Modulation of the pharmacological effects of enzymatically-active PLA 2 by BTL-2, an isolectin isolated from the Bryothamnion triquetrum red alga

Background. An interaction between lectins from marine algae and PLA 2 from rattlesnake was suggested some years ago. We, herein, studied the effects elicited by a small isolectin (BTL-2), isolated from Bryothamnion triquetrum, on the pharmacological and biological activities of a PLA 2 isolated from rattlesnake venom (Crotalus durissus cascavella), to better understand the enzymatic and pharmacological mechanisms of the PLA 2 and its complex. Results. This PLA2 consisted of 122 amino acids (approximate molecular mass of 14 kDa), its pI was estimated to be 8.3, and its amino acid sequence shared a high degree of similarity with that of other neurotoxic and enzymatically-active PLA2s. BTL-2 had a molecular mass estimated in approximately 9 kDa and was characterized as a basic protein. In addition, BTL-2 did not exhibit any enzymatic activity. The PLA2 and BTL-2 formed a stable heterodimer with a molecular mass of approximately 24-26 kDa, estimated by molecular exclusion HPLC. In the presence of BTL-2, we observed a significant increase in PLA2 activity, 23% higher than that of PLA2 alone. BTL-2 demonstrated an inhibition of 98% in the growth of the Gram-positive bacterial strain, Clavibacter michiganensis michiganensis (Cmm), but only 9.8% inhibition of the Gram-negative bacterial strain, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv passiflorae (Xap). PLA2 decreased bacterial growth by 27.3% and 98.5% for Xap and Cmm, respectively, while incubating these two proteins with PLA2-BTL-2 inhibited their growths by 36.2% for Xap and 98.5% for Cmm. PLA2 significantly induced platelet aggregation in washed platelets, whereas BTL-2 did not induce significant platelet aggregation in any assay. However, BTL-2 significantly inhibited platelet aggregation induced by PLA2. In addition, PLA 2 exhibited strong oedematogenic activity, which was decreased in the presence of BTL-2. BTL-2 alone did not induce oedema and did not decrease or abolish the oedema induced by the 48/80 compound. Conclusion. The unexpected results observed for the PLA2-BTL-2 complex strongly suggest that the pharmacological activity of this PLA2 is not solely dependent on the presence of enzymatic activity, and that other pharmacological regions may also be involved. In addition, we describe for the first time an interaction between two different molecules, which form a stable complex with significant changes in their original biological action. This opens new possibilities for understanding the function and action of crude venom, an extremely complex mixture of different molecules. © 2008 Oliveira et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Optimal clone identifier based on dynamic rules and process algebra

The rule creation to clone selection in different projects is a hard task to perform by using traditional implementations to control all the processes of the system. The use of an algebraic language is an alternative approach to manage all of system flow in a flexible way. In order to increase the power of versatility and consistency in defining the rules for optimal clone selection, this paper presents the software OCI 2 in which uses process algebra in the flow behavior of the system. OCI 2, controlled by an algebraic approach was applied in the rules elaboration for clone selection containing unique genes in the partial genome of the bacterium Bradyrhizobium elkanii Semia 587 and in the whole genome of the bacterium Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri. Copyright© (2009) by the International Society for Research in Science and Technology.

Daños causados por cancro cítrico en la producción de naranja dulce 'Valencia'

The citrus canker, caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri, is one of the main citrus diseases and has threatened the world's citriculture. In this study, the damage caused by citrus canker was quantified in a sweet orange culture, cv. Valencia [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb.], grafted over 15 year-old Rangpur lime (C. limonia Osb.), in the municipality of Guatambu, SC, Brazil, in the crop of 2004/05. Evaluations of the number of fruits per plant (NF), fruit yield per plant (P), citrus canker incidence on the fruit (IFR), and incidence (IL) and severity (SV) of citrus canker on 80 leaves per orange tree were performed in the harvest period, applying diagrammatical scales. Plants had large variation in SV (0.16%-1.09%), IL (12.50%-56.25%) and IFR (12.30%-56.09%). Linear regressions were significant between IL x SV, NF x SV, P x IFR, and NF x IFR. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the mean estimated values of IL in different quadrants of the crowns of the orange trees (N, S, L and O). Each 1% increase in IFR reduced 2.16 kg and 21.3 fruits per tree.

