“Ant” and “Grasshopper” Life-History Strategies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

From the evolutionary and ecological points of view, it is essential to distinguish between the genetic and environmental components of the variability of life-history traits and of their trade-offs. Among the factors affecting this variability, the resource uptake rate deserves particular attention, because it depends on both the environment and the genetic background of the individuals. In order to unravel the bases of the life-history strategies in yeast, we grew a collection of twelve strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae from different industrial and geographical origins in three culture media differing for their glucose content. Using a population dynamics model to fit the change of population size over time, we estimated the intrinsic growth rate (r), the carrying capacity (K), the mean cell size and the glucose consumption rate per cell. The life-history traits, as well as the glucose consumption rate, displayed large genetic and plastic variability and genetic-by-environment interactions. Within each medium, growth rate and carrying capacity were not correlated, but a marked trade-off between these traits was observed over the media, with high K and low r in the glucose rich medium and low K and high r in the other media. The cell size was tightly negatively correlated to carrying capacity in all conditions. The resource consumption rate appeared to be a clear-cut determinant of both the carrying capacity and the cell size in all media, since it accounted for 37% to 84% of the variation of those traits. In a given medium, the strains that consume glucose at high rate have large cell size and low carrying capacity, while the strains that consume glucose at low rate have small cell size but high carrying capacity. These two contrasted behaviors may be metaphorically defined as “ant” and “grasshopper” strategies of resource utilization. Interestingly, a strain may be “ant” in one medium and “grasshopper” in another. These life-history strategies are discussed with regards to yeast physiology, and in an evolutionary perspective

Preparation and characterization of lotus seed starch-fatty acid complexes formed by microfluidization

peer-reviewedUsing dynamic high pressure microfluidization, we prepared starch-lipid complexes from lotus seed starch (LS) and six saturated fatty acids (FAs) of different carbon chain length and analyzed their semi-crystalline structure and digestibility. Iodine blue value analysis showed the highest complex index (86.3%) was observed between LS and octanoic acid (C8). X-ray diffraction analysis showed crystal structure changed from V6II to V6I type with decreasing FA chain length. Small angle x-ray scattering and differential scanning calorimetry analyses confirmed the presence of a strong V6I-type mass fractal structure with a Bragg distance of 12.3 nm in LS-C8, which can be considered to be a type-II complex with high melting temperature (Tp = 123.98 °C). Scanning electron microscopy results showed the complexes had more spherocrystals with decreasing FA chain length. Compared to other FAs, C8 significantly reduced the LS susceptibility to digestive enzymes, increased slowly digestion starch content (26.06%) and decreased digestion rate (3.59 × 10−2)

Slowly digestible properties of lotus seed starch-glycerine monostearin complexes formed by high pressure homogenization

peer-reviewedStarch-lipid complexes were prepared using lotus seed starch (LS) and glycerin monostearate (GMS) via a high-pressure homogenization process, and the effect of high pressure homogenization (HPH) on the slow digestion properties of LS-GMS was investigated. The digestion profiles showed HPH treatment reduced the digestive rate of LS-GMS, and the extent of this change was dependent on homogenized pressure. Scanning electron microscopy displayed HPH treatment change the morphology of LS-GMS, with high pressure producing more compact block-shape structure to resist enzyme digestion. The results of Gel-permeation chromatography and Small-angle X-ray scattering revealed high homogenization pressure impacted molecular weight distribution and semi-crystalline region of complexes, resulting in the formation of new semi-crystalline with repeat unit distance of 16–18 nm and molecular weight distribution of 2.50–2.80 × 105 Da, which displayed strong enzymatic resistance. Differential scanning calorimeter results revealed new semi-crystalline lamellar may originate from type-II complexes that exhibited a high transition temperature

Paste structure and rheological properties of lotus seed starch–glycerin monostearate complexes formed by high-pressure homogenization

peer-reviewedStarch–lipid complexes were prepared using lotus seed starch (LS) and glycerin monostearate (GMS) via a high-pressure homogenization (HPH) process, and the effect of HPH on the paste structure and rheological properties of LS–GMS was investigated. Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA) profiles showed that HPH treatment inhibited the formation of the second viscosity peak of the LS–GMS paste, and the extent of this change was dependent on the level of homogenized pressure. Analysis of the size-exclusion chromatography, light microscopy, and low-field 1H nuclear magnetic resonance results revealed that high homogenized pressure (70–100 MPa) decreased molecular weight and size by degrading the branch structure of amylopectin; however, intact LS–GMS granules can optimize the network structure by filler–matrix interaction, which causes free water to transition into immobile water in the starch paste. The steady-shear results showed that the LS–GMS pastes presented non-Newtonian shear-thinning behavior, with higher homogenized pressure producing a smaller hysteresis loop area. During the oscillation process, the LS–GMS pastes prepared at 100 MPa exhibited the lowest loss tangent values in all the complexes, indicating a stronger resistance to vibration

Rheological properties and structural features of coconut milk emulsions stabilized with maize kernels and starch

peer-reviewedIn this study, maize kernels and starch with different amylose contents at the same concentration were added to coconut milk. The nonionic composite surfactants were used to prepare various types of coconut milk beverages with optimal stability, and their fluid properties were studied. The steady and dynamic rheological property tests show that the loss modulus (G″) of coconut milk is larger than the storage modulus (G′), which is suitable for the pseudoplastic fluid model and has a shear thinning effect. As the droplet size of the coconut milk fluid changed by the addition of maize kernels and starch, the color intensity, ζ-potential, interfacial tension and stability of the sample significantly improved. The addition of the maize kernels significantly reduced the size of the droplets (p < 0.05). The potential values of zeta (ζ) and the surface tension of the coconut milk increased. Based on the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurement, the addition of maize kernels leads to an increase in the transition temperature, especially in samples with a high amylose content. The higher transition temperature can be attributed to the formation of some starches and lipids and the partial denaturation of proteins in coconut milk, but phase separation occurs. These results may be helpful for determining the properties of maize kernels in food-containing emulsions (such as sauces, condiments, and beverages) that achieve the goal of physical stability

