Search results for "Chitin"
showing 10 items of 69 documents
Effect of Chitin Whiskers on the Molecular Dynamics of Carrageenan-Based Nanocomposites
2019
[EN] Films of carrageenan (KC) and glycerol (g) with different contents of chitin nanowhiskers (CHW) were prepared by a solution casting process. The molecular dynamics of pure carrageenan (KC), carrageenan/glycerol (KCg) and KCg with different quantities of CHWs as a filler was studied using dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. The analysis of the CHW effect on the molecular mobility at the glass transition, T-g, indicates that non-attractive intermolecular interactions between KCg and CHW occur. The fragility index increased upon CHW incorporation, due to a reduction in the polymer chains mobility produced by the CHW confinement of the KCg network. The apparent activation energy associated…
Green Nanocomposites-Based on PLA and Natural Organic Fillers
2017
Over the past decades, many efforts have been carried out for the development of novel green nanocomposites based on biopolymers and natural organic nanofillers. Indeed, these nanocomposites could replace some oil-derived polymers and thus helping to overcome environmental problems. In this regard, poly (lactic acid) (PLA) as matrix and polysaccharide nanocrystals (cellulose, chitin, and starch) as bio-based nanoreinforcements are the most promising components to obtain high-performance green nanocomposites. This chapter covers the basic features of PLA and polysaccharide nanocrystals derived from biomass-based raw materials such as cellulose, chitin, and starch. In particular, this chapter…
Chitin Deacetylase, a Novel Target for the Design of Agricultural Fungicides
2021
Fungicide resistance is a serious problem for agriculture. This is particularly apparent in the case of powdery mildew fungi. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new agrochemicals. Chitin is a well-known elicitor of plant immunity, and fungal pathogens have evolved strategies to overcome its detection. Among these strategies, chitin deacetylase (CDA) is responsible for modifying immunogenic chitooligomers and hydrolysing the acetamido group in the N-acetylglucosamine units to avoid recognition. In this work, we tested the hypothesis that CDA can be an appropriate target for antifungals using the cucurbit powdery mildew pathogen Podosphaera xanthii. According to our hypothesis, RNA…
Stability of chitin synthetase in cell-free preparations of a wild-type strain and a 'slime' variant of Neurospora crassa.
1991
Chitin synthetase activity in cell-free preparations from a wild-type strain and a 'slime' variant of Neurospora crassa was monitored over many days in samples stored at 0 degrees C. Total activity in whole-cell-free extracts and low-speed supernatants from both organisms was very unstable, losing more than 90% of the initial activity on storage at 0 degrees C for 96 h. Chitin synthetase detection was not masked by chitinase activity present in the preparations. Gel-filtration chromatography of these preparations increased the stability of the activity from the 'slime' variant, whereas removal of particulate structures by high-speed centrifugation stabilized the chitin synthetase activity i…
Yarrowia lipolytica cell wall architecture: interaction of Ywp1, a mycelial protein, with other wall components and the effect of its depletion
1999
Linkages of Ywp1 to other components of the Yarrowia lipolytica mycelial cell wall were studied by extraction with beta-mercaptoethanol and zymolyase (a beta-glucanase complex) and by the use of rabbit polyclonal antibody preparation raised against Ywp1. Ywp1 complexed with an N-glycosylated cell wall protein(s) to form supramolecular complexes through disulphide bridges (extractable with beta-mercaptoethanol) or bonded to beta-1,3-glucan (extractable with zymolyase). The lack of a specific morphological phenotype when YWP1 was knocked out by gene disruption might indicate that other proteins present in the cell wall of Y. lipolytica compensated for its loss. In this mutant, the electrophor…
The use of trypsin to solubilize wall proteins from Candida albicans led to the identification of chitinase 2 as an enzyme covalently linked to the y…
2002
The use of trypsin to break proteins covalently linked to the yeast walls of Candida albicans released approx. 50% of the proteins, but also glucose and N-acetylglucosamine. Analysis by affinity chromatography indicated that glucose and/or N-acetylglucosamine formed part of the same supramolecular complexes with mannoproteins. These complexes would represent a new type of cell wall structuration in which beta-1,6 glucan and chitin are linked to proteins. An internal peptide from a 50-kDa protein released by trypsin was sequenced, showing 100% identity with chitinase 2 protein and 92% with chitinase 3. The electrophoretic mobility of the chitinase 2 protein was changed by treatment with Endo…
Evaluation of Triflumuron, a benzoylphenylurea derivative, onTenebrio molitorpupae (Col., Tenebrionidae): effects on cuticle
1996
Triflumuron (TFM), a benzoylphenylurea (BPU) derivative, exhibited insecticidal activity when injected to newly ecdysed pupae of Tenebrio molitor. Mortality occurs by defect in adult ecdysis. Treatment resulted in a significant increase in the duration of pupal stage and caused a reduction in both cuticle thickness and incorporation of ''C-labelled precursor into chitin compared to controls. Moreover, TFM reduced the amount of cuticle chitin without any significant effect on protein level. Thus, TFM acts by preventing the chitin biosynthesis confirming the primary mode of action of the BPU insecticides.
Mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell division cycle defective in cytokinesis. Biosynthesis of the cell wall and morphology
1982
The four temperature-sensitive mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the cell division cycle defective in cytokinesis (cdc, 3, 10, 11 and 12), have been analyzed with respect to the biosynthesis of the cell wall polymers. After 3 hours of incubation at the non-permissive temperature (37 degrees C) these strains stop growing. The synthesis of glucan, mannan and chitin (wall polymers) level off in a similar time, but glucan, mannan and chitin synthases remained active for at least 4 hours. If the mutants are analyzed by transmission and scanning electron microscopy different pictures emerge. Two of the mutants cdc 10 and cdc 12, after 3 hours of incubation at 37 degrees C present apparently …
Biological activity of flucycloxuron, a novel benzoylphenylurea derivative, onTenebrio molitor: comparison with diflubenzuron and triflumuron
1993
Flucycloxuron, a novel benzoylphenylurea (BPU) derivative, exhibited insecticidal activity when injected into newly ecdysed pupae ofTenebrio molitor. Mortality occurs because of defective adult ecdysis. Treatment caused a reduction in both cuticle thickness and incorporation of14C-labelled precursor into chitin, although it had no significant effect on the protein synthesis. The potencies of other BPU compounds as inhibitors of chitin biosynthesis have been examined and results showed that diflubenzuron was less effective than either flucycloxuron or triflumuron.
Localized versus systemic effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on defence responses to Phytophthora infection in tomato plants
2002
Development of biological control for plant diseases is accepted as a durable and environmentally friendly alternative for agrochemicals. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which form symbiotic associations with root systems of most agricultural, horticultural and hardwood crop species, have been suggested as widespread potential bioprotective agents. In the present study the ability of two AMF (Glomus mosseae and Glomus intraradices) to induce local or systemic resistance to Phytophthora parasitica in tomato roots have been compared using a split root experimental system. Glomus mosseae was effective in reducing disease symptoms produced by P. parasitica infection, and evidence points to …