Structure of Asp-bound peptidase E from Salmonella enterica: Active site at dimer interface illuminates Asp recognition.

Peptidase-E, a nonclassical serine peptidase, is specific for dipeptides with an N-terminal aspartate. This stringent substrate specificity remains largely unexplained. We report an aspartate-bound structure of peptidase-E at 1.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) protects photosynthetic apparatus of wheat under drought stress.

Drought stress (DS) is amongst one of the abiotic factors affecting plant growth by limiting productivity of crops by inhibiting photosynthesis. Damage due to DS and its protection by Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was studied on photosynthetic apparatus of wheat (Triticum aestivum) plants in pot experiments. DS was maintained by limiting irrigation to the drought stressed (DS) and AMF + DS plants.

Cu(ii) Schiff base complex intercalated into layered double hydroxide for selective oxidation of ethylbenzene under solvent-free conditions.

A new heterogeneous catalyst was prepared by intercalation of NNOO donor Cu(ii) Schiff base complex derived from 2-hydroxy-1-naphthaldehyde and 4-amino benzoic acid into Zn-Al layered double hydroxide {LDH-[NAPABA-Cu(ii)]}. Synthesized catalyst was characterized by Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Transmission electron microscopy, BET surface area, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermo-gravimetric analysis, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and diffuse reflectance UV-visible spectroscopy. The catalytic performance of LDH-[NAPABA-Cu(ii)] was studied for the liquid phase solvent-free oxidation of ethylbenzene at 393 K, using -butylhydroperoxide as an oxidant.

Management of intrinsic discoloration using walking bleach technique in maxillary central incisors.

Introduction: Non-vital bleaching is a non-invasive technique to treat the intrinsic discoloration of teeth of several etiologies. Hydrogen peroxide and sodium perborate are commonly used bleaching agents.

Aim: The aim of this case report is to demonstrate the non-vital bleaching technique in maxillary anterior teeth.

Study of microbial diversity in plant-microbe interaction system with oil sludge contamination.

A 90 days greenhouse experiment was conducted for evaluation of soil microbial diversity in different treatments of rhizospheric and nonrhizospheric oil sludge contaminated soil. Various pot treatments (T1-T5) were as follows: 2% oil sludge contaminated soil was considered as control (T1); augmentation of control with preadapted microbial consortium was T2; addition of Vetiver zizanioide to control was T3; bioaugmentation of control along with V. zizanioide was T4; and bioaugmentation with V.

Structural and functional disorder in the photosynthetic apparatus of radish plants under magnesium deficiency.

Magnesium (Mg) is one of the significant macronutrients which is involved in the structural stabilisation of plant tissues and many enzymes such as PSII. The latter efficiency and performance were analysed, using chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence induction kinetics and microscopic images, to detect the changes in structure and function of photosynthetic apparatus of radish plants grown under Mg deficiency (Mgdef). Plants grown under Mgdef showed less PSII connectivity and fewer active primary electron acceptors (QA) oxidizing reaction centres than control plants.

Structures and properties of MgMnTMO (TM = Co, Ni, and Cu) nanoparticles synthesized by sol-gel auto combustion technique.

The room temperature structural, optical and dielectric properties of MgMnO and MgMnTMO (TM = Co, Ni, and Cu) nanoparticles are reported. All transition metal nanocrystalline samples were successfully prepared by sol-gel auto combustion method. X-ray powder diffraction patterns at room temperature confirmed the formation of single-phase cubic structure with an 3̄ space group for all prepared samples.

Internal tunneling resorption associated with invasive cervical resorption.

Treating pathological defects that are caused by resorption in teeth can be challenging. The task is complicated further if the resorption extends beyond the restrains of the root. The aim of this report is to describe a case of extensive internal tunneling resorption (ITR) associated with invasive cervical resorption (ICR) in a maxillary right lateral incisor and its nonsurgical treatment.

