Biodegradation of plant cell walls,wall carbohydrates,and wall aromatics in wheat grown in ambient or enriched CO2 concentrations

Mature internodes from wheat (Triticum aestivum L) grown in control (ambient at c 370 μnol mol^?1) or enriched (to 550 μmol mol^?1) concentrations of atmospheric CO₂ in the free-air CO₂ enrichment (FACE) system were analyzed for potential changes in biodegradation of constituents due to predicted increases in atmospheric levels of CO₂. The first internodes below the grain were incubated with the lignocellulose-degrading white rot fungus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium K-3, or incubated without microorganisms. Plant samples were then analyzed for dry weight loss, disposition of specific cell types to biodegradation using electron microscopy, carbohydrates and lignin using solid state NMR spectroscopy, and ester-and ether-linked aromatics using gas chromatography. Phanerochaete chrysosporium extensively degraded stems cells (c 75%) and both carbohydrate and aromatic portions of the wheat stems; proportionately more carbohydrates were removed by the fungus from the stems. Enriched CO₂ did not affect the chemical composition of wheat stems or the biodegradation by P chrysosporium of plant cell walls or wall components for the most part. Data from various methods all indicated that enriched CO₂ did not substantially alter the biodegradation of wheat cell wall internodes or wall components. Evidence was not found for an influence on C cycling due to CO₂ concentrations in this study.     

Quality Improvement of Fresh-Cut Endive (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cichorium endivia</Emphasis> L.) and Recycling of Washing Water by Low-Dose UV-C Irradiation

Superficial short-wavelength ultraviolet (UV-C) treatment (1.2 kJ/m²) of fresh-cut endive was combined with conventional cold (4 °C, 120 s) and innovative warm (45 °C, 120 s) water washing prior to and after irradiation in order to improve its microbial and sensory quality including physiological properties. UV-C doses applied exerted only minor physiological stress on the plant tissue, irrespective of the washing procedure as indicated by largely unaltered headspace gas compositions, chlorophyll fluorescence maximum quantum yields (F _v/F _m), and retention of chlorophylls and β-carotene. Independent of the washing procedure applied, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and peroxidase (POD) activities were slightly inhibited by UV-C irradiation. As a result of UV-C irradiation, significantly improved microbiological and sensory quality was retained during the entire storage period, particularly, when applied after washing. Being applicable in organic fresh-cut production, UV-C represents a valuable alternative to chlorine application to washing water. The most efficient decontamination (2.1 log₁₀ units) of fresh-cut endive was achieved by combining warm water washing with subsequent UV-C irradiation. Furthermore, when UV-C lamps were integrated into the water tank of a continuous industrial washing machine, the microbial loads of the process water were also significantly lowered. Accordingly, in-line UV-C decontamination of process water may be instrumental in minimizing both fresh water consumption and the risk of cross-contamination.     

Vergleichende Untersuchungen an Osborne-Proteinfraktionen von Weizensorten mit unterschiedlichen Teig- und Backeigenschaften

