Effects of prophage Mu induction on expression of adjacent host genes

The extent of induction and approximate amount of DNA replication of a Mu prophage carrying a gene for ampicillin resistance can be monitored by assaying the level of -lactamase. The expression of thelacZ gene adjacent to either end of an induced Mu prophage remains virtually unaffected, until late in the Mu lytic cycle, while Mu DNA is replicating and transposing.     

Design,synthesis, and biological evaluation of selective and potent Carbazole-based butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Inhibition of BChE might be a useful therapeutic target for AD. A new series of Carbazole-Benzyl Pyridine derivatives were designed synthesized and evaluated as butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitors. In vitro assay revealed that all of the derivatives had selective and potent anti- BChE activities. 3-((9H-Carbazol-9-yl)methyl)-1-(4-chlorobenzyl)pyridin-1-ium chloride (compound 8f) had the most potent anti-BChE activity (IC₅₀ value?=?0.073?μM), the highest BChE selectivity and mixed-type inhibition. Docking study revealed that 8f interacted with the peripheral site, the choline binding site, catalytic site and the acyl pocket of BChE. Physicochemical properties were accurate to Lipinski's rule. In addition, compound 8f demonstrated neuroprotective activity at 10?µM. This compound could also inhibit AChE-induced and self-induced Aβ peptide aggregation at concentration of 100?µM and 10?µM respectively. The in-vivo study showed that compound 8f in 10?mg/kg increased the time spent in target quadrant in the probe day and decreased mean training period scape latency in rats. All results suggest that new sets of potent selective inhibitors of BChE have a therapeutic potential for the treatment of AD.     

Changes in the catecholamine metabolism in the adrenal medulla of male hamsters with experimental hyperprolactinemia

1. Prolactin (PRL) can play a role as a physiological modulator of adrenal medulla function in several rodents. 2. We have examined the effects of hyperprolactinemia induced by ectopic pituitary grafts in Syrian hamsters on the adrenal medulla contents of catecholamines (CA) and their metabolites, as well as on the activities of several enzymes involved in the metabolism of these amines. 3. Increases in the peripheral levels of PRL in these animals were associated with decreases in adrenal medulla weight and increases in adrenal medulla contents of norepinephrine, epinephrine and vanilmandelic acid, the main degradative metabolite of CA, while adrenal medulla contents of the O-methylated derivatives of CA, normetanephrine and metanephrine, were unaltered. 4. These changes were correlated with increases in the adrenal medulla activity of monoamine oxidase, while the activities of tyrosine hydroxylase, phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase and catechol-O-methyl transferase were unaltered. 5. These results indicate that PRL is able to act on the adrenal medulla of hamsters by increasing the ability of these cells to metabolize CA via oxidative deamination.     

Application of Box-Behnken Design to Hybrid Electrokinetic-Adsorption Removal of Mercury from Contaminated Saline-Sodic Clay Soil

A hybrid electrokinetic-adsorption (HEKA) technique using uniform electric field and granular activated carbon (GAC) produced from date palm pits was investigated for the removal of mercury from natural saline-sodic clay heavily contaminated with heavy metals, phenol, and kerosene. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to model, optimize, and interpret the results obtained with the aid of Design Expert software. According to the Box-Behnken experimental design, 15 experiments were conducted each with residence time of three weeks. The effects of voltage gradient (0.2–1 V/cm), initial Hg concentration (mg/Kg), and polarity reversal interval (0-48 hours) on Hg removal efficiency and energy consumed for Hg removal were investigated. Respectively, the responses fitted reduced cubic (R² = 99.3%) and quadratic models (R² = 92.3%) with the overall relative contributions of the investigated parameters on the responses following the order: voltage gradient > initial Hg concentration > polarity reversal interval based on analysis of variance (ANOVA). The optimal conditions obtained with desirability of 90% aimed at maximizing Hg removal were 24 hours polarity reversal interval, 0.2 V/cm voltage gradient, and 100 mg/kg initial Hg concentration. This optimum operating condition yielded good removal of Hg (99.5%) at reduced energy consumption of 50.1kWh.m^?3mg^?1. Experimental validation of the models showed good prediction of Hg removal efficiency (0.0368% prediction error). The results presented herein suggest that HEKA technology could be utilized effectively for the removal of Hg from contaminated, low permeable soils under extreme soil and contamination conditions.     

