Sucrose synthase (EC 2.4.1.13) from carrot (Daucus carota) is a tetramer with a molecular mass of 320 kD and subunits of 80 kD. The enzyme has a pH optimum of 7.0 (cleavage direction). Maximal activities were measured at 55 degrees C. The Km for Suc was estimated as 87 mM and for UDP as 0.39 mM. Fructose acts as a noncompetitive inhibitor with an inhibition constant of 17.2 mM. In contrast, glu...

During the attachment of Agrobacterium tumefaciens to carrot tissue culture cells, the bacteria synthesize cellulose fibrils. We examined the role of these cellulose fibrils in the attachment process by determining the properties of bacterial mutants unable to synthesize cellulose. Such cellulose-minus bacteria attached to the carrot cell surface, but, in contrast to the parent strain, with whi...

BACKGROUND Supplying egg-laying hens with different forage materials may influence egg production and quality. The aim of this study was to examine the short-term effects of standard feed plus 70 g day(-1) per hen of three coloured carrot varieties (orange, yellow and purple) as forage material in comparison with a standard feed control on egg production, egg yolk colour and deposition of carot...

The demand for the development of functional and nutrients-rich products boosting immunity is prime focus consumers. carrot pomace, a potential by-product juice, was used to develop fortified sweet corn porridge. Response surface methodologies optimization process parameters, like, proportion pomace (10–50 g/100 g), milk (50–250 mL/100 sugar (12–20 cooking time (10–20 min) were selected assess ...

BACKGROUND There are currently 7 known serotypes of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) classified upon non-cross reactivity of neutralizing immunoglobulins. Non-neutralizing immunoglobulins, however, can exhibit cross-reactivities between 2 or more serotypes, particularly mosaic forms, which can hamper the development of highly specific immunoassays, especially if based on polyclonal antisera. Here we...

Increased use of intellectual property rights over plant germplasm has led to a complicated landscape for exchange among plant breeders. Our goal was to examine phenotypic and genotypic diversity present in commercially available carrot (Daucus carota L. var. sativus) germplasm in relation to the freedom to operate-the ability for plant breeders to access and use crop genetic diversity. A colle...

Vitamin A (VA) deficiency is a worldwide public health problem. Biofortifying existing sources of b-carotene (bC) and increasing dietary bC could help combat the issue. Two studies were performed to investigate the relative bC bioavailability of a bC supplement to purple, high-bC orange, and typical orange carrots using Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). In study 1, which used a traditi...

Carrot, a highly profitable crop in Israel, is severely damaged by Phelipanche aegyptiaca parasitism. Herbicides can effectively control the parasite and prevent damage, but for optimal results, knowledge about the soil-subsurface phenological stage of the parasite is essential. Parasitism dynamics models have been successfully developed for the parasites P. aegyptiaca, Orobanche cumana, and Or...