Experimental alterations of the spores of lycopodium clavatum as related to diagenesis

Lycopodium clavatum spores have been heated to different temperatures at atmospheric pressure, at room temperature with 0.5 kbar pressure and at different temperatures with 1 kbar pressure, The effects of heat, pressure, and heat and pressure together on the spore have been examined in detail using different microscope techniques. Effects of some chemicals on these spores have also been observed.It is known that temperature and pressure change the colour of spore and pollen grain walls, mainly the exine (outer wall of the spore). Changes to the intine and the matter present in the cytoplasmic cavity (= inner contents), however, have not been taken into account by very many workers. In most of the previous works the inner contents were extracted before the experimental treatment began.In the present work, unextracted spores are used for the experiments which show two types of alterations of the spores with rising temperature at atmospheric pressure: (1) alteration of the inner contents, i.e. gradual colour change of the inner contents and their ultimate exudation from the spore through the exine at about 300°C; (2) gradual shrinkage of the exine due to the exudation of the inner contents which also causes an overall size reduction of the spore from 200° to 350°C. The exine does not change its colour up to 325°C; and this temperature, its starts to change its colour slowly, amalgamates with other exines of the empty spores, becomes amorphous, and ultimately deteriorates into unidentifiable organic matter.The process of colour change of the inner contents of spores and the general deformation are much slower when the spores are subjected to 1 kbar pressure with rising temperatures. Spores at room temperature with 0.5 kbar pressure show no colour change but only physical deformation.     

First total synthesis of prasinic acid and its anticancer activity

The first total synthesis of prasinic acid is being reported along with its biological evaluation. The ten step synthesis involved readily available and cheap starting materials and can easily be transposed to large scale manufacturing. The crucial steps of the synthesis included the formation of two different aromatic units (7 and 9) and their coupling reaction. The synthetic prasinic acid exhibited moderate antitumor activity (IC₅₀ 4.3–9.1 μM) in different lines of cancer cells.     

Cloning and characterization of DGAT1 gene of Riverine buffalo.

The present study was carried out to characterize the DGAT1 gene of Riverine buffalo. Total RNA was extracted from the mammary tissue of buffalo and DGAT1cDNA were synthesized by RT-PCR, then cloned using pDRIVE cloning vector and sequenced. The sequencing revealed that the size of DGAT1 gene was 1470 bp with GC content of 62.30%. The gene encoded for 489 amino acid precursors and that it possessed 32 amino acids signal peptide. The similarity of buffalo DGAT1 mRNA sequence with that of cattle, pig, monkey, human, mice and rat were determined as 98.4, 90.7, 85.4, 85.0, 77.4 and 77.1%, respectively. Phylogenetic tree constructed from the derived DGAT1 protein sequences of 15 different species illustrated a unique branches for mammals, fly, nematode and plants. Among mammals, cattle and buffalo grouped together, whereas swine formed another group in the same branch. Four motifs were predicted in buffalo DGAT1 peptide sequence, one N-linked glycosylation site (246th position), two putative tyrosine phosphorylation site (316 and 261), one putative diacylglycerol binding site (382-392 amino acid position) and a conserved domain MBOAT (membrane bound acyl transferase from 150 to 474 amino acids) with a histidine as an active residue.     

Study of properties of cholinephosphotransferase from fetal guinea pig lung mitochondria and microsomes

Summary We have reported earlier that cholinephosphotransferase (EC 2.7.8.2) is present in both mitochondria and microsomes of fetal guinea pig lung. This study was designed to compare the properties of mitochondrial and microsomal cholinephosphotransferase in fetal guinea pig lung. Various parameters, such as substrate specificity, K_m values, sensitivity to N-ethylmaleimide, dithiothreitol and trypsin were measured. Both showed significant preference for unsaturated diacylglycerols over saturated diacylglycerols. Data on K_m and V_max indicate that the affinity of this enzyme for different diacylglycerols varies between the two forms. The ID₅₀ values for N-ethylmaleimide were 20 mM and 12.5 mM for the mitochondrial and microsomal form of the enzyme, respectively. Dithiothreitol showed an inhibitory effect on both; however, the mitochondrial form was inhibited less than the microsomal form. The effects of N-ethylmaleimide and dithiothreitol on both forms of enzyme indicated that the microsomal cholinephosphotransferase requires a higher concentration of -SH for its activity than the mitochondrial enzyme does. The enzyme was inhibited by trypsin in both mitochondria and microsome under isotonic condition suggesting that this enzyme is on the outside of the membrane in both endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria.     

Profiling of selected indigenous rice (Oryza sativa L.) landraces of Rarh Bengal in relation to osmotic stress tolerance

A total of ten rare indigenous rice landraces of West Bengal were screened for germination potential and seedling growth under varying concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) solutions as osmotic stress inducing agents. Among the studied rice landraces Kelas and Bhut Moori showed highest degree of tolerance to induced osmotic stresses. Proline content of the studied lines was also determined. Genetic relationship among the studied rice landraces was assessed with 22 previously reported osmotic stress tolerance linked Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers. The identified allelic variants in form of amplified products size (molecular weight) for each SSR marker were documented to find out allele mining set for the linked markers of the studied genotypes in relation to osmotic stress tolerance. A Microsatellite Panel was constructed for the different allelic forms (size of amplified products) of each used marker. Among 22 SSR markers, ten showed unique alleles in form of single specific amplified product for the studied four genotypes which can be used for varietal identification. Genetic relationship among the studied rice lines was determined and a dendrogram was constructed to reveal their genetic inter-relationship. Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) for each used marker was also calculated for the studied rice lines.     

Activation of Wnt-β-catenin pathway in basal–parabasal layers of normal cervical epithelium comparable during development of uterine cervical carcinoma

In this study, importance of Wnt-β-catenin pathway in the development of uterine cervical carcinoma was evaluated. For this purpose, the profiles (expression/methylation/deletion) of β-catenin, p-β-catenin (Y654), Wnt3a, and APC were studied in disease free normal cervical epithelium (n = 9), adjacent normal cervical epithelium of primary tumors (n = 70), CIN (n = 28), CACX (n = 102) samples, and two CACX cell lines (HeLa and SiHa). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed high/medium (74–95%) expression of β-catenin/p-β-catenin (Y654) and Wnt3a and low expression (23–26%) of APC in proliferating basal–parabasal layers contrary to differentiated spinous layer in normal cervix irrespective of HPV16 infection. The expression profile of the genes in the basal–parabasal layers did not change significantly during development of CACX. High (66%) promoter methylation of APC was seen in basal–parabasal layers and the cervical lesions (42–69%), unlike in spinous layers (25%). The promoter methylation status of APC was validated by in vitro demethylation experiments using 5-aza-dC in CACX cell lines. However, additional deletion of APC was significantly increased from CIN (12%) to stage I/II (40%) and became comparable in stage III/IV (48%) of the tumor. Patients with alterations (deletion/methylation) of APC and high/medium expression of Wnt3a/β-catenin/p-β-catenin (Y654) showed significantly poor survival. Thus our data indicate that cumulative effect of Wnt3a overexpression and APC inactivation are needed for overexpression of β-catenin during the development of CACX.     

Characterization of Proliferating Neural Progenitors after Spinal Cord Injury in Adult Zebrafish

Zebrafish can repair their injured brain and spinal cord after injury unlike adult mammalian central nervous system. Any injury to zebrafish spinal cord would lead to increased proliferation and neurogenesis. There are presences of proliferating progenitors from which both neuronal and glial loss can be reversed by appropriately generating new neurons and glia. We have demonstrated the presence of multiple progenitors, which are different types of proliferating populations like Sox2⁺ neural progenitor, A2B5⁺ astrocyte/ glial progenitor, NG2⁺ oligodendrocyte progenitor, radial glia and Schwann cell like progenitor. We analyzed the expression levels of two common markers of dedifferentiation like msx-b and vimentin during regeneration along with some of the pluripotency associated factors to explore the possible role of these two processes. Among the several key factors related to pluripotency, pou5f1 and sox2 are upregulated during regeneration and associated with activation of neural progenitor cells. Uncovering the molecular mechanism for endogenous regeneration of adult zebrafish spinal cord would give us more clues on important targets for future therapeutic approach in mammalian spinal cord repair and regeneration.     

Manganese biomining: A review

Biomining comprises of processing and extraction of metal from their ores and concentrates using microbial techniques. Currently this is used by the mining industry to extract copper, uranium and gold from low grade ores but not for low grade manganese ore in industrial scale. The study of microbial genomes, metabolites and regulatory pathways provide novel insights to the metabolism of bioleaching microorganisms and their synergistic action during bioleaching operations. This will promote understanding of the universal regulatory responses that the biomining microbial community uses to adapt to their changing environment leading to high metal recovery. Possibility exists of findings ways to imitate the entire process during industrial manganese biomining endeavor. This paper reviews the current status of manganese biomining research operations around the world, identifies factors that drive the selection of biomining as a processing technology, describes challenges in exploiting these innovations, and concludes with a discussion of Mn biomining’s future.     

Length–weight relationships of six indigenous fish species from the River Cauvery and its estuary,India

The present study estimated length–weight relationships (LWRs) for six indigenous fish species (Barilius gatensis, Salmostoma acinaces, S. boopis, Puntius amphibius, Hemibagrus punctatus and Ambassis miops) based on specimens collected from River Cauvery (including estuary) during July 2017–January 2020. The sampling surveys were carried out in three distinct sampling seasons, viz., the pre-monsoon (March–May), the monsoon (July–October) and the post-monsoon (November–February). Majority of the fish specimens dealt in the study were collected from multi-meshed monofilament gill nets (mesh sizes 18, 30, 45, 60, 90, 110, 120 and 150 mm) operated by local fishers. For those sites situated in the protected areas, sampling was carried out by cast nets with prior permission from the local administration and the collected fishes were released back into river after length–weight measurements. The length measurements were noted as total length (TL) measured to the nearest 0.1 cm by using a digital Vernier caliper. A digital balance was used for weight measurements with an accuracy of 0.01 g. The study recorded a new maximum length of 48 cm for H. punctatus. The LWR data generated from the present study are significant for proper assessment of the stock status and their management, if collected together with other essential biological and physical parameters.