover values). In both types of farms, forest fragments required some degree of restoration. Historical anthropogenic degradation has compromised forest ecosystem structure and functioning, despite their high-diversity of native tree and shrub species. Notably, land use patterns in riparian areas differed markedly. Large sugarcane farms had higher portions of riparian areas occupied by highly mechanized agriculture, abandoned fields, and anthropogenic wet fields created by siltation in water courses. In contrast, in small mixed crop farms, low or non-mechanized agriculture and pasturelands were predominant. Despite these differences, plantations of native tree species covering the entire area was by far the main restoration method needed both by large sugarcane farms (76.0%) and small mixed farms (92.4%), in view of the low resilience of target sites, reduced forest cover, and high fragmentation, all of which limit the potential for autogenic restoration. We propose that plantations should be carried out with a high-diversity of native species in order to create biologically viable restored forests, and to assist long-term biodiversity persistence at the landscape scale. Finally, we propose strategies to integrate the political, socio-economic and methodological aspects needed to upscale restoration efforts in tropical forest regions throughout Latin America and elsewhere.     

Induction of short-term pseudopregnancy in gilts by the administration of estradiol benzoate or estradiol dipropionate to achieve ovulatory synchronization for embryo collection

A study was conducted to investigate whether ovulation in gilts could be synchronized for embryo collection by the administration of estradiol benzoate (EB) or estradiol dipropionate (EDP) to induce pseudopregnancy, followed by the treatment with prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α) on 10 days after. Ten gilts each received a total of 20 mg of EB or EDP on Day 10 or EB on Day 10 and 14 to induce pseudopregnancy (Day 0 = onset of estrus). Donors received PGF_2α 10 or 15 days (as a control) after the first administration of estrogens and subsequently eCG and hCG, and were then inseminated artificially. The embryos were collected 7 days after the administration of hCG, and assessed for embryo yield and their developmental stages. All protocols resulted in good embryo yield (9.8–13.2 embryos in average), and the embryos showed average ability to develop to the expanded blastocyst stage (3.29–4.03 as developmental scores) without any significant differences among the protocols. These results suggest that the administration of PGF_2α 10 days after the treatment of gilts with EB or EDP would allow synchronization of ovulation and embryo collection, as well as shortening the period from estrus detection to embryo collection, thus improving embryo collection efficiency.     

Cell wall modification during development of mealy texture in the stony-hard peach “Odoroki” treated with propylene

The melting peach cultivar “Akatsuki” [Prunus persica L. Batsh] develops melting texture during ripening, but the stony-hard peach cultivar “Odoroki”, softens and develops a mealy texture when treated with propylene. Cell wall polysaccharides were fractionated as 1,2-diaminocyclohexanetetraacetic acid (CDTA)-, Na₂CO₃-, NaOH-soluble fractions, or the cellulosic residues that remained after solvent extraction. Size-exclusion chromatography of the CDTA-soluble fraction revealed a limited depolymerization of polyuronides in mealy “Odoroki” fruit, accompanying a lower level of endo-polygalacturonase (endo-PG) and a higher level of exo-PG activities compared to melting “Akatsuki” fruit. “Akatsuki” fruit showed increases in the arabinose, galactose and rhamnose contents in the CDTA-soluble fraction. These neutral sugars decreased in the Na₂CO₃-soluble and cellulosic residue fractions during ripening. Similar changes were observed for neutral sugars other than arabinose during softening in mealy “Odoroki” fruit. Arabinose content did not increase in the CDTA-soluble fraction of “Odoroki” fruit; however, arabinose content decreased in the Na₂CO₃-soluble fraction and in the cellulosic residue as observed for “Akatsuki” fruit. A significant increase in α-l-arabinofuranosidase activity, about 10 times higher than for “Akatsuki” fruit, was observed in propylene-treated mealy “Odoroki” fruit. Differences in ripening-associated metabolic changes in the cell walls of these peach cultivars seem to be related to their differences in texture.