Adaptive Modelling of Mutated FMO3 Enzyme Could Unveil Unexplored Scenarios Linking Variant Haplotypes to TMAU Phenotypes

Background: Trimethylaminuria (TMAU) is a rare genetic disease characterized by the accumulation of trimethylamine (TMA) and its subsequent excretion trough main body fluids, determining the characteristic fish odour in affected patients. We realized an experimental study to investigate the role of several coding variants in the causative gene FMO3, that were only considered as polymorphic or benign, even if the available literature on them did not functionally explain their ineffectiveness on the encoded enzyme. Methods: Mutational analysis of 26 TMAU patients was realized by Sanger sequencing. Detected variants were, subsequently, deeply statistically and in silico characterized to determine their possible effects on the enzyme activity. To achieve this goal, a docking prediction for TMA/FMO3 and an unbinding pathway study were performed. Finally, a TMAO/TMA urine quantification by 1H-NMR spectroscopy was performed to support modelling results. Results: The FMO3 screening of all patients highlighted the presence of 17 variants distributed in 26 different haplotypes. Both non-sense and missense considered variants might impair the enzymatic kinetics of FMO3, probably reducing the interaction time between the protein catalytic site and TMA, or losing the wild-type binding site. Conclusions: Even if further functional assays will confirm our predictive results, considering the possible role of FMO3 variants with still uncertain effects, might be a relevant step towards the detection of novel scenarios in TMAU etiopathogenesis.

A new geological map and review of the Middle Devonian rocks of Westray and Papa Westray, Orkney, Scotland

The Middle Devonian lacustrine sediments of Orkney, off the northeast Scottish mainland, are composed largely of the Lower and Upper Stromness Formations and overlying Rousay Formation. These three formations have been subdivided and defined by vertebrate biostratigraphic biozones with recent division of the Rousay Formation into three further units based on characteristic fish fossils. The division of the Rousay Formation has enabled a map to be constructed of the solid geology of the island of Westray, Orkney, based on fish identification, detailed logging of sedimentary cycles throughout the Rousay succession, parameters of divisional boundaries, and a survey of faults marking sinistral transtensional movement parallel to the Great Glen Fault. Post-Carboniferous shortening and basin inversion led to uplift, folding and reactivation of normal faults as reverse faults, to form a positive strike-slip flower structure in Westray. A suite of Permian igneous dykes intruded across Orkney include three minor offshoots in Westray. The resulting map is the first to make use of biostratigraphic units within the Rousay Flagstone which are now regarded as Members.

Natural Hydroxyapatite Synthesis from Fish Bones: "Atlantic Bonito" (Sarda sarda)

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is produced from animal sources like bovine-sheep bones and from human sources with different techniques. Nowadays, it is very crucial utilizing higher valued products from waste materials. Especially, fish bones become major sources for HA production. We have used the waste bone of "Atlantic Bonito" (Sarda sarda), which is a very characteristic fish species. It lives through Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and up to the Black Sea, where it is regarded as a point commercial fish. In this study, the fish bones of "Atlantic Bonito" (Sarda sarda) were collected and cleaned from flesh and greasy parts with distilled boiling water. It was washed again with distilled water, dried and calcinated for 4 hours at 850 °C. Afterwards the material was analysed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). XRD analysis revealed the obtained bioceramic material is made of 66.7% HA and 33.3% TCP. The fish bone of “Atlantic Bonito” (Sarda sarda) can be easily trandformed to bioceramic material and it can be used in applications where partly resorbable and economic biomaterials with low carbon footprint needed.

The use of fish in Ilhabela (São Paulo/Brazil): preferences, food taboos and medicinal indications

This study was conducted in three communities of artisanal fishermen from Ilhabela, located on the northern coast of São Paulo, Brazil. The objective was to analyze the preferences, taboos and medicinal indications of fish and thus representing one of the interactions of fishermen with fish stocks. Data collection was conducted through interviews with the aid of semi-structured questionnaires. We interviewed 25 families, 29 residents in three communities studied during our fieldwork for data collection. Five interviews were done in Jabaquara Beach, 6 in Fome Beach and 14 Serraria Beach. During the interviews, 18 species were cited as preferred for consumption, 11 species considered to be taboo (food prohibited), 5 species were cited as avoided as food, and 4 species indicated in case of illness. The families of fishermen prefer to consume finfish and do not consume puffer fish, the latter probably due to its toxic characteristic. Fish such as little tunny, largehead hairtail, shark, serra mackerel and king mackerel are avoided by unhealthy people and in cases of wounds, inflammation, pregnancy and postpartum. Other fish, such as sea chubs, silver porgy, bluefish and grouper are reported as medicinal in these situations. Aspects related to fish consumption are part of the knowledge of fishermen and their families and provide a wealth of information that combined to biological information is useful for the conservation of fishery resources. Data such as those presented in this study, regarding the use of aquatic animals for treatment of diseases, could serve as a basis for future studies on substances that contain active elements in curing diseases.

Defining environmentally acceptable flow downstream intake structures in Croatia

Determining minimum water flows that will continuously run through a natural channel downstream of a water intake (Q0) is a multidisciplinary problem. It is, however, not approached in a multidisciplinary way in most countries. This paper offers an overview of the main methods and proposes a practical and environmentally more acceptable way of determining the retained flow, namely the environmentally acceptable flow (EAF). It is proposed that until the conditions are created for use of more complex methods and/or biological response techniques, the EAF be defined by determining whether the retained flow is sufficient for sustaining and developing indigenous wildlife in the streams by ensuring of the essential living conditions for the bioindicator species. The proposed bioindicators are characteristic fish populations of a specific type of stream and stream reaches. Being the final link in the ecological food chain, fish species are reliable indicators of bioecological balance in a stream.

Fishy flavour in dairy products: II. The volatile compounds associated with fishy flavour in butterfat

SummaryConstituents of a flavour concentrate from fishy butterfat were separated by gas chromatography on silicone oil and ‘Carbowax 400’ columns. Two fractions with distinct flavours were obtained, the one of oily flavour and containing n-hexanal, n-heptanal, hex-2-enal and heptan-2-one, the other of metallic flavour, containing a single carbonyl compound present in relatively small amount. It is considered that these compounds with the exception of heptan-2-one are mainly responsible for the characteristic fish-oil flavour.Other compounds isolated include propanal, n-pentanal, n-octanal, n-nonanal, n-decanal, acetone, pentan-2-one, nonan-2-one, undecan-2-one, acraldehyde, pent-2-enal, hept-2-enal, oct-2-enal, non-2-enal, hepta-2, 4-dienal, a compound resembling octa-2, 4-dienal, a compound with a mushroom flavour, and a compound that formed the 2, 4-dinitrophenylosazone of methylglyoxal.