Carotenoids and Tocopherol Profiling in Fleshy Fruits.

Carotenoids and tocopherols are among the most powerful lipophilic antioxidants accumulated in fruit and vegetable crops. This chapter describes a method for the separation and quantification of carotenoids/chlorophylls and tocopherols based on microextraction followed by reverse- and normal-phase HPLC, respectively. Using this method, high-throughput, accurate analysis of these compounds can be performed in leaf and fruit samples.

A tomato B-box protein regulates plant development and fruit quality through the interaction with PIF4, HY5, and RIN transcription factors.

During the last decade, knowledge about BBX proteins has greatly increased. Genome-wide studies identified the BBX gene family in several ornamental, industry, and food crops; however, reports regarding the role of these genes as regulators of agronomically important traits are scarce. Here, by phenotyping a knockout mutant, we performed a comprehensive functional characterization of the tomato locus Solyc12g089240, hereafter called SlBBX20. The data revealed the encoded protein as a positive regulator of light signaling affecting several physiological processes during the life span of plants. Through inhibition of PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR 4 (SlPIF4)-auxin crosstalk, SlBBX20 regulates photomorphogenesis. Later in development, it controls the balance between cell division and expansion to guarantee correct vegetative and reproductive development. In fruits, SlBBX20 is transcriptionally induced by the master transcription factor RIPENING INHIBITOR (SlRIN) and, together with ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (SlHY5), up-regulates flavonoid biosynthetic genes. Finally, SlBBX20 promotes the accumulation of steroidal glycoalkaloids and attenuates Botrytis cinerea infection. This work clearly demonstrates that BBX proteins are multilayer regulators of plant physiology because they affect not only multiple processes during plant development but they also regulate other genes at the transcriptional and post-translational levels.

Nonlinear Refraction, Excited State Absorption, and Multiphoton Absorption of 1,3-Thiazolium-5-thiolate Mesoionic Compound.

We synthesized the mesoionic compound 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-methyl-4-(4-methylphenyl)-1,3-thiazole-5-thiolate and measured its refractive and absorptive nonlinear optical response in different temporal and spectral regimes. The experiments were performed by using the Z-scan technique with two pulsed light sources: the second harmonic (at 532 nm) of a mode-locked and Q-switched Nd-YAG laser (100 ps, 10 Hz) and a Ti: Sapphire laser system (100 fs, 1 kHz) operating at 800 nm. The observation and characterization of nonlinear refraction, two- and three-photon absorption, and excited state absorption of the mesoionic compound dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide, in different concentrations, are presented and discussed with basis on the population redistribution in a three-energy-level model that allows the determination of the parameters which characterize the nonlinear response.

Phytol recycling: essential, yet not limiting for tomato fruit tocopherol accumulation under normal growing conditions.

Tocopherols are potent membrane-bound antioxidant molecules that are paramount for plant physiology and also important for human health. In the past years, chlorophyll catabolism was identified as the primary source of phytyl diphosphate for tocopherol synthesis by the action of two enzymes, PHYTOL KINASE (VTE5) and PHYTHYL PHOSPHATE KINASE (VTE6) that are able to recycle the chlorophyll-derived phytol. While VTE5 and VTE6 were proven essential for tocopherol metabolism in tomato fruits, it remains unknown whether they are rate-limiting steps in this pathway. To address this question, transgenic tomato plants expressing AtVTE5 and AtVTE6 in a fruit-specific manner were generated. Although ripe transgenic fruits exhibited higher amounts of tocopherol, phytol recycling revealed a more intimate association with chlorophyll than with tocopherol content. Interestingly, protein-protein interactions assays showed that VTE5 and VTE6 are complexed, channeling free phytol and phytyl-P, thus mitigating their cytotoxic nature. Moreover, the analysis of tocopherol accumulation dynamics in roots, a chlorophyll-devoid organ, revealed VTE5-dependent tocopherol accumulation, hinting at the occurrence of shoot-to-root phytol trafficking. Collectively, these results demonstrate that phytol recycling is essential for tocopherol biosynthesis, even in chlorophyll-devoid organs, yet it is not the rate-limiting step for this pathway under normal growth conditions.

