Recovery and Functional Properties of Soy Storage Proteins from Lab- and Pilot-Plant Scale Oleosome Production

The aim of this study was to investigate soy protein recovery feasibility after lab- and pilot-plant scale oleosome isolation. The proteins were isolated by isoelectric precipitation and by ultrafiltration. The functional properties of the recovered proteins were compared to soy protein isolate produced in our laboratory. The residual lipid content in the aqueous supernatant affected the protein recovery yields and purities. Ethanol precipitation and ultrafiltration resulted in the best protein yields, which were 25 and 26% greater than protein yield obtained by isoelectric precipitation with distilled water dilution. The protein content of the isoelectric precipitated pilot-plant supernatant was higher (98%) than the protein content of ethanol-precipitated proteins (80%). Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed similar peptide profiles for laboratory and pilot-plant supernatants. Protein solubility curves between pH 3 and 8 were typical for soy protein isolate with higher solubilities for proteins obtained from pilot-plant supernatant. The soy protein isolate and ethanol-precipitated protein had the highest emulsification capacity on a dry-weight basis. These desirable functional properties of proteins recovered as co-products after oleosome isolation suggest they are highly suitable for industrial application as food ingredients and their recovery would contribute to the economics of the overall oleosome fractionation process.     

Partial Sperm beta1 Integrin Subunit Deletion Proves Its Involvement in Mouse Gamete Adhesion/Fusion

We have previously shown, using antibodies, that the sperm alpha6beta1 integrin is involved in mouse gamete fusion in vitro. Here we report the conditional knockdown of the sperm Itgb1 gene. It induced a drastic failure of sperm fusogenic ability with sperm accumulation in the perivitelline space of in vitro inseminated oocytes deleted or not for the Itgb1 gene. These data demonstrate that sperm, but not oocyte, beta1 integrin subunit is involved in gamete adhesion/fusion. Curiously, knockdown males were fertile in vivo probably because of the incomplete Cre-mediated deletion of the sperm Itgb1 floxed gene. Indeed, this was shown by Western blot analysis and confirmed by both the viability and litter size of pups obtained by mating partially sperm Itgb1 deleted males with females producing completely deleted Itgb1 oocytes. Because of the total peri-implantation lethality of Itgb1 deletion in mice, we assume that sperm that escaped the Itgb1 excision seemed to be preferentially used to fertilize in vivo. Here, we showed for the first time that the deletion, even partial, of the sperm Itgb1 gene makes the sperm unable to normally fertilize oocytes. However, to elucidate the question of the essentiality of its role during fertilization, further investigations using a mouse expressing a recombinase more effective in male germ cells are necessary.     

Molecular aspects of the transport and toxicity of ochratoxin a

Ochratoxins are a class of naturally occurring compounds produced by several fungi. The most toxic is ochratoxin A (OTA), and occurrence of some human nephropathies and tumors correlate with enhanced OTA exposure. In this Account, the following areas are examined: molecular details of the binding of OTA to human serum albumin (HSA), the influences of binding to HSA on the trans-port of OTA across epithelial cell membranes by organic anion transport proteins, the oxidative activation of OTA, and the formation of OTA adducts with biological molecules. These studies are beginning to provide a detailed chemical model for the trans-port, accumulation, and genotoxic and carcinogenic effects of OTA.     

Phosphonic acid‐containing polysulfones as anticorrosive layers

As a part of research work to elaborate polymeric materials for metal corrosion protection, we have developed a new family of phosphonic acid‐containing polymers. The synthesis and the characterization of polysulfones bearing alkyl phosphonate ester side groups are first described. These polymers are synthesized by direct polycondensation of a phosphonate ester‐containing bisphenol by aromatic nucleophilic substitution. The physicochemical properties of the resulting polymers are described. Acidic hydrolysis of phosphonate esters results in the formation of phosphonic acid groups. A series of phosphonic acid‐containing polysulfones is therefore obtained and characterized. A preliminary evaluation of the anticorrosive properties of these polymers is described. In 0.25M Na₂SO₄ solution, the corrosion rate of a polymer‐coated mild steel sample is much lower than of the free metal substrate. These results suggest that phosphonic acid‐containing polysulfones might be interesting as anticorrosive coatings. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41890.     

Multilayer films ageing under ultraviolet radiations: Complementary study by dielectric spectroscopy

The effect of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on a multilayer film made of poly(ethylene terephthalate)/Polyamide 6/poly(ethylene terephthalate) was investigated by uniaxial tractions, UV‐visible‐NIR and Fourier transformed infra‐red‐attenuated total reflection spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry ( DSC), and dynamic dielectric spectroscopy (DDS). The multilayer was exposed to ultraviolet radiations (filtered at 270 nm) for 7 days, in air. The complexity of the multilayer thermograms recorded by DSC and DDS has required the study of each film constituting the multilayer to assess each the contribution of each one of them. A deterioration in mechanical properties and a decrease in UV transmission for low wavelengths are observed. These evolutions seem to result to the photo‐oxidation of the poly(ethylene terephthalate) film mainly localized at the exposed layer. This layer acts as a UV protection filter for the other layers. However, the DDS analyses show a plasticization effect of the primary mode in the Polyamide 6, which is evidence of photo‐oxidation. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

When NHC Ligands Make a Difference in Gold Catalysis

Thanks to their unique electronic and steric properties, carbene ligands offer highly valuable features for catalysis, including homogenous gold catalysis. The use of carbene-gold complexes has improved existing reactions, either by modifying reactivity modes or by leading to highly asymmetric processes. These topics will be discussed on the basis of selected examples.     

PCA3 and PCA3-Based Nomograms Improve Diagnostic Accuracy in Patients Undergoing First Prostate Biopsy

While now recognized as an aid to predict repeat prostate biopsy outcome, the urinary PCA3 (prostate cancer gene 3) test has also been recently advocated to predict initial biopsy results. The objective is to evaluate the performance of the PCA3 test in predicting results of initial prostate biopsies and to determine whether its incorporation into specific nomograms reinforces its diagnostic value. A prospective study included 601 consecutive patients addressed for initial prostate biopsy. The PCA3 test was performed before ≥12-core initial prostate biopsy, along with standard risk factor assessment. Diagnostic performance of the PCA3 test was evaluated. The three available nomograms (Hansen’s and Chun’s nomograms, as well as the updated Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial risk calculator; PCPT) were applied to the cohort, and their predictive accuracies were assessed in terms of biopsy outcome: the presence of any prostate cancer (PCa) and high-grade prostate cancer (HGPCa). The PCA3 score provided significant predictive accuracy. While the PCPT risk calculator appeared less accurate; both Chun’s and Hansen’s nomograms provided good calibration and high net benefit on decision curve analyses. When applying nomogram-derived PCa probability thresholds ≤30%, ≤6% of HGPCa would have been missed, while avoiding up to 48% of unnecessary biopsies. The urinary PCA3 test and PCA3-incorporating nomograms can be considered as reliable tools to aid in the initial biopsy decision.     

Germanium-antimony-selenium-tellurium thin films: Clusters formation by laser ablation and comparison with clusters from mixtures of elements

Quaternary germanium-antimony-selenium-tellurium (Ge-Sb-Se-Te) thin films deposited from Ge_19.4Sb_16.7Se_63.9−xTe_x (x = 5, 10, 15, and 20) glass-ceramics targets by radio frequency magnetron sputtering were studied using laser ablation quadrupole ion trap time of flight mass spectrometry. Binary, ternary, and quaternary Ge_aSb_bSe_cTe_d clusters were formed and their stoichiometry was determined. By comparison of the clusters obtained from quaternary Ge-Sb-Se-Te thin films and those from ternary Ge-Sb-Te materials, we found that Ge-Te species are not detected from the quaternary system. Furthermore, Ge-Se and Se-Te species are missing in mass spectra generated from Ge-Sb-Se-Te thin films. From the Ge-Sb-Se-Te thin films, 16 clusters were detected while ternary Ge-Sb-Se glasses yielded 26 species. This might be considered as a signal of higher stability of Ge-Sb-Se-Te thin films which is increasing with a higher content of Te. The missing (Se₂⁺, Ge_aSb⁺ (a = 1–4), and GeSe_c⁺ (c = 1, 2)) and new (Ge⁺ and Sb_bTe⁺ (b = 1–3)) clusters may indicate that some of the structural features of the films (Ge₂Se_6/2 and Se₂Sb-SbSe₂) were replaced by (GeSe_4−xTe_x and SbSe_3−xTe_x) ones. In addition, when comparing the stoichiometry of clusters formed from Ge-Sb-Se-Te thin films with those from the mixtures of the elements, only Sb₃⁺ and SbSe⁺ were observed in both cases. The knowledge gained concerning clusters stoichiometry contributes to the elucidation of the processes proceeding during plasma formation used for the chalcogenide thin films deposition.     

4,4‐Dimethyl‐ and Diastereomeric 4‐Hydroxy‐4‐methyl‐ (2S)‐Glutamate Analogues Display Distinct Pharmacological Profiles at Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors and Excitatory Amino Acid Transporters

Subtype‐selective ligands are of great interest to the scientific community, as they provide a tool for investigating the function of one receptor or transporter subtype when functioning in its native environment. Several 4‐substituted (S)‐glutamate (Glu) analogues were synthesized, and altogether this approach has provided important insight into the structure–activity relationships (SAR) for ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs and mGluRs), as well as the excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs). In this work, three 4,4‐disubstituted Glu analogues 1 – 3 , which are hybrid structures of important 4‐substituted Glu analogues 4 – 8 , were investigated at iGluRs and EAATs. Collectively, their pharmacological profiles add new and valuable information to the SAR for the iGluRs and EAAT1–3.     

Variations in Allelochemical Composition of Leachates of Different Organs and Maturity Stages of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus halepensis</Emphasis>

We investigated changes in the occurrence of allelochemicals from leachates of different Pinus halepensis organs taking into account the stages of pine stand age (i.e., young  < 15-years-old, middle age ± 30-years, and old  > 60-years-old). GC-MS analysis of aqueous extracts revealed approx. 59 components from needles and roots. The major constituents were divided into different phytochemical groups—phenolics (50%), fatty acids (44%), and terpenoids. Further analyses were carried out to characterize the distribution of allelochemicals in different organs and P. halepensis successional stages. Roots and needles had two distinct chemical profiles, while needle leachates were composed mainly of oxygenated terpenoids (e.g., α-eudesmol, α-cadinol, and α-terpineol). Roots mainly contained fatty acids. Needles from young pine stands had the highest content of monoterpenes, suggesting their role as potential allelochemicals that could help young pine stands to establish. Pooling the different functional chemical groups showed that needles and, to a lesser extent, old roots, had higher chemical diversity than the roots of young and medium-aged pines. The highest diversity in phenolic constituents and fatty acids was in young needles (D_chem = 2.38). Finally, caffeic acid, a compound that has allelopathic properties was found in aqueous extracts at high concentrations in both young needles and old roots. The role of this compound in mediation of biological interactions in P. halepensis ecosystem functioning is discussed.