Levels Of Acid Phosphatase Activity Research Articles

Evaluation of Immune Protection of a Bivalent Inactivated Vaccine against Aeromonas salmonicida and Vibrio vulnificus in Turbot

The Aeromonas salmonicida is responsible for causing furunculosis in various fish species. Furunculosis is a ubiquitous disease that affects the aquaculture industry and causes the mass mortality of turbot. Vibrio vulnificus is a pathogen that causes skin ulcers and hemorrhagic septicemia in fish, resulting in significant mortality in aquaculture. In this study, we have established a bivalent inactivated vaccine against A. salmonicida and V. vulnificus with Montanide™ ISA 763 AVG as an adjuvant. This bivalent inactivated vaccine was used to immunize turbot by intraperitoneal injection, and the relevant immune indexes were detected. The results demonstrate that the bivalent inactivated vaccine exhibited a relative percent survival (RPS) of 77% following A. salmonicida and V. vulnificus intraperitoneal challenge. The vaccinated group exhibited higher levels of acid phosphatase activity and lysozyme activity compared to the control group. ELISA results showed a significant increase in serum antibody levels in immunized turbot, which was positively correlated with immunity. In the kidney tissue, related immune genes (TLR5, CD4, MHCI and MHCII) were up-regulated significantly, showing that the vaccine can induce cellular and humoral immune responses in turbot. In conclusion, the bivalent inactivated vaccine against A. salmonicida and V. vulnificus was immunogenic, efficiently preventing turbot from infection, which has the potential to be applied in aquaculture.

Composts Obtained by Mixing Hop Leaves with Wheat Straw or Farmyard Manure Improved Soil Properties and Increased Microbial Communities

Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) leaves are rich in nutrients, particularly nitrogen (N). After harvest, they can be recycled through composting for use as a soil amendment. In this study, we report the effect of composts obtained from mixtures of hop leaves with other organic materials (wheat straw, farmyard manure, and ash from hop stems) at different ratios on soil properties and microbial diversity. Data on total N, total organic carbon (TOC), microbial N (Mic-N), microbial C (Mic-C), soil basal respiration (SBR), metabolic quotient (qCO2), Mic-C/TOC ratio, acid phosphatase activity (APA), microbial density, and species identification were assessed after each one of the two growing seasons of potted lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). The diversity of microbial species was evaluated using Simpson and Shannon diversity indexes, and the interactions between soil properties and the microbial community were explored. Higher microbial activity was found among the soils amended with leaves plus straw (HS), which exhibited higher levels of TOC, APA, Mic-N, and total N in the first growing cycle and higher levels of Mic-C, Mic-C/TOC, SBR, TOC, and Mic-N in the second growing cycle. Fungi identified belong to the Ascomycota and Zygomycota phyla, while bacteria belong to the Actinobacteria, Bacillota, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria phyla. Differences in the prevalent microbial genera were observed between compost treatments and growing cycles. Correlation analysis revealed significant relationship between soil bacteria and fungi abundance and higher levels of N and C in the soils, indicating the relevance of specific microbial genera, such Acrostalagmus, Doratomyces, Talaromyces, and Aspergillus fungi, as well as Gordonia and Bacillus bacteria. Overall, the results indicate that hop leaves-based compost, particularly with a higher proportion of leaves and straw, influenced the composition of the soil microbial community, ultimately enhancing soil N availability for plant development.

