Abstract:

Background Until recently, plant metabolomics have provided a deep understanding on the metabolic regulation in individual plants as experimental units. The application of these techniques to agricultural systems subjected to more complex interactions is a step towards the implementation of translational metabolomics in crop breeding. Aim of Review We present here a review paper discussing advances in the knowledge reached in the last years derived from the application of metabolomic techniques that evolved from biomarker discovery to improve crop yield and quality. Key Scientific Concepts of Review Translational metabolomics applied to crop breeding programs.

Instituto de Biotecnología

Author affiliation: Alseekh, Saleh. Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology; Alemania. Center of Plant System Biology and Biotechnology; Bulgaria

Author affiliation: Bermudez Salazar, Luisa. INTA. Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina

Author affiliation: De Haro, Luis Alejandro. INTA. Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias; Argentina

Author affiliation: Fernie, Alisdair R. Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology; Alemania. Center of Plant System Biology and Biotechnology; Bulgaria

Author affiliation: Carrari, Fernando. INTA. Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias; Argentina. Universidade de São Paulo. Instituto de Biociências. Departamento de Botânica; Brasil

Abstract:

Considering the dual use of plants, as bio-factories for foods and feedstock for bio-refining, along with a rising world population, the plant biotechnology field is currently facing a dramatic challenge to develop crops with higher yield. Furthermore, convergent studies predict that global changes in climate will influence crop productivity by modifying most yield-associated traits. Here, we review recent advances in the understanding of plant metabolism directly or indirectly impacting on yield and provide an update of the different pathways proposed as targets for metabolic engineering aiming to optimize source–sink relationships.

Author affiliation: Rossi, Magdalena. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasil

Author affiliation: Bermudez Salazar, Luisa Fernanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina

Author affiliation: Carrari, Fernando Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Biotecnología; Argentina

Abstract:

Epidemiological evidence links alcohol intake with increased risk in breast cancer. Not all the characteristics of the correlation can be explained in terms of changes in hormonal factors. In this work, we explore the possibility that alcohol were activated to acetaldehyde and free radicals in situ by xanthine dehydrogenase (XDh) and xanthine oxidase (XO) and/or aldehyde oxidase (AO). Incubation of cytosolic fraction with xanthine oxidoreductase (XDh+XO) (XOR) cosubstrates (e.g. NAD+, hypoxanthine, xanthine, caffeine, theobromine, theophylline or 1,7-dimethylxanthine) significantly enhanced the biotransformation of ethanol to acetaldehyde. The process was inhibited by allopurinol and not by pyrazole or benzoate or desferrioxamine and was not accompanied by detectable formation of 1HEt. However, hydroxylated aromatic derivatives of PBN were detected, suggesting either that hydroxyl free radicals might be formed or that XOR might catalyze aromatic hydroxylation of PBN. No bioactivation of ethanol to acetaldehyde was detectable when a cosubstrate of AO such as N-methylnicotinamide was included in cytosolic incubation mixtures. Results suggest that bioactivation of ethanol in situ to a carcinogen, such as acetaldehyde, and potentially to free radicals, might be involved in alcohol breast cancer induction. This might be the case, particularly also in cases of a high consumption of purine-rich food (e.g. meat) or beverages or soft drinks containing caffeine.

Author affiliation: Castro, Gerardo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. GP. CITEFA - Centro de Investigaciones Toxicológicas (I); Argentina

Author affiliation: Delgado, Aurora Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. GP. CITEFA - Centro de Investigaciones Toxicológicas (I); Argentina

Author affiliation: Costantini, Martin Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. GP. CITEFA - Centro de Investigaciones Toxicológicas (I); Argentina

Author affiliation: Castro, Jose Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. GP. CITEFA - Centro de Investigaciones Toxicológicas (I); Argentina

Abstract:

