Microbial Status of White Asparagus Spears during Storage in Moist Packages.

White asparagus is a high-value commodity of large economic importance in Germany. Its harvest period lasts only a limited part of the year, during which daily yield and also market demand are highly variable. Harvested asparagus is perishable; thus, quality control and shelf life must be ensured by proper handling, e.

Synthesis and characterization of quantum dot nanoparticles bound to the plant volatile precursor of hydroxy-apo-10'-carotenal.

This study is focused on the synthesis and characterization of hydroxy-apo-10'-carotenal/quantum dot (QD) conjugates aiming at the in vivo visualization of β-ionone, a carotenoid-derived volatile compound known for its important contribution to the flavor and aroma of many fruits, vegetables, and plants. The synthesis of nanoparticles bound to plant volatile precursors was achieved via coupling reaction of the QD to C27-aldehyde which was prepared from α-ionone via 12 steps in 2.4% overall yield.

Epigenetic regulation of depot-specific gene expression in adipose tissue.

In humans, adipose tissue is distributed in subcutaneous abdominal and subcutaneous gluteal depots that comprise a variety of functional differences. Whereas energy storage in gluteal adipose tissue has been shown to mediate a protective effect, an increase of abdominal adipose tissue is associated with metabolic disorders. However, the molecular basis of depot-specific characteristics is not completely understood yet.

Antiproliferative effects of DNA methyltransferase 3B depletion are not associated with DNA demethylation.

Silencing of genes by hypermethylation contributes to cancer progression and has been shown to occur with increased frequency at specific genomic loci. However, the precise mechanisms underlying the establishment and maintenance of aberrant methylation marks are still elusive. The de novo DNA methyltransferase 3B (DNMT3B) has been suggested to play an important role in the generation of cancer-specific methylation patterns.