SlBBX28 positively regulates plant growth and flower number in an auxin-mediated manner in tomato.

KEY MESSAGE: SlBBX28 is a positive regulator of auxin metabolism and signaling, affecting plant growth and flower number in tomato B-box domain-containing proteins (BBXs) comprise a family of transcription factors that regulate several processes, such as photomorphogenesis, flowering, and stress responses. For this reason, attention is being directed toward the functional characterization of these proteins, although knowledge in species other than Arabidopsis thaliana remains scarce. Particularly in the tomato, Solanum lycopersicum, only three out of 31 SlBBX proteins have been functionally characterized to date. To deepen the understanding of the role of these proteins in tomato plant development and yield, SlBBX28, a light-responsive gene, was constitutively silenced, resulting in plants with smaller leaves and fewer flowers per inflorescence. Moreover, SlBBX28 knockdown reduced hypocotyl elongation in darkness-grown tomato. Analyses of auxin content and responsiveness revealed that SlBBX28 promotes auxin-mediated responses. Altogether, the data revealed that SlBBX28 promotes auxin production and signaling, ultimately leading to proper hypocotyl elongation, leaf expansion, and inflorescence development, which are crucial traits determining tomato yield.

SELF PRUNING 3C is a flowering repressor that modulates seed germination, root architecture, and drought responses.

Allelic variation in the CETS (CENTRORADIALIS, TERMINAL FLOWER 1, SELF PRUNING) gene family controls agronomically important traits in many crops. CETS genes encode phosphatidylethanolamine-binding proteins that have a central role in the timing of flowering as florigenic and anti-florigenic signals. The great expansion of CETS genes in many species suggests that the functions of this family go beyond flowering induction and repression. Here, we characterized the tomato SELF PRUNING 3C (SP3C) gene, and show that besides acting as a flowering repressor it also regulates seed germination and modulates root architecture. We show that loss of SP3C function in CRISPR/Cas9-generated mutant lines increases root length and reduces root side branching relative to the wild type. Higher SP3C expression in transgenic lines promotes the opposite effects in roots, represses seed germination, and also improves tolerance to water stress in seedlings. These discoveries provide new insights into the role of SP paralogs in agronomically relevant traits, and support future exploration of the involvement of CETS genes in abiotic stress responses.

Auxin-driven ecophysiological diversification of leaves in domesticated tomato.

Heterobaric leaves have bundle sheath extensions (BSEs) that compartmentalize the parenchyma, whereas homobaric leaves do not. The presence of BSEs affects leaf hydraulics and photosynthetic rate. The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) obscuravenosa (obv) mutant lacks BSEs. Here, we identify the obv gene and the causative mutation, a nonsynonymous amino acid change that disrupts a C2H2 zinc finger motif in a putative transcription factor. This mutation exists as a polymorphism in the natural range of wild tomatoes but has increased in frequency in domesticated tomatoes, suggesting that the latter diversified into heterobaric and homobaric leaf types. The obv mutant displays reduced vein density, leaf hydraulic conductance and photosynthetic assimilation rate. We show that these and other pleiotropic effects on plant development, including changes in leaf insertion angle, leaf margin serration, minor vein density, and fruit shape, are controlled by OBV via changes in auxin signaling. Loss of function of the transcriptional regulator AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 4 (ARF4) also results in defective BSE development, revealing an additional component of a genetic module controlling aspects of leaf development important for ecological adaptation and subject to breeding selection.

Regulatory mechanisms behind the phenotypic plasticity associated with Setaria italica water deficit tolerance.

Drought is one of the main environmental stresses that negatively impacts vegetative and reproductive yield. Water deficit responses are determined by the duration and intensity of the stress, which, together with plant genotype, will define the chances of plant survival. The metabolic adjustments in response to water deficit are complex and involve gene expression modulation regulated by DNA-binding proteins and epigenetic modifications. This last mechanism may also regulate the activity of transposable elements, which in turn impact the expression of nearby loci. Setaria italica plants submitted to five water deficit regimes were analyzed through a phenotypical approach, including growth, physiological, RNA-seq and sRNA-seq analyses. The results showed a progressive reduction in yield as a function of water deficit intensity associated with signaling pathway modulation and metabolic adjustments. We identified a group of loci that were consistently associated with drought responses, some of which were related to water deficit perception, signaling and regulation. Finally, an analysis of the transcriptome and sRNAome allowed us to identify genes putatively regulated by TE- and sRNA-related mechanisms and an intriguing positive correlation between transcript levels and sRNA accumulation in gene body regions. These findings shed light on the processes that allow S. italica to overcome drought and survive under water restrictive conditions.

