Comparative Study on Biological Activities and Chemical Profiling of Mushroom (Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fr.) Quel.) Cultured on Lignocellulosic Agro Wastes

The relevance of the lignocellulosic substrate in the cultivation of mushrooms has lent support to the exploration of several lignocellulosic agro wastes. This study was, thus, aimed at the evaluation of durian peel as an alternative substrate for more sustainable mushroom cultivation and climate change mitigation. The secondary metabolites and biological activities of both aqueous and organic mushroom (Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fr.) Quel.) extract cultured on durian peel and rubberwood sawdust substrate were compared using GCMS, LCMS as well as various biological assays (cytotoxicity, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities). Mushroom extracts from durian peel substrates possess remarkable biological activities. The results showed that the aqueous extracts had poor antimicrobial activities. The organic extracts were more active against cancer cells than the aqueous extracts, while the aqueous extracts were more potent as antioxidants than the organic extracts. Overall, the mushroom extract from the durian substrate was the most effective except against A549 and SW948, while the aqueous extract from the durian substrate was the most effective against the A549 cancer cell lines with 29.53±2.39 % inhibition. On the other hand, the organic mushroom extract from the sawdust substrate was the most effective against SW948 with 60.24±2.45 % inhibition. Further studies, however, are needed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of action of P. pulmonarius extracts against cancer cell proliferation and the effect of the substrates on the nutritional composition, secondary metabolites, and other biological activities of P. pulmonarius extracts.     

Comparison of two pig intestinal brush border peptidases with the corresponding renal enzymes.

Intestinal dipeptidyl peptidase IV and gamma-glutamyltransferase were compared to the corresponding kidney enzymes with respect to immunological and electrophoretic properties. The influences of selected effectors on the two enzymes were also studied. The two kidney peptidases exhibited the reaction of total identity with the corresponding intestinal enzymes in immunodiffusion. Furthermore, the intestinal dipeptidyl peptidase IV and gamma-glutamyl transferase showed the same inhibition patterns as the corresponding kidney enzymes and the acceptor specificity of the intestinal gamma-glutamyl-transferase was found to be identical to that of the kidney enzyme. The electrophoretic mobilities of dipeptidyl peptidase IV from the two organs differed greatly. The difference was almost abolished by treatment with neuraminidase, suggesting that the variation in mobility was due to different contents of sialic acid. It is suggested that the intestinal brush border peptidases, dipeptidyl peptidase IV and gamma-glutamyltransferase, are closely related to the corresponding enzymes obtained from the kidney.     

Fluorography of tritium-labelled proteins in immunoelectrophoresis

A method is described for detecting 3H-labelled proteins in immunoelectrophoretic systems performed on agarose gels. The method is based on the incorporation of a polyacrylamide gel into the agarose gel after the electrophoresis. This mixed gel has the characteristics of a polyacrylamide gel, making it possible to use fluorography as has been described for polyacrylamide gels. The applicability of the fluorography method is demonstrated by analyzing 3H-labelled human serum albumin and 3H-labelled pig intestinal brush border proteins by quantitative immunoelectrophoresis.     

Evaluation of Swedish woodland key habitats using red-listed bryophytes and lichens

All Swedish forest land is at present being surveyed with the aim of mapping woodland key habitats which have an estimated number of ca. 70 000. An untested requirement of these habitats is that they should contain red-listed species. In order to investigate if they fulfill their aim, an inventory of nationally red-listed bryophytes and lichens was performed in ca. 120 randomly selected woodland key habitats distributed throughout the country. The species were recorded in line transects, covering the whole surface of the habitats. The mean number of red-listed species per habitat was 0.7 for bryophytes and 1.4 for lichens with 11 species at the richest site and 71% of the sites having at least one species. Nemoral forests and coniferous forests were the most species-rich habitat types. The habitats of northern Sweden were more species rich than the southern ones. There were weak correlations between presence of bryophytes and lichens. The study shows that a majority of the woodland key habitats contain red-listed bryophyte and lichen species. Further studies are needed in order to record more organism groups and to compare the woodland key habitats with the surrounding matrix forests.     

Crystal structure, solid state and solution characterisation of copper(II) coordination compounds of ethyl 5-methyl-4-imidazolecarboxylate (emizco)

The synthesis and characterisation of the following compounds derived from the biological relevant compound ethyl 5-methyl-4-imidazolecarboxylate (emizco) (1): [Cu(emizco)Cl2] (2), [Cu(emizco)2Cl2] (3), [Cu(emizco)2Br2] (4), [Cu(emizco)2(H2O)2](NO3)2 (5) and [Cu(emizco)4](NO3)2 (6), is presented. These compounds were characterised by IR and UV spectroscopic techniques, in addition the crystal structures of compounds 1-5 were determined. For complexes 2-5, emizco is coordinated as a bidentate ligand, through the oxygen atom of the carboxylate moiety and the nitrogen atom of the imidazolic ring. Different geometries are stabilised: compound 2 includes a pentacoordinated square pyramidal metal centre, while 3-5 are derived from octahedral geometry. Halide compounds 3 and 4 show a cis-octahedral arrangement, which is not very common on [CuN2O2X2] systems, while 5 stabilises the trans-octahedral isomer. Compound 6 displays a square planar geometry. Finally, hydrolysis of emizco to its corresponding carboxylic acid (mizco), allowed the preparation of another square planar complex 7, identified as [Cu(mizco)2] 0.5H2O. Solution studies of these compounds indicate that emizco is not substituted from the coordination sphere, remaining as a bidentate ligand. Halides are substituted by water molecules, changing from cis octahedral to the trans-[Cu(emizco)2(H2O)2]2+ isomer.     

