Proteínas de reserva de acessos de coleção nuclear de arroz

O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar o conteúdo de proteína total de reserva dos 550 acessos da Coleção Nuclear de Arroz da Embrapa (CNAE), e avaliar o perfil proteico dos 20 acessos com maior teor de proteína em SDS-PAGE. Foi encontrado alto teor de proteína total de reserva (>12,0%) em 103 acessos da CNAE, teor médio (11,9 a 9,0%) em 309 acessos e teor baixo (<8,9%) em 138 acessos. Seis dos 20 acessos com maior teor de proteína de reserva apresentaram um padrão qualitativo diferencial de glutelina, que é a fração proteica de reserva mais abundante do grão de arroz. Há ampla variabilidade para o teor de proteína total de reserva do grão de arroz nos acessos da CNAE, a qual pode ser explorada por programas de melhoramento genético para aumentar o valor nutricional do arroz consumido no Brasil

Bactérias promotoras de crescimento e adubação nitrogenada no crescimento inicial de cana-de-açúcar proveniente de mudas pré-brotadas

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da inoculação de bactérias promotoras de crescimento sobre a formação de mudas pré-brotadas de cana-de-açúcar, oriundas de gemas individualizadas, e quantificar o crescimento inicial dessas mudas, em associação à aplicação de nitrogênio, em solo de baixa fertilidade. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos: um em casa de vegetação, com duração de 50 dias, e o outro, em vasos no campo, com duração de 180 dias. Em ambos os experimentos, utilizou-se o delineamento de blocos ao acaso, em arranjo fatorial 2x3, no primeiro experimento - com ou sem inoculante, e com três quantidades de reserva nas gemas -, e 2x2x4, no segundo - com ou sem inoculante, com ou sem nitrogênio, avaliados em quatro épocas: aos 45, 90, 135 e 180 dias. O inoculante produziu efeito na fase inicial de crescimento das mudas pré-brotadas, com aumento na velocidade de brotação e no acúmulo da matéria seca de raízes e da parte aérea, independentemente da quantidade de reserva da gema. No segundo experimento, o inoculante promoveu ganhos no crescimento inicial da parte aérea e do sistema radicular, até os 180 dias após o transplantio, com aumento em altura, perfilhamento, diâmetro do colmo, produção da matéria seca de colmos e de palha e do comprimento radicular, independentemente da aplicação de nitrogênio. O inoculante tem efeito fisiológico positivo sobre o crescimento das plantas.

SEGREGAÇÃO NATURAL DE VIRÓIDES DOS CITROS DETECTADA NA INDEXAÇÃO BIOLÓGICA E BIOQUÍMICA E CONFIRMADA PELOS SINTOMAS DE PLANTAS DE CAMPO

Estudaram-se os procedimentos de indexação biológica e bioquímica em um experimento de avaliação do uso de viróides como agentes ananicantes para pomeleiro 'Marsh Seedless'. Em algumas parcelas, houve segregação de viróides, sendo que, em duas, a segregação foi de CEVd (viróide da exocorte dos citros) e, em outras duas, não foi detectada a presença de CVd-II (viróide dos citros II). Como conseqüência desta segregação, não ocorreram sintomas típicos da exocorte em cidra nas parcelas nas quais houve segregação de CEVd, o que ocorreu nas parcelas em que a segregação foi de CVd-II, indicando que é necessária a presença de CEV para a manifestação de sintomas típicos de exocorte em cidra. Numa quinta parcela, não se detectaram viróides, provavelmente, devido à ausência dos mesmos no material de inoculação do teste biológico (escape), já que a planta de campo teve desenvolvimento vegetativo normal e ausência de sintomas no tronco. Finalmente, em uma sexta parcela, o que ocorreu, foi uma segregação drástica, não relatada na literatura, já que a planta de campo mostrou redução de porte e sintomas no tronco. A coleta de varetas para indexação deve ser mais rigorosa em função da ocorrência de segregação.

Estudos de QSAR baseados em dados de atividade biológica obtidos por microcalorimetria: III interação de m-alcoxifenóis e p-hidroxibenzoatos de alquila com Escherichia coli

QSAR studies based on flow microcalorimetric bioassay data for interaction of homologous series of m-alkoxyphenols and p-hydroxybenzoates with E. coli cells were carried out applying factorial design. Results for both series showed a linear relationship between log(dose)max and log Po/w. Analysis of these data allows the identification of contributions toward the derived bioactivity from the parent structures (the molecule minus n-CH2 groups present in the side-chain) and the lipophilic groups, CH2. These results are discussed with respect to drug quantitative structure-relationship.

Utilização do resíduo líquido de indústria de processamento de suco de laranja como meio de cultura de Penicillium citrinum: depuração biológica do resíduo e produção de enzima

Penicillium citrinum grown in orange juice processing wastes medium under continuous agitation was studied in order to establish optimal conditions (incubation period, incubation temperature, initial pH and nitrogen addition) for biomass and ribonuclease production, as well as, biological depuration of the wastes. Nitrogen addition to wastes medium increased the biomass and ribonuclease production and provides COD reduction. The soy meal shows to be the best nitrogen source. The conditions for a more favorable enzyme and biomass production and COD reduction were initial pH 6.0 and temperature of 27°C. The maximum value obtained for these parameters on optimal conditions of cultivation was 11 U/mL of enzyme, 4 mg/mL of biomass (dry matter) and 55% of COD reduction, in 96 hours of incubation.

