Isolation, screening of Aspergillus flavus and its production parameters for á- amylase under solid state fermentation

The amylase producing fungi were isolated from spoiled fruits, vegetables and soil, in and around Bangalore, Karnataka, India. The isolates were identified and five fungal species were screened. The best amylase producer among them, Aspergillus sp was selected for enzyme production by both sub merged fermentation using mineral salt medium (MSM) and solid state fermentations using wheat bran as a solid substrate. The various parameters influencing solid state fermentation were optimized. The most important factors are such as pH, incubation temperature, incubation period, carbon sources, nitrogen sources and moisture content. The maximum amount of enzyme production was obtained when solid state fermentation was carried out with soluble starch as carbon source and beef extract (1% each) as nitrogen source, optimum conditions of pH 7.0, an incubation temperature of 25 (±2) °C, incubation time 96 h and 62% moisture content

Fine mapping of rice drought QTL and study on combined effect of QTL for their physiological parameters under moisture stress condition

The present investigation was undertaken to study the effect of different yield QTL (DTY2.2, DTY3.1 and DTY8.1) under drought and their physiological response to drought stress. Backcross Inbred Lines (BILs) of IR64 (CB-193 and CB-229) along with IR64, APO and the traditional rice variety Norungan were raised in green house condition under water stress and control to evaluate the effect of the QTL on grain yield. The BIL CB-193 recorded higher photosynthetic rate (22.051), transpiration rate (7.152) and Ci/Ca ratio (0.597) whereas the BIL CB-229 recorded high relative water content (80.76%). It was found that the combination of three QTL (CB-229) performed better than the susceptible parent and the line with two QTL (CB-193 Fine-mapping of two QTLs viz., qDTY2.2 and qDTY8.1, for grain yield (GY) were conducted using backcross derived lines. Composite interval mapping analyses resolved the originally identified qDTY2.2 region of 6.7 cM into a segment of 2.1 cM and two sub QTLs at region between RM23132 and RM1578 (75.75 cM- 77.66 cM), RM515 and RM1578 (75.11 cM-77.66 cM) were identified in qDTY8.1 region. However this study provides a unique opportunity to breeders to introgress such regions together as a unit into high-yielding drought-susceptible varieties through MAS

A preliminary pharmacognostical study on leaves and flowers of Michelia champaca L. Magnoliaceae

The present investigation was conducted to establish pharmacognostical profile for the leaves and flowers of Michelia champaca L. (Magnoliaceae) in order to establish its complete profile to aid in its identification and avoid confusion in taxonomic level for different species of the same genus. The study included macroscopical, organoleptical, microscopical and preliminary phytochemical analysis of the leaves and flowers. The study of the organoleptical evaluation revealed the presence of colour, odour and texture. The microscopic analysis showed thedifferences in cell structures, arrangement and shape of leaves and flowers. The physical characters of various solvent extracts showed the presence of colour, odour and consistency of the powdered leaves and flowers. Finally, the preliminary phytochemical analysis confirmed for the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, glycosides, carbohydrates, amino acid, flavonoids and sterols in both leaves and flowers. The present findings may be used to establish the authenticity of leaves and flowers of Michelia champaca L. for their proper identification and standardization in order to collect raw plants for the preparation of herbal drugs

Coordinated regulation of the ESCRT-III component CHMP4C by the chromosomal passenger complex and centralspindlin during cytokinesis

The chromosomal passenger complex (CPC)-composed of Aurora B kinase, Borealin, Survivin and INCENP-surveys the fidelity of genome segregation throughout cell division. The CPC has been proposed to prevent polyploidy by controlling the final separation (known as abscission) of the two daughter cells via regulation of the ESCRT-III CHMP4C component. The molecular details are, however, still unclear. Using atomic force microscopy, we show that CHMP4C binds to and remodels membranes $\textit{in vitro}$. Borealin prevents the association of CHMP4C with membranes, whereas Aurora B interferes with CHMP4C's membrane remodelling activity. Moreover, we show that CHMP4C phosphorylation is not required for its assembly into spiral filaments at the abscission site and that two distinctly localized pools of phosphorylated CHMP4C exist during cytokinesis. We also characterized the CHMP4C interactome in telophase cells and show that the centralspindlin complex associates preferentially with unphosphorylated CHMP4C in cytokinesis. Our findings indicate that gradual dephosphorylation of CHMP4C triggers a 'relay' mechanism between the CPC and centralspindlin that regulates the timely distribution and activation of CHMP4C for the execution of abscission.This work was supported by Cancer Research UK grant no. C12296/A12541 to P.P.D., who is also the recipient of the Maplethorpe Fellowship from Murray Edwards College, Cambridge, UK. I.M. and J.M.E. were supported by Biotechnology and Biological Research Council grant no. BB/J018236/1. A.A.J. is supported by Wellcome Trust Career Development grant no. 095822 and European Commission Career Integration grant no. 334291

Structural plasticity of peanut lectin: an X-ray analysis involving variation in pH, ligand binding and crystal structure

