Chemical composition and evaluation of protein quality by amino acid score method of edible brown marine algae arame (Eisenia bicyclis) and hijiki (Hijikia fusiforme)

Crude proteins and their amino acid composition, fats, carbohydrates, cellulose, ashes, nucleic acids and minerals were determined in two edible and commercially available brown marine algae (Phaeophyceae), Arame (Eisenia bicyclis) and Hijiki (Hijikia fusiforme). The essential amino acid ratios for five key essential amino acids as well as the amino acid score based on the first limiting amino acid, Lys-Met-Cys score, Lys-Met-Cys-Trp score and Lys-Met-Cys-Trp-Thr score were calculated. The results have shown:– rather high contents of proteins, containing all essential amino acids– high amino acid ratios which are nearly as high as the value suggested by FAO/WHO/UNU pattern or higher– the first limiting amino acid in both analysed algae is tryptophane– very low contents of fats and nucleic acids– high contents of cellulose and other carbohydrates– large quantities of minerals and very low amounts of heavy metals

Proteomics-based investigation in C2C12 myoblast differentiation

Skeletal muscle cell differentiation is a multistage process extensively studied over the years. Even if great improvements have been achieved in defining biological process underlying myogenesis, many molecular mechanisms need still to be clarified

C2C12 MYOBLASTS RELEASE MICRO-VESICLES CONTAINING mtDNA AND PROTEINS INVOLVED IN SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION

none11Micro-vesicles can be released by different cell types and operate as ‘safe containers’ mediatine inter-cellular communication. In this work we investigated whether cultured myoblasts could release exosomes. The reported data demonstrate, for the first time, that C2C12 myoblasts release micro-vesicles as shown by the presence of two exosome markers (Tsg101 and Alix proteins). Using real-time PCR analysis it was shown that these micro-vesicles, like other cell types, carry mtDNA. Proteomic characterization of the released micro-vesicle contents showed the presence of many proteins involved in signal transduction. The bioinformatics assessment of the Disorder Index and Aggregation Index of these proteins suggested that C2C12 micro-vesicles mainly deliver the machinery for signal transduction to target cells rather than key proteins involved in hub functions in molecular networks. The presence of IGFBP-5 in the purified micro-vesicles represents an exception, since this binding protein can play a key role in the modulation of the IGF-1 signalling pathway. In conclusion, the present findings demonstrate that skeletal muscle cells release micro-vesicles, which probably have an important role in the communication processes within skeletal muscles and between skeletal muscles and other organs. In particular, the present findings suggest possibile new diagnostic approaches to skeletal muscle diseases.openM. GUESCINI; D. GUIDOLIN; L. VALLORANI; L. CASADEI; A.M. GIOACCHINI; P. TIBOLLO; M. BATTISTELLI; E. FALCIERI; L. BATTISTIN; L.F. AGNATI; V. STOCCHIGuescini, Michele; D., Guidolin; Vallorani, Luciana; Casadei, Lucia; Gioacchini, ANNA MARIA; P., Tibollo; Battistelli, Michela; Falcieri, Elisabetta; L., Battistin; L. F., Agnati; Stocchi, Vilbert

Tuber borchii fruit body: 2-dimensional profile and protein identification

The formation of the fruit body represents the final phase of the ectomycorrhizal fungus T. borchii life cycle. Very little is known concerning the molecular and biochemical processes involved in the fructification phase. 2-DE maps of unripe and ripe ascocarps revealed different protein expression levels and the comparison of the electropherograms led to the identification of specific proteins for each developmental phase. Associating micropreparative 2-DE to microchemical approaches, such as N-terminal sequencing and 2-D gel-electrophoresis mass-spectrometry, proteins playing pivotal roles in truffle physiology were identifie

Effects of a commercially available branched-chain amino acid-alanine-carbohydrate-based sports supplement on perceived exertion and performance in high intensity endurance cycling tests

