Variation and inheritance of the arachin polypeptides of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Summary Variation in the arachin polypeptides of groundnut genotypes was observed by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Three regions could be observed on the electropherogram. Region 1, corresponding to conarachin, did not show any variation; region 2, consisting of arachin acidic subunits, showed variation; region 3, containing the arachin basic subunits, did not show any variation. There are four varietal classes of arachin polypeptide patterns: class A comprised three acidic subunits of arachin of molecular weights 47.5, 45.1 and 42.6 kd and a basic subunit of 21.4 kd; class B, with three acidic subunits of molecular weights 47.5, 45.1 and 41.2 kd and a basic subunit of 21.4 kd; class C of an additive pattern of class A and class B; class D, of two acidic polypeptides of 47.5, 45.1 kd and the basic 21.4 kd subunit. Of the 90 genotypes studied, 73% belong to class A, 15% to class B and 6% each to class C and D. Analysis of F₂ seeds from a cross between class A and class B genotypes showed that the two polypeptides (42.6 kd and 41.2 kd) are coded by nonallelic genes and also revealed that class C and class D patterns arose as a result of hybridisation between class A and class B. A. monticola, the progenitor of A. hypogaea, showed a pattern similar to the additive pattern of class A and class B while some diploid Arachis species had the 41.2 kd polypeptide. Based on arachin polypeptide patterns the probable origin of A. hypogaea has been suggested.     

Analysis of a case of somatic instability in a strain of maize from India

A case of somatic instability affecting aleurone colour in a strain of maize from India with flint background was analysed. The somatic instability is localized to theC ¹ (Inhibitor) allele ofC locus on the short arm of chromosome 9. Molecular tests indicated thatAc is not present in the Indian stock and the evidence is consistent with the involvement of theEn (Spm) transposable element in the instability. The presence of theEn (Spm)-like element in the stock would suggest that these elements have been present in the maize genome for a long time. A new allele ofshrunken (sh1) gene with a somewhat unorthodox breeding behaviour is also described.     

Structural investigations on the lipopolysaccharide isolated from Vibrio cholera,Inaba 569 B

On hydrolysis, the purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS) isolated from Vibrio cholera, Inaba 569 B, yielded glucose, mannose, a heptose behaving like d-glycero-l-manno-heptose and one behaving like d-glycero-l-gluco-heptose, 2-amino-2-deoxy-glucose, and glucuronic acid in the molar ratios of ～9:4:5:1:2:5. Studies on the LPS, the polysaccharide (PS), and carboxyl-reduced LPS showed that the PS has a branched structure, with (1→2)-linked mannopyranosyl and a heptopyranosyl, and (1→4)-linked glucopyranosyluronic and 2-amino-2-deoxyglucopyranosyl residues in the interior part of the molecule, and glucopyranosyl and heptopyranosyl residues as nonreducing end-groups.     

Chrysin and Capsaicin induces premature senescence and apoptosis via mitochondrial dysfunction and p53 elevation in Cervical cancer cells

Current studies are focusing on the anti-cancerous properties of natural bioactive compounds, primarily those included in the human diet. These compounds have the potential to alter the redox balance that can hinder cancer cell's growth. In cancer cells, an abnormal rate of ROS production is balanced with higher antioxidant activities, which if not maintained, results in cancer cells being prone to cell death due to oxidative stress. Here, we have analyzed the effects of Chrysin and Capsaicin on the HeLa cells viability and cellular redox signaling. Both these compounds stimulate cellular and mitochondrial ROS overproduction that perturbs the cellular redox state and results in mitochondrial membrane potential loss. Apart from this, these compounds induce cell cycle arrest and induce premature senescence, along with the overexpression of p21, p53, and p16 protein at lower concentration treatment of Chrysin or Capsaicin. Moreover, at higher concentration treatment with these compounds, pro-apoptotic activity was observed with the high level of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 along with suppression of the Bcl-2 protein levels. In-Silico analysis with STITCH v5 also confirms the direct interaction of Chrysin and Capsaicin with target protein p53. This suggests that Chrysin and Capsaicin trigger an increase in mitochondrial ROS, and p53 interaction leading to premature senescence and apoptosis in concentration dependent manner and have therapeutic potential for cancer treatment.     

Auxin-like activity of extract from hypertrophied tissue of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia eburnea</Emphasis> infected with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ravenelia esculenta</Emphasis>

Ravenelia esculenta Naras. and Thirum. is a rust, pathogenic to Acacia eburnea Willd. The infection leads to hypertrophy changing the morphology with bizarre shapes of plant organs. Healthy and infected tissues were subjected to extraction of IAA and indole derivatives and were estimated by spectrophotometric methods. The hypertrophy produced was presumed to be due to increase in the indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) content in the infected tissue, however, the amount of IAA in infected tissues decreased with the progression of disease. Concomitantly, the infected tissue showed the presence of a novel, slow migrating, indole derivative on TLC. Cultured shoot tips of Withania somnifera were dosed with the methanolic extract of the infected hypertrophied tissue (MEHT) (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.00 and 1.25 mg/l). The stimulation in shoot growth along with profuse rooting was observed in a dose dependent manner with maximum at 1.00 and 1.25 mg/l concentration.     

Anti-biofilm potential of a glycolipid surfactant produced by a tropical marine strain of Serratia marcescens

A tropical marine bacterium isolated from the hard coral, Symphyllia sp. was identified as Serratia marcescens on the basis of morphological, biochemical and 16S rDNA analysis. The bacterium showed antimicrobial activity towards the pathogens Candida albicans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the marine biofouling bacterium Bacillus pumilus. S. marcescens displayed biosurfactant activity as evidenced by drop collapse, blood hemolysis and surface tension reduction (52.0-27 mN m(-1)). The active compound was purified by solvent extraction and silicic acid chromatography. Characterization was by thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and (1)H as well as (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis. The surfactant was found to be a glycolipid composed of glucose and palmitic acid. The glycolipid prevented adhesion of C. albicans BH, P. aeruginosa PAO1 and B. pumilus TiO1. The glycolipid also disrupted preformed biofilms of these cultures in microtitre plates. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and electron microscopy confirmed the effective removal of biofilms from glass surfaces. The glycolipid derived from S. marcescens could thus serve as a potential anti-biofilm agent.     

A Novel Folate-Targeted Nanoliposomal System of Doxorubicin for Cancer Targeting

Targeted drug delivery systems for cancer improves anti-tumor efficacy and reduces systemic toxicity by restricting availability of cytotoxic drugs within tumors. Targeting moieties, such as natural ligands (folic acid, transferrin, and biotin) which are overexpressed on tumors, have been used to enhance liposome-encapsulated drug accumulation within tumors and resulted in better control. In this report, we explored the scope of targeting ligand folic acid, which is incorporated in liposome systems using folic acid-modified cholesterol (CPF), enabled highly selective tumor-targeted delivery of liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin and resulted in increased cytotoxicity within tumors. Folate-tagged poloxamer-coated liposomes (FDL) were found to have significantly higher cellular uptake than conventional poloxamer-coated liposomes (DL), as confirmed by fluorometric analysis in B16F10 melanoma cells. Biodistribution study of the radiolabeled liposomal system indicated the significantly higher tumor uptake of FDL as compared to DL. Anti-tumor activity of FDL against murine B16F10 melanoma tumor-bearing mice revealed that FDL inhibited tumor growth more efficiently than the DL. Taken together, the results demonstrated the significant potential of the folate-conjugated nanoliposomal system for drug delivery to tumors.