Phosphorylation by p38 MAPK as an alternative pathway for GSK3beta inactivation

Glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta) is involved in metabolism, neurodegeneration, and cancer. Inhibition of GSK3beta activity is the primary mechanism that regulates this widely expressed active kinase. Although the protein kinase Akt inhibits GSK3beta by phosphorylation at the N terminus, preventing Akt-mediated phosphorylation does not affect the cell-survival pathway activated through the GSK3beta substrate beta-catenin. Here, we show that p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) also inactivates GSK3beta by direct phosphorylation at its C terminus, and this inactivation can lead to an accumulation of beta-catenin. p38 MAPK-mediated phosphorylation of GSK3beta occurs primarily in the brain and thymocytes. Activation of beta-catenin-mediated signaling through GSK3beta inhibition provides a potential mechanism for p38 MAPK-mediated survival in specific tissues.     

Effect of Fucoidan on the Mitochondrial Membrane Potential (ΔΨm) of Leukocytes from Patients with Active COVID-19 and Subjects That Recovered from SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Fucoidan is a polysaccharide obtained from marine brown algae, with anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and immune-enhancing properties, thus, fucoidan may be used as an alternative treatment (complementary to prescribed medical therapy) for COVID-19 recovery. This work aimed to determine the ex-vivo effects of treatment with fucoidan (20 µg/mL) on mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm, using a cationic cyanine dye, 3,3′-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide (DiOC₆(3)) on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (HPBMC) isolated from healthy control (HC) subjects, COVID-19 patients (C-19), and subjects that recently recovered from COVID-19 (R1, 40 ± 13 days after infection). In addition, ex-vivo treatment with fucoidan (20 and 50 µg/mL) was evaluated on ΔΨm loss induced by carbonyl cyanide 3-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP, 150 µM) in HPBMC isolated from healthy subjects (H) and recovered subjects at 11 months post-COVID-19 (R2, 335 ± 20 days after infection). Data indicate that SARS-CoV-2 infection induces HPBMC loss of ΔΨm, even 11 months after infection, however, fucoidan promotes recovery of ΔΨm in PBMCs from COVID-19 recovered subjects. Therefore, fucoidan may be a potential treatment to diminish long-term sequelae from COVID-19, using mitochondria as a therapeutic target for the recovery of cellular homeostasis.     

Antiradical Capacity and Induction of Apoptosis on HeLa Cells by a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phaseolus vulgaris</Emphasis> Extract

Jamapa bean is a black Phaseolus vulgaris variety rich in condensed tannins, anthocyanins and flavonols with interesting biological activities. The objective of this work was to evaluate the antiradical capacity (ARC) of a Jamapa bean methanolic extract (BME) and some of the proanthocyanidin-rich fractions derived from it, using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The effect of the BME on some proteins involved in apoptosis on HeLa cells was also evaluated. A strong correlation between proanthocyanidin concentration in BME and antiradical capacity was found, suggesting that these compounds contribute significantly to antiradical activity. BME was a better radical scavenger than butylated hydroxytoluene (45.6 and 33.9% ARC at 400 μM, respectively). Two proanthocyanidin-rich fractions obtained after a preliminary separation of the BME using Toyopearl (TP4 and TP6) exhibited a higher antiradical activity than the parent extract. The treatment of HeLa cells with 35 μg BME/ml/24 h increased the expression of Bax and Caspase-3, pro-apoptotic proteins (6.13 and 1.2 times for Caspase-3 and Bax, respectively). The mechanism of action of some proteins involved in apoptosis was also evaluated, and the results suggest that black Jamapa bean could be an important source of polyphenolic compounds with potential biological use as antioxidant and anticancer agents.     

Consumption strategies in Mexican rural households: pursuing food security with quality

Food quality is an important issue on the global agenda, particularly in high- and middle-income economies, but of little concern in designing Mexico’s food policy. Food policy has focused on quantity and in the case of maize, on satisfying domestic demand by supporting large commercial agriculture and importing from abroad. However, and as argued in this paper, obtaining a food staple (maize-tortilla) of quality is also an important issue for rural households and contributes to motivating continued smallholder production. Based on case studies in the rural district of Atlacomulco, in the state of Mexico, as well as in two regions of the state of Chiapas, this paper analyzes the production and consumption strategies of rural households. We focus on goals of food security and quality and note differential trends among households of varying characteristics and local contexts. We find that the motivation of small-scale producers to grow maize should be supported by Mexico’s food policy.     

Prediction of the Physicochemical and Nutraceutical Characteristics of ‘Hass’ Avocado Seeds by Correlating the Physicochemical Avocado Fruit Properties According to Their Ripening State

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Vegetal wastes are currently a source of pollution due to the excess of organic compounds in the environment. Seeds are the main by-product of the avocado industry...     

