Acids Threonine Research Articles

An in-depth study of substrate effect on the performance of BOD sensor type microbial fuel cell

Nowadays, instant assessment of the organic content in wastewater is an urgent requirement to reduce water pollution. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) can be used as effective biosensors for rapidly measuring BOD concentration of wastewater. However, wastewaters from different sources may consist of diverse chemical components, which may affect the BOD-measuring performance of MFC-type biosensors. Therefore, in this research, we tested different input substrates for the BOD sensor type MFC (MFC_BOD) to investigate their effects on the performance of the MFC. The substrates belonging to diverse groups such as carbohydrates, organic acids, amino acids and some chlorinated compounds (xenobiotics) were tested at different concentrations equivalent to BOD levels from 10 to 200 mg L-1. Concurrently, we also analyzed the alteration of the bacterial community in the anode of the MFC when tested with those different substrates by using PCR-DGGE. Our results showed that the MFC_BOD could have linear current-to-BOD responses (with the respective R2 values >0.9) to more metabolizable substrates such as carbohydrates, organic acid and glycerol; while it responded less sensitively at different degrees to some amino acids (serine, threonine and methionine) and did not respond to chloroform and chlorobenzene (chlorinated compounds). PCA and bacterial community analysis results surprisingly imply that such different responses may be solely due to different bio(electro)chemical processes associated with the substrates but not due to changes in the composition of the bacterial community. The results suggest that, to enable the MFC_BOD to accurately sense the BODs of the wastewaters containing recalcitrant or toxic substrates, special procedures are required to enrich in the anode the bacterial communities acclimated to the substrates right from the beginning

Influence of an increased content of pea and yellow lupin protein in the diet of pigs on meat quality

BackgroundThe aim of the study was to test the effect of replacing soya beans with pea and yellow lupin seeds in the diet of pigs on meat quality. The meat for the tests was obtained from 60 fattening crossbred pigs F1 (Polish Large White × Polish Landrace) × F1 (Pietrain × Duroc). The animals belonged to three feeding groups depending on the feed used with the total share of soybeans and its reduction. Water holding capacity, colour, and tenderness were measured and visual and tactile evaluation (colour, marbling and firmness) was performed for meat samples collected from the longissimus lumborum muscle. The chemical composition of the meat and the content of minerals were determined. The content of amino acids, fatty acids and cholesterol was determined.ResultsThere was no significant differences among the assessed physicochemical characteristics of the meat. The obtained meat was of good quality, regardless of the proportion of proteins from legumes in the diet of pigs. The results of the subjective evaluation of meat, its colour, and the content of muscle pigments were uniform in all food groups. Similarly, a uniform, high protein content was found in all tested groups (C—24.98%; E1—24.82%; E2—25.09%) and the content of macro- and micronutrients in the tested meat was equivalent. The profile of fatty acids was not significantly affected by dietary treatment. Palmitoleic acid content was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the E2 group compared to the E1 group (3.279% compared to 2.844%). The content of amino acids in meat samples was influenced by dietary treatment. Almost all the monitored essential amino acids (threonine, valine, leucine, phenylalanine and lysine) and some of nonessential amino acids’ proportion was increased in the experimental groups (E1, E2).ConclusionReplacing soya bean protein in the pigs’ diet with legume protein (peas and yellow lupin) did not adversely affect meat quality. This applies to both the physicochemical characteristics, the basic composition and the fatty acid profile. The meat of fattening pigs fed with the highest proportion of pea and lupin in the ration was characterized by more favourable proportion of essential amino acids.

Sorption of peptides and amino acids by ion exchangers

Sorbtion of dipeptides leucylisoleucine, threonylthreonine and their monomeric amino acids leucine and threonine by anionite AV-17 and cationite KU-2-8 in a wide range of equilibrium concentrations has been studied. It was shown that the presence of hydrophilic OH-groups in the threonine molecule promotes superequivalent sorbtion of threonine on the cation exchanger. The presence of an OH-groups in the side chein of the dipeptide practically does not affect the sorbtion an KU-2-8. Sorbtion of dipeptides on AV-17-8 is higher in comparison with their monomeric amino acids.

