Biochemical Characteristics of Microbial Enzymes and Their Significance from Industrial Perspectives.

Microbes are ubiquitously distributed in nature and are a critical part of the holobiont fitness. They are perceived as the most potential biochemical reservoir of inordinately diverse and multi-functional enzymes. The robust nature of the microbial enzymes with thermostability, pH stability and multi-functionality make them potential candidates for the efficient biotechnological processes under diverse physio-chemical conditions.

Pharmacological Properties of Violacein at the Human Serotonin 2C Receptor.

The monoamine neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) plays a role in many physiological responses by interacting with various receptor subtypes. The 5-HT receptor subtype is a 7-transmembrane, G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that is involved in neuronal excitability, spatial learning, mood, and appetite. The microorganism produces a purple pigment, violacein, which can be extracted and purified.

Potential anticancer effect of prostratin through SIK3 inhibition.

Prostratin, a phorbol ester natural plant compound, has been demonstrated to exert an anti-retroviral effect through activation of latent cluster of differentiation (CD)4+T lymphocytes and inhibition of viral entry into the cell through downregulation of chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) expression. However, the potential effect of prostratin on cancer is yet to be defined. As CXCR4 is well known to induce cancer migration, it was hypothesized that prostratin induces an anti-cancer effect through inhibition of CXCR4 expression.

Effects of precipitation changes on switchgrass photosynthesis, growth, and biomass: A mesocosm experiment.

Climate changes, including chronic changes in precipitation amounts, will influence plant physiology and growth. However, such precipitation effects on switchgrass, a major bioenergy crop, have not been well investigated. We conducted a two-year precipitation simulation experiment using large pots (95 L) in an environmentally controlled greenhouse in Nashville, TN.

Violacein induces p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase-mediated solid tumor cell death and inhibits tumor cell migration.

Microbial secondary metabolites have emerged as alternative novel drugs for the treatment of human cancers. Violacein, a purple pigment produced by Chromobacterium violaceum, was investigated in the present study for its anti-tumor properties in tumor cell lines. Clinically applicable concentrations of violacein were demonstrated to inhibit the proliferative capacity of tumor cell lines according to a crystal violet proliferation assay.

Draft Genome Sequence of New Bacillus cereus Strain tsu1.

This paper reports the draft genome sequence of new Bacillus cereus strain tsu1, isolated on an agar-cellulose plate. The draft genome sequence is 5.81 Mb, revealing 5,673 coding sequences.

Synergistic effect of pro-inflammatory TNFα and IL-17 in periostin mediated collagen deposition: potential role in liver fibrosis.

Background: The pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-17, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. In this study, we investigated the role of TNFα and IL-17 toward induction of profibrotic factor, periostin.

Methods: HepG2 cells were cultured and treated with inflammatory cytokines, TNFα and IL-17.

Violacein inhibits matrix metalloproteinase mediated CXCR4 expression: potential anti-tumor effect in cancer invasion and metastasis.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and -9) play an important role in the tumor metastasis through cleavage of proinflammatory cytokines. Violacein a small molecule produced by Chromobacterium violaceum and has been implicated with anti-cancer effects. In this study we investigated the molecular basis of violacein mediated downregulation of CXCL12/CXCR4, chemokine-receptor ligand interaction.

Genetics and smoking behavior.

Accumulating data support the role of genetic factors in smoking initiation, progression to tobacco dependence, and smoking persistence. This review summarizes current research on the heritability of tobacco use phenotypes and genetic association studies of smoking-related behaviors. Although progress has been made in genetics research on smoking behavior, many studies have methodological limitations, including insufficient samples for detecting gene-gene and gene-environment interactions and use of less refined phenotypes.

The clinical effectiveness of healing touch.

Objectives: (1) to determine the clinical effectiveness of Healing Touch (HT) on variables assumed to be related to health enhancement; (2) to determine whether practitioner training level moderates treatment effectiveness.

Design: Mixed-method repeated measures design with quasi-experimental and naturalistic approaches, paired with nomothetic and idiographic analyses.

Setting/location: Practitioner's offices or client's home.

Properties of Cholesterol Dissimilation by Rhodococcus equi.

The identification of serum cholesterol as a risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease has resulted in attempts to reduce dietary cholesterol intake. As a result, the removal of cholesterol from food products has become a challenging research objective. We report here the loss of 40% of the cholesterol found in egg yolk preparations following treatment with sonicated extracts of Rhodococcus equi .