Colorimetric enzymatic assay of L-malic acid using dehydrogenase from baker's yeast

A colorimetric method has been developed and optimized to measure L-malic acid in samples of fruit juices and wine. This method is based on oxidation of the analyte, catalyzed by malate dehydrogenase (MDH) from dry baker's yeast, and in combination with the reduction of a tetrazolium salt (MTT: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide). In the present study, the method exhibited sensitivity in the range of 500-4000 mu M of L-malic acid in the reaction cuvette, with the lower detection limit of 6.7-10(-2) g/L, the upper limit of 53.6.10(-2) g/L and a maximum standard deviation of only 2.5 % for the analyzed samples. The MDH activity from baker's yeast was also optimized, the enzyme showed a high stability at pH=8.0-9.0 and the activity was maintained completely at temperatures up to 40 degrees C for 1 hour. The results show that the colorimetric method using enzymatic preparations from dry baker's yeast is a simple and low-cost method with possibility of wide application.

Effects of organic and inorganic additives on flotation recovery of washed cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae resuspended in water

Separation of microbial cells by flotation recovery is usually carried out in industrial reactors or wastewater treatment systems, which contain a complex mixture of microbial nutrients and excretion products. In the present study, the separation of yeast cells by flotation recovery was carried out using a simple flotation recovery systems containing washed yeast cells resuspended in water in order to elucidate the effects of additives (defined amounts of organic and inorganic acids, ethanol, surfactants and sodium chloride) on the cellular interactions at interfaces (cell/aqueous phase and cell/air bubble). When sodium chloride, organic acids (notably propionic, succinic and acetic acids) and organic surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and Nonidet P40) were added to the flotation recovery system, significant increases in the cell recovery of yeast hydrophobic cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, strain FLT-01) were observed. The association of ethanol to acetic acid solution (a minor by-product of alcoholic fermentation) in the flotation recovery system, containing washed cells of strain FLT-01 resuspended in water, leading to an increased flotation recovery at pH 5.5. Thus, the association among products of the cellular metabolism (e.g., ethanol and acetic acid) can improve yeast cell recovery by flotation recovery. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

An efficient microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of BaZrO3 microcrystals: growth mechanism and photoluminescence emissions

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

ZnO architectures synthesized by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method and their photoluminescence properties

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

DETECTION of BISPHENOL A on A SCREEN-PRINTED CARBON ELECTRODE IN CTAB MICELLAR MEDIUM

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Determination of Nitrite and Nitrate in Brazilian Meats Using High Shear Homogenization

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Antiproliferative activity of pristimerin isolated from Maytenus ilicifolia (Celastraceae) in human HL-60 cells

Pristimerin has been shown to be cytotoxic to several cancer cell lines. In the present work, the cytotoxicity of pristimerin was evaluated in human tumor cell lines and in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). This work also examined the effects of pristimerin (0.4; 0.8 and 1.7 mu M) in HL-60 cells, after 6, 12 and 24 h of exposure. Pristimerin reduced the number of viable cells and increased number of non-viable cells in a concentration-dependent manner by tripan blue test showing morphological changes consistent with apoptosis. Nevertheless, pristimerin was not selective to cancer cells, since it inhibited PBMC proliferation with an IC50 of 0.88 PM. DNA synthesis inhibition assessed by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation in HL-60 cells was 70% and 83% for the concentrations of 0.4 and 0.8 mu M, respectively. Pristimerin (10 and 20 mu M) was not able to inhibit topoisomerase 1. In AO/EB (acridine orange/ethidium bromide) staining, all tested concentrations reduced the number of HL-60 viable cells, with the occurrence of necrosis and apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner, results in agreement with trypan blue exclusion findings. The analysis of membrane integrity and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation by flow cytometry in the presence of pristimerin indicated that treated cells underwent apoptosis. The present data point to the importance of pristimerin as representative of an emerging class of potential anticancer chemicals, exhibiting an antiproliferative effect by inhibiting DNA synthesis and triggering apoptosis. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Casearin X exhibits cytotoxic effects in leukemia cells triggered by apoptosis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The effects of soil fumigation on the growth and mineral nutrition of weeds and crops

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Electron migration in DNA matrix: an electron transfer reaction

Este artigo apresenta uma área de pesquisa atual, ativa e interessante. Descreve a investigação da química de transferência de elétrons (TE) de um modo geral e resultados de TE em DNA em particular. Dois intercalantes de DNA foram utilizados: Ethidium Bromide como doador (D) e Methyl-viologen como receptor (A), o primeiro intercala-se entre as bases do DNA e o último na sua superfície. Utilizando o modelo de Perrin e medidas de Supressão de Fluorescência obteve-se a distância de migração do elétron; aqui a distância foi considerada o espaçamento linear entre as moléculas de doador e receptor ao longo da molécula de DNA. O valor determinado foi de 22,6 ± 1,1 angstrons e o número de pares de bases entre doador e receptor de 6,6. Na literatura os valores encontrados foram de 26 angstrons e de quase 8 pares de bases. Considera-se que a transferência de elétrons em DNA seja mediada através das interações através do espaço entre os elétrons do tipo p contido nos pares de bases.