Proposição, validação e análise dos modelos que correlacionam estrutura química e atividade biológica

The present paper aims to bring under discussion some theoretical and practical aspects about the proposition, validation and analysis of QSAR models based on multiple linear regression. A comprehensive approach for the derivation of extrathermodynamic equations is reviewed. Some examples of QSAR models published in the literature are analyzed and criticized.

Métodos de preparação e atividade biológica do ácido quinolínico e derivados

In 1981 2,3-pyridine dicarboxylic acid (quinolinic acid) was discovery to be a selective agonist for the N-methyl -D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor. As a consequence it possesses neurotoxic activity resulting from overstimulation of the receptor. Quinolinic acid is implicated as an etiological factor in a range of neurodegenerative disease including AIDS related dementia, Huntington´s disease and Lyme disease. In the design of novel therapies to treat these diseases, some molecules have been identified as an important target. In this paper we described different methods to prepare quinolinic acid and derivatives.

Tiossemicarbazonas: métodos de obtenção, aplicações sintéticas e importância biológica

Thiosemicarbazones are a class of compounds known by their chemical and biological properties, such as antitumor, antibacterial, antiviral and antiprotozoal activity. Their ability to form chelates with metals has great importance in their biological activities. Their synthesis is very simple, versatile and clean, usually giving high yields. They are largely employed as intermediates, in the synthesis of others compounds. This article is a survey of some of these characteristics showing their great importance to organic and medicinal chemistry.

Metales pesados y toxicidad de aguas del Río Aconcagua en Chile

The toxicity of surface waters in a zone with mining activity in the Aconcagua River was determined through growth inhibition bioassays of Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, and correlated with heavy metal concentrations. Results show that the waters near the discharge of the mining effluent displayed toxicity during all periods of study; the molybdenum and copper concentration exceeded the norms of water quality. The correlations between the concentrations of metals and the growth rate of P. subcapitata varied in the different periods of the study; inverse and significant correlations with copper stand out in some periods.

Ocorrência e atividade biológica de quassinóides da última década

Quassinoids, the bitter principles of the Simaroubaceae family, are a group of structurally complex and highly oxygenated degraded triterpenes. They are divided into five groups according to their basic skeleton, C-18, C-19, C-20, C-22 and C-25. In recent years, attention has been focused on quassinoids because several of them have shown promising biological activities. This paper features a review of some characteristics of these compounds, updating known information with discoveries from the last decade and covering chemical structures, basic skeletons, occurrence in genus and species, besides detailed studies of biological activities such as antitumor, antimalarial, phytotoxic, antifeedant, insecticidal, anti-inflammatory and antiulcer.

Composição química e atividade biológica das folhas e frutos de Triphasia trifolia

The chemical composition of the essential oils from leaves and fruits of Triphasia trifolia was analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. The major constituents of oil obtained from leaves were sabinene (35.4%) and myrcene (34.1%), while the prevalent compounds in oil from fruits were sabinene (37.2%), beta-pinene (23.95) and gamma-terpinene (16.3%). Both oils showed moderate antimicrobial activity. The fruit decoction was also investigated leading to the isolation of the coumarins isopimpinelin, (R)-byakangelicin and (S)-mexoticin. From leaves were isolated the coumarins (R)-byakangelicin, aurapten, (S)-mexoticin, isosibiricin, isomerazin and coumurrayin and the flavonoid vitexin. All coumarins showed cholinesterase inhibition on TLC tests.

Síntese, avaliação biológica e modelagem molecular de arilfuranos como inibidores da enzima tripanotiona redutase

Trypanosoma cruzi is a protozoan parasite that causes a severe disease (Chagas'disease) in Central and South America. The currently available chemotherapeutic agents against this disease are still inadequate. The enzyme trypanothione reductase (TR) is considered a validated molecular target for the development of new drugs against this parasite. In this regard, a series of arylfurans based on 2,5-bis-(4-acetamidophenyl)furan was synthesized and tested for their in vitro inhibitory activity against TR. Molecular modeling studies of putative enzyme-inhibitor complexes revealed a possible mechanism of interaction. From synthesized compounds, a benzylaminofuran derivative was found to be more active than the lead compound.

Métodos de obtenção, reatividade e importância biológica de 4-tiazolidinonas

Molecules containing the 4-thiazolidinone ring are known to possess a wide range of biological properties including antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities among others. These compounds can be synthesized by cyclization reactions involving alpha-haloacetic acid or alpha-mercaptoacetic acid and employed in several chemoselective reactions. Comprehensive reviews have been written on 4-thiazolidinones in 1961 by Brown and in 1980 by Singh et al. In the recent literature, some new synthesis methods for 4-thiazolidinone derivatives and several reactions have been reported. These advances warrant to review the chemical and biological properties of compounds with this important heterocycle employed in synthetic organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

Atividade biológica do lapachol e de alguns derivados sobre o desenvolvimento fúngico e em germinação de sementes

The natural quinones lapachol, α-lapachone and β-lapachone, and the synthetic derivative β-lapachone-3-sulfonic-acid were assayed for inhibition of fungal growth (Fusarium oxysporum) and germination of lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa L.). β-Lapachone has the strongest activity as a germination inhibitor and lapachol shows no effect. β-Lapachone, followed by lapachol, are the most active in reducing fungal growth.