Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 5 (Igfbp5) compromises survival, growth, muscle development, and fertility in mice.

The insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are essential for development; bioavailable IGF is tightly regulated by six related IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs). Igfbp5 is the most conserved and is developmentally up-regulated in key lineages and pathologies; in vitro studies suggest that IGFBP-5 functions independently of IGF interaction. Genetic ablation of individual Igfbps has yielded limited phenotypes because of substantial compensation by remaining family members.

Comparative studies on biomass production, life cycles and composting efficiency of Eisenia fetida (Savigny) and Lampito mauritii (Kinberg).

Comparative studies were performed to evaluate composting potential, biomass growth and biology of a non-native (Eisenia fetida) and an endemic (Lampito mauritii) species of earthworm in the semiarid environment of Jodhpur district of Rajasthan in India. Earthworms were reared in a mixed bedding material comprised of biogas slurry, cowdung, wheat straw, leaflitter, sawdust and kitchen waste. The percentage of organic carbon of the culture bedding material declined upto 105 days with E.

Sex-specific metabolic changes in the annual reproductive cycle of a freshwater catfish.

Sex-specific enzymatic and other biochemical changes were studied in the annual reproductive cycle of the freshwater catfish, Clarias batrachus. Citrate synthase (CS) activity of brain, liver and skeletal muscle was maximum in spawning and minimum in postspawning showing a sharp decline in aerobic capacity after spawning. Similar CS activity in remaining phases of the annual reproductive cycle reflects similar energy need during regressed, preparatory and prespawning phases.

Decomposition of kitchen waste amended with cow manure using an epigeic species (Eisenia fetida) and an anecic species (Lampito mauritii).

An epigeic (surface dweller) earthworm species Eisenia fetida and an anecic (deep burrower) earthworm species Lampito mauritii have been tested for decomposition of kitchen waste plus cow dung. Chemical analyses of worm-worked substrates by both species showed g/kg increases in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and decreases in C/N and C/P ratios after 150 days of vermicomposting. However, organic carbon matter showed reduction in their amounts for 3-4 months and afterwards slightly increased up to 150 days.

Mitochondrial differentiation in kinetoplastid protozoa: a plethora of RNA controls.

Differentiation of kinetoplastid protozoa during their complex life cycles is accompanied by stepwise changes in mitochondrial functions. Recent studies have begun to reveal multilevel post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms by which the expression of the nuclear and mitochondrially encoded components of respiratory enzymes is coordinated, as well as the identities of some general and gene-specific factors controlling mitochondrial differentiation.

Pathway-specific response to cortisol in the metabolism of catfish.

Cortisol produced biochemical pathway-specific effects on metabolic enzymes and other macromolecules in the freshwater catfish, Clarias batrachus. Injection of cortisol increased 1.6-fold activity of citrate synthase (CS) in brain, liver and skeletal muscle of the fish over vehicle-injected control, while administration of metyrapone (a cortisol synthesis inhibitor) reduced CS activity by 52%.

Starvation-induced impairment of metabolism in a freshwater catfish.

Starvation induced changes in citrate synthase (CS), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6-PDH), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), DNA, RNA, RNA/DNA ratio and protein were studied in the freshwater catfish Clarias batrachus. Starvation gradually decreased the activity of CS, G6-PDH and LDH in brain, liver and skeletal muscle of the freshwater catfish. The maximum reduction in these enzyme activities upto 35-45% was observed after 35 days of fasting.

"Ping-pong" interactions between mitochondrial tRNA import receptors within a multiprotein complex.

The mitochondrial genomes of a wide variety of species contain an insufficient number of functional tRNA genes, and translation of mitochondrial mRNAs is sustained by import of nucleus-encoded tRNAs. In Leishmania, transfer of tRNAs across the inner membrane can be regulated by positive and negative interactions between them. To define the factors involved in such interactions, a large multisubunit complex (molecular mass, approximately 640 kDa) from the inner mitochondrial membrane of the kinetoplastid protozoon Leishmania, consisting of approximately 130-A particles, was isolated.

Dihydrobetulinic acid induces apoptosis in Leishmania donovani by targeting DNA topoisomerase I and II: implications in antileishmanial therapy.

Leishmaniasis is the second-most dreaded parasitic disease in the modern world, behind malaria. The lack of effective vaccines demand improved chemotherapy along with the development of lead compounds and newer targets. We report here that the pentacyclic triterpenoid, dihydrobetulinic acid (DHBA), is a novel lead compound for antileishmanial therapy.