Lifestyle and risk behaviors for chronic noncommunicable diseases among healthcare undergraduates in Midwest, Brazil.

This study aimed to assess the lifestyle of undergraduate university students, and to investigate the prevalence of risk behaviors for chronic noncommunicable diseases. This cross-sectional study took place in Brasilia, with 2.163 healthcare undergraduates. We used a self-administered questionnaire for demographic variables, social class, behavioral data, self-perception of health and self-reported diseases. Given a total of 2.163 students, 69.3% were female, 65.4% were 20-29 years, men smoked more cigarettes (p < 0.01) and used more alcohol than women. We found significant differences in the consumption of beans (p < 0.04) and full-fat milk (p < 0.01) between females and males. Women also had more sedentary lifestyles (p < 0.01) and showed higher prevalences of overweight (33.8%) and obesity (5.0%). Students who did not engage in physical activity were more morbidities, overweight (p = 0.03), consumed more soft drinks (p < 0.01) and meat with excess fat (p = 0.01). University students were found to have unhealthy lifestyles. There is an urgent need for both a formulation and implementation of public health policies to promote health and improve student quality of life (QoL).

Lifestyle and risk behaviors for chronic noncommunicable diseases among healthcare undergraduates in Midwest, Brazil / Estilo de vida e comportamentos de risco para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis entre universitários da saúde na região Centro-Oeste, Brasil

Abstract This study aimed to assess the lifestyle of undergraduate university students, and to investigate the prevalence of risk behaviors for chronic noncommunicable diseases. This cross-sectional study took place in Brasilia, with 2.163 healthcare undergraduates. We used a self-administered questionnaire for demographic variables, social class, behavioral data, self-perception of health and self-reported diseases. Given a total of 2.163 students, 69.3% were female, 65.4% were 20-29 years, men smoked more cigarettes (p < 0.01) and used more alcohol than women. We found significant differences in the consumption of beans (p < 0.04) and full-fat milk (p < 0.01) between females and males. Women also had more sedentary lifestyles (p < 0.01) and showed higher prevalences of overweight (33.8%) and obesity (5.0%). Students who did not engage in physical activity were more morbidities, overweight (p = 0.03), consumed more soft drinks (p < 0.01) and meat with excess fat (p = 0.01). University students were found to have unhealthy lifestyles. There is an urgent need for both a formulation and implementation of public health policies to promote health and improve student quality of life (QoL).

Resumo Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o estilo de vida dos universitários e investigar a prevalência de comportamentos de risco para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis. Estudo transversal com 2.163 universitários da área de saúde da cidade de Brasília. Foi aplicado um questionário sobre as variáveis demográficas, classe social, comportamentos e autopercepção de saúde e doenças autorreferidas. Dos 2.163, 69,3% eram mulheres, 65,4% idade entre 20 a 29 anos, 66,8% consumiam álcool e 44,2% não realizavam atividade física. Os homens fumavam (p <0,01) e consumiam mais álcool do que as mulheres. Encontramos diferenças no consumo de feijão (p <0,04) e leite integral (p <0,01) entre homens e mulheres. Elas também apresentaram estilos de vida mais sedentários (p <0,01) e elevada prevalência de sobrepeso (33,8%) e obesidade (5,0%). Os estudantes que não praticavam atividade física tinham mais morbidades, estavam acima do peso (p = 0,03), consumiam mais refrigerantes (p <0,01) e carne com excesso de gordura (p = 0,01). Os estudantes têm adotado um estilo de vida pouco saudável. Observa-se a necessidade da elaboração e implantação de políticas públicas de promoção da saúde dentro da Universidade, com vistas à melhoria da saúde e da qualidade de vida dos universitários.

