Expression of a methionine-rich storage albumin from the Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K., Lecythidaceae) in transgenic bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L., Fabaceae)

Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), an important component in the diet of people in developing countries, has low levels of the essential amino acid, methionine. We have attempted to correct this deficiency by introducing a transgene coding for a methionine-rich storage albumin from the Brazil nut via biolistic methods. The transgene's coding sequence was driven by a doubled 35S CaMV promoter and AMV enhancer sequences. The transgene was stable and correctly expressed in homozygous R2 to R5 seeds. In two of the five transgenic lines the methionine content was significantly increased (14 and 23%) over the values found in untransformed plants.O feijão (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) é um componente importante na dieta da população de países em desenvolvimento. Entretanto, possui um baixo nível de aminoácidos essenciais, como a metionina. Numa tentativa de corrigir esta deficiência, plantas transgênicas de feijão foram produzidas contendo o gene de uma proteína rica em metionina, a albumina 2S da castanha do Brasil. O gene desta albumina (be2s2), clonado sob o controle do promotor 35S dobrado do vírus do mosaico da couve-flor e uma seqüência "enhancer" do vírus do mosaico da alfafa, foi introduzido em feijão através do processo biobalístico. O gene foi expressado corretamente em sementes homozigotas desde a segunda até a quinta geração. Em duas linhagens transgênicas o nível de metionina foi incrementado em 14 e 23% nas sementes

Expression of a methionine-rich storage albumin from the Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K., Lecythidaceae) in transgenic bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L., Fabaceae)

Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), an important component in the diet of people in developing countries, has low levels of the essential amino acid, methionine. We have attempted to correct this deficiency by introducing a transgene coding for a methionine-rich storage albumin from the Brazil nut via biolistic methods. The transgene's coding sequence was driven by a doubled 35S CaMV promoter and AMV enhancer sequences. The transgene was stable and correctly expressed in homozygous R2 to R5 seeds. In two of the five transgenic lines the methionine content was significantly increased (14 and 23%) over the values found in untransformed plants

Geomorphological change detection using object-based feature extraction from multi-temporal LIDAR data

Multi-temporal LiDAR DTMs are used for the development and testing of a method for geomorphological change analysis in western Austria. Our test area is located on a mountain slope in the Gargellen Valley in western Austria. Six geomorphological features were mapped by using stratified Object-Based Image Analysis (OBIA) and segmentation optimization using 1m LiDAR DTMs of 2002 and 2005. Based on the 2002 data, the scale parameter for each geomorphological feature was optimized by comparing manually digitized training samples with automatically recognized image objects. Classification rule sets were developed to extract the feature types of interest. The segmentation and classification settings were then applied to both LiDAR DTMs which allowed the detection of geomorphological change between 2002 and 2005. FROM-TO changes of geomorphological categories were calculated and linked to volumetric changes which were derived from the subtracted DTMs. Enlargement of mass movement areas at the cost of glacial eroded bedrock was detected, although most changes occurred within mass movement categories and channel incisions, as the result of material removal and/or deposition. The proposed method seems applicable for geomorphological change detection in mountain areas. In order to improve change detection results, processing errors and noise that negatively influence the segmentation accuracy need to be reduced. Despite these concerns, we conclude that stratified OBIA applied to multi-temporal LiDAR datasets is a promising tool for of geomorphological change detection

In Vivo Assessment Of The Cytotoxic, Genotoxic And Antigenotoxic Potential Of Maná-cubiu (solanum Sessiliflorum Dunal) Fruit

Solanum sessiliflorum Dunal is a native shrub often found in the Amazon Forest. Its fruits, known as maná-cubiu, possess an unusual flavor and are consumed in salads and juices, mainly by the local community of Northern Brazil. Because these fruits are used in traditional medicine as hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic agents, it is important to establish whether the consumption of maná-cubiu is safe using in vivo genotoxicity tests. Here, we investigated the genotoxic and antigenotoxic potential of maná-cubiu for doxorubicin (DXR)-induced DNA damage using the micronucleus test and the comet assay in Wistar rats. Moreover, oxidative stress parameters were determined in the heart and liver of the animals by measuring the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), a biomarker of lipid peroxidation, and reduced glutathione (GSH) content. The relative expression of Ptgs2 mRNA in the livers of the animals was also determined. The tests were performed with maná-cubiu pulp (125, 250, 375 or 500. mg/kg body weight - b.w.) by gavage for 14. days, followed by intraperitoneal injection of saline or DXR (16. mg/kg b.w.) immediately after the last gavage, which occurred 24. h before euthanasia. The results showed that maná-cubiu at all tested doses had no cytotoxic effects on bone marrow cells and was not genotoxic to heart or liver cells. In addition, maná-cubiu treatments decreased DXR-induced DNA damage according to the comet assay in heart and liver cells. Reductions in micronucleus frequency in peripheral blood cells occurred at 125, 250 and 375. mg/kg b.w. doses of maná-cubiu, and the TBARS content induced by DXR was also reduced by maná-cubiu. Furthermore, maná-cubiu did not modulate the transcription of the Ptgs2 gene. In conclusion, maná-cubiu pulp fruit was not cytotoxic or genotoxic in Wistar rats, suggesting its safety for human consumption, at least considering genotoxic effects. 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Evaluation Of The Antihypertensive Properties Of Yellow Passion Fruit Pulp (passiflora Edulis Sims F. Flavicarpa Deg.) In Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Various species of the genus Passiflora have been extensively used in traditional medicine as sedatives, anxiolytics, diuretics and analgesics. In the present study, after the identification and quantification of phytochemical compounds from yellow passion fruit pulp by liquid chromatography-photodiode array-mass spectrometry (HPLC-PDA-MS/MS), its antihypertensive effect was investigated on spontaneously hypertensive rats. Additionally, the renal function, evaluated by kidney/body weight, serum creatinine, proteinuria, urinary flow, reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and mutagenicity in bone marrow cells were assessed to evaluate the safety of passion fruit consumption. Yellow passion fruit pulp (5, 6 or 8 g/kg b.w.) was administered by gavage once a day for 5 consecutive days. HLPC-PDA-MS/MS analysis revealed that yellow passion fruit pulp contains phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid, carotenoids and flavonoids. The highest dose of passion fruit pulp significantly reduced the systolic blood pressure, increased the GSH levels and decreased TBARS. There were no changes in renal function parameters or the frequency of micronuclei in bone marrow cells. In conclusion, the antihypertensive effect of yellow passion fruit pulp, at least in part, might be due to the enhancement of the antioxidant status. The exact mechanisms responsible by this effect need further investigation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.2812832Appel, K., Rose, T., Fiebich, B., Kammler, T., Hoffmann, C., Weiss, G., Modulation of the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system by Passiflora incarnata L (2011) Phytother. Res., 25, pp. 838-843Biswas, S.K., De Faria, J.B.L., Which comes first: Renal inflammation or oxidative stress in spontaneously hypertensive rats? (2007) Free Radic. Res., 41, pp. 216-224Boeira, J.M., Fenner, R., Betti, A.H., Toxicity and genotoxicity evaluation of Passiflora alata Curtis (Passifloraceae) (2010) J. 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