Soil microbial properties are improved by the adoption of soil management and conservation practices in no-tillage system

ABSTRACT No-tillage system (NTS) plays a prominent role in conservation agriculture, however, its benefits can be further improved by adopting complementary soil management and conservation practices, such as using autumnal cover crops, contour seeding, and terraces. This study aimed to evaluate how soil biological activity responds to soil management and conservation systems. The treatments consisted of three macroplots with an area of 11.000 m 2 each, as follows: a) Non-Terraced catchment (NTC), cultivated in NTS similar to most farmers of the region, in which the agricultural operations are carried out in the direction of the slope and without terraces used; b) Best Management Practices (BMPs) were adopted in NTS with additional autumnal cultivation of cover crops, and also the direction of machine traffic was transverse to the slope direction; and c) Terraced catchment (TC), cultivated in NTS was associated to mechanical practices to erosion control, using wide base terrace on level. Soil microbial properties sampled in the 0.00-0.10 m layer were evaluated during 2019, 2020, and 2021, all shortly after the summer crop harvest. Natural inoculum potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), respirometry, metabolic coefficient, acid phosphatase activity, and organic carbon and nitrogen in the microbial biomass were assessed. Averages of each microbiological properties were compared through the confidence intervals (p<0.05). The results showed a greater potential for AMF inoculum in BMPs and TC systems. The NTC showed the highest values of respirometry and metabolic quotient, releasing 31.7 and 27.3 % more CO 2 compared to BMPs and TC, respectively. The BMPs and TC were able to retain 13.8 and 16.5 % more carbon in the microbial biomass and 8.0 and 8.8 % more nitrogen in the biomass than NTC, respectively. Adopting soil management and conservation practices such as autumn cover crops, level seeding, and wide base terrace on level improved the soil microbial properties, with an increase in AMF inoculum potential, higher levels of acid phosphatase activity, and increment of carbon and nitrogen in microbial biomass.

Toxic Effects of Copper Nanoparticles on Paramecium bursaria-Chlorella Symbiotic System.

Although many reports have demonstrated that nanoparticles can have a negative effect on aquatic organisms, the toxic effects on symbiotic organisms remain poorly understood. The present study conducts ultrastructure, enzyme activity, and transcriptomics to assess the toxic effects to the Paramecium bursaria–Chlorella symbiotic system from exposure to copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) for 24 h. We found that in both the host and symbiotic algae, CuNP exposure induced high reactive oxygen species level, which leads to oxidative damage and energy metabolism disorder. Moreover, transmission electron micrographs (TEMs) showed that the symbiotic algae in the cytoplasm of P. bursaria were enveloped in the digestive vacuole and digested, and the level of acid phosphatase activity increased significantly within 24 h, which indicated that the stability of the symbiotic system was affected after CuNP exposure. We speculated that the increased energy demand in the host and symbiotic algae resulted from oxidative stress, precipitating the decrease of the photosynthetic products provided to the host, the digestion of the symbiont, and the destruction of the stable symbiotic relationship. The study provides the first insight into the mechanisms of nanoparticles’ toxicity to the symbiotic relationship in the ecosystem, which may help to understand the environmental effects and toxicological mechanisms of nanoparticles.

Histological structure of the digestive tract and digestive enzymatic activity of juvenile Pacific seahorse (Hippocampus ingens)

The histological structure, histochemical features, and enzymatic activity of the digestive tract of juvenile Pacific seahorse (Hippocampus ingens) are described to provide information during the cultivation of this species. Serial histological sections were stained with either hematoxylin-eosin, alcian blue-PAS, toluidine blue, Sudan black, Masson's trichome, and ninhydrin-Schiff to describe the general features and the presence of glycogen, mucopolysaccharides, lipids, muscle layers, and proteins, respectively. The enterocytes height and the mucosal villi height in the esophagus and intestines were measured. Additionally, the digestive enzymes trypsin, chymotrypsin, lipase, amylase, aminopeptidase, acid phosphatase, and alkaline phosphatase activities were recorded. The esophagus showed two distinctive regions, the anterior with numerous mucous cells secreting acid mucins and the posterior with longitudinal folds and no mucous cells. The intestine was differentiated into three regions. The anterior showed goblet cells secreting acid and neutral mucins, while the middle and posterior regions presented goblet cells secreting only acid mucins. The activity of aminopeptidase, chymotrypsin, and amylase showed low levels, while the trypsin and acid phosphatase activity levels were intermediate. Lipase and alkaline phosphatase showed the highest activities. The results point that juvenile H. ingens presents a digestive structure similar to other teleost species. The high levels of lipase suggest that juvenile H. ingens have high requirements for lipids during this stage.

