In vitro antidiabetic and antihypercholesterolemic activities of camel milk protein hydrolysates derived upon simulated gastrointestinal digestion of milk from different camel breeds

This is the final version. Available on open access from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordMilk protein hydrolysates derived from 4 camel breeds (Pakistani, Saheli, Hozami, and Omani) were evaluated for in vitro inhibition of antidiabetic enzymatic markers (dipeptidyl peptidase IV and α-amylase) and antihypercholesterolemic enzymatic markers (pancreatic lipase and cholesterol esterase). Milk samples were subjected to in vitro simulated gastric (SGD) and gastrointestinal digestion (SGID) conditions. In comparison with intact milk proteins, the SGD-derived milk protein hydrolysates showed enhanced inhibition of α-amylase, dipeptidyl peptidase IV, pancreatic lipase, and cholesterol esterase as reflected by lower half-maximal inhibitory concentration values. Overall, milk protein hydrolysates derived from the milk of Hozami and Omani camel breeds displayed higher inhibition of different enzymatic markers compared with milk protein hydrolysates from Pakistani and Saheli breeds. In vitro SGD and SGID processes significantly increased the bioactive properties of milk from all camel breeds. Milk protein hydrolysates from different camel breeds showed significant variations for inhibition of antidiabetic and antihypercholesterolemic enzymatic markers, suggesting the importance of breed selection for production of bioactive peptides. However, further studies on identifying the peptides generated upon SGD and SGID of milk from different camel breeds are needed.United Arab Emirates UniversityZCHS (Zayed Center of Health Science

Photosynthate Regulation of the Root System Architecture Mediated by the Heterotrimeric G Protein Complex in Arabidopsis

Assimilate partitioning to the root system is a desirable developmental trait to control but little is known of the signaling pathway underlying partitioning. A null mutation in the gene encoding the Gβ subunit of the heterotrimeric G protein complex, a nexus for a variety of signaling pathways, confers altered sugar partitioning in roots. While fixed carbon rapidly reached the roots of wild type and agb1-2 mutant seedlings, agb1 roots had more of this fixed carbon in the form of glucose, fructose, and sucrose which manifested as a higher lateral root density. Upon glucose treatment, the agb1-2 mutant had abnormal gene expression in the root tip validated by transcriptome analysis. In addition, PIN2 membrane localization was altered in the agb1-2 mutant. The heterotrimeric G protein complex integrates photosynthesis-derived sugar signaling incorporating both membrane-and transcriptional-based mechanisms. The time constants for these signaling mechanisms are in the same range as photosynthate delivery to the root, raising the possibility that root cells are able to use changes in carbon fixation in real time to adjust growth behavior

Lactobacillus reuteri-fortified camel milk infant formula: Effects of encapsulation, in vitro digestion, and storage conditions on probiotic cell viability and physicochemical characteristics of infant formula

This is the final version. Available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record. Lactobacillus reuteri fortified camel milk infant formula (CMIF) was produced. The effect of encapsulation in different matrices (sodium alginate and galacto-oligosaccharides) via spray drying, simulated infant gastrointestinal digestion (SIGID), and storage conditions (temperature and humidity) on the viability of L. reuteri in CMIF and the physicochemical properties of CMIF were evaluated. Compared with free cells, probiotic cell viability was significantly enhanced against SIGID conditions upon encapsulation. However, L. reuteri viability in CMIF decreased after 60 d of storage, predominantly at higher storage humidity and temperature levels. At the end of the storage period, significant changes in the color values were observed in all CMIF, with a reduction in their greenness, an increase in yellowness, and a wide variation in their whiteness. Moreover, pH values and caking behavior of all CMIF stored at higher temperature (40°C) and humidity [water activity (aw) = 0.52] levels were found to be significantly higher than the samples stored under other conditions. Over 30 d of storage at lower humidity conditions (aw = 0.11 and 0.33) and room temperature (25°C), no significant increase in CMIF lipid oxidation rates was noted. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that, compared with the other storage conditions, CMIF experienced fewer changes in functional groups when stored at aw = 0.11. Microscopic images showed typical morphological characteristics of milk powder, with round to spherical-shaped particles. Overall, camel milk fortified with encapsulated L. reuteri can be suggested as a promising alternative in infant formula industries, potentially able to maintain its physicochemical characteristics as well as viability of probiotic cells when stored at low humidity levels (aw = 0.11) and temperature (25°C), over 60 d of storage.United Arab Emirates University (Al Ain

Molecular docking studies on α-amylase inhibitory peptides from milk of different farm animals

This is the final version. Available on open access from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordMilk-derived peptides have emerged as a popular mean to manage various lifestyle disorders such as diabetes. Fermentation is being explored as one of the faster and efficient way of producing peptides with antidiabetic potential. Therefore, in this study, an attempt was made to comparatively investigate the pancreatic α-amylase (PAA) inhibitory properties of peptides derived from milk of different farm animals through probiotic fermentation. Peptide's identification was carried out using liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and inhibition mechanisms were characterized by molecular docking. Results obtained showed a PAA-IC50 value (the amount of protein equivalent needed to inhibit 50% of enzymes) between 2.39 and 36.1 µg protein equivalent for different fermented samples. Overall, Pediococcus pentosaceus MF000957-derived fermented milk from all animals indicated higher PAA inhibition than other probiotic derived fermented milk (PAA-IC50 values of 6.01, 3.53, 15.6, and 10.8 µg protein equivalent for bovine, camel, goat, and sheep fermented milk). Further, molecular docking analysis indicated that camel milk-derived peptide IMEQQQTEDEQQDK and goat milk-derived peptide DQHQKAMKPWTQPK were the most potent PAA inhibitory peptides. Overall, the study concluded that fermentation derived peptides may prove useful in for managing diabetes via inhibition of carbohydrate digesting enzyme PAA.United Arab Emirates Universit

