Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase as a moonlighting protein in bacteria

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is considered a housekeeping protein that is present in virtually all organisms, where it performs metabolic functions essential for survival. GAPDH plays an essential role in the process of energy production, and is also involved in numerous biological processes. GAPDH belongs to a subset of proteins called moonlighting proteins, in which different functions are associated with a single polypeptide chain. The multifunctionality of GAPDH has been described in pathogenic and probiotic microorganisms, in mammals and in plants. In this review, we summarize the moonlighting role of GAPDH in bacteria.

Preparação de compostos lamelares: síntese do hidrogenofosfato de zircônio cristalino e sua intercalação com aminas. Um experimento para estudantes de graduação

The present paper describes the synthesis of crystalline zirconium hydrogen phosphate by direct precipitation and its intercalation with pyridine and n-butylamine. The simple experiment was tested in the undergraduate inorganic chemistry laboratory course for chemistry students at IQ-UNICAMP using inexpensive reagents. The materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and infrared analyses in order to obtain detailed information of the solid structure changes as a result of the intercalation process. Pyridine and n-butylamine are focused in this work as clear and elucidative examples leading to acid-base interactive processes that result in the well-formed infinite sequence of inorganic lamellar structures.

Hydrology, light and the use of organic and inorganic materials as structuring factors of biological communities in Mediterranean streams

Hydrological disturbances, light availability and nutrients are the most relevant factors determining the structure of the biological communities in Mediterranean rivers. While some hydrological disturbances are able to induce catastrophic effects, which may cause a complete reset in physical and biological conditions, continued enrichment or changes in light availability are factors leading to the progressive shift in the communities of autotrophs and heterotrophs in the systems. Primary production in Mediterranean streams shows relevant seasonal changes which mainly follows the variations in light availability. In most forested streams, the algal community is shade-adapted. Nutrient enrichment (especially phosphorus) leads to marked increases in primary production, but this increase is not lineal and there is a saturation of algal biomass even in the most enriched systems. The heterotrophs (bacteria, fungi) are related to the pattern of DOC availability (which most depends on the seasonal discharge and leaf fall dynamics) and to the available substrata in the stream. It has been repeatedly observed that shorttime increases of extracellular enzyme activities are related to the accumulation of autochthonous (algal) and/or allochthonous (leaves) organic matter on the streambed during spring and summer, this being more remarkable in dry than in wetter years. Flow reduction favours detritus concentration in pools, and the subsequent increase in the density and biomass of the macroinvertebrate community. In Mediterranean streams collectors are accounting for the highest density and biomass, this being more remarkable in the least permanent systems, in accordance with the effect of floods on the organic matter availability. Nutrients, through the effect on the primary producers, also affect the trophic food web in the streams by favouring the predominance of grazers

Adsorção de glifosato sobre solos e minerais

Glyphosate, an enzyme inhibitor herbicide, has been widely used around the world in agriculture. Dr. John Franz from Monsanto Corporation (USA) discovered glyphosate in 1970. It has been showed that glyphosate is strongly adsorbed by inorganic soil components especially aluminium and iron oxides, and the phosphate group is involved in this interaction. The inactivation of glyphosate in soils can last for days or even months depending on soil characteristics. The addition of phosphate from fertilizers can displace glyphosate from the soils and this could be the cause of decreased productivity of some crops.

Nanoparticle-coated organic-inorganic microparticles: experimental design and gastrointestinal tolerance evaluation

The influences of the spray-drying parameters and the type of nanoparticles (nanocapsules or nanospheres) on the characteristics of nanoparticle-coated diclofenac-loaded microparticles were investigated by using a factorial design 3². Gastrointestinal tolerance following oral administration in rats was evaluated. Formulations were selected considering the best yields, the best encapsulation efficiencies and the lowest water contents, presenting surfaces completely coated by nanostructures and a decrease in the surface areas in relation to the uncoated core. In vitro drug release demonstrated the influence of the nanoparticle-coating on the dissolution profiles of diclofenac. Nanocapsule-coated microparticles presented a protective effect on the gastrointestinal mucosa.

Estudo das diferentes formas de fósforo nas águas da plataforma continental do Amazonas

Hydrological samples were collected on the continental shelf of the Amazon river to determine particulate organic and inorganic matter, dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP), phosphate, total particulate phosphorus (TPP), chlorophyll a, temperature, salinity, pH, water transparency, dissolved oxygen (DO) and saturation rate. The objective was to study the forms of DOP, phosphate and TPP. In the euphotic layer, the fluvial discharge from the Amazon river favored the distribution of phosphate, TPP and DOP. In the aphotic layer, the phosphate concentration increased due to the decomposition of DOP and TPP. This increase is due to the absence of photosynthetic processes.

Inorganic Nanoparticles and the Immune System: Detection, Selective Activation and Tolerance

The immune system is the responsible for body integrity and prevention of external invasion. On one side, nanoparticles are no triggers that the immune system is prepared to detect, on the other side it is known that foreign bodies, not only bacteria, viruses and parasites, but also inorganic matter, can cause various pathologies such as silicosis, asbestosis or inflammatory reactions. Therefore, nanoparticles entering the body, after interaction with proteins, will be either recognized as self-agents or detected by the immune system, encompassing immunostimulation or immunosuppression responses. The nature of these interactions seems to be dictated not specially by the composition of the material but by modifications of NP coating (composition, surface charge and structure). Herein, we explore the use of gold nanoparticles as substrates to carry multifunctional ligands to manipulate the immune system in a controlled manner, from undetection to immunostimulation. Murine bone marrow macrophages can be activated with artificial nanometric objects consisting of a gold nanoparticle functionalized with peptides. In the presence of some conjugates, macrophage proliferation was stopped and pro-inflammatory cytokines were induced. The biochemical type of response depended on the type of conjugated peptide and was correlated with the degree of ordering in the peptide coating. These findings help to illustrate the basic requirements involved in medical NP conjugate design to either activate the immune system or hide from it, in order to reach their targets before being removed by phagocytes. Additionally, it opens up the possibility to modulate the immune response in order to suppress unwanted responses resulting from autoimmunity, or allergy or to stimulate protective responses against pathogens.

