Fundamental shift in vitamin B12 eco-physiology of a model alga demonstrated by experimental evolution.

A widespread and complex distribution of vitamin requirements exists over the entire tree of life, with many species having evolved vitamin dependence, both within and between different lineages. Vitamin availability has been proposed to drive selection for vitamin dependence, in a process that links an organism's metabolism to the environment, but this has never been demonstrated directly. Moreover, understanding the physiological processes and evolutionary dynamics that influence metabolic demand for these important micronutrients has significant implications in terms of nutrient acquisition and, in microbial organisms, can affect community composition and metabolic exchange between coexisting species. Here we investigate the origins of vitamin dependence, using an experimental evolution approach with the vitamin B(12)-independent model green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. In fewer than 500 generations of growth in the presence of vitamin B(12), we observe the evolution of a B(12)-dependent clone that rapidly displaces its ancestor. Genetic characterization of this line reveals a type-II Gulliver-related transposable element integrated into the B(12)-independent methionine synthase gene (METE), knocking out gene function and fundamentally altering the physiology of the alga.

Depression associates with Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Vitamin B12 and Folate status::Findings from Belfast Elderly Longitudinal Free-Living Ageing STudy (BELFAST)

Introduction: An association between depression and folate has been found in clinical studies. Depression and dementia can contribute to nutritional deficiency. This study clinical depression in in octo/nonagenarians from the BELFAST study.
Method: In the BELFAST study, 38 free-living octo/nonagenarians (mean age 82 years), who apparently well and cognitively intact were followed up at 5 years and assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Folstein (30 point), Mini Nutritional Assessment Tool (MNA) together with serum folate and vitamin B12 levels.
Results: Mean GDS was 3.4 (SD 2.5), serum folate 7.1 umol/l (SD 5.3) and B12 553 umol/l (458). With mean MNA and Folstein -25.8 (SD 2.7) and 27.6 (SD 2.7) respectively with no sex difference (p = 0.78; p = 0.36). 25% of subjects showed a GDS >5 indicating risk of mild depression and 21% had compromised nutritional status. MNA associated with GDS in male (r2 = 0.56 p = 0.01), but not in female elderly subjects (r2 = 0.01; p = 0.44). GDS score and lower serum folate were associated (r2 = -0.23; p = 0.01).
Conclusion: Overall there was the suggestion that nutritional status and depression might be linked in male subjects at 5 year follow-up in octo/nonagenarians from the BEFLAST study. The lower folate in subjects categorised at risk of mild depression might suggest vitamin supplementation could be useful.

Spectrum of Somatic Hypermutations and Implication on Antibody Function: Case of the anti HIV-1 antibody, b12

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2015

Use of novel biomarkers (Homocysteine, vitamin B6, B9 and B12) on the assessing the progression of cardiovascular disease

A large number of evidences correlate elevated levels of homocysteine (Hcys) with a higher cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) risk, especially, atherosclerosis. Similarly, abnormal low levels of the vitamins B6, B9 and B12 are associated to an instability in the methionine cycle with an over production of Hcys. Thus, biomedical sciences are looking forward for a cheaper, faster, precise and accurate analytical methodology to quantify these compounds in a suitable format for the clinical environment. Therefore the objective of this study was the development of a simple, inexpensive and appropriate methodology to use at the clinical level. To achieve this goal, a procedure integrating a digitally controlled (eVol®) microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) and an ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled to a photodiode array detector (PDA) was developed to identify and quantify Hcys vitamins B6, B9 and B12. Although different conditions were assayed, we were not able to combine Hcys with the vitamins in the same analytical procedure, and so we proceeded to the optimization of two methods differing only in the composition of the gradient of the mobile phase and the injected volume. It was found that MEPS did not bring any benefit to the quantification of the Hcys in the plasma. Therefore, we developed and validate an alternative method that uses the direct injection of treated plasma (reduced and precipitated). This same method was evaluated in terms of selectivity, linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), matrix effect and precision (intra-and inter-day) and applied to the determination of Hcys in a group composed by patients presenting augmented CVD risk. Good results in terms of selectivity and linearity (R2> 0.9968) were obtained, being the values of LOD and LOQ 0.007 and 0.21 mol / L, respectively. The intra-day precision (1.23-3.32%), inter-day precision (5.43-6.99%) and the recovery rate (82.5 to 93.1%) of this method were satisfactory. The matrix effect (>120%) was, however, higher than we were waiting for. Using this methodology it was possible to determine the amount of Hcys in real plasma samples from individuals presenting augmented CVD risk. Regarding the methodology developed for vitamins, despite the optimization of the extraction technique and the chromatographic conditions, it was found that the levels usually present in plasma are far below the sensitivity we obtained. Therefore, further optimizations of the methodology developed are needed. As conclusion, part of the objectives of this study was achieved with the development of a quick, simple and cheaper method for the quantification of Hcys.

Avaliação do polimorfismo no gene da metilenotetrahidrofolato redutase e concentração de folato e vitamina B12 em pacientes portadores do HIV-1 em tratamento com anti-retrovirais

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Vitamina B12 exerce um efeito benéfico sobre a espermatogênese após depleção de espermatogônias causada pelo Busulfan®

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

Avaliação morfológica e morfométrica dos túbulos seminíferos de ratos tratados com o antineoplásico busulfan e suplementados com vitamina b12

O busulfan, um antineoplásico utilizado no tratamento de leucemia mieloide, apresenta como mecanismo de ação a alquilação do DNA, impedindo, portanto, a replicação desse ácido nucleico. Dessa maneira, um dos efeitos adversos desse fármaco consiste em danos aos tecidos de intensa atividade proliferativa, incluindo o epitélio seminífero. A vitamina B12 desempenha um papel importante na síntese de DNA, contribuindo no processo de divisão celular. Portanto, neste estudo, foi proposto avaliar a ação do busulfan sobre o epitélio seminífero de ratos e verificar se as alterações provocadas por esse fármaco são amenizadas pela suplementação com vitamina B12 durante o tratamento. Foi também proposto avaliar o hemograma dos animais a fim de verificar se o suplemento vitamínico minimiza a leucopenia e a trombocitopenia, causadas pelo busulfan. Foram utilizados 25 ratos distribuídos em 5 grupos: grupo controle (GC), grupo busulfan (GB), grupo veículo (GV), grupo busulfan+vitamina (GB/B12) e grupo vitamina (GB12). Os tratamentos foram realizados no período de 10 dias da seguinte maneira: os animais do grupo GB receberam duas doses de busulfan (10 mg/kg) no 1º e 4º dias de tratamento. Os animais do grupo veículo (GV) receberam uma solução contendo polietilenoglicol em duas doses de 0,1 ml/100 g de peso corpóreo, semelhantemente ao grupo GB. Os animais de ambos os grupos receberam doses de salina nos demais dias de tratamento. Os animais dos grupos GB/B12 e GB12 receberam busulfan+vitamina B12 e vitamina B12, respectivamente, no 1º e 4º dias de tratamento. Esses animais receberam vitamina B12 durante os demais dias de tratamento. Os animais do grupo GC receberam solução salina em todos os dias do tratamento. Após o tratamento, os animais foram eutanasiados e, por meio de punção cardíaca, o sangue foi coletado para análise do hemograma... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

Avaliação de parâmetros morfométricos e morfofuncionais em testículos de ratos tratados com fluoxetina e suplementados com vitamina B12

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