Citrate and isocitrate in plant metabolism

The relevance of citrate and isocitrate metabolism in plants is discussed in connection with the different pathways for their conversions. The routes for citrate and isocitrate conversions are incorporated into the system of cross-linked metabolic processes and may provide carbon skeletons for nitrogen assimilation and reducing equivalents for biosynthetic reactions, support the functioning of the glyoxylate cycle and play an important role in the TCA and energy metabolism as a whole. The possibility of the coupling of citrate and isocitrate metabolism with various electron transport systems is discussed from the point of view of the efficiency of the balancing cellular NAD P H Ž . Ž . rNAD P and ATP q rADP ratios. The role of citrate and isocitrate and their derivations as potent effectors of some enzymes is considered. Special attention is paid to the enzymes associated with citrate and isocitrate metabolism and to the mechanisms which regulate their activity. The possibilities of the coordination of the main processes of energy and biosynthetic metabolism at the level of citrate and isocitrate distribution are discussed.The authors are grateful to Dr., Professor, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, V.P. ŽSkulachev Moscow State University, Institute of. Molecular Biology for carefully and critically reading the manuscript and stimulating discussions. We also thank Dr. Teresa M. Santos for her help during the preparation of the manuscript. The work of Prof. Tatyana N. Popova in Madeira University was supported by the grant no. 9r96r1r0618 of the Portuguese Foundation for Support of the Scientific Community JNICT and the Madeiran Scientific and Ž . Technological Centre CITMA . Ž .info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Plant data survey in Porto Santo (Madeira Archipelago, Portugal): an update

The present contribution updates BORGES et al. (2008)’s “A list of the terrestrial fungi, flora and fauna of Madeira and Selvagens archipelagos”. Since then, and until the summer of 2019, 131 new taxa were cited, namely 30 bryophytes, one pteridophyte and 100 spermatophytes. Based on the compilation of written and unpublished information about the diversity of terrestrial plants cited for Porto Santo, the present work lists 696 taxa, including 134 bryophytes, 13 pteridophytes and 549 spermatophytes. Two species of mosses, Sematophyllum substrumulosum (Hampe) E. Britton and Tortula lanceolata R. H. Zander are recorded for the first time from Porto Santo, corresponding to material collected in 2018. Additionally, 12 species of spermatophytes, all cultivated, are referred for the first time to the island. Two species of pteridophytes, Ophioglossum lusitanicum L. and Hymenophyllum wilsonii Hook are proposed to be considered extinct.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

O papel do Banco de Germoplasma: Isoplexis-Germobanco no estudo e conservação da agrodiversidade e dos recursos genéticos

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Regulation of mitochondrial NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase in rat heart during ischemia

The changes in the regulation of at mitochondrial NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP-ICDH) in a rat heart during have been analysed. Increase of enzyme activity in the cytosol and mitochondria of the heart ischemia was detected. Catalytic properties of the mitochondrial NADP-ICDH at norm and pathology have been compared on homogeneous enzyme preparations. Enzyme from the normoxic and ischemic heart showed the same electrophoretical mobility and molecular mass. Enzyme isolated from the ischemic heart mitochondria demonstrated higher activation energy and lower thermal stability. NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase at the normoxic and ischemic conditions exhibited different Km for substrates and regulatory behaviour in relation to ATP, ADP, 2-oxoglutarate, citrate, malate, reduced and oxidised glutathione. The inhibitory effect of the Fe2+ and H2O2 mixture associated with the generation of hydroxyl radicals was lower in the ischemic enzyme. We hypothesise that the specific features of regulation behaviour of NADP-ICDH from the ischemic tissues permits the enzyme to supply NADPH to the glutathione reductase/glutathione peroxidase system.This work was supported by grants from the Scientific Programs of Russia Ministry Education and Science (number of projects are RNP. 2.1.1.4429 and UR. 07.01.004).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Different seaweeds use for iodine deficiency overcome

