Photolytic decolorization of Rose Bengal by UV/H(2)O(2) and data optimization using response surface method

Rose Bengal (C.I. name is Acid Red 94) was irradiated with UV light in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The photoinduced decolorization of the dye was monitored spectrophotometrically. The apparent rate of decolorization was calculated from the observed absorption data and was found to be pseudo first order. A systematic study of the effect of dye concentration and H(2)O(2) concentration on the kinetics of dye decolorization was also carried out. Dye decolorization increased with increasing H(2)O(2) concentration and decreasing dye concentration. The maximum dye decolorization was determined as 90% with 0.005 mM dye at optimum 0.042 M H(2)O(2) and pH 6.6. Additionally, the effect on decolorization of this dye in the presence of some additives (ions) was also investigated. It was seen that sulphite caused a maximum effect on % decolorization of the dye solution. A plausible explanation involving the probable radical initiated mechanism was given to explain the dye decolorization. The experimental data was also optimized using the response surface methodology (RSM). According to ANOVA results, the proposed model can be used to navigate the design space. It was found that the response of Rose Bengal degradation is very sensitive to the independent factors of dye concentration, H(2)O(2) concentration, pH and reaction time. The proposed model for D-optimal design fitted very well with the experimental data with R(2) and R(adj)(2) correlation coefficients of 0.85 and 0.80, respectively.

Comparative analysis of polyphenolic profiles and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of tunisian pome fruit pulp and peel aqueous acetone extracts

Pome trees, apple, pear, and quince, are classified into the subfamily Pomoideae, belonging to the Rosaceae family. Their autumnal fruits are consumed worldwide in different forms, that is, fresh or transformed into jams, jelly, juices, etc. Their well-established beneficial properties to human health were found mainly related to their phenolic content. Pulp and peel aqueous acetone extracts obtained from Tunisian fruits at commercial maturity were comparatively evaluated for their phenolic profiles and antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials. The phenolic compounds present in the extracts were identified and quantified using RP-HPLC-DAD and ESI-MS techniques. Significant differences in the chromatographic profiles among these fruits, as well as between pulp and peel extracts of each fruit, were observed. Quince, followed by 'Red Delicious', peel extracts showed the highest phenolic content (160.33 and 110.90 mg/100 g of fresh weight). The stronger inhibitory effect on DPPH radicals corresponded to those obtained from peel materials. A comparative analysis of the antimicrobial potential against a range of microorganism strains was also carried out. Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus cereus were the most sensitive to the active extracts. Among the examined phenolic extracts, 'Red Delicious' and quince peels showed the highest effects for inhibiting bacteria growth. Minimum inhibitory and bactericide concentrations ranged from 10(2) to 10(4) microg of polyphenol/mL. Red skin apple and quince peels could be of great interest as important antioxidant and antimicrobial polyphenol sources.

Antimicrobial activity of Tunisian quince (Cydonia oblonga Miller) pulp and peel polyphenolic extracts

Quince (Cydonia oblonga Miller) fruit aqueous acetone extracts were evaluated. High-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry were used for the identification and quantification of the phenolic compounds. The total phenolic content of the pulp and peel parts ranged from 37 to 47 and 105 to 157 mg/100 g of fresh weight, respectively. Chlorogenic acid (5-O-caffeoylquinic acid) was the most abundant phenolic compound in the pulp (37%), whereas rutin (quercetin 3-O-rutinoside) was the main one in the peel (36%). The radical scavenging potential of the extracts was determined and compared with that of synthetic antioxidants. The stronger properties corresponded to those obtained from peel material with a 70-80% inhibitory effect on DPPH radicals. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts against different microorganism strains was also investigated. Quince peel extract was the most active for inhibiting bacteria growth with minimum inhibitory and bactericide concentrations in the range of 102-5 x 103 microg polyphenol/mL. It seems that chlorogenic acid acts in synergism with other components of the extracts to exhibit their total antimicrobial activities.

β-Galactosidase Catalyzed Selective Galactosylation of Aromatic Compounds

A new approach to galacto-oligosaccharides and galacto-conjugates synthesis performed by the beta-galactosidase from Kluyveromyces lactis is reported. The enzymatic galactosylation of eight kinds of adsorbed aromatic primary alcohols, in particular the two drugs guaifenesin and chlorphenesin, gave the corresponding beta-D-galacto-pyranosides in yields ranging between approximately 10% and 96%. For the first time, we have showed that the adsorption of acceptor substrates onto solid supports such as silica gel influences the yield and the selectivity of galacto-conjugates synthesis. In particular, we observed that adsorption of acceptor favored the synthesis of digalactosylated compounds.

