Identification and expression analysis of microRNAs and targets in the biofuel crop sugarcane

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

PRP8 intein in Ajellomycetaceae family pathogens: Sequence analysis, splicing evaluation and homing endonuclease activity

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Cytogenetic analysis of A- and B-chromosomes of Prochilodus lineatus (Teleostei, Prochilodontidae) using different restriction enzyme banding and staining methods

Different cytogenetic techniques were used to analyse the chromosomes of Prochilodus lineatus with the main objective of comparing the base composition of A- and B-chromosomes. The results of digestion of chromosomes with 10 different restriction endonucleases (REs), silver staining, CMA(3) staining and C-banding indicated the existence of different classes of highly repetitive DNA in the A-set and also suggested the existence of compositional differences between the chromatin of A- and B-chromosomes. The 5-BrdU incorporation technique showed a late replicating pattern in all B-chromosomes and in some heterochromatic pericentromeric regions of A-chromosomes. The cleavage with RE BamHI produced a band pattern in all chromosomes of P. lineatus which permitted the tentative pairing of homologues in the karyotype of this species. We concluded that the combined use of the above techniques can contribute to the correct identification of chromosomes and the karyotypic analysis in fishes. on the basis of the results, some aspects of chromosome structure and the origin of the B-chromosomes in P. lineatus are discussed.

Chemical investigation and effects of the tea of Passiflora alata on biochemical parameters in rats

Passiflora alata (Passifloraceae) is a native plant from the South-America tropical forest that provides a much apreciated fruit known as maracuja-doce. Although tea of the leaves of Passiflora alata is used in folk medicine as a sedative and tranquilizer, there are no investigations about its effects on biochemical parameters in blood or from its major chemical composition. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the tea of the leaves of Passiflora alata on biochemical parameters (antioxidant system, glucose and cholesterol levels) and to perform a phytochemical investigation of the tea. We isolated and identified two saponins and five C-glycosylflavones derived from apigenin, luteolin and chrysoeriol. Three of them are new in this species. Passiflora alata extract was administrated orally in rats at dose of 1000 mg/kg and it was observed an increase in high-density lipoprotein level (HDL-cholesterol). (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.

Structural description of humic substances from subtropical coastal environments using elemental analysis, FT-IR and C-13-solid state NMR data

Elemental composition and spectroscopic properties (FT-IR and CP/MAS C-13-NMR) of sedimentary humic substances (HS) from aquatic subtropical environments (a lake, an estuary and two marine sites) are investigated. Humic acids (HA) are relatively richer in nitrogen and in aliphatic chains than fulvic acids (FA) from the same sediments. Conversely, FA are richer in carboxylic groups and in ring polysaccharides than HA. Nitrogen is mostly present as amide groups and for lake and marine HS the FT-IR peaks around 1640 cm(-1) and 1540 cm(-1) identify polypeptides. Estuarine HS exhibit mixed continental-marine influences, these being highly influenced by site location. Overall, the data suggest that aquatic and mixed HS are more aliphatic than has been proposed in current models and also that amide linkages form an important part of their structural configuration.

Cytogenetics of four Omophoita species (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Alticinae): A comparative analysis using mitotic and meiotic cells submitted to the standard staining and C-banding technique

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Breeding activity patterns, reproductive modes, and habitat use by anurans (Amphibia) in a seasonal environment in the Pantanal, Brazil

Annual patterns of breeding activity, reproductive modes, and habitat use are described for a frog community in a seasonal environment, in the southern Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Data were collected monthly between January 1995 and December 1998. A total of 24 species from four families; Bufonidae (3 species), Hylidae (10 species), Leptodactylidae (9 species), and Microhylidae (2 species) were registered. Three reproductive activity patterns are recognized among these species: continuous, explosive, and prolonged; 50% of the species were explosive breeders. Seasonal pattern of reproduction was verified for three analyzed years (1995-1997) most species reproduced during the rainy season (Nov-Jan). The reproduction was aseasonal in 1998; unexpected rains in the dry season lead to an unusual breeding activity. Five reproductive modes were noted - 62.5% of the species have the generalized aquatic mode, and 33.3% deposit eggs embedded in foam nests. Many species used the same sites for reproduction, although temporal partitioning and calling site segregation was observed. The occurrence of many species that exhibit explosive breeding early in the rainy season is common in seasonal and open environments with variable and unpredictable rainfall, as is the case in the Pantanal.

Reproductive modes and fecundity of an assemblage of anuran amphibians in the Atlantic rainforest, Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Three-dimensional structure of ribonuclease T-1 complexed with an isosteric phosphonate substrate analogue of GpU: Alternate substrate binding modes and catalysis

