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natural variation of folate content and composition in spinach (spinacia oleracea) germplasm.breeding to increase folate levels in edible parts of plants, termed folate biofortification, is an economical approach to fight against folate deficiency in humans, especially in the developing world. germplasm with elevated folates are a useful genetic source for both breeding and direct use. spinach is one of the well-know vegetables that contains a relatively high amount of folate. currently, little is known about how much folate, and their composition varies in different spinach accessions. ...201122004472
the need to re-investigate the nature of homoplastic characters: an ontogenetic case study of the 'bracteoles' in atripliceae (chenopodiaceae).within chenopodioideae, atripliceae have been distinguished by two bracteoles enveloping the female flowers/fruits, whereas in other tribes flowers are described as ebracteolate with persistent perianth. molecular phylogenetic hypotheses suggest 'bracteoles' to be homoplastic. the origin of the bracteoles was explained by successive inflorescence reductions. flower reduction was used to explain sex determination. therefore, floral ontogeny was studied to evaluate the nature of the bracteoles and ...201121852278
combined application of a laser ablation-icp-ms assay for screening and esi-fticr-ms for identification of a cd-binding protein in spinacia oleracea l. after exposure to cd.we have studied the binding of the toxic element cd to plant proteins and have used for this purpose spinach (spinacia oleracea l.) plants treated with 50 μm cd(ii) as a model system. laser ablation icp-ms has been applied for the screening of cd-binding proteins after separation by native anodal polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (an-page) and electroblotting onto membranes. the main cd-carrying protein band was isolated and investigated by nano-electrospray ionization-fourier transform ion cyc ...201121850305
photosynthesis-inhibiting efficiency of 4-chloro-2-(chlorophenylcarbamoyl)phenyl alkylcarbamates.a series of photosynthetic electron transport (pet) inhibitors from the group of salicylanilide alkylcarbamates was investigated. the compounds were analyzed using rp-hplc to determine lipophilicity, and their pet inhibition was determined in spinach (spinacia oleracea l.) chloroplasts. the site of action of the studied compounds is situated at the donor site of photosystem 2 (ps 2). compounds substituted by chlorine in c'-3 and c'-4 of the aniline ring and the optimal length of the alkyl chain ...201121724391
synthesis and characterization of (z)-5-arylmethylidene-rhodanines with photosynthesis-inhibiting properties.a series of rhodanine derivatives was prepared. the synthetic approach, analytical and spectroscopic data of all synthesized compounds are presented. lipophilicity of all the discussed rhodanine derivatives was analyzed using the rp-hplc method. the compounds were tested for their ability to inhibit photosynthetic electron transport (pet) in spinach (spinacia oleracea l.) chloroplasts and reduce chlorophyll content in freshwater alga chlorella vulgaris. structure-activity relationships between t ...201121697777
hydrogen sulphide enhances photosynthesis through promoting chloroplast biogenesis, photosynthetic enzyme expression, and thiol redox modification in spinacia oleracea seedlings.hydrogen sulphide (h(2)s) is emerging as a potential messenger molecule involved in modulation of physiological processes in animals and plants. in this report, the role of h(2)s in modulating photosynthesis of spinacia oleracea seedlings was investigated. the main results are as follows. (i) nahs, a donor of h(2)s, was found to increase the chlorophyll content in leaves. (ii) seedlings treated with different concentrations of nahs for 30 d exhibited a significant increase in seedling growth, so ...201121624977
resource partitioning to male and female flowers of spinacia oleracea l. in relation to whole-plant monocarpic senescence.male plants of spinach (spinacea oleracea l.) senesce following flowering. it has been suggested that nutrient drain by male flowers is insufficient to trigger senescence. the partitioning of radiolabelled photosynthate between vegetative and reproductive tissue was compared in male (staminate) versus female (pistillate) plants. after the start of flowering staminate plants senesce 3 weeks earlier than pistillate plants. soon after the start of flowering, staminate plants allocated several times ...201121565983
nonphosphorylating glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase is phosphorylated in wheat endosperm at serine-404 by an snf1-related protein kinase allosterically inhibited by ribose-5-phosphate.nonphosphorylating glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (np-ga3pdhase) is a cytosolic unconventional glycolytic enzyme of plant cells regulated by phosphorylation in heterotrophic tissues. after interaction with 14-3-3 proteins, the phosphorylated enzyme becomes less active and more sensitive to regulation by adenylates and inorganic pyrophosphate. here, we acknowledge that in wheat (triticum aestivum), np-ga3pdhase is specifically phosphorylated by the snrk (snf1-related) protein kinase fam ...201121546456
photoprotective energy dissipation involves the reorganization of photosystem ii light-harvesting complexes in the grana membranes of spinach chloroplasts.plants must regulate their use of absorbed light energy on a minute-by-minute basis to maximize the efficiency of photosynthesis and to protect photosystem ii (psii) reaction centers from photooxidative damage. the regulation of light harvesting involves the photoprotective dissipation of excess absorbed light energy in the light-harvesting antenna complexes (lhcs) as heat. here, we report an investigation into the structural basis of light-harvesting regulation in intact spinach (spinacia olera ...201121498680
cyanidioschyzon merolae ferredoxin: a high resolution crystal structure analysis and its thermal stability.cyanidioschyzon merolae (cm) is a single-cell red alga that grows under moderately thermophilic (40-50°c), acidic (ph 1-3) conditions. we purified a cm ferredoxin (fd) that was characterized as a plant-type [2fe-2s] fd by physicochemical techniques. x-ray crystallography revealed that the overall three-dimensional structure of cmfd was highly similar to, but slightly different from, the [2fe-2s] fd from spinacia oleracea, whose growth temperature is 15-20°c. therefore, slight structural differen ...201121443874
mapping of the genes for dioecism and monoecism in spinacia oleracea l.: evidence that both genes are closely linked.spinach is basically a dioecious species, with occasional monoecious plants in some populations. sexual dimorphism in dioecious spinach plants is controlled by an allelic pair termed x and y located on the short arm of the longest chromosome (x = 6). ten aflp markers, closely linked to the x/y locus, were identified using bulked segregant analysis, four of which were revealed to co-segregate with y in the present mapping population. we mapped the aflp markers and two known male-specific dnas to ...201121301852
purification and enzymatic properties of a peroxidase from leaves of phytolacca dioica l. (ombú tree).a peroxidase (pd-cp; 0.47 mg/100 g leaves) was purified from autumn leaves of phytolacca dioica l. and characterized. pd-cp was obtained by acid precipitation followed by gel-filtration and cation exchange chromatography. amino acid composition and n-terminal sequence of pd-cp up to residue 15 were similar to that of spinacia oleracea (n-terminal pairwise comparison showing four amino acid differences). pd-cp showed a molecular mass of approx. 36 kda by sds-page, ph and temperature optima at 3.0 ...201121266109
