Expression Profiling of Bioactive Genes from Moringa oleifera

Plants are under constant assault by biotic and abiotic agents. When an elicitor is prologued, an immense reprogramming of plant gene expression and defense responses are initiated, which could be a natural source for potential drug development and insertional mutagenesis. In this regard, differential expression analysis of a medicinal plant Moringa oleifera was performed for bioactive genes at seedling stage, using differential display-RT-PCR technique. Infected seedlings with a fungus Fusarium solani collected at different time intervals, showed a massive change in their gene expression profile. The data analysis revealed that at least 150 pathogen-induced and about 60 suppressed genes were differentially expressed at 8-h postinoculation of the biotic stress. Fifty-five selective genes were disunited and reamplified. Sequence analysis of these potential genes illustrated that these genes had properties of some induced peroxidase mRNA, cell proliferation, others were mitogen activated protein kinases, ribosomal protein genes, defense regulating genes, and a few also had structural properties. Further studies about the utility of these genes in plant metabolism could assist to develop improved transgenic breeds with enhanced value of infection tolerance not only of M. oleifera but of other cultivars also.     

Functionalized diamond nanopowder for phosphopeptides enrichment from complex biological fluids

Diamond is known for its high affinity and biocompatibility towards biomolecules and is used exclusively in separation sciences and life science research. In present study, diamond nanopowder is derivatized as Immobilized Metal Ion Affinity Chromatographic (IMAC) material for the phosphopeptides enrichment and as Reversed Phase (C-18) media for the desalting of complex mixtures and human serum profiling through MALDI-TOF-MS. Functionalized diamond nanopowder is characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Diamond-IMAC is applied to the standard protein (β-casein), spiked human serum, egg yolk and non-fat milk for the phosphopeptides enrichment. Results show the selectivity of synthesized IMAC-diamond immobilized with Fe³⁺ and La³⁺ ions. To comprehend the elaborated use, diamond-IMAC is also applied to the serum samples from gall bladder carcinoma for the potential biomarkers. Database search is carried out by the Mascot program (www.matrixscience.com) for the assignment of phosphorylation sites. Diamond nanopowder is thus a separation media with multifunctional use and can be applied to cancer protein profiling for the diagnosis and biomarker identification.     

Mixed type duality for a programming problem containing support function

A mixed type dual to a programming problem containing support functions in a objective as well as constraint functions is formulated and various duality results are validated under generalized convexity and invexity conditions. Several known results are deducted as special cases.     

On variational problems involving higher order derivatives

Fritz John, and Karush-Kuhn-Tucker type optimality conditions for a constrained variational problem invoving higher order derivatives are obtained. As an application of these Karush-Kuhn-Tucker type optimality conditions, Wolfe and Mond-Weir type duals are formulated, and various duality relationships between the primal problem and each of the duals are established under invexity and generalized invexity. It is also shown that our results can be viewed as dynamic generalizations of those of the mathematical programming already reported in the literature.     

Withering timings affect the total free amino acids and mineral contents of tea leaves during black tea manufacturing

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of withering timings (i.e. 0, 21, 22, 23 and 24 h) on the moisture, total free amino acids, ash, essential and toxic mineral element contents of tea (Camellia sinensis L.) leaves during black tea manufacturing. Moisture, ash, Na, P, Mg, Cu, Zn, Mn, Al, Ni and Pb contents were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by withering, whereas non-significant (P > 0.05) results were noted for total free amino acids, K, Fe and Cd contents. The highest moisture content (76.4%) was examined in fresh leaves that progressively decreased to 63.8% in 24 h withering. Total free amino acid contents gradually increased up to 23 h and then decreased. Ash, P, Cu, Zn and Mn contents showed an increasing trend with withering time. Conversely, significantly lowered amounts of Na (162.5 mg/kg) and Mg (803 mg/kg) were recorded in tea leaves after 24 h withering. Among the toxic elements, Al, Ni and Pb contents were progressively increased over withering time. It was concluded that tea is a potential source of essential chemical constituents and during processing proper care should be taken to produce high quality black tea.     

