The Bachelor Degreein Biochemistry: a New Challenge for the Biochemical Education at the University of Maringá

Ten years after the pioneer initiative of the Viçosa University, the bachelor degree in biochemistry can still be considered a novelty in Brazil. It certainly represents a challenge mainly because of the intrincate interplay of biochemistry with severalwell-established disciplines and carreers. The UEM-Department of Biochemistry decided to accept this challenge and is now offering its bachelor degree in 2011. Central to the main phylosophy underlying the proposed curriculum were the following points: (a) broad training in exact sciences, thus recognizing the quantitative nature of biochemistry; (b) broad offer of biochemical disciplines aiming to prepare the students for careers invarious service and industry sectors in addition to academic research; (c) full recognition of the marriage between biochemistry and molecular biology, as epitomized by the current names of the learned societies.The curriculum encompasses a wide range of biochemical disciplines from the traditional ones to technological branches. Experimental skillswill be developed inlaboratories of biomolecules, molecular biology, enzymology and metabolism. Receptiveness in the community was higlly promissing as can be judged by the prompt approval by the university and government authories as well as by the relatively elevated number of candidates in the entrance examinations

Naringenin inhibits the growth and stimulates the lignification of soybean root

The flavanone naringenin, an intermediate in flavonoid biosynthesis, was tested for its effect on root growth, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and peroxidase (POD) activities, as well as phenolic compounds and lignin contents in soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) seedlings. Three-day-old seedlings were cultivated in half-strength Hoagland nutrient solution (pH 6.0), with or without 0.1 to 0.4 mM naringenin in a growth chamber (25°C, 12-h photoperiod, irradiance of 280 µmol m-2 s-1) for 24 h. Inhibitory effects on root growth (length, weight, cell viability), PAL and soluble POD activities were detected after naringenin treatments. These effects were associated with stimulatory activity of the cell wall-bound POD followed by an increase in the lignin contents, suggesting that naringenin-induced inhibition in soybean roots could be due to the lignification process.<br>Os efeitos de naringenina, um intermediário da biossíntese de flavonóides, foram avaliados sobre o crescimento das raízes, as atividades da fenilalanina amônia liase (PAL) e peroxidases, bem como sobre os teores de compostos fenólicos e de lignina em plântulas de soja (Glycine max L. Merrill). Plântulas de três dias foram cultivadas em solução nutritiva de Hoagland, meia-força (pH 6,0), contendo ou não, naringenina 0,1 a 0,4 mM, em uma câmara de germinação (25&deg;C, fotoperíodo de 12 h, 280 µmol m-2 s-1) durante 24 h. Efeitos inibitórios no crescimento das raízes (comprimento, massa e viabilidade celular) e nas atividades da PAL e POD solúvel foram constatados após os tratamentos com naringenina. Estes efeitos foram associados com atividade estimulatória da POD ligada à parede celular, seguido por aumento nos teores de lignina, sugerindo que a inibição do crescimento das raízes pode ser devido ao processo de lignificação