Nuclear diacylglycerol produced by phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C is responsible for nuclear translocation of protein kinase C-alpha

It is well established that an independent inositide cycle is present within the nucleus, where it is involved in the control of cell proliferation and differentiation. Previous results have shown that when Swiss 3T3 cells are treated with insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) a rapid and sustained increase in mass of diacylglycerol (DAG) occurs within the nuclei, accompanied by a decrease in the levels of both phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. However, it is unclear whether or not other lipids could contribute to this prolonged rise in DAG levels. We now report that the IGF-I-dependent increase in nuclear DAG production can be inhibited by the specific phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C inhibitor 1-O-octadeyl-2-O-methyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine or by neomycin sulfate but not by the purported phosphatidylcholine-phospholipase C specific inhibitor D609 or by inhibitors of phospholipase D-mediated DAG generation. Treatment of cells with 1-O-octadeyl-2-O-methyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine or neomycin sulfate inhibited translocation of protein kinase C-alpha to the nucleus. Moreover, exposure of cells to 1-O-octadeyl-2-O-methyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, but not to D609, dramatically reduced the number of cells entering S-phase upon stimulation with IGF-I. These results suggest that the only phospholipase responsible for generation of nuclear DAG after IGF-I stimulation of 3T3 cells is PI-PLC. When this activity is inhibited, neither DAG rise is seen nor PKC-alpha translocation to the nucleus occurs. Furthermore, this PI-PLC activity appears to be essential for the G0/G1 to S-phase transition.     

Blind quality assessment system for multimedia communications using tracing watermarking

This paper presents a novel method to blindly estimate the quality of a multimedia communication link by means of an unconventional use of digital fragile watermarking. Data hiding by digital watermarking is usually employed for multimedia copyright protection, authenticity verification, or similar purposes. However, watermarking is here adopted as a technique to provide a blind measure of the quality of service in multimedia communications. Specifically, a fragile watermark is hidden in an MPEG-like host data video transport stream using a spread-spectrum approach. Like a tracing signal, the watermark tracks the data, where it is embedded, since both the watermark and the host data follow the same communication link. The estimation of the tracing watermark allows dynamically evaluating the effective quality of the provided video services. This depends on the whole physical layer, including the employed video co/decoder. The performed method is based on the evaluation of the mean-square-error between the estimated and the actual watermarks. The proposed technique has been designed for application to wireless multimedia communication systems. According to the results obtained, the sensitivity of the detected tracing watermark on the quality of service (QoS) indices provides for some useful capabilities for analyzing future mobile Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) services.     

Selective oxidation of CO in hydrogen atmosphere on Pt–Fe catalysts supported on zeolite P-based materials

The catalytic properties of Pt supported on zeolite P (ZP)-based materials for the preferential CO oxidation in hydrogen atmosphere under mild conditions (from room temperature to 150 °C), have been investigated. Pt catalysts (1–4 wt%) supported on a zeolitized pumice support (Z-PM) have been prepared. A series of bimetallic Pt–Fe on ZP, having 2 wt% Pt and different Fe loading (0.5–4 wt%), have been also prepared and used as model catalysts. A detailed characterization of the catalysts has been carried out by means of surface area and porosity measurements, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy in order to investigate the morphological and microstructural properties of both support and catalytic system. Pt/Z-PM exhibited complete CO conversion with 55 % selectivity at temperatures as low as 50 °C, with no noticeable degradation of the catalytic performances, indicating that the Fe content present as an impurity in the zeolitized pumice support allows to obtain catalysts characterized by high activity and stability. On the basis of the characterization and kinetic tests, hypotheses on the role of Fe promoter have been formulated.     

Melatonin Prevents Chemical-Induced Haemopoietic Cell Death

Melatonin (MEL), a methoxyindole synthesized by the pineal gland, is a powerful antioxidant in tissues as well as within cells, with a fundamental role in ameliorating homeostasis in a number of specific pathologies. It acts both as a direct radical scavenger and by stimulating production/activity of intracellular antioxidant enzymes. In this work, some chemical triggers, with different mechanisms of action, have been chosen to induce cell death in U937 hematopoietic cell line. Cells were pre-treated with 100 μM MEL and then exposed to hydrogen peroxide or staurosporine. Morphological analyses, TUNEL reaction and Orange/PI double staining have been used to recognize ultrastructural apoptotic patterns and to evaluate DNA behavior. Chemical damage and potential MEL anti-apoptotic effects were quantified by means of Tali^® Image-Based Cytometer, able to monitor cell viability and apoptotic events. After trigger exposure, chromatin condensation, micronuclei formation and DNA fragmentation have been observed, all suggesting apoptotic cell death. These events underwent a statistically significant decrease in samples pre-treated with MEL. After caspase inhibition and subsequent assessment of cell viability, we demonstrated that apoptosis occurs, at least in part, through the mitochondrial pathway and that MEL interacts at this level to rescue U937 cells from death.     