Phytochemical Characterizations of Maranthes polyandra (Benth.) Prance

Two new ursane-type triterpenoids, named Polyanside A (1) and B (2), along with eleven known compounds (3–13), were isolated and elucidated from Maranthes polyandra (Benth.) Prance. The structures of these compounds were elucidated based on chemical evidence and multiple spectroscopic data. Isolated compounds were evaluated for anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory activities, and cytotoxicity on a normal human cell line (BJ). None of them showed activity and cytotoxicity. The hexane fraction was analyzed by GC-MS, resulting in the identification of forty-one compounds. This is the first comprehensive study on the phytochemistry of M. polyandra.     

Preparation and evaluation of effective fixed charge density of titanium phosphate membranes for uni-univalent electrolytes in aqueous solutions

The preparation of polystyrene-based titanium phosphate membranes at different pressures with varying amounts of material has been explained. The membrane potentials of inorganic membranes were measured with uni-univalent electrolytes (KCl, NaCl and LiCl) solution using saturated calomel electrodes (SCEs). The TMS method was used for the evaluation of the effective fixed charge density of these membranes with increasing pressure, and the surface charge density of membrane appeared to be increased due to gradually diminution in surface opening channels. The order of surface charge density for electrolytes used is found to be KCl > NaCl > LiCl. In addition to the effective fixed charge density, distribution coefficient, transport numbers, charge effectiveness and other related parameters were calculated for characterizing the ion exchange membranes by utilizing the TMS method. The theoretical prediction is consistent well with the experimental data. The SEM of these membranes at various pressures has been presented.     

Molecular characterisation of Bacillus chitinase for bioconversion of chitin waste

In this work chitin was extracted chemically from shrimp shells. Seventeen Bacillus isolates were screened for chitinolytic activity. The chitinolytic strains of Bt. were screened at different temperatures and pHs for their hydrolytic potentials. By using a pair of specific primers, endochitinase gene was amplified from SBS Bt-5 strain through PCR, and then cloned into pTZ57 TA cloning vector and transferred in Escherichia coli DH5α strain. The sequenced gene (GenBank Accession No: HE995800) consists of 2031 nucleotides capable of encoding 676 residues. The protein consisted of three functional domains with a calculated molecular mass of 74.53 kDa and a pI value of 5.83. The amino acid sequence of chi gene showed 99% similarity to the genes of Bt MR11 endochitinase, Bt serovar kurstaki chitinase (kchi), Bt strain MR21 endochitinase and Bacillus cereus B4264.     

Vibrational spectra of alpha-amino acids in the zwitterionic state in aqueous solution and the solid state: DFT calculations and the influence of hydrogen bonding

The zwitterionic forms of the two simplest alpha-amino acids, glycine and l-alanine, in aqueous solution and the solid state have been modeled by DFT calculations. Calculations of the structures in the solid state, using PW91 or PBE functionals, are in good agreement with the reported crystal structures, and the vibrational spectra computed at the optimized geometries provide a good fit to the observed IR and Raman spectra in the solid state. DFT calculations of the structures and vibrational spectra of the zwitterions in aqueous solution at the B3-LYP/cc-pVDZ level were found to require both explicit and implicit solvation models. Explicit solvation was modeled by inclusion of five hydrogen-bonded water molecules attached to each of the five possible hydrogen-bonding sites in the zwitterion and the integration equation formalism polarizable continuum model (IEF-PCM) was employed, providing a satisfactory fit to observed IR and Raman spectra. Band assignments are reported in terms of potential-energy distributions, which differ in some respects to those previously reported for glycine and l-alanine.     

The Development of Highly Fluorescent Hemicyanine and Dicyanoisophorone Dyes for Applications in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Journal of Fluorescence - Ruthenium-based metal complex dyes have been employed extensively in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) as photosensitizers, but the cost and toxicity of metal complexes...