Análise e caracterização do gene de osmotina em cupuaçuzeiro.

O cupuaçuzeiro, Theobroma grandiflorum (Willd. ex Spreng.) Schum., pertence à família Malvaceae e é nativo da região Amazônica. A cultura do cupuaçuzeiro é afetada pela doença vassoura-de-bruxa, causada pelo fungo Moniliophthora perniciosa, provocando uma grande redução na produção de frutos. O conhecimento molecular da interação planta-patógeno é essencial para o desenvolvimento de ferramentas para o controle da doença, como por exemplo, a identificação de genótipos resistentes. Genes expressos em resposta ao ataque de patógenos são alvos de estudos desta interação. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi caracterizar um deles, o gene de osmotina, em cupuaçuzeiro. Sequências anotadas do transcriptoma de frutos de cupuaçuzeiro foram avaliadas quanto à presença deste gene. Os genes identificados foram comparados ao de osmotina de cacau pelo programa BLAST. Além disso, a organização do gene foi analisada por Southern blot, utilizando DNA genômico de cupuaçu. Identificaram-se duas sequências tipo osmotina: uma de 381 pb e outra de 477 pb, que correspondem a aproximadamente 63% e 79%, respectivamente, da região codificadora da proteína madura de cacau (607 pb). A comparação destas duas sequências com o gene de osmotina de cacau revelou identidade de cerca de 70%. Quanto à organização genômica em cupuaçu, foi observado que o gene está presente em múltiplas cópias. Estudos posteriores são necessários para investigar o envolvimento deste gene com os fenótipos de resistência à vassoura-de-bruxa

Identificação e análise de genes expressos em semente e polpa de cupuaçuzeiro.

O cupuaçuzeiro, Theobroma grandiflorum (Willd. ex Spreng.) Schumm., é a segunda espécie mais importante para a fruticultura da região amazônica, com cerca de 10% do mercado de todas as frutas amazônicas. Apesar de sua importância econômica, pouco se conhece sobre a base genética desta planta, em particular, as bases moleculares. Este trabalho teve como objetivo identificar genes expressos em frutos de cupuaçuzeiro, para disponibilizar uma nova ferramenta de apoio aos trabalhos de melhoramento genético. RNA dos frutos foram obtidos e, após processamento, as sequências foram determinadas por pirosequenciamento, utilizando-se a plataforma 454 (Roche Applied Science). Para os processos de limpeza das sequências e obtenção dos contigs, foram utilizados os programas est2assembly e mira assembly. A busca por similaridade foi realizada utilizando o programa BLASTX contra o banco de dados de proteínas NR (não-redundante). Cerca de 6.200 contigs apresentaram similaridade com proteínas previamente descritas. Em seguida, foram selecionados alguns contigs com potencial para utilização nos programas de melhoramento vegetal. Dentre eles, 20 foram similares a proteínas descritas para o gênero Theobroma e 6 para outros gêneros. As sequências selecionadas são relacionadas a genes codificadores de proteínas de reserva, de resposta a estresse, da via de síntese de ácidos graxos, etc. Análises mais aprofundadas das sequências permitirão a construção de uma importante base de dados moleculares para esta cultura

Genomic analysis in the study of drought tolerance using recombinant inbred lines and recurrent selection.

Plant breeding for drought tolerance is one of the approaches that can be applied in order to improve water use efficiency in agriculture

Experimental Signature of Medium Modifications for rho and omega Mesons in the 12 GeV p + A Reactions

The invariant mass spectra of e+e- pairs produced in 12-GeV proton-induced nuclear reactions are measured at the KEK Proton-Synchrotron. On the low-mass side of the omega meson peak, a significant enhancement over the known hadronic sources has been observed. The mass spectra, including the excess, are well reproduced by a model that takes into account the density dependence of the vector meson mass modification, as theoretically predicted.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, Version accepted for Physical Review Lette

Overexpression of grappa encoding a histone methyltransferase enhances stress resistance in Drosophila

