Continuous ethanol production in a nonconventional five-stage system operating with yeast cell recycling at elevated temperatures

Three ranges of increasing temperatures (35-43, 37-45, 39-47degreesC) were sequentially applied to a five-stage system continuously operated with cell recycling so that differences of 2degreesC (between one reactor to the next) and 8degreesC (between the first reactor at the highest temperature and the fifth at the lowest temperature) were kept among the reactors for each temperature range. The entire system was fed through the first reactor. The lowest values of biomass and viability were obtained for reactor R-3 located in the middle of the system. The highest yield of biomass was obtained in the effluent when the system was operated at 35-43degreesC. This nonconventional system was set up to simulate the local fluctuations in temperature and nutrient concentrations that occur in different regions of the medium in an industrial bioreactor for fuel ethanol production mainly in tropical climates. Minimized cell death and continuous sugar utilization were observed at temperatures normally considered too high for Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentations.

Metabolismo mitocondrial, radicais livres e envelhecimento

O envelhecimento pode estar associado ao maior acúmulo de lesões celulares decorrentes das espécies reativas do oxigênio e do nitrogênio derivadas do metabolismo mitocondrial. Com a progressão da idade, há acúmulo de proteínas, lipídeos, carboidratos e DNA oxidados em relação a organismos jovens, de acordo com a teoria dos radicais livres. Entretanto, nem sempre os idosos ou animais envelhecidos apresentam maior estresse oxidativo que os jovens. Este artigo discute o paradoxo da teoria dos radicais livres de acordo com a teoria da biogênese da manutenção adequada do metabolismo mitocondrial. Diversos fatores podem contribuir para a redução do estresse oxidativo, como a hormese induzida pela prática regular de exercícios físicos, a restrição calórica, a ingestão de antioxidantes nutricionais e o aumento da produção de antioxidantes celulares que. em conjunto, estes promovem a expressão das sirtuínas e das proteínas do choque térmico, protegendo a integridade e funcionalidade mitocondriais, reduzindo o estresse oxidativo e nitrosativo, o que está associado à redução do envelhecimento e aumento da longevidade.

Importance of sperm genotype (indicus versus taurus) for fertility and embryonic development at elevated temperatures

Heat stress has negative effects on bovine reproduction, particularly for European breeds (Bos taurus taurus) that are less thermotolerant than zebu cattle (Bos taurus indicus). Here, the evidence that spermatozoa and oocyte both contribute to early embryonic resistance to heat shock is demonstrated. In addition, the use of reproductive biotechnologies to improve bovine thermotolerance, are outlined by comparing data from taurus, indicus and crossbred genotypes. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Expression and variability of molecular chaperones in the sugarcane expressome

Molecular chaperones perform folding assistance in newly synthesized polypeptides preventing aggregation processes, recovering proteins from aggregates, among other important cellular functions. Thus their study presents great biotechnological importance. The present work discusses the mining for chaperone-related sequences within the sugarcane EST genome project database, which resulted in approximately 300 different sequences. Since molecular chaperones are highly conserved in most organisms studied so far, the number of sequences related to these proteins in sugarcane was very similar to the number found in the Arabidopsis thaliana genome. The Hsp70 family was the main molecular chaperone system present in the sugarcane expressome. However, many other relevant molecular chaperones systems were also present. A digital RNA blot analysis showed that 5'ESTs from all molecular chaperones were found in every sugarcane library, despite their heterogeneous expression profiles. The results presented here suggest the importance of molecular chaperones to polypeptide metabolism in sugarcane cells, based on their abundance and variability. Finally, these data have being used to guide more in deep analysis, permitting the choice of specific targets to study. (c) 2006 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Early cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of atrazine on Wistar rat liver: A morphological, immunohistochemical, biochemical, and molecular study

