Globulin expression in grain of Australian hard wheat cultivars is affected by growth environment

Our aim was to study changes in wheat proteomes across different growth locations as the first step in linking protein composition with functional changes in grains produced using commercial production systems. Soluble and insoluble proteins were extracted sequentially from grain of three commercial wheat cultivars grown at four locations in New South Wales, Australia during a single season. Bands were separated using SDS-PAGE and identified by peptide mass fingerprinting. Quantitative changes in the electrophoretic patterns were observed mainly in the insoluble polypeptides of molecular mass between 40 – 70 kDa for all three cultivars grown at two of the four locations. These proteins were identified as mainly globulin and serpin isoforms, and triticin. Other proteins with changed expression included disease-resistance proteins, class III peroxidase, starch branching enzyme I, β-amylase, and storage proteins. Two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis was performed on two of the same wheat cultivars grown at one of the locations during two consecutive seasons. Protein spots that varied between seasons consisted of globulin and serpin isoforms, triticin, HMW-glutenin, gamma-gliadin, starch branching enzyme IIb and alpha amylase. The implications of the upregulation of globulin and triticin on whole meal flour quality, through their participation in polymerization of the gluten network, are considered

A Galaxy-Scale Fountain of Cold Molecular Gas Pumped by a Black Hole

We present ALMA and MUSE observations of the Brightest Cluster Galaxy in Abell 2597, a nearby (z=0.0821) cool core cluster of galaxies. The data map the kinematics of a three billion solar mass filamentary nebula that spans the innermost 30 kpc of the galaxy's core. Its warm ionized and cold molecular components are both cospatial and comoving, consistent with the hypothesis that the optical nebula traces the warm envelopes of many cold molecular clouds that drift in the velocity field of the hot X-ray atmosphere. The clouds are not in dynamical equilibrium, and instead show evidence for inflow toward the central supermassive black hole, outflow along the jets it launches, and uplift by the buoyant hot bubbles those jets inflate. The entire scenario is therefore consistent with a galaxy-spanning "fountain", wherein cold gas clouds drain into the black hole accretion reservoir, powering jets and bubbles that uplift a cooling plume of low-entropy multiphase gas, which may stimulate additional cooling and accretion as part of a self-regulating feedback loop. All velocities are below the escape speed from the galaxy, and so these clouds should rain back toward the galaxy center from which they came, keeping the fountain long-lived. The data are consistent with major predictions of chaotic cold accretion, precipitation, and stimulated feedback models, and may trace processes fundamental to galaxy evolution at effectively all mass scales.Comment: 31 pages, 19 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Growth environment influences grain protein composition and dough functional properties in three Australian wheat cultivars

The objectives of this study were to assess how functional properties of proteins in whole meal wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) flour vary across different growth environments. Grain from three commercial, Australian hard, milling wheat cultivars was analysed from four growth locations in 2008, and from two of the corresponding cultivars and locations in 2009. The protein content of the grain, soluble and insoluble extractable protein fractions, swelling index of glutenin (SIG), glutenin to gliadin ratio (Glu:Gli), percent unextractable polymeric protein (%UPP), and dough properties including force at maximum resistance (Rmax) and extensibility (Ext) were measured. Based on analysis of variance of aggregated data for the cultivars, growth locations and seasons, growth environment factors made significant contributions to variability in the total grain protein, Glu:Gli ratio, %UPP, SIG, Rmax and Ext of the wheat flour. Variability of protein content of the soluble and insoluble extractable protein fractions was mostly due to genotype

Decision-making about hormone replacement therapy by women in England and Scotland

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore women's decision-making about the balance of risks and benefits of taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) based on the latest evidence from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial of combined HRT. METHODS: Women aged 50-69 years, who were eligible for the Women's International Study of long Duration Oestrogen after Menopause (WISDOM) trial, were invited to participate in one of eight focus groups. Participants were asked to discuss their views about taking HRT based on the latest international evidence. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Eighty-two women participated overall. Qualitative content analysis was applied to the discussion transcripts. Women regarded the decisions they make about taking HRT as highly personal, and, for women currently taking HRT, the overwhelming reason for continuation was perceived improvement in quality of life regardless of either the risks or the benefits in the longer term