Histone deacetylases, such as silent information regulator 2 (Sir2) and Rpd3 are involved in chromatin silencing and implicated in lifespan determination in several organisms. The yeast Dot1 gene encoding a histone methyltransferase affects localization of silencing proteins including Sir2, and plays an essential role in the repair of damaged DNA. However, it is not known whether an alteration of a histone methyltransferase activity influences lifespan or stress resistance, which is often associated with extended lifespan. Here we investigated whether the Drosophilagrappa (gpp) gene, a Dot1 homolog influences lifespan and stress resistance using transgenic flies overexpressing gpp and those bearing a partial loss-of-function mutation. Overexpression of gpp throughout the adult stage did not extend the lifespan, but significantly enhanced resistances when they were kept on medium containing 1% H(2)O(2), or those with poor nutrients. As well, gpp-overexpressing flies were behaviourally more active than control flies. We investigated whether gpp overexpression induced anti-oxidant genes, Catalase, Sod, Sod2, GstD2, dhd, TrxT and Trx-2. However, none of these genes was induced. A partial loss-of-function mutations in gpp dramatically reduced the lifespan under oxidative and caloric stresses. Taken together, these results demonstrated that gpp is required for normal lifespan and stress resistance, and that its overexpression increases stress resistance in Drosophila, without obvious induction of representative anti-oxidant genes

Analysis of the breast cancer journey in Namibia

Importance: Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cancer among women in Namibia. Examining the BC journey in this multiracial country where inequalities remain large is needed to inform effective interventions to reduce BC mortality. Objective: To describe the entire BC journey of Namibian women by race, utilizing the World Health Organization Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) framework. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study used the Namibian subset of the African Breast Cancer–Disparities in Outcomes prospective cohort. Participants were all Namibian residents with confirmed incident BC who presented at the main national public oncology center of the Windhoek Central Hospital (WCH). Follow-up started from recruitment (September 8, 2014, to October 5, 2016) and ended up to 3 years after diagnosis (December 13, 2014, to September 27, 2019). Data analysis was conducted from June 2022 to August 2023. Exposures: Participants’ self-reported ethnicities were aggregated into 3 population groups: Black, mixed ancestry, and White. Main Outcomes and Measures: Three-year overall survival (OS) was examined using Cox models, and summary statistics were used to describe women’s BC journey, including GBCI pillar key performance indicators: (1) early stage (TNM I or II) diagnosis (population benchmark ≥60%), (2) prompt diagnosis, ie, 60 days or less to first health care practitioner visit (population benchmark 100%), and (3) completion of recommended multimodal treatment (MT, ie, surgery plus chemotherapy) (population benchmark ≥80%). Results: Of 405 women, there were 300 (74%) Black (mean [SD] age, 53 [15] years), 49 (12%) mixed ancestry (mean [SD] age, 53 [7] years), and 56 (14%) White (mean [SD] age, 59 [12] years) patients. Three-year OS was lowest in Black women (60% [95% CI, 54%-66%]; mixed ancestry: 80% [95% CI, 65%-89%]; White: 89% [95% CI, 77%-95%]), who had lower prevalence of early stage diagnosis (Black: 37% [95% CI, 31%-42%]; mixed ancestry and White: 75% [95% CI, 66%-83%]) and timely diagnosis (Black: 60% [95% CI, 54%-66%]; mixed ancestry and White: 77% [95% CI, 69%-85%]), while MT completion (Black: 53% [95% CI, 46%-59%]; mixed ancestry and White: 63% [95% CI, 50%-73%]) was low in all women. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of 405 Namibian residents with BC, marked racial disparities in survival were paralleled by inequities all along the BC journey. To improve BC survival, interventions are needed to promote earlier diagnosis in Black Namibian women and to increase MT initiation and completion in all women

Lyso-GM2 Ganglioside: A Possible Biomarker of Tay-Sachs Disease and Sandhoff Disease

To find a new biomarker of Tay-Sachs disease and Sandhoff disease. The lyso-GM2 ganglioside (lyso-GM2) levels in the brain and plasma in Sandhoff mice were measured by means of high performance liquid chromatography and the effect of a modified hexosaminidase (Hex) B exhibiting Hex A-like activity was examined. Then, the lyso-GM2 concentrations in human plasma samples were determined. The lyso-GM2 levels in the brain and plasma in Sandhoff mice were apparently increased compared with those in wild-type mice, and they decreased on intracerebroventricular administration of the modified Hex B. The lyso-GM2 levels in plasma of patients with Tay-Sachs disease and Sandhoff disease were increased, and the increase in lyso-GM2 was associated with a decrease in Hex A activity. Lyso-GM2 is expected to be a potential biomarker of Tay-Sachs disease and Sandhoff disease