Aims: In this work, we developed and characterized liposomal formulations that encapsulate L-cysteine to study their further application in drug delivery and amino acid supplementation. The lipids used were 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC), 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC).Methodology: Encapsulation efficiency and amino acid release were determined. For biophysical characterization of the three formulations, the size, surface charge and surface packing were also studied. Cell viability was analyzed with MTT reagent after treatments with formulations ir order to study efficiency of these systems in induce changes in metabolism.Results: Results showed that L-cysteine interacts at the polar head level and that this interaction stabilizes the surface charge and prevents aggregation. We also determined the influence on cell metabolism in all formulations. The presence of L-cysteine in the DSPC formulation induced deeper changes in metabolism, evidencing that this formulation provides better transport of this amino acid.Conclusion: Liposomes developed herein are well suited for the application in the delivery of L-cysteine. Particularly, they can encapsulate nearly all the L-cysteine and can retain it for 6 hours. Also, L-cysteine stabilized liposomes, preventing their aggregation. L-cysteine encapsulated in the DSPC formulation induced deeper changes in cell metabolism, causing a decrease in metabolic activity; this was probably due to a higher entry, thus a better liposome-mediated transport. Considering that the smaller the particle, the better the circulation, we believe that the stabilization of the vesicle by L-cysteine may allow these transporters to have higher circulation times. Based on the above, we conclude that the DSPC formulation is the best suited for further application in L-cysteine delivery.

Author affiliation: Perrotta, Ramiro Martin. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología. Laboratorio de Biomembranas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Author affiliation: Prietto, Jimena. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología. Laboratorio de Biomembranas; Argentina

Author affiliation: Alonso, Silvia del Valle. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología. Laboratorio de Biomembranas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Author affiliation: Chiaramoni, Nadia Silvia. Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología. Laboratorio de Biomembranas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Abstract:

We assessed the effect of seasonality and intrinsic conditions on daily activity pattern of giant anteaters reintroduced in the Iberá Reserve, Argentina. During 2007-2012 we gathered 159 24-h focal samples on 15 radio-marked individuals (11 captive-reared, four wild-reared; seven adults, eight juveniles), 216 records of beginning and end of activity bouts on 20 individuals, and 454 camera-traps records (3,345 trap-days). We estimated the daily hours of activity, the percentage of diurnal and nocturnal activity, and the daily activity range and time overlap using time as a circular variable in kernel density estimations. We assessed differences between seasons, sexes, age classes, and types of rearing. The average daily hours of activity was 8:43 h. Camera-traps and radio-telemetry showed similar results. Animals exhibited both diurnal (60-65%) and nocturnal (40-35%) activity. The higher probability for being active ranged within 09:00-03:00 h. Anteaters spent more hours active and were more nocturnal during summer. Activity was highly overlapped between sexes and wild reared individuals were more nocturnal than captive-reared ones. Seasonal shifts in daily activity highlights the importance of thermoregulation as a selective factor in this species. The giant anteater is a cathemeral species with flexibility to accommodate its activity pattern to local conditions or experience.

Author affiliation: Di Blanco, Yamil Edgardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; Argentina. Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlantico; Argentina

Author affiliation: Spørring, Karina L.. The Conservation Land Trust; Estados Unidos

Author affiliation: Di Bitetti, Mario Santiago. Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlantico; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Instituto de Biología Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazú; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales; Argentina

Abstract:

In February 2014, a group of scientists convened as part of the University of California Davis Cardiovascular Symposium to bring together experimental and mathematical modelling perspectives and discuss points of consensus and controversy on the topic of sodium in the heart. This paper summarizes the topics of presentation and discussion from the symposium, with a focus on the role of aberrant sodium channels and abnormal sodium homeostasis in cardiac arrhythmias and pharmacotherapy from the subcellular scale to the whole heart. Two following papers focus on Na+ channel structure, function and regulation, and Na+/Ca2+ exchange and Na+/K+ ATPase. The UC Davis Cardiovascular Symposium is a biannual event that aims to bring together leading experts in subfields of cardiovascular biomedicine to focus on topics of importance to the field. The focus on Na+ in the 2014 symposium stemmed from the multitude of recent studies that point to the importance of maintaining Na+ homeostasis in the heart, as disruption of homeostatic processes are increasingly identified in cardiac disease states. Understanding how disruption in cardiac Na+-based processes leads to derangement in multiple cardiac components at the level of the cell and to then connect these perturbations to emergent behaviour in the heart to cause disease is a critical area of research. The ubiquity of disruption of Na+ channels and Na+ homeostasis in cardiac disorders of excitability and mechanics emphasizes the importance of a fundamental understanding of the associated mechanisms and disease processes to ultimately reveal new targets for human therapy.

