Protein composition-functionality relationships using novel genetic lines

Doctor of PhilosophyDepartment of Grain Science and IndustryFinlay I. MacRitchieNovel genetic materials were used to deduce gluten protein composition-functionality relationships. The Pegaso bread wheat near-isogenic lines (NILs) included addition, variation and/or deletion of major loci coding for HMW-GS, LMW-GS and gliadins. The waxy wheat lines (Svevo and N11 set) included wild, partial and complete waxy lines. Triticale translocations include 1R.1D and 1A.1D lines (GDS7, Trim, Rhino and Rigel sets) with HMW-GS 5+10 and 2+12. The main goal of the study was to establish the usefulness of NILs as appropriate materials to investigate the structure-function relationships of wheat proteins and to evaluate the performance of unique triticale translocations and waxy wheat lines. Effect of genetic variation on phytochemical (phenolic acid and policosanol) contents was also studied. Innovative methods like MALLS, Lab-on-a-chip and micro (10 g) baking were utilized along with traditional analytical methods. Results confirmed the potential of using NILs in understanding the effects of certain proteins coded at specific loci that might often be targeted in breeding programs. Removal of expected chain terminators at Gli-1/Gli-2 loci causes a shift in MWD to higher values, reflected in higher UPP and dough strength. Lines with HMW-GS 5+10 were clearly separated from 2+12 lines in terms of dough strength and UPP. The present study obtained evidence that modified ω-gliadins acts as chain terminators and cause reduction of protein polymer size and thus shifts in MWD. Marked differences in terms of milling characteristics, protein composition and ultimately in end-use functionality were observed with various waxy wheat null lines. Loaf volumes with waxy wheat flour alone were higher than a 50% blend with commercial wheat; however, breads were unacceptable to consumers in all aspects. Poor milling quality, very low mixing times with low bread loaf volumes were typical of all the triticales studied. However, translocation of the HMW-GS from wheat chromosome 1D increased dough strength, particularly the HMW-GS 5+10. Among the phytochemicals studied, double nulls at Gli-1 loci of Pegaso NILs had the highest total policosanols and total phenolic acid contents.Slight variation to wheat phenolic acid composition and contents were observed with waxy wheat and triticale lines

ALGORITHMS FOR CONSTRUCTING EDGE MAGIC TOTAL LABELING OF COMPLETE BIPARTITE GRAPHS

The study of graph labeling has focused on finding classes of graphs which admits a particular type of labeling. In this paper we consider a particular class of graphs which demonstrates Edge Magic Total Labeling. The class we considered here is a complete bipartite graph Km,n. There are various graph labeling techniques that generalize the idea of a magic square has been proposed earlier. The definition of a magic labeling on a graph with v vertices and e edges is a one to one map taking the vertices and edges onto the integers 1,2,3,………, v+e with the property that the sum of the label on an edge and the labels of its endpoints is constant independent of the choice of edge. We use m x n matrix to construct edge magic total labeling of Km,n

Pirfenidone Induced Photosensitivity Reaction in a Patient with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Drug-induced photosensitivity refers to the development of cutaneous disease as a result of combined effects of a chemical and light. Photosensitivity reactions may result from systemic medications and topically applied compounds. Pirfenidone is known to cause photosensitivity reactions, rash, pruritus and dry skin at high doses. However, similar adverse reactions with low doses of Pirfenidone have not been reported. We report a case of photosensitivity reaction induced by low- dose Pirfenidone in a patient with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)

Robustness of the Process of Nucleoid Exclusion of Protein Aggregates in Escherichia coli

Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology provided funding to Jose Fonseca under grant number PTDC/BBB-MET/1084/2012. Academy of Finland vertical bar Biotieteiden ja Ympariston Tutkimuksen Toimikunta (Forskningsradet for Biovetenskap och Miljo) provided funding to Andre S. Ribeiro under grant number 257603.UNLABELLED: Escherichia coli segregates protein aggregates to the poles by nucleoid exclusion. Combined with cell divisions, this generates heterogeneous aggregate distributions in subsequent cell generations. We studied the robustness of this process with differing medium richness and antibiotics stress, which affect nucleoid size, using multimodal, time-lapse microscopy of live cells expressing both a fluorescently tagged chaperone (IbpA), which identifies in vivo the location of aggregates, and HupA-mCherry, a fluorescent variant of a nucleoid-associated protein. We find that the relative sizes of the nucleoid's major and minor axes change widely, in a positively correlated fashion, with medium richness and antibiotic stress. The aggregate's distribution along the major cell axis also changes between conditions and in agreement with the nucleoid exclusion phenomenon. Consequently, the fraction of aggregates at the midcell region prior to cell division differs between conditions, which will affect the degree of asymmetries in the partitioning of aggregates between cells of future generations. Finally, from the location of the peak of anisotropy in the aggregate displacement distribution, the nucleoid relative size, and the spatiotemporal aggregate distribution, we find that the exclusion of detectable aggregates from midcell is most pronounced in cells with mid-sized nucleoids, which are most common under optimal conditions. We conclude that the aggregate management mechanisms of E. coli are significantly robust but are not immune to stresses due to the tangible effect that these have on nucleoid size. IMPORTANCE: Escherichia coli segregates protein aggregates to the poles by nucleoid exclusion. From live single-cell microscopy studies of the robustness of this process to various stresses known to affect nucleoid size, we find that nucleoid size and aggregate preferential locations change concordantly between conditions. Also, the degree of influence of the nucleoid on aggregate positioning differs between conditions, causing aggregate numbers at midcell to differ in cell division events, which will affect the degree of asymmetries in the partitioning of aggregates between cells of future generations. Finally, we find that aggregate segregation to the cell poles is most pronounced in cells with mid-sized nucleoids. We conclude that the energy-free process of the midcell exclusion of aggregates partially loses effectiveness under stressful conditions.publishersversionpublishe

