Isolation and functional analysis of cotton universal stress protein promoter in response to phytohormones and abiotic stresses

The 949 bp promoter fragment upstream from the translation initiation site of the GUSP gene encoding a universal stress protein was isolated from the genomic DNA of Gossypium arboreum. Some putative cis-acting elements involved in stress responses including E-box, ABRE, DPBF-box, and MYB-core elements were found in the promoter region. In an Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression assay, strong activation of the GUSP full promoter region occurred in tobacco leaves following dehydration, abscisic acid, salt, heavy metal, gibberellic acid and dark treatments. Deletion analysis of the promoter revealed that the dehydration, abscisic acid and salt responses were affected by the deletion between −208 and −949 bp and showed 2–4-fold induction. However, in response to dark, gibberellic acid and heavy metals the induction was only 2-fold. These findings further our understanding of the regulation of GUSP expression. This is an important study as no report of this universal stress protein promoter is available in literature.     

Oxidative burst inhibitory and cytotoxic amides and lignans from the stem bark of Fagara heitzii (Rutaceae)

Two amides, heitziamide A and heitziamide B and two phenylethanoids, heitziethanoid A and heitziethanoid B together with thirteen known compounds were isolated from F. heitzii (Letouzey). The structures of all compounds were established by spectroscopic analysis.Nine compounds were evaluated for oxidative burst inhibitory activity in a chemoluminescence assay and for cytotoxicity against PC-3 prostate cancer cells.All compounds exhibited a clear suppressive effect on phagocytosis response upon activation with serum opsonized zymosan at the range of IC₅₀ = 2.0–6.5 μM, but no cytotoxic effect was observed (IC₅₀ > 100 μM).     

The role of endogenous opioids in the protective effects of local sublethal hyperthermia against the progression of burn injury

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of endogenous opioids in local sublethal hyperthermia-induced protection against burn injury.Second-degree burn wounds were induced on the back of Balb/c mice. Progression of burn injury and expression of heat shock protein (HSP)-70 were evaluated after 24 h.Both inhibition of HSP synthesis and blocking opioid receptors before applying local sublethal hyperthermia decreased the protective effects of sublethal hyperthermia against the progression of burn injury. Blocking opioid receptors attenuated induction of HSP-70 by sublethal hyperthermia.     

Ectodermal dysplasia-cutaneous syndactyly syndrome maps to chromosome 7p21.1-p14.3

Ectodermal dysplasia syndromes are genetically heterogeneous group of disorders involving one or more of the classical ectodermal appendages (hair, nail, teeth, sweat glands) in association with anomalies of other organs or systems. In the present study a novel form of ectodermal dysplasia syndrome, ectodermal dysplasia cutaneous syndactyly (EDCS), segregating in an autosomal recessive pattern in a Pakistani family was investigated. The clinical features of the affected individuals included large prominent ear pinnae, tooth enamel hypoplasia, hypoplastic nails, bilateral partial cutaneous syndactyly, hypotrichosis, palmoplantar keratoderma and hyperhidrosis. Through genetic linkage study, EDCS syndrome was mapped on human chromosome 7p21.1-p14.3 flanked by markers D7S488 and D7S817. A maximum two-point LOD score of 2.94 (θ = 0.00) was obtained at marker D7S2496 while a maximum multipoint LOD score of 3.07 was obtained with several markers along the disease-interval. This interval spans 19.80-cM, which corresponds to 13.74-Mbp according to the sequence-based physical map (Build 36.1). Sequence analysis of 27 candidate genes, located in the candidate interval, did not reveal any functional sequence variant.     

Potential of xylanase from thermophilic Bacillus sp. XTR-10 in biobleaching of wood kraft pulp

An extracellular xylanase produced under optimal conditions by a thermophilic strain of Bacillus sp. XTR-10 was evaluated for its potential application in biobleaching of wood kraft pulp. Spectrophotometric analysis showed considerable release of lignin derived compounds and chromophoric material by the xylanase treated pulp samples. Xylanase was found to be effective in the liberation of reducing sugars in the pulp filtrates with increment in enzyme dose and reaction time. Eight hours pretreatment with 40 IU of xylanase/g of dry pulp resulted in 16.2% reduction of kappa number with 25.94% ISO increase in brightness as compared to the control. The same treatment slightly lowered the tensile strength and burst index, however. Enzyme pretreatment of the pulp saved 15% active chlorine charges in single step and 18.7% in multiple steps chemical bleaching with attainment of brightness at the level of the control. These results indicate the potential of enzymatic pretreatment of pulp for reduction in environmental discharge of hazardous waste from the pulp and paper industry.     

