Conjugated linoleic acid reduces permeability and fluidity of adipose plasma membranes from obese Zucker rats

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. July 2010; 398 (2): 199-204.Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a dietary fatty acid frequently used as a body fat reducing agent whose effects upon cell membranes and cellular function remain unknown. Obese Zucker rats were fed atherogenic diets containing saturated fats of vegetable or animal origin with or without 1% CLA, as a mixture of cis(c)9,trans(t)11 and t10,c12 isomers. Plasma membrane vesicles obtained from visceral adi- pose tissue were used to assess the effectiveness of dietary fat and CLA membrane incorporation and its outcome on fluidity and permeability to water and glycerol. A significant decrease in adipose membrane fluidity was correlated with the changes observed in permeability, which seem to be caused by the incor- poration of the t10,c12 CLA isomer into membrane phospholipids. These results indicate that CLA supple- mentation in obese Zucker rats fed saturated and cholesterol rich diets reduces the fluidity and permeability of adipose membranes, therefore not supporting CLA as a body fat reducing agent through membrane fluidification in obese fat consumers

On the physiological significance of alternative splicing events in higher plants

Alternative splicing, which generates multiple transcripts from the same gene and potentially different protein isoforms, is a key posttranscriptional regulatory mechanism for expanding proteomic diversity and functional complexity in higher eukaryotes. The most recent estimates, based on whole transcriptome sequencing, indicate that about 95 % of human and 60 % of Arabidopsis multi-exon genes undergo alternative splicing, suggesting important roles for this mechanism in biological processes. However, while the misregulation of alternative splicing has been associated with many human diseases, its biological relevance in plant systems is just beginning to unfold. We review here the few plant genes for which the production of multiple splice isoforms has been reported to have a clear in vivo functional impact. These case studies implicate alternative splicing in the control of a wide range of physiological and developmental processes, including photosynthetic and starch metabolism, hormone signaling, seed germination, root growth and flowering, as well as in biotic and abiotic stress responses. Future functional characterization of alternative splicing events and identification of the transcripts targeted by major regulators of this versatile means of modulating gene expression should uncover the breadth of its physiological significance in higher plants.FCT fellowship: (SFRH/BPD/80073/2011); Programa Ciência (QREN/MCTES)

Acceptability and Feasibility of Web-based Diabetes Instruction for Latinos with Limited Education and Computer Experience

Introduction: The internet offers an important avenue for developing diabetes self-management skills, but many Latinos have limited experience with computer-based instruction. Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of delivering a web-based diabetes education program in a computer classroom for Spanish-speaking Latinos. Methods: Spanish-speaking Latinos (n=26) attended two classroom sessions to learn computer skills while navigating a web-based diabetes education platform. Diabetes knowledge was assessed before and after the intervention; structured interviews were completed to assess program acceptability. Results: Half of participants (50%) had not previously used a computer. Post-intervention, diabetes knowledge improved significantly (p=.001). The majority of participants (86%) indicated a preference for web-based instruction as a stand-alone program or as an adjunct to traditional classroom training, particularly citing the advantage of being able to engage the material at their own pace. Conclusion: With limited support, Latinos with minimal computer experience can effectively engage in web-based diabetes education

Avaliação de linhagens de sorgo vassoura na Região de Viçosa, MG, Brasil.

O sorgo tipo vassoura caracteriza-se por possuir panícula laxa de ráquis curta e ramificações longas e resistentes, o que a torna propícia para a fabricação de vassouras. Esse trabalho avaliou as características morfológicas de linhagens de sorgo vassoura selecionadas de acessos provenientes de diferentes regiões do Brasil. O experimento foi conduzido na Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brasil, no período de março a julho de 2009. Os tratamentos foram constituídos de nove linhagens de sorgo vassoura e uma variedade comercial (Tietê), utilizada como testemunha. Foram determinadas as características altura de planta na floração, diâmetro do pedúnculo da panícula, comprimento de panícula e comprimento da ráquis. As linhagens não apresentaram diferenças quanto ao diâmetro do pedúnculo da panícula. A linhagem SV08-001 destaca-se quanto ao comprimento da ráquis e altura de planta. As linhagens SV07-060 e SV07-032 apresentaram-se mais promissoras para produção de vassouras de qualidade

Large Scale Production of Spider Silk Protein in E. coli

Spider silks have long been a focus of research due to their remarkable mechanical properties including strength, toughness and elasticity. Moreover, biodegradability and biocompatibility of spider silks make them beneficial to use in biomedical applications. Spiders cannot be farmed because of their territorial and cannibalistic nature. Hence, production of recombinant spider silks is the only feasible solution for large scale production Large scale production is still challenging due to the small recombinant protein size, low yield and low water solubility of bio-synthetic spider silk. The current study reports our progress as well as evolution of effective protocol for large scale bio-synthetic production of spider silk protein in E. coli. Our main spidersilk protein we seek to produce and purify in a large scale is MaSp2. Spider dragline silk is primarily composed of proteins called major ampullate spidroins (MaSps) that consist of a large repeat array flanked by nonrepetitive N- and C- terminal domains. All MaSp genes are co-expressed in the major ampullate gland of Nephila Clavipes

Chitosan/alginate based multilayers to control drug release fromophthalmic lens

In this study we investigated the possibility of using layer-by-layer deposition, based in natural polymers (chitosan and alginate), to control the release of different ophthalmic drugs from three types of lens materials: a silicone-based hydrogel recently proposed by our group as drug releasing soft contact lens (SCL) material and two commercially available materials: CI26Y for intraocular lens (IOLs) and Definitive 50 for SCLs. The optimised coating, consisting in one double layer of (alginate – CaCl2)/(chitosan + glyoxal) topped with a final alginate-CaCl2 layer to avoid chitosan degradation by tear fluid proteins, proved to have excellent features to control the release of the anti-inflammatory, diclofenac, while keeping or improving the physical properties of the lenses. The coating leads to a controlled release of diclofenac from SCL and IOL materials for, at least, one week. Due to its high hydrophilicity (water contact angle ≈ 0) and biocompatibility, it should avoid the use of further surface treatments to enhance the useŕs comfort. However, the barrier effect of this coating is specific for diclofenac, giving evidence to the need of optimizing the chemical composition of the layers in view of the desired drug.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Avaliação de híbridos intraespecíficos de brachiaria decumbens quanto à resistência à cigarrinha-das-pastagens Deois flavopict.

Edição dos resumos da 26ª Reunião Anual do Instituto Biológico, São Paulo, 2013 e 11º Congresso de Iniciação Científica em Ciências Agrárias Biológicas e Ambientais - CICAM, agosto, 2013. Resumo 060

ASPECTS REGARDING THE ENERGY POTENTIAL OF THE MISCANTHUS PLANT

Greenhouse gases resulting from human activities are the most significant driver of climate change. The use of renewable resources obtained by cultivating energy plants, that have the potential of replacing fossil fuels, is one of the most important approaches to reduce the consequences produced by this global climate change hazard.The paper presents information regarding the energy potential of the Miscanthus plant, that can be explored in three main directions: to produce bioethanol, biogas or solid biomass (chopped, pellets or briquettes), then use thermochemical processes for energy production