Metabolic responses of plasma to extreme environments in overwintering Tibetan frogs Nanorana parkeri: a metabolome integrated analysis

Many animals lower their metabolic rate in response to low temperatures and scarcity of food in the winter in phenomena called hibernation or overwintering. Living at high altitude on the Tibetan Plateau where winters are very cold, the frog Nanorana parkeri, survives in one of the most hostile environments on Earth but, to date, relatively little is known about the biochemical and physiological adjustments for overwintering by this species. The present study profiled changes in plasma metabolites of N. parkeri between winter and summer using UHPLC-QE-MS non-target metabolomics in order to explore metabolic adaptations that support winter survival. The analysis showed that, in total, 11 metabolites accumulated and 95 were reduced in overwintering frogs compared with summer-active animals. Metabolites that increased included some that may have antioxidant functions (canthaxanthin, galactinol), act as a metabolic inhibitor (mono-ethylhexylphthalate), or accumulate as a product of anaerobic metabolism (lactate). Most other metabolites in plasma showed reduced levels in winter and were generally involved in energy metabolism including 11 amino acids (proline, isoleucine, leucine, valine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, arginine, tryptophan, methionine, threonine and histidine) and 4 carbohydrates (glucose, citrate, succinate, and malate). Pathway analysis indicated that aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, and nitrogen metabolism were potentially the most prominently altered pathways in overwintering frogs. Changes to these pathways are likely due to fasting and global metabolic depression in overwintering frogs. Concentrations of glucose and urea, commonly used as cryoprotectants by amphibians that winter on land, were significantly reduced during underwater hibernation in N. parkeri. In conclusion, winter survival of the high-altitude frog, N. parkeri was accompanied by substantial changes in metabolomic profiles and this study provides valuable information towards understanding the special adaptive mechanisms of N. parkeri to winter stresses.

Morphological and Chemical Factors Related to Western Flower Thrips Resistance in the Ornamental Gladiolus.

Understanding the mechanisms involved in host plant resistance opens the way for improved resistance breeding programs by using the traits involved as markers. Pest management is a major problem in cultivation of ornamentals. Gladiolus (Gladiolus hybridus L.) is an economically important ornamental in the Netherlands. Gladiolus is especially sensitive to attack by western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera:Thripidae)). The objective of this study was, therefore, to investigate morphological and chemical markers for resistance breeding to western flower thrips in Gladiolus varieties. We measured thrips damage of 14 Gladiolus varieties in a whole-plant thrips bioassay and related this to morphological traits with a focus on papillae density. Moreover, we studied chemical host plant resistance to using an eco-metabolomic approach comparing the 1H NMR profiles of thrips resistant and susceptible varieties representing a broad range of papillae densities. Thrips damage varied strongly among varieties: the most susceptible variety showed 130 times more damage than the most resistant one. Varieties with low thrips damage had shorter mesophylls and epidermal cells, as well as a higher density of epicuticular papillae. All three traits related to thrips damage were highly correlated with each other. We observed a number of metabolites related to resistance against thrips: two unidentified triterpenoid saponins and the amino acids alanine and threonine. All these compounds were highly correlated amongst each other as well as to the density of papillae. These correlations suggest that papillae are involved in resistance to thrips by producing and/or storing compounds causing thrips resistance. Although it is not possible to distinguish the individual effects of morphological and chemical traits statistically, our results show that papillae density is an easy marker in Gladiolus-breeding programs targeted at increased resistance to thrips.