The cytosolic invertase NI6 affects vegetative growth, flowering, fruit set, and yield in tomato.

Sucrose metabolism is important for most plants, both as the main source of carbon and via signaling mechanisms that have been proposed for this molecule. A cleaving enzyme, invertase (INV) channels sucrose into sink metabolism. Although acid soluble and insoluble invertases have been largely investigated, studies on the role of neutral invertases (A/N-INV) have lagged behind. Here, we identified a tomato A/N-INV encoding gene (NI6) co-localizing with a previously reported quantitative trait locus (QTL) largely affecting primary carbon metabolism in tomato. Of the eight A/N-INV genes identified in the tomato genome, NI6 mRNA is present in all organs, but its expression was higher in sink tissues (mainly roots and fruits). A NI6-GFP fusion protein localized to the cytosol of mesophyll cells. Tomato NI6-silenced plants showed impaired growth phenotype, delayed flowering and a dramatic reduction in fruit set. Global gene expression and metabolite profile analyses of these plants revealed that NI6 is not only essential for sugar metabolism, but also plays a signaling role in stress adaptation. We also identified major hubs, whose expression patterns were greatly affected by NI6 silencing; these hubs were within the signaling cascade that coordinates carbohydrate metabolism with growth and development in tomato.

Light and ripening-regulated BBX protein-encoding genes in Solanum lycopersicum.

Light controls several aspects of plant development through a complex signalling cascade. Several B-box domain containing proteins (BBX) were identified as regulators of Arabidopsis thaliana seedling photomorphogenesis. However, the knowledge about the role of this protein family in other physiological processes and species remains scarce. To fill this gap, here BBX protein encoding genes in tomato genome were characterised. The robust phylogeny obtained revealed how the domain diversity in this protein family evolved in Viridiplantae and allowed the precise identification of 31 tomato SlBBX proteins. The mRNA profiling in different organs revealed that SlBBX genes are regulated by light and their transcripts accumulation is directly affected by the chloroplast maturation status in both vegetative and fruit tissues. As tomato fruits develops, three SlBBXs were found to be upregulated in the early stages, controlled by the proper chloroplast differentiation and by the PHYTOCHROME (PHY)-dependent light perception. Upon ripening, other three SlBBXs were transcriptionally induced by RIPENING INHIBITOR master transcriptional factor, as well as by PHY-mediated signalling and proper plastid biogenesis. Altogether, the results obtained revealed a conserved role of SlBBX gene family in the light signalling cascade and identified putative members affecting tomato fruit development and ripening.

Beyond the limits of photoperception: constitutively active PHYTOCHROME B2 overexpression as a means of improving fruit nutritional quality in tomato.

Photoreceptor engineering has recently emerged as a means for improving agronomically beneficial traits in crop species. Despite the central role played by the red/far-red photoreceptor phytochromes (PHYs) in controlling fruit physiology, the applicability of PHY engineering for increasing fleshy fruit nutritional content remains poorly exploited. In this study, we demonstrated that the fruit-specific overexpression of a constitutively active GAF domain Tyr252 -to-His PHYB2 mutant version (PHYB2Y252H ) significantly enhances the accumulation of multiple health-promoting antioxidants in tomato fruits, without negative collateral consequences on vegetative development. Compared with the native PHYB2 overexpression, PHYB2Y252H -overexpressing lines exhibited more extensive increments in transcript abundance of genes associated with fruit plastid development, chlorophyll biosynthesis and metabolic pathways responsible for the accumulation of antioxidant compounds. Accordingly, PHYB2Y252H -overexpressing fruits developed more chloroplasts containing voluminous grana at the green stage and overaccumulated carotenoids, tocopherols, flavonoids and ascorbate in ripe fruits compared with both wild-type and PHYB2-overexpressing lines. The impacts of PHYB2 or PHYB2Y252H overexpression on fruit primary metabolism were limited to a slight promotion in lipid biosynthesis and reduction in sugar accumulation. Altogether, these findings indicate that mutation-based adjustments in PHY properties represent a valuable photobiotechnological tool for tomato biofortification, highlighting the potential of photoreceptor engineering for improving quality traits in fleshy fruits.

