Variation in pea (Pisum Sativum L.) seed quality traits defined by physicochemical functional properties

Pea is one of the most produced and consumed pulse crops around the world. The study of genetic variability within pea germplasm is an important tool to identify outstanding accessions with optimal functional and nutritional qualities. In the present study, a collection of 105 pea accessions was analysed for physicochemical properties, pasting viscosity, and basic composition parameters. While pasting viscosities were negatively correlated to hydration capacity, cooking time, and basic composition, a positive correlation was found between the hydration capacity and the basic composition parameters. Basic composition (protein, fibre, fat, and resistant starch) parameters were further evaluated regarding seed trait morphology, namely, seed shape, colour, and surface. Allelic characterisation at the r and rb genetic loci was performed in a subgroup of 32 accessions (3 phenotyped as smooth and 29 as rough seeded), revealing that none of the initially classified rough-seeded accessions were rb mutants, 19 were r mutants, and 13 were neither r nor rb. Despite their initial phenotypic classification, the 13 accessions genetically classified as smooth behaved differently (p < 0.05) to the 19 r mutants in terms of physicochemical properties, pasting viscosity, and basic composition parameters. Using multivariate analysis of the most discriminatory parameters for the food-related traits studied, the best-performing accessions at functional and nutritional levels were identified for future plant breeding to improve field pea production and consumption.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Relationship between seed traits and pasting and cooking behaviour in a pulse germplasm collection

Development of food products from legume flours is increasing. Seed and flour characteristics must be analysed for selection of the best screening quality traits. With this purpose, germplasm collections of faba bean (Vicia faba), chickpea (Cicer arietinum), lentil (Lens culinaris) and grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) were evaluated for their physicochemical, pasting and cooking characteristics. The accessions were grouped accordingly to several seed traits (size, shape, colour, variety and surface) that affected final viscosity, cooking time, hydration capacity and seed weight. In general, seed weight was correlated with hydration capacity. Among species, faba bean revealed higher values of pasting parameters. Cooking time was significantly negatively correlated with final viscosity (-0.298) and positively correlated with seed weight (0.601). The general variance was analysed by using principal component analysis, which allowed identification of specific accessions with important traits such as higher protein or fibre content, hydration capacity or seed weight.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Peripheral nervous system plasmalogens regulate Schwann cell differentiation and myelination

Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata (RCDP) is a developmental disorder characterized by hypotonia, cataracts, abnormal ossification, impaired motor development, and intellectual disability. The underlying etiology of RCDP is a deficiency in the biosynthesis of ether phospholipids, of which plasmalogens are the most abundant form in nervous tissue and myelin; however, the role of plasmalogens in the peripheral nervous system is poorly defined. Here, we used mouse models of RCDP and analyzed the consequence of plasmalogen deficiency in peripheral nerves. We determined that plasmalogens are crucial for Schwann cell development and differentiation and that plasmalogen defects impaired radial sorting, myelination, and myelin structure. Plasmalogen insufficiency resulted in defective protein kinase B (AKT) phosphorylation and subsequent signaling, causing overt activation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) in nerves of mutant mice. Treatment with GSK3β inhibitors, lithium, or 4-benzyl-2-methyl-1,2,4-thiadiazolidine-3,5-dione (TDZD-8) restored Schwann cell defects, effectively bypassing plasmalogen deficiency. Our results demonstrate the requirement of plasmalogens for the correct and timely differentiation of Schwann cells and for the process of myelination. In addition, these studies identify a mechanism by which the lack of a membrane phospholipid causes neuropathology, implicating plasmalogens as regulators of membrane and cell signaling.We thank Paula Sampaio for microscopy support, Paula Magalhdes for genotyping, and Isabel Carvalho, Sofia Lamas, and Fatima Martins for excellent animal care. We are grateful to P. Brophy (University of Edinburgh) for the DRP2 antibody and to M. Baes (K.U. Leuven) for providing the Gnpat mouse strain. This work was funded by the Research Foundation of the European Leukodystrophy Association (ELA 2008-009C4, ELA 2010-042C5), by FEDER Funds through the Operational Competitiveness Program - COMPETE, and by national funds through the FCT - Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia under the project FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-015970 (PTDS/SAU-ORG/112406/2009). P. Brites is an FCT Investigator, and T. Ferreira da Silva was supported by the FCT (SFRH/BD/88160/2012)

Plasma lipid biomarker signatures in squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma lung cancer patients