Abstract 2561: Tumorigenic and metabolomic impacts of adipose-derived monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in a model of obesity-enhanced, male breast cancer

Abstract Breast cancer is a rare but aggressive disease in men. Approximately, 90% of all breast cancer in men are invasive carcinomas, 25% of which have distant metastasis at the time of clinical presentation. Obesity is a risk factor for breast cancer. Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) is an adipose-derived cytokine whose concentrations are elevated by obesity. This study tested the hypothesis that adipose-derived MCP-1 contributes to male breast cancer. In a 2x2 design, male MMTV-PyMT mice with or without adipose specific Mcp-1 knockdown [designated as Mcp-1-/- or wild-type (WT)] were fed the standard AIN93G diet or an obesogenic, high-fat diet (HFD) for 25 weeks. The AIN93G diet and HFD contained 16% and 45% of energy from soybean oil, respectively. Mcp-1-/- mice had lower adipose Mcp-1 expression than WT mice. Adipose Mcp-1 deficiency reduced plasma concentrations of MCP-1 in mice fed the HFD. Mice fed the HFD had a greater tumor progression rate than mice fed the AIN93G diet (4679% vs 2430%), regardless of genotype. Mcp-1-/- mice, compared to WT mice, had a longer tumor latency (25.2 weeks vs 18.0 weeks) and lower tumor incidence (19% vs 56%), tumor progression rate (2317% vs 4792%), and tumor weights (0.23 g vs 0.64 g). Metabolomic analysis of plasma identified 87 metabolites, 56 of which differed among the four groups, including 24 that differed between the diets and 22 that differed between the genotypes. Sparse partial least squares-discriminant analysis identified 10 major metabolites that were altered the most among the four groups. These included amino acids (alanine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, threonine, and valine) and carbohydrate metabolites (fumaric acid, glucuronic acid, hexuronic acid, and malic acid). The integrated pathway analysis of the 87 identified metabolites showed that protein biosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism pathways are the most disturbed in MMTV-PyMT mice. In conclusion, adipose-derived MCP-1 contributes to mammary tumorigenesis and alters metabolism in male MMTV-PyMT mice. Citation Format: Lin Yan, Sneha Sundaram, Bret M. Rust, Matthew J. Picklo, Michael R. Bukowski. Tumorigenic and metabolomic impacts of adipose-derived monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in a model of obesity-enhanced, male breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 2561.

Mutations within the Open Reading Frame (ORF) including Ochre stop codon of the Surface Glycoprotein gene of SARS-CoV-2 virus erase potential seed location motifs of human non-coding microRNAs

MicroRNA are short and non-coding RNA, 18-25 nucleotides in length. They are produced at the early stage of viral infection. The roles played by cellular miRNAs and miRNA-mediated gene-silencing in the COVID-19 epidemic period is critical in order to develop novel therapeutics. We analyzed SARS-CoV-2 Surface Glycoprotein (S) nucleotide sequence originating from India as well as Iran, Australia, Germany, Italy, Russia, China, Japan and Turkey and identified mutation in potential seed location of several human miRNA. Seventy single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were detected in the S gene out of which, 36, 32 and 2 were cases of transitions, transversions and deletions respectively. Eleven human miRNA targets were identified on the reference S gene sequence with a score &gt;80 in the miRDB database. Mutation A845S erased a common binding site of 7 human miRNA (miR-195-5p, miR-16-5p, miR-15b-5p, miR-15a-5p, miR-497-5p, miR-424-5p and miR-6838-5p). A synonymous mutation altered the wild type Ochre stop codon within the S gene sequence (Italy) to Opal thereby changing the seed sequence of miR-511-3p. Similar (synonymous) mutations were detected at amino acid position 659 and 1116 of the S gene where amino acids serine and threonine were retained, abolishing potential seed location for miR-219a-1-3p and miR-20b-3p respectively. The significance of this finding in reference to the strategy to use synthetic miRNA combinations as a novel therapeutic tool is discussed.

