Rise In Protein Content Research Articles

Novel Pickering bigels stabilized by whey protein microgels: Interfacial properties, oral sensation and gastrointestinal digestive profiles

In the ongoing quest to formulate sensory-rich, low-fat products that maintain structural integrity, this work investigated the potential of bigels, especially those created using innovative Pickering techniques. By harnessing the unique properties of whey protein isolate (WPI) and whey protein microgel (WPM) as interfacial stabilizers, WPM-based Pickering bigels exhibited a remarkable particle localization at the interface due to specific intermolecular interactions. The rise in protein concentration not only intensified particle coverage and interface stabilization but also amplified attributes like storage modulus, yield stress, and adhesiveness, owing to enhanced intermolecular forces and a compact gel matrix. Impressively, WPM-based Pickering bigels outshone in practical applications, showcasing exceptional oil retention during freeze–thaw cycles and extended flavor release-a promising indication for frozen food product applications. Furthermore, these bigels underwent a sensory evolution from a lubricious texture at lower concentrations to a stable plateau at higher ones, offering an enriched consumer experience. In a comparative digestibility assessment, WPM-based Pickering bigels demonstrated superior prowess in decelerating the release of free fatty acids, indicating slowed lipid digestion. This study demonstrates the potential to fine-tune oral sensations and digestive profiles in bigels by modulating Pickering particle concentrations.

Effect of spermidine on reproductive, seed quality and bio-physiological characteristics of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes under salt stress

The experiment aimed to investigate the impact of foliar application of spermidine on the physiological and reproductive aspects of chickpea genotypes subjected to salt stress, with a focus on its consequences for seed quality. The study involved treating chickpea genotypes (CSG 8962, HC 3, HC 5, RSG 931) with 4 and 8 dSm−1 Cl− dominate salinity during the seedling stage, and application of 0.5 and 1.0 mM spermidine at the flowering stage. Result revealed that salinity significantly reduced chlorophyll and membrane stability index by approximately 46.97% and 23.19%, respectively. Concurrently, pollen germination and viability decreased about 14.14% and 22.24%, leading to a substantial decline in seed protein content (37.70%) at 8 dSm−1 salinity. While there was an increase in antioxidant activity (45.83%), phenol content decreased in response to salinity stress. Foliar application of spermidine (0.5 and 1.0 mM) proved to be a promising intervention, enhancing chlorophyll stability and phenol content by approximately 24.35% and 36.05%, respectively, at 8 dSm−1 salinity. This improvement is associated with a notable 20.01% increase in pollen viability, resulting in a subsequent rise in protein content by about 20.73% at 1.0 mM spermidine. Additionally, the application of spermidine mitigated Na+ ion accumulation in chickpea seeds. The findings underscore the varying performance of chickpea genotypes under salinity stress, with CSG 8962 and RSG 931 exhibiting poorer outcomes compared to other genotypes. Notably, the positive impact of spermidine was more pronounced, especially with the use of 1.0 mM spermidine, which demonstrated a more significant positive effect in salt-sensitive chickpea genotypes. These results emphasize the potential of spermidine as a strategic tool in alleviating the adverse effects of salinity on chickpea crops, offering valuable insights for the development of sustainable practices to enhance chickpea resilience and seed quality under challenging environmental conditions.

The effect of replacing wheat flour with sesame and flax flour on the chemical composition, fatty acids, and antioxidant properties of biscuits

The purpose of this investigation was to learn more about the chemical make-up of various grains and to analyze the chemical compositions, fatty acids, and antioxidant content of biscuits made with varying amounts of sesame and flax flour (0, 10, 20, and 25% replacement ratios). The chemical composition of the biscuits created by substituting sesame flour and flax indicated that the moisture content in all samples was between 5.90 and 6.33%, although the findings showed a disparity in the percentage of moisture for the various biscuit kinds. The proportion of ash increased dramatically with the replacement rates, from 1.33 to 1.70%. The BS25% treatment had the greatest protein concentration, at 14.43%. As the rate of replacement increased, a corresponding rise in protein content was seen. There was also a correlation between the replacement rates for the treatments investigated and the proportion of fats, with the highest percentage of fats being 10.33%. The BS20% treatment had the greatest fiber percentage (12.20%). The highest carbohydrate percentages (55.10-68.33%) suggested a decreasing carbohydrate ratio when replacement rates were increased. The outcomes also demonstrated that both essential and non-essential fatty acids were present in all types of grains studied. Finally, the highest proportion of antioxidants, which reached 58%, was recorded with the biscuits without any substitutes.