Lotus seed oligosaccharides at various dosages with prebiotic activity regulate gut microbiota and relieve constipation in mice.

pre-printThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of lotus seed oligosaccharides (formulation consisting of LSO2, LSO3-1, LSO3-2 and LSO4; relative ratios are 1.107:0.554: 0.183:0.443, m/m/m/m) at dosages of 0.42, 0.83 g/d/kg bw and 2.49 g/d/kg bw on the microbiota composition and the propulsion of intestinal contents in the gut of mice. The results showed that fecal water content increased in treated mice; there was less gut microbiota diversity than in other groups; and there was a large number of fauna in the cecum of the mice. At the same time, the number of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) bacterial producers increased after feeding with oligosaccharides; Lotus seed oligosaccharides (LOS) also enhanced the concentration of SCFAs in the intestine, which also increased the concentration of cytokines in the serum of mice. In conclusion, these findings suggest that LOS or combination with resistant starch has a better effect on relieving constipation

Effects of oligosaccharides on particle structure, pasting and thermal properties of wheat starch granules under different freezing temperatures

peer-reviewedThe effects of fructooligosaccharides (FOS), galactooligosaccharides (GOS), and xylooligosaccharides (XOS) on gelatinization, retrogradation, thermal properties and particle size of wheat starch at different freezing temperatures were studied. The results showed that the wheat starch porosity, particle size, peak viscosity increased with increasing freezing temperature. With the addition of 16% oligosaccharides to starch, the porosity, particle size, crystallinity, initial gelatinization temperature, peak value, breakdown and retrogradation viscosity of the starch granules significantly decreased in the order of XOS > GOS > FOS. However, the pasting temperature of the granules increased. The addition of oligosaccharides (especially XOS, which has the most significant effect in inhibiting starch retrogradation) can inhibit the formation of starch crystal structures to a certain extent, reduce the damage from ice crystals to starch granules and delay starch retrogradation. Therefore, functional oligosaccharides can be used as a potentially effective additive to increase freezing stability in frozen starch-based foods

Novel suppressors of α-synuclein toxicity identified using yeast

The mechanism by which the Parkinson’s disease-related protein α-synuclein (α-syn) causes neurodegeneration has not been elucidated. To determine the genes that protect cells from α-syn, we used a genetic screen to identify suppressors of the super sensitivity of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing α-syn to killing by hydrogen peroxide. Forty genes in ubiquitin-dependent protein catabolism, protein biosynthesis, vesicle trafficking and the response to stress were identified. Five of the forty genes—ENT3, IDP3, JEM1, ARG2 and HSP82—ranked highest in their ability to block α-syn-induced reactive oxygen species accumulation, and these five genes were characterized in more detail. The deletion of any of these five genes enhanced the toxicity of α-syn as judged by growth defects compared with wild-type cells expressing α-syn, which indicates that these genes protect cells from α-syn. Strikingly, four of the five genes are specific for α-syn in that they fail to protect cells from the toxicity of the two inherited mutants A30P or A53T. This finding suggests that α-syn causes toxicity to cells through a different pathway than these two inherited mutants. Lastly, overexpression of Ent3p, which is a clathrin adapter protein involved in protein transport between the Golgi and the vacuole, causes α-syn to redistribute from the plasma membrane into cytoplasmic vesicular structures. Our interpretation is that Ent3p mediates the transport of α-syn to the vacuole for proteolytic degradation. A similar clathrin adaptor protein, epsinR, exists in humans

The Parkinson’s disease-associated protein α-synuclein disrupts stress signaling – a possible implication for methamphetamine use?

The human neuronal protein α-synuclein (α-syn) has been linked by a plethora of studies as a causative factor in sporadic Parkinson’s disease (PD). To speed the pace of discovery about the biology and pathobiology of α-syn, organisms such as yeast, worms, and flies have been used to investigate the mechanisms by which elevated levels of α-syn are toxic to cells and to screen for drugs and genes that suppress this toxicity. We recently reported [Wang et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.(2012) 109: 16119–16124] that human α-syn, at high expression levels, disrupts stress-activated signal transduction pathways in both yeast and human neuroblastoma cells. Disruption of these signaling pathways ultimately leads to vulnerability to stress and to cell death. Here we discuss how the disruption of cell signaling by α-syn may have relevance to the parkinsonism that is associated with the abuse of the drug methamphetamine (meth)

Hollow Fiber Membrane for Organic Solvent Nanofiltration: A Mini Review

Organic solvents take up 80% of the total chemicals used in pharmaceutical and related industries, while their reuse rate is less than 50%. Traditional solvent treatment methods such as distillation and evaporation have many disadvantages such as high cost, environmental unfriendliness, and difficulty in recovering heat-sensitive, high-value molecules. Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) has been a prevalent research topic for the separation and purification of organic solvent systems since the beginning of this century with the benefits of no-phase change, high operational flexibility, low cost, as well as environmental friendliness. Especially, hollow fiber (HF) OSN membranes have gained a lot of attention due to their high packing density and easy scale-up as compared with flat-sheet OSN membranes. This paper critically reviewed the recent research progress in the preparation of HF OSN membranes with high performance, including different materials, preparation methods, and modification treatments. This paper also predicts the future direction of HF OSN membrane development