Chemopreventive activity of polyphenolics from black Jamapa bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) on HeLa and HaCaT cells

The antiproliferative effects of 100% methanol crude extract and of Toyopearl and silica gel fractions from the seed coats of black Jamapa beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were evaluated using HeLa, human adenocarcinoma cells, and HaCaT, human premalignant keratinocytes. The 100% methanol crude extract [172.2 microM equiv of (+)-catechin] increased adhesion of HeLa cells; however, 3- and 5-fold higher concentrations decreased the number of cells attached as a function of the treatment time. The highest concentration tested diminished the cell adhesion until 40% (after 24 h) to almost 80% (after 72 h). The IC50 values showed that the 100% methanol crude extract was the most effective inhibitor of HeLa cell proliferation, even when it was dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) [34.5 microM equiv of (+)-catechin] or in medium [97.7 microM equiv of (+)-catechin]. The Toyopearl 5 (TP5) fraction and silica gel 2 (SG2) fraction inhibited 60% of the HeLa cell proliferation. The IC50 was 154 microM equiv of (+)-catechin of the 100% methanol crude extract on HaCaT cells. Toyopearl fractions TP4 and TP6 significantly inhibited HaCaT cell proliferation, but the silica gel fractions did not have a significant effect. The 100% methanol crude extract (35 microg of dry material/mL) decreased the number of HeLa cells in the G0/G1 phase from 68.9% (for control cells) to 51.4% (for treated cells) and increased apoptosis (2.9 and 21.2% for control and treated cells, respectively). The results indicated that black Jamapa beans could be a source of polyphenolic compounds, which have an inhibitory effect toward HeLa cancer cells but are less aggressive on HaCaT premalignant cells.     

Digestibility and Acceptability of Wheat Flour Cookies Partially Substituted with High Amylose Maize Starch

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Cookies are one of the most consumed bakery products and the formulation could be modified to consider them as a functional food. The high amylose maize starch...     

Sterol oxidation in ready-to-eat infant foods during storage

The effect of storage on sterol oxidation of ready-to-eat infant foods was evaluated. Two different liquid infant foods (honey or fruits flavors), prepared with milk and cereals, were stored for 0, 2, 4, 7 and 9 months at 25 degrees C. Sterol oxidation products (SOP) were isolated by cold saponification, purified by silica solid-phase extraction, and analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry. beta-Sitosterol was the most representative sterol, followed by cholesterol and campesterol. No significant differences in the total and single SOP content (0.8-1 mg/kg of product) were observed with respect to storage time and type of sample; the main SOP found was 7-ketositosterol (<0.2 mg/kg of product). The extent of stigmasterol oxidation (2.9%) was higher than that of cholesterol (1.9%) and beta-sitosterol (1.4%). The type and quality of raw materials, as well as the processing conditions, seem to greatly influence SOP formation and accumulation in infant foods.     

Effect of commercial mannoprotein addition on polysaccharide, polyphenolic, and color composition in red wines

Commercially available mannoprotein preparations were tested in Tempranillo winemaking to determine their influence on polysaccharide, polyphenolic, and color composition. No effect was found in the content of grape arabinogalactans, homogalacturonans, and type II rhamnogalacturonans. In contrast, mannoprotein-treated samples showed considerably higher values of high-molecular-weight mannoproteins (bMP) than controls from the beginning of alcoholic fermentation, although these differences diminished as vinification progressed. The bMP decrease observed in the mannoprotein-treated samples coincided with a substantial reduction in their proanthocyanidin content and wine stable color, suggesting a precipitation of the coaggregates mannoprotein-tannin and mannoprotein-pigment. Contrary to what is widely described, these results revealed that at the studied conditions, mannoproteins did not act as stabilizing colloids. Mannoprotein addition did not modify the content and composition of either monomeric anthocyanins or other monomeric phenolics, and it did not affect monomeric anthocyanin color.     

Nutrient Fluxes in Sediment (NH4 + and PO4 -3) in N.W. Coastal Lagoon Mexico Associated with an Agroindustrial Basin

In order to balance the impact of agricultural development on land around coastal lagoons with the protection of aquatic resources, knowledge of the role of the sedimentary phase in the entrapment or availability of nutrients in the water column in areas affected by agroindustrial outlets is important. The Ensenada del Pabellon coastal on the Pacific coast of Mexico was chosen to be analyzed. The input of ammonium and orthophosphate from sediment using semicontrolled benthic chambers near a sugar cane factory outlet was compared to non altered sediment. Phosphate and ammonia loading from agroindustrial outlets has been the primary cause of eutrophication. The inputs of ammonium and orthophosphates from the sediment to the water column depend on their concentration in the agroindustrial outlet's waste water, the local morphology, the tide, and biotic assimilation, in order of importance. Sediment in non-altered revealed maxima of 7.8 mg m^-2 d^-1 of NH⁺ ₄ and 1.4 mg m^-2 d^-1 of PO^-3_₄, whereas in one outlet that greatly transfigures the environment, maxima of 223 mg m^-2 d^-1 of NH⁺ ₄ and 67 mg m^-2 d^-1 of PO^-3_₄ were recorded, which represent an increase greater than 20 times the normal diffusion. These figures varied markedly in space and time. Results from the study indicated that existing levels of nutrient could endanger the future of this ecosystem, including its sustainable fisheries.