Seasonal Abundance of Acanthamoeba rhysodes (Singh, 1952) (Protozoa: Gymnamoebia) in a Mangrove Litter-Soil Ecosystem of Gangetic-Estuary,India1,2

Acanthamoeba rhysodes has been found to be a predominant intertidal benthic gymnamoeba in the mangrove ecosystem of Sundarbans of lower deltaic Bengal, facing the Bay. The sampling zones under study were the highest high tide regions, with characteristic mangrove litter-soil, inundated twice per month during the highest ebb of spring tide. Population abundance of this species, both in its trophic and cystic forms in the three distinct seasonal periods of pre-monsoon (March to June), monsoon (July to October), and post-monsoon (November to February) has been surveyed for over two years. These seasonal periods affect the physico-chemical parameters of the habitat substrata, including temperature, pH, and salinity. It has been found that the overall number of organisms per gram of soil attains peak value during the monsoon period. This value comes down in post-monsoon samples and is the least in pre-monsoon ones.     

Technical Study of a Standalone Photovoltaic–Wind Energy Based Hybrid Power Supply Systems for Island Electrification in Malaysia

Energy is one of the most important factors in the socioeconomic development of a country. In a developing country like Malaysia, the development of islands is mostly related to the availability of electric power. Power generated by renewable energy sources has recently become one of the most promising solutions for the electrification of islands and remote rural areas. But high dependency on weather conditions and the unpredictable nature of these renewable energy sources are the main drawbacks. To overcome this weakness, different green energy sources and power electronic converters need to be integrated with each other. This study presents a battery storage hybrid standalone photovoltaic-wind energy power supply system. In the proposed standalone hybrid system, a DC-DC buck-boost bidirectional converter controller is used to accumulates the surplus hybrid power in the battery bank and supplies this power to the load during the hybrid power shortage by maintaining the constant dc-link voltage. A three-phase voltage source inverter complex vector control scheme is used to control the load side voltage in terms of the voltage amplitude and frequency. Based on the simulation results obtained from MATLAB/Simulink, it has been found that the overall hybrid framework is capable of working under variable weather and load conditions.     

Possible role of metal ionophore against zinc induced cognitive dysfunction in <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d-</Emphasis>galactose senescent mice

Metal ionophores are considered as potential anti-dementia agents, and some are currently undergoing clinical trials. Many metals are known to accumulate and distribute abnormally in the aging brain. Alterations in zinc metal homeostasis in the glutaminergic synapse could contribute to ageing and the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The present study was designed to investigate the effect of metal ionophores on long term administration of zinc in D-galactose induced senescent mice. The ageing model was established by combined administration of zinc and D-galactose to mice for 6 weeks. A novel metal ionophore, PBT-2 was given daily to zinc-induced d-galactose senescent mice. The cognitive behaviour of mice was monitored using the Morris Water Maze. The anti-oxidant status and amyloidogenic activity in the ageing mouse was measured by determining mito-oxidative parameters and deposition of amyloid β (Aβ) in the brain. Systemic administration of both zinc and D-galactose significantly produced memory deficits, mito-oxidative damage, heightened acetylcholinesterase enzymatic activity and deposition of amyloid-β. Treatment with PBT-2 significantly improved behavioural deficits, biochemical profiles, cellular damage, and curbed the deposition of APP in zinc-induced senescent mice. These findings suggest that PBT-2, acting as a metal protein attenuating compound, may be helpful in the prevention of AD or alleviation of ageing.     

A novel galactosyl-binding lectin from the plasma of the blood clam,Anadara granosa (L) and a study of its combining site

Control Analysis has been carried out in the first steps of a rat liver glycolytic system. Attention has been focused on the effect of several glucose concentrations on the control, particularly regarding the role of glucokinase. From kinetic studies of the whole metabolic system we have obtained information on the flux variation under different glucose concentrations. This information together with the kinetics of glucokinase has allowed us to calculate Flux Control and Elasticity Coefficients for glucokinase and the Response Coefficient of the system with respect to glucose. The changes in of the value of Flux Control Coefficients demonstrates that in conditions of low glucose concentration, glucokinase is the main enzyme in controlling the flux through the pathway, but at high glucose concentration the control moves to phosphofructokinase. Next, we have compared our results with those obtained with the shortening and titration method, previously described (Torres, N.V., Mateo, F., Mélendez-Hevia, E. and Kacser, H., (1986) Biochem. J. 234, 169–174; Torres, N.V. and Meléndez-Hevia, E. 1991. Molec. Cell. Biochem. 101, 1–10). Furthermore, from knowledge of the enzyme kinetics of the system we have been able to build a model of the pathway that allows us computer similation of its behavior and calculation of the Flux Control Coefficient profile at different glucose concentrations. By the three methods the results correlate, supporting the use of the pathway substrate as external modulator of the metabolic system as a tool for practical application of Control Analysis.     