Synthesis of New Cyclic Imides Derived from Safrole, Structure- and Ligand-based Approaches to Evaluate Potential New Multitarget Agents Against Species of Leishmania.

BACKGROUND: Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease that does not have adequate treatment. It affects around 12 million people around the world and is classified as a neglected disease by the World Health Organization. In this context, strategies to obtain new, more active and less toxic drugs should be stimulated. Sources of natural products combined with synthetic and chemoinformatic methodologies are strategies used to obtain molecules that are most likely to be effective against a specific disease. Computer-Aided Drug Design has become an indispensable tool in the pharmaceutical industry and academia in recent years and has been employed during various stages of the drug design process. OBJECTIVES: Perform structure- and ligand-based approaches, synthesize and characterize some compounds with materials available in our laboratories to verify the method's efficiency. METHODS: We created a database with 33 cyclic imides and evaluated their potential anti- Leishmanial activity (L. amazonensis and L. donovani) through ligand- and structure-based virtual screening. A diverse set selected from ChEMBL databanks of 818 structures (L. donovani) and 722 structures (L. amazonensis), with tested anti-Leishmanial activity against promastigotes forms, were classified according to pIC50 values to generate and validate a Random Forest model that shows higher statistical indices values. The structures of four different L. donovani enzymes were downloaded from the Protein Data Bank and the imides' structures were submitted to molecular docking. So, with available materials and technical feasibility of our laboratories, we have synthesized and characterized seven compounds through cyclization reactions between isosafrole and maleic anhydride followed by treatment with different amines to obtain new cyclic imides to evaluate their anti-Leishmanial activity. RESULTS: In silico study allowed us to suggest that the cyclic imides 516, 25, 31, 24, 32, 2, 3, 22 can be tested as potential multitarget molecules for leishmanial treatment, presenting activity probability against four strategic enzymes (Topoisomerase I, N-myristoyltransferase, cyclophilin and Oacetylserine sulfhydrylase). The compounds synthesized and tested presented pIC50 values less than 4.7 for Leishmania amazonensis. CONCLUSION: After combined approach evaluation, we have synthesized and characterized seven cyclic imides by IR, 1H NMR, 13C-APT NMR, COSY, HETCOR and HMBC. The compounds tested against promastigote forms of L. amazonensis presented pIC50 values less than 4.7, showing that our method was efficient in predicting true negative molecules.

Weight status, physical activity and eating habits of young adults in Midwest Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To assess weight status and eating habits of undergraduate university students in relation to gender and examine the relationships between weight status, physical activity and eating habits. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study conducted between October 2016 and May 2017. SETTING: Young adults in Midwest Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: Undergraduate university students (n 2163) majoring in health care. RESULTS: Among 2163 students, 69·3 % were female, 65·4 % were aged 20-29 years, 66·8% consumed alcohol and 44·2% did not achieve more than 150 min of physical activity per week. We found significant differences in the consumption of beans (P < 0·04) and full-fat milk (P < 0·01) between women and men. Women also had more sedentary lifestyles (P < 0·01) and showed higher prevalence of overweight (33·8 %) and obesity (5·0 %) than men. Students who did not engage in physical activity were more overweight (P = 0·03), consumed more soft drinks (P < 0·01) and meat with excess fat (P = 0·01). There was a positive association between weight status and fruit (P = 0·02), salad (P < 0·01), greens/vegetables (P < 0·01) and beans (P < 0·01) intake. CONCLUSIONS: The low level of physical activity and unhealthy eating patterns reported by the study participants were inconsistent with the national recommendations for a healthy active lifestyle for adults and may contribute to the increasing rate of overweight and obesity in this population. A joint effort between universities and all relevant government agencies is needed to develop and promote school- and community-based interventions.

Solanum lycopersicum GOLDEN 2-LIKE 2 transcription factor affects fruit quality in a light- and auxin-dependent manner.

