147 research outputs found
Grapevine origin and diversity
No full textThis text is intended to be a brief discussion of some salient conceptual and methodological aspects concerning the cultivated grapevine (Vitis vinifera L). The essay, far from aiming to be exhaustive, strives instead to highlight original and significant steps taken by the international scientific community over the last thirty years to deepen the historical and biological path that this woody species, which has played an essential role in human history, has taken. Possible future scenarios involving genetic modifications to improve adaptive mechanisms are also discussed
Il Wine DNA fingerprinting (WDF): un’analisi molecolare per accertare la composizione varietale di un vino.
No full textMorphological and biochemical alterations of CHO cultured cells during methyl mercury intoxication and protection with sodium selenite
No full textMolecular markers and genomics for food and beverages characterization
No full textWe summarize and discuss latest trends and works on methods and most significant case studies concerning molecular-based food and beverages quality and authenticity assessment. DNA-based technology may work as a wild card between food authentication, gut microbiome profiling, and the evaluation of food-borne microbiological risk. The central axiom of food security necessarily passes through the validation of the concept of food authenticity that in turn depends on the analytical assessment of ingredients. With increasing molecular detail, literature demonstrates how the food intake is associated with specific epigenetic effects on genomes leading to gene expression regulation. Similarly, food intake deeply affects human health by influencing secondary metabolite production regulated by the gut microbiome. In the last decade, biology moved rapidly from small numbers to big data, keeping the DNA as a major tagged molecule for food characterization. Simple molecular markers have the advantage to be used by small-medium laboratories and may be effective in addressing simple questions, while the integrated genomics approaches address exhaustive description of food and beverages quality traits. More significant case studies of molecular characterization of plant and animal-derived food and grapevine- derived beverages are also reported. Finally we conclude on how the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches could improve our relation with food and beverages from the point of view of health and quality of life and against frauds. Visual Abstract DNA-based methods integrated with bioinformatics for genetic identification may act as a wild card under several molecular approaches that intercept human health issues. Food has a deep impact on human health on a direct basis through its nutritional properties, its sanitary status, affecting the gut microbiome and the cell epigenome, and likely, under certain circumstances, a stochastic mechanism even by transforming the cell genome itself. DNA-based authentication can be effective in profiling food microbiome related to the potential risk of causing food-borne diseases and food intrinsic qualities related to raw ingredients and origin. The DNA test aimed to address food authentication should be planned according to the specific goal and type of food or beverage, where species identification or intraspecific identification are selectively required
Disruption of cytoskeleton by methylmercury in cultured CHO cells
No full textThe effect of methylmercury (MM) on three main cytoskeletal components [i.e. microtubules (MT), microfilaments (MF) and intermediate filaments (IF)] and on specific biochemical parameters (i.e. glutathione transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (RED), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glyoxalase 1 (GLY 1) and total -SH groups (TSH) of the cytosolic fraction) was studied in cultured Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The experiments were conducted with increasing doses of MM (i.e. 1, 4 and 8 Î1⁄4m), using an exposure time of 16 hr; and with a fixed dose of MM (2 Î1⁄4m), using increasing exposure periods (i.e. 0-24 hr). The morphological changes observed by immunofluorescence seemed to indicate that MF were damaged as much as (if not more than) MT after 16 hr of exposure to 4 Î1⁄4m-MM. At a concentration of 1 Î1⁄4m, MM only affected MF. The time-course experiments revealed that IF as well as MF and MT were severely disorganized after 3 and 6 hr of incubation in the presence of 2 Î1⁄4m-MM. However, an obvious reorganization was observed after 24 hr of exposure. In experiments using increasing MM doses, changes in the enzymatic activities were less noticeable than those observed in the morphology; only a modest decrease in TSH and RED activities (<30%) was recorded at the highest dose of MM used (i.e. 8 Î1⁄4m). In contrast, increasing the time of exposure to MM induced changes in both the cytoskeletal structures and the biochemical parameters: the lowest RED activity and TSH were observed after 3-6 hr exposure; control values were obtained after an exposure period of 24 hr. Ultrastructural observations on cells treated with increasing doses of MM showed changes in plasmamembrane profile, cytoskeleton organization and mitochondrion structure. The results confirm that MM causes non-specific damage to CHO cells and suggest that a functional interaction may exist between GSH-dependent enzymes and cytoskeletal structures. © 1992
Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) Germplasm from Siena (Italy) Includes Rare Strains and Reveals Population Structuring
No full textMolecular characterization was carried out on samples of historical grapevine populations that were gathered from within and around the medieval walls of Siena. Forty-nine grapevines were selected based on their age, historical site of growth, grapevines’ ampelography, and for being relict accessions, obsolete to cultivation. SSR profiling data were compared to 44 known grapevines, revealing six functional genetic groups with significant similarity to grapevine types generally grown in Tuscany. The Sienese germplasm is enriched with rare grapevines at risk of extinction, such as Zuccaccio, Gorgottesco, Tenerone, Prugnolo gentile, Occhio di Pernice, Procanico, Rossone, Mammolo, and Canina. Population genetics analysis revealed the existence of five subpopulations structure (-k5) in analogy with cluster analysis. (Figure presented.)
Efficiency in the use of natural non-renewable resources from mining and quarrying in Italy. Time series analysis and Economy-wide Material Flows Accounts
No full textPolitical reasons have been pushing towards a process of decentralization of
powers and responsibilities since last twenty years in Italy. The regional management
of mining and quarrying (m&q) should be an interesting case study of this change.
This process has begun in the ’70s with the Pres. Decree N. 616 of 1977. By
examining administrative data and Regional Laws, this paper highlights how
misleading is the awareness of policy makers of the real value of raw mineral
resources domestically extracted: they seem closer to common goods rather than to
public goods. By combining data on local governance with official statistics of
Economy-wide Material Flow Accounts (EW-MFA), our econometric analysis intends
to verify both the existence of an inverse supply curve between m&q domestic
producer price index (as dependent variable) and no-energy producing mineral
quantity extracted and the effect of Italian Regions Responsibility about m&q activity
on m&q domestic producer price index, controlling for construction sector value
added, R&D national expenditure, Openness to international trade (1980-2010
Thioltransferase activity in different mouse organs after treatment with mercury compounds
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