2, 3-Di-O-sulfo glucuronic acid: an unmodified and unusual residue in a highly sulfated chondroitin sulfate from Litopenaeus vannamei

The occurrence of a natural and unmodified highly sulfated chondroitin sulfate from Litopenaeus vannamei heads (sCS) is herein reported. Its partial digestion by Chondroitinases AC and ABC together with its electrophoretic migration profile revealed it as a highly sulfated chondroitin sulfate despite its average molecular weight being similar to CSA. Using orthogonal 1D/2D NMR experiments, the anomeric signals (δ 4.62/106.0) corresponding to unusual 2,3-di-O-Sulfo-GlcA (∼36%), U33S (δ 4.42/84.1, ∼63%) and U22S (4.12/80.1, ∼50%) substitutions were confirmed. In addition, non-sulfated GlcA (δ 4.5/106.3) linked to 4-O- (A14S, 36%) or 6-O-Sulfo (A16S, 28%) GalNAc (δ 4.64/103.5) was observed. Although the biological role of sCS in shrimp is unknown, its influence on hemostasis was also demonstrated. The sCS identification brings to light new questions about the hierarchical model of GAGs biosynthesis and contributes to the better understanding of the subtle relationship between GAGs structure and function

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci in tropical forage Stylosanthes capitata Vogel

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Stylosanthes capitata is an important tropical pasture legume. Knowledge of genetic diversity and structure of S. capitata populations is of great importance for the conservation and germplasm management of this species. Thus, eight microsatellite markers were developed from an S. capitata-enriched library. They were characterized in 20 accessions from the germplasm collection of the Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria (Embrapa). The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.16 to 0.85 and from 0.40 to 0.85, respectively. These microsatellites are the first set of molecular markers from this species and will contribute towards studies of genetic diversity, conservation and breeding of S. capitata.91192194Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)FAPESP [2005/51010-0]FAPESP [2005/52211-9, 2006/52845-0

Structural and pharmacological profile of generic enoxaparins used in Brazil

Generic active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) have been commonly used in Brazil, since 1999, but most of them are synthetic and small molecules. Recently, a large number of generic enoxaparins were introduced into the market raising concerns related to product-to-product interchangeability, efficiency, and drug counterfeiting. These drugs are produced from biological sources and their production involves complex procedures and purification processes. the present article evaluates several generic enoxaparins, structurally and pharmacologically, and compares them with the branded products. Structural analysis showed that the generic products are, indeed, quite similar to the branded products, however, this similarity cannot be extended to their pharmacological activities. the results showed that generic products must go through extensive structural, pharmacological, and clinical evaluation in order to assess their quality, efficacy and, ultimately, avoid drug counterfeiting before clinical use. Variation was also observed between the branded products, showing that such drugs must be at constant surveillance.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Bioquim, Disciplina Biol Mol, BR-04044020 São Paulo, SP, BrazilLoyola Univ, Med Ctr, Dept Pathol, Maywood, IL 60153 USAUniv Fed Parana, Dept Bioquim & Biol Mol, Lab Quim Carboidratos, BR-80060000 Curitiba, Parana, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Bioquim, Disciplina Biol Mol, BR-04044020 São Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Polymorphic microsatellite loci for Stylosanthes macrocephala Ferr. et Costa, a tropical forage legume

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Microsatellites were developed for Stylosanthes macrocephala, aiming at developing tools for studying the genetic diversity of this species. A total of 13 polymorphic microsatellite markers were isolated from a S. macrocephala enriched genomic library. The isolated microsatellites were characterized in 20 accessions of the S. macrocephala germplasm collection belonging to the Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria (Embrapa) Cerrados. The number of alleles per locus varied from 2 to 11, with an average of 4 alleles per locus. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0 to 0.25 and 0.05 to 0.90, respectively. Cross-amplification of the S. macrocephala polymorphic microsatellites was evaluated in three other Stylosanthes species. The microsatellites reported herein are the first set of microsatellite markers developed for S. macrocephala and are potentially useful for further studies on genetic diversity, conservation and breeding of this species.11481485Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)FAPESP [2005/51010-0, 2005/52211-9