Evaluation of glycoalkaloids in tubers of genetically modified virus Y-resistant potato plants (var. Désirée) by non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (NACE–ESI–MS)

The glycoalkaloid content of transgenic potatoes was evaluated by an optimised method based on non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis coupled on-line with electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (NACE-ESI-MS). The potato material consisted of tubers from a conventional cv. Désirée and from three lines of modified plants resistant, intermediate and susceptible to infection by potato virus Y (PVY). The main glycoalkaloids were confirmed to be alpha-solanine and alpha-chaconine with parent ion masses m/z 852 and 868, respectively. In addition, an unknown minor peak at m/z 850.6 was found both in conventional (control) and susceptible line potato tubers. Such a compound exhibited an MS(2) spectrum with fragments ions at 704 and 396 m/z derived by loss of two ions, i.e. m/z 146 and 307, most likely corresponding to a rhamnose unit and a [glucose-(rhamnose)(2)] moiety, respectively. Up to 30-80-fold higher concentrations of total glycoalkaloids were found in the peel compared to flesh samples of all tubers examined. TGA content was nearly doubled in peel samples of resistant compared to control lines, and these levels were lower than the limit recommended for food safety, i.e. 20-60 mg of TGA per 100 g fresh weight. Moreover, it was established that tubers produced by virus-resistant clones are substantially equivalent in glycoalkaloid contents to those produced by conventional potato varieties.     

Targeting apoptosis via chemical design: inhibition of bid-induced cell death by small organic molecules

Bid is a key member of the Bcl-2 family proteins involved in the control of the apoptotic cascade in cells, leading to cell death. Uncontrolled cell death is associated with several human pathologies, such as neurodegenerative diseases and ischemic injuries. Therefore, Bid represents a potential yet unexplored and challenging target for strategies aimed at the development of therapeutic agents. Here we show that a multidisciplinary NMR-based approach that we named SAR by ILOEs (structure activity relationships by interligand nuclear Overhauser effect) allowed us to rationally design a series of 4-phenylsulfanyl-phenylamine derivatives that are capable of occupying a deep hydrophobic crevice on the surface of Bid. These compounds represent the first antiapoptotic small molecules targeting a Bcl-2 protein as shown by their ability to inhibit tBid-induced SMAC release, caspase-3 activation, and cell death.     

Crystal structures and magnetic properties of two low-dimensional materials constructed from [Mn(III)(salen)H2O]+ and [M(CN)8](3-/4-) (M = Mo or W) precursors

The syntheses, X-ray structures, and magnetic behaviors of two new cyano-bridged assemblies, the molecular [Mn(III)(salen)H2O]3[W(V)(CN)8].H2O (1) and one-dimensional [Mn(salen)(H2O)2]2[[Mn(salen)(H2O)][Mn(salen)]2[Mo(CN)(8)]].0.5ClO4.0.5OH.4.5H2O (2), are presented. Compound 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, has space group P2(1)/c, and has unit cell constants a = 13.7210(2) A, b = 20.6840(4) A, c = 20.6370(2) A, and Z = 4. Compound 2 crystallizes in the triclinic system, has space group P, and has unit cell dimensions a = 18.428(4) A, b = 18.521(3) A, c = 18.567(4) A, and Z = 2. The structure of 1 consists of the asymmetric V-shaped Mn-NC-W-NC-Mn-O(phenolate)-Mn molecules, where W(V) coordinates with [Mn(salen)H2O] and singly phenolate-bridged [Mn(salen)H2O]2 moieties through the neighboring cyano bridges. The [W(V)(CN)8]3- ion displays distorted square-antiprism geometry. The structure of 2 consists of the cyano-bridged [Mn3(III)Mo(IV)]n- repeating units linked by double phenolate bridges into one-dimensional zigzag chains. The Mn(III) centers are bound to Mo(IV) of square-antiprism geometry through the neighboring cyano bridges. The magnetic studies of 1 reveal the antiferromagnetic intramolecular interactions through the CN and phenolate bridges and the relatively weak intermolecular interactions. Compound 1 becomes antiferromagnetically ordered below TN = 4.6 K. The presence of the magnetic anisotropy is documented with the MH measurements carried out for both polycrystalline and single-crystal samples. At T = 1.9 K, the spin-flop transition is observed in the field of 18 kOe applied parallel to the bc plane, which is the easy plane of magnetization. Field dependence of magnetization of 1 shows field-induced metamagnetic behavior from the antiferromagnetic ground state of ST = 3/2 to the state of ST = 5/2. The magnetic properties of 2 indicate a weak antiferromagnetic interaction between Mn(III) centers in double-phenolate-bridged [Mn(III)(salen)]2 dinuclear subunits and a very weak ferromagnetic interaction between them through the diamagnetic [Mo(IV)(CN)8]4- spacer.     