Plastids are organelles responsible for essential aspects of plant development, including carbon fixation and synthesis of several secondary metabolites. Chloroplast differentiation and activity are highly regulated by light, and several proteins involved in these processes have been characterised. Such is the case of the GOLDEN 2-LIKE (GLK) transcription factors, which induces the expression of genes related to chloroplast differentiation and photosynthesis. The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) genome harbours two copies of this gene, SlGLK1 and SlGLK2, each with distinct expression patterns. While the former predominates in leaves, the latter is mainly expressed in fruits, precisely at the pedicel region. During tomato domestication, the selection of fruits with uniform ripening fixed the mutation Slglk2, nowadays present in most cultivated varieties, what penalised fruit metabolic composition. In this study, we investigated how SlGLK2 is regulated by light, auxin and cytokinin and determined the effect of SlGLK2 on tocopherol (vitamin E) and sugar metabolism, which are components of the fruit nutritional and industrial quality. To achieve this, transcriptional profiling and biochemical analysis were performed throughout fruit development and ripening from SlGLK2, Slglk2, SlGLK2-overexpressing genotypes, as well as from phytochrome and hormonal deficient mutants. The results revealed that SlGLK2 expression is regulated by phytochrome-mediated light perception, yet this gene can induce chloroplast differentiation even in a phytochrome-independent manner. Moreover, auxin was found to be a negative regulator of SlGLK2 expression, while SlGLK2 enhances cytokinin responsiveness. Additionally, SlGLK2 enhanced chlorophyll content in immature green fruits, leading to an increment in tocopherol level in ripe fruits. Finally, SlGLK2 overexpression resulted in higher total soluble solid content, possibly by the regulation of sugar metabolism enzyme-encoding genes. The results obtained here shed light on the regulatory network that interconnects SlGLK2, phytohormones and light signal, promoting the plastidial activity and consequently, influencing the quality of tomato fruit.

Physical activity and nutritional habits among Physical Education undergraduates: a crosssectional study in Brasília / Atividade física e hábitos nutricionais entre estudantes de Educação Física: um estudo transversal em Brasília

Abstract Studies carried out in Brazil have demonstrated that the lifestyle profile of university students presents worrying deficiencies in respect to physical activity and eating habits. The aim was to evaluate the dietary habit and physical activity profile of physical education students and investigate the association between nutritional status, physical activity and eating habits. A cross-sectional design with 903 Physical Education students. All the questions were extracted from the Surveillance of Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases (Vigitel). The women were found to be more sedentary (p<0.01) and showed a higher prevalence of obesity. Those who did not practice physical activity had a high prevalence of having a chronic disease. The men had a more adequate diet and physical activity profile. Studies that focus on promoting healthy habits should be inserted early in the universities.

Resumo Estudos realizados no Brasil demonstraram que o perfil de estilo de vida de universitários apresentam deficiências preocupantes em relação à atividade física e hábitos alimentares. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar os hábitos alimentares e o perfil de atividade física dos estudantes de Educação Física e investigar a associação entre o estado nutricional, atividade física e hábitos alimentares. Estudo transversal com 903 estudantes de Educação Física. Todas as questões foram retiradas do Sistema de Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para as Doenças Crônicas (Vigitel). As mulheres eram mais sedentárias (p<0,01) e apresentaram maior prevalência de obesidade. Aqueles que não praticavam atividade física tinham alta prevalência de sofrer uma doença crônica. Os homens tinham uma dieta e um perfil de atividade física mais adequado Estudos voltados à promoção de hábitos saudáveis devem ser inseridos nas universidades.

Inatividade física e fatores de risco para doenças crônicas em professores universitários / Physical inactivity and risk factors for chronic diseases in university professors

Introdução: Os baixos níveis de atividade fisica estão relacionados com o aumento da ocorrência de doenças crônicas. Objetivos: Verificar a prevalência dos comportamentos de risco para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis e associar esses comportamentos com a inatividade física de professores universitários de uma instituição privada na cidade de Brasília, DF, Brasil. Métodos: Participaram 285 professores universitários de uma instituição particular. Os dados foram coletados por meio de um questionário autoaplicável e o nível de atividade física foi avaliado pelo Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física. Resultados: A prevalência de baixos níveis de atividade física foi de 61,4%, onde os professores fisicamente inativos tinham menor consumo de frutas/ verduras/legumes (RP:2,47;IC95%:1,28-3,18) e consumo excessivo de carne com gordura (RP:2,15;IC95%1,42-2,97), refrigerante (RP:2,02;IC95%:1,69-2,75) e álcool (RP:1,98;IC95%:1,22-2,86). Conclusão: Os professores apresentaram elevada prevalência de comportamentos de risco para doenças crônicas e a maioria deles foi classificada como insuficientemente ativos. Assim, sugere-se politicas públicas dentro da universidade para prevenção de doenças e melhora da qualidade de vida.

