017304   Praba G O;Velmurugan D (Centre of Advanced Study in Crystallography and Biophysics, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai-600 025, Email: _velu@yahoo.com) : Quantitative structure-activity relationship of some pesticides. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2007, 44(6), 470-76.

Herbicides (benzodiazepinediones), insecticides (dioxatricyclododecenes) and larvicides (N-oxalyl derivatives of tebufenozide) have been quantitatively investigated to explore the relationship between the molecular structure and their biological activity using molecular operating environment (MOE) software. The study provides good predictive models, cross-validated by leave-out-one method (Loo). The positive contribution of the descriptor n-O (count of oxygen atom) suggests the additional oxygen atom substitution at R₁ position, in addition to benzodiazepine moiety is favorable for herbicidal activity, whereas the negative contribution of y component of dipole moment (Dip_y) indicates that electronic interactions are also crucial for the activity. The negative correlation of V_SA² and globularity (Glo) descriptors clearly indicates that the volume, shape, and rigidity of tebufenozide derivatives determine their larvicidal activity. The biparametric model for insecticides shows that the indicator variable ICH-CH3 and RPC^- (negative partial charge) are detrimental for its activity. Most of the active compounds in the series have shown less value for these descriptors. The derived QSAR models also provide valuable insights to optimize their toxicity, which remains a major concern for environment safety.

017303   Pirestani S;Sahari M A;Barzegar M;Azizi M H (Food Technology Dep, College of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares Univ, P.O. Box 14115-336) : Amino acid composition of some commercially important fish species from the south Caspian Sea. Green Fmg 2008, 1(10-11), 94-6.

The objective of the current study was to evaluate amino acid and chemical compositions of five fish species from the South Caspian Sea. The chemical analysis revealed that the protein content of common kilka, Caspian kutum, common carp, pike perch and golden grey mullet was 18.35, 21.39, 19.37, 20.35 and 21.28 fw %, respectively. The lipid content and ash ranged from 1.97-10.23%, 1.15-3.33 fw %, correspondingly. The most abundant amino acids in all species were glutamic (16.65-17.81 %), alanine (in common carp, pike perch and common kilka) and aspartic acids (in golden grey mullet and Caspian kutum). The histidine content was low in all species (1.05-1.52%). Many of the aforementioned indices had significant statistical differences (PO. 01). The cluster analysis result of amino acids composition showed that common carp and pike perch were highly similar followed by the common kilka, but in the other group Caspian kutum and golden grey mullet showed huge similarity.

2 tables, 13 ref

017302   Park H G;Yoon J Y;Choi M (Life Sciences and Research Center of Natural Sciences Dep, Sunmoon University, 100, Kalsan-ri, Tangjeong-myeon, Asan, Chungnam 336-840, Korea) : Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein D/AUF1 interacts with heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L. J Biosci, Bangalore 2007, 32(7), 1263-72.

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L (hnRNP L) is one of the principal pre-mRNA-binding proteins found in human cells. The hnRNP L protein is fairly abundant. However, it is not restricted to the nucleus, and instead shuttles between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. It is composed of 558 amino acid residues and harbours four loosely conserved RNP-consensus RNA-binding domains. In an attempt to characterize the interaction occurring between cellular proteins and hnRNP L, yeast two-hybrid screening was conducted using a HeLa cDNA library. Some of the cDNA clones were found to harbour a partial human hnRNP D/AUF1 cDNA (GeneBank accession number NM_031369). The study determines that hnRNP L interacts specifically with the hnRNP D/AUF1 in the yeast two-hybrid system. This interaction was verified via an in vitro pull-down assay.

5 illus, 27 ref

017301   Panchang R;Nigam R;Riedel F;Janssen A W;Hla U K Y (Micropalaeontology Lab, Geological Oecanography Div, National Institute of Oceanography, CSIR, Dona Paula, Goa-403 004, Email: prajani@nio.or) : Review of the studies on pteropods from the northern Indian Ocean region with a report on the pteropods of Irrawaddy continental shelf off Myanmar (Burma). Indian J Mar Sci 2007, 36(4), 384-98.

Ever since the Challenger Expedition the Indian Ocean pteropods have been recognized as important constituents of biogenic flux. Initially they were of interest only to biologists or the fishery departments and their distribution was studied only in plankton tow samples. Over the past three decades micropalaeontologists have paid attention to investigate pteropods from water and sediment samples to understand their distribution and ecological significance. Since then substantial work has been reported in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, northern Arabian Sea, along west coast of India and around the Andaman Nicobar Archipelago. Work has neither been attempted in the Bay of Bengal nor in the northern Andaman Sea. These aragonitic microfossils have proved to be reliable indicators of bathymetry, productivity, upwelling, current circulation, intensity of Aragonite Compensation Depths, Oxygen Minimum Zone and monsoons, thus very useful in palaeoclimatic reconstructions. Works on its counterparts such as foraminifers and ostracods have been reviewed earlier and this is the first time a review of the pteropod studies in the northern Indian Ocean is being attempted, in view of the vast data generated in this region. The pteropod assemblages from two cores collected on the Irrawaddy continental shelf, in the northern Andaman Sea is also reported for the first time. The downcore distribution of pteropods suggests that no significant sea level change has occurred over the past <126>1280 Cal yrs.

017300   Padma A S;Agarwal S;Bharat Reddy D;Prasad T S;Radanna P (Biochemistry Dep, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Vivekananda College, Sainikpuri, Secunderabad-500 094, Email: saipadmabhavans@yahoo.co.in) : Metabolism of arachidonic acid in sheep uterus: in vitro studies. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2007, 44(4), 216-22.

Arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism in the non-pregnant sheep uterus was studied in vitro using conventional chromatographic and HPLC techniques. High expression of both lipoxygenase (LOX) as well as cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes and their activities was found in the uterine tissues. On incubation of uterine enymes with AA, the LOX products formed were identified as 5-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HPETE), 12- and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (12- and 15-HETEs), based on their separation on TLC and HPLC. By employing differential salt precipitation techniques, the LOXs generating products 5-HPETE (5-LOX), 12-HETE and 15-HETE (12- and 15-dual LOX) were isolated. Based on their analysis on TLC, the COX products formed were identified as prostaglandins- PGF₂αa and prostacyclin derivative 6-keto PGF₁α. The study forms the first report on the comprehensive analysis on the metabolism of AA in sheep uterus in vitro via the LOX and COX pathways.

017299   Ozdemir I;Selamoglu Z;Ates B;Gok Y;Yilmaz I (Chemistry Dep, Inonu University, 44280 Malatya, Turkey, Email: iyilmaz@inonu.edu.tr) : Modulation of DMBA-induced biochemical changes by organoselenium compounds in blood of rats. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2007, 44(4), 257-59.

The protective role of two synthetic organoselenium compounds 1-isopropyl-3-methylbenzimidazole-2-selenone (SeI) and 1, 3-di-p-methoxybenzylpyrimidine-2-selenone (SeII) was examined against the 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced changes in biochemical parameters in blood of rats. Albino Winstar rats (150-200 g body wt) were treated with single dose of DMBA (50 mg/kg body wt) and organoselenium compounds (25 m mol/kg) for 4 weeks at two days internal. Blood was taken from the anaesthetized rats ventricle from their hearts for biochemical analysis. Administration of DMBA resulted in elevation of urea, uric acid and creatinine levels as well as AST, ALT and LDH activities and decrease in levels of total proteins, albumin and globulin. SeI and SeII caused a significant (p<60>0.05) decrease in urea, uric acid and creatinine levels and alanine aminotransferase (ALT); aspartate aminotransferase; (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities and significantly increased the levels of total protein and albumin (p<60>0.05). These organoselenium compounds are likely to be beneficial in human health.

017298   Neeraj;Singh K (Botany Dep, Feroz Gandhi College, Rae Bareli-229 001) : Biochemical changes in Phaseolus vulgaris L. dual inoculated with arbuscular - mycorrhizal Fungi and Rhizobium. Bhartiya Vaigyanik Evam Audyogik Anusandhan Patrika 2007, 15(1), 51-56.

A field experiment was conducted with Phaseolus vulgais L. plants inoculated with one of the four AM-fungal strains viz. Gigaspora albida, Glomus albidum, Sclerocystis sinuosa and Scutellospora erythropa plus Rhizobium and / or one-half dose of phosphatic fertilizer. The root, shoot and leaves of plants were assayed for amino acid, protein, phenol and neutral lipid contents at 45 days after sowing (DAS) and 75 DAS. Comparative assessment revealed that amino acid, protein and phenol contents were maximum in the leaves of dual inoculated plants whereas neutral lipid concentration was maximum in the leaves of plants treated with AM-fungi plus one-half dose of chemical phosphorus at 75 DAS. Results also revealed that the neutral lipids and proteins were found to be higher in different plant parts whereas amino acids and phenols were comparatively lesser. However, when compared with un-inoculated plants, AMF inoculated plant parts contained more amino acid, protein, phenol and neutral lipids. Protein, neutral lipid and phenol contents in the leaves were 12-13% more than the non-mycorrhizal plants, whereas amino acid was 18-19% more than the plants treated with full dose of phosphatic fertilizer as well as untreated control plants.

017297   Nandini N;Kavitha N;Prasad S;Manjunath H M; Ranganath V;Rajangam S (Human Genetics Div, Anatomy Dep, St John's Medical College, Banglore-560 034, Email: sjmcdhg@yahoo.com) : The effect of birth order on conditions having genetic etiology. Int J Hum Genet 2007, 7(4), 285-88.

Division of Human Genetics is the referral center for karyotyping and counseling. This particular investigation has been carried out as students project for a period of 2 months. Being a retrospective study the project has been done on 1000 consecutively referred cases with Mental Retardation. Multiple Congenital Abnormality, Bad Obstetric History (abortions and or livebirths) Male Factors (infertility, hypogonadism, ambiguous genitalia. Klinefeltei syndrome). Female Factors (amenorrhea,Turner syndrome) and others (single gene disorders, syndromes, consanguinity, premarital counseling, multifactorial). In this investigation is reported, whether there is an association between birth order and the conditions for which the genetic etiology has been determined. It has also been attempted to find out the effect of birth order on the sex of the probands as well on the chromosomal abnormality. The gathered data from the detailed proforma was statistically analyzed with 'chi-square test'. Among the consecutively referred 1000 cases only in 790 cases complete information could be obtained, out of which the couples with BOH (365, 45.91%) have shown the highest referral followed by MR (142,17. 97%). The findings have suggested that the 1" birth order seemed to be associated to clinical conditions (304/790.38.48%)(p<60>0.001). Birth order has shown preference to live born females (417/ 790, 52.78%) (p<60>0.001). 15% of the referred conditions had abnormal karyonpe (120/790) and abnormal karyotype was not related to birth order (p<62>0.05). Incidentally, the association between the chief complaints and consanguinity (223/790, 28,23%) was calculated and it was found to be significant (p<60>0.001). In view of the absence of any other study based on such large size, it is opined that similar studies are in need to say with certainty, that there may be the effect of birth order on Mental Retardation, Multiple Congenital Abnormality, Bad Obstetric History, Male factors, Female factors and others.

5 tables, 6 ref

017296   Munjral N;Gupta A K;Kaur N (Biochemistry and Chemistry Dep, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004, Email: nkaur@rediffmail.com) : Studies on glucose-metabolizing enzymes in cytosolic and bacteroidal fractions of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) and lentil (Lens culinaris L.) nodules. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2007, 44(3), 186-89.

Nitrogen is exported in the form of ureides or amides from the nodules in pulse crops. In order to understand the carbon metabolism in ureide and amide exporting nodules, activities of enzymes involved in glucose metabolism were compared in cytosolic and bacteroidal fractions of mungbean (ureide exporter) and lentil (amide exporter) nodules during development. Activities of hexokinase, fructokinase, phosphoglucomutase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, phosphohexose isomerase and UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase were detected in cytosolic fraction of nodules of both the crops during development. Out of these enzymes, specific activity of phosphohexose isomerase was the highest in nodules of both the crops, in comparison with other enzymes. In comparison with mungbean, activities of various enzymes were less in cytosolic fraction of lentil. Activities of hexokinase, fructokinase, phosphoglucomutase were present only in cytosolic fraction of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.), however, low activity of these enzymes was also observed in lentil (Lens culinaris L.) bacteroids. Activities of phosphohexose isomerase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase were higher in bacteroids of lentil, as compared to mungbean during early nodule development, but this pattern was reversed with progress of crop development. Higher activities of phosphoglucomutase and fructose-1,6-phosphatase in mungbean cytosolic fraction could lead to increased flow of carbon towards pentose phosphate pathway.

017295   Munari C;Mistri M (Biology Dep, Section of Biology and Evolution, University of Ferrara, via L. Borsari 46, I-44100 Ferrara, Italy, Email: mnc@unife.it) : Structure and secondary production of the macrobenthic community in an aquatic transition environment of the Gulf of Olbia, Mediterranean Sea. Indian J Mar Sci 2007, 36(3), 216-26.

The composition and the secondary production of the macrobenthic community of Rio Padrongiano Delta (the Gulf of Olbia, Tyrrhenian Sea) was investigated. Three sites (L, S and C) were sampled quarterly for macrofauna; environmental variables were measured monthly at each site. A total of 115 taxa, representing 9 phyla were identified. Data were subjected to univariate and multivariate analyses to discriminate among sites. Two-way ANOVA indicated that abundance N and other community measures (H', D^* and D⁺) differed greatly among sites. Two sites were numerically dominated by Polychaetes (54.6% and 58.3% of total abundance, respectively), while, at the third site, they represented only 24.1%. Molluscs made the greatest contribution to the community biomass at all sites, accounting for 96%, 89.4% and 80.7% of the total biomass, respectively. Benthic production was estimated by an indirect method. Mean annual secondary production of macrobenthic community varied among 8.5, 23.8 and 94 g/m²/yr. Differences among sites were mostly dependent on the different contribute of an invasive mussel, Musculista senhousia. Musculista senhousia seems to facilitate other macrobenthic taxa and seems to have a fundamental role on secondary production of the macrobenthic community.

017294   Mishra A;Pankaj P K;Prakash B S (NO, National Daily Research Institute, Karnal-132 001) : Comprative status of blood metabolites with commencenment of cyclicity in post partum lactating riverine Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). J Dairying Fd Home Sci 2007, 26(3-4), 164-8.

Twenty-two post-partum riverine buffaloes (Murrah breed) were selected from National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) Karnal herd of first or second lactation to determine the length of post-partum period for cyclicity commencement by blood metabolites viz., non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), glucose and alpha amino nitrogen (AAN). Blood samples (5-10 ml) were collected twice a week until commencement of cyciicity as determined by progesterone analysis or for period of 3 months (whichever is earlier). Out of these twenty-two animals, ten were found out to be cyclic as determined through progesterone analysis. Blood samples were collected twice a week at 3-4 days interval from all animals by means of jugular vein puncture 5 days post-partum period. To fulfill the objectives of the present study, plasma NEFA, Glucose and AAN were assayed by Copper soap solvent extraction method modified by Shipe, GOD/POD method and Goodwin method respectively. Plasma progesterone was analyzed by a Direct Radioimmunoassay (RIA) method. Concentrations of blood metabolites viz. glucose and NEFA are unaffected by days for commencement of cyclicity and were also were non-significant (P<62>0.05).

2 tables, 13 ref

017293   Mishra A K;Mahendra Singh;Tandon P;Gupta V D (Physics Dep, University of Lucknow, Lucknow-226 007, Email: poonam_tandon@yahoo.co.uk) : Vibrational dynamics and heat capacity in polyglycine II. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2007, 44(4), 240-46.

The earlier works on the vibrational dynamics of polyglycine II (PG II) suffer from several infirmities, which not only suppress the dynamical nature of normal modes, but also lead to several incorrect assignments and interactive constants of the potential field. In this study, we have re-examined the phonon dispersion profiles of PG II using Higgs method for evaluation of phase-related normal modes and have attempted to remove the infirmities, as far as possible. The Wilson's GF matrix method combined with the Urey-Bradley force field has been used for normal mode analysis. This potential field leads to correct assignments of Raman, infrared and inelastic neutron scattering frequencies. Characteristic features of the dispersion curve (v versusδ/π plot), such as repulsion and regions of high density-of-states have been interpreted. In addition, the heat capacity as a function of temperature has been obtained via density-of-states. It agrees well with the experimental data and is being reported for the first time.

017292   Martino A (Unit of Cellular Immunology, National Institute for Infectious Dieseases, IRCCS Lazzaro Spallanzani : Via Portuense 292, 00149, Email: martino@inmi.it) : Sphingosine 1-phosphate as a novel immune regulator of dendritic cells. J Biosci, Bangalore 2007, 32(6), 1207-12.

Intracellular second messenger, sphingosine 1-phosphate (SIP) has recently been shown to be involved in several physiological and pathological functions as an extracellular mediator. SIP receptors are widely expressed and thought to regulate important functions in cell signalling. Recently, the role of SIP on the immune system has evoked great interest. In particular, several aspects of the effects on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) as dendritic cells (DC) in mice and humans have been reported. In this review, we focus on the role played by SIP on the DC system and its effects in immune-related pathological states.

^iia49 ref

017291   Malini S S;Savitha M R;Krishnamurthy B; Ramachandra N B (Human Genetics Laboratory. Studies in Zoology Dep, Mysore Univ, Manasagangothri, Mysore-570 006, Email: nallurbr@gmail.com) : Advanced maternal grandmother age is a risk factor in causing sex chromosomal aneuploidy. Int J Hum Genet 2007, 7(4), 289-96.

Majority of the chromosomal abnormalities arc incompatible with embryonic or fetal survival Inn trisomy 21 and sex chromosomal trisomies have a much higher viability surviving to term. In India, increased numbers of children with sex chromosomal aneuploidy are born to young mothers. Therefore, detailed analysis of the families with sex chromosomal aneuploidy is needed to find out the possible causative factors for nondisjunction Twenty five families of suspected sex chromosomal aneuploidy children were investigated for cytogenctic analysis and pedigrees were constructed for these families. As controls 100 randomly selected families belonging to different religions were used. Of the 25 sex chromosomal aneuploidy cases studied, 16 were Turners with 45, XO chromosomes and 9 were Klinefelters with 47, XXY chromosomes. The number of sex chromosomal aneuploidy births was greater for the young mothers than the advanced age mothers. The logistic regression of case-control study of sex chromosomal aneuploidy children revealed that the odds ratio for the age of maternal grandmother was significant when all the four variables were used once at a time. However, the effect of age of mother and father was smaller than the effect of age of maternal grandmother. For every year of advancement of age of the maternal grandmother, the risk (odds) of births of sex chromosomal aneuploidy children increases by 36%. Therefore, the age of the maternal grandmother at the time of birth of mother is a risk factor for the occurrence of sex chromosomal aneuploidy.

4 illus, 2 tables, 30 ref

017290   Maiti P K;Ganguly S;Bhattacharya K;Ray A (NO, IPGME & R, 244 A.J.C. Bose Road, Kolkata-700 020) : Features of biofilms in mycetoma grains. J mycopathol Res 2007, 45(1), 101-3.

Uptill now only a few examples of fungal biofilm formation were noted, which were associated with human diseases. Infection by candida biofilms and dermatophytoma fungal biofilms were two common examples of relatively treatment refractory state of respective causal agents. Mycetoma grains were also treatment refractory than the drug sensitivity of their invitro growths of causal agents. This was supported by in-vitro and in-vivo efficacy study of 50 actinomycetoma isolates. The in-vitro grain induction study also showed appearance of grain form, more on surface of glass walls and these were of definite size for each causal agent. Grains were micro-colonies of organisms embeded in a ground substance. Their free floating cells were faster growing filaments in broth culture. Nocardia spp. when caused pyogenic infections in deep organs, the organisms were demonstrated as dispersed filaments in-stead of grain forms and the condition was more amenable to chemotherapy. Grain form of some bacteria in botryomycosis was also more resistant to chemotherapy than their solitary form in pyogenic infections. All circumstantial evidences suggested that mycetoma grains had many features of fungal biofilms. Further study is needed in this direction.

1 illus, 9 ref

017289   Maddaly Ravi;Preetha B;Govind Pai M;V Parvathi Deepa;Ghosh S;Paul S FD (Human Genetics Dep, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute (Deemed Univ), Porur, Chennai-600 116, Email: maddalyravi@hotmail.com) : Optimizing premature chromosome condensation (PCC) of human lymphocytes by somatic cell hybridization to study primary DNA damages. Int J Hum Genet 2007, 7(4), 319-23.

Cytogenetic tools are important in understanding the health effects of various chemical and physical agents implicated in human health. Several biodosimetric and cylogenetic techniques help in the assessment of the genotoxic effects of therapeutic drugs and these become essential for human health care management. There exist methods by which genotoxicity can be identified and quantified employing interphase condensed DNA Premature Chromosome Condensation (PCC) can be achieved by Somatic Cell Fusions and can result in obtaining condensed DNA into "near chromosome like clarity" and the same can be utilized to check for common end-points such as DNA "breaks" and "gaps", as can be induced by genotoxic drugs. PCC in conjunction with FISH can also be an added advantage for the same. We present here an efficient method to obtain high quality PCC spreads of human lymphocytes, which can be analyzed with relative simplicity for genotoxic monitoring. Mitotic CHO cells were used as the fusion partners followed by incubation and the processing of cells for analysis. Image capturing and analysis was done after fixing and casting cells. The key factors such as the ratio of the fusion partners, fusion and processing protocols are optimized and presented. Although PCC cannot replace conventional lymphocyte culture techniques completely, it can be efficiently utilized for genotoxic monitoring with advantages such as the considerable reduction in time required for processing and analysis of samples. This will also eliminate the chances of genotoxicity underestimation due to the inherent DNA damage repair capacity of human lymphocytes.

1 illus, 1 table, 11 ref

017288   Lo H F;Lin L L;Chen P J;Chou W M (Food and Nutrition Dep, Hungkuang University, Shalu, Taichung City, Taiwan, Email: llin@mail.ncyu.edu.tw) : Site-directed mutagenesis of conserved Thr407, Asp433 and Met464 residues in small subunit of Escherichia coli γ-glutamyltranspeptidase. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2007, 44(4), 197-203.

Sequence comparison showed that residues Thr407, Asp433, and Met464 in the small subunit of Escherichia coli γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (EcGGT) were conserved in the aligned enzymes. In this study, we further investigated the functional significance of these conserved residues by site-directed mutagenesis. The wild-type and mutant enzymes were overexpressed in the recombinant E. coli M15 cells and purified to near homogeneity by Ni²⁺-NTA resin. Except M464L, other mutants had shown no GGT activity under enzyme assay conditions and activity staining. Furthermore, mutations on these residues impaired the capability of autocatalytic processing of the enzyme. Based on these observations, it is concluded that these residues play an important role in the enzyme maturation.

017287   LInshy V N;Rana S S;Kurtarkar S;Saraswat R; Nigam R (Micropaleontology Lab, National Institute of Oceanography, CSIR, Dona Paula, Goa-403 004, Email: nigam@nio.org) : Appraisal of laboratory culture experiments on benthic foraminifera to assess/develop paleoceanographic proxies. Indian J Mar Sci 2007, 36(4), 301-21.

The laboratory culture studies, carried out on benthic foraminifera, with the aim to refine paleoceanographic/paleoclimatic or environmental application of benthic foraminifera, have been reviewed. The review includes studies, which refined the understanding of factors that bring out changes in benthic foraminiferal abundance, morphology and chemical composition (of the test). Additionally, studies dealing with taxonomic aspects of benthic foraminifera have also been discussed, since such studies have significantly improved application of benthic foraminifera for stratigraphic correlation. Most of the laboratory culture studies on benthic foraminifera in the early days were carried out to monitor the complete life-cycle of selected species. Such studies revealed presence of morphologically different stages in the life-cycle of single species. Thus the forms that were earlier recognized as different species were later on clubbed as developmental or ontogenetic stages of single species. Interesting relationship between mode of reproduction and coiling direction were also observed. Later on, with the growing application of foraminiferal characteristics for past climatic and oceanographic reconstruction, benthic foraminifera were maintained under controlled physico-chemical conditions in the laboratory. Such studies helped to refine the differences in the foraminiferal characteristics from physico-chemically different environments, as observed in the field. As it was proposed that the amount and type of food material is the major factor that controls the benthic foraminiferal population, numerous studies were carried out to assess the response of benthic foraminifera to different type and amount of food and oxygen concentration. Surprisingly limited laboratory culture studies have been carried out to understand the factors that govern the chemical composition of the benthic foraminiferal tests. It probably reflects the difficulties in simulating the conditions under which physico-chemical parameters can be kept constant throughout the experiment. Towards the end of 20th century application of molecular systematic analysis techniques on foraminifera started and such studies refined the evolutionary history and taxonomic position of foraminifera as well as helped recognize cryptic species. However, despite a large number of culture studies being carried out on benthic foraminifera with their paleoceanographic/paleoclimatic application in focus, still much more efforts are needed to understand the parameters affecting the benthic foraminiferal abundance, morphology and chemical composition.

017286   Lakshmi Prabha M;Jayaraaj A;Jeyaraaj R;Rao S (Biochemistry and Zoology Dep, Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Coimbatore-641 029) : Comparative studies on the digestive enzymes in the gut of earthworms, Eudrilus eugeniae and Eisenia fetida. Indian J Biotechnol 2007, 6(4), 567-9.

Solid waste and resource recycling are the only sensible ways to tackle the problem of municipal solid waste (MSW). The digestive enzymes and the intestinal microflora of earthworms seem to play an important role in the digestion of soil organic matter. The investigation was aimed to study the levels of various enzymes viz. amylase, cellulase, xylanase, cellbiase, endonuclease, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase and nitrate reductase and their activities in the gut of the two selected earthworms, Eudrilus eugeniae and Eisenia fetida. Overall, amylase, cellobiase, endoglucanase, acid phosphatase and nitrate reductase showed higher enzymatic activity.

017285   Krithika S;Maji S;Vasulu T S (Biological Anthropology Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, 203 BT Road, Kolkata-700 108, Email: vasulu@isical.ac.in) : Geographic contiguity patterns of gene flow and genetic affinity among the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Int J Hum Genet 2007, 7(3), 267-76.

Examines the regional genetic diversity among 23 Arunachal Pradesh tribes based on 2 loci (ABO and PTC). The results show wide variation in allele frequencies. The 'r' allele shows higher frequency (than 'p' and 'q') and show geographical variation. The results of NJ tree and PCA plot show separation of tribal groups that fairly corresponds to their geographical locations and ethno-historical backgrounds. The Harpending and Jenkins regression plot suggests that these tribes are getting differentiated primarily due to genetic drift and genetic isolation, where gene flow plays a significant role in a lew tribes. Also, the affinity among the regional groups based on then ethno-historical origin and migration and genetic diversity was considered by a model-based approach especially by Rao's hierarchical analysis. The results of the study thus support ethno-historical accounts of their antiquity and possible common origin.

4 illus, 2 tables, 32 ref

017284   Khodade P;Malhotra S;Nirmal Kumar;Sriram Iyengar M;Balakrishnan N;Chandra N (Supercomputer Education and Research Centre, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560 012, Email: nchandra@serc.iisc.ernet.in) : Cytoview: development of a cell modelling framework. J Biosci, Bangalore 2007, 32(5), 965-77.

Biological cell, a natural self-contained unit of prime biological importance, is an enormously complex machine that can be understood at many levels. A higher-level perspective of the entire cell requires integration of various features into coherent, biologically meaningful descriptions. There are some efforts to model cells based on their genome, proteome or metabolome descriptions. However, there are no established methods as yet to describe cell morphologies, capture similarities and differences between different cells or between healthy and disease states. Reports a framework to model various aspects of a cell and integrate knowledge encoded at different levels of abstraction, with cell morphologies at one end to atomic structures at the other. The different issues that have been addressed are ontologies, feature description and model building. The framework describes dotted representations and tree data structures to integrate diverse pieces of data and parametric models enabling size, shape and location descriptions. The framework serves as a first step in integrating different levels of data available for a biological cell and has the potential to lead to development of computational models in the pursuit to model cell structure and function, from which several applications can flow out.

6 illus, 1 table, 23 ref

017283   Khare N;Chaturvedi S K;Mazumder A (NO, National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research, (Ministry of Earth, Headland Sada, Vasco-da-Gama, Goa-403 804, Email: nkhare@ncaor.org) : Overview of foraminiferal studies in nearshore regions off eastern coast of India, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Indian J Mar Sci 2007, 36(4), 288-300.

Foraminiferal studies carried out on beaches, mudflats, estuaries and in nearshore shallow water regions along eastern coast line of India up to 50 m water depth, including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, have been reviewed. The review suggests that as far as beaches, mudflats and estuaries of east coasts are concerned, a total of 34 papers have been published, whereas, 82 research papers have dealt with foraminifera of shallow water regions. The review also shows that majority of the studies undertaken along eastern Indian coast have concentrated on taxonomic and/or ecological aspects and very few attempts have been made for applied aspects of foraminiferal contents. A bibliographical account and themewise review of various past publications have also been provided.

017282   Khandelwal S;Saxena R K (Schoolof Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru Univ, New Delhi-110 067, Email: rksaxsena@mail.jnu.ac.in) : Age-dependent increase in green autofluorescence of blood erythrocytes. J Biosci, Bangalore 2007, 32(6), 1139-45.

Green auto-fluorescence (GAF) of different age groups of mouse blood erythrocytes was determined by using a double in vivo biotinylation (DIB) technique that enables delineation of circulating erythrocytes of different age groups. A significant increase in GAF was seen for erythrocytes of old age group (age in circulation <62>40 days) as compared to young erythrocytes (age (15 days). Erythrocytes are removed from blood circulation by macrophages in the reticulo-endothelial system and depletion of macrophages results in an increased proportion of aged erythrocytes in the blood. When mice were depleted of macrophages for 7 days by administration of clodronate loaded liposomes, the overall GAF of erythrocytes increased significantly and this increase could be ascribed to an increase in GAF of the oldest population of erythrocytes. Using the DIB technique, the GAF of a cohort of blood erythrocyte generated during a 5 day window was tracked in vivo. GAF of the defined cohort of erythrocytes remained low till 40 days of age in circulation and then increased steeply till the end of the life span of erythrocytes. Taken together our results provide evidence for an age dependent increase in the GAF of blood erythrocytes that is accentuated by depletion of macrophages. Kinetics of changes in GAF of circulating erythrocytes with age has also been defined.

4 illus, 28 ref

017281   Kaushal D C;Kaushal N A;Narula A;Niraj Kumar; Puri S K;Dutta S;Lanar D E (Divisions of Microbiology1 and Parasitology, Central Drug Research Institute, Post Box 173, Lucknow-226 001, Email: deepkaushal@hotmail.com) : Biochemical and immunological characterization of E. coli expressed 42 kDa fragment of Plasmodium vivax and P. cynomolgi bastianelli merozoite surface protein-1. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2007, 44(6), 429-36.

Plasmodium vivax is one of the most widely distributed human malaria parasites and due to drug-resistant strains, its incidence and prevalence has increased, thus an effective vaccine against the parasites is urgently needed. One of the major constraints in developing P. vivax vaccine is the lack of suitable in vivo models for testing the protective efficacy of the vaccine. P. vivax and P. cynomolgi bastianelli are the two closely related malaria parasites and share a similar clinical course of infection in their respective hosts. The merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1) of these parasites has found to be protective in a wide range of host-parasite systems. P. vivax MSP-1 is synthesized as 200 kDa polypeptide and processed just prior to merozoite release from the erythrocytes into smaller fragments. The C- terminal 42 kDa cleavage product of MSP-1 (MSP-142) is present on the surface of merozoites and a major candidate for blood stage malaria vaccine. In the present study, we have biochemically and immunologically characterized the soluble and refolded 42 kDa fragment of MSP-1 of P. vivax (PvMSP-142) and P. cynomolgi B (PcMSP-142). SDS-PAGE analysis showed that both soluble and refolded E. coli expressed P. vivax and P. cynomolgi B MSP-142 proteins were homogenous in nature. The soluble and refolded MSP-142 antigens of both parasites showed high reactivity with protective monkey sera and conformation-specific monoclonal antibodies against P. cynomolgi B and P. vivax MSP-142 antigens. Immunization of BALB/c mice with these antigens resulted in the production of high titres of cross-reactive antibodies primarily against the conformational epitopes of MSP-142 protein. The immune sera from rhesus monkeys, immunized with soluble and refolded MSP-142 antigens of both parasites also showed high titered cross-reactive antibodies against MSP-142 conformational epitopes. These results suggested that the soluble and refolded forms of E. coli expressed P. vivax MSP-142 antigens were highly immunogenic and thus a viable candidate for vaccine studies.

017280   Kaur K;Gupta A K;Kaur N (Biochemistry and Chemistry Dep, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004, Email: nkaur @rediffmail.com) : Effect of water deficit on carbohydrate status and enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in seedlings of wheat cultivars. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2007, 44(4), 223-30.

The effect of water deficit on carbohydrate status and enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism (α and β amylases, sucrose phosphate synthase, sucrose synthase, acid and alkaline invertases) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was investigated in the seedlings of drought-sensitive (PBW 343) and drought-tolerant (C 306) cultivars. The water deficit was induced by adding 6% mannitol (water potential -0.815 Mpa) in the growth medium. The water deficit reduced starch content in the shoots of tolerant seedlings as compared to the sensitive ones, but increased sucrose content in the shoots and roots of tolerant seedlings, indicating their protective role during stress conditions. It also decreased the a -amylase activity in the endosperm of seedlings of both the cultivars, but increased a and b amylase activities in the shoots of tolerant ones. Sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activity showed a significant increase at 6 days of seedling growth (DSG) in the shoots of stressed seedlings of tolerant cultivar. However, SPS activity in the roots of stressed seedlings of sensitive cultivar was very low at 4 DSG and appeared significantly only at day 6. Sucrose synthase (SS) activity was lower in the shoots and roots of stressed seedlings of tolerant cultivar than sensitive ones at early stage of seedling growth. Higher acid invertase activity in the shoots of seedlings of tolerant cultivar appeared to be a unique characteristic of this cultivar for stress tolerance. Alkaline invertase activity, although affected under water deficit conditions, but was too low as compared to acid invertase activity to cause any significant affect on sucrose hydrolysis. In conclusion, higher sucrose content with high SPS and low acid invertase and SS activities in the roots under water deficit conditions could be responsible for drought tolerance of C 306.

017279   Kalz L;Schwanitz G (Human Genetics Institute, Bonn Univ, Wilhelmstrasse 31, D-5311 Bonn, Germany) : Investigations in probands with rearrangements in the acrocentric chromosomes. Int J Hum Genet 2007, 7(3), 253-62.

Chromosome investigations in 25,571 cases revealed 432 patients with structural changes in the acrocentrics. These could be attributed to 8 cases of heterochromatin transloeations with the Y-chromosome. 135 cases of rearrangements in heterochromatic regions of the short arms of the acrocentrics, and 289 cases with different types of exchanges and breakpoints in the euchromatin. Altogether, breakpoints in 547 acrocentrics were analysed. A specific intrachromosomal distribution of breakpoint maxima and minima was delineated for the 5 acrocentrics with individual characteristics regarding the 3 categories of rearrangements such as: Yql2 translocations. Robertsonian translocations as well as heterochromatic marker chromosomes, and rearrangements in the euchromatin. In addition, polymorphisms of the heterochromatin in the short regions of the acrocentrics were analysed. The origin of the 13 different aberration types documented showed a chromosome-specific pattern.

3 illus, 9 tables, 15 ref

017278   Jaiswal D;Rai P K;Amit Kumar;Watal G (Alternative Therapeutics Unit, Drug Development Div, Medicinal Resear, University of Allahabad, Allahabad-211 002) : Study of glycemic profile of Cajanus cajan leaves in experimental rats. Bhartiya Vaigyanik Evam Audyogik Anusandhan Patrika 2007, 15(1), 33-36.

Cajanus cajan K (Millsp) is commonly known as pigeon pea (or red gram). It is an important pulse crop of the tropical regions. The present study deals with the aqueous extract of Cajanus cajan leaves and evaluation of its glycemic profile in Streptozotocin induced type-2 diabetic rats. Single oral administration of graded doses of aqueous extract of leaves showed significant increase in fasting blood glucose levels (FBG) of normal rats by 14.3%. The mild diabetic and sub-diabetic animals had shown hyperglycemic effect from variable doses of extract. The maximum rise of 17.0, 71.3 and 50.8 % was observed in BGL from a dose of 1000 mg/kg body weight after administration in normal, sub and mild diabetic rats, respectively during glucose tolerance test (GTT). The study of leaves was taken into consideration on the basis of earlier reported hypoglycemic activity of Cajanus cajan seeds. However, the results observed were found just opposite and therefore it may be useful in controlling hypoglycemia, occasionally caused due to excess of insulin and other hypoglycemic drugs.

017277   Ibraimov A I;Tabaldiev S K (Laboratory of Human Genetics, National Center of Cardiology and Intern, , Togolok Moldo str., 3, Bishkek, 720 040) : Condensed chromatin, cell thermoregulation and human body heat conductivity. J hum Ecol 2007, 21(1), 1-22.

Earlier we put out a proposal on possible participation of condensed chromatin (CC) in cell thermoregulation: CC being the dcnsest domain in a cell, apparently conducts heat between the cytoplasm and nucleus when there is difference in temperature between them. This hypothesis can be checked at the level of cells or organisms. Experimentally we have managed to establish that at the level of organisms there is a broad intra population variability of human body heat conductivity (BHC). It is shown that these individual differences in the BHC are attributed to the amount of chromosomal Q-heterochromatin regions (QªHRs) in their genome. It is assumed that, possibly, the biological role of the Q-HRs in the interphase nucleus of the cell is in intensification of the CC compacting thus increasing its heat conductivity (HC). On the HC of CC, correspondently on the amount of Q-HRs in the genome, depends the speed of leveling the difference of temperature between the cytoplasm and nucleus, i.e. the cell thermoregulation. From the HC of the cells the HC of the whole body is made up This is a physical condition, where the physiological thermoregulation is realized. which is assigned for keeping relative temperature constancy in the inner medium of the organism by leveling the temperature difference in different parts of the body.

10 tables, 74 ref

017276   Hosagoudar V R;G R Archana;A Manojkumar (Microbiology Div, Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Palode, Thiruvananthapuram-695 562, Email: vbhosagoudar@radiffmail.com) : Diseases on wattles (Acacia spp) a review. J mycopathol Res 2007, 45(2), 219-23.

Genus Acacia Is found in India, Africa and South America as well as in Australia. The typical bipinnate leaved species are found throughout the tropics, whereas those with phyllodes are mainly Australian. About 40 species of Acacia occur in India and a few more have been introduced from Australia and Africa. The Autralian Blackwood obtained from Acacia melanoxylon was introduced into the Nilgiris. A. auriculiformis. native to Australia, has been introduced into the semi-arid regions of Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal. It is also being tried in Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and in Kerala. It is a fast-growing tree with a high germinating capacity. Many species have been used in the afforestation programmes and in reclamation of waste lands. The phyllodes are tough, thick skinned, much resistant to damage by drought. These Acacia plants are being suffereing from several fungal diseases, since seedling stage. Seedling blight, defoliation and dieback caused due to Glomerella cingulata; leaf spot disease caused by Cylindrocladium quinqueseptatum; rust caused by Uromyces digitatus; Powdery mildew by 0idium sp., Fusarium solani, Phytophthora spp., Pythium spp. and Rhizoctonia solani cause serious damping-off; brown root disease (Phellinus noxius) and charcoal rot (Macrophomina sp.) results in stunted growth, chlorosis and death. Foliage diseases are mainly caused by Cercosporella theae, Exserohilum rostratum, Oidium sp., and many rusts like Uromycladium tepperianum, Ravenelia spp., Uromyces sp. etc., In Malaysia Phanerochaeta salmon/color, Rhizoctonia solani cause web blight. Sandal spike caused by a mycoplasma-like organism, Meliola melanoxylonis Hosag. & Pillai causes Black mildew disease. Root diseses caused by Macrophomina phaseolina, Armillaria mellea. Ganoderma spp. and Phellinus spp. Brown root disease is caused by Phellinus noxius. Wilt and root rot disease due to Fusarium solani and Botryodiplodia theobromae is also associated with root disease.

^iia36 ref

017275   Hoq M E;Islam M N (Fisheries Technology Dep, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh 2202, Bangladesh, Email: hoq_me@yahoo.com) : Composition and seasonal dynamics of postlarval and juvenile fishes in the Sundarbans mangrove waters, Bangladesh. Indian J Mar Sci 2007, 36(3), 206-15.

The composition and temporal distribution of the postlarval and juvenile fishes in five river systems of Sundarbans mangrove water with different salinities were studied. Monthly or fortnightly day time sampling was conducted with a rectangular drag net. Thirty seven species of fish belonging to 27 families were recorded during the 2 years study. Panchax melastigma, Liza parsia, L. tade and Gobiidae were the most abundant fish species/taxa. In the Sundarbans, species diversity and abundance gradually decreased from the freshwater zone to the saline zone. The highest monthly density of 13 species was observed in the Passur river during November. Liza spp. was the most abundant juvenile catch constituting 29.32%, followed by a small fish P. melastigma (20.13%) and Gobiidae (12.98%). No significant variation in abundance of fish species was observed with lunar cycle, although the annual peak was recorded in winter. Fish abundances varied significantly (p<60>0.05) among months and rivers. Water temperature and salinity were correlated with the most abundant species.

017274   He C;Cheng H;Zhou R (Genetics and Center for Developmental Biology Dep, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, P R China) : GATA family of transcription factors of vertebrates: phylogenetics and chromosomal synteny. J Biosci, Bangalore 2007, 32(7), 1273-80.

GATA genes are an evolutionarily conserved family, which encode a group of important transcription factors involved in the regulation of diverse processes including the development of the heart, haematopoietic system and sex gonads. However, the evolutionary history of the GATA family has not been completely understood. Constructed a complete phylogenetic tree with functional domain information of the GATA genes of both vertebrates and several invertebrates, and mapped the GATA genes onto relevant chromosomes. Conserved synteny was observed around the GATA loci on the chromosomes. GATAs have a tendency to segregate onto different chromosomes during evolution. The phylogenetic tree is consistent with the relevant functions of GATA members. Analysis of the zinc finger domain showed that the domain tends to be duplicated during evolution from invertebrates to vertebrates. Proposes that the balance between duplications of zinc finger domains and GATA members should be maintained to exert their physiological roles in each evolutionary stage. Therefore, evolutionary pressure on the GATAs must exist to maintain the balance during evolution from invertebrates to vertebrates. These results reveal the evolutionary characteristics of the GATA family and contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between evolution and biological functions of the gene family, which will help to uncover the GATAs' biological roles, evolution and their relationship with associated diseases.

