Fabiana Pizzolongo

Modulation of the Pentose Phosphate Pathway Induces Endodermal Differentiation in Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells can differentiate in vitro into a variety of cell types. Efforts to produce endodermal cell derivatives, including lung, liver and pancreas, have been met with modest success. Understanding how the endoderm originates from ES cells is the first step to generate specific cell types for therapeutic purposes. Recently, it has been demonstrated that inhibition of Myc or mTOR induces endodermal differentiation. Both Myc and mTOR are known to be activators of the Pentose Phosphate Pathway (PPP). We found that, differentely from wild type (wt), ES cells unable to produce pentose sugars through PPP differentiate into endodermal precursors in cell culture conditions generally non-permissive to generate them. The same effect was observed when wt ES cells were differentiated in presence of chemical inhibitors of the PPP. These data highlight a new role for metabolism. Indeed, to our knowledge, it is the first time that modulation of a metabolic pathway is described to be crucial in determining ES cell fate.

The effects of probiotics and prebiotics on the fatty acid profile and conjugated linoleic acid content of fermented cow milk

Abstract The ability of probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus La5 and Bifidobacterium animalis Bb12), to produce conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in association with Streptococcus thermophilus and Lb. bulgaricus during milk fermentation has been evaluated in this study. Pasteurized cow milk and infant formula were used. Infant formula was selected for its high linoleic acid content, for being a source of CLA and for its prebiotic compounds, e.g. galacto-oligosaccharides. The microorganisms were not able to increase the CLA content of the fermented products under the given experimental conditions. No statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) occurred between the CLA content in milk and the fermented samples. The CLA contents of 10 commercial fermented milk products were determined. The highest CLA content was observed in fermented milk containing only Str. thermophilus and Lb. bulgaricus.

Degradation kinetic (D100) of lycopene during the thermal treatment of concentrated tomato paste

Abstract Heat treatments can cause degradation in tomatoes of lycopene which has important antioxidant effects. No information about decimal reduction time (D100) of lycopene is available. D-value is the time required at a given temperature to reduce 90% of the molecule. This study for the first time determine the kinetic of lycopene thermal degradation. The content was measured at regular intervals of pasteurization using canned tomato paste to determinate D value. Microbiological analysis was carried out to verify product stability after packaging. Yeasts, molds and lactic acid bacteria were determined. The pasteurization time allowed to observe a loss of the red color. Lycopene content, after an increase at 8 min, decreased at 32 min of pasteurization. D100 value was calculated at 75 min; a diminution of 90% in lycopene content in the concentrated tomato paste was observed. Microbiological analysis confirmed the stability of products after 8 min of pasteurization.

Evaluation of microfiltration and heat treatment on the microbiological characteristics, phenolic composition and volatile compound profile of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) juice: Effects of microfiltration and heatingon quality attributes of pomegranate juice

BACKGROUND Since processing technology and storage may influence the sensory and nutritional value as well as the shelf life of pomegranate juice (PJ), mild technologies based on microfiltration may be a promising alternative to heat treatments for fruit juice preservation. In this study, physicochemical and microbiological properties of raw (RPJ), microfiltered (MPJ) and cloudy pasteurized (PPJ) PJ were compared over a period of 4 weeks. RESULTS Data demonstrated that microfiltration was comparable to pasteurization in guaranteeing microbiological stability of the juice, avoiding spoilage of the final product. After treatment, PPJ showed the highest amounts of gallic acid (GA) and ellagic acid derivatives (EAs). During storage, the amount of ellagitannins, EAs and GA similarly decreased in all types of juice. Trends towards variations of monomeric anthocyanins in MPJ and variations of polymeric and copigmented anthocyanins in both MPJ and PPJ were found over storage. CONCLUSION The optimization of pretreatments and filtration parameters can lead to the industrial scale-up of microfiltration technology for the development of high-quality non-heat-treated PJ.

Impact of traditional and microwave roasting on chemical composition of hazelnut cultivar ‘Tonda di Giffoni’

Roasting is a widespread practice for the preservation of hazelnuts. Because traditional treatments conducted by electrical ovens are associated with high energy costs and production of undesired chemical compounds, roasting based on microwaves has been tested by scientists in recent years as an attractive alternative to traditional process. In this study the impact of traditional and microwave roasting on the chemical composition of the Italian hazelnut cultivar ‘Tonda di Giffoni’ was investigated. Kernels roasted using microwave and microwave – infrared combined treatments showed dry weight, colour and fracturability values similar to those obtained by traditional treatment. Microwaves preserved hazelnut phenol compounds showing a loss of 7.5% with respect to unroasted hazelnut, whereas loss of total phenols higher than 44% were observed in traditional roasted hazelnuts. Microwave roasting produced the lowest amount of free Ne-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML): 865.4 μg/kg, whereas up to 2,314.6 μg/kg was det...