Embrapa agrienergy and bioinformatics.

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Embrapa Agrienergy oil palm research platform focuses in developing biotechnology and bioinformatics to assist breeding.

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Hand-held lactate analyzer as a tool for the real-time measurement of blood lactate during slaughter and pork quality prediction

A total of 600 pigs was randomly chosen on arrival at a commercial slaughter plant and sampled for lactate analysis from the ear vein using a Lactate Scout Analyzer (LSA) at unloading (UN), after lairage (LA), in the restrainer (RE; before stunning), and from the ear vein (EX1) and the bleeding incision (EX2) at exsanguination. Pigs were distributedinto two pen groups, one kept in lairage overnight (G1) and the other kept between 2 and 3 h before slaughter (G2).Meat quality was assessed in the Longissimus dorsi(LD), Semimembranosus (SM) and Adductor(AD) muscles. Data were analyzed using Spearman correlations and the MIXED procedure of SAS. Greater (P=0.009) levels of blood lactate were found in pigs laired longer, which resulted in LD and SM muscles with greater pHu (P=0.03 and P=0.001, respectively), as well as lower L* (P=0.005and P=0.008, respectively)and drip loss (P=0.01 and P=0.02, respectively). The greatest correlation with lactate levels was observed at LA with pHu value of the SM and AD muscles (r=0.40; P<0.001). LSA lactate levels reliably reflect the physiological response of pigs to preslaughter procedures and may help explain the variation in pork quality as measured in the ham muscles

Caracterização funcional do transcriptoma de amendoim forrageiro.

O uso do amendoim forrageiro em consórcios com gramíneas nas pastagens e como cobertura verde, consorciado com culturas comerciais, tem crescido nos últimos anos. A análise do genoma funcional permite a identificação de genes de interesse agronômico. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar a anotação funcional de genes do transcriptoma de folhas de Arachis pintoi. Dos 98.432 transcritos analisados, 69% apresentaram correspondências com o banco de dados de proteínas do National Center of Biotechnology Information. As classes função molecular (36%) e processo biológico (35,8%) representaram a maioria dos termos de Gene Ontology atribuídos, enquanto o componente celular (28,2%) apresentou menor número. A análise de expressão diferencial identificou 1.550 e 1.357 genes com maior nível de expressão nas cultivares Amarillo e Belomonte, respectivamente. A análise de enriquecimento dos genes mostrou que 55,63% pertencem à classe componente celular, seguida por função molecular (26,48%) e processo biológico (20,89%). Esses resultados são o primeiro relato de anotação funcional de A. pintoi que irá fornecer uma importante fonte de informação para avanços nos estudos de expressão, silenciamento e edição gênica nos programas de melhoramento de Arachis.Editores técnicos: Rodrigo Souza Santos; Fabiano Marçal Estanislau

Physiological characterization and transcriptome analysis of Pichia pastoris reveals its response to lignocellulose-derived inhibitors.

The negative efects of lignocellulose-derived inhibitors such as acetic acid and furaldehydes on microbial metabolism constitute a signifcant drawback to the usage of biomass feedstocks for the production of fuels and chemicals. The yeast Pichia pastoris has shown a great biotechnological potential for producing heterologous proteins and renewable chemicals. Despite its relevance, the performance of P. pastoris in presence of lignocellulose-derived inhibitors remains unclear. In this work, our results show for the frst time the dose-dependent response of P. pastoris to acetic acid, furaldehydes (HMF and furfural), and sugarcane biomass hydrolysate, both at physiological and transcriptional levels. The yeast was able to grow in synthetic media with up to 6 g.L-1 acetic acid, 1.75 g.L-1 furaldehydes or hydrolysate diluted to 10% (v/v). However, its metabolism was completely hindered in presence of hydrolysate diluted to 30% (v/v). Additionally, the yeast was capable to co-consume acetic acid and glucose. At the transcriptional level, P. pastoris response to lignocellulose-derived inhibitors relays on the up-regulation of genes related to transmembrane transport, oxidoreductase activities, RNA processing, and the repression of pathways related to biosynthetic processes and central carbon metabolism. These results demonstrate a polygenetic response that involves detoxifcation activi ties, and maintenance of energy and cellular homeostasis. In this context, ALD4, OYE3, QOR2, NTL100, YCT1, and PPR1 were identifed as target genes to improve P. pastoris tolerance. Altogether, this work provides valuable insights into the P. pastoris stress tolerance, which can be useful to expand its use in diferent bioprocesses