Purification and Characterization of Two Low Molecular Weight Endoglucanases Produced by Penicillium occitanis Mutant Pol 6

Two endoglucanases (EGs), EG A and EG B, were purified to homogeneity from Penicillium occitanis mutant Pol 6 culture medium. The molecular weights of EG A and EG B were 31,000 and 28,000 kDa, respectively. The pI was about 3 for EG A and 7.5 for EG B. Optimal activity was obtained at pH 3.5 for both endoglucanases. Optimal temperature for enzyme activity was 60 degrees C for EG A and 50 degrees C for EG B. EG A was thermostable at 60 degrees C and remained active after 1 h at 70 degrees C. EGs hydrolyzed carboxymethylcellulose, phosphoric acid swollen cellulose, and beta-glucan efficiently, whereas microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel) and laminarin were poorly hydrolyzed. Only EG B showed xylanase activity. Furthermore, these EGs were insensitive to the action of glucose and cellobiose but were inhibited by the divalent cations Hg2+, Co2+, and Mn2+.

Comparison of two β-glucosidases for the enzymatic synthesis of β-(1-6)-β-(1-3)-gluco-oligosaccharides

A domain of epiglucan was synthesized by beta-glucosidases. Two beta-glucosidases, an extracellular beta-glucosidase derived from Sclerotinia sclerotiorum grown on xylose, and a commercial lyophilized preparation of beta-glucosidase from Aspergillus niger, were used to synthesize gluco-oligosaccharides from cellobiose and, specially, beta-(1-6) branched beta-(1-3) gluco-oligosaccharides, corresponding to the structure of epiglucan. Gentiobiose, cellotriose, cellotetraose, beta-Glc-(1-3)-beta-Glc-(1-4)-Glc, beta-Glc-(1-6)-beta-Glc-(1-4)-Glc and beta-Glc-(1-6)-beta-Glc-(1-3)-Glc were synthesized from cellobiose by both enzymes. The latter compound was preferentially synthesized by the beta-glycosidase from Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Under the best conditions, only 7 g l(-1) of beta-Glc-(1-6)-beta-Glc-(1-3)-Glc was synthesized by the beta-glycosidase from Aspergillus niger compared to 20 g l(-1) synthesized with beta-glycosidase from Sclerotinia sclerotiorum.

Genetic analysis of early onset cerebellar ataxia with retained tendon reflexes in four Tunisian families

Spinocerebellar ataxias comprise a poorly understood group of inherited degenerative neurological diseases. Attempts to classify hereditary ataxias on the basis of the neurological features or specific clinical signs such as tendon reflex changes have proven to be unsatisfactory. Early onset cerebellar ataxia (EOCA) is generally inherited as an autosomal-recessive trait. Thus far, we do not have accurate answers to several questions about its classification. However, significant clinical heterogeneity observed in four Tunisian families with typical EOCA clinical features reinforces the hypothesis of genetic heterogeneity underlying this phenotype. We have demonstrated that three of the four families studied were not linked to Friedreich's ataxia (FA), vitamin E deficiency ataxia (AVED), and autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia (ADCA) loci. The fourth family showed homozygosity for a large pathological expansion of GAA repeat in all patients, the parents being heterozygous for this mutation. We have also noted, in the case of the family studied, that there was instability in the transmission of the mutation, along with a phenomenon of anticipation comparable to that observed in dominant triplet repeat diseases. EOCA is thus clinically indistinguishable from FA, yet genetically independent of all known candidate genes. Genetic mapping is required for research into the causal gene and an understanding of the disease's physiopathologic mechanisms.

Vitamin E deficiency ataxia associated with adenoma

Vitamin E is one of the most important lipid-soluble antioxidant nutrient. Severe vitamin E deficiency (VED) can have a profound effect on the central nervous system. VED causes ataxia and peripheral neuropathy that resembles Friedreich's ataxia. We report here a patient presenting this syndrome, but also a prolactin and FSH adenoma. Both the neurological syndromes and the adenoma regressed after treatment with alpha-tocopherol. Although, the presence of the prolactinoma in this patient may not be related to his vitamin E deficiency, alpha-tocopherol treatment seems to be beneficial and might usefully be tested in patients with hypophyseal secreting other forms of adenoma.

[Grapevine viruses in Tunisia]

Tunisian grapevine culture is affected by many viruses caused by some phytovirus belonging to nepovirus, closterovirus and trichovirus groups. The present work deal with the economically important viroses identified in tunisian grapevines. We present here the development methods to detect these viruses in propagating material. The important viruses biologically, biochemically, serologically and using molecular techniques, characterised are: GFLV, GLRaV3 and GVB. The genetic polymorphism analysis was also carried and tunisian isolates were compared to previously described ones in literature.

