On the influence of lipid-induced optical anisotropy for the bioimaging of exo- or endocytosis with interference microscopic imaging

Some implementations of interference microscopy imaging use digital holographic measurements of complex scattered fields to reconstruct three-dimensional refractive index maps of weakly scattering, semi-transparent objects, frequently encountered in biological investigations. Reconstruction occurs through application of the object scattering potential which assumes an isotropic refractive index throughout the object. Here, we demonstrate that this assumption can in some circumstances be invalid for biological imaging due to the presence of lipid-induced optical anisotropy. We show that the nanoscale organization of lipids in the observation of cellular endocytosis with polarized light induces a significant change in far-field scattering. We obtain this result by presenting a general solution to Maxwell's equations describing light scattering of core-shell particles near an isotropic substrate covered with an anisotropic thin film. This solution is based on an extension of the Bobbert-Vlieger solution for particle scattering near a substrate delivering an exact solution to the scattering problem in the near field as well as far field. By applying this solution to study light scattering by a lipid vesicle near a lipid bilayer, whereby the lipids are represented through a biaxial optical model, we conclude through ellipsometry concepts that effective amounts of lipid-induced optical anisotropy significantly alter far-field optical scattering in respect to an equivalent optical model that neglects the presence of optical anisotropy

Glucosylated cholesterol in mammalian cells and tissues: formation and degradation by multiple cellular β-glucosidases.

The membrane lipid glucosylceramide (GlcCer) is continuously formed and degraded. Cells express two GlcCer-degrading β-glucosidases, glucocerebrosidase (GBA) and GBA2, located in and outside the lysosome, respectively. Here we demonstrate that through transglucosylation both GBA and GBA2 are able to catalyze in vitro the transfer of glucosyl-moieties from GlcCer to cholesterol, and vice versa. Furthermore, the natural occurrence of 1-O-cholesteryl-β-D-glucopyranoside (GlcChol) in mouse tissues and human plasma is demonstrated using LC-MS/MS and (13)C6-labeled GlcChol as internal standard. In cells, the inhibition of GBA increases GlcChol, whereas inhibition of GBA2 decreases glucosylated sterol. Similarly, in GBA2-deficient mice, GlcChol is reduced. Depletion of GlcCer by inhibition of GlcCer synthase decreases GlcChol in cells and likewise in plasma of inhibitor-treated Gaucher disease patients. In tissues of mice with Niemann-Pick type C disease, a condition characterized by intralysosomal accumulation of cholesterol, marked elevations in GlcChol occur as well. When lysosomal accumulation of cholesterol is induced in cultured cells, GlcChol is formed via lysosomal GBA. This illustrates that reversible transglucosylation reactions are highly dependent on local availability of suitable acceptors. In conclusion, mammalian tissues contain GlcChol formed by transglucosylation through β-glucosidases using GlcCer as donor. Our findings reveal a novel metabolic function for GlcCer.This study was made possible by the ERC AdG CHEMBIOSPHIN. The authors declare no financial conflicts of interest relevant to this study

Oregano production under various water depths estimated by means of the class A pan evaporation Produção de orégano com diferentes lâminas de irrigação estimadas a partir da evaporação do tanque classe A

The purpose of this experiment was to analyze the effect of five irrigation water depths on oregano production. Oregano is a plant rich in essential oil, commonly used as seasoning in food preparation. The water depths were estimated based on the class A pan evaporation (CPE): 0 CPE (without water replacement); 25 CPE, 50 CPE, 75 CPE, and 100% CPE. The analyzed variables were fresh and dry weight of leaves and roots, yield, net return, and water use efficiency. The experiment was carried out in Presidente Prudente, São Paulo State, Brazil, from February to May 2006. The best results for all the studied variables were found when 100% CPE was used. A linear positive relation was observed between water increments and fresh and dry weight of both the aboveground part and roots. The use of a water depth corresponding to 100% CPE resulted in the maximum productivity (8,089.7 kg ha-1), and in the highest net annual return (R$57,637.87 ha-1).<br>Foi analisado o efeito de cinco lâminas de irrigação na produção do orégano, planta rica em óleo essencial, muito usada como tempero na preparação de alimentos. As lâminas de água foram baseadas na evaporação do tanque classe A (ECA) sendo: 0 ECA (sem reposição de água); 25 ECA; 50 ECA; 75 ECA e 100$ 57.637,87 ha-1)

Hydrophilic polymer changes the water demand in the implementation of a dwarf cashew orchard.