ferredoxin:nadp+ oxidoreductase bound to cytochrome b₆f complex is active in plastoquinone reduction: implications for cyclic electron transport.in this study, we have compared three isolation methods of cytochrome b₆f complex, obtained from spinach (spinacia oleracea), differing in the preservation of the cytochrome b₆f-associated ferredoxin:nadp+ oxidoreductase (fnr). although the complexes isolated by all the methods showed the presence of the fnr peptide(s), when incorporated into liposome membranes, the nadph-pq (plastoquinone) oxidoreductase activity was not detected for the cytochrome b₆f complex isolated with the original method ...201121114674
popeye strikes again: the deep proteome of spinach leaves.the cytoplasmic proteome of spinach leaves (spinacia oleracea l) has been investigated with the help of commercially available (proteominer) combinatorial peptide ligand libraries and with home-made ligand beads as prepared in our laboratory. the protein capture had been performed at three ph values (4.0, 7.0 and 9.3) and elution performed in 4% boiling sds, 20mm dtt. the total number of unique gene products identified amounts to 322 proteins, of which 114 are in common with the control, untreat ...201121056706
quantitating carbon monoxide production from heme by vascular plant preparations in vitro.heme in animals is mainly degraded enzymatically, producing a predictable amount of carbon monoxide (co). under some conditions, alternative sources of co production are important, such as lipid peroxidation and photo-oxidation. less is known about co production in plants as a reflection of enzymatic activity or coupled oxidation, but a sensitive assay for co production in plants would be a valuable tool to explore the various sources in plants as the conditions of the reactions and mechanisms a ...201121055958
biochemical and molecular characterization of senescence-related cysteine protease-cystatin complex from spinach leaf.cysteine proteases (cps) with n-succinyl-leu-tyr-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide (suc-ly-mca) cleavage activity were investigated in green and senescent leaves of spinach. the enzyme activity was separated into two major and several faint minor peaks by hydrophobic chromatography. these peaks were conventionally designated as cp1, cp2 and cp3, according to their order of elution. from the analyses of molecular mass, subunit structure, amino acid sequences and cdna cloning, cp2 was a monomer complex (so ...201121044083
stress response and potential biomarkers in spinach (spinacia oleracea l.) seedlings exposed to soil lead.oxidative stress and biochemical responses of spinach seedlings to soil pb stress were investigated by pot experiments. the seedlings were exposed to 0-500 mg kg(-1) extraneous pb. after 30 days of germination, production of o(2)(-), hsp 70, hsp 60, superoxide dismutase (sod) activities, carbonyl groups and lipid peroxidation was significantly induced by soil pb. after 50 days, hsp 70 and hsp 60 decreased, and hsp 60 was significantly inhibited at 500 mg kg(-1). the results indicated that pb pro ...201120933285
short term physiological implications of nbpt application on the n metabolism of pisum sativum and spinacea oleracea.the application of urease inhibitors in conjunction with urea fertilizers as a means of reducing n loss due to ammonia volatilization requires an in-depth study of the physiological effects of these inhibitors on plants. the aim of this study was to determine how the urease inhibitor n-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (nbpt) affects n metabolism in pea and spinach. plants were cultivated in pure hydroponic culture with urea as the sole n source. after 2 weeks of growth for pea, and 3 weeks for ...201120932600
isolation of thylakoid membrane complexes from rice by a new double-strips bn/sds-page and bioinformatics prediction of stromal ridge subunits interaction.thylakoid membrane complexes of rice (oryza sativa l.) play crucial roles in growth and crop production. understanding of protein interactions within the complex would provide new insights into photosynthesis. here, a new "double-strips bn/sds-page" method was employed to separate thylakoid membrane complexes in order to increase the protein abundance on 2d-gels and to facilitate the identification of hydrophobic transmembrane proteins. a total of 58 protein spots could be observed and subunit c ...201121637806
the interrelationship between the lower oxygen limit, chlorophyll fluorescence and the xanthophyll cycle in plants.the lower oxygen limit (lol) in plants may be identified through the measure of respiratory gases [i.e. the anaerobic compensation point (acp) or the respiratory quotient breakpoint (rqb)], but recent work shows it may also be identified by a sudden rise in dark minimum fluorescence (f(o)). the interrelationship between aerobic respiration and fermentative metabolism, which occur in the mitochondria and cytosol, respectively, and fluorescence, which emanates from the chloroplasts, is not well do ...201121290261
measurement of carbon flux through the mep pathway for isoprenoid synthesis by (31)p-nmr spectroscopy after specific inhibition of 2-c-methyl-d-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate reductase. effect of light and temperature.the methylerythritol 4-phosphate (mep) and the mevalonate pathways are the unique synthesis routes for the precursors of all isoprenoids. an original mean to measure the carbon flux through the mep pathway in plants is proposed by using cadmium as a total short-term inhibitor of 2-c-methyl-d-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate (mecdp) reductase (gcpe) and measuring the accumulation rate of its substrate mecdp by (31) p-nmr spectroscopy. the mep pathway metabolic flux was determined in spinach (spina ...201121443577
accumulation of heavy metals from contaminated soil to plants and evaluation of soil remediation by vermiculite.we evaluated the distribution of 15 metal ions, namely al, cd, cu, cr, fe, la, mn, ni, pb, sc, ti, v, y, zn and zr, in the soil of a contaminated site in piedmont (italy). this area was found to be heavily contaminated with cu, cr and ni. the availability of these metal ions was studied using tessier's sequential extraction procedure: the fraction of mobile species, which potentially is the most harmful for the environment, was much higher than that normally present in unpolluted soils. this soi ...201121055788
spectrophotometric determination of fe3+ and pb2+ in real samples after micelle-mediated extraction.a cloud-point extraction process using micelle of the cationic surfactant ctab to extract fe3+and pb2+ from aqueous solutions was investigated. the method is based on the color reaction of fe3+and pb2+ with bromopyrogallol red at ph 5.0 and micelle-mediated extraction of the complex. the optimal extraction and reaction conditions (e.g., surfactant concentration, reagent concentration and effect of time) were studied and the analytical characteristics of the method (e.g., limit of detection, line ...201124062039
conversion of serine to glycerate in intact spinach leaf peroxisomes: role of malate dehydrogenase.in photorespiration, leaf peroxisomes convert serine to glycerate via serine-glyoxylate aminotransferase and nadh-hydroxypyruvate reductase. we isolated intact spinach leaf peroxisomes in 0.25 m sucrose, and characterized their enzymatic conversion of serine to glycerate using physiological concentrations of substrates and coenzymes. in the presence of glycolate (glyoxylate), and nadh and nad alone or together in physiological proportions, the rate of serine-to-glycerate conversion was enhanced ...20113080957