Altered Germination and Subcellular Localization Patterns for PUB44/SAUL1 in Response to Stress and Phytohormone Treatments

BACKGROUND: In plants, the ubiquitin-proteasome system is emerging as a significant regulatory system throughout the plant lifecycle. The ubiquitination of a target protein requires the sequential actions of the E1, E2 and E3 enzymes, with the latter E3 enzyme conferring target selection in this process. There are a large number of predicted E3 enzymes in plant genomes, and very little is known about the functions of many of these predicted genes. Here we report here an analysis of two closely-related members of the Arabidopsis Plant U-box (PUB) family of E3 ubiquitin ligases, PUB43 and PUB44. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Homozygous pub44/pub44 mutant seedlings were found displayed a seedling lethal phenotype and this corresponded with widespread cell death lesions throughout the cotyledons and roots. Interestingly, heterozygous PUB44/pub44 seedlings were wild-type in appearance yet displayed intermediate levels of cell death lesions in comparison to pub44/pub44 seedlings. In contrast, homozygous pub43/pub43 mutants were viable and did not show any signs of cell death despite the PUB43 gene being more highly expressed than PUB44. The PUB44 mutants are not classical lesion mimic mutants as they did not have increased resistance to plant pathogens. We also observed increased germination rates in mutant seeds for both PUB44 and PUB43 under inhibitory concentrations of abscisic acid. Finally, the subcellular localization of PUB44 was investigated with transient expression assays in BY-2 cells. Under varying conditions, PUB44 was observed to be localized to the cytoplasm, plasma membrane, or nucleus. CONCLUSIONS: Based on mutant plant analyses, the Arabidopsis PUB43 and PUB44 genes are proposed to function during seed germination and early seedling growth. Given PUB44's ability to shuttle from the nucleus to the plasma membrane, PUB44 may be active in different subcellular compartments as part of these biological functions

Vegan diets : practical advice for athletes and exercisers.

With the growth of social media as a platform to share information, veganism is becoming more visible, and could be becoming more accepted in sports and in the health and fitness industry. However, to date, there appears to be a lack of literature that discusses how to manage vegan diets for athletic purposes. This article attempted to review literature in order to provide recommendations for how to construct a vegan diet for athletes and exercisers. While little data could be found in the sports nutrition literature specifically, it was revealed elsewhere that veganism creates challenges that need to be accounted for when designing a nutritious diet. This included the sufficiency of energy and protein; the adequacy of vitamin B12, iron, zinc, calcium, iodine and vitamin D; and the lack of the long-chain n-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA in most plant-based sources. However, via the strategic management of food and appropriate supplementation, it is the contention of this article that a nutritive vegan diet can be designed to achieve the dietary needs of most athletes satisfactorily. Further, it was suggested here that creatine and β-alanine supplementation might be of particular use to vegan athletes, owing to vegetarian diets promoting lower muscle creatine and lower muscle carnosine levels in consumers. Empirical research is needed to examine the effects of vegan diets in athletic populations however, especially if this movement grows in popularity, to ensure that the health and performance of athletic vegans is optimised in accordance with developments in sports nutrition knowledge

Endocrinologic, neurologic, and visual morbidity after treatment for craniopharyngioma

Craniopharyngiomas are locally aggressive tumors which typically are focused in the sellar and suprasellar region near a number of critical neural and vascular structures mediating endocrinologic, behavioral, and visual functions. The present study aims to summarize and compare the published literature regarding morbidity resulting from treatment of craniopharyngioma. We performed a comprehensive search of the published English language literature to identify studies publishing outcome data of patients undergoing surgery for craniopharyngioma. Comparisons of the rates of endocrine, vascular, neurological, and visual complications were performed using Pearson’s chi-squared test, and covariates of interest were fitted into a multivariate logistic regression model. In our data set, 540 patients underwent surgical resection of their tumor. 138 patients received biopsy alone followed by some form of radiotherapy. Mean overall follow-up for all patients in these studies was 54 ± 1.8 months. The overall rate of new endocrinopathy for all patients undergoing surgical resection of their mass was 37% (95% CI = 33–41). Patients receiving GTR had over 2.5 times the rate of developing at least one endocrinopathy compared to patients receiving STR alone or STR + XRT (52 vs. 19 vs. 20%, χ2P < 0.00001). On multivariate analysis, GTR conferred a significant increase in the risk of endocrinopathy compared to STR + XRT (OR = 3.45, 95% CI = 2.05–5.81, P < 0.00001), after controlling for study size and the presence of significant hypothalamic involvement. There was a statistical trend towards worse visual outcomes in patients receiving XRT after STR compared to GTR or STR alone (GTR = 3.5% vs. STR 2.1% vs. STR + XRT 6.4%, P = 0.11). Given the difficulty in obtaining class 1 data regarding the treatment of this tumor, this study can serve as an estimate of expected outcomes for these patients, and guide decision making until these data are available