Organotin(IV) 4-methoxyphenylethanoates: Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, X-ray structures and in vitro anticancer activity against human prostate cell lines (PC-3)

A series of organotin(IV) carboxylates, [Bu₂SnL₂] (1), [Et₂SnL₂] (2), [Me₂SnL₂] (3), [Bu₃SnL]_n(4), [Me₆Sn₂L₂]_n(5), [Ph₃SnL]_n(6) and [Oct₂SnL₂] (7), where L = O₂CCH₂C₆H₄OCH₃-4, have been synthesized. These complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR and multinuclear NMR (¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn). Based on spectroscopic results, the ligand appeared to coordinate to the Sn atom through COO moiety. Single crystal analysis has shown a bridging behavior of ligand in tributyl- and trimethyltin(IV) derivatives, and a chelating bidentate mode in diethyltin(IV) complex. Bioassay results have shown that these compounds have good antibacterial, antifungal and antitumor activity. The activity against prostate cancer cell lines (PC-3) decreased in the order 1 > 5 > 2 > 3 > 7.     

A phosphine complex of copper (I) bromide as single-source precursor for the aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposition of phosphide

A new homobimetallic complex [Cu₂(tpp)₂(dppm)Br₂] (1) of copper(I) bromide with triphenylphosphine (tpp) and bis-diphenylphosphinomethane (dppm) has been synthesized and charaterized by m.p., elemental analysis, FT-IR, ¹H NMR, mass spectrometry, thermal studies and single crystal X-ray analysis. The solid-state molecular structure of 1, belonging to the monoclinic crystal system with space group P2₁/n, describes it as a neutral dinuclear species in which two copper atoms are bridged together through two bromides and a dppm ligand and each copper atom possesses a distorted tetrahedral geometry. Complex 1 was studied as a single-source precursor for the fabrication of phase pure thin films of Cu₃P by aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposition. The films have been characterized by PXRD, SEM and ED-XRF analyses and found to exhibit the particles size range 200−400 nm with high purity and surface uniformity.     

Nutrient content of tropical edible seaweeds, Eucheuma cottonii, Caulerpa lentillifera and Sargassum polycystum

The proximate composition, vitamin C, α-tocopherol, dietary fibers, minerals, fatty acid and amino acid profiles of three tropical edible seaweeds, Eucheuma cottonii (Rhodophyta), Caulerpa lentillifera (Chlorophyta) and Sargassum polycystum (Phaeophyta) were studied. The seaweeds were high in ash (37.15–46.19%) and dietary fibers (25.05–39.67%) and low in lipid content (0.29–1.11%) on dry weight (DW) basis. These seaweeds contained 12.01–15.53% macro-minerals (Na, K, Ca and Mg) and 7.53–71.53 mg.100 g⁻¹ trace minerals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Se and I). The crude protein content of E. cottonii (9.76% DW) and C. lentillifera (10.41% DW) were higher than that of S. polycystum (5.4% DW), and protein chemical scores are between 20 and 67%. The PUFA content of E. cottonii was 51.55%, C. lentillifera 16.76% and S. polycystum 20.34%. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), accounted for 24.98% of all fatty acids in E. cottonii. These seaweeds have significant vitamin C (∼35 mg.100 g⁻¹) and α-tocopherol (5.85–11.29 mg.100 g⁻¹) contents.     

Change in colony morphology and kinetics of tylosin production after UV and gamma irradiation mutagenesis of Streptomyces fradiae NRRL-2702

Tylosin is a macrolide antibiotic used as veterinary drug and growth promoter. Attempts were made for hyper production of tylosin by a strain of Streptomyces fradiae NRRL-2702 through irradiation mutagenesis. Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of wild-type strain caused development of six morphologically altered colony types on agar plates. After screening using Bacillus subtilis bioassay only morphological mutants indicated the production of tylosin. An increase of 2.7±0.22-fold in tylosin production (1500 mg/l) in case of mutant UV-2 in complex medium was achieved as compared to wild-type strain (550 mg/l). Gamma irradiation of mutant UV-2 using ⁶⁰Co gave one morphologically altered colony type γ-1, which gave 2500 mg/l tylosin yield in complex medium. Chemically defined media promoted tylosin production upto 3800 mg/l. Maximum value of q_p (3.34 mg/gh) was observed by mutant γ-1 as compared to wild strain (0.81 mg/gh). Moreover, UV irradiation associated changes were unstable with loss of tylosin activity whereas mutant γ-1 displayed high stability on subsequent culturing.