Three new species of oribatid mites of the genus Pergalumna (Acari: Oribatida: Galumnidae) from India

Three new oribatid mite species of the genus Pergalumna (Galumnidae) are described from growing mosses on rocks near a water stream in India. Pergalumna paraclericata sp. n. is very similar morphologically to Carinogalumna clericata (Berlese, 1914), however, it differs from the latter by the structure of lamellar lines and number of notogastral porose areas. Pergalumna minipora sp. n. is very similar morphologically to Pergalumna bifissurata Hammer, 1972, however, it differs from the latter by the body size and the presence of prodorsal ridges and a median pore. Pergalumna paracattienica sp. n. is very similar morphologically to Pergalumna cattienica Ermilov & Anichkin, 2011, however, it differs from the latter by the number of notogastral porose areas and the body integument on the ventral plate.     

Degradation pathway, toxicity and kinetics of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol with different co-substrate by aerobic granules in SBR

The present study deals with cultivation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP) degrading aerobic granules in two SBR systems based on glucose and acetate as co-substrate. Biodegradation of TCP containing wastewater starting from 10 to 360 mg L⁻¹ with more than 90% efficiency was achieved. Sludge volume index decreases as the operation proceeds to stabilize at 35 and 30 mL g⁻¹ while MLVSS increases from 4 to 6.5 and 6.2 g L⁻¹ for R1 (with glucose as co-substrate) and R2 (with sodium acetate as co-substrate), respectively. FTIR, GC and GC/MS spectral studies shows that the biodegradation occurred via chlorocatechol pathway and the cleavage may be at ortho-position. Haldane model for inhibitory substrate was applied to the system and it was observed that glucose fed granules have a high specific degradation rate and efficiency than acetate fed granules. Genotoxicity studies shows that effluent coming from SBRs was non-toxic.     

Protein Turnover in Response to Transient Exposure to Exogenous Auxin is Necessary for Restoring Auxin Autotrophy in a Stressed Arachis hypogea Cell Culture

An auxin autotrophic Arachis hypogea cell culture was sensitive to stress treatments leading to water loss whereas the growth of its auxin-supplemented counterpart was unaffected under similar conditions. Here we show that an hour of transient auxin treatment in the post stress period was sufficient for restoring the auxin autotrophic growth potential of the stress driven quiescent Arachis cells. Qualitative proteome analysis revealed protein turnover to have a role in mediating auxin-originated signals in these cells. In consonance, MG132 a cell permeable inhibitor of the ubiquitin mediated protein turnover completely inhibited the auxin dependent growth restoration of the stressed Arachis cells. Thus protein turnover is a necessary downstream event in exogenous auxin mediated stress tolerance in Arachis cells.     

Synthesis and anticancer activity of certain mononuclear Ru (II) complexes

Bis(1,10-phenanthroline/2,2'-bipyridine) ruthenium(II)complexes containing TCP, TTZ OPBI, and BTSC ligands (where, TCP = 1-thiocarbamoyl-3,5-diphenyl-2-pyrazoline, TTZ = 2-(3,5-diphenyl-4,5-dihydropyrazol-1-yl)-4-phenylthiazole, OPBI = 2-hydroxyphenyl benzimidazole and BTSC = benzoin thiosemicarbazone) have been prepared and characterized. The spectral data suggested that the ligands were coordinated with the metal through nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen atoms. The target complexes were tested in vivo for anticancer activity against transplantable murine tumor cell line, Ehrlich's Ascitic Carcinoma (EAC). All these complexes increased the life span of the EAC-bearing mice, decreased their tumor volume and viable ascitic cell count as well as improved Hb, RBC and WBC counts. These results suggest that the Ru(II) complexes exhibit significant antitumor activity in EAC-bearing mice. It was also observed that the ruthenium complexes protected red blood cells from 2,2'-azo-bis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH)- induced hemolysis. The inhibitory effect was dose-dependent at a concentration of 20-120 microg/ml.     

Antitumor potential of Castanopsis indica (Roxb. ex Lindl.) A. DC. leaf extract against Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma cell

Methanol extract of C. indica (MECI) leaves showed direct cytotoxicity on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) cell in a dose dependant manner and there was significant decrease in the tumor volume, viable cell count, tumor weight and elevated the life span of EAC tumor bearing mice. Hematological profile and biochemical estimations were significantly restored to normal levels in MECI treated as compared to EAC control mice. MECI treatment significantly modulated the tissue antioxidant assay parameters as compared to the EAC control mice. The results revealed that MECI possesses significant dose dependent antitumor potential which may be due to its cytotoxicity and antioxidant properties.     

A synthetic S6 segment derived from KvAP channel self-assembles, permeabilizes lipid vesicles, and exhibits ion channel activity in bilayer lipid membrane

KvAP is a voltage-gated tetrameric K(+) channel with six transmembrane (S1-S6) segments in each monomer from the archaeon Aeropyrum pernix. The objective of the present investigation was to understand the plausible role of the S6 segment, which has been proposed to form the inner lining of the pore, in the membrane assembly and functional properties of KvAP channel. For this purpose, a 22-residue peptide, corresponding to the S6 transmembrane segment of KvAP (amino acids 218-239), and a scrambled peptide (S6-SCR) with rearrangement of only hydrophobic amino acids but without changing its composition were synthesized and characterized structurally and functionally. Although both peptides bound to the negatively charged phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylglycerol model membrane with comparable affinity, significant differences were observed between these peptides in their localization, self-assembly, and aggregation properties onto this membrane. S6-SCR also exhibited reduced helical structures in SDS micelles and phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylglycerol lipid vesicles as compared with the S6 peptide. Furthermore, the S6 peptide showed significant membrane-permeabilizing capability as evidenced by the release of calcein from the calcein-entrapped lipid vesicles, whereas S6-SCR showed much weaker efficacy. Interestingly, although the S6 peptide showed ion channel activity in the bilayer lipid membrane, despite having the same amino acid composition, S6-SCR was significantly inactive. The results demonstrated sequence-specific structural and functional properties of the S6 wild type peptide. The selected S6 segment is probably an important structural element that could play an important role in the membrane interaction, membrane assembly, and functional property of the KvAP channel.     

Some structural features of the -glucan from the seed of Mirabilis jalapa

The cotyledon of the seed of Mirabilis jalapa was found to contain a -glucan. Methylation, periodate oxidation, and graded and enzymic hydrolysis studies were conducted to elucidate its structure. For every 38 -glucosyl residues therein, 34 are (1→4)- and 3 are (1→3)-linked; the -glucosyl unit at the branch point is linked through O-1, O-2, and O-4. In some places in the chain, there are at least three (1→3)-linked -glucosyl residues in a sequence. Both α- and β- -glucosidic linkages are present in the polysaccharide, the former preponderating. The -glucan gave with iodine a faint blue color that had λ_max 420 nm.