Iodine deficiency is one of the three most common nutritional deficiencies worldwide and is a global public health problem that affects particularly the young children, pregnant women and elderly. The consequences of iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) include goiter and cretinism. The traditional consumption of iodine via supplemented salt should be monitored to reduce population sodium intake due to hypertension problems and the uncertain bioavailability of iodine in the supplemented salt. One approach for an effective and cost-efficient iodine supplementation is the use of seaweeds in food intake. Seaweeds, among all foods, are the most famous and reliable source of natural iodine. In this minireview we pretend to explore the different uses of seaweeds to fill the iodine deficiency and improve life quality.This work was supported by the projects Blue Iodine II “Boost Blue economy through market uptake an innovative seaweed bioextract for iodine fortification II” (733552, H2020- SMEInst-2016-2017); DemoBlueAlgae “Desenvolvimento de metodologias e optimização dos processos de cultivo e processamento de macroalgas para a industria e economia azul” PROCiência 2020 (M1420-01-0247-FEDER000002) and Madeira PO 14-20, contract CASBio, refª. M1420-01-0145-FEDER-000011.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

GC-MS analysis of steroids and triterpenoids occurring in leaves and tubers of Tamus edulis Lowe

Tamus edulis Lowe is an endemic perennial plant belonging to Dioscoreaceae family. The plant has long climbing stems, ovate leaves, flowers in spikes, fleshy red berries and long tuberous roots. Young shoots and tuberous roots of T. edulis were used traditionally for nourishment and as a herbal medicine. Leaves and roots analyzed in the present study were collected in the northwest of Madeira island. The GC–MS analysis allowed to detect several steroids in free forms in diethyl ether extracts; and diosgenin with its isomer, yamogenin, in hydrolyzates from methanolic extracts.The obtained results reveal that Tamus edulis has some features common with other Dioscorea species, e.g., the presence of steroidal saponins with diosgenin and yamogenin as aglycones, or the phytosterol composition with predominating sitosterol. However, some other traits, like the relatively high content of free steroids (more than 1 mg/g d.w.) and their profile rich in cholesterol derivatives, can distinguish Tamus edulis from other Dioscorea species studied previously for their steroid and triterpenoid profile.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Viral diagnosis in cultivars of Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam

Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. commonly known as sweet potato, is an important staple food worldwide, mainly due to its high nutritional value and yield. However, vegetative reproduction of sweet potato makes it more susceptible to viral infections, which threatens its productivity, quality, and difficult long-term preservation in germplasm banks. Also, it can act as a virus reservoir infecting the rest of the plant accessions in the bank collections. Hence, this work aimed to screen Begomovirus, Potyvirus, and Carlavirus infections in 16 traditional sweet potato cultivars from the germplasm collection of the ISOPlexis Germplasm Bank, Madeira, Portugal. The infection prevalence by these viruses among cultivars was 81.25%, 25.00%, and 6.25%, respectively; being ISOP1011 the only accession coinfected by Potyvirus and Carlavirus. The accessions ISOP1006, ISOP1010, and ISOP1047 were also coinfected by Begomovirus and Potyvirus, highlighting their vulnerability to viral infections. The ISOP1005 and ISOP1027 accessions were the only ones not infected by any of these viruses. The analysis of the partial sequence obtained from the Carlavirus detected in the accession ISOP1011, revealed the existence of an ORF that encodes for 93 amino acids of the catalytic domain of an RNA-directed RNA polymerase related to the Tymovirus protein family, as could be confirmed by comparison with proteins stored in UniProtKB. Multiple sequence alignment with these proteins showed that Motifs A and B of the catalytic domain were conserved. The search for sequence similarity with sequences deposited in GenBank reported a high sequence identity with Sweet potato yellow mottle virus (SPYMV) and Sweet potato chlorotic fleck virus (SPCFV). However, the 9-11% discrepancy in nucleotide sequence identity and a phylogenetic analysis carried out using the maximum probability method suggests the virus isolated from ISOP1011 is a new divergent strain of the SPCFV species.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Morphological characterization of wheat genetic resources from the Island of Madeira, Portugal

