Orange juice decreases low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic subjects and improves lipid transfer to high-density lipoprotein in normal and hypercholesterolemic subjects

Orange juice (OJ) is regularly consumed worldwide, but its effects on plasma lipids have rarely been explored. This study hypothesized that consumption of OJ concentrate would improve lipid levels and lipid metabolism, which are important in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) function in normolipidemic (NC) and hypercholesterolemic (HCH) subjects. Fourteen HCH and 31 NC adults consumed 750 mL/day OJ concentrate (1:6 OJ/water) for 60 days. Eight control subjects did not consume OJ for 60 days. Plasma was collected before and on the last clay for biochemical analysis and an in vitro as

Aberrant expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin proteins in placenta of bovine embryos derived from somatic cell nuclear transfer

Abnormal placental development is common in the bovine somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)-derived fetus. In the present study, we characterised the expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin, structural proteins of adherens junctions, in SCNT gestations as a model for impaired placentation. Cotyledonary tissues were separated from pregnant uteri of SCNT (n - 6) and control pregnancies (n - 8) obtained by artificial insemination. Samples were analysed by western blot, quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. Bovine trophectoderm cell lines derived from SCNT and control embryos were analysed to compare with the in utero condition. Although no differences in E-cadherin or beta-catenin mRNA abundance were observed in fetal tissues between the two groups, proteins encoded by these genes were markedly under-expressed in SCNT trophoblast cells. Immunohistochemistry revealed a different pattern of E-cadherin and total beta-catenin localisation in SCNT placentas compared with controls. No difference was observed in subcellular localisation of dephosphorylated active-beta-catenin protein in SCNT tissues compared with controls. However, qRT-PCR confirmed that the wingless (WNT)/beta-catenin signalling pathway target genes CCND1, CLDN1 and MSX1 were downregulated in SCNT placentas. No differences were detected between two groups of bovine trophectoderm cell lines. Our results suggest that impaired expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin proteins, along with defective beta-catenin signalling during embryo attachment, specifically during placentation, is a molecular mechanism explaining insufficient placentation in the bovine SCNT-derived fetus.

The membranotropic activity of N-terminal peptides from the pore-forming proteins sticholysin I and II is modulated by hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions as well as lipid composition

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Oxidative stress status and lipid profiles of diabetic pregnant rats exposed to cigarette smoke

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

Somatic cell nuclear transfer is associated with altered expression of angiogenic factor systems in bovine placentomes at term

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

Chemical detection of the proteins and lipids in the fat body cells from workers of Attini ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

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

Study of the proteins in the defatted flour and protein concentrate of baru nuts (Dipteryx alata Vog)

O baru (Dipteryx alata Vog.) é uma leguminosa abundante no Cerrado brasileiro, cuja castanha pode ser explorada através do uso sustentável para o aproveitamento das frações proteicas e lipídicas. Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar as proteínas desta castanha, presentes na farinha desengordurada e no concentrado proteico, quanto as suas propriedades funcionais, ao perfil das frações proteicas e à digestibilidade in vitro. A farinha desengordurada com hexano foi submetida à extração no pH de maior solubilidade das proteínas, obtendo-se o concentrado proteico. O perfil eletroforético das frações proteicas foi avaliado em gel de SDS-PAGE. As propriedades funcionais indicaram a possibilidade de emprego em diversos alimentos, assim como a soja, conferindo capacidade de absorção de água, capacidade de absorção de óleo, propriedades emulsificantes e espumabilidade. As globulinas, seguidas das albuminas, são as frações majoritárias da farinha e do concentrado proteico, respectivamente. A digestibilidade foi superior no concentrado em relação à farinha desengordurada.

Alterations in chlorophyll a fluorescence, pigment concentrations and lipid peroxidation to chilling temperature in coffee seedlings

Coffea arabica L. is considered to be sensitive to low temperatures throughout its life cycle. In some Brazilian regions, seedling production occurs under shade conditions and during the winter, with average temperatures of around 10 °C. The formation and functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus are strongly controlled by temperature. This study aimed to assess the changes that occurred in pigment contents, lipid peroxidation and variables of chlorophyll a fluorescence during the greening process of coffee seedlings submitted to chilling. Results indicate that saturation of the photosynthetic activity of coffee seedlings occurred before saturation of the accumulation of chloroplastid pigments. Pigment accumulation during the greening process is far beyond the metabolic needs for the maintenance of photosynthetic activity, more specifically of photosystem II. Coffee seedlings attained a quantum yield equivalent to that of the control with approximately half the chlorophyll a and b contents and around 40% of the carotenoid. Low temperature decreases the metabolism of seedlings, consequently reducing free radical production and lipid peroxidation. The chilling temperature (10 °C) used inhibited the accumulation of chloroplast pigments, in turn altering the capacity of the photosynthetic tissue of etiolated coffee seedlings to capture and transfer photon energy to the photosystem II reaction centre. These alterations were better demonstrated by O-J-I-P chlorophyll a fluorescence transients, rather than F v/F m and F v/F 0 ratios. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Histochemical study of the hepatopancreas in adult females of the pink-shrimp Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis Latreille, 1817

This study provides histochemical data of the hepatopancreatic cells of adult female pink-shrimp (Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis) at two different developmental stages (those with developed gonads and those with exhausted gonads). The F. brasiliensis females were collected in seawater off the Guarapari coast, Espirito Santo, Brazil. Five cell types were identified in this digestive gland: B (vesicular), E (embryonic), F (fibrillar), M (basal) and R (resorptive). The digestive gland was stained with the following techniques: PAS/Alcian blue (for polysaccharides), bromophenol blue (for protein), von Kossa (for bound calcium) and Baker (for lipids). Acid glycoconjugates were found inside vacuoles in the R cells, while neutral polysaccharides were present in the B cells and near to the microvilli. In females with exhausted gonads polysaccharides were also seen in the intertubular spaces and inside the lumina of the tubules. The F and M cells were the most marked by the presence of large amounts of proteins observed in R cells and also inside the vacuoles of B cells. The bound calcium was mainly found in the F and M cells. The F cells showed strong positive staining for lipid while the R cell only stained weakly. The E cells did not react to any of the applied staining techniques. The similarities in the histochemical composition of these hepatopancreatic cells in females with developed gonads, compared to exhausted ones, is justified by the fact that transfer of these elements to the oocytes occurs, in significant quantity, only during the initial stages of gonadal development in F. brasiliensis. Also, they may be more related to the molt stage, as in the case of calcium salts. © 2013 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Disappearance of fat body proteins during soldier differentiation in the neotropical termite Heterotermes tenuis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Recovery of anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) and whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) proteins by alkaline solubilisation process

The aim of this study was to evaluate the physical, chemical, and functional properties of recovered proteins of anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) and whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) through the process of alkaline solubilisation and isoelectric precipitation, using different solubilisation (NaOH and KOH) and precipitation (HCl and H3PO4) reagents. The tests showed high protein level, and the lowest lipid reduction (94.5%) was found in the recovered protein of anchovy, the lowest yield of the process was 76.1%. The highest whiteness (78.8 and 74.2) was found in whitemouth croaker proteins. The solubilisation of the recovered protein was studied in the pH range (3, 5, 7, 9, and 11). The maximum solubility was at pHs 3 and 11 and minimum solubility was at pH 5 in the species under study.