Zusammenfassung Aus Mehlen der klebrige Teige liefernden Weizensorten Clement (CLE) und Disponent (DIS), die durch Substitution des Weizenchromosoms 1B durch das Roggenchromosom 1R (CLE) bzw. durch 1BL/1RS-Translokation von Chromosomensegmenten (DIS) charakterisiert sind, sowie der normalen Sorte Kolibri (KOL) wurden die Proteine nach Osborne extrahiert. Bei CLE und DIS waren die wasserlöslichen Anteile am Gesamtprotein mit 31,3 und 23,2% deutlich höher als bei KOL mit 15,5%. Während sich die in wäßrigem Ethanol löslichen Anteile bei allen drei Sorten mit 31,5–33,9% weitgehend entsprachen, waren die Mengen an Rückständen nach Ethanolextraktion wiederum deutlich unterschiedlich (CLE: 16,8%, DIS: 21,6%, KOL: 26,4%). Sowohl die Wasserextrakte als auch die Rückstände differierten in der Aminosäurezusammensetzung. Die nähere Untersuchung des Wasserextrakts aus DIS mit Hilfe der Gelchromatographie an Sephadex G100 und der RP-HPLC an Synchropak RP P18 ergab die Anwesenheit von Prolaminen: Aufgrund der Aminosäurezusammensetzung und der N-terminalen Sequenz konnten1,2-Gliadine und/oder-Secaline nachgewiesen werden. Offensichtlich verbleiben diese Prolamine in normalen Sorten wie KOL unter den Bedingungen der klassischen Osborne-Extraktion teilweise im Rückstand der Ethanolextraktion, während sie bei Sorten wie CLE und DIS in den Wasserextrakt gehen. Mit einer modifizierten Osborne-Extraktionsfolge (Salz/Ethanol/Essigsäure) wurde bei allen drei Sorten dagegen die 39–40% des Gesamtproteins ausmachende Prolaminfraktion vollständig in der Ethanolfraktion gefunden. Versuche mit rekonstituierten Mehlen (Wasserextrakte + Rückstände nach Wasserextraktion) zeigten, daß die Klebrigkeit der Teige von DIS auf die wasserlösliche Fraktion zurückgeht und daß mit der wasserlöslichen Fraktion von DIS auch bei KOL Klebrigkeit zu induzieren ist.

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Comparative investigations of Osborne protein fractions from wheat varieties with different dough and baking properties

Summary The proteins of flours from the wheat varieties Clement (CLE) and Disponent (DIS), which are characterized by substitution of the wheat chromosome 1B by the rye chromosome 1R (CLE) and by 1BL/1RS-translocation of chromosome segments (DIS), respectively, and which yield sticky doughs, were extracted by the Osborne procedure and compared with the good variety Kolibri (KOL). CLE and DIS delivered significantly higher amounts of water-soluble proteins (31.2 and 23.2% of the total protein) than KOL (15.5%). The proportions of ethanol-soluble proteins were aproximately constant for the three varieties (31.5–33.9%) while the amounts of residual proteins after extraction with ethanol were significantly different (CLE, 16.8%; DIS, 21.6%; KOL, 26.4%). Water extracts as well as residues exhibited also marked differences in their amino acid compositions. Investigation of the water extract from DIS by gel permeation chromatography and by RP-HPLC showed the presence of prolamins:1,2-gliadins and/or-secalins could be detected on the basis of amino acid composition and N-terminal amino acid sequence. In the case of good varieties such as KOL, these prolamins seem to remain partially in the residue of the ethanol extract under the conditions of the classical Osborne procedure, whereas they are found in the water extract in the case of such varieties as CLE and DIS. On the other hand, a modified Osborne procedure (salt/ethanol/acetic acid) delivered the prolamins, which correspond to 39–40% of the total protein, completely within the ethanol fraction in the case of all three varieties. Investigations of reconstituted flours (water extracts + residues after water extraction) showed that the stickiness of doughs from DIS were caused by the water-soluble fraction. This fraction from DIS was also able to induce stickiness of doughs from KOL.

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Auszug aus der Dissertation von F. Kick [1]     

New approach to chemical functionalization of poly(2‐chloroxylylene) thin films

3‐(8‐Octenyl)thiophene was used for successful preparation of functionalized poly‐(2‐chloro‐xylylene) (PCX) layers in the course of CVD process. The set of spectral methods used has allowed us to conclude that such modification is based on the chemical reaction of double bonds with xylylene radicals. Functionalized films were used for further chemical transformation in the course of polycondensation of 3‐octylthiophene. Resulted samples are bilayer films and polythiophene layer is chemically connected with PCX one. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Towards elucidating the connection between epithelial–mesenchymal transitions and stemness