Recessive Mutations in ACP4 Cause Amelogenesis Imperfecta

Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) is an innate disorder that affects the formation and mineralization of the tooth enamel. When diagnosed with AI, one’s teeth can be hypoplastic (thin enamel), hypomature (normal enamel thickness but discolored and softer than normal enamel), hypocalcified (normal enamel thickness but extremely weak), or mixed conditions of the above. Numerous studies have revealed the genes that are involved in causing AI. Recently, ACP4 (acid phosphatase 4) was newly found as a gene causing hypoplastic AI, and it was suggested that mutant forms of ACP4 might affect access to the catalytic core or the ability to form a homodimer. In this study, a Korean and a Turkish family with hypoplastic AI were recruited, and their exome sequences were analyzed. Biallelic mutations were revealed in ACP4: paternal (NM_033068: c.419C>T, p.(Pro140Leu)) and maternal (c.262C>A, p.(Arg88Ser)) mutations in family 1 and a paternal (c.713C>T, p.(Ser238Leu)) mutation and de novo (c.350A>G, p.(Gln117Arg)) mutation in the maternal allele in family 2. Mutations were analyzed by cloning, mutagenesis, immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, and acid phosphatase activity test. Comparison between the wild-type and mutant ACP4s showed a decreased amount of protein expression from the mutant forms, a decreased ability to form a homodimer, and a decreased acid phosphatase activity level. We believe that these findings will not only expand the mutational spectrum of ACP4 but also increase our understanding of the mechanism of ACP4 function during normal and pathologic amelogenesis.

Soil biological characteristic, nutrient contents and stoichiometry as affected by different types of remediation in a smelter-impacted soil

ABSTRACTIn order to evaluate the ecological risk reductions of copper (Cu) and cadmium (Cd) and the change of nutrient contents and stoichiometry in a smelter-impacted farmland in Guixi, Jiangxi Province, China, with ∼ 800 mg Cu kg−1 soil and 0.8 mg Cd kg−1 soil, an three years in situ experiment was conducted. The field trial consisted of 4 × 5 m plots in a completely randomised block design. Hydroxyapatite was added at 10 g kg−1 soil and Sedum plumbizincicola, Elsholtzia splendens, and Pennisetum sp. were planted. Post-treatment soil and plant samples were collected annually and analysed for Cu and Cd bioaccessibility, soil carbon: nitrogen: phosphorus (C:N:P), and the stoichiometries of soil β-glucosidase (BG), N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAG), and acid phosphatase (AP) activity levels. The results indicated that the hydroxyapatite treatments significantly reduced Cu and Cd bioaccessibility as well as the ratio of C:P and N:P. Moreover, BG, NAG, and AP activity levels all increased relative to those in untreated soil. Plants may also influence soil BG, NAG, and AP activity. This study demonstrated that in situ Cu and Cd stabilisation by hydroxyapatite and phytoextraction is ecologically safe and can alter soil mineral nutrient ecological stoichiometry and enzyme activity.

The acid phosphatase Pho5 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is not involved in polyphosphate breakdown.

Inorganic polyphosphate is involved in architecture and functioning of yeast cell wall. The strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae constitutively overexpressing acid phosphatase Pho5 was constructed for studying the Pho5 properties and its possible participation in polyphosphate metabolism. The parent strain was transformed by the vector carrying the PHO5 gene under a strong constitutive promoter of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase of S. cerevisiae. The culture liquid and biomass of transformant strain contained approximately equal total acid phosphatase activity. The levels of acid phosphatase activity associated with the cell wall and culture liquid increased in the transformant strain compared to the parent strain ~ 10- and 20-fold, respectively. The Pho5 preparation (specific activity of 46U/mg protein and yield of 95U/L) was obtained from culture liquid of overproducing strain. The overproducing strain had no changes in polyphosphate level. The activity of Pho5 with long-chained polyP was negligible. We concluded that Pho5 is not involved in polyphosphate metabolism. Purified Pho5 showed a similar activity with p-nitrophenylphosphate, ATP, ADP, glycerophosphate, and glucose-6-phosphate. The substrate specificity of Pho5 and its extracellular localization suggest its function: the hydrolysis of organic compounds with phosphoester bonds at phosphate limitation.

Determination of Acid Phosphatase Activity in Nervous Tissue

High levels of acid phosphatase activity in nerve cells allow methods for its detection to be used in morphofunctional studies of nervous tissue elements. Using neurons in the stellate ganglion in cows as an example, the bodies and processes of nerve cells are shown to have different levels of enzyme activity. Nerve endings have consistently high levels. This method provides for detailed morphological investigation of neurons and assessment of their interactions. This report provides a detailed description of an improved method for identifying acid phosphatase activity in nervous tissue structures.

Effects of prey, pitcher age, and microbes on acid phosphatase activity in fluid from pitchers of Sarracenia purpurea (Sarraceniaceae).

Carnivory in pitcher plants generally involves digestion of prey, by the plant itself, by symbionts, or both. While symbionts appear to be important in the digestion of prey in Sarracenia purpurea, the importance of pitcher-derived enzymes is less well documented. Our goal was to reduce microbial numbers in pitcher fluid in order to measure the acid phosphatase activity attributable to the pitchers themselves. Preliminary experiments indicated that various antibiotics were minimally effective at reducing microbial populations and that antibiotic-resistant microbes were easily cultured from pitcher fluid. Consequently, we measured the abundance of culturable microbes in every sample taken for the measurement of acid phosphatase activity. Pitchers fed with one sterilized ant had higher levels of acid phosphatase activity than unfed pitchers. Older pitchers were more responsive to feeding than young pitchers. Pitchers with high levels of microbes (on Day 5) had higher acid phosphatase activity than pitchers with low levels of microbes. However, fed pitchers were not more likely to have higher microbe levels and microbe levels were not related to pitcher age. When fluid samples from inside the pitcher were compared to appropriate controls incubated outside the pitcher, acid phosphatase activity was higher inside the pitcher. Results from the feeding experiments are consistent with a primary role of microbes in the digestion of prey in pitchers of S. purpurea. However, the relationship between pitcher age and enzyme activity is not a function of microbes in the pitcher fluid and may depend on enzymes produced by the plant. Our methods would not detect microbes embedded on the inner surface of the pitcher; and if they survived the alcohol rinse and antibiotics, we cannot rule out microbes as the source of the relationship between pitcher age and acid phosphatase activity.

Assessment of the influence of composts on microbiological and biochemical parameters of substrates and the morphological traits of scarlet sage / Ocena wpływu kompostów na parametry mikrobiologiczne i biochemiczne podłoży oraz cechy morfologiczne szałwii błysz czącej

Abstract The aim of the research was to assess the microbiological (number of heterotrophic bacteria, actinobacteria and moulds) and biochemical (urease and acid phosphatase activity) state of peat with the admixture of composts produced from sewage sludge. An additional aim of the research was to demonstrate the influence of those substrates on the morphological traits of scarlet sage (height, number and length of shoots, number of buds and inflorescences, greenness index (SPAD)). Composts produced from sewage sludge, wheat, maize and lupine straw were mixed with peat, where their percentage varied from 25% to 75%. The substrate which included the composts applied in the experiment had a higher number of heterotrophic bacteria and a higher acid phosphatase activity level than the control substrate (peat). The multiplication of moulds and actinobacteria was more intensive than in the peat only in the combinations with K3 (sewage sludge 50%+sawdust 20%+ lupine straw 30%) and K4 (sewage sludge 50%+sawdust 20%+fresh maize straw 30%) composts, whereas the highest urease activity level was observed in the soils produced from K1 (sewage sludge 50%+sawdust 20%+white straw 30%) compost. The most optimal development of plants was observed in the substrate with compost produced from wheat straw. Composts produced from municipal sewage sludge were found to be suitable for growing scarlet sage. However, their effect depends on the percentage of high peat in the substrate.

