Somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis inGuizotia Abyssinica

Summary Induction of somatic embryogenesis, shoot organogenesis, and subsequent plant regeneration in niger seem to be dependent on genotype, choice of explant, and composition of media growth regulators. Two distinct regeneration protocols have been developed for somatic embryogenesis and shoot organogenesis. Somatic embryogenesis was induced from epicotyls and cotyledonary explants (9 to 35%) (but not from hypocotyls and roots) in presence of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxypropionic acid. These embryos matured in MS medium containing Kinetin plus naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), Kinetin plus Zeatin, and Kinetin plus abscisic acid (ABA). Matured embryos could be germinated on LS and MS basal media without hormones. Non-embryogenic callus initiated on Linsmaier and Skoog’s (LS) medium from cotyledons of six different genotypes produced shoots (9 to 32%) on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) medium fortified with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP, 0.5 mg · liter^−1), and BAP (1 mg · liter^−1) plus NAA (0.1 mg · liter^−1). These shoots were rooted with 100% frequency by using indole-3-acetic acid or NAA and transferred successfully to the soil.     

Noncytotoxic Dy3+-activated glass emits cool white light for near ultraviolet-based white light-emitting diodes,visible lasers,and biomedical applications

Using the melt quenching technique, a lithium zinc borate glass (LZB) system with trivalent dysprosium ions (Dy³⁺) was synthesized, and the luminescence and lasing properties of these materials were examined for the generation of white light. Structural investigation through X-ray diffraction revealed that the prepared glass had an amorphous nature. The optimized glass containing 0.5 Dy³⁺ had a direct optical band gap of 2.782 eV and an indirect optical band gap of 3.110 eV. A strong excitation band at 386 nm (⁶H_15/2→⁴I_13/2) was recognized in the ultraviolet (UV) light region of its excitation spectrum. Emission bands could be seen in the photoluminescence spectrum at 659, 573, and 480 nm under the 386 nm excitation. These transitions of emission resembled electronic transitions such as (⁴F_9/2→⁶H_11/2), (⁴F_9/2→⁶H_13/2), and (⁴F_9/2→⁶H_15/2). In a pristine glass matrix, the higher intensity ratio of yellow to blue can result in the production of white light. The optimized Dy³⁺ ion concentration was observed to be 0.5 mol%. In addition, an analysis of lifetime decay was conducted for all synthesized glasses, and their decay trends were systematically investigated. Noticeably, we assessed the photometric parameters and found that they were close to the white light standard. Furthermore, a cytotoxicity study was carried out using lung fibroblast (WI-38) cell lines for the optimized 0.5Dy³⁺-doped LZB glass and it appeared to be noncytotoxic. It is clear from the results that the noncytotoxic LZB glass doped with 0.5 Dy³⁺ ions could be a suggestive choice for the manufacture of white light-emitting diodes and lasers using near-UVs.     

Enhanced plant regeneration in grain and sweet sorghum by asparagine,proline and cefotaxime

Summary Cefotaxime ( 50 and 100 mg/1 ), a cephalosporin antibiotic and the amino acids asparagine and proline (200 mg/l) enhanced the production of embryogenic callus, increased the frequency of plant regeneration, and delayed the loss of regeneration potential in immature embryo-derived callus cultures ofSorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. Although these compounds did not promote callus induction or growth of callus, they influenced plant regeneration considerably in 10 low responding genotypes of grain and high anthocyanin containing sweet sorghums.     

EST-SSRs reveal genetic distinction between lac and grain yielding genotypes of pigeonpea

Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Pigeonpea, an important legume crop is a good host plant for lac cultivation in North East India. In the present study, sixty-three polymorphic EST...     