Background:Sports nutritional supplements containing branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) have been widelyreported to improve psychological and biological aspects connected to central fatigue and performance inendurance exercise, although the topic is still open to debate. The aim of the present study was to determinewhether the intake of a commercially available BCAA-based supplement, taken according to the manufacturer’srecommendations, could affect the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and performance indexes at the beginning(1d) and end of a 9-week (9w) scheduled high intensity interval training program, with an experimental approachintegrating the determination of psychometric, performance, metabolic and blood biochemical parameters.Methods:This was a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. Thirty-two untrained, healthy young adults(20 males and 12 female) were enrolled. A high-intensity endurance cycling (HIEC) test was used to induce fatigue inthe participants: HIEC consisted in ten 90 s sprints interspersed by ten 3 min recovery phases and followed by a finalstep time to exhaustion was used. In parallel with RPE, haematological values (creatine kinase, alanine, BCAA,tryptophan, ammonia and glucose levels), and performance indexes (maximal oxygen consumption - VO2max,powerassociated with lactate thresholds - WLT1,WLT2and time to exhaustion - TTE) were assessed. All subject took thesupplement (13.2 g of carbohydrates; 3.2 g of BCAA and 1.6 g of L-alanine per dose) or placebo before each test andtraining session. Dietary habits and training load were monitored during the entire training period.Results:The administration of the supplement (SU) at 1d reduced RPE by 9% during the recovery phase, as comparedto the placebo (PL); at 9w the RPE scores were reduced by 13 and 21% during the sprint and recovery phase,respectively; at 9w, prolonged supplement intake also improved TTE and TRIMP. SU intake invariably promoted a rapidincrease (within 1 h) of BCAA serum blood levels and prevented the post-HIEC tryptophan: BCAA ratio increase foundin the PL group, at both 1d and 9w. There was no difference in dietary habits between groups and those habits didnot change over time; no difference in glycemia was found between SU and PL. VO2max,WLT1and WLT2valuesimproved over time, but were unaffected by supplement intake. Conclusions:On the whole, these results suggest that i) the intake of the BCAA-based commercially availablesupplement used in this study reduces RPE as a likely consequence of an improvement in the serum tryptophan: BCAAratio; ii) over time, reduced RPE allows subjects to sustain higher workloads, leading to increased TRIMP and TTE

Assessing bidirectional relations between infant temperamental negative affect, maternal anxiety and infant affect-biased attention across the first 24-months of life

Developmental theories suggest affect-biased attention, preferential attention to emotionally salient stimuli, emerges during infancy through coordinating individual differences. Here we examined bidirectional relations between infant affect-biased attention, temperamental negative affect, and maternal anxiety symptoms using a Random Intercepts Cross-Lagged Panel Model (RI-CLPM). Infant-mother pairs from Central Pennsylvania and Northern New Jersey (N = 342; 52% White; 50% reported as assigned female at birth) participated when infants were 4, 8, 12, 18 and 24 months of age. Infants completed the overlap task while eye-tracking data were collected. Mothers reported their infant’s negative affect and their own anxiety symptoms. In an RI-CLPM, after accounting for between-person variance (random intercepts representing the latent average of a construct), it is possible to assess within-person variance (individual deviations from the latent average of a construct). Positive relations represent stability in constructs (smaller within-person deviations). Negative relations represent fluctuation in constructs (larger within-person deviations). At the between-person level (random intercepts), mothers with greater anxiety symptoms had infants with greater affect-biased attention. However, at the within-person level (deviations), greater fluctuation in maternal anxiety symptoms at 12- and 18-months prospectively related to greater stability in attention to angry facial configurations. Additionally, greater fluctuation in maternal anxiety symptoms at 18-months prospectively related to greater stability in attention to happy facial configurations. Finally, greater fluctuation in maternal anxiety symptoms at 4- and 12-months prospectively related to greater stability in infant negative affect. These results suggest that environmental uncertainty, linked to fluctuating maternal anxiety, may shape early socioemotional development

HapticLib: a haptic feedback library for embedded platforms

Mobile and wearable embedded devices connect the user with digital information in a continuous and pervasive way. A key benefit is given by the possibility to exploit multi-modal interaction capabilities that can dynamically act on different human senses and the cooperative capabilities of the small and pervasive devices. In this scenario we present HapticLib, a software library for the development and implementation of vibro-tactile feedback on resource-constrained embedded devices. It was designed to offer a high-level programming interface for the rendering of haptic patterns, accurately modeling the nature of vibro-tactile actuators and different touch experiences