Alkaloids from the leaves of Strychnos wallichiana

The leaves of Strychnos wallichiana Steud. ex. DC. from Bangladesh contain icajine and novacine as their major alkaloids. Smaller amounts of strychnine, brucine, pseudostrychnine, pseudobrucine, N-methyl-sec.-pseudo-β-colubrine, 14-hydroxyicajine, strychnine N-oxide, and brucine N-oxide are also present. The new bases 14 hydroxynovacine and icajine N-oxide have been isolated.     

Site-directed mutagenesis of La protease. A catalytically active serine residue.

Comparative sequence analysis of Escherichia coli ATP-dependent La protease led to the suggestion that Ser679 is the catalytically active enzyme residue. Site-directed mutagenesis Ser679----Ala, investigation of the cells containing the mutant plasmid, and study of the partially purified mutant protein produced results in favour of this suggestion.     

Sapatoxins,aliphatic ester tigliane diterpenes from Sapium indicum

From the unripe fruits of Sapium indicum, three aliphatic esters of the tigliane nucleus were isolated. These compounds were derivatives of 4-deoxyphorbol. Sapatoxin A was identified as 12-O-[n-deca-2,4,6-trienoyl]-4-deoxyphorbol-13-acetate, B as 12-O-[n-deca-2,4,6-trienoyl]-4-deoxy-5-hydroxyphorbol-13-acetate and C as 12-O-[n-deca-2,4,6-trienoyl]-4,20-dideoxy-5-hydroxyphorbol-13-acetate, by spectroscopic analysis and hydrolysis reactions.     

Activation of a phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C by colony stimulating factor 1 receptor requires tyrosine phosphorylation and a guanine nucleotide-binding protein.

Receptor tyrosine kinases couple to multiple intracellular effector molecules that are crucial for normal cell growth and transformation. Stimulation of membrane phospholipid hydrolysis by receptor tyrosine kinases is one such pathway for generating intracellular second messengers that may be important for mitogenesis. Certain receptor tyrosine kinases tyrosine phosphorylate a phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C that hydrolyses the membrane phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. In contrast, the glycoprotein receptor for colony stimulating factor 1, a transmembrane tyrosine kinase, does not utilize this pathway, but rather stimulates the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine. Here we show that eluates of antiphosphotyrosine affinity purified lysates of colony-stimulating factor 1-stimulated cells contain elevated levels of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C activity. The affinity-purified activity is sensitive to tyrosine-specific T-cell phosphatase, and is detected in the membrane fraction of stimulated cells. Recovery of phospholipase C activity in the antiphosphotyrosine protein fraction is reduced by pertussis toxin pretreatment of cells. The phosphatidylcholine phospholipase C activity in isolated membranes of colony-stimulating factor 1-treated cells was also reduced by pertussis toxin treatment and stimulated by guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate. These results indicate that colony stimulating factor 1 receptor-mediated stimulation of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C requires tyrosine phosphorylation, and might be affected by a G-protein coupled pathway.     

Production of cellulases and saccharification of lignocellulosics by A. Micromonospora sp.

A locally isolated strain of Micromonospora sp. when grown on different natural cellulosic substrates gave the highest activity of carboxymethylcellulase (34 U/ml) and Avicelase (0.9 U/ml) on rice straw. Sugar cane bagasse was also a good substrate for growth and cellulase production. With commercial cellulosic substrates, highest carboxymethylcellulase (90 U/ml) and Avicelase (2.8 U/ml) activities were when the organism grew on xylan. Saccharification of sugar cane bagasse and rice straw by enzyme preparations of the organism grown on the respective substrates released 5.6 and 5.8 mg reducing sugar/ml. With all enzyme preparations, bagasse was more easily saccharified than rice straw.The authors are with the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, GPO Box 3787, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh; N.A. Chowdhury, M. Moniruzzaman, and N. Choudhury in the Institute of Food and Radiation Biology, and N. Nahar in the Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology.