MxA interacts with and is modified by the SUMOylation machinery

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

Multiphase feeding program for broilers can replace traditional system

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

Preliminary X-ray crystallographic studies of a Lys49-phospholipase A(2) homologue from Bothrops pirajai venom complexed with p-bromophenacyl bromide and alpha-tocopherol inhibitors

PrTX-I, a non-catalytic and myotoxic Lys49-PLA(2) from Bothrops pirajai venom has been crystallized alone and in complex with bromophenacyl bromide (BPB), alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopherol acetate inhibitors. These crystals have shown to diffract X-rays between 2.34 and 1.65 angstrom resolution. All complexes crystals are isomorphous and belong to the space group P2(1) whereas native PrTX-I crystals belong to the P3(1)21.

Polyphenol oxidase from sweet potato: Purification and properties

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO, EC 1.14.18.1) extracted from sweet potato root [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] was purified 189-fold by precipitation with ammonium sulfate and elution from columns of Sephadex G-25, DEAE-cellulose, and Sephadex G-100. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the purified preparation revealed that PPO was highly purified by the procedure adopted. The purified enzyme had an estimated molecular weight of 96 000 and Km values of 26, 8, 5, and 96 mM for 4-methylcatechol, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and catechol, respectively. The optimum pH varies from about 4.0 to 6.5, depending on the substrate. PPO activity was inhibited by p-coumaric and cinnamic acids, sodium metabisulfite, dithioerythritol, ascorbic acid, L-lysine, D-phenylalanine, L-methionine, glycine, L-isoleucine, and L-glutamine. Heat inactivation between 60 and 80 °C was biphasic. Sucrose, (NH4)2SO4, NaCl, and KCl appeared to be protective agents of sweet potato PPO against thermal denaturation. © 1992 American Chemical Society.

Pressor mechanisms in adriamycin-induced nephropathy with hypertension in rats

We explored the role of angiotensin II and vasopressin in the maintenance of blood pressure during the nephrotic syndrome of adriamycin-induced nephropathy in rats. All 91 rats treated with adriamycin developed chronic renal failure with nephrotic syndrome, which was more pronounced in the normotensive rats than the 35% who became hypertensive. Angiotensin II blockade with DuP 753 produced a significantly greater hypotensive response in both the adriamycin-hypertensive (-16 +/- 3 mm Hg) and adriamycin-normotensive (-14 +/- 5 mm Hg) groups than the saline-treated controls (-5 +/- 1 mm Hg, P < .05). Vasopressin blockade with either a V1V2 inhibitor or a selective V1 inhibitor produced a hypotensive response in adriamycin-hypertensive rats only (by -16 +/- 4 and -17 +/- 2 mm Hg, respectively, P < .01), although the nonselective vasopressin inhibitor produced similar fluid loss and body weight reduction in all three groups. The data suggest that in adriamycin-induced nephropathy with nephrotic syndrome, angiotensin II contributes to blood pressure maintenance in both hypertensive and normotensive animals, whereas the pressor action of vasopressin contributes to elevated blood pressure in hypertensive animals only.

Characterization of Trypanosoma cruzi Sirtuins as Possible Drug Targets for Chagas Disease

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

A modular approach to study protein adsorption on surface modified hydroxyapatite

Biocompatible inorganic nano- and microcarriers can be suitable candidates for protein delivery. This study demonstrates facile methods of functionalization by using nanoscale linker molecules to change the protein adsorption capacity of hydroxyapatite (HA) powder. The adsorption capacity of bovine serum albumin as a model protein has been studied with respect to the surface modifications. The selected linker molecules (lysine, arginine, and phosphoserine) can influence the adsorption capacity by changing the electrostatic nature of the HA surface. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of linker-molecule interactions with the HA surface have been performed by using NMR spectroscopy, zeta-potential measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analyses. Additionally, correlations to theoretical isotherm models have been calculated with respect to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Lysine and arginine increased the protein adsorption, whereas phosphoserine reduced the protein adsorption. The results show that the adsorption capacity can be controlled with different functionalization, depending on the protein-carrier selections under consideration. The scientific knowledge acquired from this study can be applied in various biotechnological applications that involve biomolecule-inorganic material interfaces.

Catecholaminergic neurons in the comissural region of the nucleus of the solitary tract modulate hyperosmolality-induced responses

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Sodium intake, brain c-Fos protein and gastric emptying in cell-dehydrated rats treated with methysergide into the lateral parabrachial nucleus

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Hydrogen peroxide centrally attenuates hyperosmolarity-induced thirst and natriuresis

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

Níveis de lisina em dietas para reprodutores de Rhamdia voulezi em tanques-rede

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Relação lisina digestível e energia metabolizável para leitões em fase pré-inicial de creche

Estudou-se a melhor relação entre lisina digestível (LIS) e energia metabolizável (EM) e efeitos no desempenho e balanço de nitrogênio em leitões na fase de creche. No desempenho foram usados 216 leitões dos 6,90 ± 1,11 kg de peso inicial aos 12 kg, aproximadamente. No metabolismo eram 48 leitões com 9,31 ± 2,09 kg. As concentrações de LIS eram: 1,302; 1,390 e 1,497% e de EM: 3.510, 3.700 e 3.830 kcal/kg, combinadas em um arranjo fatorial 3 × 4 e distribuídas em delineamento de blocos ao acaso. No desempenho dos leitões houve interação LIS em no ganho de peso e conversão alimentar. No ganho de peso a resposta para LIS foi linear crescente nas dietas com 3.510 kcal e 3.830 kcal de EM. Na conversão alimentar observou-se efeito quadrático de LIS nas dietas que continham 3.510 kcal e efeito linear de LIS nas dietas com 3.830 kcal de EM. O efeito quadrático de LIS dentro de 3.510 kcal indicou 1,44% do aminoácido digestível como nível ótimo ou a ingestão de 4,16 g LIS/Mcal de em consumida. A resposta linear positiva na conversão alimentar ao acréscimo de LIS nas dietas com 3.830 kcal em indica maior eficiência dos leitões ao acréscimo do aminoácido quando o nível de energia é alto. No ensaio de metabolismo o aumento de em sugere maior retenção de N, enquanto o acréscimo de LIS sugere menor retenção do N ou na relação Mcal de EM:% LIS. A interação observada nos dois ensaios, todavia, indica que a relação LIS:EM, depende do nível energético e da característica considerada. A variação de LIS e em na dieta indica 4 g LIS/Mcal de em consumida, o que corresponde à ingestão diária aproximada de 7,8 g de LIS.

Oxidation of amino acids by chlorpromazine cation radical and co-catalysis by chlorpromazine

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

Digestibilidade e exigência de aminoácidos para rã-touro

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

Estudo comparativo das características bioquímicas funcionais e especificidade catalítica de aspartil, cisteíno e serino peptidases fúngicas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)