Chlorin p6 as a fluorescent probe for the investigation of surfactant-cyclodextrin interactions.

Cyclodextrins (CD) are often proposed as potential vehicles in targeted drug delivery. However, if the membrane structure is disrupted by CD, then it cannot be considered to be a good drug delivery vehicle. When an extrinsic fluorescence probe is used to monitor such interactions, there are no less than three possible equilibria that can operate simultaneously: surfactant-cyclodextrin, surfactant-fluorophore and cyclodextrin-fluorophore. The fluorescence intensity/lifetime might be affected by all these and so, the results depend strongly on the fluorophore used as well as the nature of the surfactant. This aspect highlights the importance of the suitability of the fluorescence probe to be used to study complicated systems and interaction. In the present work, chlorin p6, prepared from chlorophyll from spinach leaves, has been used as the fluorescence probe to investigate the interaction between alpha-CD and beta-CD with the neutral surfactants Triton X 100 (TX 100) and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). The fluorophore is found to be a sensitive one for the study of the interaction of alpha, beta and gamma-CD with the surfactants TX 100 and CTAB. It is found that contrary to earlier reports, a complex between alpha-CD and TX 100 is formed, even though the binding constant is not very high. This observation can be obtained with chlorin p6, which does not bind to the CDs, but not with a fluorophore, which binds to the CD as well and thus complicates the situation as the binding with CD is stronger than that between TX 100 and alpha-CD as compared to that between TNS and CD.     

Comparative analysis of GDF 8 (myostatin) in Bos indicus and Bos taurus.

We report the myostatin gene sequence of Bos indicus cattle in comparison to Bos taurus. B. indicus genomic sequence was obtained by overlapping PCR amplification of genomic DNA. Exon splice sites were confirmed by mRNA sequencing. There were 5 exonic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) only one of which was a non-synonymous mutation that resulted in a serine to asparagine (S214N) amino acid substitution. The B. indicus gene has two insertions of 16 and 12 bases in the first intron. In addition, SNPs in the 3' UTR and intronic regions are also reported.     

Cashew nut shell oil as a potential feedstock for biodiesel production: An overview

Biodiesel outperforms diesel in emissions and engine performance. They burn efficiently in diesel engines and are eco-friendly. Since cashew nut shell liquid (CNSO) is waste, commercial biodiesel production from it should be profitable. CNSO is cheap and can reduce cashew processing factory waste. From cashew kernels, CNSL is extracted using various mechanical, thermal, and solvent extraction techniques. This article examines current research into using cashew nutshell liquid biodiesel (CNSLBD) in diesel engines. The work also discusses Indian biodiesel demand, availability, export information, life cycle cost analysis, cost economics of per hectare yield, Indian government initiative of CNSO. This review also evaluates the viability of this fuel as an alternative energy source. CNSLBD is a prospective alternative fuel that has the potential to benefit both the cashew nut industry and the energy industry. In addition to this, the study examines the procedures for extracting CNSO. According to the findings of the study, CNSO is a prospective alternative fuel that has the potential to benefit both the cashew nut industry and the energy industry.     

A study of the intermolecular association in living systems. IV. Studies on a model molecular fragment (pentane)

The low-lying energy states for the association of two molecules of n-pentane are determined by keeping one molecule fixed and rotating the second molecule simultaneously about its own x-, y-, and z- axes and also around the first molecule, all rotations being carried out from 0° to 360° in steps of 20° The interaction energy is calculated at each step, the form of the interaction energy used is the one given by Claverie &; Rein (1969). Results show that only a very limited number of orientations lead to energy states that are within 5 kcal mol^?1 of the minimum energy state.     

N-lignin and margosa (neem) seed cake-blended urea as nitrogen source for wheat

Summary In a field experiment on wheat, N-lignin was found as effective as urea in increasing grain yield and nitrogen uptake by the crop. N-lignin also left higher amount of fertilizer residue in the hydrolysable organic-N fraction in the soil than did urea. The effect of margosa (neem) seed cake blended urea on the grain yield, N uptake and soil N was similar to ordinary urea. Supplementing N-lignin with urea did not show any advantage.Phosphorus uptake by wheat crop was enhanced and potassium uptake was depressed by application of N-lignin. Neem seed cake also stimulated phosphorus uptake slightly but had no effect on potassium uptake.     