Ferromagnetism in the Periodic Anderson Model - a Modified Alloy Analogy

We introduce a new aproximation scheme for the periodic Anderson model (PAM). The modified alloy approximation represents an optimum alloy approximation for the strong coupling limit, which can be solved within the CPA-formalism. Zero-temperature and finite-temperature phase diagrams are presented for the PAM in the intermediate-valence regime. The diversity of magnetic properties accessible by variation of the system parameters can be studied by means of quasiparticle densities of states: The conduction band couples either ferro- or antiferromagneticaly to the f-levels. A finite hybridization is a necessary precondition for ferromagnetism. However, too strong hybridization generally suppresses ferromagnetism, but can for certain system parameters also lead to a semi-metallic state with unusual magnetic properties. By comparing with the spectral density approximation, the influence of quasiparticle damping can be examined.Comment: 20 pages, 13 figure

Thioridazine: a potential adjuvant in pharmacotherapy of drug resistant tuberculosis Ki

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Despite advances in control strategies, inadequate treatment and failure to comply with drug regimens have resulted in TB to emerge as one of the most common and deadly infectious diseases worldwide. The emergence of drug-resistant TBhas evolved as a formidable obstacle for comprehensive TB control. Drug-resistant TB can be classified as multi-drug-resistant TB, extensively drug-resistant TB and totally drug resistant TB (TDR-TB). There is a paucity in the development of new drugs against drug-resistant mycobacteria. The focus has shifted to the exploration of anti-mycobacterial properties of drugs approved for other indications. Thioridazine, a drug approved for use in schizophrenia is one such potential agent, which has shown anti-mycobacterial activity. There is evidence of anti-mycobacterial action of Thioridazine in in-vitro and mouse models. There is a compelling need for new anti-mycobacterial drugs that are more effective and have less toxicity. Further clinical trials are advocated favoring the use of thioridazine as an adjuvant in the treatment of TB, especially TDR-TB

Characterization of Pulmonary CYP4B2, Specific Catalyst of Methyl Oxidation of 3-Methylindole

ABSTRACT The selective toxicity of chemicals to lung tissues is predominately mediated by the selective expression of certain pulmonary cytochrome P450 enzymes. This report describes the purification, cloning, and characterization of a unique enzyme, CYP4B2, from goat lung. The purified P450 enzyme was isolated by multistep ion exchange chromatography to electrophoretic homogeneity with an apparent molecular mass of 55,000 Da. Western blotting studies demonstrated that CYP4B enzymes were selectively expressed in lung tissues of rabbits, rats, and mice. Two cDNAs, CYP4B2 and CYP4B2v, were cloned from goat lung tissue. CYP4B2 was predicted to be 511 amino acids and approximately 82% similar to the four known CYP4B1 proteins. Concurrently, a variant of the known human CYP4B1 cDNA, that contained a S207 insertion, was cloned from human lung tissue. The modified recombinant goat CYP4B2 was expressed in Escherichia coli and the enzyme catalyzed the N-hydroxylation of the prototypical substrate 2AF. CYP4B2 preferentially dehydrogenated, rather than hydroxylated, the pneumotoxicant 3-methylindole (3MI) (V max ϭ 4.61 versus 0.83 nmol/nmol of P450/min, respectively). To investigate the relevance of covalent heme binding of CYP4 enzymes in CYP4B2-mediated metabolism of 3MI, a site-directed mutant (CYP4B2/A315E) was evaluated. The mutation had little effect on the V max of either dehydrogenation or hydroxylation but increased the K m , which decreased the catalytic efficiency (V/K) for 3MI. The A315E mutation shifted the absorbance maximum of the enzyme from 448 to 451 nm, suggesting that the electron density of the heme was altered. These results demonstrate that CYP4B2 is highly specific for methyl group oxidation of 3MI, without formation of ring-oxidized metabolites, and seems to be predominately responsible for the highly organ-specific toxicity of 3MI in goats

Applications of Model Reduction Techniques in Aerospace Combustors

In this paper we consider some practical applications of model reduction methods in unstable gas turbine and rocket combustion. We explore a set of promising methods for reducing computational burden in large scale LES calculations of unsteady turbulent combustion, as well as define scenarios in which model reduction can be advantageous. Three combustors will be considered here, that have been well documented in recent times. Reduction of the time taken to perform parametric unsteady simulations of a given geometry will be discussed first. Next, we will present our experiences in the use of reduced models as surrogate representations of fuel injectors, and demonstrate multi-injector simulations in which reduced basis models inter-operate with one another and with full numerical computations. This paper will be an empirical exploration of these ideas, while the formal mathematical implications will be discussed in a separate paper

Arthroscopic fixation of comminuted bony bankart lesion with repair of massive retracted rotator cuff tear-A Technical note

Managing concomitant cuff tears with comminuted bony bankart is a challenging scenario. Appropriate management of bony pathology and the rotator cuff ear is necessary in cases associated with both. Bony Bankart with considerable glenoid involvement results in recurrent instability if not treated accordingly. We describe our preferred technique of bony bankart repair with rotator cuff repair in a seventy years old male diagnosed with a large comminuted bony bankart lesion along with a massive cuff tear