Micropropagação de Croton antisyphiliticus Mart.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Clones promissores de seringueira para a região do Vale do Ribeira, São Paulo

Este trabalho objetivou apresentar resultados da primeira seleção de clones de seringueira (Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex Adr. de Juss.) Muell.Arg.) da série IAC 300, e amazônicos das séries IAN e Fx, em experimento de pequena escala, visando produção, crescimento e resistência ao mal-das-folhas. A produção e o vigor de 20 clones foram avaliados por dois e nove anos, respectivamente, em PariqüeraAçú, no Vale do Ribeira, SP. Os clones IAC 301, IAC 304, IAC 306 e IAC 319 produziram satisfatoriamente nos dois primeiros anos de sangria. Os clones amazônicos IAN 6323, Fx 3864 e IAN 2903, com produções de 1.078 kg, 945 kg e 900 kg/ha/ano, respectivamente, foram superiores à testemunha IAN 873 (878 kg/ha/ano). Os clones selecionados apresentaram crescimento vigoroso, com extremos de perímetro do caule, na abertura do painel, de 37,40 cm (IAN 4493) a 53,75 cm (IAN 6323), e percentual de plantas aptas à sangria de 7,0% (IAN 4493) a 100% (IAN 6323 e IAC 302), exceto os clones Fx 3899 e IAN 3044. O IAC 315, com 7,37 mm, mostrou maior espessura de casca virgem que o IAN 873 (6,44 mm). Os clones IAC 320, IAC 306 e IAC 315 foram os mais resistentes ao Microcyclus ulei.

Comparative Study on the Technological Properties of Latex and Natural Rubber from Hancornia speciosa Gomes and Hevea brasiliensis

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

Prediction of Hevea progeny performance in the presence of genotype-environment interaction

Twenty two open-pollinated Hevea progenies from different parental clones of the Asian origin were tested at five sites in the Northwestern São Paulo State Brazil to investigate the progeny girth growth, rubber yield, bark thickness and plant height. Except for the rubber yield, the analysis of variance indicated highly significant (p<0.01) genotype x environment interaction and heterogeneity of regressions among the progenies. However, the regression stability analysis identified only a few interacting progenies which had regression coefficients significantly different from the expected value of one. The linear regressions of the progeny mean performance at each test on an environmental index (mean of all the progenies in each test) showed the general stability and adaptability of most selected Hevea progenies over the test environments. The few progenies which were responsive and high yielding on different test sites could be used to maximize the rubber cultivars productivity and to obtain the best use of the genetically improved stock under different environmental conditions.

Temporal stability for unpredictable annual climatic variability for Hevea genotype selection

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

Interaction between arginine vasopressin and angiotensin II receptors in the central regulation of sodium balance

We speculated that the influence of lateral preoptic area (LPO) in sodium balance, involves arginine(8)-vasopressin (AVP) and angiotensin (ANG II) on Na+ uptake in LPO. Therefore, the present study investigated the effects of central administration of specific AVP and ANG 11 antagonists (d(CH2)(5)-Tyr (Me)-AVP (AAVP) and [Adamanteanacetyl(1), 0-ET-D-Tyr(2), Val(4), Aminobutyryl(6), Arg(8.9)]-AVP (ATAVP) antagonists of V-1 and V-2 receptors of AVP. Also the effects of losartan and CGP42112A (selective ligands of the AT(1) and AT(2) angiotensin receptors, respectively), was investigated on Na+ uptake and renal fluid and electrolyte excretion. After an acclimatization period of 7 days, the animals were maintained under tribromoethanol (200 mg/kg body weight, intraperitonial) anesthesia and placed in a Kopf stereotaxic instrument. Stainless guide cannula was implanted into the LPO. AAVP and ATAVP injected into the LPO prior to AVP produced a reduction in the NaCl intake. Both the AT(1) and AT(2) ligands administered into the LPO elicited a decrease in the NaCl intake induced by AVP injected into the LPO. AVP injection into the LPO increased sodium renal excretion, but this was reduced by prior AAVP administration. The ATAVP produced a decreased in the natriuretic effect of AVP. The losartan injected into LPO previous to AVP decreased the sodium excretion and the CGP 421122A also decreased the natriuretic effect of AVP. The AVP produced an antidiuresis effect that was inhibited by prior administration into LPO of the ATAVP. The AAVP produced no change in the antidiuretic effect of AVP. These results suggest that LPO are implicated in sodium balance that is mediated by V-1, V-2, AT(2) and AT(2) receptors. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.

