Ichthyofaunistic composition of the Quilombo river, tributary of the Mogi-Guaçu river, upper Paraná river basin, southeastern Brazil

Um estudo sobre a composição ictiofaunística do rio Quilombo foi realizado com o intuito de identificar quais espécies de peixes habitam a bacia, com que freqüência tais espécies são encontradas e verificar variações na distribuição longitudinal desta ictiofauna. Foram demarcados quatro pontos de coletas distribuídos na bacia, os quais foram visitados 21 vezes ao longo de um ano e dez meses (entre setembro de 2003 e junho de 2005), abrangendo os períodos seco e úmido que ocorrem anualmente na região estudada. Para coleta dos peixes foram utilizadas diferentes artes de pesca: tarrafas, redes de espera, rede de arrasto, peneiras, linha e anzol. Os peixes foram fixados em formalina 10%, conservados em etanol 70%, identificados e encontram-se depositados na coleção de peixes do Laboratório de Ictiologia Sistemática do Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva da UFSCar. Foram coletados 2982 exemplares, os quais estão divididos em 6 ordens, 19 famílias, 52 gêneros e 68 espécies. As ordens Characiformes (57,3%) e Siluriformes (30,9%) tiveram maior participação no total de espécies em relação às ordens Gymnotiformes, Cyprinodontiformes, Perciformes e Synbranchiformes, que juntas somaram 11,8% da riqueza. A análise da constância permitiu verificar que a composição da ictiofauna desse rio variou ao longo do período, principalmente nos trechos médio e inferior. O índice de similaridade (Jaccard) evidenciou que os conjuntos de espécies são diferentes entre os pontos de coleta, mostrando particularidades em cada um deles.A study about fish composition in the Quilombo river, of the upper Paraná hydrographic system, is presented. We aimed to identify which species inhabit this small river, to verify the frequency they occur and to study the longitudinal distribution of the ichthyofauna. Fish were sampled for a period of one year and ten months (September 2003 to June 2005) at four collection sites defined through the river basin, comprising dry and wet seasonal periods. Trawlnet, gillnets, seine net, sieves and hooks were used for fish sample. Fish collected were immediately fixed in 10% formalin solution. In the laboratory specimens were preserved in ethanol 70%, identified and deposited in the fish collection of the Laboratório de Ictiologia Sistemática (LISDEBE) of the Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva of the Universidade Federal de São Carlos. An amount of 2982 specimens belonging to 6 orders, 19 families, 52 genera and 68 species were collected. The orders Characiformes (57.3%) and Siluriformes (30.9%) predominated in terms of species richness. The orders Gymnotiformes, Cyprinodontiformes, Perciformes and Synbranchiformes summed 11.8% of total fish richness. The analysis of constancy revealed that the ichthyofaunistic composition in the middle and lower sampled stretches suffered higher temporal variability in comparison to upper stretches of Quilombo river basin. The similarity (Jaccard index) among samples showed that each collection site have distinct assemblages of fish

Identification and partial characterization of cAMP-phosphodiesterases in the ciliate Euplotes raikovi.

In the ciliate Euplotes raikovi, two specific isoforms of cAMP- dependent phosphodiesterases were identified, one in the soluble and the other in the particulate fraction of the cell. Their activity was shown to be stimulated by Mg2+, insensitive to Ca2+ and cGMP, and scarcely inhibited by theophylline and 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine. They appear to be related to some phosphodiesterases of class II of other unicellular organisms in their biochemical features, and their enzymatic activity is up-regulated by elevation of intracellular cAMP level similarly to PDE-4 isoforms of mammals

NF-Y recruitment of TFIID, multiple interactions with histone fold TAF(II)s

The nuclear factor y (NF-Y) trimer and TFIID contain histone fold subunits, and their binding to the CCAAT and Initiator elements of the major histocompatibility complex class II Ea promoter is required for transcriptional activation. Using agarose-electrophoretic mobility shift assay we found that NF-Y increases the affinity of holo-TFIID for Ea in a CCAAT- and Inr-dependent manner. We began to dissect the interplay between NF-Y- and TBP-associated factors PO1II (TAF(II)s)-containing histone fold domains in protein-protein interactions and transfections. hTAF(II)20, hTAF(II)28, and hTAF(II)18-hTAF(II)28 bind to the NF-Y B-NF-YC histone fold dimer; hTAF(II)80 and hTAF(II)31-hTAF(II)80 interact with the trimer but not with the NF-YB-NF-YC dimer. The histone fold alpha2 helix of hTAF(II)80 is not required for NF-Y association, as determined by interactions with the naturally occurring splice variant hTAF(II)80delta. Expression of hTAF(II)28 and hTAF(II)18 in mouse cells significantly and specifically reduced NF-Y activation in GAL4-based experiments, whereas hTAF,120 and hTAF(II)135 increased it. These results indicate that NF-Y (i) recruits purified holo-TFIID in vitro and (ii) can associate multiple TAF(II)s, potentially accommodating different core promoter architectures

Cross-talk between the autocrine (mitogenic) pheromone loop of the ciliate Euplotes raikovi and the intracellular cyclic AMP concentration