The X-ray crystal structure of a complex between ribonuclease T-1 and guanylyl(3'-6')-6'-deoxyhomouridine (GpcU) has been determined at 2.0 Angstrom resolution. This Ligand is an isosteric analogue of the minimal RNA substrate, guanylyl(3'-5')uridine (GpU), where a methylene is substituted for the uridine 5'-oxygen atom. Two protein molecules are part of the asymmetric unit and both have a GpcU bound at the active site in the same manner. The protein-protein interface reveals an extended aromatic stack involving both guanines and three enzyme phenolic groups. A third GpcU has its guanine moiety stacked on His92 at the active site on enzyme molecule A and interacts with GpcU on molecule B in a neighboring unit via hydrogen bonding between uridine ribose 2'- and 3'-OH groups. None of the uridine moieties of the three GpcU molecules in the asymmetric unit interacts directly with the protein. GpcU-active-site interactions involve extensive hydrogen bonding of the guanine moiety at the primary recognition site and of the guanosine 2'-hydroxyl group with His40 and Glu58. on the other hand, the phosphonate group is weakly bound only by a single hydrogen bond with Tyr38, unlike ligand phosphate groups of other substrate analogues and 3'-GMP, which hydrogen-bonded with three additional active-site residues. Hydrogen bonding of the guanylyl 2'-OH group and the phosphonate moiety is essentially the same as that recently observed for a novel structure of a RNase T-1-3'-GMP complex obtained immediately after in situ hydrolysis of exo-(S-p)-guanosine 2',3'-cyclophosphorothioate [Zegers et al. (1998) Nature Struct. Biol. 5, 280-283]. It is likely that GpcU at the active site represents a nonproductive binding mode for GpU [:Steyaert, J., and Engleborghs (1995) fur. J. Biochem. 233, 140-144]. The results suggest that the active site of ribonuclease T-1 is adapted for optimal tight binding of both the guanylyl 2'-OH and phosphate groups (of GpU) only in the transition state for catalytic transesterification, which is stabilized by adjacent binding of the leaving nucleoside (U) group.

Comparative Strain Gauge Analysis of External and Internal Hexagon, Morse Taper, and Influence of Straight and Offset Implant Configuration

Purpose: The present study was designed to analyze strain distributions caused by varying the fixture-abutment design and fixture alignment.Materials and Methods: Three implants of external, internal hexagon, and Morse taper were embedded in the center of each polyurethane block in straight placement and offset placement. Four strain gauges (SGs) were bonded on the surface of polyurethane block, which was designated SG1 placed mesially adjacent to implant A, SG2 and SG3 were placed mesially and distally adjacent to the implant B and SG4 was placed distally adjacent to the implant C. The 30 superstructures' occlusal screws were tightened onto the Microunit abutments with a torque of 10 N cm using the manufacturers' manual torque-controlling device.Results: There were statistically significant differences in prosthetic connection (P value = 0.0074 < 0.5). There were no statistically significant differences in placement configuration/alignment (P value = 0.7812 > 0.5).Conclusion: The results showed fundamental differences in both conditions. There was no evidence that there was any advantage to offset implant placement in reducing the strain around implants. The results also revealed that the internal hexagon and Morse taper joints did not reduce the microstrain around implants. (Implant Dent 2011; 20:e24-e32)

Nonlinear Gravitational Waves: Their Form and Effects

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Excitation mechanisms and effects of dopant concentration in Gd2O2S : Tb3+ phosphor

Gadolinium oxysulfide powders doped with different Tb3+ concentrations were prepared from sulfur vaporization on rare earths' basic carbonate precursors. Single-phase Gd2O2S samples were obtained, with Tb3+ doping up to 9 at%. The study of the excitation mechanisms revealed that the Tb3+ emission might occur after the direct Tb3+ excitation either by energy transfer from Gd3+ or from the phosphor host. The characteristic terbium emission lines were observed, resulting from the radiative decay from D-5(3) or D-5(4), to F-7(j) levels. The cross-relaxation phenomenon was observed and its effects on the materials emission color were discussed based on the CIE diagram. By using time-resolved spectroscopy, D-5(3) -> F-7(J) and D-5(4) -> F-7(J) transitions were separated. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Seminal analysis, cryogenic preservation, and fertility in matrinxã fish, Brycon cephalus (Günther, 1869)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Comparative analysis of spermiogenesis and sperm ultrastructure in Callichthyidae (Teleostei: Ostariophysi: Siluriformes)

Em Corydoradinae, a presença de espermátides junto com espermatozóides no lúmen dos túbulos testiculares sugere uma espermatogênese do tipo semicística, enquanto que em Callichthyinae a produção do esperma ocorre inteiramente dentro dos espermatocistos no epitélio germinativo, caracterizando a espermatogênese cística. A espermiogênese em Callichthyinae é caracterizada por um desenvolvimento inicial lateral do flagelo, pela presença de rotação nuclear em diferentes graus, formação de uma fossa nuclear excêntrica ou medial, formação de um canal citoplasmático, e presença de migração centriolar, sendo mais similar à espermiogênese do tipo I. em Corydoradinae, a espermiogênese é caracterizada pelo desenvolvimento excêntrico do flagelo, ausência de rotação nuclear, fossa nuclear excêntrica, formação de um canal citoplasmático, e ausência de migração centriolar, diferindo dos tipos descritos previamente. O processo de espermatogênese e espermiogênese em Corydoradinae e Callichthyinae revelaram caracteres únicos para cada subfamília, corroborando a hipótese de que as mesmas constituem grupos monofiléticos. em relação à ultraestrutura do esperma, a análise comparativa das espécies de Callichthyidae mostra que as características gerais encontradas nos espermatozóides foram similares, reforçando a hipótese de monofilia da família.

Genetic analysis of phosphoprotein and matrix protein of rabies viruses isolated in Brazil

To investigate the genetic characteristics of phosphoprotein (P) and matrix protein (M) genes of variable rabies virus (RV) prevalent in Brazil, the authors genetically characterized the P and M genes from 30 Brazilian RV field isolates. Phylogenetic analysis based on the P and M genes revealed the presence of six RV variants that consisted primarily of three insectivorous bats, the vampire bat, dog and fox in Brazil. Specific amino acid substitutions corresponding to these phylogenetic lineages were observed, with ASP(42) and GlU(62) in the P protein found to be characteristic of Brazilian chiroptera- and carnivora-related RVs, respectively. Amino acid sequence motifs predicted to associate with a viral function in the P and M proteins were conserved among Brazilian RV variants.