Bioremoval of Cyanide and Phenol from Industrial Wastewater: An Update

In nature, phenols and cyanides are produced by certain microbes and plants. Phenols are antioxidants found in almost all plants, and cyanides are important components of lima beans, almonds, and cassava. Their presence in small amounts may not upset the environment, but their large-scale production, wide applicability, and unrestricted release by the industries makes them widespread and important pollutants. Phenols and cyanides can be recovered/removed from wastewater streams using various physicochemical techniques practiced commercially. Lack of complete mineralization, cost-effectiveness, and release of secondary by-products are amongst a few of the major considerations that limit the installation of such processes. Biological removal of such pollutants from industrial waste has gained momentum in recent years, as they promise to surpass the major drawbacks laid by the physicochemical methods and can be practically carried out in all conditions. Presence of either cyanide or phenol is highly dangerous, and in the presence of both, the effect is compounded. The present review illustrates the various industries involved in the release of phenols, cyanides, or both; it summarizes the available technologies for their treatment and emphasizes recent advances and advantages of biological abatement of these pollutants.     

Survivability of parthenogenetic embryos following in vivo transfer in naturally synchronized Capra hircus

The present study was conducted to see the in vivo developmental potency of caprine parthenogenetic embryos generated in a modified way. The good quality caprine oocytes were matured in presence of cytochalasin B (CCB) and then activated by 7% ethanol followed by 2 mM 6-dimethyl amino purine (6-DMAP) and embryo development was recorded. Early stage parthenogenetic embryos (two to four cells) were surgically transferred in recipients (10). The pregnancy diagnosis was done by nonreturn to oestrus, ultrasonography (USG), and progesterone estimation. The levels of progesterone were above normal values (1 ng/ml) of pregnancy and fall below the level of pregnancy just before retuned to oestrus. Progesterone profile revealed that out of ten recipients (G1–G10), four goats (G1, G2, G3, and G5) returned to oestrus after 43?±?7.29 (Mean?±?SE) d of embryo transfer and six goats (G4, G6, G7, G8, G9, and G10) did not return to cycle even after 70 d of embryo transfer. In three recipients (G4, G5, and G6), the USG on day 40 revealed that there was fluid filled uterine body with solid fetus-like structure. These might be dead fetus and had started resorption. The progesterone profile also corroborated the assumption of pregnancy in these animals. Authors believe that this may be the first report on in vivo diploid parthenogenetic embryo development in caprine species.     

Synthesis,spectral studies,DNA binding,photocleavage, antimicrobial and anticancer activities of isoindol Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes

Abstract

Three new Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes [Ru(phen)₂CIIP]²⁺ (1) {CIIP = 2-(5-Chloro-3a H-Isoindol-3-yl)-1H-Imidazo[4,5-f][1, 10]phenantholine} (phen = 1, 10 phenanthroline), [Ru(bpy)₂CIIP]²⁺ (2) (bpy = 2, 2′ bipyridine) and [Ru(dmb)₂CIIP]²⁺ (3) (dmb = 4, 4′-dimethyl 2, 2′ bipyridine) were synthesized and characterized by different spectral methods. The DNA-binding behavior of these complexes was investigated by absorption, emission spectroscopic titration and viscosity measurements, indicating that these three complexes bind to CT-DNA in an intercalative mode, but binding affinities of these complexes were different. The DNA-binding constants K_b of complexes 1, 2 and 3 were calculated in the order of 10⁶. All three complexes cleave pBR322 DNA in photoactivated cleavage studies and exhibit good antimicrobial activity. Anticancer activity of these Ru(II) complexes was evaluated in MCF7 cells. Cytotoxicity by MTT assay showed growth inhibition in a dose dependent manner. Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry data showed an increase in Sub G1 population. Annexin V FITC/PI staining confirms that these complexes cause cell death by the induction of apoptosis.     