luminescence based enzyme-labeled phage (phazyme) assays for rapid detection of shiga toxin producing escherichia coli serogroups.most diagnostic approaches for shiga toxin producing escherichia coli (stec) have been designed to detect only serogroup o157 that causes a majority, but not all stec related outbreaks in the united states. therefore, there is a need to develop methodology that would enable the detection of other stec serogroups that cause disease. three bacteriophages (phages) that infect stec serogroups o26, o103, o111, o145 and o157 were chemically labeled with horseradish peroxidase (hrp). the enzyme-labeled ...201122334866
potential risks resulting from fruit/vegetable-drug interactions: effects on drug-metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters.it has been well established that complex mixtures of phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables can be beneficial for human health. moreover, it is becoming increasingly apparent that phytochemicals can influence the pharmacological activity of drugs by modifying their absorption characteristics through interactions with drug transporters as well as drug-metabolizing enzyme systems. such effects are more likely to occur in the intestine and liver, where high concentrations of phytochemicals may oc ...201122417366
multiresidue pesticide analysis in ginseng and spinach by nontargeted and targeted screening procedures.five different mass spectrometers interfaced to gc or lc were evaluated for their application to targeted and nontargeted screening of pesticides in two foods, spinach and ginseng. the five ms systems were capillary gc/ms/ms, gc-high resolution time-of-flight (gc/hr-tof)-ms, tof-ms interfaced with a comprehensive multidimensional gc (gcxgc/tof-ms), an ms/ms ion trap hybrid mass (qtrap) system interfaced with an ultra-performance liquid chromatograph (uplc-qtrap), and uplc interfaced to an orbita ...201122320080
preconcentration and determination of copper in tobacco leaves samples by using a minicolumn of sisal fiber (agave sisalana) loaded with alizarin fluorine blue by faas.in the present study, a minicolumn of sisal fiber loaded with alizarin fluorine blue is proposed as a preconcentration system for copper determination in tobacco leaf samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. during the optimization procedure, a two level full factorial design (2(4)) was used at the preliminary evaluation of four factors, involving the following variables: sampling flow rate, elution flow rate, buffer concentration and ph. regarding the studied levels, this design has sho ...201122284492
new experimental hosts of tobacco streak virus and absence of true seed transmission in leguminous hosts.of 70 plant species tested, 50 species were susceptible to tobacco streak virus (tsv) on sap inoculation. both localized (necrotic and chlorotic spots) and systemic (necrotic spots, axillary shoot proliferation, stunting, total necrosis and wilt) symptoms are observed by majority of plant species. eleven new experimental hosts were identified viz., amaranthus blitum var. oleracea (chaulai sag), celosia cristata (cocks comb), beta vulgaris var. bengalensis (palak/indian spinach), calendula offici ...201123637490
polyphenol-rich sweet potato greens extract inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.sweet potato (ipomoea batatas) leaves or greens, extensively consumed as a vegetable in africa and asia, are an excellent source of dietary polyphenols such as anthocyanins and phenolic acids. here, we show that sweet potato greens extract (spge) has the maximum polyphenol content compared with several commercial vegetables including spinach. the polyphenol-rich spge exerts significant antiproliferative activity in a panel of prostate cancer cell lines while sparing normal prostate epithelial ce ...201121948980
surface structures involved in plant stomata and leaf colonization by shiga-toxigenic escherichia coli o157:h7.shiga-toxigenic escherichia coli (stec) o157:h7 uses a myriad of surface adhesive appendages including pili, flagella, and the type 3 secretion system (t3ss) to adhere to and inflict damage to the human gut mucosa. consumption of contaminated ground beef, milk, juices, water, or leafy greens has been associated with outbreaks of diarrheal disease in humans due to stec. the aim of this study was to investigate which of the known stec o157:h7 adherence factors mediate colonization of baby spinach ...201121887151
Efficacy of a novel sanitizer composed of lactic acid and peroxyacetic acid against single strains of nonpathogenic Escherichia coli K-12, Listeria innocua, and Lactobacillus plantarum in aqueous solution and on surfaces of romaine lettuce and spinach.A novel sanitizer composed of lactic acid and peroxyacetic acid (LA-PAA) was developed as an alternative to chlorinated water (CW) for fresh produce processing. Single strains of Lactobacillus plantarum, nonpathogenic Escherichia coli K-12, and Listeria innocua were used to demonstrate the microbial efficacy of LA-PAA. LA-PAA achieved a >7.8-log reduction of L. innocua and L. plantarum suspended in water at 4°C for 20 s, and LA, PAA, and CW achieved reductions of 0.4, 4.8, and 2.7 log, respectiv ...201121902915
Host impact on the stability of a plant virus gene vector as measured by a new fluorescent local lesion passaging assay.Viruses can be used as vectors for transient expression of proteins in plants but frequently foreign gene inserts are not maintained stably over time due to recombination events. In this study the hypothesis was that the choice of plant host affects the foreign gene retention level by a Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) vector expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP). To accomplish this, a novel virus vector integrity bioassay was developed based on an old concept, whereby RNA transcripts of the ...201122119627
antimicrobial activity of apple, hibiscus, olive, and hydrogen peroxide formulations against salmonella enterica on organic leafy greens.salmonella enterica is one of the most common bacterial pathogens implicated in foodborne outbreaks involving fresh produce in the last decade. in an effort to discover natural antimicrobials for use on fresh produce, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different antimicrobial plant extract-concentrate formulations on four types of organic leafy greens inoculated with s. enterica serovar newport. the leafy greens tested included organic romaine and iceberg le ...201122004815
reveal salmonella 2.0 test for detection of salmonella spp. in foods and environmental samples. performance tested method 960801.reveal salmonella 2.0 is an improved version of the original reveal salmonella lateral flow immunoassay and is applicable to the detection of salmonella enterica serogroups a-e in a variety of food and environmental samples. a performance tested method validation study was conducted to compare performance of the reveal 2.0 method with that of the u.s. department of agriculture-food safety and inspection service or u.s. food and drug administration/bacteriological analytical manual reference cult ...201122165011
efficacy of washing with hydrogen peroxide followed by aerosolized antimicrobials as a novel sanitizing process to inactivate escherichia coli o157:h7 on baby spinach.aerosolization was investigated as a potential way to apply allyl isothiocyanate (ait), hydrogen peroxide (h(2)o(2)), acetic acid (aa) and lactic acid (la) on fresh baby spinach to control escherichia coli o157:h7 during refrigeration storage. in this study, baby spinach leaves were dip-inoculated with e. coli o157:h7 to a level of 6 log cfu/g and stored at 4°c for 24h before treatment. antimicrobials were atomized into fog-like micro-particles by an ultrasonic nebulizer and routed into a jar an ...201122177228