Blocking oestradiol synthesis pathways with potent and selective coumarin derivatives.

A comprehensive set of 3-phenylcoumarin analogues with polar substituents was synthesised for blocking oestradiol synthesis by 17-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (HSD1) in the latter part of the sulphatase pathway. Five analogues produced ≥62% HSD1 inhibition at 5 µM and, furthermore, three of them produced ≥68% inhibition at 1 µM. A docking-based structure-activity relationship analysis was done to determine the molecular basis of the inhibition and the cross-reactivity of the analogues was tested against oestrogen receptor, aromatase, cytochrome P450 1A2, and monoamine oxidases.

Pectinolytic enzymes-solid state fermentation, assay methods and applications in fruit juice industries: a review.

A plethora of solid substrates, cultivation conditions and enzyme assay methods have been used for efficient production and estimation of polygalacturonase and pectin methylesterase enzymes. Recent developments in industrial biotechnology offer several opportunities for the utilization of low cost agro-industrial waste in Solid State Fermentation (SSF) for the pectinolytic enzyme production using fungi. Fruit waste mainly citrus fruit waste alone and along with other agro-industrial waste has been explored in SSF for enzyme production.

Structure-Activity Relationship Analysis of 3-Phenylcoumarin-Based Monoamine Oxidase B Inhibitors.

Monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) catalyzes deamination of monoamines such as neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine. Accordingly, small-molecule MAO-B inhibitors potentially alleviate the symptoms of dopamine-linked neuropathologies such as depression or Parkinson's disease. Coumarin with a functionalized 3-phenyl ring system is a promising scaffold for building potent MAO-B inhibitors.

Improved photosynthetic efficacy of maize (Zea mays) plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) under high temperature stress.

In this study, pot experiments were performed to investigate the effects of high temperature stress (44 °C) in maize plants colonized with and without arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Various parameters characterizing photosynthetic activity were measured in order to estimate the photosynthetic efficiency in maize plants. It was observed that density of active reaction centers of PSII, quantum efficiency of photosystem II (PSII), linear electron transport, excitation energy trapping, performance index, net photosynthesis rate increased in AMF (+) plants at 44 °C ± 0.

Bioconversion of 16-dehydropregnenolone Acetate to Exclusively 4-androstene-3,17-dione by Delftia acidovorans MTCC 3363.

Delftia acidovorans MTCC 3363 was found to convert 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate (16-DPA) exclusively to 4-androstene-3, 17-dione (AD). Addition of 9α-hydroxylase inhibitors was not required for preventing the accumulation of byproducts. The effect of pH, temperature, substrate concentration, surfactants and carrier solvents on this bioconversion has been studied.

Structural, thermal, and transport properties of LaSrMnO nanoparticles synthesized the sol-gel auto-combustion technique.

Herein, rare-earth manganite, LaSrMnO, has been prepared by a citric acid-assisted sol-gel auto-combustion method at a maintained pH value of 11. Room-temperature X-ray diffraction (RT-XRD) data analysis revealed a rhombohedral structure for the sample with the space group 3, which was further confirmed by synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction (SR-XRD). Rietveld refinement was carried out for both spectra, which confirmed the SR-XRD and RT-XRD results and the various structural parameters.

Preventive effect of Agnucastoside C against Isoproterenol-induced myocardial injury.

An iridoid glycoside, agnucastoside C (ACC) was isolated from the leaves of Moringa oliefera and its cardio protective potential was investigated in adult rats by examining the effects of this test compound, ACC at 30 mg/kg for 14 days in isoproterenol (100 mg/kg)-induced myocardial injury. Isoproterenol (ISO) administration induced the myocardial injury as evidenced by the altered ECG pattern with ST-segment elevation and an increase in the levels of cardiac injury markers including troponin-I, creatine kinase-MB, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase; inflammatory markers, interleukine-6 and tumor necrosis factor. In this group, there was also an increase in cardiac lipid peroxidation and a decrease in cellular antioxidants.