A new species of the genus Cirrhimuraena (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from the Bay of Bengal,India

A new species of the genus Cirrhimuraena (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), Cirrhimuraena indica sp. nov., is described based on eight specimens collected from the Paradip (Odisha) and Petuaghat harbours (West Bengal) along the Bay of Bengal. The species is distinct in having the upper jaw fringed with 16–17 cirri before posterior nostril and 4–5 in between the anterior and posterior nostrils on the side; dorsal fin originates above the level of gill opening, predorsal length is 9.3–10.9 in total length; the head is relatively large, the length is 9.3–9.8 in total length; no infraorbital pores are observed between the nostrils; teeth are numerous, small, conical and in bands on each jaw; pores are present before the gill opening 10–11 and before anus 47–48; pectoral-fin length is 2.4–2.8 in head length; predorsal vertebrae are 8–10, pre-anal vertebrae 43–47 and total vertebrae 164–169. In the maximum likelihood tree analysis for COI gene, the new species belongs to the same clade as the other congener of Cirrhimuraena chinensis and is separated from the species morphologically and genetically.     

Understanding the binding interaction between phenyl boronic acid P1 and sugars: determination of association and dissociation constants using S–V plots,steady‐state spectroscopic methods and molecular docking

Continuous monitoring of glucose and sugar sensing plays a vital role in diabetes control. The drawbacks of the present enzyme‐based sugar sensors have encouraged the investigation into alternate approaches to design new sensors. The popularity of fluorescence sensors is due to their ability to bind reversibly to compounds containing diol. In this study we investigated the binding ability of phenyl boronic acid P1 for monosaccharides and disaccharides (sugars) in aqueous medium at physiological pH 7.4 using steady‐state fluorescence and absorbance. P1 fluorescence was quenched due to formation of esters with sugars. Absorbance and fluorescence measurements led to results that indicated that the sugars studied could be ordered in terms of their affinity to P1, as stated: sucrose > lactose > galactose > xylose > ribose > arabinose. In each case, the slope of modified Stern–Volmer plots was nearly 1, indicating the presence of only a single binding site in boronic acids for sugars. Docking studies were carried out using Schrodinger Maestro v.11.2 software. The binding affinity of phenyl boronic acid P1 with periplasmic protein (PDB ID 2IPM and 2IPL) was estimated using GlideScore.     

Immobilization of Candida cylindracea lipase on poly lactic acid,polyvinyl alcohol and chitosan based ternary blend film: Characterization,activity, stability and its application for N-acylation reactions

The ecofriendly ternary blend polymer film was prepared from the chitosan (CH), polylactic acid (PLA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Immobilization of Candida cylindracea lipase (CCL) was carried out on ternary blend polymer via entrapment methodology. The ternary blend polymer and immobilized biocatalyst were characterized by using N₂ adsorption–desorption isotherm, SEM, FTIR, DSC, and (%) water content analysis through Karl Fischer technique. Biocatalyst was then subjected for the determination of practical immobilization yield, protein loading and specific activity. Immobilized biocatalyst was further applied for the determination of biocatalytic activity for N-acylation reactions. Various reaction parameters were studied such as effect of immobilization support (ratio of PLA:PVA:CH), molar ratio (dibutylamine:vinyl acetate), solvent, biocatalyst loading, time, temperature, and orbital speed rotation. The developed protocol was then applied for the N-acylation reactions to synthesize several industrially important acetamides with excellent yields. Interestingly, immobilized lipase showed fivefold higher catalytic activity and better thermal stability than the crude extract lipase CCL. Furthermore various kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were studied and the biocatalyst was efficiently recycled for four successive reuses. It is noteworthy to mention that immobilized biocatalyst was stable for period of 300 days.     

Theoretical investigation on the kinetics and branching ratio of the gas phase reaction of sevoflurane with Cl atom

The present work deals with the theoretical investigation on the Cl initiated H-atom abstraction reaction of sevoflurane, (CF₃)₂CHOCH₂F. A dual-level procedure has been adopted for studying the kinetics of the reaction. Geometrical optimization and frequency calculation were performed at DFT(BHandHLYP)/6-311G(d,p) while single-point energy calculation was made at CCSD(T)/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. The intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) calculation has also been performed to confirm the smooth transition from the reactant to product through the respective transition state. The rate constants were calculated using conventional transition state theory (TST). It has been found that 99 % of the reaction proceeded via the H-atom abstraction from the –CH₂F end of the sevoflurane. The rate constant of the dominant path is found to be 1.13 × 10^?13 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. This is in excellent agreement with the reported experimental rate constant of 1.10 × 10^?13 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 obtained by relative rate method using FTIR/Smog chamber and LP/LIF techniques.     