[cyclooxygenase inhibitors in some dietary vegetables inhibit platelet aggregation function induced by arachidonic acid].the study was purposed to investigate whether the cyclooxygenase inhibitors from some dietary vegetables can inhibit platelet aggregation function by the arachidonic acid (aa). the vegetable juice was mixed with plateletrich plasma (prp), and asprin was used as positive control. the maximum ratio of platelet aggregation induced by aa was measured on the aggregometer; heme and cyclooxygenase-1 (cox(1)) or cyclooxygenase-2 (cox(2)) were added to test tubes containing cox reaction buffer, the mixtu ...201122040984
sensitivity of poliovirus type 1 chat strain and rotavirus sa-11 to e-beam irradiation on iceberg lettuce and spinach: quantifying the reduction in potential health risks.fresh produce such as lettuce and spinach serve as routes of foodborne illnesses. the u.s. fda has approved the use of ionizing irradiation upto 4 kgy as a pathogen kill step for fresh cut lettuce and spinach. the focus of this study was to determine the inactivation of poliovirus and rotavirus on lettuce and spinach when exposed to varying doses of high energy e-beam irradiation and to calculate the theoretical reduction in infection risks that can be achieved under different contamination scen ...201122179244
use of zero-valent iron biosand filters to reduce e. coli o157:h12 in irrigation water applied to spinach plants in a field setting.aims:  zero-valent iron (zvi) filters may provide an efficient method to mitigate the contamination of produce crops through irrigation water. methods:  a field-scale system was utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of a biosand filter (s), a biosand filter with zero valent iron incorporated (zvi), and a control (c, no treatment) in decontaminating irrigation water. an inoculum of ca. 8.5 log cfu 100 ml(-1) of escherichia coli o157:h12 was introduced to all three column treatments in 20-l dose ...201122151398
development of a dynamic growth-death model for escherichia coli o157:h7 in minimally processed leafy green vegetables.escherichia coli o157:h7, an occasional contaminant of fresh produce, can present a serious health risk in minimally processed leafy green vegetables. a good predictive model is needed for quantitative risk assessment (qra) purposes, which adequately describes the growth or die-off of this pathogen under variable temperature conditions experienced during processing, storage and shipping. literature data on behaviour of this pathogen on fresh-cut lettuce and spinach was taken from published graph ...201121872959
shiga toxin 2 overexpression in escherichia coli o157:h7 strains associated with severe human disease.variation in disease severity among escherichia coli o157:h7 infections may result from differential expression of shiga toxin 2 (stx2). eleven strains belonging to four prominent phylogenetic clades, including clade 8 strains representative of the 2006 u.s. spinach outbreak, were examined for stx2 expression by real-time pcr and western blot analysis. clade 8 strains were shown to overexpress stx2 basally, and following induction with ciprofloxacin when compared to strains from clades 1-3. diff ...201121864671
characterization of interactions between escherichia coli o157:h7 with epiphytic bacteria in vitro and on spinach leaf surfaces.this study characterized the types of interactions between escherichia coli o157:h7 and spinach phylloepiphytic bacteria and identified those that influence persistence of e. coli o157:h7 on edible plants. a total of 1512 phylloepiphytic bacterial isolates were screened for their ability to inhibit or to enhance the growth of e. coli o157:h7 in vitro and on spinach leaf surfaces. fifteen different genera, the majority belonging to firmicutes and enterobacteriaceae, reduced growth rates of e. col ...201122177225
protective effect of red-stemmed type of ipomoea aquatica forsk against ccl4-induced oxidative damage in mice.water spinach (ipomoea aquatica forsk; i. aquatica) of the green-stemmed type (green type) is widely consumed, but there also exists a red-stemmed variety (red type). in the present study, the antioxidant capacity of the red type was compared to that of the green type in carbon tetrachloride (ccl(4))-treated mice. ccl(4)-induced thiobarbituric acid reactive substrate (tbars) formation in the liver was significantly suppressed in mice fed 5% red-type i. aquatica, while the green type showed no ef ...201122041914
Mitochondrial phylogeny reveals intraspecific variation in Peronospora effusa, the spinach downy mildew pathogen.Since about two hundred years, downy mildew caused by Peronospora effusa is probably the most economically important disease of spinach (Spinacia oleracea). However, there is no information on the global phylogeographic structure of the pathogen and thus it is unclear whether a single genotype occurs worldwide or whether some local genetic variation exists. To investigate the genetic variability of this pathogen, a sequence analysis of two partial mitochondrial DNA genes, cox2 and nad1, was carr ...201122203571
nicotiana glauca (tree tobacco) intoxication--two cases in one family.we present two cases of rare human poisoning in one family following ingestion of cooked leaves from the tobacco tree plant, nicotiana glauca. the toxic principle of n. glauca, anabasine (c10h14n2), is a small pyridine alkaloid, similar in both structure and effects to nicotine, but appears to be more potent in humans. a 73-year-old female tourist from france, without remarkable medical history, collapsed at home following a few hours long prodrome of dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and malaise. th ...201120652661
strongyloides stercoralis in common vegetables and herbs in kota bharu, kelantan, malaysia.transmission of soil-transmitted helminthes infection is by faecal oral route, and is influenced by food preference. kelantanese love to consume ulam which are raw vegetables and herbs. some of the herbs grow on grounds with high humidity and are abundant near drainage areas, these are also places with higher likelihood of harbouring viable parasite ova. the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of soiltransmitted helminthes in vegetables, herbs and fruits found in our local setting. ...201121602786
complementary nutrient effects of separately collected human faeces and urine on the yield and nutrient uptake of spinach (spinacia oleracea).a glasshouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the combined use of separately collected human faeces and urine as fertilizer for spinach (spinacia oleracea) production. seven human faeces n : urine n combinations (1 : 7 to 7 : 1) each supplying 200 kg n ha(-1) were evaluated along with sole human faeces, sole urine, inorganic fertilizer and an unamended control. complementary application of the two resources, human faeces and urine, increased fresh and dry matter yields only in treatments hav ...201120601403
radiosensitization of salmonella spp. and listeria spp. in ready-to-eat baby spinach leaves.the fda recently approved irradiation treatment of leafy greens such as spinach up to 1 kgy; however, it is important to reduce the dose required to decontaminate the produce while maintaining its quality. thus, the objectives of this study were: (1) to assess the radiation sensitivities of salmonella spp. and listeria spp. inoculated in ready-to-eat baby spinach leaves under modified atmosphere packaging (map) and irradiated using a 1.35-mev van de graff accelerator (the leaves were irradiated ...201121535665