White Paper - Plant Based Meat - Texturizing Plant Proteins

FAO forecasts that the global meat production needs to increase by 50% to provide quality protein for the ten billion people living on planet earth by 2050. Meat fits in a healthy diet and is a good source of essential proteins, B-vitamins and several minerals (i.e. selenium and iron). A growing world population will require in 2050 about twice more food, produced on twice less arable land. Meat production is seen as less sustainable with negatives impacts on animal welfare. There is a search for alternative proteins to replace part of the animal proteins that are currently used in abundance in the diet of most developed and affluent countries. Good digestible proteins may be a limiting factor in the future. Protein is an important part of the human diet, and the Essential Amino Acids (EAA) (histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine (+cystine), phenylalanine (+tyrosine), threonine, tryptophan and valine), which cannot be synthesized de novo, need to be supplied through the diet. The FAO recommends that amino acids be treated as individual nutrients and that adjustments for digestibility be made when designing dietary guidelines or evaluating actual diets (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2013). Animal protein contains more EAA, and is of slightly higher human intestinal digestibility, than most plant-based proteins. To meet the 2050 challenge of feeding a rapidly growing human population, it is essential to carefully consider how to produce enough protein. To help consumers reduce their meat consumption, several strategies have been developed: One strategy is encouragement of ‘meatless days’ or smaller portion sizes. As a second strategy, meat in a meal can be replaced by the consumption of vegetables, beans, pulses, and/or nuts. In processed meat products, it can be replaced by using plant-based meat extenders as well [1]. Meat extenders are plant-based ingredients that act as fillers in processed meats. By doing so, the actual meat content in the product is lowered, leading to reduced meat intake. A third strategy is based on the development of structured vegetable protein products. Examples of traditionally structured products are tofu and tempeh, which are produced and consumed in East Asia for centuries. The consumer acceptance of these products is, however, lower in Western countries. Therefore, another category of structured products has emerged, referred to as meat analogues. Meat analogues are products that can replace meat in its functionality, being similar in product properties/sensory attributes, and that can also be prepared by consumers as if they were meat. The resemblance of these products to meat, in terms of texture, taste, appearance, and smell, is important for consumers that currently mostly choose meat [2]. At the moment a large number of textured vegetable proteins have already entered the market as meat analogues and substitutes. Textured structures based on soy proteins were one of the first to enter the market. At the moment there are textured vegetable proteins based on (mixtures of) pea, wheat, carrot, sunflower, onion etc. The main issue with vegetable based alternative proteins are the texture and taste of the final products. Producing steak like structures is possible with textured proteins. Most off flavours can be masked by spices and taste ingredients. In this white paper the current state of the art of the technical production processes of plant- based proteins, with special focus on the texturizing processes, will be described. This will include the established techniques that have been operated on commercial scale, and novel techniques that are less mature.

Serum Metabolomics Study of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Based on HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS.

This study examined metabolite profile differences between serum samples of thyroid papillary carcinoma (PTC) patients and healthy controls, aiming to identify candidate biomarkers and pathogenesis pathways in this cancer type. Serum samples were collected from PTC patients (n = 80) and healthy controls (n = 80). Using principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discrimination analysis(PLS-DA), orthogonal partial least square discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), t-tests, and the volcano plot, a model of abnormal metabolic pathways in PTC was constructed. PCA, PLS-DA, and OPLS-DA analysis revealed differences in serum metabolic profiles between the PTC and control group. OPLS-Loading plot analysis, combined with Variable importance in the projection (VIP)>1, Fold change (FC) > 1.5, and p < 0.05 were used to screen 64 candidate metabolites. Among them, 22 metabolites, including proline betaine, taurocholic acid, L-phenylalanine, retinyl beta-glucuronide, alpha-tocotrienol, and threonine acid were upregulated in the PTC group; meanwhile, L-tyrosine, L-tryptophan, 2-arachidonylglycerol, citric acid, and other 42 metabolites were downregulated in this group. There were eight abnormal metabolic pathways related to the differential metabolites, which may be involved in the pathophysiology of PTC. Six metabolites yielded an area under the receiver operating curve of >0.75, specifically, 3-hydroxy-cis-5-tetradecenoylcarnitine, aspartylphenylalanine, l-kynurenine, methylmalonic acid, phenylalanylphenylalanine, and l-glutamic acid. The Warburg effect was observed in PTC. The levels of 3-hydroxy-cis-5-tetradecenoylcarnitine, aspartylphenylalanine, l-kynurenine, methylmalonic acid, phenylalanine, and L-glutamic acid may help distinguish PTC patients from healthy controls. Aspartic acid metabolism, glutamic acid metabolism, urea cycle, and tricarboxylic acid cycle are involved in the mechanism of PTC.

