Microbial reduction of alpha-chloroketone to alpha-chlorohydrin

Microbial reduction of α-chloroketone to α-chlorohydrin was studied as one of the approaches for construction of the chiral center of the corresponding epoxide. About 100 microorganisms covering many species of Candida, Pichia, Hansenula, Geotrichum, Rhodococcus and Aureobasidium were screened to reduce the α-chloroketone stereospecifically. Many strains provided the R-α-chlorohydrin with 100% enantiomeric excess (ee), e.g., Candida sonorensis SC 16117, Geotrichum candidum SC 5469, Rhodotorula glutinis SC 16293, Sphingomonas paucimobilis SC 16113, Pichia silvicola SC 16159 and Rhodococcus equi SC 15835. Few microorganisms showed preferential formation of S-α-chlorohydrin after reduction. Among them, Pichia pinus SC 13864 and two Pichia methanolica strains SC 16116 and SC 13860 were the best, providing the S-α-chlorohydrin with ee of 88%, 79% and 78%, respectively. The enantiospecificity of the reduction by these Pichia species can be modified by changing the pH or prior heat treatment of the cells and S-α-chlorohydrin with ≥95% ee was obtained by appropriate modification of reaction conditions. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2001) 26, 259–262. Received 23 June 2000/ Accepted in revised form 06 November 2000     

Analysis of variations in RAPD profiles among accessions ofProsopis

The genetic variability among accessions ofProsopis was determined using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles. Similarities of profiles were determined using the algorithm of Jaccard, and UPGMA and neighbour joining trees were generated from the similarity data. The average similarity was highest among the accessions ofP. glandulosa (0.52 ± 0.18) and least in the accessions ofP. juliflora (0.37 ± 0.15), indicating that the latter species has greater diversity among accessions. Our observations suggest that RAPD analysis could help in identifying genetic variations among different accessions ofProsopis.     

Formation of vitamin A in a freshwater fish. Isolation of retinoic acid.

The intestines of freshly caught Saccobranchus fossilis (a freshwater fish that contains dehydroretinol) became free from carotenoids and from vitamin A when the fish were starved for about 20 days. When beta-carotene was administered to such fish, retinoic acid could be isolated from the intestines after approx. 4h. When lutein was administered to such fish, dehydroretinol and 3-hydroxyretinol could be isolated from the intestines after approx. 5h.     

Impact of exogenous silicon addition on chromium uptake, growth, mineral elements, oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity, and leaf and root structures in rice seedlings exposed to hexavalent chromium

Hydroponic experiments were conducted to investigate the role of exogenous silicon (Si) addition in increasing hexavalent chromium (Cr VI) tolerance in rice seedlings. Rice seedlings were grown under 100 μM Cr(VI) stress without or with 10 μM Si. Chromium treatment decreased growth, photosynthetic pigments and protein, which was accompanied by a significant increase in Cr accumulation and lipid peroxidation (as malondialdehyde; MDA). However, Si addition alleviated Cr toxicity and promoted growth of rice by decreasing Cr accumulation, root-to-shoot Cr transport and MDA level. Contents of macro (Mg, Ca and K) as well as micronutrients (Zn and Fe) were decreased by Cr except Mn while Si addition prevented decrease in these nutrients induced by Cr. Antioxidant capacity and total phenolic contents were decreased by Cr while these indices improved by Si addition. Treatment of Cr decreased the length of leaf epidermal cells and stomatal frequency, and adversely affected chloroplasts containing mesophyll cells and integrity of xylem and phloem, and Si addition minimized these abnormalities. However, frequency of root hairs was increased by Cr treatment. Results showed that exogenous Si addition enhanced Cr(VI) tolerance in rice seedlings by decreasing Cr accumulation, root-to-shoot Cr transport and MDA level, and by increasing content of some mineral elements (K, Fe and Zn) and antioxidant capacity compared to the Cr treatment alone.     

Early sexual maturity in local boars of Northeastern India: age-related changes in testicular growth, epididymal sperm characteristics and peripheral testosterone levels

The present study reports the age related changes in the peripheral testosterone levels, testicular and epididymal growth and development and cauda epididymal spermiogram in local pigs of Northeastern India, which attain sexual maturity around 3 months of age. Local boars (n = 20) were castrated at monthly intervals from 2 to 6 months of age (4 boars per month) to study the testicular growth and development and the epididymal spermiogram. Blood samples, collected from local boars (n = 6) at monthly intervals from 2 to 6 months of age, were analyzed for testosterone levels by radioimmunoassay. Compared to Hampshire boars, significantly (P < 0.05) high testosterone levels were observed in the local boars as early as 2 months of age. The mean (± SEM) level of testosterone in the local boars at 2, 3 and 4 months of age was 11.89 ± 1.52, 20.45 ± 1.33 and 20.38 ± 2.0 ngml⁻¹, respectively. Though there was consistently significant (P < 0.05) difference in the body weight between Hampshire and local pigs, the same was not observed in case of testicular weight except at 3 and 6 months of age. In line with the above observation, the testis:body weight ratio (gram testis per kg body weight) was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the local boars compared to the Hampshire boars at any time of observation, which ranged from 0.8 to 1.0 in case of Hampshire and from 2.3 to 3.0 in local boars. The sperm concentration in the cauda epididymal fluid of local boars at 2, 3 and 6 months of age was 2255 ± 186.6, 3685 ± 103.8 and 4325 ± 146.2 million/ml, respectively and the sperm motility, viability and total abnormality was 73.3, 75.2 and 6.2%, respectively at 3 months of age. Taken together, the testosterone level, testicular growth and development and epididymal spermiogram indicate the trait of early sexual maturity in the local pigs as compared to Hampshire.     

