Thermal stress and physiological strain in the glass bangle industry

A preliminary survey of the few units of the small-scale glass bangle industry in Firozabad, Agra District, Uttar Pradesh, indicated that the workers were exposed to severe degrees of heat stress during various operations in the manufacturing processes. A more detailed study in eight glass bangle units was therefore undertaken to make quantitative estimates of heat stress on exposed workers in the summer season. The thermal data collected confirmed that the heat stress on the workers was severe but measurement of certain physiological indicators revealed relatively low levels of strain amongst the exposed workers. The findings could be attributable to high degrees of acclimatization, but further observations in the field supplemented by studies on simulated exposures of volunteers in a climatic chamber seem to be warranted.     

Mitogen-like monoclonal anti-actin antibodies

Monoclonal antibodies (IgM kappa) have been produced to actin isolated electrophoretically from L cell extracts. These monoclonal anti-actin antibodies bind to intact L cells and modulate DNA synthesis and cell proliferation, much like affinity-purified polyclonal rabbit antibody to the same Mr 42,000 actin. In addition, monoclonal antibodies specific for actin from Entamoeba histolytica also bound to and modulated the growth of L cells. A monoclonal antibody directed against a neuroblastoma surface antigen did not produce stimulation of L cells, and the binding activity of anti-actin monoclonal antibody to L cells was removed by absorption with actin covalently coupled to Sepharose. These observations demonstrate the specificity of interaction between the anti-actin monoclonal antibodies and the surface of intact L cells. We conclude that a surface actin-like molecule on the L cell, when bound by specific monoclonal antibody, initiates a stimulatory signal which results in enhanced cellular metabolism.     

Genetic Identification of all Four Mangrove Mud Crab Species (genus Scylla) Using Multiple Molecular Markers

Biochemical Genetics - Misleading identification and subsequent publications on biological, molecular, and aquaculture data of mangrove mud crab (genus Scylla de Hann 1833) is a major concern in...     

Oligonucleotides Containing Pyrazolo[3,4-d]Pyrimidines: 8-Aza-7-deazaadenines With Bulky Substituents in the 2- or 7-Position

The synthesis of the 2′-deoxyadenosine analogues 1b, 2b, and 3c modified at the 7- and/or 2-position is described. The effect of 7-chloro and 2-methylthio groups on the duplex stability is evaluated. For that, the nucleosides 1b, 2b, and 3c were converted to the corresponding phosphoramidites 15, 19, and 22, which were employed in the solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis. In oligonucleotide duplexes, compound 1b forms stable base pairs with dT, of which the separated 1b- dT base pairs contribute stronger than that of the consecutive base pairs. Compound 2b shows universal base pairing properties while its N8 isomer 3c forms duplexes with lower stability.     

A Hypomorphic Lsd1 Allele Results in Heart Development Defects in Mice

Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (Lsd1/Aof2/Kdm1a), the first enzyme with specific lysine demethylase activity to be described, demethylates histone and non-histone proteins and is essential for mouse embryogenesis. Lsd1 interacts with numerous proteins through several different domains, most notably the tower domain, an extended helical structure that protrudes from the core of the protein. While there is evidence that Lsd1-interacting proteins regulate the activity and specificity of Lsd1, the significance and roles of such interactions in developmental processes remain largely unknown. Here we describe a hypomorphic Lsd1 allele that contains two point mutations in the tower domain, resulting in a protein with reduced interaction with known binding partners and decreased enzymatic activity. Mice homozygous for this allele die perinatally due to heart defects, with the majority of animals suffering from ventricular septal defects. Molecular analyses revealed hyperphosphorylation of E-cadherin in the hearts of mutant animals. These results identify a previously unknown role for Lsd1 in heart development, perhaps partly through the control of E-cadherin phosphorylation.     

Reduction of nuclear Y654-p-β-catenin expression through SH3GL2-meditated downregulation of EGFR in chemotolerance TNBC: Clinical and prognostic importance

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) originates from a less differentiated ductal cell of breast, which is less sensitive to chemotherapy. The chemotolerance mechanism of TNBC has not yet been studied in detail. For this reason, molecular profiles (expression/genetic/epigenetic) of Y654-p-β-catenin (active) and its kinase epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) along with SH3GL2 (regulator of EGFR homeostasis) were compared between neoadjuvant chemotherapy treated (NACT) and pretherapeutic TNBC samples. Reduced nuclear expression of Y654-p-β-catenin protein with low proliferation index and CD44 prevalence showed concordance with reduced expression of EGFR/Y1045-p-EGFR proteins in the NACT samples than the pretherapeutic TNBC samples. Infrequent messenger RNA expression, gene amplification (10–32.5%), and mutation (1%) of EGFR were seen in the TNBC samples irrespective of therapy, suggesting the importance of EGFR protein stabilization in this tumor. The upregulation of SH3GL2 seen in the NACT samples in contrast to the pretherapeutic samples might be due to its promoter hypomethylation, as seen in the quantitative methylation assay. A similar trend of upregulation of SH3GL2 and downregulation of EGFR, Y1045-p-EGFR, Y654-p-β-catenin were seen in the MDA-MB-231 cell line using antharacycline antitumor drugs (doxorubicin/nogalamycin). The NACT patients with reduced expression of Y654-p-β-catenin and/or EGFR and high expression of SH3GL2 showed comparatively better prognosis than the pretherapeutic patients. Thus, our study showed that reduced nuclear expression of Y654-p-β-catenin in NACT samples due to downregulation of EGFR protein through promoter hypomethylation-mediated upregulation of SH3GL2, resulting in low proliferation index/CD44 prevalence with better prognosis of the NACT patients, might have an important role in the chemotolerance of TNBC.     

FTIR Spectroscopic Study of Biogenic Mn-Oxide Formation by Pseudomonas putida GB-1

Biomineralization in heterogeneous aqueous systems results from a complex association between pre-existing surfaces, bacterial cells, extracellular biomacromolecules, and neoformed precipitates. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used in several complementary sample introduction modes (attenuated total reflectance [ATR], diffuse reflectance [DRIFT], and transmission) to investigate the processes of cell adhesion, biofilm growth, and biological Mn-oxidation by Pseudomonas putida strain GB-1. Distinct differences in the adhesive properties of GB-1 were observed upon Mn oxidation. No adhesion to the ZnSe crystal surface was observed for planktonic GB-1 cells coated with biogenic MnO _x , whereas cell adhesion was extensive and a GB-1 biofilm was readily grown on ZnSe, CdTe, and Ge crystals prior to Mn-oxidation. IR peak intensity ratios reveal changes in biomolecular (carbohydrate, phosphate, and protein) composition during biologically catalyzed Mn-oxidation. In situ monitoring via ATR-FTIR of an active GB-1 biofilm and DRIFT data revealed an increase in extracellular protein (amide I and II) during Mn(II) oxidation, whereas transmission mode measurements suggest an overall increase in carbohydrate and phosphate moieties. The FTIR spectrum of biogenic Mn oxide comprises Mn-O stretching vibrations characteristic of various known Mn oxides (e.g., “acid” birnessite, romanechite, todorokite), but it is not identical to known synthetic solids, possibly because of solid-phase incorporation of biomolecular constituents. The results suggest that, when biogenic MnO _x accumulates on the surfaces of planktonic cells, adhesion of the bacteria to other negatively charged surfaces is hindered via blocking of surficial proteins.