A novel route for identifying starch diagenetic products in the archaeological record

This work introduces a novel analytical chemistry method potentially applicable to the study of archaeological starch residues. The investigation involved the laboratory synthesis of model Maillard reaction mixtures and their analysis through Fourier-Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (FTICR-MS). Thus, starch from sixteen plant species were matured while reacting it with the amino acid glycine. The FTICR-MS analysis revealed > 5,300 molecular compounds, with numerous unique heteroatom rich compound classes, ranging from 20 (Zea mays) to 50 (Sorghum bicolor). These classes were investigated as repositories of chemical structure retaining source and process-specific character, linked back to botanical provenance. We discussed the Maillard reaction products thus generated, a possible pathway for the preservation of degraded starch, while also assessing diagenetic recalcitrance and adsorption potential to mineral surfaces. In some cases, hydrothermal experimentation on starches without glycine reveals that the chemical complexity of the starch itself is sufficient to produce some Maillard reaction products. The article concludes that FTICR-MS offers a new analytical window to characterize starchy residue and its diagenetic products, and is able to recognize taxonomic signals with the potential to persist in fossil contexts.

Raman scattering and luminescence in single crystals of the amino acid glycine C2H5NO2 with an admixture of croconic acid C5H2O5

Single crystals of the amino acid glycine (Gly) C2H5NO2 doped with croconic acid (CA) C5H2O5 were synthesized by evaporation from an aqueous solution. The crystals grow in the form of hexagonal pyramids or thin plates. Analysis of polarized Raman scattering spectra (excitation wavelength of 532 nm) measured at room temperatures showed that crystals in the form of pyramids corresponded to γ-polymorph (γ-Gly), and crystals in the form of plates to α-polymorph of glycine (α - Gly). The presence of croconic acid molecules in the crystals is confirmed by the change in their color from white in pure Gly crystals to light or dark yellow, characteristic of CA crystals, as well as the presence of weak lines corresponding to CA in the Raman spectra. In single crystals of both Gly:CA polymorphs, strong green luminescence significantly exceeding the intensity of Raman scattering is observed in the range 400 - 700 nm with a maximum at 510 nm (2.44 eV) upon excitation at λ= 325 nm.

Prospects of foliar treatments with glycine solution to increase the productivity of dill

Relevance. Dill is a popular food and medicinal crop (Anethum graveolens L.) of the Celery family (Apiaceae). Seeds of dill are included in the 14th edition of the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation. However, this crop is characterized by a relatively low yield, which reduces the efficiency of its production. The use of environmentally friendly growth-regulating compounds can significantly increase the yield and improve its quality. As a growth-regulating, foliar treatment with a solution of the amino acid glycine was tested. The amino acid glycine is environmentally friendly and does not pose a danger to humans and animals. The aim of the work was to increase the productivity of garden dill using foliar treatments with glycine amino acid.Materials and methods. Dill varieties Gribovsky and Symphony were chosen as objects to study the effect of the foliar treatments with glycine. Sowing of seeds was carried out at an early date, which for the conditions of the Lipetsk region corresponds to the first decade of April, with a SZT-3.6 seeder with 15 cm row spacing. The seeding rate was 15 kg/ha, the seeding depth was 1-2 cm. were Treatment with glycine solution was achieved in plants rosette phase. The concentration of glycine was 25, 50 and 100 mg / l. The control plants were sprayed with distilled water. The crop was cut during the period of brown seeds on the central umbrella. The content of essential oil was determined by the 14th edition of the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation (method 1). The content of the main components was determined by gas chromatography.Results. As a result of the research, a positive effect of foliar treatments with glycine on both yield and the content of essential oil in the raw material of dill varieties Gribovsky and Symphony was revealed. As a result of treatments, regardless of concentration, the seeds yield and the yield of essential oil per unit area increased. The increase in the mass of 1000 pieces of fruits was not unambiguous. Based on the results obtained, the effective concentration of amino acid glycine is determined not only by the characteristics of the variety, but also by weather conditions, when, depending on the conditions during the processing period and prior to harvesting, different aspects of the drug's action appear. According to the results of observations for 2 years and an assessment by the sum of the indicators, the optimal concentration of glycine in most cases was 100 mg / l, at the same time, for the Symphony variety for two years, two-foliar treatment with low concentrations of glycine (10 mg / l rosette + 10 mg / l budding).