Discovery of a New Genetic Variant of Methionine Aminopeptidase from Streptococci with Possible Post-Translational Modifications: Biochemical and Structural Characterization

Protein N-terminal methionine excision is an essential co-translational process that occurs in the cytoplasm of all organisms. About 60-70% of the newly synthesized proteins undergo this modification. Enzyme responsible for the removal of initiator methionine is methionine aminopeptidase (MetAP), which is a dinuclear metalloprotease. This protein is conserved through all forms of life from bacteria to human except viruses. MetAP is classified into two isoforms, Type I and II. Removal of the map gene or chemical inhibition is lethal to bacteria and to human cell lines, suggesting that MetAP could be a good drug target. In the present study we describe the discovery of a new genetic variant of the Type I MetAP that is present predominantly in the streptococci bacteria. There are two inserts (insert one: 27 amino acids and insert two: four residues) within the catalytic domain. Possible glycosylation and phosphorylation posttranslational modification sites are identified in the ‘insert one’. Biochemical characterization suggests that this enzyme behaves similar to other MetAPs in terms of substrate specificity. Crystal structure Type Ia MetAP from Streptococcus pneumoniae (SpMetAP1a) revealed that it contains two molecules in the asymmetric unit and well ordered inserts with structural features that corroborate the possible posttranslational modification. Both the new inserts found in the SpMetAP1a structurally align with the P-X-X-P motif found in the M. tuberculosis and human Type I MetAPs as well as the 60 amino acid insert in the human Type II enzyme suggesting possible common function. In addition, one of the β-hairpins within in the catalytic domain undergoes a flip placing a residue which is essential for enzyme activity away from the active site and the β-hairpin loop of this secondary structure in the active site obstructing substrate binding. This is the first example of a MetAP crystallizing in the inactive form.     

Effect of sodium chloride-induced stress on growth, proline, glycine betaine accumulation, antioxidative defence and bacoside A content in in vitro regenerated shoots of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell

Growth, osmotic adjustment, antioxidant enzyme defense and the principle medicinal component bacoside A were studied in the in vitro raised shoot cultures of Bacopa monnieri, a known medicinal plant, under different concentrations of NaCl [0.0 (control), 50, 100, 150 or 200 mM]. A sharp increase in Na⁺ content was observed at 50 mM NaCl level and it was about 6.4-fold higher when compared with control. While Na⁺ content increased in the shoots with increasing levels of NaCl in the medium, both K⁺ and Ca²⁺ concentrations decreased. Significant reduction was observed in shoot number per culture; shoot length, fresh weight (FW), dry weight (DW) and tissue water content (TWC) when shoots were exposed to increasing NaCl concentrations (50–200 mM) as compared with the control. Decrease in TWC was not significant at higher NaCl level (150 and 200 mM). At 200 mM NaCl, growth of shoots was adversely affected and microshoots died under prolonged stress. Minimum damage to the membrane as assessed by malondialdehyde (MDA) content was noticed in the controls in contrast to sharp increase of it in NaCl-stressed shoots. Higher amounts of free proline, glycinebetaine and total soluble sugars (TSS) accumulated in NaCl-stressed shoots indicating that it is a glycinebetaine accumulator. About 2.11-fold higher H₂O₂ content was observed at 50 mM NaCl as compared with control and it reached up to 7.1-folds more at 200 mM NaCl. Antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and guaiacol peroxidase) also increased with a rise in NaCl level. Increase in bacoside A, a triterpene saponin content was observed only up to 100 mM NaCl level. Higher salt concentrations inhibited the accumulation of bacoside A. It appears from the data that accumulation of osmolytes, ions and elevated activities of antioxidant enzymes play an important role in osmotic adjustment in shoot cultures of Bacopa under salt stress.