The first investigation of the diversity of bacteria associated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptinotarsa decemlineata</Emphasis> (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), is a devastating pest of potatoes in North America and Europe. L. decemlineata has developed resistance to insecticides used for its control. In this study, in order to find a more effective potential biological control agent against L. decemlineata, we investigated its microbiota and tested their insecticidal effects. According to morphological, physiological and biochemical tests as well as 16S rDNA sequences, microbiota was identified as Leclercia adecarboxylata (Ld1), Acinetobacter sp. (Ld2), Acinetobacter sp. (Ld3), Pseudomonas putida (Ld4), Acinetobacter sp. (Ld5) and Acinetobacter haemolyticus (Ld6). The insecticidal activities of isolates at 1.8×10⁹ bacteria/mL dose within five days were 100%, 100%, 35%, 100%, 47% and 100%, respectively, against the L. decemlineata larvae. The results indicate that Leclercia adecarboxylata (Ld1) and Pseudomonas putida (Ld4) isolates may be valuable potential biological control agents for biological control of L. decemlineata.     

Strong activation of bile acid-sensitive ion channel (BASIC) by ursodeoxycholic acid

Bile acid-sensitive ion channel (BASIC) is a member of the DEG/ENaC gene family of unknown function. Rat BASIC (rBASIC) is inactive at rest. We have recently shown that cholangiocytes, the epithelial cells lining the bile ducts, are the main site of BASIC expression in the liver and identified bile acids, in particular hyo- and chenodeoxycholic acid, as agonists of rBASIC. Moreover, it seems that extracellular divalent cations stabilize the resting state of rBASIC, because removal of extracellular divalent cations opens the channel. In this addendum, we demonstrate that removal of extracellular divalent cations potentiates the activation of rBASIC by bile acids, suggesting an allosteric mechanism. Furthermore, we show that rBASIC is strongly activated by the anticholestatic bile acid ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), suggesting that BASIC might mediate part of the therapeutic effects of UDCA.     

Quantification of Phenolic Component by LC-HESI-MS/MS and Evaluation of Antioxidant Activities of Crocus Ancyrensis (Ankara Çiğdemi) Extracts Obtained with Different Solvents

In this study, Crocus ancyrensis was extracted from different parts of the plants with various solvents and their antioxidant activities and phenolic contents were investigated in detail for the first time. The highest amount of total phenolic substance in all parts of the plant was determined in the stigmaless flower. In the DPPH and FRAP methods, the highest antioxidant activity was obtained from the water extraction from the plant. Rutin is the highest detected by LC MS/MS. Stigmaless flower extract in all solvents is attributed to the component that contributes the most to antioxidant capacity. p-hydroxy benzoic acid was detected as the highest phenolic component after rutin. When the antioxidant activity results were examined, it was determined that the highest activity was in the water extract. As a result, it is evaluated that rutin and p-hydroxybenzoic acid in the plant contribute to the antioxidant capacity.     

Enzymatic and insecticidal activities of the Amsacta moorei entomopoxvirus glycosyltransferase,AMV248

The family Poxviridae is divided into two subfamilies, the Chordopoxvirinae of vertebrates and the Entomopoxvirinae of invertebrates. The Amsacta moorei entomopoxvirus (AMEV, Entomopoxvirinae) has the potential to be used in gene therapy, as an expression vector, and as a biopesticide. It was suggested that AMV248 protein is a putative glycosyltransferase (GT) but was also shown to be an attachment protein to host receptors. GTs encoded by some other viruses catalyse the binding of sugars molecules to growth hormones of the host insects rendering the hormones inactive. Consequently, larval development is arrested and frequently results in larval mortality. In this study, AMV248 protein was shown to be a GT and the purified enzyme catalysed the production of uridine diphosphate (UDP) from the substrates UDP-glucose and UDP-N-acetylglucosamine. This AMEV enzyme may behave much like the ecdysteroid UDP-glucosyltransferase of baculoviruses. Various concentrations of the GT enzyme were tested for its insecticidal activity against gypsy moth Lymantria dispar (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), lackey moth Malacosoma neustria (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, 1808) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae. It had varying deleterious effects on all test larvae but L. dispar was the most sensitive to the enzyme. While this enzyme exhibits properties with potential to be developed as an insecticide in biocontrol strategies, investigations are needed to ascertain its value in pest management.     

A new colorimetric DPPH• scavenging activity method with no need for a spectrophotometer applied on synthetic and natural antioxidants and medicinal herbs

2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^?) radical scavenging, the most commonly used antioxidant method with more than seventeen thousand articles cited, is very practical; however, as with most assays, it has the major disadvantage of dependence on a spectrophotometer. To overcome this drawback, the colorimetric determination of the antioxidant activity using a scanner and freely available Image J software was developed. In this new method, the mixtures of solutions of DPPH^? and standard antioxidants or extracts of common medicinal herbs were dropped onto TLC plates, after an incubation period. The spot images were evaluated with Image J software to determine CSC₅₀ values, the sample concentrations providing 50% colour reduction, which were very similar with the SC₅₀ values obtained with spectrophotometric method. The advantages of the new method are the use of lower amounts of reagents and solvents, no need for costly spectrophotometers, and thus significantly lowered costs, and convenient implementation in any environment and situation.