Studies on physiology & biochemistry of female genital tract: response of cervix & vagina of albino rats to estrogen, progesterone & testosterone

Albino rats were administered estogen, progesterone or testosterone daily for 4 weeks to study the ponderal, histological and biochemical changes in the cervix and vagina. Stimulatory signs with increased weight, thickening, keratinization and desquamation of the surface epithelium, loose and edematous stroma were descernible in both the organs under estrogen and to some extent under testosterone but not under progesterone. However, progesterone altered the squamous type of vaginal epithelium to thin layers made up of uboidal cells. Metaplastic changes characterized the epithelium under testosterone. Biochemical responses of the 2 organs were often found to differ quantitatively and qualitatively under identical hormonal conditions. Statistical analyses are presented. Possible reasons for the differential behavior of the 2 organs are discussed.     

Study of uranium level in groundwater of Balod district of Chhattisgarh state,India and assessment of health risk

Uranium contamination in groundwater at Balod district of Chhattisgarh state was measured by laser fluorimetric technique. Most of the samples were found under safe limit for uranium contamination as recommended by WHO and USEPA (<30 µg l^?1) except Deur Tarai village (78.93 µg l^?1).The excess lifetime carcinogenic risk and chemical risk due to ingestion of groundwater were calculated using USEPA recommendations.     

Identification,characterization, expression profiling,and virus-induced gene silencing of armadillo repeat-containing proteins in tomato suggest their involvement in <Emphasis Type="Italic">tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus</Emphasis> resistance

Armadillo repeat family is well-characterized in several plant species for their involvement in multiple regulatory processes including growth, development, and stress response. We have previously shown a three-fold higher expression of ARM protein-encoding in tomato cultivar tolerant to tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) compared to susceptible cultivar upon virus infection. This suggests the putative involvement of ARM proteins in defense response against virus infection; however, no comprehensive investigation has been performed to address this inference. In the present study, we have identified a total of 46 ARM-repeat proteins (SlARMs), and 41 U-box-containing proteins (SlPUBs) in tomato. These proteins and their corresponding genes were studied for their physicochemical properties, gene structure, domain architecture, chromosomal localization, phylogeny, and cis-regulatory elements in the upstream promoter region. Expression profiling of candidate genes in response to ToLCNDV infection in contrasting tomato cultivars showed significant upregulation of SlARM18 in the tolerant cultivar. Virus-induced gene silencing of SlARM18 in the tolerant tomato cultivar conferred susceptibility, which suggests the involvement of this gene in resistance mechanism. Further studies are underway to functionally characterize SlARM18 to delineate its precise role in defense mechanism.     

Organic derivatives of aluminium. Part I. Reactions of alkanolamines with aluminium isopropoxide

Reactions of alkanolamines [R₁R₂NXOH; R₁ = H, CH₃, C₂H₅; R₂ = H, CH₃, C₂H₅ and X = -CH₂CH₂-, -CH₂CH₂CH₂-, -CH₂CHCH₃, -C₆H₄CH₂CH₂-] with aluminium isopropoxide in different molar ratios (1 to 3) yield compounds of the type Al(OPrⁱ)_3?n(OXNR₁R₂)_n, where ‘n’ can be 1, 2 and 3. Most of the derivatives are distillable liquids, soluble in common organic solvents and susceptible to hydrolysis even by atmospheric moisture. The new derivatives are characterized by elemental analysis, IR and ¹H NMR spectra. Molecular weight measurements of Al(OPrⁱ)_3?n(OXNR₁R₂)_n reveal them to be tetrameric in nature.     

IR investigation on dehydrophenylalanine containing model peptides in helical conformation deposited on a crystal surface

Fourier transform ir spectra have been recorded for three 3₁₀‐helical and one α‐helical pentapeptides containing dehydrophenylalanine, in a thin solid film, in order to find marker bands for various secondary structures encountered in peptides containing dehydroaminoacids. The peptide solutions were deposited and dried as thin film on zinc selenide crystal surface. This convenient sampling method has provided reliable estimates of peptide secondary structure in solid state. Detailed vibrational assignments in the spectral region between 1200–1700 cm⁻¹ are reported. In this region, peptide amide I, II, and III vibrations occur. Spectra–structure correlation has been presented based on the amide modes. Comparison of the ir spectra with available crystal structure data provides qualitative support for assignments of ir bands to 3₁₀‐helical structure and α‐helical structure in dehydrophenylalanine containing pentapeptides. Band frequency assignments for 3₁₀‐helical conformation are consistent for all three peptides. All the assignments agree closely with the theoretical predictions. The spectral differences between 3₁₀‐helical peptides and the α‐helical peptide have been highlighted. These findings demonstrate that a method based on ir spectroscopy can be developed for a useful approximation of three‐dimensional structure of dehydropeptides in solid state. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 50: 595–601, 1999