Genomic Organization of Microsatellites and LINE-1- like Retrotransposons: Evolutionary Implications for Ctenomys minutus (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae) Cytotypes

Simple Summary In animals, several species contain substantial chromosomal and genomic variation among their populations, but as to what could have driven such diversification is still a puzzle for most cases. Here, we used molecular cytogenetic analysis to expose the main genomic elements involved in the population variation observed in the Neotropical underground rodents of the genus Ctenomys (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae), which harbor the most significant chromosomal variation among mammals (2n = 10 to 2n = 70). These data provide evidence for a correlation between repetitive genomic content and localization of evolutionary breakpoint regions (EBRs) and highlight their direct impact in promoting chromosomal rearrangements. Abstract The Neotropical underground rodents of the genus Ctenomys (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae) comprise about 65 species, which harbor the most significant chromosomal variation among mammals (2n = 10 to 2n = 70). Among them, C. minutus stands out with 45 different cytotypes already identified, among which, seven parental ones, named A to G, are parapatrically distributed in the coastal plains of Southern Brazil. Looking for possible causes that led to such extensive karyotype diversification, we performed chromosomal mapping of different repetitive DNAs, including microsatellites and long interspersed element-1 ( LINE-1 ) retrotransposons in the seven parental cytotypes. Although microsatellites were found mainly in the centromeric and telomeric regions of the chromosomes, different patterns occur for each cytotype, thus revealing specific features. Likewise, the LINE-1 -like retrotransposons also showed a differential distribution for each cytotype, which may be linked to stochastic loss of LINE-1 in some populations. Here, microsatellite motifs (A) 30 , (C) 30 , (CA) 15 , (CAC) 10 , (CAG) 10 , (CGG) 10 , (GA) 15 , and (GAG) 10 could be mapped to fusion of chromosomes 20/17, fission and inversion in the short arm of chromosome 2, fusion of chromosomes 23/19, and different combinations of centric and tandem fusions of chromosomes 22/24/16. These data provide evidence for a correlation between repetitive genomic content and localization of evolutionary breakpoints and highlight their direct impact in promoting chromosomal rearrangements

APROVEITAMENTO DO SUBPRODUTO DO PROCESSAMENTO DE PUPUNHA E AVALIAÇÃO DOS COMPOSTOS FENÓLICOS

Introdução e objetivos: A pupunheira (Bactris gasipaes Kunth), é uma palmeira cultivada, principalmente, para produção de palmito. A industrialização gera grande quantidade de subprodutos, que contêm quantidades significativas de nutrientes e compostos importantes na alimentação. Seu aproveitamento é uma alternativa para diminuir o impacto ambiental e aumentar rentabilidade. Os fenólicos são compostos importantes, sua quantificação revela o poder antioxidante, qualidade do alimento e dos potenciais benefícios à saúde. O objetivo deste estudo, foi avaliar o teor de fenólicos totais do subproduto de pupunha in natura e de sua farinha. Metodologia: As bainhas residuais resultantes do processamento do palmito de pupunha, foram obtidas em indústria de palmito. O preparo da farinha foi realizado de acordo com o proposto por Simas et al. (2010)1, com modificações. O conteúdo de fenólicos totais dos extratos foi determinado de acordo com o método de Zielinski e Kozlowska (2000)2. Os resultados foram submetidos a análise de variança em Software SISVAR®, utilizando o Teste de Tuckey e o de t-Student, a 5% de significância. Resultados e discussões: Os resultados dos fenólicos totais das bainhas in natura, revelam que os extratos etéreo, etanólico e aquoso, apresentaram concentrações variáveis de polifenóis e diferiram estatisticamente (p<0,05). O extrato aquoso no resíduo in natura e na farinha (191,72 e 192,44 mg EAG.100g-1 amostra) apresentaram maiores teores de fenólicos, e foram diferentes estatisticamente (p<0,05). Destaca-se, ainda, o extrato etanólico da farinha e do resíduo in natura (192,37 e 191,15 mg EAG.100g-1 amostra), ao contrário do extrato etéreo (190,99 e 191,97 mg EAG.100g-1 amostra, respectivamente). Conclusões: A bainha residual de pupunha in natura possui quantidade significativa de compostos fenólicos, e o processamento aplicado para a obtenção de farinha promove a manutenção deste conteúdo

Development of flume model of inclined capillary barrier (clay silt/CDW) in a subtropical climate scenario

Interest in research on capillary barrier (CB) in regions with humid climates (tropical and subtropical) is increasing. One of the main advantages of such cover type is the greater flexibility regarding the materials that could compose it. A possibility is the use of construction and demolition wastes (CDW), which would contribute to the solution of CDW destination, a problem in urban centers. Thus, the present work aimed an experimental evaluation of CB cover with CDW in its composition. A CB cover system was reproduced in a physical model in acrylic box, with clay soil as capillary layer and CDW as capillary block, given its granulometric and hydraulic contrast. The layers were arranged with the usual landfill slope, of 1:3, and a very heavy rain, of 90 mm, was simulated. Three tests were performed on the flume model, in which initial CDW saturation degree (S0) was varied in 4,5%, 10,3% and 17,3%. Results indicate formation, indeed, of capillary barrier between the two used materials. The most efficient model was the one with lowest initial CDW S0, of 4,5%. As the CWD S0 increased, time of flow permanence at materials interface decreased, indicating a CWD S0 in which such capillary barriers no longer function effectively. Regarding percolation rate, the maximum for a 90 mm rainfall was 2,7%, which fits the landfill cover projects criteria consulted

Mixing alternating copolymers containing fluorenyl groups with phospholipids to obtain Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett films

The control of molecular architectures may be essential to optimize materials properties for producing luminescent devices from polymers, especially in the blue region of the spectrum. In this Article, we report on the fabrication of Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of polyfluorene copolymers mixed with the phospholipid dimyristoyl phosphatidic acid (DMPA). The copolymers poly(9.9-dioetylfluorene)-co-phenylene (copolymer I) and poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene)-co-quaterphenylene) (copolymer 2) were synthesized via Suzuki reaction. Copolymer I could not form a monolayer on its own, but it yielded stable films when mixed with DMPA. In contrast, Langmuir monolayers could be formed from either the neat copolymer 2 or when mixed with DMPA. The surface pressure and surface potential measurements, in addition to Brewster angle microscopy, indicated that DMPA provided a suitable matrix for copolymer I to form a stable Langmuir film, amenable to transfer as LB films, while enhancing the ability of copolymer 2 to form LB films with enhanced emission, as indicated by fluorescence spectroscopy. Because a high emission was obtained with the mixed LB films and since the molecular-level interactions between the film components can be tuned by changing the experimental conditions to allow For further optimization, one may envisage applications of these films in optical devices such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs).CNPqConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)CapesCoordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP (Brazil

Mitochondrial bioenergetics and redox state are unaltered in Trypanosoma cruzi isolates with compromised mitochondrial complex I subunit genes

In trypanosomatids the involvement of mitochondrial complex I in NADH oxidation has long been debated. Here, we took advantage of natural Trypanosoma cruzi mutants which present conspicuous deletions in ND4, ND5 and ND7 genes coding for complex I subunits to further investigate its functionality. Mitochondrial bioenergetics of wild type and complex I mutants showed no significant differences in oxygen consumption or respiratory control ratios in the presence of NADH-linked substrates or FADH(2)-generating succinate. No correlation could be established between mitochondrial membrane potentials and ND deletions. Since release of reactive oxygen species occurs at complex I, we measured mitochondrial H(2)O(2) formation induced by different substrates. Significant differences not associated to ND deletions were observed among the parasite isolates, demonstrating that these mutations are not important for the control of oxidant production. Our data support the notion that complex I has a limited function in T. cruzi.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Ministerio de Ciencia e Tecnologia/Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico/Ministerio da Sa de (MCT/CNPq/MS-SCTIE-DECIT - Edital de Doen as Negligenciadas) (BZ)Ministerio de Ciencia e Tecnologia/Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico/Ministerio da Sa de (MCT/CNPq/MS-SCTIE-DECIT - Edital de Doen as Negligenciadas) (BZ)INCT de Processos Redox em Biomedicina (AJK).INCT de Processos Redox em Biomedicina (AJK).Universidad del Tolima (Ibague, Colombia)Universidad del Tolima (Ibague, Colombia)Instituto Colombiano Francisco Jose de Caldas (COLCIENCIAS)Instituto Colombiano Francisco Jose de Caldas (COLCIENCIAS