Enhanced ethanol and chitosan production from wheat straw by Mucor indicus with minimal nutrient consumption

Recently, Mucor indicus was introduced as a promising ethanol producing microorganism for fermentation of lignocellulosic hydrolysates, showing a number of advantages over Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, high nutrient requirement is the main drawback of the fungus in efficient ethanol production from lignocelluloses. In this study, application of fungal extract as a potential nutrient source replacing all required nutrients in fermentation of wheat straw by M. indicus was investigated. Wheat straw was pretreated with N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) at 120 °C for 1–5 h prior to enzymatic hydrolysis. Hydrolysis yield was improved at least by 6-fold for 3 h pretreated straw compared with that of untreated one. A fungal extract was produced by autolysis of M. indicus biomass, an unavoidable byproduct of fermentation. Maximum free amino nitrogen (2.04 g/L), phosphorus (1.50 g/L), and total nitrogen (4.47 g/L) as well as potassium, magnesium, and calcium in the fungal extract were obtained by autolysis of the biomass at 50 °C and pH 5.0. The fungal extract as a nutrient-rich supplement substituted yeast extract and all other required minerals in fermentation and enhanced the ethanol yield up to 92.1% of the theoretical yield. Besides, appreciate amounts of chitosan were produced as another valuable product of the autolysis.     

Kinetics of infected insect cell osmolysis and enhanced protein release using a modified disruption method

We have studied and characterized a cell disruption method to produce a protein extract from recombinant Baculovirus infected insect cells based on osmotic lysis. Cell lysis kinetics were measured during a 24-h incubation in lysis buffer and resulting data sets were curve fitted to a hyperbola, visually similar to the Michaelis–Menten curve, to determine the maximum concentration of released protein and the time required to reach equilibrium. Effect of parameters such as pH, ionic strength and infection phase were evaluated, and based on fittings optimal protein release conditions were obtained for total cell protein as well as the recombinant protein, HPV 16 L1. It was demonstrated that pH and the phase of infection can vastly influence the amount of release while ionic strength only effects the time required to achieve equilibrium in protein release. Osmolysis can be a mild, yet effective method to release recombinant protein with high recovery levels and hence can be used in capacities where stringent criteria regarding contamination with surfactant or non-cytoplasmic contents are observed.     

Design and synthesis of new fused carbazole-imidazole derivatives as anti-diabetic agents: In vitro α-glucosidase inhibition,kinetic, and in silico studies

Twenty three fused carbazole–imidazoles 6a–w were designed, synthesized, and screened as new α-glucosidase inhibitors. All the synthesized fused carbazole-imidazoles 6a-w were found to be more active than acarbose (IC₅₀?=?750.0?±?1.5?µM) against yeast α-glucosidase with IC₅₀ values in the range of 74.0?±?0.7–298.3?±?0.9?µM. Kinetic study of the most potent compound 6v demonstrated that this compound is a competitive inhibitor for α-glucosidase (K_i value?=?75?µM). Furthermore, the in silico studies of the most potent compounds 6v and 6o confirmed that these compounds interacted with the key residues in the active site of α-glucosidase.     

The lost correlation between heat shock protein 70 (HSPA1A) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuria

We aimed to study the relation between plasma levels of stress-induced heat shock protein 70 (HSPA1A) with plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein A1 (Apo-A1), and HDL-C/Apo-A1 ratio. In a matched case-control study on patients with diabetes (40 patients with albuminuria and 40 without albuminuria matched for age, sex, and body mass index), we observed that plasma levels of HSPA1A and PAI-1 are increased in patients with albuminuria (0.55 ± 0.02 vs. 0.77 ± 0.04 ng/ml, p value <0.001 for HSPA1A; 25.9 ± 2 vs. 31.8 ± 2.4 ng/ml, p value <0.05 for PAI-1). There was a significant correlation between HSPA1A and PAI-1 in diabetic patients without albuminuria (r = 0.28; p value = 0.04), but not in those with albuminuria (r = 0.07; p value = 0.63). No association was found between HSPA1A and HDL-C, between HSPA1A and Apo-A1, or between HSPA1A and HDL-C/Apo-A1 ratio. We concluded that there is a direct correlation between plasma HSPA1A and PAI-1 levels in patients with diabetes, which is lost when they develop albuminuria.     