Synthesis of some new steroidal [16alpha,17alpha-d]-isoxazolines

Regioselective synthesis of novel steroidal anti-inflammatory ante drug analogues, viz., [16alpha,17alpha-d]-isoxazolines 1(a-h) and 2(a-h) prepared in a single step in good yield by the reaction of 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate (16-DPA) 1 or related 21-chloro-20-oxopregnane 2 with various aldoximes (a-h) in presence of chloramine-T in refluxing ethanol.     

Development and characterization of a continuous cell line PSCF from Puntius sophore

A continuous Puntius sophore caudal-fin (PSCF) cell line of the pool barb Puntius sophore, an important freshwater food and ornamental fish of Asia and South East Asia, was developed from the caudal fin for the first time. The cell line was optimally maintained at 28° C in Leibovitz-15 (L-15) medium supplemented with 10% foetal bovine serum (FBS). The cytogenetic analysis revealed a diploid count of 50 chromosomes at 25th and 50th passage and 52 chromosomes at passage 70, 85 and 100. The viability of the PSCF cell lines was 75% after 6 months of storage in liquid nitrogen (-196° C). The most striking feature of the PSCF cells was its high increased growth ratio as evident from the population doubling time of 25 h at passage 100. The origin of the cell lines was confirmed by the amplification of 581 and 655 bp fragments of 16 S rRNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genes, respectively. The PSCF cells were successfully transfected with green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter plasmids and the expression of GFP gene in the cells indicated the potential utility of the cells in gene expression studies.     

Right time - right location - right move: TRPs find motors for common functions

TRP channels are localized at specialized sub-cellular compartments like filopodial tips, ciliary structures, growth cones and spines that have importance in the context of several sensory functions. Several motor proteins largely regulate these localizations. Recent studies indicate that both physical and genetic interactions exist between TRP channels with actin and microtubule-based motor proteins. These two groups of proteins share specialized and fine regulation underlying physiological functions. Indeed, mutations causing loss of these interactions and regulations result in development of pathophysiological disorders and syndromes. In this review we analyze the recent progress made in cell-biological, biochemical, electrophysiological and genetic studies and summarize the multi-dimensional crosstalk between TRP channels with different motor proteins.     

Bile acid amides derived from chiral amino alcohols: novel antimicrobials and antifungals

Cholic and deoxycholic acid amides 10-17 have been synthesised from (1R,2R)-1-phenyl-2-amino-1,3-propanediol 2, (1S,2S)-1-phenyl-2-amino-1,3-propanediol 4, (1R,2R)-1-para-nitrophenyl-2-amino-1,3-propanediol 3, (1S,2S)-1-para-nitrophenyl-2-amino-1,3-propanediol 5. Amide 12 derived from N-succinimidyl ester 9 of deoxycholic acid and (1R,2R)-1-phenyl-2-amino-1,3-propanediol 2, found to be active against Cryptococcus neoformans and the amide 17 obtained from N-succinimidyl ester 9 of deoxycholic acid and (1S,2S)-1-para-nitrophenyl-2-amino-1,3-propanediol 5, is found to be potent against various gram-positive bacteria.     

Search for chromosomal variations among gas-exposed persons in Bhopal

Summary A chromosomal survey using standard lymphocyte cultures employing different media and G-banding techniques was initiated in 1984. This study became particularly important following the tragic gaseous exposure of the population in Bhopal at midnight on 2 December 1984. We have been able to formulate a chromosomal profile for each person whom we have studied; during 1986–1988, 154 persons were examined twice. Among seemingly normal individuals, as many as 20% might possess some chromosomal abnormality; of these, 50% may develop, at a later date, some kind of pathological complication (such as tumours, recurrent abortion or transmission of defects to their offspring). The people exposed to methyl isocyanate have repeatedly shown Robertsonian translocations, mostly in acrocentric chromosomes 13 and 21. Other types of translocations have been studied among all exposed (53) and normal (101) persons; the involvement of chromosomes 5, 9, 11, 14 and 16 is statistically significant (P= <0.001). One of the major clinical symptoms is dyspnoea; we have estimated that almost all seriously dyspnoeic patients have developed at least two categories of chromosomal aberrations, one of which is Robertsonian translocation, in at least 10% metaphases. Our chromosomal survey will be of significance because we are able to identify people with chromosomal aberrations that might be correlated with future pathological consequences of the accident. The chromosomal load that can be sustained with an apparently normal phenotype can also be measured.