quantitative assessment of the microbial risk of leafy greens from farm to consumption: preliminary framework, data, and risk estimates.this project was undertaken to relate what is known about the behavior of escherichia coli o157:h7 under laboratory conditions and integrate this information to what is known regarding the 2006 e. coli o157:h7 spinach outbreak in the context of a quantitative microbial risk assessment. the risk model explicitly assumes that all contamination arises from exposure in the field. extracted data, models, and user inputs were entered into an excel spreadsheet, and the modeling software @risk was used ...201121549039
effect of repeated irrigation with water containing varying levels of total organic carbon on the persistence of escherichia coli o157:h7 on baby spinach.the california lettuce and leafy greens industry has adopted the leafy greens marketing agreement (lgma), which allows for 126 most-probable-number (mpn) escherichia coli per 100 ml in irrigation water. repeat irrigation of baby spinach plants with water containing e. coli o157:h7 and different levels of total organic carbon (toc) was used to determine the epiphytic survival of e. coli o157:h7. three irrigation treatments (0 ppm of toc, 12 or 15 ppm of toc, and 120 or 150 ppm of toc) were prepar ...201121549040
20-oh-ecdysone prevents hot flushes in ovariectomized rats.hot flushes are due to the lack of estrogens and are the most characteristic climacteric complaints. hormone replacement therapy was the standard treatment but now its use is limited because of side effects. need therefore arises to search for non-estrogenic alternatives. the molting hormone 20-beta-hydroxyecdysone (ecd) is produced by several plants including spinach and has no estrogenic or androgenic properties but enhances gabaergic effects in neurons. since gabaergic compounds can ameliorat ...201122083897
formation of giant protein vesicles by a lipid cosolvent method.this paper describes a method to create giant protein vesicles (gpvs) of ≥10 μm by solvent-driven fusion of large vesicles (0.1-0.2 μm) with reconstituted membrane proteins. we found that formation of gpvs proceeded from rotational mixing of protein-reconstituted large unilamellar vesicles (luvs) with a lipid-containing solvent phase. we made gpvs by using n-decane and squalene as solvents, and applied generalized polarization (gp) imaging to monitor the polarity around the protein transmembrane ...201122069223
structure and stability of the spinach aquaporin sopip2;1 in detergent micelles and lipid membranes.sopip2;1 constitutes one of the major integral proteins in spinach leaf plasma membranes and belongs to the aquaporin family. sopip2;1 is a highly permeable and selective water channel that has been successfully overexpressed and purified with high yields. in order to optimize reconstitution of the purified protein into biomimetic systems, we have here for the first time characterized the structural stability of sopip2;1.201121339815
flagella mediate attachment of enterotoxigenic escherichia coli to fresh salad leaves.enterotoxigenic escherichia coli (etec) causes child and travelers' diarrhea and is presumed to be water- and food-borne. sporadic outbreaks were traced to consumption of contaminated fresh produce, particularly salad leaves as lettuce and parsley. importantly, the mechanism by which etec binds salad leaves is not known. in this study we investigated the ability of clinical etec isolates to adhere to eruca vesicaria (commonly known as rocket). towards this end we inoculated pieces of cut e. vesi ...201123761239
carbonic anhydrase activity in arabidopsis thaliana thylakoid membrane and fragments enriched with psi or psii.the procedure of isolating the thylakoids and the thylakoid membrane fragments enriched with either photosystem i or photosystem ii (psi- and psii-membranes) from arabidopsis thaliana leaves was developed. it differed from the one used with pea and spinach in durations of detergent treatment and centrifugation, and in concentrations of detergent and mg(2+) in the media. both the thylakoid and the fragments preserved carbonic anhydrase (ca) activities. using nondenaturing electrophoresis followed ...201122006267
reduction of pesticide residues on fresh vegetables with electrolyzed water treatment.degradation of the 3 pesticides (acephate, omethoate, and dimethyl dichloroviny phosphate [ddvp]) by electrolyzed water was investigated. these pesticides were commonly used as broad-spectrum insecticides in pest control and high-residual levels had been detected in vegetables. our research showed that the electrolyzed oxidizing (eo) water (ph 2.3, available chlorine concentration:70 ppm, oxidation-reduction potential [orp]: 1170 mv) and the electrolyzed reducing (er) water (ph 11.6, orp: -860 m ...201122420563
uptake of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate of vegetables from plastic film greenhouses.uptake of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (dehp) of nine vegetables including potherb mustard, bok choy, celery, spinach, cabbage, leaf of tube, lettuce, garlic, and edible amaranth in plastic film greenhouses with different plastic films, film thickness, greenhouse age, and greenhouse height was studied. the results showed that the higher the dehp content of film, the thicker the film, the lower the height of the greenhouse, and the younger the age of the greenhouse were, the higher the dehp concen ...201121958198
recycling of organic wastes through composting for land applications: a nigerian experience.in-vessel composting, a contribution to sustainable solid waste management, was conducted on source-separated waste materials generated in abeokuta city, south-west nigeria. feedstock (household, agricultural and municipal waste) and the resultant composts were chemically characterized using standard procedures. identification and changes in the microbial population during composting, the effects of composting on waste volume reduction (wvr) and elemental composition of composts were evaluated. ...201121159738
a horizontally transferred trna(cys) gene in the sugar beet mitochondrial genome: evidence that the gene is present in diverse angiosperms and its transcript is aminoacylated.of the two trna(cys) (gca) genes, trnc1-gca and trnc2-gca, previously identified in mitochondrial genome of sugar beet, the former is a native gene and probably a pseudo-copy, whereas the latter, of unknown origin, is transcribed into a trna [trna(cys2) (gca)]. in this study, the trnc2-gca sequence was mined from various public databases. to evaluate whether or not the trnc2-gca sequence is located in the mitochondrial genome, the relative copy number of its sequence to nuclear gene was assessed ...201121699590
extended-spectrum beta-lactamase gene sequences in gram-negative saprophytes on retail organic and nonorganic spinach.a substantial proportion of infections caused by drug-resistant gram-negative bacteria (gnb) in community and health care settings are recognized to be caused by evolutionarily related gnb strains. their global spread has been suggested to occur due to human activities, such as food trade and travel. these multidrug-resistant gnb pathogens often harbor mobile drug resistance genes that are highly conserved in their sequences. because they appear across different gnb species, these genes may have ...201121216903
the use of bovine serum albumin to improve the rt-qpcr detection of foodborne viruses rinsed from vegetable surfaces.to demonstrate that produce rinsates used for rt-qpcr detection of foodborne viruses may cause significant pcr inhibition and propose a means to reduce its impact on sensitivity.201121219370