Changes in melon plant phytochemistry impair Aphis gossypii growth and weight under elevated CO2

Elevated CO2 (eCO2) modifies plant primary and secondary metabolism that subsequently impacts herbivore insect performance due to changes in its nutritional requirements. This laboratory study evaluated interactions between Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and melon (Cucumis melo L., Cucurbitaceae), previously acclimated two or six weeks to different CO2 levels, eCO2 (700 ppm) or ambient CO2 (400 ppm). Under eCO2, melon plants decreased nitrogen foliar concentration and increased carbon to nitrogen ratio, independently of acclimation period, significantly reducing the content of some amino acids (alanine, asparagine, glycine, isoleucine, lysine, serine, threonine, and valine) and increasing the carbohydrate (sucrose) content in melon leaves. The dilution in some essential amino acids for aphid nutrition could have aggravated the reduction in A. gossypii population growth reared on melon previously acclimated two weeks to eCO2, as well as the loss of aphid body mass from two successive generations of A. gossypii reared under eCO2 on plants previously acclimated two or six weeks to eCO2. The response to eCO2 of phloem feeders, such as aphids, is actually variable, but this study highlights a negative response of A. gossypii to this climate change driver. Potential implications on control of this pest in a global change scenario are discussed.

THE INFLUENCE OF DIETARY BASIC LIMITING AMINO ACIDS AND METABOLIC ENERGY LEVELS ON PROTEIN METABOLISM INDICATORS AND PRODUCTIVITY OF PIGLETS

Data about the influence of most limiting essential amino acids (lysine, methionine, threonine) and metabolic energy (ME), provided that their level in the diet increases on the growth and content of total protein, urea and uric acid in the blood plasma of piglets are presented in the article. The stimulatory influence of these additions to the piglets' diet on the growth and protein metabolism in their body was shown. The positive effect of the introduction of essential amino acids (lysine, methionine and threonine) and sunflower oil to the diet on the taste of the mixed feed, the intensity of its eating and the growth of piglets was shown in the conducted research. The greatest gains in piglets of the 4th experimental group, where the level of ME in the diet was 13.72 MJ, lysine - 13.8 g / kg, methionine and threonine - 9.2 g / kg of the mixed feed were observed. At the same time, the safety of piglets was directly proportional to their average daily gain. The highest it was in piglets of the 4th experimental group (96.7%), and the lowest in the control group (89.7%). The increase of the content of lysine, methionine, threonine and fat in the piglets' diet led to an increase in the blood plasma of proteins level and a decrease of urea and uric acid. A clear tendency to increased total protein concentration in blood, when increasing the intensity of pre-starter mixed feed intake by piglets with the additional introduction of lysine, methionine, threonine and sunflower oil was observed. It follows from these data that if the level of the most limiting essential amino acids (lysine, methionine and threonine) increases in the diet, the synthesis of blood plasma proteins in the liver of piglets increases and this process is stimulated by the addition of fat. At the same time, feeding young piglets with amino acid and fat additions contributed to a decrease in the content of urea and uric acid in blood plasma. A significant influence of the investigated factors on the use of amino acids and metabolic energy in energy processes in the animal body indicated.

Mechanism of Shengxian decoction in treatment of heart failure based on serum metabolomics

