Total synthesis of (±)-elegansidiol, (±)-farnesiferol B,and (±)-farnesiferol D

The racemic total synthesis of elegansidiol, farnesiferol B, and farnesiferol D has been obtained following a Diels–Alder approach. Gillman addition, cross metathesis reaction are the other key steps involved in the target synthesis.     

Characteristics and programme-defined treatment outcomes among childhood tuberculosis (TB) patients under the national TB programme in Delhi

Background

Childhood tuberculosis (TB) patients under India''s Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) are managed using diagnostic algorithms and directly observed treatment with intermittent thrice-weekly short-course treatment regimens for 6–8 months. The assignment into pre-treatment weight bands leads to drug doses (milligram per kilogram) that are lower than current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for some patients.

Objectives

The main aim of our study was to describe the baseline characteristics and treatment outcomes reported under RNTCP for registered childhood (age <15 years) TB patients in Delhi. Additionally, we compared the reported programmatic treatment completion rates between children treated as per WHO recommended anti-TB drug doses with those children treated with anti-TB drug doses below that recommended in WHO guidelines.

Methods

For this cross-sectional retrospective study, we reviewed programme records of all 1089 TB patients aged <15 years registered for TB treatment from January to June, 2008 in 6 randomly selected districts of Delhi. WHO disease classification and treatment outcome definitions are used by RNTCP, and these were extracted as reported in programme records.

Results and Conclusions

Among 1074 patients with records available, 651 (61%) were females, 122 (11%) were <5 years of age, 1000 (93%) were new cases, and 680 (63%) had extra-pulmonary TB (EP-TB)—most commonly peripheral lymph node disease [310 (46%)]. Among 394 pulmonary TB (PTB) cases, 165 (42%) were sputum smear-positive. The overall reported treatment completion rate was 95%. Similar reported treatment completion rates were found in all subgroups assessed, including those patients whose drug dosages were lower than that currently recommended by WHO. Further studies are needed to assess the reasons for the low proportion of under-5 years of age TB case notifications, address challenges in reaching all childhood TB patients by RNTCP, the accuracy of diagnosis, and the clinical validity of reported programme defined treatment completion.     

Evaluation of PCR-based methods for isolating flanking regions of genes

Several polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods are available for isolation of unknown genomic fragments. In the present study, a comparative evaluation of a few methods of ligation-mediated PCR methods and a ligation-independent one were made by isolating promoter fragment for N-methyltransferase gene involved in the caffeine biosynthetic pathway of Coffea canephora. The benefits of tertiary PCR and the effects of a 4-base cutting restriction endonuclease on the size of the PCR products obtained were demonstrated in one of the ligation-mediated PCR methods. The methods adopted in this study differed in the sizes of the 5'-flanking regions obtained. The efficiencies of various methods used reflect the inherent limitations of the PCR-based methods for isolation of unknown flanking regions.     

A marked enhancement in phytase production by a thermophilic mould Sporotrichum thermophile using statistical designs in a cost-effective cane molasses medium

AIMS: Statistical optimization of phytase production by a thermophilic mould Sporotrichum thermophile in a cost-effective cane molasses medium. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sporotrichum thermophile secreted phytase in cane molasses medium at 45 degrees C and 250 rev min(-1) after 5 days. The important factors identified by Plackett-Burman design (magnesium sulfate, Tween 80, ammonium sulfate and incubation period) were further optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). An overall 107% improvement in phytase production was achieved due to optimization. Supplementation of the medium with inorganic phosphate repressed the enzyme synthesis. When inorganic phosphate was reduced from the cane molasses medium by treatment with calcium chloride, the enzyme production increased. The phytase activity was not affected by the enzyme treatment with trypsin and pepsin. CONCLUSIONS: A twofold increase in phytase production was achieved due to optimization using statistical designs in a cost-effective cane molasses medium. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Phytase production was doubled due to optimization. The enzyme, being resistant to trypsin and pepsin, thermostable and acid stable, can find application in animal feed industry for improving nutritional status of the feed and combating environmental phosphorus pollution.     