Mapas de zonas de risco de epidemias para doenças dos citros no Estado de São Paulo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação da indução de resistência no controle do crestamento bacteriano comum do feijão vagem

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ação de indutores bióticos e abióticos no controle da ferrugem do eucalipto, atividade enzimática e expressão gênica durante o processo de infecção

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

Síntese, caracterização e avaliação biológica de quelatos metálicos contendo ligantes de origem natural

O trabalho que será aqui apresentado teve como finalidade reunir os resultados obtidos dentro do Laboratório de Organometálicos II em relação aos estudos realizados acerca da interação de íons metálicos com ligantes orgânicos naturais. Os dados apresentados foram obtidos pela autora deste trabalho, e também pelos professores Francisco Otávio Cintra Ferrarini, José Roberto Stefanelli Junior e pela aluna de Iniciação Científica Angélica Romão Carvalho. Hidrolisado proteico de soro de leite bovino e torta de linhaça foram os materiais obtidos, após uma série de operações que envolveram filtração com caulim, diálise, hidrólise enzimática, liofilização, etc., após as quais foram utilizados neste trabalho como ligantes de origem natural. Os metais de transição cobre, ferro, cobalto, zinco, paládio, platina e prata foram utilizados nas reações de complexação com os hidrolisados para obtenção de complexos metálicos, através do uso de diferentes rotas sintéticas (convencional, micro-ondas, hidrotérmica, difusão) e parâmetros experimentais (pH, solvente, natureza do precursor, etc.). A escolha dos íons metálicos baseou-se no interesse em preparar compostos que apresentassem ao mesmo tempo alta biodisponibilidade, baixa citotoxicidade e diversas aplicações biológicas. O uso do cobalto deveu-se à reconhecida propriedade que os micro-organismos do sistema digestório dos ruminantes apresenta de sintetizar a vitamina B12 e, portanto, os compostos desse metal podem ser usados em rações visando um melhor desenvolvimento do animal. O ferro, conhecidamente, é um importante metal para os seres humanos, estando presente na hemoglobina, sendo assim, também consiste em uma substância nutracêutica de relevado interesse. À propósito, cabe salientar que os compostos de ferro (III) obtidos nesse trabalho serão objeto de avaliação do uso como suplemento alimentar, em colaboração com o Departamento de...

Caracterização molecular de proetínas envolvidas nos mecanismos de homeostase de cobre em Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri

Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia - IQ

Selection and validation of reference genes for gene expression studies by reverse transcription quantitative PCR in Xanthomonas citri subsp citri during infection of Citrus sinensis

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

Genetic Diversity of a Brazilian Strain Collection of Xanthomonas citri subsp citri Based on the Type III Effector Protein Genes

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

New genes of Xanthomonas citri subsp citri involved in pathogenesis and adaptation revealed by a transposon-based mutant library

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

Proteome of the phytopathogen Xanthomonas citri subsp citri: a global expression profile

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

Genes diferencialmente expressos em cana-de-açúcar inoculada com Xanthomonas albilineans, o agente causal da escaldadura da folha

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

Alterações nos teores de macronutrientes em plantas de feijoeiro infectadas por Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens

The objective of this research was to evaluate nitrogen, phosforus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur contents on shoot dry matter of bean plants cultivars IAC Carioca Arua, IAC Carioca Pyata, IAC Carioca Akyta (resistant to the bacterial wilt), IAC Carioca, and Perola (susceptible to the bacterial wilt) inoculated or not with one isolate of Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens. It was observed that all cultivars infected by C. flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens showed reduction of shoot dry matter and macronutrient contents. However, resistant cultivars had a lower reduction of nitrogen, phosforus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium contents than bacterial wilt suceptible cultivars.