This paper presents the first comprehensive morphological characterization and identification of the wheat populations collected on the Archipelago of Madeira and preserved at the ISOPlexis Germplasm Bank, the University of Madeira, Funchal. Fifty-two wheat populations representing Madeira’s Triticum diversity and a wide range of ecological conditions were evaluated based on the biometrical and cytometrical traits. Forty-six traits related to plant morphology, cytological and grain characteristics were included in a multivariate analysis. Taxonomic identification of the collected materials revealed the presence of 3 species, 2 subspecies and 16 botanical varieties among the Madeiran wheat germplasm. The obtained results were confirmed by the multivariate analysis since all accessions were grouped in clusters corresponding also to different taxonomic levels. The detailed description of the Madeiran wheat landraces may contribute also to the protection of the existing Triticum diversity as well as support efforts of conservation of landraces, proper germplasm preservation and utilization.Portuguese Foundation for the Science and Technology (FCT, Fundac¸a˜o para a Cieˆncia e Tecnologia) and the European Community have sponsored this work, through the Centre of Macaronesian Studies (CEM) and the projects POCTI no. 35003/AGR/2001 and INTERREG IIIB, Germobanco. The authors are grateful to the Madeiran farmers who assisted with collection of wheat samples.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Biochemical study of attached macroalgae from the Madeira Archipelago and beach-cast macroalgae from the Canary Islands: multivariate analysis to determine bioresource potential

Fifteen attached macroalgae from the Madeira Archipelago, comprising three green, three red and nine brown algal species, as well as two beach-cast macroalgal samples, collected along the north shore of Gran Canaria, were assessed for their biochemical properties. The anal ysis included the determination of total minerals, total carbohydrates, protein, lipids, chlorophyll a, total carote noids, total phenolic content, fucoxanthin and phycobilins (allophycocyanin, phycocyanin and phycoerythrin). The results showed a high variability of biochemical composi tion, allowing for the targetting of specific bioresources for particular purposes, including functional foods. This work provides the foundation for a biorefinery strategy implementation plan, for which specific macroalgae may be tar geted for valuable and beneficial compoundsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

From a heavy metal perspective, is macroalgal biomass from Madeira Archipelago and Gran Canaria Island of eastern Atlantic safe for the development of blue bioeconomy products?

Macroalgae are considered a valuable source of several compounds with nutritional, nutraceutical, cosmeceutical, and phar maceutical applications. They are also used for crop fertilization and biofortifcation by introducing important minerals into the soil essential for crop productivity. At the same time, however, they are known bio-accumulators of some heavy metals. In this work, we assessed the content of 7 minerals considered as heavy metals in 25 macroalgae samples, comprising 4 greens, 9 reds and 12 browns, from Madeira Archipelago, Portugal, for their potential use as blue bioeconomy products. These heavy metals included zinc (Zn) with concentrations that ranged from 1.95 – 242.65 mg kg−1 dw, nickel (Ni, 0.6 – 34.78 mg kg−1 dw), copper (Cu, 0.42 – 7.98 mg kg−1 dw), chromium (Cr, 0.47 – 45.74 mg kg−1 dw), cadmium (Cd, 0.1 – 2.58 mg kg−1 dw), lead (Pb, 0.05 – 2.79 mg kg−1 dw) and mercury (Hg, 0.03 – 8.49 µg kg−1 dw). We also analysed 22 samples of beach-cast macroalgae from Gran Canaria Island, Spain, collected from November 2016 to November 2019. The same heavy metals were assessed with their concentrations that ranged as follows: Zn (11.41 – 42.20 mg kg−1 dw), Ni (3.17 – 17.78 mg kg−1 dw), Cu (1.85 – 4.20 mg kg−1 dw), Cr (6.08 – 37.98 mg kg−1 dw), Cd (0.02 – 0.11 g kg−1 dw), Pb (0.16 –5.42 mg kg−1 dw) and Hg (3.59 – 31.00 µg kg−1 dw). These concentrations are all within the normal ranges reported in earlier studies in low industrialized areas, except for the brown algae Gongolaria abies-marina and Sargassum vulgare with high mean (±SD) Cd concentration (1.91±0.36 and 1.75±0.07 g kg−1 dw respectively). Our results suggest that most of the biomass prospected in these localities covered in the present study would be a viable source of materials for the development of a blue economy industry with emerging products following the European Union directives.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio