Aminoacyl-tRNAs are substrates for translation and are pivotal in
determining how the genetic code is interpreted as amino acids. The function of
aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis is to precisely match amino ...acids with tRNAs
containing the corresponding anticodon. This is primarily achieved by the
direct attachment of an amino acid to the corresponding tRNA by an
aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase, although intrinsic proofreading and extrinsic
editing are also essential in several cases. Recent studies of aminoacyl-tRNA
synthesis, mainly prompted by the advent of whole genome sequencing and the
availability of a vast body of structural data, have led to an expanded and
more detailed picture of how aminoacyl-tRNAs are synthesized. This article
reviews current knowledge of the biochemical, structural, and evolutionary
facets of aminoacyl-tRNA synthesis.
Spelt (Triticum aestivum ssp. spelta) is part of the so-called ancient wheats. These types of wheats are experiencing a revival as they have been proposed to be healthier than conventional wheat. ...However, the given healthier condition of spelt is not substantiated by solid scientific evidence. The objective of this study was to analyze the genetic variability for several grain components, related to nutritional quality (arabinoxylans, micronutrients, phytic acid) in a set of spelt and common wheat genotypes to determinate if spelt is potentially healthier than common wheat. The results obtained indicated that within the compared species, there is a significant variation in the nutritional compounds, and it is not truthful and accurate to state that one species is healthier than the other. Within both groups, genotypes showing outstanding values for some traits were detected, which could be used in breeding programs to develop new wheat cultivars with good agronomic performance and nutritional quality.
Ricotta fresca cheese is susceptible to secondary contamination and is able to support the growth of pathogens or spoilage psychotrophic bacteria during storage. The aim of the present study was to ...evaluate which among three commercial biopreservatives was suitable to be used to control the growth of spoilage microorganisms in sheep's milk MAP ricotta fresca cheese. 144 Ricotta fresca cheese samples were inoculated either with the bioprotective culture Lyofast FPR 2 (including Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus plantarum e Lactobacillus rhamnosus) or Lyofast CNBAL (Carnobacterium spp) or the fermentate MicroGARD 430. Not inoculated control and experimental ricotta were MAP packed (30% CO2 and 70% N2) and stored at 4 °C. Triplicate samples were analyzed after 5 h and 7, 14 and 21 days after inoculation for total bacterial count, mesophilic lactic acid bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp, Listeria monocytogenes, moulds and yeasts. Among the tested biopreservatives only Carnobacterium spp was able to control Pseudomonas spp and Enterobacteriaceae. The maximum reduction in the concentration of Pseudomonas spp and Enterobacteriaceae was respectively 1.93 and 2.66 log10 cfu/g, observed 14 days after production. Therefore, Carnobacterium spp was selected as the culture of choice to conduct a challenge study against Pseudomonas spp.
•Ricotta fresca support psychotrophic microorganism growth during refrigerated storage.•3 Commercial biopreservatives were tested against spoilage bacteria in ricotta fresca.•Cultures Lyofast FPR 2, Lyofast CNBAL and the fermentate FERM 430D were tested.•Inoculation of Carnobacterium spp protective culture reduced Pseudomonas spp growth.
Persistence of a fetal thickened nuchal translucency (NT), one of the most sensitive and specific individual markers of fetal disorders, is strongly correlated with the possibility of a genetic ...syndrome, congenital infections, or other malformations. Thickened NT can also be found in normal pregnancies. Several of its pathophysiological aspects still remain unexplained. Metabolomics could offer a fresh opportunity to explore maternal–foetal metabolism in an effort to explain its physiological and pathological mechanisms. For this prospective case-control pilot study, thirty-nine samples of amniotic fluids were collected, divisible into 12 euploid foetuses with an enlarged nuchal translucency (>NT) and 27 controls (C). Samples were analyzed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Multivariate and univariate statistical analyses were performed to find a specific metabolic pattern of >NT class. The correlation between the metabolic profile and clinical parameters was evaluated (NT showed an R2 = 0.75, foetal crown-rump length showed R2 = 0.65, pregnancy associated plasma protein-A showed R2 = 0.60). Nine metabolites significantly differing between >NT foetuses and C were detected: 2-hydroxybutyric acid, 3-hydroxybutyric, 1,5 Anydro-Sorbitol, cholesterol, erythronic acid, fructose, malic acid, threitol, and threonine, which were linked to altered pathways involved in altered energetic pathways. Through the metabolomics approach, it was possible to identify a specific metabolic fingerprint of the fetuses with >NT.
Kernel texture (grain hardness) is a key trait that influences the milling and baking quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Herein, hard red spring wheat varieties Butte86 and ND2603, possessing ...the Pina-D1b and Pinb-D1b alleles, respectively, were used as parents in the development of 132 recombinant inbred lines (RIL). The RIL population and its parents were phenotyped for single kernel characterization system (SKCS) and NIR kernel texture, grain protein content, test weight, SKCS weight, and SKCS diameter, and genotyped using next-generation genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) technology, SSR markers and allele-specific sequence tagged site markers. Linkage maps for the entire RIL population and for two subsets of RILs, grouped on the basis of the Puroindoline-D1 alleles, were developed using a total of 695 markers. Multiple QTL mapping identified 10 QTLs for SKCS and NIR kernel texture with significant loci on 1AS, 1BS, 1BL, 5AL, 5BL, 6BL and 7BS. Of these, the 1BS QTL was associated with the Glu-B3 amplicon 691, and one of the 1BL QTL with Glu-B1. All QTL conferred an additive effect of ∼3–8 hardness units, a difference in kernel texture similar to or greater than the difference between the Pina-D1b and Pinb-D1b hardness mutations.
•QTL analyses were conducted for hard red spring wheat RILs with different Puroindoline alleles.•A major QTL for kernel texture (hardness) was detected at the LMW Glu-B3 locus.•The Glu-B3 allele increased kernel hardness by ∼3–8 SKCS and NIR hardness units.
Translation requires the specific attachment of amino acids to tRNAs by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) and the subsequent delivery of aminoacyl-tRNAs to the ribosome by elongation factor 1 alpha ...(EF-1α). Interactions between EF-1α and various aaRSs have been described in eukaryotes, but the role of these complexes remains unclear. To investigate possible interactions between EF-1α and other cellular components, a yeast two-hybrid screen was performed for the archaeon Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus. EF-1α was found to form a stable complex with leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LeuRS; KD = 0.7 μM). Complex formation had little effect on EF-1α activity, but increased the kcat for Leu-tRNALeu synthesis ∼8-fold. In addition, EF-1α co-purified with the archaeal multi-synthetase complex (MSC) comprised of LeuRS, LysRS and ProRS, suggesting the existence of a larger aaRS:EF-1α complex in archaea. These interactions between EF-1α and the archaeal MSC contribute to translational fidelity both by enhancing the aminoacylation efficiencies of the three aaRSs in the complex and by coupling two stages of translation: aminoacylation of cognate tRNAs and their subsequent channeling to the ribosome.
Abstract To assess sex- and age-related characteristics in standardized facial movements, 40 healthy adults (20 men, 20 women; aged 20–50 years) performed seven standardized facial movements (maximum ...smile; free smile; “surprise” with closed mouth; “surprise” with open mouth; eye closure; right- and left-side eye closures). The three-dimensional coordinates of 21 soft tissue facial landmarks were recorded by a motion analyser, their movements computed, and asymmetry indices calculated. Within each movement, total facial mobility was independent from sex and age (analysis of variance, p > 0.05). Asymmetry indices of the eyes and mouth were similar in both sexes ( p > 0.05). Age significantly influenced eye and mouth asymmetries of the right-side eye closure, and eye asymmetry of the surprise movement. On average, the asymmetry indices of the symmetric movements were always lower than 8%, and most did not deviate from the expected value of 0 (Student's t ). Larger asymmetries were found for the asymmetric eye closures (eyes, up to 50%, p < 0.05; mouth, up to 30%, p < 0.05 only in the 20–30-year-old subjects). In conclusion, sex and age had a limited influence on total facial motion and asymmetry in normal adult men and women.
Abstract Facial nerve paralysis is one of several possible complications following conservative parotidectomy. To assess three-dimensional facial movements non-invasively in patients with unilateral ...facial palsy following parotidectomy for benign tumours, the three-dimensional coordinates of 21 soft-tissue facial landmarks were recorded in 32 patients (21 HB I, 5 HB II, 6 HB III-IV; 3 months post-surgery follow-up), and 40 control subjects, during the performance of facial movements (smile, ‘surprise’, eye closure, single eye closure). For all symmetric animations, control subjects had larger total mobility than patients; mobility progressively decreased in patients with larger clinical grades. For asymmetric eye closures, HB I patients and control subjects had similar total movements, while HB II patients had smaller movements, especially for the paretic side eye closure; smaller total movements were found in HB III-IV patients. The method allowed the quantitative detection of alterations in facial movements. Significant differences between patients and control subjects in the magnitude and asymmetry of movements were found.
This paper describes a novel combined approach to targeting GBM with multiple RNA-based therapeutics. Overall, the results demonstrate the good potential of a smart safe and clinically applicable ...combined regimen for the treatment of glioblastoma, opening up a new avenue in the treatment of this aggressive disease
Abstract There is substantial evidence that prenatal exposure to adverse environmental conditions might lead to the psychiatric disorders that can appear in adolescence or in adulthood; vulnerability ...to drug addiction may increase as well. It is currently accepted that the alteration of catecholamine transmission in the prefrontal cortex plays a prominent role in the etiology of psychiatric disorders. We assessed basal and stimulated dopamine and noradrenaline extracellular concentration in the medial prefrontal cortex by means of microdialysis in awake male adolescent and young adult offspring of rats exposed to restraint stress in the last week of pregnancy. Catecholamine stimulation was obtained by amphetamine or nicotine. We observed that prenatal stress (PNS) did not change dopamine but decreased noradrenaline basal output in both adolescents and adults. Moreover, it decreased amphetamine stimulated dopamine output and increased amphetamine stimulated noradrenaline output. PNS decreased nicotine stimulated noradrenaline (but not dopamine output) in adults, though not in adolescents. These data show that PNS stress modifies prefrontal cortex catecholamine transmission in a complex and age dependent manner. Our results support the view that prenatal stress may be a contributing factor for the development of psychiatric disorders and that its effect may augment drug addiction vulnerability.
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