Anita Dolly Haubenstock Panek, Polish-born Jewish Brazilian biochemist (Cracow 01 September 1930 – Rio de Janeiro 27 March 2024)

Authored about 160 papers

Determined the primary function of trehalose in baker’s yeast as an energy source for cell division

Function of trehalose in yeast cells. Arch. Biochim. Biophys. 98:349, 1962

Showed that endogenous trehalose protects cells against damage caused by freezing (1988)

Demonstrated that the trehalose is required for survival of cells when submitted to various kinds of stresses such as dehydration, ethanol, heat and germination

Purified partially baker’s yeast trehalase

With N.O. Souza. Purification and properties of baker’s yeast trehalase. J. Biol. Chem. 239(6):1671-3, 1964

Showed the existence of a trehalose transport mechanism in yeasts

With P.S. Araujo, A.C. Panek, J.H. Crowe & L.M. Crowe. Trehalose-transporting membrane vesicles from yeasts. Biochem. Int. 24(4):731-7, 1991

Papers with over 100 citations

With E. Eleutherio, J.F.Mesquita, E. Trevisol & R.S.S. Magalhães. Revisiting yeast trehalose metabolism. Curr. Genet. 61:263-74, 2015

With F.A.V. Castro, D. Mariano, E.C.A. Eleutherio & M.D. Pereira. Cytotoxicity mechanism of two naphthoquinones (menadione and plumbagin) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. PLoS One 3:e3999, 2008

With M.B. França & E.C.A. Eleutherio. Oxidative stress and its effects during dehydration. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. A. Mol. Integr. Physiol. 146(4):621-31, 2007

With R.S. Herdeiro, M.D. Pereira & E. Eleutherio. Trehalose protects Saccharomyces cerevisiae from lipid peroxidation during oxidative stress. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1760(3):340-6, 2006

With C.G. Silva, R.S. Herdeiro, C.J. Mathias, C.S. Silveira, V.P. Rodrigues et al. Evaluation of antioxidant activity of Brazilian plants. Pharmacol. Res. 52(3):229-33, 2005

With P.D.B. Adams, D.S. Gomes, M.L.C. Pinto & E. Eleutherio. The role of glutathione transferases in cadmium stress. Toxicol. Lett. 154(1-2):81-8, 2004

With E.J. Pereira & E. Eleutherio. Protection against oxidation during dehydration of yeast. Cell Stress & Chaperon. 8(2):120-4, 2003

With D.S. Gomes, L.C. Fragoso, C. Riger & E. Eleutherio. Regulation of cadmium uptake by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1573(1):231-5, 2002

With M.D. Pereira & E. Eleutherio. Acquisition of tolerance against oxidative damage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. BMC Microbiol. 1(11), 2001

With L. Diniz Mendes, E. Bernardes, P.D. Araújo & V. Paschoalin. Preservation of frozen yeast cells by trehalose. Biotechnol. Bio. 65(5):572-8, 1999

With J. Mansure, L. Crowe & J. Crowe. Trehalose inhibits ethanol effects on intact yeast cells and liposomes. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1191(2):309-16, 1994

With E.C.A. Eleutherio & P.D. Araújo. Role of the trehalose carrier in dehydration resistance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1156(3):263-6, 1993

With E. Eleutherio & P.D. Araújo. Protective role of trehalose during heat stress in Sacharomyces cerevisiae. Cryobiology 30(6):591-6, 1993

With C. Coutinho, E. Bernardes & D. Felix. Trehalose as cryoprotectant for preservation of yeast strains. J. Biotechnol. 7(1):23-32, 1988

With A.B. Valle & J. Mattoon. Colorimetric determination of succinic acid using yeast succinate dehydrogenase. Anal. Biochim. 91(2):583-99, 1978

METHODS, TECHNIQUES AND PROCESSES 

With A.S. Martins, D.N. Peixoto, L.M.C. Paiva & C.L. A. Paiva. A simple method for obtaining reusable reactors containing immobilized trehalase: Characterization of a crude trehalase preparation immobilized on chitin particles. Enzyme and Microbial Technology 38:486-492, 2006.

With B.U. Stambuk, J.H. Crowe, L.M. Crowe & P.S. Araújo. A Dependable Method For The Synthesis Of [C14] Trehalose. Anal. Biochem. 212:150-153, 1993.  

With R.M. Ferreira, M.B. Dutra, V.M.F. Paschoalin & J.T. Silva. A new method for the purification of yeast Hsp26p (1999)

With R.M.A. Soler et al. A simple enzymatic method for trehalose quantification (1996)

With P.S. Araújo, A.C. Panek & R.Ferreira. Determination of trehalose in biological samples by a simple and stable trehalase preparation. Anal. Biochem. 176(2):432-6, 1989

With A.B. Valle & J.R. Mattoon. Colorimetric determination of succinic acid using yeast succinate dehydrogenase. Anal. Biochem. 91(2):583-99, 1978

PATENTS

With E.C.A. Eleutherio patented a process for protecting and maintenance of human, animal and plant tissues employing trehalose PI9400068-9 (1994)

With C. Meleiro & V.M.F. Paschoalin developed a process for obtaining trehalose from Saccharomyces cerevisiae PI9303490-3 (1993) 

With N. Bachinski, V.M.F. Paschoalin & C.L.A. Paiva developed a process to obtaining, purification and immobilization of trehalase from Escherichia coli. Process employing soluble and/or immobilized trehalase in enzymatic dosage of trehalose (1993)