The characterisation of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) biosynthesis in the Liver of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

The pathway for the biosynthesis of docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) fromlinolenic acid (18:3n-3) was investigated in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus my kiss)liver in vitro, using primary cultures of hepatocytes and liver microsomes toinvestigate the products of desaturation and elongation of [l-14C]-18:3n-3 and[l-14C]-20:5n-3. Argentation thin-layer chromatography and radio gaschromatography were employed to analyse the metabolic products of the radiolabelledfatty acid substrates and to determine the rate of conversion of 18:3n-3 to 22:6n-3. The recovery of radioactivity in various polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of trouthepatocyte lipid, including 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3, established that juvenile trout werecapable of converting 18:3n-3 to 22:6n-3. To establish the extent to which theformation of 22:6n-3 was enhanced in the absence of dietary PUFA, particularly20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3, and therefore, facilitate the investigation of 22:6n-3biosynthesis, rainbow trout were fed a diet based on olive oil and deficient in (n-3) PUFA. Feeding the diet deficient in (n-3) PUFA efficiently reduced the endogenouslevels of (n-3) PUFA in trout hepatocytes and at the same time markedly increased therate of 22:6n-3 formation from both [l-14C]-18:3n-3 and [l-14C]-20:5n-3. When thedesaturation and elongation of [1-14C]-18:3n-3 and [l-14C]-20:5n-3 were investigatedin microsomes isolated from trout liver, no radioactivity from either substrate wasrecovered in 22:6n-3. High proportions of radioactivity from [l-14C]-20:5n-3 were,however, recovered in 24:6n-3 and 24:5n-3. These radiolabelled C24-PUFA producedby the microsomal incubations were separated by argentation chromatography andused as substrates in incubations with hepatocytes isolated from trout liver. Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) was generated from both radiolabelled C24-PUFAsubstrates by trout hepatocytes. The results establish that the biosynthesis of 22:6n-3in rainbow trout hepatocytes does not involve A4-desaturation of 22:5n-3 but ratherproceeds via the A6-desaturation of 24:5n-3 with the subsequent chain shortening ofthe 24:6n-3 produced. Cyclopropene fatty acids and curcumin significantly inhibited the desaturation and elongation activity of hepatocytes and liver microsomes fromrainbow trout. The A6 and A5-desaturase and elongase substrate specificities wereinvestigated; it was shown that (n-3) PUFA substrates were always preferred by theenzymes over (n-6) PUFA

Fatty acid composition of hydrogenated or interesterified margarines

Foi analisado o conteúdo de ácidos graxos (AG) de 12 marcas de margarinas à base de óleos vegetais parcialmente hidrogenados ou interesterificados comercializados no Distrito Federal. As margarinas foram agrupadas pelo tipo de óleos utilizados em sua produção e o percentual médio de lipídios em GH-T (margarinas hidrogenadas com 50% de lipídios), GH-L (hidrogenadas com 20%), GI-T (interesterificadas com 65%) e GI-L (interesterificadas com 30%). O perfil de AG foi obtido por cromatografia gasosa em coluna capilar SP2560®. O conteúdo de AG trans (AGT) no GH-T (7,91 ± 1,05 g.100 g–1) foi significativamente maior (p < 0,05) que no GH-L (2,46 ± 0,39  g.100 g–1), GI-T (1,29  ± 0,47 g.100 g–1) e GI-L (0,65 ± 0,24 g.100 g–1). Houve diferença significativa no conteúdo total de AG saturados (AGS) e insaturados (AGI) entre os grupos GH-T e GI-T, sendo maior no GI-T, seguido de GH-T e sem diferença significativa entre GH-L e GI-L. Porém, as razões entre ΣAGP/ΣAGS das margarinas não variou entre os grupos, enquanto as razões entre ΣAGP/ΣAGT nas margarinas GI-T e GI-L foram superiores às demais. Os resultados obtidos indicam que as margarinas GI-T e GI-L seriam mais apropriadas para consumo humano, por possuírem menos AGT e uma melhor razão AGP/AGT que as demais. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThe content of fatty acids (FA) of 12 margarine brands produced with partially hydrogenated or interesterified vegetable oils marketed in Federal District was analyzed. The margarines were grouped into four groups by the type of oils used in their production and by the average percentage of lipids: GH-T (hydrogenated margarines with 50% lipids), GH-L (hydrogenated with 20%), GI-T (interesterified with 65%) and GI-L (interesterified with 30%). The fatty acid profile was obtained by gas chromatography in a SP2560® capillary column. The content of trans fatty acids (TFA) in GH-T (7.91 ± 1.05 g.100 g–1) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in GH-L (2.46  ±   0.39  g.100 g–1), GI-T (1.29  ± 0.47  g.100 g–1) and GI-L (0.65 ± 0.24 g.100 g–1). There was a significant difference in the total content of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and in the unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) among the groups GH-T and GI-T, being higher in GI-T, followed by GH-T and with no significant difference between GH-L and GI-L. The ΣPUFA/ΣSFA ratios of the margarines were unchanged among the groups, while the ΣPUFA/ΣTFA ratios in the GI-T and GI-L groups were higher than in the others. The results suggest that GI-L and GI-T margarines would be more appropriate for human intake due to lower content of TFA and higher PUFA/TFA ratio than the others