Efeito da solarização e do brometo de metila sobre a comunidade de fungos do solo

A microbiota do solo é de grande importância no desenvolvimento de culturas. Os métodos de controle, químico (brometo de metila) e físico (solarização), alteram essa microbiota. O presente trabalho objetivou estudar o comportamento da comunidade de fungos em solo solarizado e fumigado (brometo de metila). O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso, com três tratamentos (solarização, brometo de metila e testemunha) e sete repetições. A comunidade de fungos do solo foi avaliada de forma quantitativa e qualitativa, em três momentos (antes, durante e após a solarização) com amostras coletadas de três profundidades (0-5; 10-15 e 20-25 cm). Durante a solarização ocorreu uma redução na comunidade de fungos do solo, em termos quantitativos, em todas as camadas amostradas. No entanto, essa diminuição foi mais significativa na camada superficial (0-5cm). em termos qualitativos, a solarização reduziu também o número de diferentes espécies de fungos do solo, mas na camada de 20-25 cm, essa diminuição foi a zero aos 56 dias de avaliação. A recolonização da microbiota do solo, em termos quantitativos, foi maior no tratamento com brometo de metila do que nos demais. Entretanto, esse aumento não foi o mesmo em termos qualitativos. Nos tratamentos solarizado e testemunha, o aumento na comunidade de fungos do solo foi acompanhado pela diversificação de espécies fúngicas.

Crescimento, fosfatase ácida e micorrização de espécies arbóreas, em solo de cerrado degradado

A ocupação do cerrado para aumentar a produção agrícola tem gerado a degradação do solo e uma prática recomendada na revegetação dessas áreas é a introdução de espécies arbóreas. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o crescimento (altura e massa fresca e seca de parte aérea), a atividade da fosfatase ácida foliar e colonização micorrízica de mudas de espécies arbóreas não nativas em solo de cerrado degradado. O trabalho foi desenvolvido em casa de vegetação em Ilha Solteira, empregando solo proveniente de uma área de cerrado degradado em processo de regeneração natural, localizada no município de Três Lagoas (MS). O solo, misturado com areia de rio (4:1), foi fumigado com brometo de metila e distribuído em sacos plásticos (2,5 L). Para o tratamento com inoculação de FMA, 100 g de solo inóculo (solo de área de cerrado preservado) foi depositado na superfície, logo após o transplante das mudas. Pelos resultados, Psidium guajava L. e Croton floribundus Spreng, seguidos por Tabebuia chrysotricha (Mart. ex DC) Standl) e Rapanea ferruginea (Ruiz et Pav) Mez., tiveram alta colonização radicular e foram altamente ou muito responsivas à micorrização, sugerindo seu potencial em projetos de revegetação no cerrado brasileiro ou no enriquecimento de áreas degradadas.

Alternative methodologies for the determination of aldehydes by capillary electrophoresis

This paper describes 2 alternative methodologies for the determination of selected aldehydes (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, acrolein, and benzaldehyde) by capillary electrophoresis (CE), the first approach is based on the formation of aldehyde-bisulfite adducts and employs free solution CE with reversed electroosmotic flow and indirect detection, using 10 mmol/L 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid (pH 4.5) containing 0.2 mmol/L cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as the electrolyte. This novel methodology showed a fairly good sensitivity to concentration, with detection limits with respect to a single aldehyde on the order of 10-40 mu g/L, a reasonable analysis time (separation was achieved in <8 min), and no need for sample manipulation. A second approach was proposed in which 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine derivatives of the aldehydes were detected in a micellar electrolyte medium (20 mmol/L berate buffer containing 50 mmol/L sodium dodecyl sulfate and 15 mmol/L beta-cyclodextrin). This latter methodology included a laborious sample preconcentration step and showed much poorer sensitivity (0.5-2 mg/L detection limit, with respect to a single aldehyde), despite the use of sodium chloride to promote sample stacking. Both methodologies proved adequate to evaluate aldehyde levels in vehicular emissions. Samples from the tailpipe exhaust of a passenger car vehicle without a catalytic converter and operated with an ethanol-based fuel were collected and analyzed; the results showed high levels of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde (0.41-6.1 ppm, v/v). The concentrations estimated by the 2 methodologies, which were not in good agreement, suggest the possibility of striking differences in sample collection efficiency, which was not the concern of this work.

Diagnosis of canine brucellosis: Comparison between serological and microbiological tests and a PCR based on primers to 16S-23S rDNA interspacer

A pair of primers directed to 16S-23S rDNA interspacer (ITS) was designed directed to Brucella genetic sequences in order to develop a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) putatively capable of amplifying DNA from any Brucella species. Nucleic acid extracts from whole-blood from naive dogs were spiked with decreasing amounts of Brucella canis RM6/66 DNA and the resulting solutions were tested by PCR. In addition, the ability of PCR to amplify Brucella spp. genetic sequences from naturally infected dogs was evaluated using 210 whole-blood samples of dogs from 19 kennels. The whole-blood samples collected were subjected to blood culture and PCR. Serodiagnosis was performed using the rapid slide agglutination test with and without 2-mercaptoethanol. The DNA from whole blood was extracted using proteinase-K, sodium dodecyl sulphate and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide followed by phenol-chloroform purification. The PCR was capable of detecting as little as 3.8 fg of Brucella DNA mixed with 450 ng of host DNA. Theoretically, 3.8 fg of Brucella DNA represents the total genomic mass of fewer than two bacterial cells. The PCR diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 100%. From the results observed in the present study, we conclude that PCR could be used as confirmatory test for diagnosis of B. canis infection.

Thermogravimetric investigations during the synthesis of silica-based MCM-41

MCM-41 material was synthesized starting from hydrogel containing colloidal fumed silica, sodium silicate, cetyltetramethylammonium bromide (CTMABr) as surfactant, and distilled water as solvent. These reactants were mixed to obtain a gel with the following composition: 4SiO(2):1Na(2)O:1CTMABr:200H(2)O. The hydrogel with pH=14 was hydrothermally treated at 100 degreesC, for 4 days. Each day, the pH was measured, and then adjusted to 9.5-10 by using 30% acetic acid solution. Thermogravimetry was the main technique, which was used to monitor the participation of the surfactant on the MCM-41 nanophase, being possible to determine the temperature ranges relative to water desorption as well as the surfactant decomposition and silanol condensation.