Production of L-Phenylacetyl Carbinol by Immobilized Cells of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae

Conversion of benzaldehyde to L-phenylacetyl carbinol (L-PAC) was achieved with immobilized, growing cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in different reactors. Product formation increased (31%) with the subsequent initial reuses of the entrapped cells. Biomass production and PAC formation depleted (40 and 57%, respectively) after 4-5 continuous growth and biotransformation cycles. With the regeneration of the biocatalysts, catalytic activity of the cells was resumed. The highest yields were in a stirred tank reactor (29 g PAC) from 77 g benzeldehyde with 14 repeated uses of entrapped cells.     

Association of homocysteine and methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR C677T) gene polymorphism with coronary artery disease (CAD) in the population of North India

The implications of the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene and the level of homocysteine in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD) have been extensively studied in various ethnic groups. Our aim was to discover the association of MTHFR (C677T) polymorphism and homocysteine level with CAD in north Indian subjects. The study group consisted of 329 angiographically proven CAD patients, and 331 age and sex matched healthy individuals as controls. MTHFR (C677T) gene polymorphism was detected based on the polymerase chain reaction and restriction digestion with HinfI. Total homocysteine plasma concentration was measured using immunoassay. T allele frequency was found to be significantly higher in patients than in the control group. We found significantly elevated levels of mean homocysteine in the patient group when compared to the control group (p = 0.00). Traditional risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, smoking habits, a positive family history and lipid profiles (triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol), were found significantly associated through univariate analysis. Furthermore, multivariable logistics regression analysis revealed that CAD is significantly and variably associated with diabetes, hypertension, smoking, triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol. Our findings showed that MTHFR C677T polymorphism and homocysteine levels were associated with coronary artery disease in the selected population.     

Gene expression in the cell cycle of human T lymphocytes: I. Predicted gene and protein networks

The key genes involved in the cell cycle of human T lymphocytes were identified by iterative searches of gene-related databases, as derived also from DNA microarray experimentation, revealing and predicting interactions between those genes, assigning scores to each of the genes according to numbers of interaction for each gene weighted by significance of each interaction, and finally applying several types of clustering algorithms to genes basing on the assigned scores. All clustering algorithms applied, both hierarchical and K-means, invariably selected the same six "leader" genes involved in controlling the cell cycle of human T lymphocytes. Relations of the six genes to experimental data describing switching between stages of cell cycle of human T lymphocytes are discussed.     

First parturition of tigers in a semi-arid habitat,western India

Long-term data of large felids is important to understand their reproductive biology and behavior for effective conservation planning. We used camera trap data and direct sightings from 2005 to 2013 to estimate the age of the first parturition of Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris) in a semi-arid habitat in India. We monitored 11 females in the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve (RTR) from when they were 2–6 months old. The mean age at first reproduction (impregnation leading to cubs) was 51.3?±?(SE) 4.5 months. The tiger population in RTR is an important source population and genetic pool in the western most distribution of tiger. Thus, continuous monitoring of tiger populations is important to develop an understanding of reproductive biology.     

Deploying QTL-seq for rapid delineation of a potential candidate gene underlying major trait-associated QTL in chickpea

A rapid high-resolution genome-wide strategy for molecular mapping of major QTL(s)/gene(s) regulating important agronomic traits is vital for in-depth dissection of complex quantitative traits and genetic enhancement in chickpea. The present study for the first time employed a NGS-based whole-genome QTL-seq strategy to identify one major genomic region harbouring a robust 100-seed weight QTL using an intra-specific 221 chickpea mapping population (desi cv. ICC 7184 × desi cv. ICC 15061). The QTL-seq-derived major SW QTL (CaqSW1.1) was further validated by single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker-based traditional QTL mapping (47.6% R² at higher LOD >19). This reflects the reliability and efficacy of QTL-seq as a strategy for rapid genome-wide scanning and fine mapping of major trait regulatory QTLs in chickpea. The use of QTL-seq and classical QTL mapping in combination narrowed down the 1.37 Mb (comprising 177 genes) major SW QTL (CaqSW1.1) region into a 35 kb genomic interval on desi chickpea chromosome 1 containing six genes. One coding SNP (G/A)-carrying constitutive photomorphogenic9 (COP9) signalosome complex subunit 8 (CSN8) gene of these exhibited seed-specific expression, including pronounced differential up-/down-regulation in low and high seed weight mapping parents and homozygous individuals during seed development. The coding SNP mined in this potential seed weight-governing candidate CSN8 gene was found to be present exclusively in all cultivated species/genotypes, but not in any wild species/genotypes of primary, secondary and tertiary gene pools. This indicates the effect of strong artificial and/or natural selection pressure on target SW locus during chickpea domestication. The proposed QTL-seq-driven integrated genome-wide strategy has potential to delineate major candidate gene(s) harbouring a robust trait regulatory QTL rapidly with optimal use of resources. This will further assist us to extrapolate the molecular mechanism underlying complex quantitative traits at a genome-wide scale leading to fast-paced marker-assisted genetic improvement in diverse crop plants, including chickpea.     

Scaling of some metabolic enzymes in liver of a freshwater teleost: an adaptive mechanism

The activities of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase (mMDH) and the total mitochondrial proteins increase as a function of body mass in the freshwater catfish, Clarias batrachus. It clearly indicates an increase in energy production in larger-sized individuals for various purposes including prey-predator interactions. The higher activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in larger fish may indicate more production of lactate for gluconeogenesis in the liver to meet emergency requirements of increased energy demand. However, the activity of cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase (cMDH) decreases with the increasing body mass of the fish which reflects reduction in NADPH production and, in turn, reduced lipogenesis in liver of larger individuals. Thus, the present observations suggest an adaptive mechanism dealing with the higher energy budget, and reduced synthetic activities (lipogenesis) in the liver of larger-sized freshwater catfish. This type of biochemical scaling might be also supporting other metabolic pathways in order to adjust some physiological functions for survival in the aquatic environment.