Systematic analysis of yeast strains with possible defects in lipid metabolism

Lipids are essential components of all living cells because they are obligate components of biological membranes, and serve as energy reserves and second messengers. Many but not all genes encoding enzymes involved in fatty acid, phospholipid, sterol or sphingolipid biosynthesis of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been cloned and gene products have been functionally characterized. Less information is available about genes and gene products governing the transport of lipids between organelles and within membranes or the turnover and degradation of complex lipids. To obtain more insight into lipid metabolism, regulation of lipid biosynthesis and the role of lipids in organellar membranes, a group of five European laboratories established methods suitable to screen for novel genes of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae involved in these processes. These investigations were performed within EUROFAN (European Function Analysis Network), a European initiative to identify the functions of unassigned open reading frames that had been detected during the Yeast Genome Sequencing Project. First, the methods required for the complete lipid analysis of yeast cells based on chromatographic techniques were established and standardized. The reliability of these methods was demonstrated using tester strains with established defects in lipid metabolism. During these investigations it was demonstrated that different wild‐type strains, among them FY1679, CEN.PK2‐1C and W303, exhibit marked differences in lipid content and lipid composition. Second, several candidate genes which were assumed to encode proteins involved in lipid metabolism were selected, based on their homology to genes of known function. Finally, lipid composition of mutant strains deleted of the respective open reading frames was determined. For some genes we found evidence suggesting a possible role in lipid metabolism. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of cyclodextrin type on vitamin C, antioxidant activity, and sensory attributes of a mandarin juice enriched with pomegranate and goji berries

Abstract: The effects of the addition of cyclodextrins (CDs), β‐CD, or HP‐β‐CD (1%), on the protection of antioxidant compounds of mandarin juices enriched with pomegranate extract and goji berries juice, was studied. Juices were prepared and after their thermal treatment (98 °C, 30 s) they were stored at 4 °C during 75 d. Vitamin C content, CIE L*a*b* color, antioxidant capacity, retinol equivalents, and sensory properties were studied. Losses on vitamin C were higher (6%) for juices with β‐CD than juices with HP‐β‐CD. Retinol equivalents degradation was lower (3.4%) in juices with HP‐β‐cyclodextrins than in those treated with β‐CD. Lower losses were observed for the instrumental and sensory color intensity in juices with HP‐β‐CD addition. Finally, the antioxidant capacity was also higher in juices treated with HP‐β‐CD. Finally, the overall sensory quality of juices with HP‐β‐CD was the best one after 30 d of cold storage. Even though β‐CD addition did not cause any improvement compared with control juice (without CD addition), the benefits of adding HP‐β‐CD to this particular juice were shown in almost all parameters under study. Practical Application: The present study deals with the practical aspects of the utilization of CDs and CD‐complexes in the food industry. The molecular encapsulation of lipophilic food ingredients with CD are supposed to improve the stability of flavors, vitamins, colorants, and antioxidant activity, leading to extended product shelf life. The HP‐β‐CD treated mandarin juice enriched with pomegranate extract and juice of goji berries will have a more intense color, higher vitamin C content, retinol equivalents, and antioxidant activity during storage and shelf life than control juices, with no CD addition.     

In vivo antioxidant potential of Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) wood extract in young growing pigs exposed to n-3 PUFA-induced oxidative stress

BACKGROUND: Farm animals in intensive farming systems are frequently exposed to oxidative stress, which demands adequate antioxidant protection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant potential of different concentrations of Sweet chestnut wood extract (SCW; 0.75, 1.5 and 3 g kg^?1) in case of n‐3 PUFA‐induced oxidative stress in young pigs. RESULTS: The highest concentration (3 g kg^?1) of SCW decreased malondialdehyde excretion in urine by 31.7%, but had no effect on plasma malondialdehyde. A linear trend towards decrease of urine isoprostanes iPF_2α‐VI was observed with the addition of SCW. All three concentrations of SCW efficiently protected blood lymphocytes from DNA damage and lowered plasma alanine aminotransferase levels. The antioxidative and antigenotoxic effect of 3 g SCW kg^?1 feed was comparable to the effect of 90.4 mg kg^?1 of added vitamin E. CONCLUSION: The results from this study show that, besides being known as antihelmintic, antimicrobial and antiviral agent, Sweet chestnut wood extract could also be considered as a promising natural antioxidant in animal nutrition. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Cross-cultural differences in memory: The role of culture-based stereotypes about aging.

The extent to which cultural stereotypes about aging contribute to age differences in memory performance is investigated by comparing younger and older Anglophone Canadians to demographically matched Chinese Canadians, who tend to hold more positive views of aging. Four memory tests were administered. In contrast to B. Levy and E. Langer's (1994) findings, younger adults in both cultural groups outperformed their older comparison group on all memory tests. For 2 tests, which made use of visual stimuli resembling ideographic characters in written Chinese, the older Chinese Canadians approached, but did not reach, the performance achieved by their younger counterparts, as well as outperformed the older Anglophone Canadians. However, on the other two tests, which assess memory for complex figures and abstract designs, no differences were observed between the older Chinese and Anglophone Canadians. Path analysis results suggest that this pattern of findings is not easily attributed to a wholly culturally based account of age differences in memory performance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rats alternate on a dry-land but not swimming-pool (Morris task) place task: Implications for spatial processing.

Groups of rats were rewarded with food for traveling from a start point to 2 different locations while their alternations in choice between those locations on 2 daily trials were recorded. In one experimental condition, the rats swam and received food once they climbed upon a platform that was hidden just below the surface of the water at the food location. In the other condition, the rats walked to reach the food. It was found that the rats did not alternate their choices between target locations when swimming but that they did alternate target choices when walking. Even experience in alternating when walking did not produce reliable alternation when swimming. It is proposed that rats treat escape (swimming) and search (walking) tasks in different ways, and this difference is discussed with respect to the possibility that different central processes may be used in the task solutions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Experimental model identification and vibration control of a smart cantilever beam using piezoelectric actuators and sensors

Mechanical lightweight structures often tend to unwanted vibrations due to disturbances. Passive methods for increasing the structural damping are often inadequate for the vibration suppression, since they include additional mass in the form of damping materials, additional stiffening designs or mass damper. In this paper the concept of an active vibration control for piezoelectric light weight structures is introduced and presented through several subsequent steps: model identification, controller design, simulation, experimental verification and implementation on a particular object??piezoelectric smart cantilever beam. Special attention is paid to experimental testing and verification of the results obtained through simulations. The efficiency of the modeling procedure through the subspace-based system identification along with the efficiency of the designed optimal controller are proven based on the experimental verification, which results in vibration suppression to a very high extent not only in comparison with the uncontrolled case, but also in comparison with previously achieved results. The experimental work demonstrates a very good agreement between simulations and experimental results.     

Changes in biogenic amine and polyamine contents in smear-ripened cheeses during storage

The content of eight biologically active amines in two groups of smear-ripened cheeses (unwashed-rind and washed-rind) was analysed. The biogenic amine levels were determined after storage at 5 °C in three periods of shelf lifetime: at the minimum durability date; 1 and 2 weeks after this date. The analytical procedure consisted of amine extraction from sample matrix, derivatisation with dansyl chloride and ultra-performance liquid chromatography quantification. The content of biogenic amines and polyamines significantly differed according to the technology of ripening. The cheeses unwashed during ripening had much higher contents of all observed amines and polyamines in comparison with the washed-rind cheeses. The mean content of putrescine, cadaverine and tyramine exceeded 100 mg/kg in unwashed-rind cheeses, while the other amines occurred at lower levels. The content of all detected amines was very low in washed-rind cheeses; no tryptamine, phenylethylamine and histamine were found. The effect of storage on the amine formation was not confirmed.