Author affiliation: Clancy, Colleen E.. University Of California At Davis; Estados Unidos

Author affiliation: Chen Izu, Ye. University Of California At Davis; Estados Unidos

Author affiliation: Bers, Donald M.. University Of California At Davis; Estados Unidos

Author affiliation: Belardinelli, Luiz. Gilead Sciences; Estados Unidos

Author affiliation: Boyden, Penelope A.. Columbia University; Estados Unidos

Author affiliation: Csernoch, Laszlo. University of Debrecen; Hungría

Author affiliation: Despa, Sanda. University Of Kentucky; Estados Unidos

Author affiliation: Fermini, Bernard. Pfizer; Estados Unidos

Author affiliation: Hool, Livia C.. University of Western Australia; Australia

Author affiliation: Izu, Leighton. University Of California At Davis; Estados Unidos

Author affiliation: Kaas, Robert S.. Columbia University; Estados Unidos

Author affiliation: Lederer, W. Jonathan. University of Maryland; Estados Unidos

Author affiliation: Louch, William E.. University Of Oslo; Noruega

Author affiliation: Maack, Christoph. Universitat Saarland; Alemania

Author affiliation: Mattiazzi, Ramona Alicia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnológico la Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares "Dr. Horacio Eugenio Cingolani"; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; Argentina

Author affiliation: Qu, Zhilin. University of California at Los Angeles; Estados Unidos

Author affiliation: Rajamani, Sridharan. Gilead Sciences; Estados Unidos

Author affiliation: Rippinger, Crystal M.. University Of California At Davis; Estados Unidos

Author affiliation: Sejersted, Ole M.. University Of Oslo; Noruega

Author affiliation: O’Rourke, Brian. University Johns Hopkins; Estados Unidos

Author affiliation: Weiss, James N.. University of California at Los Angeles; Estados Unidos

Author affiliation: Varró, András. University of Szeged; Hungría

Author affiliation: Zaza, Antonio. Universita Degli Studi Di Milano; Italia

Abstract:

Whereas biosensors have been usually proposed as analytical tools, used to investigate the surrounding media pursuing an analytical answer, we have used a biosensor-like device to characterize the microbial cells immobilized on it. We have studied the kinetics of transport and degradation of glucose at different concentrations and temperatures. When glucose concentrations of 15 and 1.5 mM were assayed, calculated activation energies were 25.2 and 18.4 kcal mol-1, respectively, in good agreement with previously published data. The opportunity and convenience of using Arrhenius plots to estimate the activation energy in metabolic-related processes is also discussed.

Author affiliation: Kormes, Diego J.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Química Biológica. Laboratorio de Biosensores y Bioanálisis; Argentina

Author affiliation: Corton, Eduardo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Química Biológica. Laboratorio de Biosensores y Bioanálisis; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Abstract:

This study reports the effects of dietary Salba (chia) seeds on the mechanisms underlying impaired glucose metabolism in the heart of dyslipemic insulin-resistant rats fed a sucrose-rich diet (SRD). Wistar rats were fed a SRD for 3 months. Afterwards, half the animals continued with the SRD; in the other half's diet chia seeds replaced corn oil (CO) for three months (SRD+chia). In the control group, corn starch replaced sucrose. The replacement of CO by chia seeds in the SRD restored the activities of key enzymes involved in heart glucose metabolism decreasing fatty acid oxidation. Chia seeds normalized insulin stimulated GLUT-4 transporter, the abundance of IRS-1 and pAMPK, changed the profile of fatty acid phospholipids, reduced left-ventricle collagen deposition and normalized hypertension and dyslipidemia. New evidence is provided concerning the effects of dietary chia seeds in improving the altered metabolic fate of glucose in the heart of dyslipemic insulin-resistant rats.