Introduction: Low levels of physical activity are related to the increase in the occurrence of chronic diseases. Objectives: To verify the prevalence of risk behaviors for chronic non-communicable diseases; and to associate these behaviors with the physical inactivity of university professors of a private institution in the city of Brasília, DF, Brazil. Methods: The study involved 285 university professors from a private institution. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire and the level of physical activity was assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results: The prevalence of low levels of physical activity was 61.4%. Physically inactive teachers showed lower consumption of fruit/vegetable/greens (RP: 2.47; 95% CI: 1.28-3.18), and excessive consumption of fat meat: 2.15; 95% CI 1.42-2.97), soft drinks (RP: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.69-2.75) and alcohol (RP: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.22-2.86). Conclusion: Teachers presented high prevalence of risk behaviors for chronic diseases and most of them were classified as insufficiently active. Thus, public policies are recommended, aiming at disease prevention and improvement of the quality of life within the university.

A Tomato Tocopherol-Binding Protein Sheds Light on Intracellular α-Tocopherol Metabolism in Plants.

Tocopherols are non-polar compounds synthesized in the plastids, which function as major antioxidants of the plant cells and are essential in the human diet. Both the intermediates and final products of the tocopherol biosynthetic pathway must cross plastid membranes to reach their sites of action. So far, no protein with tocopherol binding activity has been reported in plants. Here, we demonstrated that the tomato SlTBP protein is targeted to chloroplasts and able to bind α-tocopherol. SlTBP-knockdown tomato plants exhibited reduced levels of tocopherol in both leaves and fruits. Several tocopherol deficiency phenotypes were apparent in the transgenic lines, such as alterations in photosynthetic parameters, dramatic distortion of thylakoid membranes and significant variations in the lipid profile. These results, along with the altered expression of genes related to photosynthesis, and tetrapyrrole, lipid, isoprenoid, inositol/phosphoinositide and redox metabolism, suggest that SlTBP may act in conducting tocopherol (or its biosynthetic intermediates) between the plastid compartments and/or at the interface between chloroplast and endoplasmic reticulum membranes, affecting interorganellar lipid metabolism.

Th1-Biased Immunomodulation and In Vivo Antitumor Effect of a Novel Piperine Analogue.

Natural products have an important role as prototypes in the synthesis of new anticancer drugs. Piperine is an alkaloid amide with antitumor activity and significant toxicity. Then, the N-(p-nitrophenyl)acetamide piperinoate (HE-02) was synthesized, and tested for toxicological and antitumor effects. The toxicity was evaluated in vitro (on RAW 264.7 cells and mice erythrocytes) and in vivo (acute toxicity in mice). The Ehrlich ascites carcinoma model was used to evaluate the antitumor activity of HE-02 (6.25, 12.5 or 25 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, i.p.), as well as toxicity. HE-02 induced only 5.01% of hemolysis, and reduced the viability of RAW 264.7 cells by 49.75% at 1000 µg/mL. LD50 (lethal dose 50%) was estimated at around 2000 mg/kg (i.p.). HE-02 reduced Ehrlich tumor cell viability and peritumoral microvessels density. There was an increase of Th1 helper T lymphocytes cytokine profile levels (IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-12) and a decrease of Th2 cytokine profile (IL-4, IL-10). Moreover, an increase was observed on reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide production. Weak in vivo toxicological effects were recorded. Our data provide evidence that the piperine analogue HE-02 present low toxicity, and its antitumor effect involves modulation of immune system to a cytotoxic Th1 profile.