Objective To explore the mechanism of Shengxian decoction in the treatment of heart failure by using metabolomic technology. Methods Rats were randomly divided into the control group, model group and administration group according to body weight, with 10 rats in each group. Rats in model group and administration group were induced by intraperitoneal injection of adriamycin to duplicate rat heart failure model. The rats in the treatment group were given Shengxian decoction 3.83 g/kg, while those in the control group and model group were given distilled water of equal volume once a day for 4 weeks. The levels of CK, AST, LDH and MDA in serum of rats were detected by ultraviolet spectrophotometer, and the metabolite profiles were collected by high resolution tandem mass spectrometry. The data were analyzed by principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis. Metabolic pathways were obtained by pathway enrichment analysis, focusing on key metabolic enzymes and metabolic pathways. Results Compared with the model group, the serum CK (1 015.44 ± 201.49 U/L vs. 1 301.89 ± 311.54 U/L), AST (210.59 ± 80.34 U/L vs. 421.56 ± 120.32 U/L), LDH (1 211.64 ± 416.61 U/L vs. 601.58 ± 311.74 U/L) in the administration group significantly decreased (P<0.05), and MDA (209.21 ± 151.15 nmol/ml vs. 1 251.15 ± 110.64 nmol/ml) levels significantly increased (P<0.05). The metabolic distribution of rats in the control group was significantly separated from that in the model group, and the administration group was between the two groups. After dimension reduction, blood biomarkers were obtained by partial least squares discriminant analysis, including citric acid, succinic acid, malic acid, arachidonic acid, canine uric acid, serine, sphingosine, Cer (d18:0/14:0), SM (d18:1/22:0), SM [d18:0/18:1 (11Z)], SM (d18:0/16:1). Metabo Analyst 4.0 analysis showed abnormal metabolism in heart failure rats, which mainly involved arachidonic acid metabolism, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, citric acid metabolism and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis. Conclusions The Shengxian decoction has a good therapeutic effect on heart failure rats. Regulation of arachidonic acid metabolism, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, citric acid metabolism and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis may be the key mechanisms for its treatment of heart failure. Key words: Sheng Xian Tang; Heart failure; Metabolomics; Biomarkers; Metabolic networks and pathways

Metabolomics approach to serum biomarker for laxative effects of red Liriope platyphylla in loperamide-induced constipation of SD rats

Red Liriope platyphylla (RLP) is a known herbal medicine used in the treatment of some chronic diseases including constipation, neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes and obesity. To determine and characterize putative biomarkers that predict the laxative effects induced by RLP treatment, alteration of endogenous metabolites was measured in the serum of loperamide (Lop)-induced constipation rats after administration of RLP extract (EtRLP) using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectral data. The urine volume and amounts, and weights and water contents of stools were significantly recovered in the Lop + EtRLP treated group as compared to the No group, whereas body weight and food intake maintained constant levels. Also, significant recoveries in the thickness of mucosa and muscle were detected in the colon of the Lop + EtRLP treated group. Furthermore, pattern recognition showed absolutely different clustering of the serum analysis parameters when comparing the Lop treated group and Lop + EtRLP treated group. Of the 33 endogenous metabolites, 7 amino acids (alanine, arginine, glutamate, glutamine, glycine, threonine and valine) and 8 endogenous metabolites (betaine, creatine, glucose, taurine, ethanol, lactate, glycerol and succinate) were dramatically increased in the Lop + EtRLP treated SD rats. These results provide the first evidence pertaining to metabolic changes in the constipation rats treated with Lop + EtRLP. Additionally, these findings correlate with changes observed in 15 metabolites during the laxative effects of EtRLP.

Amino acids composition of herb of Lamiaceae family representatives

Researching of the amino acids contents in medicinal plant raw materials is an important task of pharmaceutical science and practice, because complexes of amino acids used for the corrections of hepatobiliary disorders, nervous and cardiovascular systems.&#x0D; The aim of this study was to conduct a qualitative and quantitative analysis of amіno acids composition of these representatives.&#x0D; The article presents the results of the amino acid composition investigation of the above-ground parts of 10 species belonging to Lamiaceae Juss. Family (Ocimum, Hyssopus, Dracocephalum, Lophanthus, Monarda and Satureja genera). By paper chromatography it was identified several amino acids. HPLC analyzes revealed the content and composition of more than 20 amino acids. The highest total amino acid composition was found in the herb of the genus Ocimum. It was identified 10 essential and non-essential 9 amino acids in each herb, and 3 nonproteinogenic amino acids also. It was established that in all plant materials dominate quantitatively nonessential amino acids (asparagine, proline, glutamic and aspartic acid). Among the essential amino acids arginine and threonine predominate.