cry Genes profiling and the toxicity of isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis from soil samples against American bollworm,Helicoverpa armigera

Aims: The aim of this study was to search for Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) harbouring cry1A gene which could effectively control cotton pest, American bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera. Methods and Results: cry gene profiling of 50 Bt isolates showed the presence of cry1, cry2, cry3, cry4, cry7, cry8 and cry9 genes. None of the isolates harboured cry1 gene alone. It was always found in combination with cry3. There was no isolate positive for cry10 gene. Considering isolates with single cry genes, the frequency of cry4 was predominant (22%) followed cry2 (6%), cry3 (4%) and cry8 (2%). Isolates having two cry genes in combination had 14% incidence for cry2 + cry4, 12% for cry3 + cry4 and 10% for cry1 + cry3. The most dominant three gene linkage was cry1 + cry3 + cry4. Further profiling of cry1 gene showed that cry1K gene was abundantly present in all combinations such as cry1A, cry1D, cry1F and cry1I. However, cry1C existed independent of other subtypes. Finally, the Bt isolates with cry1A were analyzed for 16S rRNA gene, which showed two distinct groups of isolates on the basis of sequence homology. Bioassays of spore–crystal mixtures of SBS‐Bt4, 8, 17, 21 and 26 harbouring cry1 against neonate larvae of H. armigera showed LC₅₀ 1288, 1202, 467·7, 524·8 and 108·5 μg ml^?1. The SBS‐Bt26 showed fourfold higher toxicity than the cry 1Ac harbouring positive control, HD‐73. Conclusions: None of the isolates harboured single cry 1 gene. They were always in combination of two or three genes. A Bt isolate (Bt26) had fourfold higher toxicity against H. armigera larvae compared with the positive control HD 73 and hence can be commercially exploited to control insect pest. Significance and Impact of the Study: The inter relationship between the cry genes content and the toxicity may allow better understanding of Bt ecology.     

Origin and Evolution of Protein Fold Designs Inferred from Phylogenomic Analysis of CATH Domain Structures in Proteomes

The spatial arrangements of secondary structures in proteins, irrespective of their connectivity, depict the overall shape and organization of protein domains. These features have been used in the CATH and SCOP classifications to hierarchically partition fold space and define the architectural make up of proteins. Here we use phylogenomic methods and a census of CATH structures in hundreds of genomes to study the origin and diversification of protein architectures (A) and their associated topologies (T) and superfamilies (H). Phylogenies that describe the evolution of domain structures and proteomes were reconstructed from the structural census and used to generate timelines of domain discovery. Phylogenies of CATH domains at T and H levels of structural abstraction and associated chronologies revealed patterns of reductive evolution, the early rise of Archaea, three epochs in the evolution of the protein world, and patterns of structural sharing between superkingdoms. Phylogenies of proteomes confirmed the early appearance of Archaea. While these findings are in agreement with previous phylogenomic studies based on the SCOP classification, phylogenies unveiled sharing patterns between Archaea and Eukarya that are recent and can explain the canonical bacterial rooting typically recovered from sequence analysis. Phylogenies of CATH domains at A level uncovered general patterns of architectural origin and diversification. The tree of A structures showed that ancient structural designs such as the 3-layer (αβα) sandwich (3.40) or the orthogonal bundle (1.10) are comparatively simpler in their makeup and are involved in basic cellular functions. In contrast, modern structural designs such as prisms, propellers, 2-solenoid, super-roll, clam, trefoil and box are not widely distributed and were probably adopted to perform specialized functions. Our timelines therefore uncover a universal tendency towards protein structural complexity that is remarkable.