Use of HS‐SPME‐GC‐MS for the classification of Italian lemon,orange and citrus spp. honeys

Volatile compounds from 90 Italian citrus honeys of different varieties (lemon, Citrus limon (L.) Burm., orange, Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck, and citrus, Citrus spp.), 30 provided by CRA‐API (Consiglio per la Ricerca e la Sperimentazione in Agricoltura‐Unità di ricerca di apicoltura e bachicoltura) (Bologna, Italy) and 60 purchased on the markets, were analysed to classify them according to the characteristic aroma profiles. A HS‐SPME‐GC method previously developed and validated was applied. Factor analysis and general discriminant analysis (GDA) were carried out on peaks and intensity data. Statistical analyses revealed a good separation between samples; the best model based on peaks data shows 66.5% and 33.5% of total variance explained by the first and the second canonical functions and a predictive capacity of 78.9%. Regarding the intensity data, the CFs of the GDA model explain 53.8% and 46.2% of the total variance and the crossvalidation shows a predictive capacity of 96.7%.     

Galacto-oligosaccharides production during lactose hydrolysis by free Aspergillus oryzae β-galactosidase and immobilized on magnetic polysiloxane-polyvinyl alcohol

The synthesis of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) by the action of Aspergillus oryzae β-galactosidase free and immobilized on magnetic polysiloxane-polyvinyl alcohol (mPOS-PVA) was studied. A maximum GOS concentration of 26% (w/v) of total sugars was achieved at near 55% lactose conversion from 50%, w/v lactose solution at pH 4.5 and 40 °C. Trisaccharides accounted for more than 81% of the total GOS produced. GOS formation was not considerably affected by pH and temperature. The concentrations of glucose and galactose encountered near maximum GOS concentration greatly inhibited the reactions and reduced GOS yield. GOS formation was not affected by enzyme immobilization in the mPOS-PVA matrix, indicating the absence of diffusional limitations in the enzyme carrier. Furthermore, this water insoluble magnetic derivative was reutilized 10-times and retained about 84% of the initial activity. In addition, the kinetic parameters for various initial lactose concentrations were determined and compared for the free and immobilized enzyme.     

A novel and efficient catalytic epoxidation of monoterpenes by homogeneous and heterogeneous methyltrioxorhenium in ionic liquids

A convenient and efficient synthesis of monoterpene epoxides by application of methyltrioxorhenium and heterogeneous poly(4-vinylpyridine)/methyltrioxorhenium and microencapsulated polystyrene/methyltrioxorhenium catalytic systems in ionic liquids is described here. It was found that even highly sensitive terpenic epoxides were obtained in excellent yields. Environmentally friendly, easily available and low cost (UHP) urea hydrogen peroxide adduct was used as the primary oxidant. Catalysts were stable systems for at least four recycling oxidations. Experimental results showed that the reactions performed in ionic liquids were more selective and efficient than the ones performed in molecular solvents.     

Selective Hydrogenation of Cinnamaldehyde on Pt and Pt-Fe Catalysts Supported on Zeolite P

Abstract  

Pt– and Pt–Fe based catalysts on zeolite P (ZP) support have been prepared and widely characterized by surface area and porosity, XRD, SEM, TEM, TPR, in order to investigate their morphological and microstructural properties. The catalysts have been tested in the selective liquid-phase hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde. Kinetic tests have shown the beneficial effect of Fe promoter on the catalysts behaviour towards the selective formation of cinnamyl alcohol (85% selectivity to 90% conversion). The ZP supported catalysts have been compared with a catalyst supported on P-zeolitized Fe containing pumice (Z-PM), confirming the role of Fe Lewis acid site in promoting the reactivity of zeolite P-based materials.