three-dimensional architecture of grana and stroma thylakoids of higher plants as determined by electron tomography.we have investigated the three-dimensional (3d) architecture of the thylakoid membranes of arabidopsis (arabidopsis thaliana), tobacco (nicotiana tabacum), and spinach (spinacia oleracea) with a resolution of approximately 7 nm by electron tomography of high-pressure-frozen/freeze-substituted intact chloroplasts. higher-plant thylakoids are differentiated into two interconnected and functionally distinct domains, the photosystem ii/light-harvesting complex ii-enriched stacked grana thylakoids an ...201121224341
immunostimulatory in vitro and in vivo effects of a water-soluble extract from kale.the water-soluble fraction of kale (brassica oleracea l. var. acephala dc.) had immunoglobulin (ig) production stimulating activity in human hybridoma hb4c5 cells and human peripheral blood lymphocytes. the biochemical and physical properties of the main active substance in kale were found to be a heat-stable protein with a molecular weight higher than 50 kda. the ig production-stimulating factors were assumed to act on the translational and/or secreting processes of igs. this ig production-stim ...201121228486
structural investigation of psbo from plant and cyanobacterial photosystem ii.the manganese-stabilizing protein psbo is associated with the luminal side of thylakoids close to the redox-active mn(4)ca cluster at the catalytically active site of photosystem ii (psii). psbo is believed to increase the efficiency of oxygen evolution and to stabilize the mn(4)ca cluster against photoinhibition. using small-angle x-ray scattering, we investigated the low-resolution structure of wild-type spinach psbo and that of chimeric spinach psbo fused with maltose-binding protein. small-a ...201121238459
a new cytochrome p450 belonging to the 107l subfamily is responsible for the efficient hydroxylation of the drug terfenadine by streptomyces platensis.fexofenadine, an antihistamine drug used in allergic rhinitis treatment, can be produced by oxidative biotransformation of terfenadine by streptomyces platensis, which involves three consecutive oxidation reactions. we report here the purification and identification of the enzyme responsible for the first step, a cytochrome p450 (p450)-dependent monooxygenase. the corresponding p450, designated p450(terf), was found to catalyze the hydroxylation of the t-butyl group of terfenadine and exhibited ...201121241658
development of oscillation method for reducing foodborne pathogens on lettuce and spinach.in this study, the efficacy of an oscillator for reducing the numbers of foodborne pathogens on lettuce and spinach was tested. a cocktail of three strains each of salmonella typhimurium, escherichia coli o157:h7 and listeria monocytogenes cells and of bacillus cereus spores was inoculated onto lettuce and spinach leaves and followed by oscillation at 10 hz and 20 hz for up to 30s. after treatment of inoculated lettuce leaf with an oscillator at 20 hz for 30s, 2.58, 2.82, 2.21 and 2.22 log(10)cf ...201121269718
foodborne gastroenteritis outbreak in an austrian healthcare facility caused by asymptomatic, norovirus-excreting kitchen staff.an outbreak of norovirus ggii.4 2006b affected an austrian 600-bed healthcare facility from 15 to 27 march 2009. a total of 204 patients, residents and staff fitted the outbreak case definition; 17 (8.3%) were laboratory-confirmed. foodborne origin was suspected in the 114 patient and resident cases with onset 15-18 march. a case-cohort study was performed to test the hypothesis that consumption of dishes offered on 14, 15 and 16 march (risk days) was associated with increased risk of infection. ...201121272956
genome mining in streptomyces. discovery of an unprecedented p450-catalyzed oxidative rearrangement that is the final step in the biosynthesis of pentalenolactone.the penm and pntm genes from the pentalenolactone biosynthetic gene clusters of streptomyces exfoliatus uc5319 and streptomyces arenae tu¨469 were predicted to encode orthologous cytochrome p450s, cyp161c3 and cyp161c2, responsible for the final step in the biosynthesis of the sesquiterpenoid antibiotic pentalenolactone (1). synthetic genes optimized for expression in escherichia coli were used to obtain recombinant penm and pntm, each carrying an n-terminal his(6)-tag. both proteins showed typi ...201121284395
antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities of eleven edible plants.consumers have become more interested in beneficial effects of vegetables, fruits, and tea to protect their health.201121284538
time-dependent fret with single enzymes: domain motions and catalysis in h(+)-atp synthases.h(+)-atp synthases are molecular machines which couple transmembrane proton transport with atp synthesis from adp and inorganic phosphate by a rotational mechanism. single-pair fluorescence resonance energy transfer (spfret) in single molecules is a powerful tool to analyse conformational changes. it is used to investigate subunit movements in h(+)-atp synthases from e. coli (ef(0)f(1)) and from spinach chloroplasts (cf(0)f(1)) during catalysis. the enzymes are incorporated into liposome membran ...201121287678
investigating the early stages of photosystem ii assembly in synechocystis sp. pcc 6803: isolation of cp47 and cp43 complexes.biochemical characterization of intermediates involved in the assembly of the oxygen-evolving photosystem ii (psii) complex is hampered by their low abundance in the membrane. using the cyanobacterium synechocystis sp. pcc 6803, we describe here the isolation of the cp47 and cp43 subunits, which, during biogenesis, attach to a reaction center assembly complex containing d1, d2, and cytochrome b(559), with cp47 binding first. our experimental approach involved a combination of his tagging, the us ...201121339295
cloning, expression and purification of the luminal domain of spinach photosystem 1 subunit psaf functional in binding to plastocyanin and with a disulfide bridge required for folding.the photosystem 1 subunit psaf is involved in the docking of the electron-donor proteins plastocyanin and cytochrome c6 in eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms. here we report the expression, purification and basic characterization of the luminal domain of spinach psaf, encompassing amino-acid residues 1-79. the recombinant protein was expressed in escherichia coli bl21 (de3) using a pet32 xa/lic thioredoxin fusion system. the thioredoxin fusion protein contained a his6 tag and was removed and se ...201121354471
determination of free inositols and other low molecular weight carbohydrates in vegetables.different low molecular weight carbohydrates including saccharides, polyalcohols, sugar acids, and glycosides have been identified and quantified in different edible vegetables from asteraceae, amarantaceae, amarylidaceae, brassicaceae, dioscoreaceae, and solanaceae families by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. apart from glucose, fructose, and sucrose, other saccharides such as sedoheptulose in chicory, spinach, cabbage, purple yam, eggplant, radish, and oak leaf lettuce, rutinose in eggpla ...201121366313
changes in spinach phylloepiphytic bacteria communities following minimal processing and refrigerated storage described using pyrosequencing of 16s rrna amplicons.to investigate the changes in bacterial diversity on fresh spinach phyllosphere associated with storage at refrigeration temperatures.201121371219
prevalence, distribution, and diversity of salmonella enterica in a major produce region of california.a survey was initiated to determine the prevalence of salmonella enterica in the environment in and around monterey county, ca, a major agriculture region of the united states. trypticase soy broth enrichment cultures of samples of soil/sediment (n = 617), water (n = 252), wildlife (n = 476), cattle feces (n = 795), and preharvest lettuce and spinach (n = 261) tested originally for the presence of pathogenic escherichia coli were kept in frozen storage and later used to test for the presence of ...201121378057
