Phosphorus rates on yield and quality of lettuce seeds.

Because of lack of information about phosphorus fertilization in lettuce from the standpoint of seed production, this study was undertaken. The work was carried out in Botucatu, São Paulo state, Brazil, from September 25, 2003 to February 19, 2004, in order to study the influence of crescents phosphorus rates on yield and quality of lettuce seeds, cultivar Verônica. The experimental design was randomized blocks with five treatments (0; 200; 400; 600 and 800 kg ha-1 of P2O5) and five replications. The following characteristics were evaluated: seed production per plant (g plant-1), number of seeds per plant and quality (percentage of germination and seed vigor). A linear increasing was observed on production and number of seeds per plant of lettuce with phosphorus rates, but these rates did not affect the seed physiological quality evaluated on weight of 1,000 seeds (average = 0.91 g), first count of germination (98%), standard germination test (99%), seed germination speed index (68.5), seedling emergence speed index (97.0) and emerged seedlings (49.3%)

Structural basis for mammalian vitamin B(12) transport by transcobalamin

Cobalamin (Cbl, vitamin B(12)) serves for two essential cofactors in mammals. The pathway for its intestinal absorption, plasma transport, and cellular uptake uses cell surface receptors and three Cbl-transporting proteins, haptocorrin, intrinsic factor, and transcobalamin (TC). We present the structure determination of a member of the mammalian Cbl-transporter family. The crystal structures of recombinant human and bovine holo-TCs reveal a two-domain architecture, with an N-terminal α(6)-α(6) barrel and a smaller C-terminal domain. One Cbl molecule in base-on conformation is buried inside the domain interface. Structural data combined with previous binding assays indicate a domain motion in the first step of Cbl binding. In a second step, the weakly coordinated ligand H(2)O at the upper axial side of added H(2)O-Cbl is displaced by a histidine residue of the α(6)-α(6) barrel. Analysis of amino acid conservation on TC’s surface in orthologous proteins suggests the location of the TC-receptor-recognition site in an extended region on the α(6)-α(6) barrel. The TC structure allows for the mapping of sites of amino acid variation due to polymorphisms of the human TC gene. Structural information is used to predict the overall fold of haptocorrin and intrinsic factor and permits a rational approach to the design of new Cbl-based bioconjugates for diagnostic or therapeutic drug delivery

Crystal structure of human intrinsic factor: Cobalamin complex at 2.6-Å resolution

The structure of intrinsic factor (IF) in complex with cobalamin (Cbl) was determined at 2.6-Å resolution. The overall fold of the molecule is that of an α6/α6 barrel. It is a two-domain protein, and the Cbl is bound at the interface of the domains in a base-on conformation. Surprisingly, two full-length molecules, each comprising an α- and a β-domain and one Cbl, and two truncated molecules with only an α- domain are present in the same asymmetric unit. The environment around Cbl is dominated by uncharged residues, and the sixth coordinate position of Co2+ is empty. A detailed comparison between the IF-B12 complex and another Cbl transport protein complex, trans-Cbl-B12, has been made. The pH effect on the binding of Cbl analogues in transport proteins is analyzed. A possible basis for the lack of interchangeability of human and rat IF receptors is presented

Carcass and cut yields and meat qualitative traits of broilers fed diets containing probiotics and prebiotics

This study evaluated the use of different probiotics, prebiotics and symbiotics on the quality of carcasses and meat of broiler chickens. One hundred and eight day-old Cobb male broilers were used (n=108) in a completely randomized design according to a 3x3 factorial, with 3 probiotics in the diet (no probiotics, probiotics 1, probiotics 2) and 3 prebiotics in the diet (no prebiotics, prebiotics 1, prebiotics 2). There were nine treatments with 4 replicates and 3 birds per replicate. The results showed that the carcass and cut yields, color (L* - lightness, a* - redness, and b* - yellowness), pH, cooking losses, shearing force and sensory analysis were not affected by the use of different growth promoters at 42 days of age. It was concluded that growth promoters supplemented to the diet did not affect the studied quantitative and qualitative parameters of the carcass and breast meat of broiler chickens