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We have developed EpDis and MassPred, extendable open source software tools that support bioinformatic research and enable parallel use of different methods for the prediction of T cell epitopes, disorder and disordered binding regions and hydropathy calculation. These tools offer a semi-automated installation of chosen sets of external predictors and an interface allowing for easy application of the prediction methods, which can be applied either to individual proteins or to datasets of a large number of proteins. In addition to access to prediction methods, the tools also provide visualization of the obtained results, calculation of consensus from results of different methods, as well as import of experimental data and their comparison with results obtained with different predictors. The tools also offer a graphical user interface and the possibility to store data and the results obtained using all of the integrated methods in the relational database or flat file for further analysis. The MassPred part enables a massive parallel application of all integrated predictors to the set of proteins. Both tools can be downloaded from http://bioinfo.matf.bg.ac.rs/home/downloads.wafl?cat=Software. Appendix A includes the technical description of the created tools and a list of supported predictors.

The antioxidant effect of ascorbic acid and EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) in food emulsions, based on whey and sunflower oils with enhanced oleic acid, alpha- and beta- tocopherol content, was not described up to now. Salad dressings based on cold-pressed high-oleic/alpha-, beta- tocopherol sunflower oil were oxidatively stable after 3 months of storage at 25 degrees C regarding primary (peroxide value, PV) and secondary (hexanal) lipid oxidation products (PV = 0.34 mmol O-2 kg(-1), hexanal value = 1.54 mg kg(-1)). Slight enhancement of PV and hexanal values was recorded in salad dressings prepared with cold-pressed medium-oleic/alpha-, beta-tocopherol oil, after 3 months of storage at 25 degrees C, and was inhibited by ascorbic acid or EDTA. Ascorbic acid (0.50 g kg(-1)) reduced PV by 80% and hexanal value by 32%. EDTA (0.075 g kg(-1)) reduced PV by 60% and hexanal value by 27%. In salad dressings, containing linoleic/alpha-, beta-tocopherol sunflower oil, the antioxidant effects of ascorbic acid and EDTA were as following: ascorbic acid (0.25-4.00 g kg(-1)) reduced PV by 83-100% and hexanal value by 82-73%; EDTA (0.075 g kg(-1)) reduced PV by 75% and hexanal value by 76%, after 12 months of storage at 4 degrees C.

Two basic proteins were isolated to homogeneity from malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grain. Proteins were identified as members of a Thaumatin-Like Protein (TLP) family, by Western blot. Isoforms, assigned as TLP-S and TLP-R, have slightly different mobility at about 22 and 27 kDa in nonreducing and reducing, conditions, and pI values of 9.5 and 9.4. respectively. The antifungal potency of malting barley grain TLPs isoforms was examined on Micrococcus lysodeikticus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans and plant pathogen Fusarium sporotrichioides growth in vitro. It was found that that IC50 value for TLP-S was two fold hi.-her. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of both isoforms were completely abolished by divalent (Ca2+ Mn2+, Mg2+) and monovalent (K+) cations, at concentrations approximating physiological ionic strength and higher. Glucanase activity was not observed; neither TLP-S nor TLP-R digested glucan. On the basis of these results, the importance of TLP for barley grain protection against fungal diseases has been discussed together with the mechanism of antimicrobial action.

The role of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expression has been investigated in various types of tumors. There are only little and controversial data about its clinical relevance in colorectal carcinoma, one of the most common carcinomas observed in humans. In this study we investigated expression of HSP70 in human colonic carcinoma and possible correlation with clinicopathology. To assess patterns (cytosolic and membrane) of HSP70 expression, the 48 surgically removed colorectal adenocarcinomas and 12 normal colonic and rectal mucosal samples were examined by immunohistochemistry and Western-blot. According to results of immunohistochemistry, expression of cytoplasmic HSP72 was significantly higher in colorectal carcinoma compared with normal and adjacent mucosa (p LT 0.01). In addition, there was significant increase in HSP72 expression in lymph node-positive compared to node-nevative group (p LT 0.001). Dukes C2 stage of colonic cancer showed significantly higher immunohistochemical score than Dukes B2 and B1 stage groups (p LT 0.05 i.e. p LT 0.02). There was no relation between expression of HSP72 and degree of tumor differentiation. Using Western blot analyses, we noticed elevated levels of cytosolic HSP70 in colorectal cancer cells compared to normal. Densitometric analysis of blots of plasma membrane HSP70 expression has shown decrease in colorectal cancer cells compared to normal mucosa. According to our results, overexpression of HSP72 in malignant tissues of patients with colorectal carcinoma is related to tumor progression, suggesting that these proteins could play an important role not only in tumorigenesis but also in the development of drug resistance. Further research is necessary to clarify the mechanisms responsible for differential HSP70 expression as well as its definitive role in colorectal cancer.