Influence of arginine vasopressin receptors and angiotensin receptor subtypes on the water intake and arterial blood pressure induced by vasopressin injected into the lateral septal area of the rat

In this study we investigated the influence of d(CH2)(5)-Tyr(Me)-[Arg(8)]vasopressin (AAVP) and [adamanteanacetyl(1),0-ET-DTyr(2), Val(4), aminobutyryl(6), Arg(8,9)]-[Arg(8)]vasopressin (ATAVP), which are antagonists of vasopressin V-1 and V-2 receptors, and the effects of losartan, a selective angiotensin AT(1) receptor antagonist, and CGP42112A, a selective AT(2) receptor antagonist, injected into the lateral septal area (LSA) on thirst and hypertension induced by [Arg(8)]vasopressin (AVP). AAVP and ATAVP injected into the LSA reduced the drinking responses elicited by injecting AVP into the LSA. Both the AT(1) and AT(2) ligands administered into the LSA elicited a concentration-dependent decrease in the water intake induced by AVP injected into the LSA, but losartan was more effective than CGP42112A. The increase in MAP, due to injection of AVP into the LSA, was reduced by prior injection of AAVP from 18 +/- 1 to 6 +/- 1 mm Hg. Losartan injected into the LSA prior to AVP reduced the increase in MAP to 7 +/- 0.8 mm Hg. ATAVP and CGP42112A produced no changes in the pressor effect of AVP. These results suggest that the dipsogenic effects induced by injecting AVP into the LSA were mediated primarily by AT(1) receptors. However, doses of losartan were more effective when combined with CGP42112A than when given alone, suggesting that the thirst induced by AVP injections into LSA may involve activation of multiple AVP and angiotensin II receptor subtypes. The pressor response of AVP was reduced by losartan and by AAVP. CGP42112A and ATAVP did not change the AVP pressor response. These results suggest that facilitator effects of AVP on water intake are mediated through the activation of V-1 receptors and that the inhibitory effect requires V-2 receptors. The involvement of AT(1) and AT(2) receptors can be postulated. Based on the present findings, we suggest that the AVP in the LSA may play a role in the control of water and arterial blood pressure balance. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Laurdan Spectrum Decomposition as a Tool for the Analysis of Surface Bilayer Structure and Polarity: a Study with DMPG, Peptides and Cholesterol

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

Structural characterization of a new acylpolyaminetoxin from the venom of Brazilian garden spider Nephilengys cruentata

Mario Sergio Palma, Yasuhiro Itagaki, Tsuyoshi Fujita, Hideo Naoki and Terumi Nakajima. Structural characterization of a new acylpolpaminetoxin from the venom of Brazilian garden spider Nephilengys: cruentata. Toxicon 36, 455-493, 1998.-The use of mass spectrometry, in which high-energy CID and charge remote fragmentation both of protonated and sodium-attached molecular ions was applied, afforded the structural elucidation of a new acylgolyaminetoxin with M-W= 801 da from the venom of the Brazilian garden spider Nephilengys cruentata. In spite of having the same M-W of the NPTX-2, previously described in the venom of the Joro spider Nephila clavata, neither toxins are isomers. In order to differentiate them by using the most usual nomenclature, the new toxin was named NPTX-801C and the NPTX-2 was renamed to NPTX-801E. Both toxins have as common structure the 4-hydroxyindole-3-acetyl-asparaginyl-cadaveryl moiety in their molecules and their structure may be represented in a simplified way: NPTX-801E is HO-indole-Asn-Cad-Pta-Orn-Arg and NPTX-801C is HO-indole-Asn-Cad-Gly-Put-Pta-Pta. (C) 1998 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Development of an operational substrate for ZapA, a metalloprotease secreted by the bacterium Proteus mirabilis

