Identification and quantification of endogenous gibberellins in apical buds and the cambial region of Eucalyptus

Endogenous gibberellins (GAs) were extracted and purified from apical buds of Eucalyptus nitens (Deane and Maid.) Maid. and the cambial region of E. globulus (Labill.). then analysed by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. GA₁ GA₁₉ GA₂₀ and GA₂₉ were identified by full scan mass spectra. Kovats retention indices and high resolution selected ion monitoring. Using deuterated internal standards. GA₁. GA₁₉. GA₂₀ and putative GA₂₉ and GA₅₃ were quantified in the apical buds, while GA₄. GA₈. GA₉ and GA₄₄ were shown to be either absent or present at very low levels. From the cambial region. GA₁ and GA₂₀ were quantified at levels of 0.30 ng (g fresh weight)-¹ and 8.8 ng (g fresh weight)-¹ respectively. These data suggest that the early 13-hydroxylation pathway is the dominant pathway for GA biosynthesis in Eucalyptus .     

An alternate high yielding purification method for Clitoria ternatea lectin

In our previous publication we had reported the purification and characterization of Clitoria ternatea agglutinin from its seeds on fetuin CL agarose affinity column, designated CTA [A. Naeem, S. Haque, R.H. Khan. Protein J., 2007]. Since CTA binds beta-d-galactosides, this lectin can be used as valuable tool for glycobiology studies in biomedical and cancer research. So an attempt was made for a high yielding alternative purification method employing the use of asialofetuin CL agarose column for the above-mentioned lectin, designated CTL. The fetuin affinity purified agglutinin was found similar to asialofetuin affinity purified lectin in SDS pattern, HPLC and N-terminal sequence. The content of lectin was found to be 30mg/30g dry weight of pulse. The yield was 2.8% as compared to 0.3% obtained on fetuin column. The number of tryptophan and tyrosine estimated was four and six per subunit.     

Synthesis,Molecular Modeling,and Biological Evaluation of Novel Chiral Thiosemicarbazone Derivatives as Potent Anticancer Agents

A series of new chiral thiosemicarbazones derived from homochiral amines in both enantiomeric forms were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antiproliferative activity against A549 (human alveolar adenocarcinoma), MCF‐7 (human breast adenocarcinoma), HeLa (human cervical adenocarcinoma), and HGC‐27 (human stomach carcinoma) cell lines. Some of compounds showed inhibitory activities on the growth of cancer cell lines. Especially, compound 17b exhibited the most potent activity (IC₅₀ 4.6 μM) against HGC‐27 as compared with the reference compound, sindaxel (IC₅₀ 10.3 μM), and could be used as a lead compound to search new chiral thiosemicarbazone derivatives as antiproliferative agents. Chirality 27:177–188, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Essai chimiosystématique sur la tribu des Lotées

A survey of the leaves and flowers of 62 representatives of the tribe Loteae (Leguminosae) showed the presence of several classes of flavonoids: flavonol 7-methyl ethers (rhamnocitrin, rhamnetin), 8-O-substituted flavonols (gossypetin, limocitrin, sexangularetin, corniculatusin), 3′,4′,5′-tri-O-substituted flavonols (myricetin, mearnsetin, syringetin, laricitrin), proanthocyanidins and flavone-C-glycosides. The trisubstitution of the B-ring and the 8-O-substitution of the A-ring allow the definition of a major group including the genera Dorycnium, Bonjeania, Lotus and Tetragonolobus. The presence of proanthocyanidins and 7-O-methylation determine a second group consisting of the genus Anthyllis. Finally, Securigera, on the basis of its flavonoid chemistry, appears to be rather remote from other members of the tribe.     

Preservation of vegetables by microbial activity and radiation

Two locally-produced seasonal vegetables, carrot and patol, were preserved in brine, with and without radiation, with marked changes in their properties as foods and their microbiology. The treated vegetables could be preserved, at optimum salt and irradiation levels, for up to 60 days without becoming unacceptable in terms of appearance, texture, flavour and taste. The optimum salt concentrations for preservation of carrot and patol were 2% (w/v) and 3% (w/v), respectively. The microbial load initially showed an upward trend and then declined after 5 to 10 days of storage. Lactic acid bacteria predominated in treated vegetables.     

Complete nucleotide sequence of an unusual mobile element from trypanosoma brucei

The complete nucleotide sequence of a mobile element from Trypanosoma brucei is presented along with the sequence of its target site, which shows that the insertion has generated a 7 base pair direct repeat. The cloned copy of the element is a dimeric structure, one end of each monomer consisting of a stretch of 14 A residues preceded by a putative trypanosome polyadenylation signal. Six base pairs of DNA of unknown origin are found in the dimer between the two copies of the element. Evidence suggests that the element is present in the genome mainly as a monomer whose sequence is conserved across several species of trypanosome. The element contains an open reading frame encoding the same 160 amino acid protein in both sequenced copies and is extensively transcribed from both strands.     

The influence of implant number and abutment design on the biomechanical behaviour of bone for an implant-supported fixed prosthesis: a finite element study in the upper anterior region

It is always recommended to use more implants for supporting a prosthesis in the immediate loading condition than in the classical two-stage treatment procedure. By means of the finite element (FE) method, the influence of the number of implants used in immediately loaded fixed partial prosthesis (FPP) on the load distribution was investigated, considering the abutment geometry. Two 3D FE models were studied employing four implants to support a FPP in the premaxilla. One model was designed with straight abutments and the other with 20°-angled abutments. The results concerning implant displacements, stresses and strains were compared with those of two implant-supported FPPs, obtained in a previous study. A noticeable reduction in the determined biomechanical bone loading was observed with the use of more implants in supporting an immediately loaded prosthesis. This study confirms that the use of additional numbers of implants in an immediately loaded prosthesis is highly recommended.     

The central role of protein S12 in organizing the structure of the decoding site of the ribosome

The ribosome decodes mRNA by monitoring the geometry of codon–anticodon base-pairing using a set of universally conserved 16S rRNA nucleotides within the conformationally dynamic decoding site. By applying single-molecule FRET and X-ray crystallography, we have determined that conditional-lethal, streptomycin-dependence mutations in ribosomal protein S12 interfere with tRNA selection by allowing conformational distortions of the decoding site that impair GTPase activation of EF-Tu during the tRNA selection process. Distortions in the decoding site are reversed by streptomycin or by a second-site suppressor mutation in 16S rRNA. These observations encourage a refinement of the current model for decoding, wherein ribosomal protein S12 and the decoding site collaborate to optimize codon recognition and substrate discrimination during the early stages of the tRNA selection process.