Nitrogen cycling in grasslands at Kanpur,India

Summary The present paper deals with the distribution of nitrogen in the different plant compartments and in the top 30 cm soil among the protected, semi-protected and open-grazed grasslands at Kanpur (26° 26 N latitude and 80° 22 E longitude).The protected site indicated greater nitrogen content (g N m^–2) in the aboveground and belowground plant parts as compared to those of semi-protected and open-grazed sites. Nitrogen content in the combined live and dead herbage varied from 2.6 to 53.5 g m^–2 in protected community, 1.6 to 27.6 g m^–2 in semi-protected and 0.9 to 17.4 g m^–2 in open-grazed community. The content ranged between 1.0 to 17.7, 0.5 to 9.7 and 0.4 to 6.6 g m^–2 for belowground and from 0.1 to 1.1, 0.1 to 0.5 and 0.1 to 0.3 g m^–2 for litter compartments in protected, semi-protected and open-grazed community respectively.A significant positive relationship was found with the nitrogen per gram dry weight in combined live and dead herbage of the study sites and the average monthly relative humidity.The distribution pattern of nitrogen in plant/soil system indicated that the major portion of nitrogen (91 per cent in the protected, 95 per cent in the semi-protected and 96 per cent in the opengrazed stands) in the system was retained in the soil while a small fraction of it (9 per cent, 5 per cent and 4 per cent on protected, semi-protected and open-grazed area respectively) resided in plant compartments. Partitioning, uptake, transfer and release of nitrogen have been discussed in detail for all three sites.     

Isolation of heavy satellite deoxyribonucleic acid from sea-urchin spermatozoa.

Two different methods were used to isolate high-molecular-weight heavy satellite DNA from the spermatozoa of the sea-urchin Lytechinus variegratus. Purification of satellite rDNA (ribosomal DNA) by selective denaturation of the spermatozoal DNA followed by a separation of the native and denatured DNA in an aqueous mixture of poly(ethylene glycol)/dextran is affected by the molecular weight of the spermatozoal DNA. Enrichment of satellite rDNA by selective precipitation of main-band DNA by poly-L-lysine is cumbersome but more suitable.     

Role of Petiole in Protein Metabolism of Senescing Betel (Piper betle L.) Leaves

Effects of depetiolation on protein metabolism during senescence of detached betel (Piper betle L.) leaves have been studied. In normal petiolated leaves, the level of chlorophyll and proteins and extent of protein synthesis declined, while the protease activity registered manifold increase with the advancement of senescence. All of these changes were delayed by depetiolation/de-midribbing treatments, though without affecting the general pattern of senescence. Thus, the presence of petiole seems to expedite protein degradation, probably due to earlier attainment of optimal concentration of proposed senescence factor(s) (Mishra and Gaur 1970 Science 167: 387).     

Triple test cross analysis in F2 populations of four barley crosses

Summary The triple test cross analysis of Jinks and Perkins (1970) was used to study different components of genetic variation in four barley F₂ populations, C 164x IB 226, C 164xJyoti, IB 226xP 113 and DL 3xP 113, for final plant height, spike length, 100-kernel weight, grain yield per plant and harvest index. The overall epistasis (i type) was, in general, a minor component but the j & 1 type epistasis was an important element for all five characters in cross 3 (IB 226xP 113). Both the additive (D) and dominance (H) components were highly significant for all the five characters in all four crosses. The dominance was directional in all cases except for 100-grain weight in crosses 1 (C 164xIB 226), 2 (C 164xJyoti) and 4(DL 3xP 113).     

C3 polymorphism in some Indian populations.

The distribution of C'3 phenotypes was studied in one tribal and three urban populations from India. The C'3F gene was found low in frequency compared to European and West Asian populations. Quantitatively also, the concentration of the C3 component in the Indian region was found significantly low to the European and West Asian populations reported previously.