C-25 hydroxylation of 1alpha,24(R)-dihydroxyvitamin D3 is catalyzed by 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-24-hydroxylase (CYP24A1): metabolism studies with human keratinocytes and rat recombinant CYP24A1

Recently, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3-24-hydroxylase (CYP24A1) has been shown to catalyze not only hydroxylation at C-24 but also hydroxylations at C-23 and C-26 of the secosteroid hormone 1alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1alpha,25(OH)2D3). It remains to be determined whether CYP24A1 has the ability to hydroxylate vitamin D3 compounds at C-25. 1alpha,24(R)-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1alpha,24(R)(OH)2D3) is a non-25-hydroxylated synthetic vitamin D3 analog that is presently being used as an antipsoriatic drug. In the present study, we investigated the metabolism of 1alpha,24(R)(OH)2D3 in human keratinocytes in order to examine the ability of CYP24A1 to hydroxylate 1alpha,24(R)(OH)2D3 at C-25. The results indicated that keratinocytes metabolize 1alpha,24(R)(OH)2D3 into several previously known both 25-hydroxylated and non-25-hydroxylated metabolites along with two new metabolites, namely 1alpha,23,24(OH)3D3 and 1alpha,24(OH)2-23-oxo-D3. Production of the metabolites including the 25-hydroxylated ones was detectable only when CYP24A1 activity was induced in keratinocytes 1alpha,25(OH)2D3. This finding provided indirect evidence to indicate that CYP24A1 catalyzes C-25 hydroxylation of 1alpha,24(R)(OH)2D3. The final proof for this finding was obtained through our metabolism studies using highly purified recombinant rat CYP24A1 in a reconstituted system. Incubation of this system with 1alpha,24(R)(OH)2D3 resulted in the production of both 25-hydroxylated and non-25-hydroxylated metabolites. Thus, in our present study, we identified CYP24A1 as the main enzyme responsible for the metabolism of 1alpha,24(R)(OH)2D3 in human keratinocytes, and provided unequivocal evidence to indicate that the multicatalytic enzyme CYP24A1 has the ability to hydroxylate 1alpha,24(R)(OH)2D3 at C-25.     

Chloride secretion by semicircular canal duct epithelium is stimulated via beta 2-adrenergic receptors

The ductalepithelium of the semicircular canal forms much of the boundary betweenthe K⁺-rich luminal fluid and the Na⁺-richabluminal fluid. We sought to determine whether the net ion fluxproducing the apical-to-basal short-circuit current(I_sc) in primary cultures was due to anionsecretion and/or cation absorption and under control of receptoragonists. Net fluxes of ²²Na, ⁸⁶Rb, and³⁶Cl demonstrated a basal-to-apical Clsecretion that was stimulated by isoproterenol. Isoproterenol andnorepinephrine increased I_sc with anEC₅₀ of 3 and 15 nM, respectively, and isoproterenolincreased tissue cAMP of native canals with an EC₅₀ of 5 nM. Agonists for adenosine, histamine, and vasopressin receptors had noeffect on I_sc. Isoproterenol stimulation ofI_sc and cAMP was inhibited by ICI-118551(IC₅₀ = 6 µM for I_sc) but notby CGP-20712A (1 µM) in primary cultures, and similar results werefound in native epithelium. I_sc was partially inhibited by basolateral Ba²⁺ (IC₅₀ = 0.27 mM) and ouabain, whereas responses to genistein, glibenclamide, andDIDS did not fully fit the profile for CFTR. Our findings show that thecanal epithelium contributes to endolymph homeostasis by secretion ofCl under ₂-adrenergic control with cAMP assecond messenger, a process that parallels the adrenergic control ofK⁺ secretion by vestibular dark cells. The current workpoints to one possible etiology of endolymphatic hydrops in Meniere'sdisease and may provide a basis for intervention.