from spinach scare to cancer care. 201121383731
impact of spinach consumption on dna stability in peripheral lymphocytes and on biochemical blood parameters: results of a human intervention trial.introduction: a controlled intervention trial was conducted to assess the impact of spinach consumption on dna stability in lymphocytes and on health-related biochemical parameters. methods: the participants (n-á=-á8) consumed homogenised spinach (225-ág/day/person) over a period of 16-ádays. dna migration was monitored in single cell gel electrophoresis-comet assays under standard conditions, which reflect single- and double-strand breaks, after treatment of nuclei with lesion-specific enzymes ...201121384253
high and low potential forms of the qa quinone electron acceptor in photosystem ii of thermosynechococcus elongatus and spinach.the redox potential of q(a) in photosystem ii (psii) from thermosynechococcus elongatus was titrated monitoring chlorophyll fluorescence. a high potential form (e(m)=+60 -¦ 25 mv) was found in the absence of mn(4)ca, the active site for water oxidation. the low potential form (e(m)=-60 -¦ 48 mv), which is difficult to measure in conventional titration experiments, could be "locked in" by cross-linking the active enzyme. this indicates that the presence of mn(4)ca is relayed to the quinone site b ...201121393014
investigating spectrum of biological activity of 4- and 5-chloro-2-hydroxy-n-[2-(arylamino)-1-alkyl-2-oxoethyl]benzamides.in this study, a series of twenty-two 5-chloro-2-hydroxy-n-[2-(arylamino)-1-alkyl-2-oxoethyl]benzamides and ten 4-chloro-2-hydroxy-n-[2-(arylamino)-1-alkyl-2-oxoethyl]benzamides is described. the compounds were analyzed using rp-hplc to determine lipophilicity. primary in vitro screening of the synthesized compounds was performed against mycobacterial, bacterial and fungal strains. they were also evaluated for their activity related to the inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport (pet) in ...201121403599
the electronic structures of the s(2) states of the oxygen-evolving complexes of photosystem ii in plants and cyanobacteria in the presence and absence of methanol.the electronic properties of the mn(4)o(x)ca cluster in the s(2) state of the oxygen-evolving complex (oec) were studied using x- and q-band epr and q-band (55)mn-endor using photosystem ii preparations isolated from the thermophilic cyanobacterium t. elongatus and higher plants (spinach). the data presented here show that there is very little difference between the two species. specifically it is shown that: (i) only small changes are seen in the fitted isotropic hyperfine values, suggesting th ...201121406177
dynamics of the antioxidant system during seed osmopriming, post-priming germination, and seedling establishment in spinach (spinacia oleracea).osmopriming is a pre-sowing treatment that improves seed germination performance and stress tolerance. to understand osmopriming physiology, and its association with post-priming stress tolerance, we investigated the antioxidant system dynamics during three stages: during osmopriming, post-priming germination, and seedling establishment. spinach seeds (spinacia oleracea l. cv. bloomsdale) were primed with -0.6 mpa peg at 15°c for 8 d, and dried at room temperature for 2 d. unprimed and primed ge ...201121421363
aquatic arsenic: phytoremediation using floating macrophytes.phytoremediation, a plant based green technology, has received increasing attention after the discovery of hyperaccumulating plants which are able to accumulate, translocate, and concentrate high amount of certain toxic elements in their above-ground/harvestable parts. phytoremediation includes several processes namely, phytoextraction, phytodegradation, rhizofiltration, phytostabilization and phytovolatilization. both terrestrial and aquatic plants have been tested to remediate contaminated soi ...201121435676
inactivation of a human norovirus surrogate, human norovirus virus-like particles, and vesicular stomatitis virus by gamma irradiation.gamma irradiation is a nonthermal processing technology that has been used for the preservation of a variety of food products. this technology has been shown to effectively inactivate bacterial pathogens. currently, the fda has approved doses of up to 4.0 kgy to control food-borne pathogens in fresh iceberg lettuce and spinach. however, whether this dose range effectively inactivates food-borne viruses is less understood. we have performed a systematic study on the inactivation of a human norovi ...201121441330
inactivation of escherichia coli o157:h7 attached to spinach harvester blade using bacteriophage.outbreaks associated with leafy greens have focused attention on the transfer of human pathogens to these commodities during harvest with commercial equipment. attachment of escherichia coli o157:h7 on new or rusty spinach harvester blades immersed in spinach extract or 10% tryptic soy broth (tsb) was investigated. bacteriophages specific for e. coli o157:h7 were evaluated to kill cells attached to blade. a cocktail of five nalidixic acid-resistant e. coli o157:h7 isolates was transferred to 25 ...201121453119
exploring glycolate oxidase (gox) as an antiurolithic drug target: molecular modeling and in vitro inhibitor study.glycolate oxidase (gox) is one of the principal enzymes involved in the pathway of oxalate synthesis. it converts glycolate to glyoxylate by oxidation and then glyoxylate is finally converted to oxalate. therapeutic intervention of gox in this consequence thus found potential in the treatment of calcium oxalate urolithiasis. in present investigation, we explored gox in search of potential leads from traditional resources. molecular modeling of the identified leads, quercetin and kaempherol, was ...201121458484
identification and characterization of interactions of abscisic acid with mitochondrial adenine nucleotide translocators.abscisic acid (aba) is a plant hormone involved in important processes including development and stress responses. recent reports have identified a number of plant aba receptors and transporters, highlighting novel mechanisms of aba action. herein we describe application of a chemical proteomics approach leading to the identification of mitochondrial adenine nucleotide translocators (ants) as aba-interacting proteins. initial in vitro studies confirmed inhibition of ant-dependent atp translocati ...201121473740
distinct acid resistance and survival fitness displayed by curli variants of enterohemorrhagic escherichia coli o157:h7.curli are adhesive fimbriae of enterobacteriaceae and are involved in surface attachment, cell aggregation, and biofilm formation. here, we report that both inter- and intrastrain variations in curli production are widespread in enterohemorrhagic escherichia coli o157:h7. the relative proportions of curli-producing variants (c(+)) and curli-deficient variants (c(-)) in an e. coli o157:h7 cell population varied depending on the growth conditions. in variants derived from the 2006 u.s. spinach out ...201121478320
effect of long-term application of treated sewage water on heavy metal accumulation in vegetables grown in northern india.use of industrial and wastewater for irrigation is on the rise in india and other developing countries because of scarcity of good-quality irrigation water. wastewaters contain plant nutrients that favour crop growth but leave a burden of heavy metals which can enter the food chain and is a cause of great concern. the present study was undertaken on the long-term impact of irrigation with treated sewage water for growing vegetables and the potential health risk associated with consumption of suc ...201121494830