Design,synthesis, in vitro anticancer,antioxidant and antibacterial activity; DNA/BSA binding,photoleavage and docking studies of Cu(II) ternary metal complexes

Abstract

Three mononuclear, mixed ligand ternary Cu(II) complexes of 3-((Z)-1-(2-hydroxyphenylimino)ethyl)-4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one (HEHMP) viz; [Cu-(Phen) (HEHMP)] (1a), [Cu-(Bpy)(HEHMP)] (1?b) and [Cu-Bpy(NCS)(HEHMP)] (1c) were synthesized and characterized by data obtained from various spectral techniques. The binding affinities of these complexes with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein were explored by absorption and fluorescence quenching titrations. The results indicated strong affinity of the title compounds to bind with both CT-DNA and BSA. The antioxidant properties of the synthesized compounds evaluated by free-radical scavenging method using spectrophotometric technique indicated their affirmative potential activity. Gel electrophoresis experiments revealed the efficacy of metal complexes in resulting the cleavage of pBR322 supercoiled DNA. In vitro cytotoxicity studies of these complexes evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay against HeLa and MCF-7 cancer cell lines indicated relatively high effectiveness of the complex 1c. Confocal microscopy signified the potential of the complexes to induce apoptosis in HeLa cell lines. In addition, the antibacterial activity of the compounds carried out by disc diffusion method revealed significantly enhanced antibacterial activity in Cu (II) ternary complexes compared to the activity of ligands in unbound form signifying the implicit role of metal ion in inducing lipophilic character.     

Automated Chemical Synthesis of PNA and PNA-DNA Chimera on a Nucleic Acid Synthesizer

Abstract

Automated chemical synthesis of PNA and PNA-DNA chimera on a DNA synthesizer using the monomethoxytrityl/acyl protecting group strategy is described.     

A Novel Imidazole Nucleoside Containing a Diaminodihydro-S-triazine as a Substituent: Inhibitory Activity Against the West Nile Virus NTPase/Helicase

The attempted synthesis of a ring-expanded guanosine (1) containing the imidazo[4,5-e][1,3]diazepine ring system by condensation of 1-(2′-deoxy-β-D-erythropentofuranosyl)-4-ethoxycarbonylimidazole-5-carbaldehyde (2) with guanidine resulted in the formation of an unexpected product, 1-(2′-deoxy-β-D-erythropentofuranosyl)-5-(2,4-diamino-3,6-dihydro-1,3,5-triazin-6-yl)imidazole-4-carboxamide (7). The structure as well as the pathway of formation of 7 was corroborated by isolation of the intermediate, followed by its conversion to the product. Nucleoside 7 showed promising in vitro anti-helicase activity against the West Nile virus NTPase/ helicase with an IC ₅₀ of 3-10 μg/mL.     

Genetics of resistance to yellow rust in PBW343 × Kenya Kudu recombinant inbred line population and mapping of a new resistance gene YrKK

Yellow or stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, is an important disease of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) worldwide. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population, derived from the cross PBW343 × Kenya Kudu, was phenotyped for yellow rust reaction in the field at the CIMMYT research station near Toluca, Mexico, during 2010 and 2011. Segregation results indicated the presence of a race-specific resistance gene, temporarily designated as YrKK, in Kenya Kudu that conferred immunity to adult plants in field trials, despite conferring only slight reductions in seedling reactions in greenhouse tests with three Mexican pathotypes. A minimum of four minor genes having additive effects also segregated in the population and were likely derived from both parents. A total of 635 simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers were screened for polymorphism surveys on the parents, and resistant (YrKK-possessing RILs) and susceptible (YrKK-lacking RILs) bulks identified four polymorphic markers. These markers were located on the short arm of chromosome 2B. Genotyping of the entire RIL population identified Xgwm148 and Xwmc474 as the most closely linked proximal and distal flanking SSR markers, with respective genetic distances of 3.6 and 1.8 cM from YrKK. Four yellow rust resistance genes (Yr27, Yr31, Yr41, and YrP81) are located on chromosome 2BS; however, their specificity to pathogen pathotypes and host reactions in seedling and adult plants indicate that YrKK is a new resistance gene.     