Molecular Marking of Liver DNA Methylation in Rat's with Thyroid Carcinoma

Altered expressions of microRNAs also silence or activate many genes in progressionMethylation can change the activity of a DNA segment without changing the sequence. Western blot analyses explained an activation for A mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK or MAP kinase) is a type of protein kinase that is specific to the amino acids serine and threonine.

Metabolic profiling of Antarctic yeasts by proton nuclear magnetic resonance-based spectroscopy

The continent of Antarctica, as a combination of constantly low temperatures, strong winds, short summer season, and high solar radiation, is a highly extreme habitat suggesting appropriate conditions for growth of psychrophilic microorganisms. Five psychrophilic yeast strains were isolated from the samples taken from the region of the Bulgarian Base on Livingston Island, Antarctica: Cryptococcus laurentii AL65, Sporobolomyces salmonicolor AL36, Debaryomyces hansenii, Leucosporidium scotii and Rhodotorula glutinis, and their biomass yield and exopolysaccharides production were investigated. Best growth was observed for L. scotii and C. laurentii AL65, with 7.5 and 6.0 g/L biomass, respectively, and highest exopolysaccharide yield was established for L. scotii. Metabolic profiling revealed phylogenetically based diversity in the identified metabolic profiles. The proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy analyses of compounds extracted from the biomass of the strains revealed significant differences in the metabolites between individual yeast strains in our investigation including: among the amino acids alanine, valine, threonine, leucine and tyrosine; some organic acids such as gamma-aminobutyric acid, acetic acid, formic acid and others. Glucose was identified in all investigated strains. The highest diversity of compounds was observed in D. hansenii strain, division Ascomycota. The main compounds in the metabolic profile of Basidiomycota strains were sugars. The statistical analysis revealed significant differences in the studied metabolites among the yeast strains. This result suggests that, together with 16S rRNA gene and enzyme gene analyses, metabolite profiling could be also used as a marker for a phylogenetic distance in fungi evolution.

Volume properties and refraction of aqueous solutions of bisadducts of light fullerene С60 and essential amino acids lysine, threonine, and oxyproline (С60(C6H13N2O2)2, С60(C4H8NO3)2, and С60(C5H9NO2)2) at 25°C

Concentration dependences of the density of aqueous solutions of bisadducts of light fullerene С60 and essential amino acids are studied by pycnometry. Concentration dependences of the average molar volumes and partial volumes of components (Н2О and corresponding bisadducts) are calculated for С60(C6H13N2O2)2–Н2О, С60(C4H8NO3)2–Н2О, and С60(C5H9NO2)2–Н2О binary systems at 25°C. Concentration dependences of the indices of refraction of С60(C6H13N2O2)2–Н2О, С60(C4H8NO3)2–Н2О, and С60(C5H9NO2)2–Н2О binary systems are determined at 25°C. The concentration dependences of specific refraction and molar refraction of bisadducts and aqueous solutions of them are calculated.

Copolymers of N-vinylcaprolactam with 1-vinyl- and 1-methacryloyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazole as sorbents of essential α-amino acids in liquid- and solid-phase extraction

Radical copolymerization of N-vinylcaprolactam with 1-vinyl- and 1-methacryloyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazole was performed with the aim of development of effective extraction systems based on nontoxic copolymers for the recovery of essential amino acids histidine, threonine, and tryptophan from aqueous media. Water-soluble and water-insoluble products were obtained. As follows from the copolymerization data, N-vinylcaprolactam exhibits relatively high activity, and the copolymerization constants r1 and r2 for both pairs of comonomers are lower than unity. The influence of the composition and structure of copolymers on the quantitative characteristics (degree of recovery R and distribution coefficient D) of liquid- and solid-phase extraction was studied. The probable mechanism of the interaction of the polymers with α-amino acids was considered. The synthesized copolymers show high performance in recovery of α-amino acids from aqueous media.

