Serum trace mineral variations in Nili-Ravi buffaloes suffering with prepartum vaginal prolapse in two different agro-ecological zones of Punjab, Pakistan

The present study was conducted during 2005 and 2006 on 200 Nili-Ravi buffaloes kept in two agroecological zones (irrigated [zone 1] and rain-fed [zone-2]) of Punjab, Pakistan, with the objective to determine the level of trace minerals (Cu, Fe, Zn, Se) in serum of the buffaloes suffering from vaginal prolapse and to compare them with their healthy counterparts. In each zone 50 buffaloes suffering from prepartum vaginal prolapse during their seventh month of gestation were identified through survey. Vaginal prolapse-affected buffaloes belonging to zone 1 were identified as group VPB1 (N = 50), whereas buffaloes belonging to zone 2 were recognized as VPB2 (N = 50). The buffaloes of control group in zone 1 and zone 2 were identified as NCB1 and NCB2, respectively. The blood samples in all four groups of buffaloes were collected three times, i.e., first when these animals were in the eighth month of gestation, second during the eighth to ninth month of gestation, and finally when these animals were in the ninth or later month of gestation. The mean serum copper concentrations in buffaloes of group VPB1 were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in comparison with NCB1 and NCB2, whereas there were nonsignificant differences (P > 0.05) in copper concentrations between VPB1 and VPB2. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) of iron concentration in VPB1 compared with NCB1 and NCB2. Similarly, VPB2 also had significantly lower (P < 0.05) iron concentrations compared with NCB1 and NCB2. Serum zinc concentrations were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in animals of the VPB1 group when compared with NCB1 and NCB2. Similarly, lower zinc concentrations were observed in VPB2 in comparison with NCB1 and NCB2. There was significantly lower (P < 0.05) zinc concentration in affected buffaloes (VPB1 and VPB2) from the ninth month of gestation to term when compared with those in the eighth to ninth mo of gestation, and with those not yet in the eighth month of gestation. Serum selenium concentration were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in control group buffaloes (NCB1 and NCB2) in comparison with vaginal prolapse-affected buffaloes (VPB1 and VPB2). During different stages of gestation, mean serum selenium concentrations varied nonsignificantly (P > 0.05) within each group of buffalo. Based on information obtained from this study, it was concluded that the low serum concentration of copper and selenium are linked to increased incidence of vaginal prolapse in buffaloes during the last trimester of gestation.     

TC10 Is Regulated by Caveolin in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

Background

TC10 is a small GTPase found in lipid raft microdomains of adipocytes. The protein undergoes activation in response to insulin, and plays a key role in the regulation of glucose uptake by the hormone.

Methodology/Principal Findings

TC10 requires high concentrations of magnesium in order to stabilize guanine nucleotide binding. Kinetic analysis of this process revealed that magnesium acutely decreased the nucleotide release and exchange rates of TC10, suggesting that the G protein may behave as a rapidly exchanging, and therefore active protein in vivo. However, in adipocytes, the activity of TC10 is not constitutive, indicating that mechanisms must exist to maintain the G protein in a low activity state in untreated cells. Thus, we searched for proteins that might bind to and stabilize TC10 in the inactive state. We found that Caveolin interacts with TC10 only when GDP-bound and stabilizes GDP binding. Moreover, knockdown of Caveolin 1 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes increased the basal activity state of TC10.

Conclusions/Significance

Together these data suggest that TC10 is intrinsically active in vivo, but is maintained in the inactive state by binding to Caveolin 1 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes under basal conditions, permitting its activation by insulin.     

COMPARATIVE INHIBITION OF NITRIFIERS AND NITRIFICATION IN A FOREST COMMUNITY AS A RESULT OF THE ALLELOPATHIC NATURE OF VARIOUS TREE SPECIES

Inhibition of nitrification and nitrifiers was significantly variable under different tree species in the same forest ecosystem. Nitrate nitrogen was always lower than ammonium nitrogen when compared under each species. On the other hand, low numbers of Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter showed an inverse relationship with large amounts of ammonium in most samples. Aforementioned variation is due to the variable tree litter under different species, which in turn produces inhibitors of nitrification and nitrifiers. Inhibition of nitrification in natural ecosystems increases the amounts of ammonium nitrogen thus resulting in a conservation of energy, if plants utilize such nitrogen directly.     