     

Purification and characterization of a thermostable and acid-stable phytase from Pichia anomala

Phytase of Pichia anomala was purified to near homogeneity by a two-step process of acetone precipitation followed by anion exchange chromatography using DEAE-Sephadex. The enzyme had a molecular weight of 64 kDa. It was optimally active at 60 °C and pH 4.0. This enzyme was found to be highly thermostable and acid-stable, with a half life of 7 and 8 days at 60 °C and pH 4.0 respectively. At 80 °C, the half life of phytase could be increased from 5 to 30 min by the addition of materials such as sucrose, lactose and arabinose (10% w/v). The enzyme exhibited a broad substrate specificity, since it acted on p-nitrophenyl phosphate, ATP, ADP, glucose-6-phosphate besides phytic acid. The K _m value for phytic acid was 0.20 mM and V _max was 6.34 mol/mg protein/min. There was no requirement of metal ions for activity. SDS was observed to be highly inhibitory to phytase activity. Sodium azide, DTT, -mercaptoethanol, EDTA, toluene, glycerol, PMSF, iodo-acetate and N-bromosuccinimide did not show inhibitory activity. The enzyme was inhibited by 2,3-butanedione, indicating the involvement of arginine residues in catalysis. Phytase activity was not inhibited in the presence of inorganic phosphate upto 10 mM. The shelf life of the enzyme was 6 months at 4 °C and there was no loss in the activity on lyophilization. Very few studies have been done on purification of yeast phytases. This is the first report on purification and characterization of phytase from P. anomala. The enzyme is unique in being thermostable, acid-stable, exhibiting broad substrate specificity and in not requiring metal ions for its activity. The yeast biomass containing phytase appears to be suitable for supplementing animal feeds to improve the availability of phosphorus from phytates.     

Effect of capsaicin on skeletal muscle lipoprotein lipase in rats fed high fat diet

A synthetic analogue of capsaicin (0.2 mg%) fed to female Wistar rats along with a high fat diet for 11 weeks, lowered adipose tissue weight and also liver and serum triglycerides. The compound elevated total post heparin plasma lipase and skeletal muscle lipase activities. The increase in the latter indicates the possible mechanism by which capsaicin enhances serum triglyceride uptake by muscle tissue and in turn lowers triglyceride levels. A single dose of capsaicin even at a much higher level failed to lower serum triglycerides emphasizing the necessity of continuous ingestion of capsaicin for exerting its hypolipidemic effect.     

Stimulation of vitellogenin production by methoprene in prepupae and pupae of manduca sexta

Denaturing electrophoresis of hemolymph from prepupae of M. sexta showed trace amounts of polypeptides with mobilities corresponding to those of vitellogenin (Vg) apoproteins from adult females. Absence of the polypeptides in allatectomized insects suggested regulation by juvenile hormone (JH). Daily administration of 10 μg of the JH analog methoprene from day 4 of the fifth stage to day 0 of the pupal stage caused accumulation of these polypeptides. They were identified as apovitellogenins (apoVgs) immunochemically with Vg antiserum. Stimulation of Vg in response to methoprene varied with age. In all cases, day 0 female pupae were highly responsive. Vg synthesis was not stimulated when pupae were injected with 20-hydroxyecdysone (20-HE) in addition to methoprene. Methoprene-stimulated Vg synthesis was also abolished by inhibitors of mRNA or protein synthesis (α-amanitin, actinomycin, cycloheximide). This result indicated that methoprene-stimulated Vg accumulation requires gene expression. A Vg cDNA (2.1 kb) obtained by immunoscreening of the λgt 11 library, when used as a radiolabelled probe, hybridized with a 5.1 kb mRNA from total RNA of female fat body. It also hybridized with fat body RNA of normal prepupae and methoprene treated day 0 pupae but not with that of early fifth instars or solvent control pupae. The results indicate that the trace amounts of Vg found in prepupal stages are due to a weak expression of the Vg gene, which is stimulated by JH and repressed by 20-HE. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.