rapid detection of viable salmonella in produce by coupling propidium monoazide with loop-mediated isothermal amplification (pma-lamp).recent outbreaks linked to salmonella-contaminated produce heightened the need to develop simple, rapid, and accurate detection methods, particularly those capable of determining cell viability. in this study, we examined a novel strategy for the rapid detection and quantification of viable salmonella in produce by coupling a simple propidium monoazide sample treatment with loop-mediated isothermal amplification (pma-lamp). we first designed and optimized a lamp assay targeting salmonella. secon ...201121498750
functional analysis of ycfr and ycfq in escherichia coli o157:h7 associated with fresh produce outbreaks.fresh produce has been associated with multiple outbreaks of illness caused by escherichia coli o157:h7. the mechanism of e. coli o157:h7 survival through post-harvest processing of fresh produce needs to be understood to help develop more effective interventions. in our recent transcriptomic study of strain sakai, an isolate from the 1996 sprout outbreak in japan, and strain tw14359, an isolate from the 2006 spinach outbreak in the us, we showed that ycfr was the most significantly up-regulated ...201121498759
purification and crystallization of the cyanobacterial cytochrome b6f complex.the cytochrome b6f complex from the filamentous cyanobacteria (mastigocladus laminosus, nostoc sp. pcc 7120) and spinach chloroplasts has been purified as a homo-dimer. electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy showed the monomer to contain eight and nine subunits, respectively, and dimeric masses of 217.1, 214.2, and 286.5 kda for m. laminosus, nostoc, and the complex from spinach. the core subunits containing or interacting with redox-active prosthetic groups are peta (cytochrome f), b (cytoch ...201120960122
dietary spinach saponin-enriched lipophilic fraction inhibits platelet aggregation and blood coagulation.abstract in this study, we investigated the effect of spinach saponin-enriched lipophilic fraction (ssef) on collagen (10 μg/ml)-stimulated platelet aggregation in vivo. dietary ssef dose-dependently inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation by decreasing thromboxane a(2) production and intracellular ca(2+) agonist activity as an aggregation-inducing autacoidal molecule. in addition, ssef significantly increased the formation of cyclic amp and cyclic gmp, intracellular ca(2+) antagonists t ...201121631362
rapid detection of escherichia coli contamination in packaged fresh spinach using hyperspectral imaging.a rapid method based on hyperspectral imaging for detection of escherichia coli contamination in fresh vegetable was developed. e. coli k12 was inoculated into spinach with different initial concentrations. samples were analyzed using a colony count and a hyperspectroscopic technique. a hyperspectral camera of 400-1000nm, with a spectral resolution of 5nm was employed to acquire hyperspectral images of packaged spinach. reflectance spectra were obtained from various positions on the sample surfa ...201121645699
comparison of real-time pcr, reverse transcriptase real-time pcr, loop-mediated isothermal amplification and fda conventional microbiological method for the detection of salmonella spp. in produce.contamination of foods, especially produce, with salmonella spp. is a major concern for public health. several methods are available for the detection of salmonella in produce but their relative efficiency for detecting salmonella in commonly consumed vegetables, often associated with outbreaks of food poisoning, needs to be confirmed. in this study, the effectiveness of three molecular methods for detection of salmonella in six produce matrices was evaluated and compared to the fda microbiologi ...201121803916
determination of some heavy metals by flame atomic absorption spectrometry before coprecipitation with neodymium hydroxide.a procedure is described for the determination of trace amounts of cd(ii), ni(ii), cu(ii), pb(ii), fe(iii), co(ii), and mn(ii) that combines flame atomic absorption spectrometry with neodymium hydroxide coprecipitation. the influences of analytical parameters (amount of neodymium, ph of the model solutions, etc.) that affect quantitative recoveries of the analyte ions were investigated. the effects of concomitant ions were also examined. the detection limits for analytes were found in the range ...201121797027
dupont qualicon bax system assay for genus listeria 24e.the new bax system pcr assay for genus listeria 24e was evaluated for detecting listeria spp. in frankfurters, spinach, cooked shrimp, queso fresco cheese, and on stainless steel surfaces with a single-stage enrichment in bax system 24 listeria enrichment broth (24 leb). method comparison studies performed on samples with low-level inoculates showed that the bax system demonstrates a sensitivity equivalent or superior to the u.s. food and drug administration's bacteriological analytical manual a ...201121797015
ligation of d1-his332 and d1-asp170 to the manganese cluster of photosystem ii from <i>synechocystis</i> assessed by multifrequency pulse epr spectroscopy.multifrequency electron-spin echo envelope modulation (eseem) spectroscopy is used to ascertain the nature of the bonding interactions of various active site amino acids with the mn ions that compose the oxygen-evolving cluster (oec) in photosystem ii (psii) from the cyanobacterium synechocystis sp. pcc 6803 poised in the s2 state. spectra of natural isotopic abundance psii (14n-psii), uniformly 15n-labeled psii (15n-psii), as well as 15n-psii containing 14n-histidine (14n-his/15n-psii) are comp ...201121790179
the effects of moderately high temperature on zeaxanthin accumulation and decay.moderately high temperature reduces photosynthetic capacities of leaves with large effects on thylakoid reactions of photosynthesis, including xanthophyll conversion in the lipid phase of the thylakoid membrane. in previous studies, we have found that leaf temperature of 40°c increased zeaxanthin accumulation in dark-adapted, intact tobacco leaves following a brief illumination, but did not change the amount of zeaxanthin in light-adatped leaves. to investigate heat effects on zeaxanthin accumul ...201121785990
isolation and characterization of a novel peroxisomal choline monooxygenase in barley.glycine betaine (gb) is a compatible solute accumulated by many plants under various abiotic stresses. gb is synthesized in two steps, choline ? betaine aldehyde ? gb, where a functional choline-oxidizing enzyme has only been reported in amaranthaceae (a chloroplastic ferredoxin-dependent choline monooxygenase) thus far. here, we have cloned a cdna encoding a choline monooxygenase (cmo) from barley (hordeum vulgare) plants, hvcmo. in barley plants under non-stress condition, gb had accumulated i ...201121769646
health risk assessment of heavy metals for edible parts of vegetables grown in sewage-irrigated soils in suburbs of baoding city, china.with the long-term application of wastewater to vegetable production fields, there is concern about potential health risks of heavy metals contaminating the edible parts of vegetables grown in contaminated soils in the suburban areas of baoding city, china. the average concentration of elemental zn in sewage-irrigated soil was the highest (153.77 mg kg(-1)), followed by pb (38.35 mg kg(-1)), cu (35.06 mg kg(-1)), ni (29.81 mg kg(-1)), and cd (0.22 mg kg(-1)) which were significantly higher (p?<? ...201121769562
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