Urease inhibitor from Datisca cannabina linn

A new flavonoid datisdirin (1), along with eight known compounds tectochrysine, cearoin, sideroxyline, ursolic acid, corosolic acid, arjunolic acid, erythrodiol and oleanolic acid, were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of D. cannabina Linn. The structure of compound 1 was deduced on the basis of its spectral data. Datisdirin showed activity against the ureases enzyme.     

Synthesis and urease enzyme inhibitory effects of some dicoumarols

Dicoumarols 1-10 with substituted phenyl residues at C-11 were synthesized and screened for their urease inhibition effects. All synthesized compounds showed varying degree of urease inhibitory activity ranging from IC50 = 74.30-91.35 microM.     

ALLELOPATHIC EFFECTS OF DECAYING LITTER OF DOMINANT TREES AND THEIR ASSOCIATED SOIL IN A LOWLAND FOREST COMMUNITY

Phytotoxins released by the dominant species in a lowland forest showed highest accumulations in their respective stands. The accumulation of such phytotoxins corresponded with the amount of litter produced and its decaying rate. The release of phytotoxins and their activity depended on whether they were free or bound, and on their solubility. Therefore, the phytotoxins in soils were highly variable in amounts from one species stand to another species stand, during the same and different times of the year. The persistent accumulation of phytotoxins from all dominant tree species continues to influence the soil properties around the trees. Fourteen phytotoxins were isolated from the leaf litter and the soil. Seven persistent toxins were quantified in soils under different tree stands at various times of the year. The cycle of release of bound and free phenolics is discussed.     

Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation of Rubia peregrina L.: in vitro accumulation of anthraquinones

An Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation system for Rubia peregrina L. has been established by co-cultivation of callus cultures or by direct infection of explants with A. rhizogenes LBA 9402 harbouring the binary vector pMON 9703 containing gus and npt-II genes as markers. The putative transformed roots were selected on medium containing kanamycin (25 mg l^-1). Antibiotic resistant root clones were subjected to histochemical analysis for the localisation of -glucuronidase activity. Polymerase chain reaction was used to confirm the presence of gus, npt-II and T _L border sequences in the transformed root clones. Spontaneous regeneration of shoots was observed from 30 day-old transgenic roots. Total anthraquinone and alizarin contents of transgenic root cultures were measured by spectrophotometry and by high performance liquid chromatography. The accumulation of total anthraquinones in transformed roots was found to be approximately 2-fold higher than that found in one year-old field grown roots (2.12±0.12 and 1.23±0.12 mg g^-1 dry weight, respectively). Alizarin was found to be the major anthraquinone in transformed root cultures and was found to be approximately 3-fold higher than in field grown roots.Abbreviations BA 6-benzyladenine - B5 Gamborg B5 medium - gus -glucuronidase gene - GUS -glucuronidase - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - MS Murashige and Skoog medium - NAA -naphthalene acetic acid - npt-II neomycin phosphotransferase II gene - OD₆₀₀ optical density at 600 nm - PCR polymerase chain reaction - T _L left border sequence of T-DNA - vir D1 virulence D1 gene - YMB yeast mannitol broth     

New diterpenoid alkaloids from Aconitum heterophyllum Wall: Selective butyrylcholinestrase inhibitors

Two new diterpenoid alkaloids, heterophyllinine-A (1) and heterophyllinine-B (2), along with two known alkaloids dihydroatisine (3) and lycoctonine (4) were isolated from the roots of Aconitum heterophyllum Wall. The structure of (1) and (2), were deduced on the basis of spectral data. Compounds 1-2 inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE, EC 3.1.1.8) enzymes in a concentration-dependent manner with percent inhibition ranging between 4.24% and 6.94 % and 79.1 % and 82.75 % for AChE and BChE, respectively indicating that compounds 1 and 2 are about thirteen times more specific to BChE than AChE.     

alpha-Chymotrypsin inhibition studies on the lignans from Vitex negundo Linn

The lignans (1-8) isolated from the roots of Vitex negundo Linn. were screened against the serine proteases alpha-chymotrypsin, thrombin and prolyl endopeptidase. Compounds 3 and 4 were found to be active only against alpha-chymotrypsin and were noncompetitive and competitive inhibitors of the enzyme, respectively. Ki values were found to be in the range 31.75-47.11 microM.