1,721,129 research outputs found
INFLUENZE AMBIENTALI SUI PROTEOMI DEI SEMI DI LUPINO E MAIS
No full textIl gruppo di “Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare delle Proteine Vegetali”, guidato dal Prof. Marcello Duranti, ha sede presso la sezione di Biochimica del DISMA e da più di 30 anni ha come interesse principale lo studio dei rapporti struttura-funzione delle proteine presenti nei semi edibili, in particolare quelli delle piante leguminose. Nel campo della proteomica vegetale l'attività del gruppo ha riguardato lo studio dei cambiamenti quali/quantitativi del proteoma dell'apoplasto delle foglie di tabacco sottoposte a stress salini e la definizione della mappa di riferimento del proteoma del seme di Lupinus albus, per la quale è in corso la preparazione della mappa interattiva basata su una piattaforma web. Altri lavori sono stati dedicati ad applicazioni della proteomica al settore agro-alimentare. Al momento sono in corso ricerche che riguardano lo studio del proteoma e dei peptidi rilasciati dal seme nel mezzo nelle fasi precoci della germinazione, l'analisi del fosfoproteoma dei semi maturi di lupino, i cambiamenti del proteoma dei semi lupino germinanti in presenza di elicitori dei meccanismi di difesa (acido jasmonico, chitosano, BTH, etc), l'analisi quali/quantitativa delle proteine depositate durante lo sviluppo delle cariossidi di piante di mais micorrizzat
Mappe di riferimento interattive del proteoma del seme di lupino
No full textIl lavoro consiste nella progettazione e sviluppo di un sito WEB per la pubblicazione e la divulgazione dei risultati sulla ricerca sul proteoma del seme di Lupinus albus. Il cuore del lavoro è stata la realizzazione di una piattaforma interattiva che permette di accededere alle informazione scientifiche disponibili in letteratura, databases specilizzati e ricerca scientifica per ciascuna delle proteine risolte mediante elettroforesi bidimensionale e attribuzione mediante spettrometria di mass
Structure/function relationships and nutraceutical activities of legume seed proteins
No full textThe recent reappraisal of the effects that grain legume components may have on human well-being is mainly based on experimental evidences that show up their beneficial activity in the prevention and treatment of various diseases. By and large, these results strongly support the claim that regular dietary intake of grain legumes is one of the ways for a healthy life. The detailed description at molecular and biological level of the seed components effects still deserves further studies, as well as the direct trial and assessment of every legume species, including the so-called minor legumes. Specific grain legume proteins have been directly proved to be responsible for a specific dietary or pharmacological effect. Moreover, bioactive peptides that might prevent diseases related to life-style are released from grain proteins after enzymatic digestio
An approach to the critical assessment of the experimental conditions in practical molecular biology: isolation of plant DNA
No full textA plant molecular biology laboratory class experiment, based on real lab situations, is proposed to illustrate to the students how the assessment of the experimental conditions and the correct application of the technical details are critical also with an established procedure. During plant genomic DNA isolation and purification, a number of undesired effects, including DNA shearing and formation of secondary compounds, may take place. To simulate such events, we have set up a simple practical laboratory experiment in which the students are asked to isolate plant DNA under three different working conditions, from an optimal to a coarse one. The subsequent analyses on the extracted DNA enable the students to evaluate the influence of these different manipulations on DNA yield and quality. The experiment described can help the students to adopt a critical approach when interpreting the results of common preparative molecular techniques. Copyrigh
An open window onto the food of the near future: Can legume seed proteins be a valid alternative to animal sources to fulfill the growing need of food proteins?
No full textThe need of food proteins fulfilling a number of requisites, which include being sustainable, cost- and labor-effective, safe and secure, health-promoting, process-prone and possibly not too far from the usual
food habits of the consumers, is acute. In the plant kingdom suitable dietary protein sources can be found where they are especially abundant: that is in the edible legume seeds, which may reach up to 40% protein on the dry weight basis. Some constraints are currently limiting a greater consumption of pulses and oil-bearing legume seeds, but ways to overcome most of these bottlenecks are at hand, provided holistic strategies are being implemented
Caratteristiche nutrizionali, antinutrizionali e funzionali dei semi di fagiolo oggetto dello studio-progetto Fagio.Lo
No full textIl progetto “Ricerca, caratterizzazione e valorizzazione di cultivar di
fagiolo tradizionali lombarde – Fagio.Lo”, finanziato con i fondi PSR
FEASR 2014-2020 Operazione 10.02.01 di Regione Lombardia, ha avuto
l’obiettivo di individuare, caratterizzare e promuovere 16 cultivar
tradizionali di fagioli (Phaseolus spp.) tradizionalmente coltivati in
Lombardia di cui si avevano scarse informazioni di carattere tecnicoscientifico.
