Antioxidant, anti-cholinesterase, anti-α-glucosidase and prebiotic properties of beta-glucan extracted from Algerian barley

Beta-glucan, such as barley-derived beta-glucan (BBG), are homopolysaccharides that have attracted attention by their nutritional and therapeutic properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant power of BBG extracted from local Algerian variety of barley (SAIDA 183), and its acetylcholinesterase, alpha glucosidase inhibitory activity as well as its prebiotic potential by fermentation with lactic acid bacteria isolated from camel’s milk, namely lactococcuslactisssplactis (Lc.l.l) and leuconostocmesenteroidesspmesenteroides (Ln.m.m). The results revealed that BBG exhibited low activity against DPPH and ferric-reducing power (IC50 4018.61 ± 656.69 and A0.5 at 359.88 ±63.64 µg/mL respectively), in contrast to other antioxidant tests (ABTS, Beta-carotene and CUPRAC) where BBG demonstrated a moderate activity (IC50 529.91 ±26.37, IC50 161.013±13.322, A0.5 529.79 ± 48.65 µg/mL). The scavenging ability of hydroxyl radical and superoxide radical by BBG with an IC50 at 2268.38±101.57 µg/mL and IC50 345.26± 62.32 µg/mL, respectively, while enzymatic inhibition by  BBG exhibited for AChE at IC50 859.164 ±64.46 μg/mL , BChE at IC50 at 725.470 ±30.95 , α-Amylase inhibitory activity at IC50 2986.785 ± 37.046  . The bacterial growth of the two strains used in this study is favorably affected by the use of BBG as the only carbon source, in comparison with glucose as a control. In light of these findings, it can be concluded that BBG have shown moderate antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities and can be used as a prebiotic by acting synergistically with probiotics in functional food matrices

MASTREE+: Time-series of plant reproductive effort from six continents.

Significant gaps remain in understanding the response of plant reproduction to environmental change. This is partly because measuring reproduction in long-lived plants requires direct observation over many years and such datasets have rarely been made publicly available. Here we introduce MASTREE+, a data set that collates reproductive time-series data from across the globe and makes these data freely available to the community. MASTREE+ includes 73,828 georeferenced observations of annual reproduction (e.g. seed and fruit counts) in perennial plant populations worldwide. These observations consist of 5971 population-level time-series from 974 species in 66 countries. The mean and median time-series length is 12.4 and 10 years respectively, and the data set includes 1122 series that extend over at least two decades (≥20 years of observations). For a subset of well-studied species, MASTREE+ includes extensive replication of time-series across geographical and climatic gradients. Here we describe the open-access data set, available as a.csv file, and we introduce an associated web-based app for data exploration. MASTREE+ will provide the basis for improved understanding of the response of long-lived plant reproduction to environmental change. Additionally, MASTREE+ will enable investigation of the ecology and evolution of reproductive strategies in perennial plants, and the role of plant reproduction as a driver of ecosystem dynamics

N,N,N′,N′-Tetramethylphthalamide

The title compound, C12H16N2O2, crystallized from toluene with two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. The dihedral angles between the amide groups and the benzene ring are 60.87 (11) and 54.08 (11)° in one independent molecule and 60.13 (11) and 64.64 (11) in the other. The crystal structure features weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds and C—H...π interactions

HEXIM1 and NEAT1 Long Non-coding RNA Form a Multi-subunit Complex that Regulates DNA-Mediated Innate Immune Response

International audienceThe DNA-mediated innate immune response underpins anti-microbial defenses and certain autoimmune diseases. Here we used immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, and RNA sequencing to identify a ribonuclear complex built around HEXIM1 and the long non-coding RNA NEAT1 that we dubbed the HEXIM1-DNA-PK-paraspeckle components-ribonucleoprotein complex (HDP-RNP). The HDP-RNP contains DNA-PK subunits (DNAPKc, Ku70, and Ku80) and paraspeckle proteins (SFPQ, NONO, PSPC1, RBM14, and MATRIN3). We show that binding of HEXIM1 to NEAT1 is required for its assembly. We further demonstrate that the HDP-RNP is required for the innate immune response to foreign DNA, through the cGAS-STING-IRF3 pathway. The HDP-RNP interacts with cGAS and its partner PQBP1, and their interaction is remodeled by foreign DNA. Remodeling leads to the release of paraspeckle proteins, recruitment of STING, and activation of DNAPKc and IRF3. Our study establishes the HDP-RNP as a key nuclear regulator of DNA-mediated activation of innate immune response through the cGAS-STING pathway

Optical and structural analysis of ultra-long GaAs nanowires after nitrogen-plasma passivation

International audienceThe structural and optical properties of individual ultra-long GaAs nanowires (NWs) were studied after different nitrogen passivation process conditions. The surface morphology of the NWs after passivation was characterized by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and high angle annular dark field (HAADF) imaging. Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) confirmed the presence of nitrogen on the NW surface. Micro-photoluminescence (µ-PL) on single NWs indicated an increase of the luminescence intensity upon passivation. This work reveals the efficacy of a plasma passivation process on complex nanometer-scale morphologies