Abstract 1167: Inhibition of WNT/ß-catenin signaling-related glutamine metabolism but not the Warburg effect in denervation-induced suppression of gastric tumorigenesis

Abstract Background/aim: Cholinergic nerves have been shown to regulate gastric WNT/ß-catenin signaling in leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5)-positive stem cells and have recently been implicated in gastric tumorigenesis. Denervation by local vagotomy or botulinum neurotoxin type A injection or the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor 3 antagonist limit gastric cancer growth. The aim of this study was to further unravel the metabolic pathways underlying the vagotomy-induced suppression of gastric tumorigenesis. Methods: Unilateral subdiaphragmatic truncal vagotomy (VT) was performed in wild-type (WT) and the INS-GAS mice, a genetic mouse model of spontaneous gastric cancer. Metabolic profiling and gene expression profiling in gastric tissues at 6 months post-surgery were performed using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, high resolution magic angle spinning NMR spectroscopy, and microarray gene expression (Illumina). Results: VT-induced suppression of tumorigenesis was manifested by reduced proliferation rate and increased apoptotic and autophagic signaling pathways, leading to reduced tumor size and prolonged survival. Principal component analysis showed four distinct clusters among 343 metabolic compounds: WT without VT, INS-GAS without VT, WT with VT and INS-GAS with VT. In the gastric tumor, the metabolic pathways that regulate stem cell homeostasis were downregulated after VT. Glutaminolytic pathway, including glutamine, glutamate, glycine and glutathione-S-S-glutathione, was down-regulated. The tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), including citrate, cis-aconitate, acetyle-CoA, threonine and glycine, was also down-regulated. However, glycolytic pathway, including glucose, glucose 6-phosphate, fructose 6-phosphate and lactate, was not significantly down-regulated. Signaling pathways that regulate glutamine metabolism, such as WNT/ß-catenin signaling, WNT target genes Cyclin D1, Axin2, Myc, Lgr5 and Cd44, p53 signaling, and mTOR signaling were down-regulated. The central carbon metabolism in cancer (“The Warburg effect” signaling) and lactate production were unchanged after VT. In addition, the choline metabolism, the lipid-derived eicosanoids and prostaglandins were reduced after VT. Conclusions: The denervation-induced suppression of gastric tumorigenesis was associated with the inhibition of WNT/ß-catenin signaling-related glutamine metabolism but not the Warburg effect. We suggest that glutamine and choline phospholipid metabolisms can be used for metabolism-based tumor detection with MRS and/or positron emission tomography (PET) for gastric cancer diagnosis and that blocking these metabolic functions can be a therapeutic approach for gastric cancer treatment. Citation Format: Gøran Andersen, Riyas Vettukattil, Yoku Hayakawa, Jon Erik Grønbech, Timothy C. Wang, Duan Chen, Chun Mei Zhao. Inhibition of WNT/ß-catenin signaling-related glutamine metabolism but not the Warburg effect in denervation-induced suppression of gastric tumorigenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 1167. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-1167

The study of amino acid composition of sapropel by the capillary electrophoresis method

A diverse composition of sapropels allows to use them successfully in cosmetology. Sapropelic therapeutic muds exhibit the anti-inflammatory and desensitizing effect, protect the body from the damaging effects of free radicals, slow down the aging processes, give the skin freshness and elasticity, improve the cell regeneration by 10%, moisturize and increase elasticity and thickness of the keratoid layer of the epidermis. A wide range of indications for using sapropels demonstrates the importance of their application for prevention and treatment of diseases, and the relevance and prospects for their further studies to obtain new pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. When conducting research by the capillary electrophoresis method the “Kapel’ – 105/105 M” system with a positive polarity of a high voltage source (the internal diameter of the capillary is 50 μm, the full length of the capillary is 75 cm, the effective length is 65 cm) equipped with a special software for personal computers was applied. The amino acid composition of sapropel from Prybych deposits (Shatsky district, Volyn region) has been studied. The presence of a number of amino acids in sapropel with the total content of more than 2% has been found using capillary electrophoresis. Sapropel contains a vast amount of essential amino acids (histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine) and a number of nonessential ones (alanine, arginine, glycine, proline and serine). Alanine, glycine, leucine, and isoleucine prevail in the mixture analyzed.