AIM To study the bioavailability of selenium enriched yeast in preterm infants living in a low selenium area (Hungary). METHODS Thirty six preterm infants were randomly assigned to two groups at birth with respect to selenium supplementation. In the supplemented group (n = 18) infants received 4.8 mg of selenium enriched yeast containing 5 micrograms selenium daily. RESULTS In the supplemen...

Zinc cluster proteins are a large family of transcriptional regulators with a wide range of biological functions. The zinc cluster proteins Ecm22, Upc2, Sut1 and Sut2 have initially been identified as regulators of sterol import in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These proteins also control adaptations to anaerobic growth, sterol biosynthesis as well as filamentation and mating. Ort...

Metallopeptidase family M49 is characterized by five conserved sequence regions and the unique motif HEXXGH with two histidines ligands of the active-site zinc ion. The crystal structure of the yeast ortholog represents a prototype for the whole family. To investigate the role of two invariant amino acid residues, a Glu of the zinc-binding motif, and a Tyr, 21Å from the catalytic zinc center, m...

Ferrochelatase was purified to homogeneity from yeast mitochondrial membranes and found to be a 40-kDa polypeptide with a pI at 6.3. Fatty acids were absolutely necessary to measure the activity in vitro. The Michaelis constants for protoporphyrin IX (9 x 10(-8) M), ferrous iron (1.6 x 10(-7) M), and zinc (9 x 10(-6) M) were determined on purified enzyme preparations in the presence of dithioth...

Two full-length cDNAs (OmZnT1 and OmFET) encoding membrane transporters were identified by yeast functional screening in the heavy metal tolerant ericoid mycorrhizal isolate Oidiodendron maius Zn. OmZnT1 belongs to the Zn-Type subfamily of the cation diffusion facilitators, whereas OmFET belongs to the family of iron permeases. Their properties were investigated in yeast by functional complemen...

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, genetic studies suggest that the RIM1 gene encodes a positive regulator of meiosis. rim1 mutations cause reduced expression of IME1, which is required for expression of many meiotic genes, and thus lead to a partial defect in meiosis and spore formation. We report the sequence of RIM1 and functional analysis of its coding region. The RIM1 gene product (RIM...

The use of selenized yeast as enriched selenium supplements in human nutrition has become a topic of increasing interest over the last decade. The present study was designed with the aim to achieve a balance between selenium (Se) incorporation and optimal growth of yeast cells along with effect of Se enrichment on antioxidant defense status of yeast cells. Since oxidative stress has been known ...

Zinc is a ubiquitous metal in all life forms, as it is a structural component of the almost 10% of eukaryotic proteins, which are called zinc-binding proteins. In zinc-limiting conditions such as those found during infection, pathogenic fungi activate the expression of several systems to enhance the uptake of zinc. These systems include ZIP transporters (solute carrier 39 family) and secreted z...

Abstract Trace metals, particularly zinc, influence the growth and metabolism of yeast. In literature recommended concentration zinc in pitching wort is > 0.15 mg/L; lower concentrations cause fermentation problems reduce consequence final beer quality. The aim this study was exploration changes bioavailability (available zinc), which never considered before, mass balance total during maltin...

OBJECTIVE Isotope ratio mass spectrometry of hydrogen and oxygen is frequently used to determine total energy expenditure (TEE) using doubly labeled water. Conventionally, hydrogen isotope ratio is determined in hydrogen gas generated from water samples using zinc reduction. We compare this with a new automated platinum method to determine the ratios of hydrogen isotopes in deuterium-enriched w...