In silico screening for identification of pyrrolidine derivatives dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors using COMFA, CoMSIA, HQSAR and docking studies.

To explore the relationship between the structures of substituted pyrrolidine derivatives and their inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors. The QSAR, including CoMFA, CoMSIA and HQSAR, were applied to identify the key structures impacting their inhibitory potencies. The CoMFA, CoMSIA and HQSAR with cross-validated correlation coefficient (q) value of 0.

PSI becomes more tolerant to fluoranthene through the initiation of cyclic electron flow.

Environmental pollution by organic compounds such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) poses a potential ecological risk to photosynthetic organisms. In the present study, the toxic effects of fluoranthene (FLT) on the energy conversion of PSI and PSII in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants were studied.

Effects of nitrogen-deficiency on efficiency of light-harvesting apparatus in radish.

Nitrogen starvation has been stated to reduce chlorophyll a and accessory pigments, decrease photosynthetic efficiency, as well as modify chloroplast thylakoid membranes. However, the impact of N-deficiency on light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis has not been well understood. In this study, efficiency and structure of light-harvesting complex under N-deficiency conditions were investigated in two radish cultivars (Raphanus sativus var.

The efficacy of antisense-based construct for inducing resistance against Croton yellow vein mosaic virus in Nicotiana tabacum.

Begomoviruses have increased pathogenicity because of their adaptation to a wide host range; consequently, these viruses cause a major loss to agroeconomic crops worldwide. In this study, we designed a gene construct representing an antisense coat protein gene. We also analyzed the efficacy of the induced resistance against Croton yellow vein mosaic virus (CrYVMV) affecting papaya in Nicotiana tabacum plants.

Mechanisms of inhibitory effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in photosynthetic primary processes in pea leaves and thylakoid preparations.

Inhibitory effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on plants were studied in pea leaves in order to elucidate the mechanisms of action of PAHs such as naphthalene (Naph) and phenanthrene (Phen) on activity of photosystem II (PSII). The changes in different Chl fluorescence parameters were calculated on the basis of Chl fluorescence induction curves. H O content was measured in leaf homogenates with the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence method.

Assessment of hydrocarbon degradation potentials in a plant-microbe interaction system with oil sludge contamination: A sustainable solution.

A pot culture experiment was conducted for 90 days for the evaluation of oil and total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) degradation in vegetated and non-vegetated treatments of real-field oil-sludge-contaminated soil. Five different treatments include (T1) control, 2% oil-sludge-contaminated soil; (T2), augmentation of microbial consortium; (T3), Vertiveria zizanioides; (T4), bio-augmentation along with V. zizanioides; and (T5), bio-augmentation with V.

Synthetic and phytocompounds based dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors for therapeutics of diabetes.

Currently antidiabetic therapeutic strategies are mainly based on synthetic hypoglycemic agent. Antidiabetic drugs are associated with significant adverse effects of hypoglycemia, dysfunction of insulin and weight gain. Nowadays, the novel Dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors unique approach for the management of diabetes has been considered to be safe, as DPP-IV inhibitors reduce blood glucose level by monitoring hyperglycemia including positive effects on body weight as it remains neutral, improves glycated hemoglobin levels and do not induce hypoglycemia.

Involvement of nitric oxide in enhanced germination and seedling growth of magnetoprimed maize seeds.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a highly reactive gaseous free radical, which in plants was found to stimulate seed germination and ending of dormancy. Experiments were conducted to study the effect of NO inhibitors sodium tungstate (ST) and Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME), NADPH oxidase inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) and NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on untreated and magnetoprimed maize (Zea mays var: GSF-2) seeds. Treatment of maize seeds with these inhibitors inhibited germination related parameters like seedling length, fresh weight, dry weight and vigour indices and α-amylase activity of maize seeds under laboratory conditions, whereas NO donor (SNP) promoted all these parameters.