Homozygosity mapping of giant axonal neuropathy gene to chromosome 16q24.1

Giant axonal neuropathy (GAN) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder described as a symmetrical distal neuropathy, with peripheral axons dilated by accumulation of 10 nm neurofilaments (NF) and a severe course of the disease. The observation of kinky or curly hairs is not a constant finding. The GAN1 locus was localized by homozygosity mapping to chromosome 16 q24.1 in a 3 (4) cM interval flanked by the markers D16S3073 and D16S505 (D16S511) in three non-related Tunisian families, showing a genetic homogeneity in these families. Two point lod-score calculation between the linked haplotype and the disease locus was 14.2 at theta(max) = 0. The patients share a slow course of the disease. The differences in the course of the disease between Tunisian and non-Tunisian patients suggest a possible genetic heterogeneity, which is why the present linkage has been referred to as GAN1. The biochemical defect in GAN1 should help to understand the mechanisms involved in NF accumulations as in other neurological diseases (ALS, SMA).

The two DNA-binding domains of yeast transcription factor tau as observed by scanning transmission electron microscopy

Yeast transcription factor tau interacts with the intragenic promoter of tRNA genes, binding to both the A and B block elements. Affinity-purified tau factor and tau-tDNA complexes were examined by scanning transmission electron microscopy to analyze the structural features of free and DNA bound factor. The free factor appeared as two tightly associated globular domains of roughly similar size (10 nm in diameter) and mass (approximately 300 kd). A combination of these two domains results in a mass for the factor of 510-670 kd. When tau was allowed to interact with recombinant tRNA(3Leu) genes with variable A block-B block spacing, different structures were observed. With short genes, the two globular domains were not resolved and tau appeared as a large particle covering the A and B block region. On the other hand, with genes having a larger A-B distance (53 or 74 bp), mostly dumb-bell-shaped complexes were formed with individualized factor domains bound separately to the A and B blocks. A smaller proportion of the complexes appeared to consist of a large particle bound at only one site, essentially on the B block. Mapping of the binding domains in the DNA showed a good correlation with the respective positions of the A and B promoter elements. Factor binding did not induce a noticeable DNA bending, although with extended genes apparent DNA shortening and cases of DNA looping were observed. Upon cleavage of the tRNA(3Leu) gene between the A and B blocks after or prior to complex formation, the two factor domains remained attached to the same DNA fragment (mostly the B-DNA fragment). In addition, images of protein-linked, reconstituted full-length genes were also observed. These different conformational states of the tau-tDNA complexes probably reflect the dynamic aspect of the interaction of the factor with its DNA target.

Two polypeptide chains in yeast transcription factor tau interact with DNA

Yeast transcription factor tau interacts with the A and B blocks of the intragenic promoter of tRNA genes. The structure of tau was investigated by identifying the polypeptide chains specifically complexed to the tRNA3Glu gene. Highly purified factor, obtained by an improved purification procedure, contained several polypeptide chains, four of which (Mr = 145,000, 135,000, 100,000 and 65,000) comigrated with tau-DNA complex by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Antibodies raised against the 145- and 100-kDa components altered the migration of tau-DNA complexes in band shift assays and inhibited tRNA synthesis in a reconstituted transcription system. These components are immunologically unrelated proteins. By UV cross-linking to 32P-body-labeled tDNA followed by extensive DNase treatment, two polypeptides of the same size (145 and 100 kDa) were found to be radioactively labeled. Factor tau, therefore, appears to be a multisubunit DNA-binding protein with two distinct polypeptides contributing to DNA recognition. Limited proteolysis of tau generated a protease-resistant tau B (tau B) domain that binds solely to the B block. tau B-tDNA complexes were recognized by anti-145 IgG and contained a 120-kDa polypeptide that could originate from the 145-kDa component by proteolysis. These results strongly suggest that the 145-kDa polypeptide belongs to tau B and is responsible for B block binding.

Selective proteolysis defines two DNA binding domains in yeast transcription factor tau

Transcription of eukaryotic transfer RNA genes involves, as a primary event, the stable binding of a protein factor to the intragenic promoter. The internal control region is composed of two non-contiguous conserved sequence elements, the A and B blocks. These are variably spaced depending on the genes. tau, a large transcription factor purified from yeast cells, interacts with these two control elements as shown by DNase I footprinting, exonuclease digestion, dimethyl sulphate protection experiments and by analysis of point mutations. Here we used a limited proteolysis treatment to obtain a smaller form of tau with drastically altered DNA binding properties. A protease-resistant domain interacts solely with the B block region of tRNA genes.