Grain and flour quality of wheat genotypes grown under heat stress

Heat stress during the grain-filling period is the main abiotic stress factor limiting grain yield and quality in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In this study, 64 wheat genotypes were exposed to heat stress during reproduction caused by delayed sowing in two growing seasons. Grain yield, 1000 grain weight (GW), grain hardness (GH), and grain-quality related traits were investigated. Heat stress caused a significant decrease in GW through reducing starch content (SC) and a non-compensating rise in protein content (PC), and thereby resulted in lower yield. In addition, significant increases in flour water absorption (WA), Zeleny sedimentation volume (ZT), ash content (AC), lipid content (LC), loaf volume (LV), wet gluten content (WG), dry gluten content (DG), gluten index (GI), and amylopectin content (APC) were found following heat stress. In contrast, decreases in grain moisture content (MC) and amylose content (AMC) induced by heat stress were observed. The heat-tolerant genotypes were superior in grain yield, GW, SC, AMC, and MC. While the sensitive genotypes contained higher PC, LV, GI and AMP. A group of wheat genotypes characterized with a higher yield, AMC, GW, and SC as well as lower PC, WA, GH, ZT, and LV; and was found to be the most heat tolerant by principal component analysis. Lighter weight and smaller grains produce a smaller starchy endosperm with lower quality (less amylose) and higher grain protein content in heat stress compared to normal conditions. Heat stress caused by delayed sowing improves some of the baking-quality related traits.

Evaluation of antioxidant bioindicators and growth responses in Malva parviflora L. exposed to cadmium.

In this study, the effect of cadmium (Cd) uptake and concentration on some growth and biochemical responses were investigated in Malva parviflora under Cd treatments including 0, 10, 50 and 100µM. The shoots and roots were able to accumulate Cd. However, increased Cd dose led to a considerable Cd content in the roots. Cd stress decreased growth, increased lipid peroxidation and also enhanced proline and ascorbic acid contents in both shoots and roots. Chlorophyll and carotenoid contents decreased in the plants with the increasing Cd concentration. While the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased in the shoots under different Cd doses, these activities decreased in the roots as compared to the control. Both shoots and roots demonstrated a significant increase in guaiacol peroxidase activity in response to Cd stress. Contrary to the aboveground parts, the roots subjected to Cd doses showed a rise in protein content. Despite higher Cd content in the roots, it seems that CAT and SOD do not play a key role in detoxification of Cd-induced oxidative stress. These findings confirm that reduced biomass and growth under Cd stress can be due to an increase in oxidative stress and a decrease in photosynthetic pigment content. The present study clearly indicates that the shoots and roots exploit different tolerance behaviors to alleviate Cd-induced oxidative stress in M. parviflora.

Effect of Acid Mine Drainage of Coal Mining on Total Protein Content of Muscle and Liver in a Freshwater Fish, Channa punctatus (Bloch)

The paper deals with the studies on impact of Acid Mine Drainage of coal mining on total soluble protein content of fish, Channa punctatus. Acid Mine Drainage of coal mines was collected from the coal mining area near Simsang River, Garohills, Meghalaya and LC50 value (28 % of effluent) for 96 h was determined. Fishes were treated in sub lethal concentration (one-fifth of LC50 value) of Acid Mine Drainage of coal mines for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h to evaluate its impact on total soluble protein in the muscle and liver. It was found that there was a decreasing trend of total protein content and maximum decrease was found at 48 and 72 h in liver and muscle respectively. However, a little rise of protein content was found at 72 h in liver and 96 h in muscle. This might be due to rise of proteolytic activity in liver suggesting the increased enzymatic activities to cope with toxic stress.

Influence of Exogenously Applied Epibrassinolide and Putrescine on Protein Content, Antioxidant Enzymes and Lipid Peroxidation in <i>Lycopersicon esculentum</i> under Salinity Stress

Brassinosteroids (BRs) and polyamines (PAs) are widely used to overcome abiotic stresses including salinity stress (NaCl) in plants. In the present investigation, we evaluated the co-application efficacy of 24-epibrassinolide (EBR, a highly active BR) and putrescine (Put, a PA) on the NaCl stress (75 mM and 150 mM) tolerance of Lycopersicon esculentum L. cv. kuber geeta plants. A small rise in protein content was recorded under salinity stress in comparison with untreated control. The NaCl stress was found to significantly enhance the activities of guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD); while decline in catalase (CAT) activity was recorded when compared with the untreated control. Salinity stress both at 75 mM and 150 mM was able to cause significant membrane damage as evidenced by an increase in the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) content over untreated control. The EBR and Put co-applications were able to improve protein content in NaCl stressed plants over only NaCl stressed plants. The co-applications of EBR and Put were able to significantly enhance the activities of CAT, SOD and GPOX in L. esculentum under salinity stress (75 mM and 150 mM) when compared with NaCl stressed plants alone. Major decline in the MDA level recorded for EBR and Put co-applications under NaCl stress revealed reduced membrane damages when compared with NaCl stressed plants alone. Our findings provide evidence that EBR and Put co-applications are effective in amelioration of NaCl stress in L. esculentum. Thus co-application potential of EBR and Put may acts an eco-friendly approach towards NaCl stress mitigation in economically important crops.

Relative quantitative kinetics of interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 mRNA and protein production by activated ovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin (IL)-10 are cross-regulatory cytokines capable of driving and controlling the adaptive host immune response. The inter-relationship between IFN-γ and IL-10 expression has not been defined in sheep despite biological evidence suggesting that they perform similar functions to their orthologues described in other species. To address this, we have developed a quantitative (q)PCR method to assess relative levels of IFN-γ and IL-10 mRNA expression in activated ovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and compared the kinetics of mRNA expression with amounts of cytokine secreted by the cells over a 96 h period. PBMC were collected from sheep immunised with the nominal antigen ovalbumin (Ova) and re-stimulated in vitro with antigen and the T cell mitogen concanavalin A (ConA). The recall response to antigen was characterised by a single peak in IFN-γ mRNA expression at 48 h of culture (13-fold increase over unstimulated cells) and relatively lower expression of IL-10 mRNA (average 2–3-fold increase over the 96 h culture period). Antigen-driven IFN-γ protein concentration was greatest at the end of the culture period (96 h) whereas IL-10 protein level was not elevated above that observed in unstimulated cells. The typical response to ConA was greater for both cytokines, with IFN-γ mRNA expression peaking at 6 h of culture (133-fold increase) then declining rapidly whereas IL-10 mRNA expression peaked at 24 h (16-fold increase) and declined more gradually. Despite these differences in the relative kinetics of mRNA expression in mitogen-activated PBMC, the typical pattern of protein expression of the two cytokines was similar. Both showed a gradual rise in protein concentration starting from 12 h of culture which was still rising at the end of the culture period (96 h). These data demonstrate that the kinetics of mRNA expression for IFN-γ and IL-10 in activated ovine PBMC do not necessarily correlate with detectable protein in culture.

Studies on the quality of fried snacks based on blends of wheat flour and soya flour

Wheat flour and defatted soya flour blended in the ratio of 65:20, 60:25, 55:30 and 45:40 were studied in respect of dough characteristics and quality of fried savoury and sweet snacks prepared from them. Farinograph characteristics of flour blends showed that as the proportion of soya flour increased there was a slight increase in water absorption and decrease in dough stability. In fried savoury snacks the protein content increased gradually from 20.75 to 27.50%. When the proportion of soya flour was raised from 20 to 40% in the blend, the corresponding rise in protein content in fried sweet snack was from 15.75 to 21.75%. The products were subjected to sensory evaluation by adopting preference ranking test and analyzing the data using Friedman's test and Wilcoxon Mann–Whitney U Test. No significant difference (P⩽0.05) was found among the samples for overall acceptability. In sweet snack, irrespective of levels of soya flour significant difference was not found (P⩽0.05) for all the attributes namely color and appearance, texture, aroma and taste. Color values expressed as L∗, a∗, b∗ showed that development of color during deep fat frying of snacks was not markedly affected by the levels of soya flour. Hardness of fried snacks was measured as force required for 50% compression. Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) of the texture values showed a significant increase in hardness (P⩽0.05) with the level of soya flour.

Evidence of disease resistance induced by rhizosphere pseudomonad againstPseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola.

Promotion of plant growth with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is sometimes related to disease suppression and induction of general defense responses in plants inoculated with such bacteria. Induced disease suppression was observed after seed bacterization in a bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) challenged with Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola in greenhouse conditions, both in terms of symptom expression and bacterial viable counts in the leaves and in the intercellular washing fluids (IWF) from the leaves. Comparison of in vitro growth of the pathogenic strain in IWF from protected and unprotected plants suggested that the inhibitory activity against pathogen establishment lies partly in the IWF of bacterized plants 10 days after challenge inoculation. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that the relative levels of proteins had increased in the leaf extracts of protected plants. A correlation was thus found between the reduction in symptom expression and a lower bacterial population in the leaves and a general rise in protein content in the IWF. Poor establishment of the test pathogen in the bean inoculated with PGPR strain Pseudomonas fluorescens, S97 may also involve accumulation of certain phenolic compounds.

Role of platelet activating factor in pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis in rats.

The importance of platelet activating factor in acute pancreatitis was examined by determining the tissue content of endogenous platelet activating factor and the protective effects of TCV-309, a highly selective platelet activating factor blocker, against caerulein induced pancreatitis in rats. Infusion of caerulein (10 micrograms/kg/h) for five hours resulted in about 70% increase in pancreatic weight, 22% rise in protein content, 50% reduction in tissue blood flow, nine fold increase in tissue level of platelet activating factor and 165% rise in plasma amylase as well as histological evidence of acute pancreatitis. Such infusion of caerulein in chronic pancreatic fistula rats caused a marked increase in protein output from basal secretion of 10 mg/30 minutes to 40 mg/30 minutes in the first hour of infusion followed by a decline in protein output to 15-20 mg/30 minutes in the following hours of the experiment. Exogenous platelet activating factor (50 micrograms/kg) injected ip produced similar alterations in weight, protein content, blood flow, and histology of the pancreas but the increment in serum amylase was significantly smaller and pancreatic secretion was reduced below the basal level. TCV-309 (50 micrograms/kg) given ip before caerulein or platelet activating factor administration significantly reduced the biochemical and morphological alterations caused by caerulein and abolished those induced by exogenous platelet activating factor. These results indicate that platelet activating factor plays an important role in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis probably by reducing the blood flow and increasing vascular permeability in the pancreas.

The Effect of Hemodialysis on Whole Blood, Plasma and Erythrocyte Viscosity

The effect of hemodialysis (HD) on blood viscosity has not been adequately investigated. We studied blood viscosity during HD employing coneplate viscometry. Ten patients with end-stage renal disease were studied before and immediately after HD. To dissect the possible effects of HD on plasma and red blood cell (RBC) determinants, we measured whole blood, plasma, and reconstituted erythrocyte viscosities. The latter consisted of RBC's suspended in a buffered saline solution (pH = 7.4 units). In addition, serum, electrolytes and hematocrit (HCT) were measured. The results revealed a significant rise in whole blood viscosity after dialysis. Likewise, plasma viscosity rose considerably with dialysis. However, when the RBC's were reconstituted to a constant HCT, no significant difference was noted before and after HD. As expected, body weight, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine concentrations fell while HCT and protein concentration rose with HD. A significant correlation was found between the observed rise in HCT, and dialysis-induced rise in whole blood viscosity. Likewise, the observed rises in plasma viscosity after dialysis significantly correlated with the rise in protein concentration. In addition, the change in whole blood and plasma viscosity values correlated with the degree of ultrafiltration (weight loss). In conclusion, whole blood and plasma viscosity rises with hemodialysis. The observed rise in viscosity is primarily due to hemoconcentration.

Neurotensin induces hyperplasia of the pancreas and growth of the gastric antrum in rats.

We investigated whether chronic subcutaneous infusion of neurotensin during 14 days would affect pancreatic and gastric growth of rats. In another experiment, neurotensin (836 pmol/kg) was injected intraperitoneally three times a day for three days in 12 rats. Thereafter, pancreatic DNA and in vitro incorporation of 3H-thymidine into pancreatic DNA was determined. Long term infusion of 282 pmol/kg neurotensin induced an increase of pancreatic weight, DNA, and pancreatic polypeptide, whereas pancreatic protein, RNA, amylase and lipase contents were not increased. In relation to DNA, even these parameters were significantly depressed. Insulin remained unchanged. Neurotensin, therefore, caused hyperplasia of the pancreas. Intraperitoneal injection of neurotensin induced an increase of pancreatic DNA content and stimulated 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA, whereas caerulein only augmented 3H-thymidine incorporation. Moreover, long term neurotensin infusion led to a rise in protein concentration and an increase in the thickness of the gastric antrum; antral DNA concentration was insignificantly stimulated. Neurotensin, therefore, can act as a trophic factor on pancreas and gastric antrum of the rat.

Neurological complications of acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis

Forty four cases of the neurological complications of acute haemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) seen in India during 1981 epidemic are reported. The disease predominantly affected adult males. The preceding attack of AHC, a latent period, prodromal symptoms of fever, myalgia and root pains followed by acute onset of lower motor neurone paralysis of limbs and/or cranial nerves formed the classical picture of neurological involvement. The recovery was poor and nearly half of the patients remained severely handicapped. Electrophysiological studies showed early appearance of widespread fibrillations and fasciculations, large polyphasic potentials of increased amplitude and reduced interference pattern. Nerve conduction studies were normal in most of the cases. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination revealed lymphocytic pleocytosis and rise in protein content. Significant antibody titres against enterovirus type 70 (EV 70) were demonstrated in the serum and the CSF. HLA studies showed low occurrence of A 2 and B 15 HLA antigens. Muscle biopsies revealed neurogenic atrophy and sural nerve biopsies were histologically unremarkable. The similarities of this disease with poliomyelitis and its pathogenesis are discussed.

Properties of Ultrafiltered Skim Milk Retentate Powders

Spray-dried and freeze-dried ultrafiltered skim milk retentate powders were obtained from mechanically separated whole milk ultrafiltered retentates previously concentrated to 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1 total protein. Resulting powders, analyzed for composition, quality, storage stability, and functionality, were compared with conventional spray-dried skim milk powder.Retentate powders containing from 50 to 65% protein showed lowest bacterial numbers and acidity and retained excellent flavor. After 4 wk of storage above 3°C, the powder showed changes in solubility and 5-hydroxymethyl furfuraldehyde. Both indices increased with rise in protein content and storage temperature.Functional properties such as foaming and heat stability were suitable.

Action of neurotensin on size, composition, and growth of pancreas and stomach in the rat

Since the gastrointestinal peptide neurotensin has a stimulatory effect on the secretion of the exocrine pancreas and an inhibitory effect on secretion and motility of the stomach, we investigated whether chronic parenteral administration of neurotensin would affect pancreatic and gastric growth. We therefore infused synthetic neurotensin subcutaneously (dose, 43 and 282 pmol · kg −1 · min −1) in 20 Wistar rats for 2 weeks using Alzet osmotic minipumps and compared pancreatic weight, DNA, RNA, protein, lipase, amylase, pancreatic polypeptide and insulin with these parameters in 10 control rats from the same litter with subcutaneously implanted plastic cylinders approximately the size of the minipumps. In another experiment, synthetic neurotensin (836 pmol · kg −1) was injected intraperitoneally three times a day for 3 days in 12 rats. Thereafter, we measured pancreatic DNA and in vitro incorporation of [ 3H]thymidine into pancreatic DNA. These effects were compared with the actions of caerulein and normal saline. Long term infusion of the high neurotensin dose induced an increase of pancreatic weight (control: 0.87 g, neurotensin: 1.02 g) and of DNA (control: 2.5 μg; neurotensin: 3.5 μg) and pancreatic polypeptide (control: 2.4 ng; neurotensin: 7.4 ng) contents, whereas pancreatic protein, RNA, amylase and lipase contents were not stimulated. In relation to DNA, these parameters even were significantly depressed. Insulin remained unchanged. Intraperitoneal injection of neurotensin induced an increase of pancreatic DNA content and stimulated [ 3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA (control: 11 000 dpm/g; neurotensin: 15 800 dpm/g pancreas). Moreover, long-term neurotensin infusion with the high dose led to a rise in protein concentration and an increase in the thickness of the gastric antrum; antral DNA concentration was insignificantly stimulated. Parenteral neurotensin in the doses and at the times administered, led therefore, to hyperplasia of the pancreas and induced growth of the gastric antrum. It is concluded that neurotensin can act as a trophic factor on pancreas and gastric antrum of the rat. It remains to be determined whether this represents a physiological effect of neurotensin.

Functional relationship of ammonia with RNA, DNA, and protein in rat muscle

The acid proteinases, neutral proteinases, protein, RNA, and DNA were estimated along with the ammonia content in muscle in rats subjected to experimental hyperammonemic states (acute and chronic) by the administration of ammonium acetate intraperitoneally. It was observed that there was a decrease in the activities of acid proteinases and neutral proteinases in muscle in acute as well as in chronic hyperammonemic states. A rise in protein content was observed in muscle under these conditions. No changes were seen in the DNA content while RNA showed a slight increase in muscle. These results were discussed with reference to the possible role of ammonia in lysosomal protein degradation as well as to its probable effect on protein synthesis through its action on transcription.

In the eye (D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9)-SP is a substance P agonist, which modifies the responses to substance P, prostaglandin E1 and antidromic trigeminal nerve stimulation.

A substance P analogue, (D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9)-SP, has been described to have SP antagonistic and SP agonistic effects in different tissues. We have investigated the effects of (D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9)-SP on the sphincter pupillae muscle, the blood aqueous barrier (BAB) and the intraocular pressure (IOP) in the albino rabbit eye. We also investigated the modifying effects of (D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9)-SP on miosis, BAB damage and IOP rise caused by SP, prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), capsaicin and on the miosis caused by electrical intracranial antidromic trigeminal nerve stimulation (NV stim). Endogenous PG synthesis was inhibited by systemic indomethacin i.v., cholinergic influence on the pupil size was inhibited with biperiden, i.v., adrenergic nerve influence by cervical sympathectomy just prior to the expts. Tubocurarine chloride was used to cause relaxation of striated muscles in the expts with NV stim. We found 100 micrograms (D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9)-SP to cause miosis, breakdown of the BAB with heavy leakage of Evans blue into the ciliary processes and aqueous humor, and a rise in IOP. At 10 micrograms (D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9)-SP caused slight miosis and did not inhibit the miosis caused by SP or capsaicin, but caused a significant reduction of the miotic response caused by PGE1 and NV stim. The rise in protein concentration in the aqueous humor caused by SP or PGE1 was slightly but significantly lower after pretreatment with (D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9)-SP. Thus (D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9)-SP was found to act as a SP agonist on the sphincter pupillae muscle, on the BAB and IOP. However, (D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9)-SP seemed to have some SP antagonistic effects on mechanisms that require sensory nerve conduction e.g. miosis caused by PGE1 and NV stim. The antagonistic mechanism is not clear. The SP analogue may have an unspecific membrane stabilizing effect or a toxic effect or block SP receptors on the sensory nerve fibers. Such effects of (D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9)-SP may explain also why the rise in protein concentration in the aqueous humor caused by SP and PGE1 was lower in eyes pretreated with (D-Pro2, D-Trp7,9)-SP.

Cytodifferentiation in the accessory glands of Tenebrio molitor. VII. Patterns of leucine incorporation by the bean‐shaped glands of males

AbstractThe bean‐shaped accessory glands of male mealworm beetles are morphologically complex. Seven distinct cell types produce a semisolid secretory mass that contains structural proteins of the spermatophore. Cell numbers increase 3.5‐fold over the pupal instar, and gland volume increases 30‐fold over the pupal and early adult stage. DNA content reaches its maximum at adult ecdysis (11 pg/secretory cell), RNA at 4 days later (55 pg/cell), and protein at 6 days after ecdysis (1,200 pg/cell). Rates of 14C‐ and 3H‐leucine incroporation increase in parallel to the rise in protein content. Over ten putative secretory protein bands were identified by using one‐dimensional SDS‐slab gel electrophoresis to compare BAG homogenates with homogenates of the secretory mass and the spermatophore. At least five of these secretory proteins accumulate in BAGs after adult ecdysis, and most show high rates of leucine incorporation in the adult. Twodimensional gel electrophoresis (pI and SDS) and fluorography allowed us to identify a score of reference spots, at least seven spots that are characteristic of the pupa, and over 40 spots that appear to be differentiation‐specific and are presumably secretory products. The fluorographic indices give an unambiguous means of scoring terminal differentiation in the BAG.

Proteingehalt, Proteinmuster, Peroxydase- und Malatdehydrogenase-Isoenzymmuster beim Speicherparenchym von Solanum tuberosum L. nach Verwundung

Summary Protein content and patterns of protein, peroxidase and malate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in wounded tuber tissue from Solanum tuberosum L. (cv. SASKIA) with different anatomical wound-reactions are investigated. Periderm, callus and cutis forming tissues as well as tissues with reduced anatomical wound-reactions are compared. The protein content was enhanced in all wounded tissues. The rise in protein content of periderm-forming cells is twice that of the other tissues. In spite of different anatomical reactions the four tissues show alterations after disc-gel-electrophoresis: Two new protein bands appear additionally in the pattern of all tissues as compared with the intact tuber. In woundhealing material there is also a dedifferentiation of the persistent patterns and, moreover, a higher background staining on the gels. The pattern of malate dehydrogenase isoenzyme shows no change after wounding whereas peroxidase isoenzyme pattern is altered. In cutis forming cells two additional isoenzymes appear as compared with the pattern of intact tissue which shows 11 bands of peroxidase activity. The other three tissues are characterized by three additional isoenzymes. The present results are discussed with regard to different aspects of woundhealing.