Purification and characterization of a novel thermo-active amidase from Geobacillus subterraneus RL-2a

A thermostable amidase produced by Geobacillus subterraneus RL-2a was purified to homogeneity, with a yield of 9.54 % and a specific activity of 48.66 U mg^?1. The molecular weight of the native enzyme was estimated to be 111 kDa. The amidase of G. subterraneus RL-2a is constitutive in nature, active at a broad range of pH (4.5–11.5) and temperature (40–90 °C) and has a half-life of 5 h and 54 min at 70 °C. Inhibition of enzyme activity was observed in the presence of metal ions, such as Co²⁺, Hg²⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, and thiol reagents. The presence of mid-chain aliphatic and amino acid amides enhances the enzymatic activity. The acyl transferase activity was detected with propionamide, butyramide and nicotinamide. The enzyme showed moderate stability toward toluene, carbon tetrachloride, benzene, ethylene glycol except acetone, ethanol, butanol, propanol and dimethyl sulfoxide. The K _m and V _max of the purified amidase with nicotinamide were 6.02 ± 0.56 mM and 132.6 ± 4.4 μmol min^?1 mg^?1 protein by analyzing Michaelis–Menten kinetics. The results of MALDI-TOF analysis indicated that this amidase has homology with the amidase of Geobacillus sp. C56-T3 (gi|297530427). It is the first reported wide-spectrum thermostable amidase from a thermophilic G. subterraneus.     

Chemoprevention of Skin Cancer with 1,1-Bis (3′-Indolyl)-1-(Aromatic) Methane Analog through Induction of the Orphan Nuclear Receptor,NR4A2 (Nurr1)

Background

The objective of this study was to demonstrate the anti-skin cancer and chemopreventive potential of 1,1-bis(3′-indolyl)-1-(p-chlorophenyl methane) (DIM-D) using an in vitro model.

Methods

In vitro cell cytotoxicity and viability assays were carried out in A431 human epidermoid carcinoma cell line and normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) respectively by crystal violet staining. Apoptosis induction in A431 cells (DIM-D treated) and NHEK cells pretreated with DIM-D (2 hr) prior to UVB irradiation, were assessed. The accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in DIM-D pretreated NHEK cells (2 hr) prior to UVB exposure was also determined. Immunocytochemistry and western blot analysis was performed to determine cleaved caspase 3 and DNA damage markers in DIM-D treated A431 cells and in DIM-D pretreated NHEK cells prior to UVB irradiation.

Results

The IC50 values of DIM-D were 68.7±7.3, 48.3±10.1 and 11.5±3.1 μM whilst for Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) were 419.1±8.3, 186.1±5.2 and 56.7±3.1 μM for 24, 48 and 72 hr treatments respectively. DIM-D exhibited a significantly (p<0.05) greater induction of DNA fragmentation in A431 cells compared to EGCG with percent cell death of 38.9. In addition, DIM-D induced higher expression in A431 cells compared to EGCG of cleaved caspase 3 (3.0-fold vs. 2.4-fold changes), Nurr1 (2.7-fold vs. 1.7-fold changes) and NFκB (1.3-fold vs. 1.1-fold changes). DIM-D also exhibited chemopreventive activity in UVB-irradiated NHEK cells by significantly (p<0.05) reducing UVB-induced ROS formation and apoptosis compared to EGCG. Additionally, DIM-D induced expression of Nurr1 but reduced expression of 8-OHdG significantly in UVB-irradiated NHEK cells compared to EGCG and UV only.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that DIM-D exhibits Nurr1-dependent transactivation in the induction of apoptosis in A431 cells and it protects NHEK cells against UVB-induced ROS formation and DNA damage.     

Genome sequence of the clover-nodulating Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii strain TA1

Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii strain TA1 is an aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rod that is an effective nitrogen fixing microsymbiont on the perennial clovers originating from Europe and the Mediterranean basin. TA1 however is ineffective with many annual and perennial clovers originating from Africa and America. Here we describe the features of R. leguminosarum bv. trifolii strain TA1, together with genome sequence information and annotation. The 8,618,824 bp high-quality-draft genome is arranged in a 6 scaffold of 32 contigs, contains 8,493 protein-coding genes and 83 RNA-only encoding genes, and is one of 20 rhizobial genomes sequenced as part of the DOE Joint Genome Institute 2010 Community Sequencing Program.