Structural basis for recognition of bacterial cell wall teichoic acid by pseudo-symmetric SH3b-like repeats of a viral peptidoglycan hydrolase

Endolysins are bacteriophage-encoded peptidoglycan hydrolases targeting the cell wall of host bacteria via their cell wall-binding domains (CBDs). The molecular basis for selective recognition of surface carbohydrate ligands by CBDs remains elusive. Here, we describe, in atomic detail, the interaction between the Listeria phage endolysin domain CBD500 and its cell wall teichoic acid (WTA) ligands. We show that 3′O-acetylated GlcNAc residues integrated into the WTA polymer chain are the key epitope recognized by a CBD binding cavity located at the interface of tandem copies of beta-barrel, pseudo-symmetric SH3b-like repeats. This cavity consists of multiple aromatic residues making extensive interactions with two GlcNAc acetyl groups via hydrogen bonds and van der Waals contacts, while permitting the docking of the diastereomorphic ligands. Our multidisciplinary approach tackled an extremely challenging protein–glycopolymer complex and delineated a previously unknown recognition mechanism by which a phage endolysin specifically recognizes and targets WTA, suggesting an adaptable model for regulation of endolysin specificity.

Combining genetic, biochemical and computational approaches, we elucidated the molecular mechanisms underlying the recognition of Listeria wall teichoic acid by bacteriophage-encoded SH3b repeats.     

Surface enhanced Raman scattering investigation of the halide anion effect on the adsorption of 1,2,3-triazole on silver and gold colloidal nanoparticles

The halide anion effect on the adsorption of 1,2,3-triazole on Ag and Au colloidal nanoparticles has been investigated by means of surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. To interpret the SERS spectra, the vibrational spectra of 1,2,3-triazole were assigned with the help of density functional theoretical (DFT) calculations of the two tautomers of 1,2,3-triazole, both free and bound to Ag and Au adatoms. Upon addition of halide anions, both tautomers interact with the Ag surface through one nitrogen atom. Analogous behavior is observed in the case of basified Au colloids, whereas at the usual pH of these hydrosols (approximately 6) the adsorption of 1,2,3-triazole is the same of that observed in halide-free colloids.     

Coordination of solvent molecules to VO(acac)<Subscript>2</Subscript> complexes in solution studied by hyperfine sublevel correlation spectroscopy and pulsed electron nuclear double resonance

Interactions and binding sites of the solvent molecules chloroform and ethanol to bis(acetylacetonate)oxovanadium(IV) (VO(acac)₂) complexes in (frozen) solutions have been investigated by pulsed electron nuclear double resonance, sum peak electron spin echo envelope modulation and hyperfine sublevel correlation spectroscopy. The experimental proton hyperfine coupling data of coordinating solvent molecules have been interpreted using quantum chemical calculations (density functional theory). Experimental and computed hyperfine couplings indicate that ethanol coordinates to vanadium in the equatorial plane of VO(acac)₂ and chloroform interacts via hydrogen bonding to oxygens of the acac ligands.     

Mechanical properties decay and morphological behaviour of biodegradable films for agricultural mulching in real scale experiment

The use of plastic materials in agriculture causes the serious drawback of huge quantities of waste. The introduction of biodegradable materials, which can be disposed directly into the soil, can be one possible solution to this problem. Biodegradable materials are actually innovative materials; therefore, their physical properties must be evaluated in relation to their functionality during the use in field. In the present research results of experimental tests carried out on biodegradable films used in strawberries protected cultivation are presented. The decay of some relevant physical parameters of biodegradable films during the cultivation period was monitored by laboratory tests (SEM analysis, mechanical tensile tests and infrared reflectance spectroscopy). Infrared spectroscopy clearly indicated that the mechanical degradation starts from the starch component of the material. Tensile tests showed that the value of elongation at break of biodegradable materials decreased in some cases by 300% after 10 days of field application.     

New lower semicontinuity results for polyconvex integrals

Summary We study integral functionals of the formF(u, )= f(u)dx, defined foru C¹(;R ^k), R ⁿ . The functionf is assumed to be polyconvex and to satisfy the inequalityf(A) c₀¦(A)¦ for a suitable constant c₀ > 0, where (A) is then-vector whose components are the determinants of all minors of thek×n matrixA. We prove thatF is lower semicontinuous onC ¹(;R ^k) with respect to the strong topology ofL ¹(;R ^k). Then we consider the relaxed functional , defined as the greatest lower semicontinuous functional onL ¹(;R ^k ) which is less than or equal toF on C¹(;R ^k). For everyu BV(;R ^k) we prove that (u,) f(u)dx+c₀¦D^su¦(), whereDu=u dx+D^su is the Lebesgue decomposition of the Radon measureDu. Moreover, under suitable growth conditions onf, we show that (u,)= f(u)dx for everyu W^1,p(;R ^k), withp min{n,k}. We prove also that the functional (u, ) can not be represented by an inte- gral for an arbitrary functionu BV_loc(R ⁿ;R ^k). In fact, two examples show that, in general, the set function (u, ) is not subadditive whenu BV_loc(R ⁿ;R ^k), even ifu W _loc ^1,p (R ⁿ;R ^k) for everyp < min{n,k}. Finally, we examine in detail the properties of the functionsu BV(;R ^k) such that (u, )= f(u)dx, particularly in the model casef(A)=¦(A)¦.