Diagnosing lysosomal storage diseases in a Brazilian non-newborn population by tandem mass spectrometry

OBJECTIVES: High-throughput mass spectrometry methods have been developed to screen newborns for lysosomal storage disorders, allowing the implementation of newborn screening pilot studies in North America and Europe. It is currently feasible to diagnose Pompe, Fabry, Gaucher, Krabbe, and Niemann-Pick A/B diseases, as well as mucopolysaccharidosis I, by tandem mass spectrometry in dried blood spots, which offers considerable technical advantages compared with standard methodologies. We aimed to investigate whether the mass spectrometry methodology for lysosomal storage disease screening, originally developed for newborns, can also discriminate between affected patients and controls of various ages. METHODS: A total of 205 control individuals were grouped according to age and subjected to mass spectrometry quantification of lysosomal α-glucosidase, β-glucocerebrosidase, α-galactosidase, acid sphingomyelinase, galactocerebrosidase, and α−L-iduronidase activities. Additionally, 13 affected patients were analyzed. RESULTS: The median activities for each enzyme and each age group were determined. Enzyme activities were significantly lower in individuals aged older than 18 years compared with those in newborns. Affected patients presented enzymatic activities corresponding to less than 20% of the age-matched controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that the mass spectrometry methodology can be used for the screening of lysosomal storage diseases in non-newborn patients. However, for some diseases, such as Fabry and mucopolysaccharidosis I, a combination of biochemical and clinical data may be necessary to achieve accurate diagnoses

Microplastics and suspended particles in a strongly impacted coastal environment: Composition, abundance, surface texture, and interaction with metal ions

The composition and the interaction of the suspended particulate matter (SPM) with metal ions, along with the presence and characteristics of microplastics, were analyzed for the first time in the water column of the inner zone of Bahía Blanca Estuary during winter (June, July, and August) 2019. Surface analysis techniques (Scanning Electron Microscopy combined with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, and X-ray Diffraction) were employed to obtain an in-depth characterization of the particulate matter, suggesting the presence of Fe in our samples, with a mixture of Fe3+/Fe2+ oxidation states. Microplastics ranged in concentrations between 3 and 11.5 items L−1, with an average of 6.50 items L−1 (S.E: ±4.01), being fibers the most abundant type. Infrared Spectroscopy suggests that these fibers correspond to semi-synthetic cellulose-based and poly(amide) remains. We concluded that the SPM is a significant vehicle for metals which might have adverse effects on marine organisms.Fil: Forero Lopez, Ana Deisy. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía; ArgentinaFil: Truchet, Daniela María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Rimondino, Guido Noé. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Maisano, Lucia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Geología; ArgentinaFil: Spetter, Carla Vanesa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Química; ArgentinaFil: Buzzi, Natalia Sol. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Nazzarro, Marcelo Sandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich". Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich"; ArgentinaFil: Malanca, Fabio Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Físico-química de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Furlong, Octavio Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich". Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich"; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez Severini, Melisa Daiana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto Argentino de Oceanografía; Argentin

Floristic-structural variations of a tree community associated to edge distance in a forest patch in “Planalto Sul Catarinense” region