The protease ZapA, secreted by Proteus mirabilis, has been considered to be a virulence factor of this opportunistic bacterium. The control of its expression requires the use of an appropriate methodology, which until now has not been developed. The present study focused on the replacement of azocasein with fluorogenic substrates, and on the definition of enzyme specificity. Eight fluorogenic substrates were tested, and the peptide Abz-Ala-Phe-Arg-Ser-Ala-Ala-Gln-EDDnp was found to be the most convenient for use as an operational substrate for ZapA. A single peptide bond (Arg-Ser) was cleaved with a Km of 4.6 µM, a k cat of 1.73 s-1, and a catalytic efficiency of 376 (mM s)-1. Another good substrate for ZapA was peptide 6 (Abz-Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro-Phe-Arg-Gln-EDDnp) which was cleaved at a single bond (Phe-Ser) with a Km of 13.6 µM, a k cat of 3.96 s-1 and a catalytic efficiency of 291 (mM s)-1. The properties of the amino acids flanking the scissile bonds were also evaluated, and no clear requirement for the amino acid residue at P1 was found, although the enzyme seems to have a preference for a hydrophobic residue at P2.

Purification and properties of an alkaline protease of Aspergillus clavatus

An extracellular alkaline serine protease has been purified from a strain of Aspergillus clavatus, to apparent homogeneity, by ammonium sulfate precipitation and chromatography on Sephadex G-75. Its molar mass, estimated by SDS-PAGE, was 35 kDa. Maximum protease activity was observed at pH 9.5 and 40 degrees C. The enzyme was active between pH 6.0 and 11.0 and was found to be unstable up to 50 degrees C. Calcium at 5 mM increased its thermal stability. The protease was strongly inhibited by PMSF and chymostatin as well as by SDS, Tween 80 and carbonate ion. Substrate specificity was observed with N-p-Tos-Gly-Pro-Arg-p-nitroanilide and N-Suc-Ala-Ala-Ala-p-nitroanilide being active substates. Parts of the amino acid sequence were up to 81% homologous with those of several fungal alkaline serine proteases.

Biochemical and Functional Characterization of a Metalloprotease from the Thermophilic Fungus Thermoascus aurantiacus

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

Crystallization and preliminary diffraction data of a platelet-aggregation inhibitor from the venom of Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus (North American water moccasin)

Applaggin (Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus platelet-aggregation inhibitor) is a potent inhibitor of blood platelet aggregation derived from the venom of the North American water moccasin, the protein consists of 71 amino acids, is rich in cysteines, contains the sequence-recognition site of adhesion proteins at positions 50-52 (Arg-Gly-Asp) and shares high sequence homology with other snake-venom disintegrins such as echistatin, kistrin and trigramin, Single crystals of applaggin have been grown and X-ray diffraction data have been collected to a resolution of 3.2 Angstrom. The crystals belong to space group P4(1)2(1)2 (or its enantiomorph), with unit-cell dimensions a = b = 63.35, c = 74.18 Angstrom and two molecules per asymmetric unit. Molecular replacement using models constructed from the NMR structures of echistatin and kistrin has not been successful in producing a trial structure for applaggin.

Purification and characterization of a new alkaline serine protease from the thermophilic fungus Myceliophthora sp.

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

Padrão morfológico e ciclo de vida de Eutetranychus banksi (Acari: Tetranychidae) de diferentes locais e hospedeiros

Eutetranychus banksi (McGregor, 1914) is a phytophagous, polyphagous and cosmopolitan species recorded on 23 plant families in 24 countries in North, Central and South Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Specimens of E. banksi present morphological variability among individuals of the same population and also among populations from different host species, being commonly referred to as a polytypic species, despite the fact that studies based on meristic comparisons of these populations are lacking. Also, there is no data available in the literature on the biological life tables of E. banksi on different hosts. Specimens collected in Brazil, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mexico, and Paraguay were investigated in order to recognize morphological patterns among populations from different localities and hosts. A redescription of the species is provided based on data both from literature and new observations. Also, the biological cycle on three hosts, experiments of hosts exchange and the possibility of interbreeding in individuals originating from different populations were evaluated. Significant differences in the morphology of the females of different populations were detected when comparing the different hosts. The length of the dorsal pairs of setae v2, sc2, c1, c3, e1 and h1 differentiated the specimens of the populations collected from Citrus sp. from those of Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg. and Pachira aquatica Aubl.. Herein we observed significant variation among the life cycle of this species on the three hosts studied. When a substrate different from the one where the mites were collected was used for the biological cycle essay, significant variation was observed in several parameters such as average oviposition rate, events of arrenothoky, and sex ratio. Interbreeding with populations collected from Citrus sinensis and P. aquatica resulted in no descendants, although mating was observed.