Influence of the temperature and type of salt on the phase equilibrium of peg 1500 + potassium phosphate and peg 1500 + sodium citrate aqueous two-phase systems

The present work analyzed the effect of the temperature and type of salt on the phase equilibrium of aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) formed by poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) 1500 + potassium phosphate, from (278.15 to 318.15) K, and PEG 1500 + sodium citrate, from (278.15 to 298.15) K. The rise of the temperature normally increased the slope of the tie line (STL). With respect to the influence of the type of salt, sodium citrate showed better capability to induce phase separation, when compared to potassium phosphate.

Can affinity interactions influence the partitioning of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in two-phase aqueous micellar systems?

In this work, we provide an investigation of the role and strength of affinity interactions on the partitioning of the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in aqueous two-phase micellar systems. These systems are constituted of micellar surfactant solutions and offer both hydrophobic and hydrophilic environments, providing selectivity to biomolecules. We studied G6PD partitioning in systems composed of the nonionic surfactants, separately, in the presence and absence of affinity ligands. We observed that G6PD partitions to the micelle-poor phase, owing to the strength of excluded-volume interactions in these systems that drive the protein to the micelle-poor phase, where there is more free volume available.

Laboratory projects using inquiry-based learning: an application to a practical inorganic course

This paper reports how laboratory projects (LP) coupled to inquiry-based learning (IBL) were implemented in a practical inorganic chemistry course. Several coordination compounds have been successfully synthesised by students according to the proposed topics by the LP-IBL junction, and the chemistry of a number of metals has been studied. Qualitative data were collected from written reports, oral presentations, lab-notebook reviews and personal discussions with the students through an experimental course with undergraduate second-year students at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia during the last 5 years. Positive skills production was observed by combining LP and IBL. Conceptual, practical, interpretational, constructional (questions, explanations, hypotheses), communicational, environmental and application abilities were revealed by the students throughout the experimental course.

Fluxos de nutrientes associados às descargas de água subterrânea para a Lagoa Mangueira (Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil)

This study assesses the importance of groundwater discharge to dissolved nutrient levels in Mangueira Lagoon. A transect of an irrigation canal in the margin of Lagoon demonstrated a strong geochemical gradient due to high groundwater inputs in this area. Using 222Rn as a quantitative groundwater tracer, we observed that the flux of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), silicate and phosphate (1178 and 1977; 26190 and 35652; 167 and 188 mol d-1 for winter and summer, respectively) can continually supply/sustain primary production. The irrigation canals act as an artificial underground tributary and represent a new source of nutrients to coastal lagoons.

Partition of proteases from Lentinus citrinus DPUA 1535 by the Peg/Phosphate Aqueous Two-Phase System

A full two-level factorial design was employed to study the influence of PEG molar mass (MM PEG), PEG concentration (C PEG) and phosphate concentration (C PHOSPH) on proteases partition by Lentinus citrinus DPUA 1535 in a PEG/phosphate aqueous two-phase system (ATPS). For all ATPS studied, proteases partitioned for the top phase and the best proteases extraction condition was obtained with MM PEG = 6000 g mol-1, C PEG = 17.5% (w/w) and C PHOSPH = 25% (w/w) with (1.1) purification factor and (151%) activity yield. Findings reported here demonstrate a practical strategy that serves as a first step for proteases purification from crude extract by L. citrinus.

Inertization of small-scale chemical wastes using iron phosphate glass

The viability of small-scale heavy-metal waste immobilization into iron phosphate glasses was investigated. Several waste forms containing different amounts of heavy-ion wastes were evaluated (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 26%, 33%, 40% and 50% by mass) and their X-ray diffraction patterns revealed that no crystallization occurred in glasses with waste concentrations up to 26%. The dissolution rates for all of the reported glass compositions (ca. 10-8 g cm-2 min-1) are similar to those reported for the materials most commonly used for waste vitrification. Iron phosphate glasses thus proved to be very useful for the immobilization of heavy-metal wastes, exhibiting good contention and chemical durability comparable to that of borosilicate glasses.

VIS-NIR SPECTROMETRY, SOIL PHOSPHATE EXTRACTION METHODS AND INTERACTIONS OF SOIL ATTRIBUTES

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationships between the spectra in the Vis-NIR range and the soil P concentrations obtained from the PM and Prem extraction methods as well as the effects of these relationships on the construction of models predicting P concentration in Oxisols. Soil samples' spectra and their PM and Prem extraction solutions were determined for the Vis-NIR region between 400 and 2500 nm. Mineralogy and/or organic matter content act as primary attributes allowing correlation of these soil phosphorus fractions with the spectra, mainly at wavelengths between 450-550, 900-1100 nm, near 1400 nm and between 2200-2300 nm. However, the regression models generated were not suitable for quantitative phosphate analysis. Solubilization of organic matter and reactions during the PM extraction process hindered correlations between the spectra and these P soil fractions. For Prem,, the presence of Ca in the extractant and preferential adsorption by gibbsite and iron oxides, particularly goethite, obscured correlations with the spectra.