Oxylipin biosynthesis reinforces cellular senescence and allows detection of senolysis

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Simplified production technology of blue green alga Spirulina platensis for feed applications in India

Summary A rural oriented methodology for the production of the blue green alga Spirulina platensis has been developed and practically evaluated on pilot plant scale (45 m²). The system suggested is almost free of electrical inputs or capital intensive equipment and designed to use maximal manpower. A production rate of 3 kg of dry algae per week can be achieved using 45 m² area.     

Selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase modules encoded by RNA viruses

Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) is the prototypical eukaryotic selenoprotein, with the rare amino acid selenocysteine (Sec) at the enzyme active site, encoded by the UGA codon in RNA. A DNA virus,Molluscum contagiosum, has now been shown to encode a functional selenium-dependent GPx enzyme. Using modifications of conventional sequence database searching techniques to locate potential viral GPx modules, combined with structurally guided comparative sequence analysis, we provide compelling evidence that Se-dependent GPx modules are encoded in a number of RNA viruses, including potentially serious human pathogens like HIV-1 and hepatitis C virus, coxsackievirus B3, HIV-2, and measles virus. Analysis of the sequences of multiple viral isolates reveals conservation of the putative GPx-related features, at least within viral subtypes or genotypes, supporting the hypothesis that these are functional GPx modules.