Com o propósito de comparar a organização florístico-estrutural de uma comunidade de espécies arbóreas nos setores de borda e interior em um fragmento de Floresta Ombrófila Mista localizado no município de Lages, SC, foi realizado um levantamento vegetacional em cinco transeções de 100 x 20 m, subdivididas em parcelas de 10 x 20 m, perpendiculares à borda do fragmento. Todas as árvores com circunferência na altura do peito (CAP) ≥ 15,7 cm foram mensuradas (CAP e altura) e determinadas. Os dados foram analisados por meio do índice de valor de importância (IVI), da análise de correspondência retificada (DCA), da análise de variância multivariada não paramétrica (NPMANOVA), dos valores médios de abundância, área basal, altura, riqueza, diversidade e equabilidade e da frequência de indivíduos em classes de diâmetro e altura. Apesar de tanto o setor borda quando o interior apresentarem Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze e Lithraea brasilisiensis Marchand entre as espécies de maior IVI, houve substituição nas demais posições de IVI, que refletiu na variação da organização da comunidade entre os setores (p = 0,022), também observada na DCA. Em relação aos valores médios das demais variáveis mensuradas, não foram encontradas diferenças. Conclui-se que a borda representara uma importante fonte de heterogeneidade florístico-estrutural no fragmento estudado.Palavras-chave: Fragmentação; floresta com araucárias; espécies arbóreas. AbstractFloristic-structural variations of a tree community associated to edge distance in a forest patch in “Planalto Sul Catarinense” region. In order to compare the floristic-structural organization of a tree species community in an Araucaria Forest patch, in the municipality of Lages, SC, a phytossociological survey was conducted in five 100 x 20 m transections, subdivided into 10 x 20 m plots, perpendicular to the patch edges. It were measured and determined all trees with circumference at breast height (dbh) ≥ 15,7 (cbh and height). The data were analyzed by the importance value index (IVI), Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA); non-parametric multivariate analyze of variance (NPMANOVA); mean values of abundance, basal area, tree height, richness, diversity and evenness; and frequency of individuals within diameter and height classes. Although both sectors had Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze and Lithraea brasiliensis Marchand among the species with the highest IVI values, there was a turnover in other IVI positions, which reflected in the variation of tree species organization among sectors (p=0.022), also observed in DCA. Related to community structure (mean values of abundance and tree height and individuals frequency in size classes), no differences were detected. We conclude that edges represented an important source of floristic-structural heterogeneity in the studied patch.Keywords: Fragmentation; araucaria forest; tree species.In order to compare the floristic-structural organization of a tree species community in an Araucaria Forest patch, in the municipality of Lages, SC, a phytossociological survey was conducted in five 100 x 20 m transections, subdivided into 10 x 20 m plots, perpendicular to the patch edges. It were measured and determined all trees with circumference at breast height (dbh) ≥ 15,7 (cbh and height). The data were analyzed by the importance value index (IVI), Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA); non-parametric multivariate analyze of variance (NPMANOVA); mean values of abundance, basal area, tree height, richness, diversity and evenness; and frequency of individuals within diameter and height classes. Although both sectors had Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze and Lithraea brasiliensis Marchand among the species with the highest IVI values, there was a turnover in other IVI positions, which reflected in the variation of tree species organization among sectors (p=0.022), also observed in DCA. Related to community structure (mean values of abundance and tree height and individuals frequency in size classes), no differences were detected. We conclude that edges represented an important source of floristic-structural heterogeneity in the studied patch

ORGANIZAÇÃO DA COMUNIDADE E ESTRUTURA FILOGENÉTICA DO COMPONENTE ARBÓREO DE UM FRAGMENTO DE FLORESTA NEBULAR NO PLANALTO CATARINENSE

This study aimed to survey the community organization and the phylogenetic structure of tree species component in a nebular forest, in the municipality of Urubici, Santa Catarina state. A total of 25 plots (400 m2) were allocated, where all trees with circumference at breast height (cbh) equal or superior than 15.7 cm were measured (cbh) and identified. The Shannon index and phytosociological descriptors were determined. The dispersal syndromes of propagules were determined and the spatial distribution of each species was analyzed. The phylogenetic structure was evaluated by the values of ‘Mean Pairwise Distance’ (MPD) and Net Relatedness Index (NRI), determined through a phylogenetic tree built in function of the species sampled, an abundance matrix of species by plots and 1,000 simulations of a community with phylogenetic randomness organization. The spatial structure of the phylogenetic metrics was analyzed through I Moran Index. A total of 1,579 trees were sampled, belonging to 33 species, with Myrtaceae as the richest family. The low value of diversity (2.43), associated to low richness, is expected for nebular forest, where the environment is typically selective. The most representative species in the forest was Myrceugenia euosma (O.Berg) D.Legrand (VI = 24.51%). The predominant dispersal syndrome was zoochory (84.85%), followed by anemochory (15.15%); and the species showed predominantly a clustered spatial distribution. The community had variation in relation to the phylogenetic structure, with most plots showing no significant difference from the null model of complete randomness.O presente estudo teve como objetivos conhecer a organização da comunidade e a estruturação filogenética do componente arbóreo de um fragmento de Floresta Nebular em Urubici - SC. Para isso, foram alocadas 25 parcelas de 400 m2, nas quais foi medida a circunferência a altura do peito – CAP, e identificadas todas as árvores com CAP igual ou superior a 15,7 cm. Foram calculados o índice de diversidade de Shannon-Wiener e os descritores fitossociológicos. A síndrome de dispersão de propágulos e a distribuição espacial de cada espécie foram determinadas. A estruturação filogenética foi avaliada por meio dos valores de Mean pairwise distance (MPD) e de Net Relatedness Index (NRI), calculados a partir de uma árvore filogenética construída em função das espécies amostradas, de uma matriz de abundância das espécies por parcelas e 1.000 simulações de uma comunidade organizada filogeneticamente de forma aleatória. A estruturação espacial das métricas filogenéticas foi analisada por meio do Índice I de Moran. Foram amostrados 1.579 indivíduos, pertencentes a 33 espécies, sendo Myrtaceae a família de maior riqueza de espécies. O baixo valor de diversidade (2,43), associado à baixa riqueza na área, é esperado em Florestas Nebulares, cujo ambiente é tipicamente seletivo. A maior representação na floresta foi de Myrceugenia euosma (O.Berg) D.Legrand (VI = 24,51%). A síndrome de dispersão predominante foi a zoocoria (84,85%), seguida pela anemocoria (15,15%), e a distribuição espacial foi predominantemente agregada. A comunidade apresentou variação em relação à estruturação filogenética, sendo que, para a maioria das parcelas, o padrão não diferiu do modelo nulo de completa aleatoriedade