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

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Vicilins (7S storage globulins) of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) seeds bind to chitinous structures of the midgut of Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) larvae

The presence of chitin in midgut structures of Callosobruchus maculatus larvae was shown by chemical and immunocytochemical methods. Detection by Western blotting of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) seed vicilins (7S storage proteins) bound to these structures suggested that C. maculatus-susceptible vicilins presented less staining when compared to C. maculatus-resistant vicilins. Storage proteins present in the microvilli in the larval midgut of the bruchid were recognized by immunolabeling of vicilins in the appropriate sections with immunogold conjugates. These labeling sites coincided with the sites labeled by an anti-chitin antibody. These results, taken together with those previously published showing that the lower rates of hydrolysis of variant vicilins from C. maculatus-resistant seeds by the insect's midgut proteinases and those showing that vicilins bind to chitin matrices, may explain the detrimental effects of variant vicilins on the development of C. maculatus larvae

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

Mutants of common bean alpha-amylase inhibitor-2 as an approach to investigate binding specificity to alpha-amylases.

Despite the presence of a family of defense proteins, Phaseolus vulgaris can be attacked by bruchid insects resulting in serious damage to stored grains. The two distinct active forms of α-amylase inhibitors, α-AI1 and α-AI2, in P. vulgaris show different specificity toward α-amylases. Zabrotes subfasciatus α-amylase is inhibited by α-AI2 but not by α-AI1. In contrast, porcine α-amylase is inhibited by α-AI1 but not by α-AI2. The objective of this work was to understand the molecular basis of the specificity of two inhibitors in P. vulgaris (α-AI1 and α-AI2) in relation to α-amylases. Mutants of α-AI2 were made and expressed in tobacco plants. The results showed that all the α-AI2 mutant inhibitors lost their activity against the insect α-amylases but none exhibited activity toward the mammalian α-amylase. The replacement of His33 of α-AI2 with the α-AI1-like sequence Ser-Tyr-Asn abolished inhibition of Z. subfasciatus α-amylase. From structural modeling, the conclusion is that the size and complexity of the amylase-inhibitor interface explain why mutation of the N-terminal loop and resultant abolition of Z. subfasciatus α-amylase inhibition are not accompanied by gain of inhibitory activity against porcine α-amylase