Reversible membrane association of dinitrogenase reductase activating glycohydrolase in the regulation of nitrogenase activity in Rhodospirillum rubrum; dependence on GlnJ and AmtB1

In the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodospirillum rubrum nitrogenase activity is regulated by reversible ADP-ribosylation of dinitrogenase reductase in response to external so called "switch-off" effectors. Activation of the modified, inactive form is catalyzed by dinitrogenase reductase activating glycohydrolase (DRAG) which removes the ADP-ribose moiety. This study addresses the signal transduction between external effectors and DRAG. R. rubrum, wild-type and P(II) mutant strains, were studied with respect to DRAG localization. We conclude that GlnJ clearly has an effect on the association of DRAG to the membrane in agreement with the effect on regulation of nitrogenase activity. Furthermore, we have generated a R. rubrum mutant lacking the putative ammonium transporter AmtB1 which was shown not to respond to "switch-off" effectors; no loss of nitrogenase activity and no ADP-ribosylation. Interestingly, DRAG was mainly localized to the cytosol in this mutant. Overall the results support our model in which association to the membrane is part of the mechanism regulating DRAG activity.     

Anthraquinones from Hedyotis capitellata

Four new furanoanthraquinones, 2-hydroxymethyl-3,4-[2'-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-dihydrofurano]-8-hydroxyanthraquinone, 2-hydroxymethyl-3,4-[1'-hydroxy-2'-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-dihydrofurano]-8-hydroxyanthraquinone, 2-hydroxymethyl-3,4-[2'-1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-dihydrofurano]anthraquinone and 2-methyl-3,4-[2'-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-dihydrofurano] anthraquinone or capitellataquinone A-D and four known anthraquinones, rubiadin, anthragallol 2-methyl ether, alizarin 1-methyl ether and digiferruginol, together with scopoletin were isolated from the stems of Hedyotis capitellata Wall (Rubiaceae). Lucidin-3-O-beta-glucoside was isolated from the roots of the plant. Characterization of the new compounds was carried out by extensive NMR studies using FGCOSY, FGHMQC, FGHMBC and DEPT-135 in addition to other spectroscopic methods.     

Gravid Spot Predicts Developmental Progress and Reproductive Output in a Livebearing Fish,Gambusia holbrooki

In most livebearing fish, the gravid spot is an excellent marker to identify brooding females, however its use to predict progress of embryonic development, brood size, timing of parturition and overall reproductive potential of populations remain unexplored. Therefore, to understand these relationships, this study quantified visual attributes (intensity and size) of the gravid spot in relation to key internal development in Gambusia holbrooki. Observations show that the colour of the gravid spot arises from progressive melanisation on the surface of the ovarian sac at its hind margin, rather than melanisation of the developing embryos or the skin of the brooding mother. More importantly, the gravid spot intensity and size were closely linked with both developmental stages and clutch size, suggesting their reliable use as external surrogates of key internal developmental in the species. Using predictive consistency of the gravid spot, we also determined the effect of rearing temperature (23°C and 25°C) on gestation period and parturition behaviour. The results show that gestation period was significantly reduced (F = 364.58; df = 1,48; P˃0.05) at 25°C. However there was no significant difference in average number of fry parturated in the two temperature groups (P<0.05), reaffirming that gravid spot intensity is a reliable predictor of reproductive output. The parturition in the species occurred predominantly in the morning and in contrast to earlier reports, tails of the fry emerged first with a few exceptions of head-first, twin and premature births. This study demonstrates utility of the gravid spot for downstream reproductive investigations in a live-bearing fish both in the field and laboratory. The reproducibility of the relationships (intensity with both developmental stage and clutch size), imply that they are also relevant to wild populations that experience varying temperature climes and stressors, significant deviations of which may serve as indicators of environmental health and climate variability.     

Decolorization and degradation mechanism of Amaranth by Polyporus sp. S133

Polyporus sp. S133 decolorized the Amaranth in 72 h (30 mg L^?1) under static and shaking conditions. Liquid medium containing glucose has shown the highest decolorization of Amaranth by Polyporus sp. S133. When the effect of increasing inoculum concentration on decolorization of Amaranth was studied, maximum decolorization was observed with 15 % inoculum concentration. Significant increase in the enzyme production of laccase (102.2 U L^?1) was observed over the period of Amaranth decolorization compared to lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase. Germination rate of Sorghum vulgare and Triticum aestivum was less with Amaranth treatment as compared to metabolites obtained after its decolorization. Based on the metabolites detected by GC–MS, it was proposed that Amaranth was bio-transformed into two intermediates, 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid and 1,4-naphthaquinone. Overall findings suggested the ability of Polyporus sp. S133 for the decolorization of azo dye and ensured the ecofriendly degradation of Amaranth.