The Role of DmCatD, a Cathepsin D-Like Peptidase, and Acid Phosphatase in the Process of Follicular Atresia in Dipetalogaster maxima (Hemiptera: Reduviidae), a Vector of Chagas' Disease.

In this work, we have investigated the involvement of DmCatD, a cathepsin D-like peptidase, and acid phosphatase in the process of follicular atresia of Dipetalogaster maxima, a hematophagous insect vector of Chagas’ disease. For the studies, fat bodies, ovaries and hemolymph were sampled from anautogenous females at representative days of the reproductive cycle: pre-vitellogenesis, vitellogenesis as well as early and late atresia. Real time PCR (qPCR) and western blot assays showed that DmCatD was expressed in fat bodies and ovaries at all reproductive stages, being the expression of its active form significantly higher at the atretic stages. In hemolymph samples, only the immunoreactive band compatible with pro-DmCatD was observed by western blot. Acid phosphatase activity in ovarian tissues significantly increased during follicular atresia in comparison to pre-vitellogenesis and vitellogenesis. A further enzyme characterization with inhibitors showed that the high levels of acid phosphatase activity in atretic ovaries corresponded mainly to a tyrosine phosphatase. Immunofluorescence assays demonstrated that DmCatD and tyrosine phosphatase were associated with yolk bodies in vitellogenic follicles, while in atretic stages they displayed a different cellular distribution. DmCatD and tyrosine phosphatase partially co-localized with vitellin. Moreover, their interaction was supported by FRET analysis. In vitro assays using homogenates of atretic ovaries as the enzyme source and enzyme inhibitors demonstrated that DmCatD, together with a tyrosine phosphatase, were necessary to promote the degradation of vitellin. Taken together, the results strongly suggested that both acid hydrolases play a central role in early vitellin proteolysis during the process of follicular atresia.

Semen characteristics and selected biochemical markers of canine seminal plasma in various seasons of the year

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of season on selected qualitative semen characteristics and biochemical markers of canine seminal plasma. Whole ejaculates were collected from 5 crossbred dogs aged 2-8 years. The study covered a period of one year divided into four seasons: spring (March, April, May), summer (June, July, August), autumn (September, October, November) and winter (December, January, February). Semen samples were subjected to macroscopic and microscopic analyses to determine semen volume, total sperm counts and sperm morphology parameters. The study also involved the determination of sperm motility parameters (CASA system), sperm plasma membrane integrity (SPMI, fluorescent staining SYBR-14/PI), sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP, fluorescent staining JC-1/PI) and the ATP content of sperm cells. Total protein content (TPC) and the activity of alkaline phosphatase (AP) and acid phosphatase (AcP) were determined in biochemical analyses of seminal plasma. No significant differences in ejaculate volume, SMPI or ATP content of sperm cells were observed between seasons. The highest total sperm counts were reported in ejaculates acquired in summer and autumn. The lowest MMP values were determined in summer ejaculates. No significant differences in sperm motility (MOT) were observed throughout the experiment, but ejaculates collected in autumn and winter were characterized by the highest progressive motility (PMOT). AP activity and TPC were not significantly affected by season. However, AcP activity levels were significantly lower in autumn than in the remaining seasons. Seasonal variations in the analyzed macroscopic and microscopic parameters of ejaculates and biochemical markers of seminal plasma did not exert a clear negative effect on the quality of canine semen.

Cell death mechanisms during follicular atresia in Dipetalogaster maxima, a vector of Chagas’ disease (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

In this work we have analyzed the involvement of cell death pathways during the process of follicular atresia in the hematophagous insect vector Dipetalogaster maxima. Standardized insect rearing conditions were established to induce a gradual follicular degeneration stage by depriving females of blood meal during post-vitellogenesis. We first characterized the morpho-histological and ultrastructural changes of the ovarian tissue at early and late follicular atresia by light and transmission electron microscopy. Apoptosis was investigated by DAPI nuclear staining, TUNEL labeling and the detection of active caspase-3 by immunofluorescence. Autophagy was assessed by the measurement of acid phosphatase activity in ovarian homogenates and monitored by the detection of the specific marker of autophagic compartments, LC3. High levels of acid phosphatase activity were detected at all atretic stages. However, follicular cells of follicles undergoing incipient degeneration in early atresia exhibited features of apoptosis such as chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation and the presence of active caspase-3. The ultrastructural findings and the increased levels of LC3-II found at late follicular atresia supported the relevance of autophagy at this atretic stage, although the extent of autophagosome formation demonstrated that this cell death pathway also occurred at early atresia. In late atresia, follicular cells also displayed more drastic changes compatible with necrosis. Taken together, results showed that apoptosis, autophagy and necrosis were operative during follicular atresia in D. maxima. Moreover, it was shown that the relevance of these cell death mechanisms correlates with the time elapsed since the onset of the degenerative process.

Effects of different enzymatic hydrolysis methods on the bioactivity of peptidoglycan in Litopenaeus vannamei

The effects of different hydrolysis methods on peptidoglycan (PG) were assessed in terms of their impact on the innate immunity and disease resistance of Pacific white shrimp, Litop enaeus vannamei. PG derived from Bifidobacterium thermophilum was prepared in the laboratory and processed with lysozyme and protease under varying conditions to produce several different PG preparations. A standard shrimp feed was mixed with 0.05% PG preparations to produce a number of experimental diets for shrimp. The composition, concentration, and molecular weight ranges of the soluble PG were analyzed. Serum phenoloxidase and acid phosphatase activity in the shrimp were determined on Days 6—31 of the experiment. The protective activity of the PG preparations was evaluated by exposing shrimp to white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). Data on the composition of the PG preparations indicated that preparations hydrolyzed with lysozyme for 72 h had more low-molecular-weight PG than those treated for 24 h, and hydrolysis by protease enhanced efficiency of hydrolysis compared to lysozyme. SDS-PAGE showed changes in the molecular weight of the soluble PG produced by the different hydrolysis methods. Measurements of serum phenoloxidase and acid phosphatase activity levels in the shrimp indicated that the PG preparations processed with enzymes were superior to the preparation which had not undergone hydrolysis in enhancing the activity of the two serum enzymes. In addition, the preparation containing more low-molecular-weight PG enhanced the resistance of the shrimp to WSSV, whereas no increased resistance was observed for preparations containing less low-molecular-weight PG. These findings suggest that the immunity-enhancing activity of PG is related to its molecular weight and that increasing the quantity of low-molecular-weight PG can fortify the effect of immunity enhancement.

Effect of a Bt-based product (Vectobar) on esterases and phosphatases from larvae of the mosquito Aedes aegypti

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-based formulations possess potent insecticidal property, and they are being used in insect vector control programs all over the world. In this study, we examined the efficacy of a Bt-based product (Vectobar) on two developmental stages (fourth instar larvae and pupae) of the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Vectobar at a concentration of 0.25ppm was found to inflict 100% mortality of fourth instar larvae of A. aegypti within 24h. By contrast, this Bt-based product tested up to 2ppm was not effective against the pupae of A. aegypti. The systemic effect of Vectobar was further assessed in the fourth instar larvae of A. aegypti by measuring the levels of total proteins and activity of two important marker enzymes: esterases and phosphatases. Exposure of the larvae to Vectobar at a lethal threshold concentration (0.05ppm) significantly decreased the level of total protein (34%) as well as the activities of acetylcholinesterase (36%), α-carboxylesterase (34%) and alkaline phosphatase (49%). On the other hand, 40% increase in the level of acid phosphatase activity was recorded in these larvae. The Vectobar did not affect the level of β-carboxylesterase activity in the larvae of A. aegypti. This investigation clearly demonstrates differential modulation in the activities of esterases and phosphatases in Vectobar exposed larvae of A. aegypti.