Shaken not stirred: a facile synthesis of 1,4-bis(furo[2,3-d]-pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione-5-yl)benzenes by one-pot reaction of isocyanides, N,N'-dimethylbarbituric acid, and terephthaldialdehyde

A simple and efficient synthesis of 1,4-bis(furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione-5-yl)benzene derivatives was achieved via a one-pot three-component reaction of isocyanides, N,N'-dimethylbarbituric acid, and terephthaldialdehyde in DMF at room temperature for 30 min. These improved reaction conditions allow the preparation of highly substituted furopyrimidinones in high yields and purity under mild reaction conditions.     

Correlation between the immune checkpoints and EMT genes proposes potential prognostic and therapeutic targets in ESCC

Journal of Molecular Histology - PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4, TIM-3, and LAG-3, crucial immune checkpoint molecules in the tumor microenvironment, identify as key targets for cancer immunotherapy. There is...     

The effect of compatible and incompatible Azospirillum brasilense strains on proton efflux of intact wheat roots

The effect of two Azospirillum strains (SP-7, Dol) was compared on root proton efflux and root enlargement of three wheat cultivars (Ghods, Omid and Roshan). Root colonization varied greatly among strain–plant combinations. Inoculation enhanced proton efflux and root elongation of wheat roots but this effect was directly dependent on the strain–plant combination. Strain SP-7 stimulated the greatest proton efflux and root elongation in cv. Roshan, whereas strain Dol induced the best effect on both these phenomena in cv. Ghods. Based on positive correlation between these two phenomena, it was suggests that proton efflux is related to increasing of root length by Azospirillum inoculation. The number of bacteria of both Azospirillum strains in root of cv. Omid was less than the other cultivars. Proton extrusion and root elongation of cv. Omid failed to respond significantly with these two strains. This may be due to incompatible host-strain combination. Thus compatible strains are necessary for increasing of proton efflux and root extension in wheat cultivars.     

Toward a preliminary assessment of the diversity and origin of Cyprinid fish genus Carassius in Iran

Introduction of non-native fish species has been criticized as one of the major threats to freshwater ecosystems. During recent years, the cyprinid fish genus Carassius has been the subject of various studies in terms of introduction biology and ecology. The taxonomy and identification of described species in the genus Carassius is still ambiguous. In order to increase the knowledge of introduced species of the genus in Iran, molecular approaches were employed to identify species based on the mitochondrial gene, cytochrome b (Cyt b). In total, 417 specimens across Eurasia and some other parts of the world have been analyzed. Afterwards, investigation of the possible origin and pathways of introduction was done using analysis of haplotype networks based on the Cyt b gene. The results revealed that there are three introduced species i.e., Carassius auratus, Carassius gibelio and Carassius langsdorfii, in inland waters of Iran. Carassius langsdorfii was recorded from Iran and western Asia for the first time. Analysis of haplotype network showed various potential sources of introduction for each species in Iran and regions beyond their native distribution ranges.     

Efficiency of some herbal pesticides on reproductive parameters of silverleaf whitefly,Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae)

The silverleaf whitefly is one of the most important pests found commonly in Iran and in the world. The development of alternative methods instead of chemical applications is necessary in pest management for human health and environment protection. The objective of this research was to assess the effects of extracts of two medicinal plant species: Calotropis procera and Allium sativum, and a formulation containing azadirachtin on fecundity and fertility of the silverleaf whitefly, grown on greenhouse tomato plants. The effects were compared to that of pymetrozine, a synthetic insecticide. According to the results, there was a significant difference among treatments for all reproductive parameters. Gross fecundity rates for pesticides control, herbal extract control, C. procera extract, A. sativum extract, azadirachtin and pymetrozine were 184.75, 146.72, 80.11, 82.18, 63.06 and 55.96 eggs, respectively. These herbal extracts were effective against this pest and they can be the suitable choices for replacing these chemical insecticides.     

Association of Nuclear-Localized Nemo-Like Kinase with Heat-Shock Protein 27 Inhibits Apoptosis in Human Breast Cancer Cells

Nemo-like kinase (NLK), a proline-directed serine/threonine kinase regulated by phosphorylation, can be localized in the cytosol or in the nucleus. Whether the localization of NLK can affect cell survival or cell apoptosis is yet to be disclosed. In the present study we found that NLK was mainly localized in the nuclei of breast cancer cells, in contrast to a cytosolic localization in non-cancerous breast epithelial cells. The nuclear localization of NLK was mediated through direct interaction with Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) which further protected cancer cells from apoptosis. The present study provides evidence of a novel mechanism by which HSP27 recognizes NLK in the breast cancer cells and prevents NLK-mediated cell apoptosis.