Until recently, it has only been possible to grow crystals of peanut lectin when complexed with sugar ligands. It is now shown that it is possible to grow peanut lectin crystals at acidic pH in the presence of oligopeptides corresponding to a loop in the lectin molecule. Crystals have also been prepared in the presence of these peptides as well as lactose. Low-pH crystal forms of the lectin-lactose complex similar to those obtained at neutral pH have also been grown. Thus, crystals of peanut lectin grown under different environmental conditions, at two pH values with and without sugar bound to the lectin, are now available. They have been used to explore the plasticity and hydration of the molecule. A detailed comparison between different structures shows that the lectin molecule is sturdy and that the effect of changes in pH, ligand binding and environment on it is small. The region involving the curved front β-sheet and the loops around the second hydrophobic core is comparatively rigid. The back β-sheet involved in quaternary association, which exhibits considerable variability, is substantially flexible, as is the sugar-binding region. The numbers of invariant water molecules in the hydration shell are small and they are mainly involved in metal coordination or in stabilizing unusual structural features. Small consistent movements occur in the combining site upon sugar binding, although the site is essentially preformed

Glycotope structures and intramolecular affinity factors of plant lectins for Tn/T antigens

B

Cancer targeting with biomolecules: a comparative study of photodynamic therapy efficacy using antibody or lectin conjugated phthalocyanine-PEG gold nanoparticles

The functionalisation of therapeutic nanoparticle constructs with cancer-specific biomolecules can enable selective tumour accumulation and targeted treatment. Water soluble gold nanoparticles (ca. 4 nm) stabilised by a mixed monolayer of a hydrophobic zinc phthalocyanine photosensitiser (C11Pc) and hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG) have been prepared. The C11Pc-PEG gold nanoparticle constructs were further functionalised with jacalin, a lectin specific for the cancer-associated Thomsen–Friedenreich (T) carbohydrate antigen, or with monoclonal antibodies specific for the human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2). The two biofunctionalised nanoparticle conjugates produced similar levels of singlet oxygen upon irradiation at 633 nm. Importantly, both nanoparticle conjugates demonstrated extensive, yet comparable, phototoxicity in HT-29 colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (80–90%) and in SK-BR-3 breast adenocarcinoma cells (>99%). Non-conjugated C11Pc-PEG gold nanoparticles were only minimally phototoxic. Lysosomal colocalisation studies performed with the HT-29 colon cancer cells and the SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells revealed that both nanoparticle conjugates were partially localised within acidic organelles, which is typical of receptor-mediated endocytosis. The similarity of the targeted PDT efficacy of the two biofunctionalised C11Pc-PEG gold nanoparticles is discussed with respect to targeting ligand binding affinity and cell surface antigen density as key determinants of targeting efficiency. This study highlights how targeting small cell-surface molecules, such as the T antigen, can mediate a selective photodynamic treatment response which is similar to that achieved when targeting overexpressed protein receptors, such as HER-2. The high prevalence of the T antigen present on the cellular surface of primary tumours emphasises the broad potential applications for lectin-targeted therapies

Baselining water consumption in the Las Vegas Valley single family residence

This thesis baselines the monthly water consumption in the LVMA 1 and analyzes the patterns of water-use with respect to physical and environmental aspects present in single family residences. The physical aspects included within the scope of this study are the built-up area, the un-built area and the pool area, provided by the Clark County Assessor Office at Las Vegas for the single family residences of LVVWD. The environmental aspects include outdoor ambient temperature, cooling degree day data and heating degree day data, monitored at the Mc Carran International Airport. The results from this research also provide historical monthly and annual water use per acre of built-up area and per acre of un-built area for the years 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2006. Based on the historical and the recent data year analysis, the water use limits for the future can be predicted; This thesis also illustrates through a series of maps, the zip-code and street level water consumption for the years 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2006. These maps help to identify water consumptive hot spots. For each of these years, both annual and monthly correlation of water use with built-up area, un-built area and pool area are calculated. These factors are fitted in a linear equation through regression analysis, so that the total water used in a SFR can be devised as a function of built-up, un-built and pool areas. For example, for the recent data year 2006, it is derived that for \u27B\u27 sq. ft of total built-up area, \u27UB\u27 sq. ft of total un-built area and \u27P\u27 sq. ft of total swimming pool area, the kilo gallons of water used can be calculated from the equation: Y = 0.043268 B + 0.010871 UB + 0.287903 P - 24.0163 ; This study compares the monthly water use trends with the outdoor ambient temperature, cooling degree day data and heating degree day data. Thereby the impact of temperature and degree days on the usage of water for the single family residences are investigated and quantified. Lastly, the ratios between the built-up area, un-built area, pool area and water use are calculated. It is found that, during the year 1990, the average un-built and built area ratio was 3.8 and it was declined to 3 during the year 2006, whereas the average un-built and pool area ratio was 80 during the year 1990 and it was declined to 70 during the year 2006. From these values, the annual and monthly water uses for an addition of every acre of built-up and un-built area are calculated; By identifying hotspots of water consumption, understanding the impact of the physical aspects of SFR on water use and projecting the water use limits for an addition of every acre of built-up and un-built area, this thesis becomes an important reference for planners and designers in the LVMA and the US Southwest. The analysis could be used from the design perspective to reduce direct (onsite) water, thereby reducing the indirect use of both water and energy (offsite---water used for energy generation and energy used to pump heat and distribute water). Thus this research forms a useful tool in water conservation management especially for the single family residences of the LVVWD; 1For the purpose of this thesis, Las Vegas Metropolitan Area is composed by a total of 55 zip-codes which includes, incorporated Clark County (19 zip-codes), City of Las Vegas (19 zip-codes), City of Henderson (8 zip-codes) and City of North Las Vegas (9 zip-codes)