Functional and metabolic assessment of the blood cell’s response to exposure to local vibration

Physiological characteristics of blood cells in workers exposed to long-term local vibration were studied. The total cell peroxidase activity, the level of the phagocytic response, neutrophil alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase activity levels, and glycogen content in neutrophils and lymphocytes were measured. Changes associated with a decrease in the functional metabolic parameters, depending on the duration of contact with vibrating tools and the severity of clinical symptoms, were detected. The detected differences in changes in cell response may reflect the specific features of the mechanisms of adaptive regulation.

Activity levels of phosphatases of the air-breathing catfish Mystus cavasius exposed to electroplating industrial effluent chromium

In India chromium is widely used in all electroplating industries. Chromium in electroplating industrial effluent has been shown to inhibit many enzymes at different segments of metabolism. Chromium especially inhibits pyruvate oxidases system and phosphatases. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of effluent chromium on phosphatases on exposure to sub-lethal concentration (0.25%) for a period of 24, 48, and 72 h and 15 d. Activity levels of acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase decreased significantly in the gill and air bladder tissues of experimental catfish, Mystus cavasius, when compared with that of controls.

The fallacy of the two-minute acid phosphatase cut off

Research was carried out to determine whether the likelihood of obtaining a positive Acid Phosphatase (AP) test result is affected by the make and type of paper used. Also, we aimed to investigate the frequency of AP positive reactions occurring after 2min using a series of known semen dilutions and to determine whether spermatozoa transfer onto the paper during the act of AP screening. In this research, most brands of paper tested were able to detect a 1 in 40 semen dilution within 2min. Leaving AP test papers for longer will allow the detection of greater dilutions of semen and as the amount of ejaculation is not reliably known in most casework situations and levels of AP activity can vary in different men, this will increase the seminal detection rate in sexual offence allegations.

Transgenic expression of phytase and acid phosphatase genes in alfalfa (Medicagosativa) leads to improved phosphate uptake in natural soils.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most widely grown crops in the USA. Phosphate (P) deficiency is common in areas where forage crops are grown. To improve the use of organic phosphate by alfalfa, two Medicago truncatula genes, phytase (MtPHY1) and purple acid phosphatase (MtPAP1), were overexpressed in alfalfa under the control of the constitutive CaMV35S promoter or the root-specific MtPT1 promoter. Root enzyme activity analyses revealed that although both genes lead to similar levels of acid phosphatase activities, overexpression of the MtPHY1 gene usually results in a higher level of phytase activity than overexpression of the MtPAP1 gene. The MtPT1 promoter was more effective than the CaMV35S promoter in regulating gene expression and extracellular secretion under P-deficient conditions. Measurement of growth performance of the transgenic lines further proved that the best promoter–gene combination is the MtPHY1 gene driven by the MtPT1 promoter. Compared to the control, the plants with high levels of transgene expression showed improved growth. The biomass of several transgenic lines was three times that of the control when plants were grown in sand supplied with phytate as the sole P source. When the plants were grown in natural soils without additional P supplement, the best performing transgenic lines produced double the amount of biomass after 12 weeks (two cuts) of growth. Transgene effects were more obvious in soil with lower pH and lower natural P reserves than in soil with neutral pH and relatively higher P storage. The total P concentration in leaf tissues of the high-expressing transgenic lines was significantly higher than that of the control. The transgenes have great potential for improving plant P acquisition and biomass yield in P-deficient agricultural soils.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11032-011-9628-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.