There is a clinical need for reliable biomarkers for lung cancer that permit early diagnosis of the disease and provide prediction of histological phenotype. A prospective study design was used with a study population of patients with suspected lung cancer. Blood samples were collected from 17 patients with histologically confirmed squamous cell lung carcinoma, 17 individuals with adenocarcinoma, and 17 control individuals who did not subsequently have a diagnosis of lung cancer or any other cancer. Blood plasma samples were analysed for their lipid profiles using liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry. Data were analysed using multivariate statistical methods. There was good separation between histological subtypes and control groups and also between individuals with a subsequent diagnosis of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (sensitivity 80 %, specificity 83 %, Q2 = 0.70). Alterations in the levels of different classes of lipids including triglycerides (TGs), phosphatidylinositols (PIs), phosphatidylcholines (PCs), phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs), free fatty acids, lysophospholipids and sphingolipids were observed in squamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma lung cancer patients when compared with control patients. In conclusion, this study has identified candidate lipid biomarkers of non-small cell lung cancer patients which may be helpful to indicate the tumour subtype and to differentiate them from patients who do not have lung cancer. Measuring these biomarkers has the potential to improve diagnosis in patients with suspected lung cancer and risk stratification in screening

Linking Inflammation to Natural Killer T Cell Activation

Immune activation is often associated with inflammation, but inflammation's role in the expansion of antigen-specific immune responses remains unclear. This primer focuses on recent findings that show how specific natural killer T cells are activated by inflammatory messengers, thus illuminating the cellular and molecular links between immunity and inflammation

Thermorheological and textural behaviour of gluten-free gels obtained from chestnut and rice flours

Nowadays, as celiac disease is becoming more common the consumers’ demand for gluten-free products with high nutritional and taste quality is increasing. This work deals with the study of the impact of four novelty gluten-free sources: chestnut flour (Cf), whole rice flour (Rw), Carolino rice flour (Rc) and Agulha rice flour (Ra). Textural, thermorheological and stability performance of gluten-free gels using different experimental techniques were evaluated. Mixed gels were also produced for comparison. Texture parameters were determined from the texture profile analysis using a texturometer. Thermorheological oscillatory measurements were conducted in a stresscontrolled rheometer in order to clarify the kinetics of gel formation and to characterise the structure of the matured gels. The stability of the gels was evaluated using transmittance profiling of the gels under gravitational fields (LUMiSizer®). Texture studies suggested that gels from mixtures of chestnut flour at 30 % and rice flour at 20 % showed the right texture to develop gel-based new desserts. Rheological results showed that the thermal profiles on heating of Cf gels were similar to those obtained for Rw and Ra, whereas Rc gels exhibited a particular pattern. Once the final gelatinisation temperature was achieved, no significant differences on the viscoelastic properties were noticed for all the tested gels. Stability tests showed that gels with Rc should present an industrial advantage over the other assayed formulations, since the stability of these gels is of the order of four times larger

S100B as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) pathology is characterized by neuroinflammation and demyelination. Recently, the inflammatory molecule S100B was identified in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of MS patients. Although seen as an astrogliosis marker, lower/physiological levels of S100B are involved in oligodendrocyte differentiation/maturation. Nevertheless, increased S100B levels released upon injury may induce glial reactivity and oligodendrocyte demise, exacerbating tissue damage during an MS episode or delaying the following remyelination. Here, we aimed to unravel the functional role of S100B in the pathogenesis of MS. Elevated S100B levels were detected in the CSF of relapsing-remitting MS patients at diagnosis. Active demyelinating MS lesions showed increased expression of S100B and its receptor, the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), in the lesion area, while chronic active lesions displayed increased S100B in demyelinated areas with lower expression of RAGE in the rim. Interestingly, reactive astrocytes were identified as the predominant cellular source of S100B, whereas RAGE was expressed by activated microglia/macrophages. Using an ex vivo demyelinating model, cerebral organotypic slice cultures treated with lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), we observed a marked elevation of S100B upon demyelination, which co-localized mostly with astrocytes. Inhibition of S100B action using a directed antibody reduced LPC-induced demyelination, prevented astrocyte reactivity and abrogated the expression of inflammatory and inflammasome-related molecules. Overall, high S100B expression in MS patient samples suggests its usefulness as a diagnostic biomarker for MS, while the beneficial outcome of its inhibition in our demyelinating model indicates S100B as an emerging therapeutic target in MS.This work was supported by Medal of Honor L’Oréal for Women in Science (FCT, UNESCO, L’Óreal) and innovation grant (Ordem dos Farmacêuticos) to AF, a post-doctoral grant from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT-SFRH/BPD/96794/2013) and a DuPré Grant from the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) to AB, and by FCT-Pest- OE/SAU/UI4013 to iMed.ULisboa.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio