Biotransformation and biomonitoring of phenylurea herbicide diuron.

A Gram-positive, Micrococcus sp. strain PS-1 isolated from diuron storage site was studied for its capability of biotransformation of phenylurea herbicide diuron to a secondary metabolite, 1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)urea (DCPU) for bioconjugation and antibody development applications. The metabolite formed associated with profound changes in bacterial cell morphology demonstrated increase in the degradation kinetics of diuron in presence of small quantity of a surfactant.

Glutathione biosynthesis in the yeast pathogens Candida glabrata and Candida albicans: essential in C. glabrata, and essential for virulence in C. albicans.

Redox pathways play a key role in pathogenesis. Glutathione, a central molecule in redox homeostasis in yeasts, is an essential metabolite, but its requirements can be met either from endogenous biosynthesis or from the extracellular milieu. In this report we have examined the importance of glutathione biosynthesis in two major human opportunistic fungal pathogens, Candida albicans and Candida glabrata.

Chryseomicrobium imtechense gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Planococcaceae.

A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, yellow, non-motile, non-spore-forming, strictly aerobic bacterial strain, designated MW 10(T), was isolated from seawater of the Bay of Bengal, India, and was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain MW 10(T) showed highest similarity to the type strains of Psychrobacillus psychrodurans (96.15 %) and Psychrobacillus psychrotolerans (96.

Pentoxifylline augments TRAIL/Apo2L mediated apoptosis in cutaneous T cell lymphoma (HuT-78 and MyLa) by modulating the expression of antiapoptotic proteins and death receptors.

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL/Apo2L) is a promising anticancer agent but cutaneous T lymphoma cells (CTCL) are less sensitive to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Here, we report that pentoxifylline (PTX), a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, augments TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in HuT-78 and MyLa cells through modulating extrinsic death receptors and intrinsic mitochondria dependent pathways. Our results clearly show that PTX augments TRAIL-mediated activation of caspase-8 and induces cleavage of Bid, although PTX alone cannot activate caspase-8.

Fluoroimmunoassay based on suppression of fluorescence self-quenching for ultra-sensitive detection of herbicide diuron.

A highly sensitive heterogeneous fluoroimmunoassay has been developed for monitoring phenylurea herbicide diuron on the basis of suppression of fluorescence self-quenching. Specific antibody against diuron was produced and labeled with rhodamine isothiocyanate at different molar ratios and used as tracer in the developed immunoassay. The analytical sensitivity of immunoassay was enhanced by changing the microenvironment of fluorescence label with glycerin solution after the completion of immunoassay.

A process optimization for bio-catalytic production of substituted catechols (3-nitrocatechol and 3-methylcatechol.

Background: Substituted catechols are important precursors for large-scale synthesis of pharmaceuticals and other industrial products. Most of the reported chemical synthesis methods are expensive and insufficient at industrial level. However, biological processes for production of substituted catechols could be highly selective and suitable for industrial purposes.

Zeta potential based colorimetric immunoassay for the direct detection of diabetic marker HbA1c using gold nanoprobes.

A one-step homogeneous colorimetric immunoassay format coupled with zeta potential measurements for determination of specific diabetic biomarker glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) using functionalised gold nanoparticles as bioprobes is reported. The assay exhibited an excellent sensitivity based on absorbance and zeta potential measurements showing the dynamic response range from 0.001-0.

Crystallographically observed folded topology of an unsubstituted γ-aminobutyric acid incorporated in a model peptide: importance of a C--H···O interaction.

To validate the existing hypothesis put forward by Navarro et al., we performed single crystal X-ray diffraction structural analysis of a designed model peptide incorporating an unsubstituted achiral γ-aminobutyric acid: Boc-Pro-γ-Abu-OH (1) lacking C-terminal amide group. The analysis established existence of an overall unusual tightly folded topology stabilized by a conventional N(i)···H--N(i + 1) and an unconventional C(i)--H···O(i) type intramolecular hydrogen bonding interactions, encompassing a five-membered and a six-membered ring motifs, respectively.

Specific molten globule conformation of stem bromelain at alkaline pH.

Stem bromelain (SBM), a therapeutic protein, is rapidly absorbed across the gut epithelium. Because SBM encounters an alkaline pH at its principal site of absorption, we investigated the alkaline-induced denaturation of SBM. From pH 7 to 10, the protein's secondary structure remained the same, although a slight loss of tertiary structure was observed.

OXP1/YKL215c encodes an ATP-dependent 5-oxoprolinase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: functional characterization, domain structure and identification of actin-like ATP-binding motifs in eukaryotic 5-oxoprolinases.

OXP1/YKL215c, an uncharacterized ORF of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, encodes a functional ATP-dependent 5-oxoprolinase of 1286 amino acids. The yeast 5-oxoprolinase activity was demonstrated in vivo by utilization of 5-oxoproline as a source of glutamate and OTC, a 5-oxoproline sulfur analogue, as a source of sulfur in cells overexpressing OXP1. In vitro characterization by expression and purification of the recombinant protein in S.

A single-amino-acid substitution in the C terminus of PhoP determines DNA-binding specificity of the virulence-associated response regulator from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis PhoP-PhoR two-component system is essential for virulence in animal models of tuberculosis. Genetic and biochemical studies indicate that PhoP regulates the expression of more than 110 genes in M. tuberculosis.

Physiological adaptations and tolerance towards higher concentration of selenite (Se(+4)) in Enterobacter sp. AR-4, Bacillus sp. AR-6 and Delftia tsuruhatensis AR-7.

Environmental contamination with selenium is a major health concern. A few bacterial strains have been isolated that can transform toxic selenite to non-toxic elemental selenium only at low concentrations (0.001-150 mM) in recent past.

BIAdb: a curated database of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids.

Background: Benzylisoquinoline is the structural backbone of many alkaloids with a wide variety of structures including papaverine, noscapine, codeine, morphine, apomorphine, berberine, protopine and tubocurarine. Many benzylisoquinoline alkaloids have been reported to show therapeutic properties and to act as novel medicines. Thus it is important to collect and compile benzylisoquinoline alkaloids in order to explore their usage in medicine.

Characterization of hapten-protein conjugates: antibody generation and immunoassay development for chlorophenoxyacetic acid pesticides.

The generation of specific and sensitive antibodies against small molecules is greatly dependent upon the characteristics of the hapten-protein conjugates. In this study, we report a new fluorescence-based method for the characterization of hapten-protein conjugates. The method is based on an effect promoted by hapten-protein conjugation density upon the fluorescence intensity of the intrinsic tryptophan chromophore molecules of the protein.

Expression, purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of maleylacetate reductase from Burkholderia sp. strain SJ98.

Maleylacetate reductase (EC 1.3.1.

Retraction: A novel bacterial isolate Stenotrophomonas maltophilia as living factory for synthesis of gold nanoparticles.

[This retracts the article on p. 39 in vol. 8, PMID: 19619318.

Identification of a new exosite involved in catalytic turnover by the streptokinase-plasmin activator complex during human plasminogen activation.

With the goal of identifying hitherto unknown surface exosites of streptokinase involved in substrate human plasminogen recognition and catalytic turnover, synthetic peptides encompassing the 170 loop (CQFTPLNPDDDFRPGLKDTKLLC) in the beta-domain were tested for selective inhibition of substrate human plasminogen activation by the streptokinase-plasmin activator complex. Although a disulfide-constrained peptide exhibited strong inhibition, a linear peptide with the same sequence, or a disulfide-constrained variant with a single lysine to alanine mutation showed significantly reduced capabilities of inhibition. Alanine-scanning mutagenesis of the 170 loop of the beta-domain of streptokinase was then performed to elucidate its importance in streptokinase-mediated plasminogen activation.

Strip-based immunochromatographic assay using specific egg yolk antibodies for rapid detection of morphine in urine samples.

Using specific egg yolk antibodies (IgY), a strip-based immunochromatographic assay was developed for rapid detection of morphine in urine samples. IgY type antibody against morphine was generated by immunizing chickens with well-characterized monoacetyl morphine-protein conjugate. The antibody was labeled with gold nanoparticles and used as an immunoprobe in the dipstick format for the visual detection of morphine in urine samples.

A novel bacterial isolate Stenotrophomonas maltophilia as living factory for synthesis of gold nanoparticles.

Background: The synthesis of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) has received considerable attention with their potential applications in various life sciences related applications. Recently, there has been tremendous excitement in the study of nanoparticles synthesis by using some natural biological system, which has led to the development of various biomimetic approaches for the growth of advanced nanomaterials. In the present study, we have demonstrated the synthesis of gold nanoparticles by a novel bacterial strain isolated from a site near the famous gold mines in India.

Pentoxifylline induces apoptosis in vitro in cutaneous T cell lymphoma (HuT-78) and enhances FasL mediated killing by upregulating Fas expression.

Constitutive nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) is known to play an important role in the survival of HuT-78 cells, a cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) cell line. Here, we have demonstrated that pentoxifylline (PTX), a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, can trigger a series of events leading to apoptosis in HuT-78 cells without affecting NF-kappaB. Apoptosis was ascertained by sub-G1 peak analysis and TUNEL assay.

Inhibition of bfl-1/A1 by siRNA inhibits mycobacterial growth in THP-1 cells by enhancing phagosomal acidification.

Virulent tubercle bacilli inhibit apoptosis to establish a safe environment within the host cells. Here, we report that NF-kappaB dependent antiapoptotic protein bfl-1/A1 plays an important role in this process. Both virulent and avirulent mycobacteria bearing THP-1 cells expressed considerable amount of bfl-1/A1 after 4 h of infection.

Differential expression of NF-kappaB in mycobacteria infected THP-1 affects apoptosis.

The present study was conducted to see the role of NF-kappaB in virulent (Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv) and avirulent (M. tuberculosis H37Ra) mycobacterial infection in THP-1 cells. To inactivate NF-kappaB, pCMV-IkappaBalphaM dn containing THP-1 cell line was generated which showed marked increase in apoptosis with M.

Attempts to characterize the mechanisms involved in the growth inhibition of Mycobacterium microti in interferon-gamma or tumor necrosis factor-alpha activated J774A.1 cells.

The growth of Mycobacterium microti was inhibited within J774A.1 macrophage cells activated with either interferon-gamma or tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Activation with interferon-gamma or tumor necrosis factor-alpha alone did not stimulate the production of nitrite in J774A.

Effect of interleukin-1 alpha on the growth of Mycobacterium microti within J774A.1 cells.

The effect of mouse recombinant interleukin-1 alpha on the intracellular growth of Mycobacterium microti in a murine macrophage cell line J774A.1 was investigated. Interleukin-1 alpha added after infection to the M.