The use of polysaccharides as DNA carriers has high potential for gene therapy applications. Pectin is a structural plant polysaccharide heterogeneous with respect to its chemical structure. It contains branches rich in galactose residues which serve as potential ligands for membrane receptors interaction. In order to make the anionic pectin applicable for DNA complexation, it was modified with...

Two Chinese jujube (Zizyphus jujuba) cultivars ('Huanghua' and 'Zhanhua') at unripe and ripe stages were investigated. During ripening, the weight, pH, hardness, and chewiness of both cultivars decreased while titratable acidity, total soluble solid content, and pectin contents increased. More than 75% pectins of the fruits were water-soluble pectin (WSP). Pectins shared the common major compos...

In addition to the role of the cell wall as a physical barrier against pathogens, some of its constituents, such as pectin-derived oligogalacturonides (OGA), are essential components for elicitation of defence responses. To investigate how modifications of pectin alter defence responses, we expressed the fruit-specific Fragaria x ananassa pectin methyl esterase FaPE1 in the wild strawberry Frag...

We performed a screen for genetic suppressors of cobra, an Arabidopsis mutant with defects in cellulose formation and an increased ratio of unesterified/esterified pectin. We identified a suppressor named mongoose1 (mon1) that suppressed the growth defects of cobra, partially restored cellulose levels, and restored the esterification ratio of pectin to wild-type levels. mon1 was mapped to the M...

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of stabilization of retinyl palmitate (RP) on its skin permeation and distribution profiles. Skin permeation and distribution study were performed using Franz diffusion cells along with rat dorsal skin, and the effect of drug concentration and the addition of pectin on skin deposition profiles of RP was observed. The skin distribution of RP in...

Very little is known about the occurrence of pectin in wood and it is speculated that between 10 and 40 mg g of wood consists of pectin. The present study aimed to quantify pectin in eucalyptus wood and to determine the influence of tree species, yield potential of the site, tree age class and wood tissue type on its

Pectin is a main component of the plant cell wall and is the most complex family of polysaccharides in nature. Its composition is essential for the normal growth and morphology pattern, as demonstrated by pectin-defective mutant phenotypes. Besides this basic role in plant physiology, in tomato, pectin structure contributes to very important quality traits such as fruit firmness. Sixty-seven di...

High Methoxy Pectin (HMP), Sugar Beet Pectin (SBP), Soy Pectin (SOY), and Fructooligosaccharide (FOS, as a positive control) were used to determine fermentation properties considering applicability as functional foods, particularly related to colon health. Certain beneficial effects of carbohydrates in humans can be postulated as being due to microorganisms and metabolites (short-chain fatty ac...

The effect of high methoxy apple pectin, a carbohydrate gelling agent, on the intestinal absorption of glucose, water, and sodium was studied in man. The effect of intraluminal fibre was evaluated in 22 healthy volunteers by the intestinal perfusion technique under an occlusive balloon. The test solutions (NaCl 130 mM, KCl 5 mM, glucose or mannitol 30 mM, PEG 4000 5 g/l) were perfused just beyo...

Two separate balance experiments of P, Ca, Mg and Zn were carried out on 5 lots of 4 growing pigs each (35-40 kg) adapted for 3 weeks to one of the diets studied. In the first experiment, the control diet was compared with a diet containing 20% of coarse wheat bran, thus richer in minerals, the quantities ingested not being equalized. In the second experiment, three diets were compared: a contr...