Cell type-specific protein signals, called pheromones, are constitutively secreted by Euplotes raikovi and bound back in autocrine fashion, with a positive effect on the vegetative (mitotic) cell growth. In cells growing suspended with their secreted pheromone, it was found that any interruption of this autocrine signaling loop was immediately followed by an effective enhancement of the basal intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) level. To establish a cause-effect relationship between these pheromone-induced variations in the cytoplasmic cAMP level and cell growth, cells ready to pass from a resting stage to a new growth cycle were conditioned either to incorporate a cAMP analog resistant to phosphodiesterase degradation, or to utilize cAMP released (following cell irradiation) from incorporated “caged” cAMP. Cells responded at every induced increase in their basal cAMP level by markedly decreasing their commitment to start a new growth cycle. It was deduced that the autocrine signaling of E. raikovi pheromones involves cAMP as inhibitor of its mitogenic activity

In-Situ Friction and Pad Topography Measurements During CMP

AbstractDuel Emission Laser Induced Fluorescence (DELIF) and friction measurements are taken in-situ during CMP to observe slurry flow beneath a model of an integrated circuit (IC) wafer. Friction measurements average around 7.5 lb and multiple frequencies are observed. Slurry film thicknesses on the order of a 10±3μm were observed during CMP of a flat wafer. The film thickness seems uncorrelated to friction measurements except when the pad and wafer rotation speeds are significantly slowed. DELIF has also accurately measured a 9μm etched step, with noise in the image equal to ±3 μm.</jats:p

Targeting the Diuretic Hormone Receptor to Control the Cotton Leafworm,<i>Spodoptera littoralis</i>

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Plant cell culture technology in the cosmetics and food industries : current state and future trends

The production of drugs, cosmetics, and food which are derived from plant cell and tissue cultures has a long tradition. The emerging trend of manufacturing cosmetics and food products in a natural and sustainable manner has brought a new wave in plant cell culture technology over the past 10 years. More than 50 products based on extracts from plant cell cultures have made their way into the cosmetics industry during this time, whereby the majority is produced with plant cell suspension cultures. In addition, the first plant cell culture-based food supplement ingredients, such as Echigena Plus and Teoside 10, are now produced at production scale. In this mini review, we discuss the reasons for and the characteristics as well as the challenges of plant cell culture-based productions for the cosmetics and food industries. It focuses on the current state of the art in this field. In addition, two examples of the latest developments in plant cell culture-based food production are presented, that is, superfood which boosts health and food that can be produced in the lab or at home

An Extract from Ficus carica Cell Cultures Works as an Anti-Stress Ingredient for the Skin

Psychological stress activates catecholamine production, determines oxidation processes, and alters the lipid barrier functions in the skin. Scientific evidence associated with the detoxifying effect of fruits and vegetables, the growing awareness of the long-term issues related to the use of chemical-filled cosmetics, the aging of the population, and the increase in living standards are the factors responsible for the growth of food-derived ingredients in the cosmetics market. A Ficus carica cell suspension culture extract (FcHEx) was tested in vitro (on keratinocytes cells) and in vivo to evaluate its ability to manage the stress-hormone-induced damage in skin. The FcHEx reduced the epinephrine (−43% and −24% at the concentrations of 0.002% and 0.006%, respectively), interleukin 6 (−38% and −36% at the concentrations of 0.002% and 0.006%, respectively), lipid peroxide (−25%), and protein carbonylation (−50%) productions; FcHEx also induced ceramide synthesis (+150%) and ameliorated the lipid barrier performance. The in vivo experiments confirmed the in vitro test results. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL; −12.2%), sebum flow (−46.6% after two weeks and −73.8% after four weeks; on the forehead −56.4% after two weeks and −80.1% after four weeks), and skin lightness (+1.9% after two weeks and +2.7% after four weeks) defined the extract’s effects on the skin barrier. The extract of the Ficus carica cell suspension cultures reduced the transepidermal water loss, the sebum production, the desquamation, and facial skin turning to a pale color from acute stress, suggesting its role as an ingredient to fight the signs of psychological stress in the skin

Recombinant Expression of Archaeal Superoxide Dismutases in Plant Cell Cultures: A Sustainable Solution with Potential Application in the Food Industry

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a fundamental antioxidant enzyme that neutralises superoxide ions, one of the main reactive oxygen species (ROS). Extremophile organisms possess enzymes that offer high stability and catalytic performances under a wide range of conditions, thus representing an exceptional source of biocatalysts useful for industrial processes. In this study, SODs from the thermo-halophilic Aeropyrum pernix (SODAp) and the thermo-acidophilic Saccharolobus solfataricus (SODSs) were heterologously expressed in transgenic tomato cell cultures. Cell extracts enriched with SODAp and SODSs showed a remarkable resistance to salt and low pHs, respectively, together with optimal activity at high temperatures. Moreover, the treatment of tuna fillets with SODAp-extracts induced an extension of the shelf-life of this product without resorting to the use of illicit substances. The results suggested that the recombinant plant extracts enriched with the extremozymes could find potential applications as dietary supplements in the nutrition sector or as additives in the food preservation area, representing a more natural and appealing alternative to chemical preservatives for the market