The effects of methanol and amino acid glycine betaine on qualitative characteristics and yield of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) cultivars

In order to investigate the effects of methanol and glycine betaine application on quality traits and yield of different fodder beet cultivars, the experiment was performed as a combined split-factorial design based on randomized complete block design with 3 replications in two years in Isfahan, Iran. The concentrations of methanol in 3 levels (control, 15 and 30% v/v methanol) were considered as the first treatment, the concentrations of glycine betaine in 2 levels (control and 4 g per liter) as the second treatment and different cultivars (‘Sentinel’, ‘Drafter’, ‘Rivolta’, ‘Elanta’, ‘Rasta’, and ‘Qualita’) were considered as the factorial. Foliar spraying was performed at three intervals every two weeks. The results showed that the methanol spraying affected on root yield, sugar, potassium and sodium content, catalase enzyme activity, superoxide dismutase, rubisco, and malondialdehyde significantly. Glycine betaine foliar application showed significant differences in root yield, sugar, potassium and sodium content, enzyme catalase activity, superoxide dismutase, rubisco, and malondialdehyde. Based on the results, the utilization of methanol and glycine betaine caused quality improvement of the sugar beet under similar conditions of the present experiment.

Synthesis and Chemical and Biological Evaluation of a Glycine Tripeptide Chelate of Magnesium

Magnesium (Mg2+) plays a crucial role in over 80% of all metabolic functions. It is becoming increasingly apparent that magnesium deficiency (hypomagnesemia) may play an important role in chronic disease. To counteract magnesium deficiency, there is an unmet clinical need to develop new fully characterized, highly bioavailable, and substantially water-soluble magnesium supplements. To this end, triglycine (HG3), a tripeptide of the amino acid glycine, was chosen as a chelating ligand for magnesium, given its natural occurrence and water solubility, and entropically-driven metal binding. Herein, we discuss the synthesis, chemical and physical characterization, and cellular uptake of a magnesium triglycine chelate (MgG3), an octahedral complex with extraordinary water solubility and improved cellular uptake in CaCo-2 cells than select commonly used magnesium supplements.

Effect of addition an amino acid or its combination with EDTA on DNA integrity and morphometry sperm heads of freeze-dried bovine spermatozoa

The objective of the current study was to investigate the effect of addition an amino acid or its combination with EDTA on DNA integrity and morphometry sperm heads of freeze-dried bovine spermatozoa. Spermatozoa were freeze-dried in medium with the addition of an amino acid glycine, cysteine, glutamine, or its combination with EDTA. Sperm head morphometry was identified at 400X magnification using Axio Vision(Zeiss Company, Germany), while for membrane plasma integrity (MPI) determined by calculation of the percentage of spermatozoa having intact plasma membrane by osmotic resistance test method and DNA integrity analysis using acridine orange staining. Sperm head had declined in size after the freeze-drying process, MPI of FD spermatozoa gradually increased significantly when FD solution was added with an amino acid solution (glycine, cysteine) and its combination with EDTA. DNA integrity of all freeze-dried spermatozoa treatments was remaining intact, no significantly different (P>0.01) among treatments. The present study concluded that the addition of an amino acid (glycine, cysteine) or its combination with EDTA could be reduced morphometric sperm heads and plasma membrane damage of freeze-dried bovine spermatozoa, however, DNA integrity of bovine sperm nucleus remaining intact after the freeze-drying process without addition both amino acids and EDTA.

Structural analysis of the PATZ1 BTB domain homodimer

PATZ1 is a ubiquitously expressed transcriptional repressor belonging to the ZBTB family that is functionally expressed in T lymphocytes. PATZ1 targets the CD8 gene in lymphocyte development and interacts with the p53 protein to control genes that are important in proliferation and in the DNA-damage response. PATZ1 exerts its activity through an N-terminal BTB domain that mediates dimerization and co-repressor interactions and a C-terminal zinc-finger motif-containing domain that mediates DNA binding. Here, the crystal structures of the murine and zebrafish PATZ1 BTB domains are reported at 2.3 and 1.8 Å resolution, respectively. The structures revealed that the PATZ1 BTB domain forms a stable homodimer with a lateral surface groove, as in other ZBTB structures. Analysis of the lateral groove revealed a large acidic patch in this region, which contrasts with the previously resolved basic co-repressor binding interface of BCL6. A large 30-amino-acid glycine- and alanine-rich central loop, which is unique to mammalian PATZ1 amongst all ZBTB proteins, could not be resolved, probably owing to its flexibility. Molecular-dynamics simulations suggest a contribution of this loop to modulation of the mammalian BTB dimerization interface.