L’attività di caratterizzazione, svolta dai ricercatori
dell’Università degli Studi di Milano e dai tecnici di Rete Semi Rurali, è
stata condotta considerando gli aspetti morfologici, agronomici,
nutrizionali e genetici.
Il presente documento tecnico-divulgativo riporta i risultati dell’attività di
caratterizzazione delle differenti landraces di fagiolo. In particolare, per
ciascuna di esse, viene riportata una scheda descrittiva contenete le
immagini della pianta in toto e dei suoi organi più rappresentativi, le
caratteristiche morfologiche, agronomiche, ecologiche e fitochimiconutrizionali.
Le informazioni riportate nelle schede descrittive potranno
essere utili in particolar modo alle aziende agricole lombarde interessate
alla coltivazione di landraces di fagioli, sia a coloro che volessero avviare
azioni di tutela di tali risorse genetiche iscrivendole al registro nazionale
delle varietà da conservazione o all’anagrafe nazionale della biodiversità
di interesse agricolo e alimentare
A real-time PCR method for the detection and quantification of lupin flour in wheat flour-based matrices
No full textLupin flour is growingly being used in bakery products, mainly as a soybean protein substitute. The aim of
the present work was to detect and quantify the presence of lupin flour in wheat-based foods using a
newly set up qPCR system based on SYBR green. Although DNA sequence information for lupin is scarce,
it has been possible to design a primer pair highly specific for the target gene and devoid of any primerdimers
amplification capacity. Lupin flour revealed to be a difficult matrix, since large amounts of compounds
tend to co-purify with DNA, even adopting well established extraction protocols. Nonetheless, the
primers used allowed to reach high PCR efficiencies and did not show any cross-reactivity with DNAs
extracted from various plant and animal foods. The sensitivity achieved was 7 pg of lupin DNA, corresponding
to a percentage of less than 0.1% of lupin flour in the foods
Lectin-like activity of lupin seed conglutin γ, a glycoprotein previously referred to as a storage protein
No full textThe lupin seed glycoprotein conglutin γ was capable of binding various exogenous and endogenous N-glycosylated proteins and also specifically bound to a Sephadex G-75 column. The binding activity of conglutin γ was abolished by either addition of 10 mM EDTA or by enzymic deglycosylation and acid treatment. In the latter case activity could be restored by the addition of Mn and Ca ions.Immunological homology at polypeptide level of conglutin γ with other legume lectins was found
An endopeptidase in dormant lupin seeds
No full textA new endopeptidase has been identified and partially purified from the albumin extract of dormant white lupin seeds. The enzyme is specific for the acid polypeptides of the subunits of the lupin legumin-like proteins; it acts on those present in the seeds of 12S, 7S and modified 7S legumin oligomers and on their immediate breakdown products, forming products with acid polypeptides of apparent Mrs of 31 000 and 29 000. The breakdown follows a cascade cooperativity and the choice of substrate depends on the type and amount of the polypeptides present. The enzyme is inhibited by Mn2+, Co2+, Zn2+ and its activity is increased by Ca2+. Preincubation for 18-24 hr at 4° is required before protease activity is observed. During this period the enzyme undergoes limited proteolysis. The enzyme studied differs from the endopeptidase specific to the acid polypeptides of 52 000 of 12S oligomers, also from dormant lupin seeds. The observed cascade cooperativity of the two endopeptidases is discussed
Molecular nutraceutics as a mean to investigate the positive effects of legume seed proteins on human health
No full textLeguminous seeds are a valuable source of food proteins. A reappraisal of the beneficial effects of legume seed dietary intake, which are the basis for various health claims, is currently taking place. Proteins and peptides concur in the observed biological/functional activities of legume seeds. However, the molecular determinants of these beneficial activities in most cases are far from being understood. A multidisciplinary research work, including the characterisation at molecular level of these molecules and the evaluation of their biological activities, is crucial to unveil food protein nutri-functional properties and optimise their exploitation. These are the approaches of the molecular nutraceutics
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