Abstract: Important losses of dwarf cashew seedlings during the establishment of orchards in the Brazilian semiarid are related to the relatively short rainy season. This study aimed to evaluate biochar and hydrophilic polymer as soil amendments to increase water retention and reduce plant death in the first year. An experiment was conducted at the Curu Station, Paraipaba, CE, Brazil, using the clone BRS 226. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks, with amounts of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 kg of cashew wood biochar and 20, 40, 60, 80 g of hydrophilic polymer applied per pit, as well as a control treatment (no soil amendment). Seedlings were submitted to an irrigation regime to avoid water stress (5 L water seedling-1 when the tensiometer installed at a depth of 0.15 m reached 60 kPa). The variables of plant development number of leaves, plant height, stem diameter, and canopy diameter were evaluated up to 374 days after transplanting to the field. The analysis of variance showed no treatment effect on plant development. However, minimum water consumption was observed when 29.56 g of hydrophilic polymer was applied per pit, providing 100.0% seedling survival

Seedling formation and field production of beetroot and lettuce in Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil Formação de mudas e produção a campo de beterraba e alface em Aquidauana-MS

In horticulture, the proper use of containers and substrates for the production of seedlings are important factors that affect crop productivity in the field. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different containers and substrates in the production of lettuce (Lactuca sativa, cv Veneranda) and beetroot (Beta vulgaris, cv Top Tall Early Wonder) seedlings in nursery with monofilament screen, 50% of shading, and the productivity of these species when transplanted to field plots. In protected cultivation, a completely randomized experimental design, in a 3 x 3 factorial scheme (three polystyrene trays, R1= 72, R2= 128 and R3= 200 cells and three substrates, S1= 93% of soil + 7% of organic compost, S2= 86% of soil + 14% of organic compost and S3= 79% of soil + 21% of organic compost) was used, with 15 replications, where one plantlet was a replication. In the field, the nine treatments were evaluated in a completely randomized experimental design. The 72 cells tray with 7% commercial organic compost substrate promoted the best beetroot and lettuce seedlings. In the field, the plants from the 72 cell tray produced greater plants, independent of substrates type.<br>Na olericultura o uso adequado de recipientes e substratos para a produção de mudas são fatores importantes e que afetam a produtividade das culturas a campo. No presente trabalho objetivou-se avaliar, em viveiro de tela de monofilamento com 50% de sombreamento, o efeito de diferentes recipientes e substratos na produção de mudas de alface (Lactuca sativa, cv Veneranda) e beterraba (Beta vulgaris, cv Top Tall Early Wonder), bem como a produtividade dessas espécies quando transplantadas em canteiros a campo. No ambiente protegido utilizou-se o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 3 x 3, sendo os fatores 3 recipientes (R1= 72, R2= 128 e R3= 200 células de poliestireno) e 3 substratos (S1= 93% de solo + 7% de composto orgânico, S2= 86% de solo + 14% de composto orgânico e S3= 79% de solo + 21% de composto orgânico), totalizando nove tratamentos com quinze repetições, onde a plântula constituiu a repetição. A campo os nove tratamentos foram dispostos nos canteiros sob delineamento inteiramente casualizado. A bandeja de 72 células em conjunto com o substrato contendo 7% de composto orgânico propiciaram as melhores mudas de beterraba e alface. No campo as plantas provenientes dessa bandeja apresentaram os melhores resultados, independente do tipo de substrato