Qualidade das silagens de maniçoba "Manihot pseudoglaziovii" e pornunça "Manihot spp" sob diferentes épocas de abertura dos silos.

Avaliou-se silagens de maniçoba "Manihot pseudoglaziovii" e pornunça "Manihot spp", produzidas em tubos de PVC com 7, 14, 28 e 56 dias de fermenta~ção, determinando-se os valores de matéria seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), fibra em detergente ácido (FDA), extrato etéreo (EE), carboidratos não estruturais (CNE), o pH e digestibilidade "in vitro" da matéria seca (DIVMS). Houve diferenças significativas (P<0,05) entre os parâmetros avaliados para as espécies forrageiras utilizadas, exceto para MS e EE. A silagem de pornunça apresentou maiores valores de PB, FDN, FDA e pH em relação a maniçoba, entretanto, a DIVMS e o teor de CNE foram maiores para a silagem de maniçoba. Os valores de pH encontrados demonstraram a qualidade das silagens estudadas. Apesar dos baixos teores de DIVMS e de MS baixos, ambas podem ser utilizadas na alimentação animal

Targeting genomic receptors in voided urine for confirmation of benign prostatic hyperplasia

Abstract Objectives The objective of this study is to validate a hypothesis that a non‐invasive optical imaging assay targeting genomic VPAC receptors on malignant cells shed in voided urine will represent either benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or prostatic cancer (PCa). Risk for BPH in men 50–70 years old is 50–70% and PCa is 17%. BPH and PCa can coexist in 20% of men with BPH. Most commonly practiced methods to diagnose BPH do not distinguish BPH from PCa. Patients (or Materials) and Methods Males with BPH (N = 97, 60.8 ± 6.3 years, prostate‐specific antigen 0.7 ± 0.4 ng/mL) and without oncologic disease (N = 35, 63.4 ± 5.8 years, prostate‐specific antigen < 1.5 ng/mL) signed informed consent form and provided voided urine. Urine was cytocentrifuged, cells collected on glass slide, fixed, treated with VPAC specific fluorophore TP4303 (Kd 3.1 × 10−8M), washed, incubated with DAPI and observed using a fluorescence microscope. Cells with no VPAC did not fluoresce (BPH) and those with VPAC had red‐orange fluorescence (PCa). Real‐time polymerase chain reaction analyses for VPAC and NKX3.1 assay for cell origin were performed. Results Eighty‐seven subjects were negative for VPAC expression. Positive VPAC expression was noted in 10 subjects. Patient chart review for clinical data on these 10 VPAC positive subjects showed five had nephrolithiasis, three had renal cysts, one had prostatitis and one was being treated with finasteride. Real‐time polymerase chain reaction analysis‐VPAC expressions for 7 normal and 12 BPH subjects were 1.31 ± 1.26 and 0.94 ± 0.89, respectively (P = 0.46). NKX3.1 showed cells of prostate origin for finasteride‐treated patient. Specificity for VPAC urine assay for excluding prostate cancer in this BPH cohort was 88.5%, positive predictive value 0.00% and negative predictive value 100%. Conclusion VPAC assay may contribute extensively for BPH diagnosis and warrant continued investigation

Vesicle Formation and Endocytosis: Function, Machinery, Mechanisms, and Modeling

Vesicle formation provides a means of cellular entry for extracellular substances and for recycling of membrane constituents. Mechanisms governing the two primary endocytic pathways (i.e., caveolae- and clathrin-mediated endocytosis, as well as newly emerging vesicular pathways) have become the focus of intense investigation to improve our understanding of nutrient, hormone, and drug delivery, as well as opportunistic invasion of pathogens. In this review of endocytosis, we broadly discuss the structural and signaling proteins that compose the molecular machinery governing endocytic vesicle formation (budding, invagination, and fission from the membrane), with some regard for the specificity observed in certain cell types and species. Important biochemical functions of endocytosis and diseases caused by their disruption also are discussed, along with the structures of key components of endocytic pathways and their known mechanistic contributions. The mechanisms by which principal components of the endocytic machinery are recruited to the plasma membrane, where they interact to induce vesicle formation, are discussed, together with computational approaches used to simulate simplified versions of endocytosis with the hope of clarifying aspects of vesicle formation that may be difficult to determine experimentally. Finally, we pose several unanswered questions intended to stimulate further research interest in the cell biology and modeling of endocytosis. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 11, 1301–1312

Metal-Affinity Separations: A New Dimension in Protein Processing

Rapid growth in the preparative and high-resolution analytical applications of metal-affinity chromatography demonstrate the appeal of metal recognition as a basis for protein separations. Stable, inexpensive chelated metals effectively mimic bio-specific interactions, providing selective ligands for protein binding. This article reviews recent progress in understanding the mechanisms of metal-protein recognition that underlie metal-affinity separations. Also discussed are schemes for integrating metal-affinity purifications into the expression and bioprocessing of re-combinant proteins. Promising future developments include new metal-affinity processes for analytical and preparative-scale separations and a range of techniques for enhancing the selectivity of metal-affinity separations