Differential effects of thyroxine on metabolic enzymes and other macromolecules in a freshwater teleost.

The effects of thyroxine (T(4)) on citrate synthase (CS), glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6-PDH), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), DNA, RNA, and protein of various tissues were studied to elucidate the hormonal control of metabolism in a freshwater catfish, Clarias batrachus. T(4) did not produce any significant effect on DNA content of the fish. The CS, RNA, and protein contents of brain, liver, and skeletal muscle of the fish exposed to thiourea for 28 days decreased approximately 50-58% as compared to their levels in control individuals.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) synthesis by recombinant Escherichia coli harbouring Streptomyces aureofaciens PHB biosynthesis genes: effect of various carbon and nitrogen sources.

Recombinant Escherichia coli (ATCC:PTA-1579) harbouring poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) synthesising genes from Streptomyces aureofaciens NRRL 2209 accumulates PHB. Effects of different carbon and nitrogen sources on PHB accumulation by recombinant E. coli were studied.

Fenvalerate-induced macromolecular changes in the catfish, Clarias batrachus.

The effects of sublethal concentration of fenvalerate on DNA, RNA, RNA/DNA ratio and protein contents were estimated in gill and kidney tissues of an air breathing fish, Clarias batrachus. Fenvalerate reduced the DNA content in gill, whereas it did not produce any significant effect on DNA in kidney. This tissue-specific change in DNA content may be due to differential effects of fenvalerate or its metabolite(s) on synthesis and/degradation of DNA in gill and kidney cells of the fish.

p-Benzosemiquinone radical anion on silver nanoparticles in water.

This communication reports the SERS observation of p-benzosemiquinone radical anion, produced on reduction of p-benzoquinone by Ag nanoparticles at the metal-water interface. The species is positively identified by comparison of the SERS spectrum with the resonance Raman spectra of the radical anion in aqueous solution. This is a rare SERS observation of a radical intermediate formed by surface reaction on nanosize silver particles in solution.

Gcn4 co-ordinates morphogenetic and metabolic responses to amino acid starvation in Candida albicans.

Candida albicans is a major fungal pathogen of humans. It regulates its morphology in response to various environmental signals, but many of these signals are poorly defined. We show that amino acid starvation induces filamentous growth in C.

Scaling of some metabolic enzymes in liver of a freshwater teleost: an adaptive mechanism.

The activities of mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase (mMDH) and the total mitochondrial proteins increase as a function of body mass in the freshwater catfish, Clarias batrachus. It clearly indicates an increase in energy production in larger-sized individuals for various purposes including prey-predator interactions. The higher activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in larger fish may indicate more production of lactate for gluconeogenesis in the liver to meet emergency requirements of increased energy demand.

Kinetics of thyroid hormone induced changes in liver and skeletal muscle enzymes of Clarias batrachus.

Kinetics of triiodothyronine (T3) induced changes were studied in cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase (cMDH), mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase (mMDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) of the liver and skeletal muscle of a catfish, Clarias batrachus. The rates of gradual inductions in the activities of all the three metabolic enzymes were faster in skeletal muscle than those of the liver. These time-dependent and tissue-specific inductions may be due to the possible differences in the rates of different enzymic syntheses.

Molecular weight of cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase, mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase of a freshwater catfish.

The multiple molecular forms of cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase (cMDH), mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase (mMDH) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were studied in the liver and skeletal muscle of the freshwater catfish, Clarias batrachus. There were two electrophoretically distinguishable bands (AA and BB) of cMDH and mMDH which suggests that they are apparently encoded at two gene loci (A and B) in both the tissues. However, the presence of a single band (LDH-1) of LDH in liver and double bands (LDH-1 and LDH-2) in skeletal muscle in which LDH-2 was predominant reflects the differential expression of LDH genes in different metabolic tissues to meet the requirement of energy production.

Relative toxicity of aldrin, fenvalerate, captan and diazinon to the freshwater food-fish, Clarias batrachus.

The median lethal concentrations (LC50S) of aldrin, fenvalerate, captan and diazinon were determined for Clarias batrachus by trimmed Spearman-Karber method. The potency ratios of toxicity among them were analysed by parallel-line bioassay with quantal responses. The LC50S for 40 day of exposure of aldrin, fenvalerate, captan and diazinon were 0.