Search results for "muta"
showing 10 items of 6895 documents
p24 Family Proteins Are Involved in Transport to the Plasma Membrane of GPI-Anchored Proteins in Plants
2020
p24 proteins are a family of type-I membrane proteins that cycle between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi apparatus via Coat Protein I (COPI)- and COPII-coated vesicles. These proteins have been proposed to function as cargo receptors, but the identity of putative cargos in plants is still elusive. We previously generated an Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) quadruple loss-of-function mutant affecting p24 genes from the δ-1 subclass of the p24 delta subfamily (p24δ3δ4δ5δ6 mutant). This mutant also had reduced protein levels of other p24 family proteins and was found to be sensitive to salt stress. Here, we used this mutant to test the possible involvement of p24 proteins in the…
Element-specific behaviour and sediment properties modulate transfer and bioaccumulation of trace elements in a highly-contaminated area (Augusta Bay…
2017
Abstract High sediment contamination in the coastal area of Priolo Bay, adjacent to the highly-polluted Augusta Harbour, poses serious risks for the benthic communities inhabiting the area. Nevertheless, the transfer of trace elements and consequent bioaccumulation in the biota is an overlooked issue. This study aimed to assess the transfer and bioaccumulation patterns of As, Cd, Ni and Hg to the dominant macroalgae and benthic invertebrates of Priolo Bay. Results revealed different patterns among trace elements (TEs), not driven by sediment contamination but rather by element-specific behaviour coupled with sediment physicochemical properties. Specifically, As accumulated in macroalgae but…
The response of cultured meiofaunal and benthic foraminiferal communities to lead exposure: Results from mesocosm experiments
2018
Lead (Pb) has been regarded as a very toxic element that poses a serious threat to biota. A mesocosm experiment is performed to assess the influence of Pb on meiofaunal (metazoans within 45-500 µm) and benthic foraminiferal (protozoans) communities. To this end, sediments bearing such communities are incubated in mesocosms, exposed to different levels of Pb in seawater, and monitored for up to eight weeks. Concentrations of Pb below 1 ppm in water do not promote a significant increase of this metal in sediments. Relatively high concentrations of Pb seem to affect meiofaunal and benthic foraminiferal communities by reducing their richness or diversity, and the abundance of the most sensitive…
Contamination of fresh and dried tomato by Alternaria toxins in southern Italy.
2019
In the present investigation, fresh and dried tomato samples from markets and packinghouses located in Apulia region (southern Italy) were analysed for Alternaria toxins. All samples proved to be contaminated by tenuazonic acid (TeA); in particular, dried tomatoes were contaminated in the range 425-81,592 µg/kg, while fresh tomatoes were in the range 11-4560 µg/kg. The second most abundant toxin was alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), followed by tentoxin (TEN) and alternariol (AOH). Overall dried tomatoes were more contaminated than fresh ones, although this seemed not directly related to the presence of sodium chloride, utilized in the drying process. Five representative Alternaria isolat…
Improvement of Raw Milk Cheese Hygiene through the Selection of Starter and Non-Starter Lactic Acid Bacteria: The Successful Case of PDO Pecorino Sic…
2021
This review article focuses on the technological aspects and microbiological critical points of pressed-cooked cheeses processed from raw ewe’s milk without the inoculation of starter cultures, in particular “Pecorino” cheese typology produced in Italy. After showing the composition of the biofilms adhering to the surface of the traditional dairy equipment (mainly wooden vat used to collect milk) and the microbiological characteristics of PDO Pecorino Siciliano cheese manufactured throughout Sicily, this cheese is taken as a case study to develop a strategy to improve its hygienic and safety characteristics. Basically, the natural lactic acid bacterial populations of fresh and ripened chees…
Dynamic Mathematical Modelling of the Removal of Hydrophilic VOCs by Biotrickling Filters
2015
A mathematical model for the simulation of the removal of hydrophilic compounds using biotrickling filtration was developed. The model takes into account that biotrickling filters operate by using an intermittent spraying pattern. During spraying periods, a mobile liquid phase was considered, while during non-spraying periods, a stagnant liquid phase was considered. The model was calibrated and validated with data from laboratory- and industrial-scale biotrickling filters. The laboratory experiments exhibited peaks of pollutants in the outlet of the biotrickling filter during spraying periods, while during non-spraying periods, near complete removal of the pollutant was achieved. The gaseou…
The asexual enchytraeid worm Cognettia sphagnetorum (Oligochaeta) has increased Cu resistance in polluted soil
2001
We studied Cu resistance in the asexual (reproduction through fragmentation) enchytraeid worms (Cognettia sphagnetorum, Oligochaeta) originating from two sites: one uncontaminated, and another contaminated by heavy metals. Adult worms were smaller and population density was lower at the polluted site. However, adults from the contaminated site had better survival in Cu-contaminated soil, but lower survival as juveniles (fragments). As we do not know the genetic basis of Cu resistance of the worms, it may have been reached by acclimatization via induced Cu regulation. Because fragmentation is the only mode of reproduction, all phenotypic properties (including resistance) of a parental genera…
Deletion of GLX3 in Candida albicans affects temperature tolerance, biofilm formation and virulence.
2018
Candida albicans is a predominant cause of fungal infections in mucosal tissues as well as life-threatening bloodstream infections in immunocompromised patients. Within the human body, C. albicans is mostly embedded in biofilms, which provides increased resistance to antifungal drugs. The glyoxalase Glx3 is an abundant proteomic component of the biofilm extracellular matrix. Here, we document phenotypic studies of a glx3Δ null mutant concerning its role in biofilm formation, filamentation, antifungal drug resistance, cell wall integrity and virulence. First, consistent with its function as glyoxalase, the glx3 null mutant showed impaired growth on media containing glycerol as the carbon sou…
Tobacco cells contain a protein, immunologically related to the neutrophil small G protein Rac2 and involved in elicitor-induced oxidative burst.
1997
Abstract Suspension-cultured cells of Nicotiana tabacum generated active oxygen species (AOS) when they were treated with the proteinaceous elicitor, cryptogein. This response was blocked by diphenylene iodonium, an inhibitor of the neutrophil NADPH oxidase. When microsomal extracts of tobacco cells were probed with an antibody directed against the human small G protein Rac2, two immunoreactive proteins were detected at 18.5 and 20.5 kDa. The same experiment performed with cytosolic extracts of tobacco cells led to the observation of a strong immunoreactive protein at 21.5 kDa only in the cryptogein-treated cells. The appearance of this cytosolic protein was related to the production of AOS…
Can Indirect Herbicide Exposure Modify the Response of the Colorado Potato Beetle to an Organophosphate Insecticide?
2018
AbstractOrganisms live in complex multivariate environments. In agroecosystems, this complexity is often human-induced as pest individuals can be exposed to many xenobiotics simultaneously. Predicting the effects of multiple stressors can be problematic, as two or more stressors can have interactive effects. Our objective was to investigate whether indirect glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) exposure of the host plant has interactive effects in combination with an insecticide (azinphos-methyl) on an invasive pest Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say). We tested the effects of GBH and insecticide on the survival, insecticide target genes expression (acetylcholinesterase genes)…