Author affiliation: Creus, Agustina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas; Argentina

Author affiliation: Benmelej, Adriana. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas; Argentina

Author affiliation: Villafañe, Roxana Noelia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas; Argentina

Author affiliation: Lombardo, Yolanda B.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas; Argentina

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effect of different dietary oils on the main hepatic enzymes involved in metabolism and their impact on oxidative stress status. Methods Twenty-four male Wistar rats were fed for 60 d on the same basal diet plus different lipid sources from commercial oils: soybean (S), olive (O), coconut (C), and grape seed (G). After sacrifice, the liver lipid fatty acid composition, enzymatic and non-enzymatic components of the antioxidant defense system, and the activity of enzymes involved in lipid metabolism were determined. The concentration of Ca2+ in plasma and liver homogenates was also measured. Results The diets produced significant changes in the total and polar lipid fatty acid compositions and alterations in key enzyme activities involved in lipid metabolism. The S and G groups showed significantly increased oxidative stress biomarkers. The enzymatic and non-enzymatic components of the antioxidant defense system were increased in the O and C groups. The highest levels of nitrite plus nitrate were observed in the S and G groups compared with the O and C groups in plasma and in liver homogenates. These were directly correlated with the Ca2+ concentration. The most beneficial effects were obtained with olive oil. However, it is necessary to study in more detail appropriate mixtures of olive and soybean oils to provide an adequate balance between ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids. Conclusion Different dietary oils modify the lipid composition of the plasma and liver, local and systemic antioxidant statuses, and the activity of the key enzymes of lipid metabolism. The interrelation between Ca2+ and nitrite plus nitrate could be the causal factor underlying the observed changes.

Author affiliation: Hurtado de Catalfo, Graciela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; Argentina

Author affiliation: Tacconi, Maria Josefa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; Argentina

Author affiliation: Marra, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; Argentina

Abstract:

It was hypothesised that the inclusion of nitrate(NO3 –) or cysteamine hydrochloride (CSH) in a protein deficient diet (4.8% crude protein; CP) would improve the productivity of sheep while reducing enteric methane (CH4) emissions. A complete randomised designed experiment was conducted with yearling Merino sheep (n = 24) consuming a proteindeficient wheaten chaff control diet (CON) alone or supplemented with 1.8% nitrate (NO3 –; DM basis), 0.098% urea (Ur, DM basis) or 80 mg cysteamine hydrochloride/kg liveweight (CSH). Feed intake, CH4 emissions, volatile fatty acids (VFA), digesta kinetics andNO3–, nitrite (NO2–) and urea concentrations in plasma, saliva and urine samples were measured. There was no dietary effect on animal performance or digesta kinetics (P > 0.05), but adding NO3– to the CON diet reduced methane yield (MY) by 26% (P = 0.01). Nitrate supplementation increased blood MetHb, plasma NO3– and NO2– concentrations (P < 0.05), but there was no indication of NO2– toxicity. Overall, salivary NO3– concentration was greater than plasma NO3– (P < 0.05), indicating that NO3– was concentrated into saliva. Our results confirm the role of NO3– as an effective additive to reduce CH4 emissions, even in a highly protein-deficient diet and as a source of additional nitrogen (N) for microbial protein synthesis via N-recycling into saliva and the gut. The role of CSH as an additive in low quality diets for improving animal performance and reducing CH4 emissions is still unclear.

Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche

Author affiliation: Villar, Maria Laura. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche; Argentina

Author affiliation: Hegarty, Roger S. University of New England. School of Environmental and Rural Science; Australia

Author affiliation: Van Tol, M. Wageningen University and Research. Animal Nutrition Group; Holanda

Author affiliation: Godwin, Ian R. University of New England. School of Environmental and Rural Science; Australia

Author affiliation: Nolan, John V. University of New England. School of Environmental and Rural Science; Australia