Epithelial cells undergoing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions have often been shown to behave as cancer stem cells, but the precise molecular connection remains elusive. At the genetic level, stemness is governed by LIN28/let-7 double inhibition switch, whereas EMT/MET is controlled by miR-200/ZEB double inhibition circuit and LIN28 is inhibited by miR-200, coupling the two modules. Here, using a specially devised theoretical framework to investigate the dynamics of the LIN28/let-7 system, we show that it can operate as a three-way switch (between low, high and intermediate LIN28 levels termed the D, U and hybrid D/U states) similar to the three-way operation of the miR-200/ZEB circuit that allows for the existence of a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M) phenotype. We find significant correspondence between the existence of the three states of the two circuits: E–D, M–U and E/M–D/U. Incorporating the activation of OCT4 by LIN28, we find that the hybrid E/M phenotype has high likelihood (when compared with either the E or M states) to gain stemness. Combining the LIN28/let-7 regulation by NF-κB and c-MYC, we find that NF-κB, but not c-MYC, elevates the likelihood of E/M phenotype to gain stemness. Our results are consistent with emerging concept that partial EMT can lead to stemness.     

Neuroendocrine Tumor‐Targeted Upconversion Nanoparticle‐Based Micelles for Simultaneous NIR‐Controlled Combination Chemotherapy and Photodynamic Therapy,and Fluorescence Imaging

Although neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are slow growing, they are frequently metastatic at the time of discovery and no longer amenable to curative surgery, emphasizing the need for the development of other treatments. In this study, multifunctional upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP)‐based theranostic micelles are developed for NET‐targeted and near‐infrared (NIR)‐controlled combination chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT), and bioimaging. The theranostic micelle is formed by individual UCNP functionalized with light‐sensitive amphiphilic block copolymers poly(4,5‐dimethoxy‐2‐nitrobenzyl methacrylate)‐polyethylene glycol (PNBMA‐PEG) and Rose Bengal (RB) photosensitizers. A hydrophobic anticancer drug, AB3, is loaded into the micelles. The NIR‐activated UCNPs emit multiple luminescence bands, including UV, 540 nm, and 650 nm. The UV peaks overlap with the absorption peak of photocleavable hydrophobic PNBMA segments, triggering a rapid drug release due to the NIR‐induced hydrophobic‐to‐hydrophilic transition of the micelle core and thus enabling NIR‐controlled chemotherapy. RB molecules are activated via luminescence resonance energy transfer to generate ¹O₂ for NIR‐induced PDT. Meanwhile, the 650 nm emission allows for efficient fluorescence imaging. KE108, a true pansomatostatin nonapeptide, as an NET‐targeting ligand, drastically increases the tumoral uptake of the micelles. Intravenously injected AB3‐loaded UCNP‐based micelles conjugated with RB and KE108—enabling NET‐targeted combination chemotherapy and PDT—induce the best antitumor efficacy.     

Purification and characterisation of a mollusc hydrolase

Two hydrolase enzymes of the crystalline style of the surf clam, Spisula solidissima, have been purified and characterised. Both enzymes are predominantly exo-hydrolases and have similar properties, suggesting that one is formed from the other. Purification and characterisation were effected to establish the optimum conditions for hydrolytic activity. This is a prerequisite for the determination of their potential use in the food industry, such as for lytic activity on microorganism cell walls. For example, one ultimate aim of this work is the formulation of an enzyme preparation capable of releasing protein from yeasts and fungi for human consumption.     

Report of the U.S. Department of Energy Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee Panel on Burning Plasma Physics

This is the report of a panel set up by the U.S. Department of Energy Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (FESAC) in response to a charge letter on October 5, 2000, from Dr. Mildred Dresselhaus, then Director of the DOE's Office of Science. In that letter, Dr. Dresselhaus asked the FESAC to investigate the subject of burning plasma science. The report addresses several topics, including the scientific issues to be addressed by a burning plasma experiment and its major supporting elements, identification of issues that are generic to toroidal confinement, and the role of the Next-Step Options (NSO) Program.