Risk assessments suggest that intermediate and long-term exposure to triazine herbicides and its metabolites through water can cause severe damage to human health. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible effects of atrazine on Wistar rats submitted to subacute treatment. For this purpose, the activity of catalase and alanine aminotransferase was quantified, and the effect of the herbicide on cell membranes was examined based on the measurement of lipid peroxidation and consequent formation of malondialdehyde and on the mRNA expression of antioxidant enzymes (Mn-superoxide dismutase [SOD] and GSTM1) and connexins. In addition, we evaluated histopathological alterations in the liver, cellular expression of SOD and glutathione (GST), activation of heat shock proteins (HSPs) by immunohistochemistry, and the induction of apoptosis. The genotoxic potential of the herbicide was investigated by the micronucleus test in bone marrow smears. Adult male Wistar rats were treated with an aqueous solution of atrazine at a concentration of 400 mg/kg/day, by gavage, for 14 consecutive days. Control groups were also included. The results showed an increase of catalase levels and maintenance of the expression of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and GST). In addition, lipid peroxidation, hepatic tissue degeneration, activation of HSP90, increased levels of connexin mRNA, and genotoxicity were observed. In conclusion, atrazine induced early hepatic oxidative stress that triggered defense mechanisms to maintain the morphophysiological integrity of the liver. Further studies are needed to better understand the effects of this herbicide on human health. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Simulação numérica de trocadores de calor multitubulares equipados com fitas helicoidais externamente aos tubos

Classical shell-and-tube heat exchangers are usually equipped with segmental baffles. These baffles serve two basic functions: (a) they provide tube supports, thereby preventing or reducing mechanical problems, such as sagging or vibration; (b) they direct the fluid flow over the tubes so as to introduce a cross-flow component, thereby increasing the heat transfer. Segmented baffles have several sources of performance loss, some due to various leakage flows and others caused by stagnation zones. A new concept of longitudinal flow heat exchanger - based on placing twisted tapes along the tube bundle subchannels - was developed to mitigate drawbacks of other types of tubular heat exchangers. In this paper, a numerical model has been implemented in order to simulate the thermal-hydraulic feature of tubular heat exchangers equipped either with segmental baffles or with subchannel twisted tapes. The tube bundle has been described by means of an equivalent porous medium type model, allowing a macroscopic description of the shell-side flow. The basic equations - continuity, momentum and energy - have been solved by using the finite volume method. Typical numerical results have been compared with experimental data, reaching a very good agreement. A comparative analysis of different types of heat exchangers has been carried out, revealing the satisfactory thermal-hydraulic efficiency level of the twisted tapes heat exchangers.

Could handling and acclimatization affect biomarker responses in oysters?

The aim of this study was to investigate whether handling and acclimatization could affect the biomarker responses in oysters Crassostrea gigas. Adult oysters were sampled in a farming area, subjected to handling stress during two hours (shell cleaning and transport), and then acclimatized in laboratory for 2, 3 and 4 weeks. Groups of five oysters were sampled before and after the handling (T0 and T1, respectively), and after 2, 3 and 4 weeks acclimatization. During the acclimatization, water was renewed daily, food given twice a day and temperature and salinity maintained at 22 °C and 25 ppt, respectively. One group, in another tank, was kept in similar conditions and was exposed for 1 week to 0.1 % diesel after the 2-weeks acclimatization period. After exposure, gills were immediately frozen in liquid N 2 for biochemical analyses. Higher expression of heat-shock proteins (HSP70) was observed after handling, and after acclimatization periods of 3-week and 4-week, compared to the T0 group. The diesel exposed group did not show elevated levels of HSP70, when compared to the 3-week acclimatized group. The activity of glutathione S-transferase (GST) was unchanged after handling, but was lower after all acclimatization periods, compared to the T0 group. Exposure to diesel caused an increase in GST activity compared to the 3-week acclimatized group, but not compared to T0. The activity of catalase (CAT), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and the MDA levels remained unchanged during the whole experiment. These results point to the need of a special care in laboratory and field experiments employing HSP70 and GST as biomarkers. (Supported by CNPq-CTPetro to ACDB.). © 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Physiology and endocrinology symposium: Influence of cattle genotype (Bos indicus vs. Bos taurus) on oocyte and preimplantation embryo resistance to increased temperature

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

Melhoramento das condições de hidratação da levedura seca instantânea de panificação por tratamentos com soluções de aditivos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudos preliminares com proteínas de Neurospora crassa identificadas em complexos DNA-proteína

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

Influência da raça do touro (Bos indicus x Bos taurus) na tolerância ao estresse térmico calórico de embriões bovinos produzidos in vitro

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

O papel do fator de crescimento semelhante à insulina-l sobre os efeitos deletérios do choque térmico em oócitos bovinos no estádio de vesícula germinativa

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Terapia fotodinâmica em esporos de bacillus atrophaeus e bacillus subtilis: estudos com LASER, LED, azul de metileno, rosa bengala e verde malaquita

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Comparação da adaptação cervical de estruturas metálicas para metalo-cerâmica obtidas através de técnica de fundição rápida e convencional, utilizando três revestimentos comerciais

Pós-graduação em Odontologia - FOA