Characterization of low-molecular-weight-glutenin subunit genes from the D-genome of Triticum aestivum,Aegilops crassa,Ae. cylindrica and Ae. tauschii

Twenty low-molecular-weight-glutenin subunit (LMW-GS) gene sequences from the D-genome from Aegilops crassa (2n = 4x = 28), Ae. cylindrica (2n = 4x = 28), Ae. tauschii (2n = 2x = 14) and Triticum aestivum (2n = 6x = 42) were obtained using five sets of specific allele primer pairs. Only the sequences of the first primer pair were complete coding sequences (cds) of LMW-GS, and had 305, 304, 306 and 305 LMW-m amino acid residues in Ae. crassa, Ae. cylindrica, Ae. tauschii and T. aestivum, respectively. The repetitive domain and repeat motif numbers of all LMW glutenin subunits showed eight conserved cysteine residues that lead to the same functional activity in different genome. Based on DNA and predicted protein sequences, phylogenetic trees for all sets of sequences were drawn. At the DNA level, the species closest to T. aestivum for the second, third, fourth and fifth set of sequences were Ae. cylindrica, Ae. tauschii and Ae. crassa, respectively. At the protein level, the species closest to T. aestivum based on the first, second and fifth set of sequences were Ae. cylindrica, Ae. crassa and Ae. crassa, respectively. For other sets of sequences, bread wheat proved to be a distinct species. The LMW-GS gene sequences have been recorded in the GenBank with accession numbers JQ726549–JQ726568JQ726549JQ726550JQ726551JQ726552JQ726553JQ726554JQ726555JQ726556JQ726557JQ726558JQ726559JQ726560JQ726561JQ726562JQ726563JQ726564JQ726565JQ726566JQ726567JQ726568.     

The Parasites of Homo sapiens by R.W. Ashford and W. Crewe

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, 1998. £10.00 (viii + 128 pages)ISBN 0 9508756 9 4     

Discovery of novel indole-based aroylhydrazones as anticonvulsants: Pharmacophore-based design

A number of novel melatonin derivatives, containing aroylhydrazone moieties, were synthesized and explored in vivo for anticonvulsant activity, neurotoxicity in ICR mice as well as in-vitro for cytoxicity and oxidative stress in rats. The structures and configurations were confirmed by NMR, FTIR, HRMS and crystal X-ray diffraction method. For selection of potent structures for synthesis a pharmacophore model was used. Two compounds 3e, with a 2-furyl moiety fragment and 3f with 2-thienyl fragment, showed a potency in maximal electroshock (MES) test (ED₅₀ = 50.98 mg kg⁻¹, PI > 5.88 and ED₅₀ = 108.7 mg kg⁻¹; PI > 2.76), respectively, higher than melatonin (ED₅₀ = 160.3 mg kg⁻¹, PI > 1.87). The compounds 3c, 3e, 3f and 3i suppressed psychomotor seizures in the 6 Hz test and 3c was the most potent with higher ED₅₀ = 13.98 mg kg⁻¹ and PI of > 21.46 compared to that of melatonin (ED₅₀ = 49.76 mg kg⁻¹ and PI of > 6.03) in mice. None of the compounds displayed neurotoxicity in the rota-rod test. The novel melatonin derivatives exerted weak cytotoxic effects while 3f showed the lowest hepatoxic effects comparable to that of the positive control melatonin in rats. The high affinities to the elucidated pharmacophore model of the novel melatonin compounds derived from the inclusion of aroylhydrazone moiety in the indole scaffold yielded suitable candidates with anticonvulsant activity in the MES and 6 Hz test of psychomotor seizures.     

Saflink revenues drop

Biometric middleware developer and integrator Saflink Corporation has announced disappointing financial results for its second quarter ended 30 June 2003.Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

Atul Butte discusses the divide between bioinformatics and the clinic

Atul Butte is an Assistant in Endocrinology and Informatics and Attending Physician at Children's Hospital, Boston, USA (http://www.chip.org), and is an Instructor in Paediatrics at Harvard Medical School (http://www.harvard.edu). He received his undergraduate degree in Computer Science from Brown University in 1991, and worked in several stints as a software engineer at Apple Computer and Microsoft Corporation. He graduated from the Brown University School of Medicine in 1995, during which he worked as a research fellow at National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK; http://www.niddk.nih.gov) through the Howard Hughes/NIH Research Scholars Program. He completed his residency in Paediatrics and Fellowship in Paediatric Endocrinology in 2001, both at Children's Hospital. During his research under Isaac Kohane (at Children's Hospital) he developed a novel methodology for analyzing large data sets of RNA expression, called Relevance Networks. His recent awards include the 2003 Emory University School of Medicine, Pathology Residents’ Choice Award, 2002 American Association for Clinical Chemistry Outstanding Speaker Award, 2002 Endocrine Society Travel Award based on presentation merit, 2001 American Association for Cancer Research Scholar-In-Training Award and the 2001 Lawson Wilkins Paediatric Endocrine Society Clinical Scholar Award.     

New tech on the way

Two futuristic developments caught the eye in the last month, one of which is a new biometric, while the other is a technology which could prove to be interesting for image capture in the biometric industry.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news.     

Bioscrypt aims for year-end profit

Fingerprint technology provider Bioscrypt has reported strong second quarter results, with its revenue growing by 60% over the same period last year. The company also announced a series of high-profile contract wins to complement its good financial showing.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news.     

Healthcare campus gets a helping hand

Rex Healthcare in North Carolina, USA, is using hand geometry technology to help heighten security for patients and 3500 employees at its main hospital campus.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security news.     

Sign here for the dole

A dynamic signature verification solution has been installed at a dole office in Israel, allowing people to interact with a machine rather than a person in order to collect their dole money.Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

Imagis to acquire Briyante

Facial recognition technology vendor Imagis Technologies has concluded negotiations and entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Briyante, a database and application development company.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security news.     

Precise Biometrics makes agreements

Following a successful working partnership, Precise Biometrics and Schlumberger have renewed an existing technical agreement and detailed how the companies will work closer in the future.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

Identix aims to keep up its momentum

Between US$65 million and US$100 million in biometric contracts could be awarded before the end of 2003, according to Identix. Naturally, the company hopes to win a significant proportion of these deals, and believes its current ‘momentum’ will prove to be key.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news.     

Morphology and SSU rDNA-based phylogeny of two Euplotes species from China: E. wuhanensis sp. n. and E. muscicola Kahl, 1932 (Ciliophora,Euplotida)

The living morphology, infraciliature and silverline system of two small Euplotes species, E. wuhanensis sp. n. and E. muscicola Kahl, 1932, isolated from Wuhan, central China, were investigated. Euplotes wuhanensis sp. n. is characterized by a combination of features including small size (40–50 × 25–30 μm), two conspicuously small and eight normal-sized frontoventral cirri, five transverse cirri in two groups, two marginal and two caudal cirri, seven dorsal kineties with about 12 dikinetids in the mid-dorsal row and a double-eurystomus type of dorsal silverline pattern. The Wuhan population of E. muscicola closely resembles previously described populations. The establishments of three subspecies of E. muscicola are not supported. The small subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequences were determined for both species. We propose that the two sequences under the name of E. muscicola (No. AJ305254, DQ917684 deposited in GenBank) are very likely from misidentified material. Phylogenetic analyses based on these data support the validity of both E. muscicola and E. wuhanensis as distinct species.     

Acsys wins face projects

Acsys Biometrics has won a number of healthcare-related orders in recent weeks using its facial recognition technology. The projects represent some of the first for the company that have progressed from a pilot phase to full system deployment.Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

Afghan project identifies 150,000 refugees,cuts abuse of system

More than 150,000 Afghan refugees in Pakistan registered their iris patterns as identification during their return journey to Afghanistan over the last year, the UN Refugee Agency has announced.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security news.     

Match on card system for IT security

Swedish data security company Comex Electronics has teamed up with French smart card developer Oberthur Card Systems and Fingerprint Cards to develop an IT security system based on smart card and finger pattern verification.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

Cross credentialing test to begin

A prototype system designed to recognise dissimilar ID credentials presented by visitors to US military and defence industry facilities is to be tested following a contract award to Northrop Grumman Corporation. Alongside the US Defense Department’s Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC), Northrop Grumman’s Information Technology (IT) and Mission Systems sectors will lead a team developing the Defense Cross-credentialing Identification System (DCIS).Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

Fingerprint scroll wheel launched for mobiles

Designed for integration into laptops, PDA’s and mobile phones, DigitalPersona has announced a space-saving fingerprint sensor/ scroll wheel. The patented U.are.U Firefly roller-style fingerprint reader optically records the fingerprint image as the user glides their finger over the roller.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news.     

Viisage secures US$7 million from Lau

Lau Technologies has provided US$7 million in debt financing to Viisage Technology. Under the terms of the agreement, the extra money is to be used by Viisage as working capital and for other general corporate purposes.This is a short news story only. Visit www.compseconline.com for the latest computer security industry news     

Expression profile of rrbp1 genes during embryonic development and in adult tissues of Xenopus laevis

Recent studies suggest that ribosome-binding protein 1 (RRBP1) is involved in multiple diseases such as tumorigenesis and cardiomyopathies. However, its function during embryonic development remains largely unknown. We searched Xenopus laevis database with human RRBP1 protein sequence and identified two cDNA sequences encoding Xenopus orthologs of RRBP1 including rrbp1a (NM_001089623) and rrbp1b (NM_001092468). Both genes were firstly detected at blastula stage 8 with weak signals in animal hemisphere by whole mount in situ hybridization. Evident expression of rrbp1 was mainly detected in cement gland and notochord at neurula and tailbud stages. Heart expression of rrbp1 was detected at stage 36. RT-PCR results indicated that very weak expression of rrbp1a was firstly detected in oocytes, followed by increasing expression until stage 39. Differently, very weak expression of rrbp1b was firstly observed at stage 2, and then maintained at a lower level to stage 17 followed by an intense expression from stages 19–39. Moreover, both expression profiles were also different in adult tissues. This study reports Xenopus rrbp1 expression during early embryonic development and in adult tissues. Our study will facilitate the functional analysis of Rrbp1 family during embryonic development.