5 illus, 1 table, 9 ref

017273   Gupta A;Tripathi A K;Tripathi R L;Madhu S V; Banerjee B D (Department of Biochemistry and Medicine, University College of Medical Sciences and G.T.B. Hospital (University, Dilshad Garden, Delhi-110 095, Email: ktripathiucms@hotmail.com) : Advanced glycosylated end products-mediated activation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils in diabetes mellitus and associated oxidative stress. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2007, 44(5), (NULL).

Two important consequences of hyperglycemia in diabetes are development of oxidative stress and formation of advanced glycation end products (AGE) which are known to be associated with diabetic complications. Relationship between AGE formation and development of oxidative stress (OS) is yet to be established. In the present study, the involvement of AGE in PMN-mediated ROS generation and the associated OS were investigated in type 2 diabetic mellitus (DM) patients. We assessed OS parameters (serum MDA, FRAP and GSH), PMN oxidative functions (respiratory burst and superoxide production) and total serum AGE in 90 subjects divided equally in three groups - control group, Group I consisting of type 2 diabetic patients without microvascular complications and Group II consisting of type 2 diabetic patients with microvascular complications. PMNs isolated from both groups (I and II) exhibited higher level of respiratory burst (RB) and produced increased amount of superoxide anion as compared to the controls. The increase was more pronounced in diabetes with complications, as compared to those without. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) level was elevated, whereas glutathione (GSH) and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) levels were significantly reduced in diabetes as compared to the controls, suggesting the presence of oxidative stress in DM. A positive correlation between PMN oxidative function and OS parameters suggested the involvement of PMN in the development of OS in DM. Serum AGE level was also elevated in diabetic groups as compared to the controls. Further, the positive correlation between serum AGE level and PMN oxidative function suggested the involvement of AGE in increased RB and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by resting diabetic PMN. The results of the study indicate that AGE-PMN interaction possibly upregulates NADPH oxidase, leading to enhanced ROS generation and thus contributes to the pathogenesis in diabetes.

017272   Gowri V S;Anamika K;Gore S;Srinivasan N (Biochemistry Dep, University of Cambride, 80, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK, Email: ns@mbu.iisc.ernet.in) : Analysis of sliding helices and strands in protein structural comparisons: a case study with protein kinases. J Biosci, Bangalore 2007, 32(5), 921-8.

Protein structural alignments are generally considered as `golden standard' for the alignment at the level of amino acid residues. In the study the quality of pairwise and multiple structural alignments of about 5900 homologous proteins from 718 families of known 3-D structures has been compared. Observes shifts in the alignment of regular secondary structural elements (helices and strands) between pairwise and multiple structural alignments. The differences between pairwise and multiple structural alignments within helical and β-strand regions often correspond to 4 and 2 residue positions respectively. Such shifts correspond approximately to "one turn" of these regular secondary structures. Manual analysis explicitly on the family of protein kinases has been performed. Notes shifts of one or two turns in helix-helix alignments obtained using pairwise and multiple structural alignments. Investigations on the quality of the equivalent helix-helix, strand-strand pairs in terms of their residue side-chain accessibilities have been made. The results indicate that the quality of the pairwise alignments is comparable to that of the multiple structural alignments and, in fact, is often better. Proposes that pairwise alignment of protein structures should also be used in formulation of methods for structure prediction and evolutionary analysis.

7 illus, 27 ref

017271   Fischer P;Comis A;Tyler M;Howden M (NO, Deakin Research Limited, Hawkesbury Campus, University of Western Sydney, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australiam.howden@unsw.edu.au) : Oral and parenteral immunization with synthetic retro-inverso peptides induce antibodies that cross-react with native peptides and parent antigens. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2007, 44(3), 140-44.

The objective of this study was to determine whether certain retro-inverso peptides have the potential to act as synthetic vaccines in mice, when immunized by injection or orally. Immunization of mice parenterally with conjugates of three such retro-inverso peptides and orally with the unconjugated peptides elicited generally high titres of anti-peptide antibodies. Antibodies against the same three peptides cross-reacted by binding strongly in ELISA to the native peptides and vice versa, regardless of the mode of immunization. Antibodies against a retro-inverso diphtheria peptide also reacted strongly with diphtheria toxin. Seven of 8 mice, immunized by injection of the conjugate of a retro-inverso derivative of robustoxin [a lethal spider (Atrax robustus) venom toxin] were protected from challenge involving injection with twice the minimum lethal dose of A. robustus venom containing the toxin.

017270   Dhurandhar P S;Shankarkumar U (HLA Lab. Immunocytobiology Section, Sri Hukisandas Nurrotumdas Hospital & Research Centre, Raja Rammohan Road, Mumbai-400 004, Email: suprima1l@yahoo.co.in) : HLA association in seronegative spondyloarthritis patients from Mumbai, India. Int J Hum Genet 2007, 7(3), 235-9.

Seronegative spondyloarlhropathies (SSA) are a group of inflammatory disorder, which clinically involves axial skeleton, sacroiliac and shoulder joints. These patients often complain of low back pain with prominent morning stiffness or nocturnal pain. The association of HLA-B27 allele and its novel subtypes with spondyloarthropathy remains one of the best examples of a disease association with a hereditary marker. The study population comprises of 6180 suspected SSA patients who were referred to the HLA Laboratory of Sir Hurkisandas Nurrotumdas Hospital, Mumbai, India, from September 1985 to May 2005, for their HLA antigen profile. These were compared with 5000 ethnically matched control group whose HLA typing was performed during the same period by the standard NIH microlymphocytotoxicity assay using commercially available sera, defining a single HLA specificity. Our results revealed that HLA-B27 (8.49% vs. 2.37%) is significantly associated with SSA when compared to controls. Among the B7 CREG alleles such as HLA-B7, HLA-B40, HLA-B22 and HLA B42, the HLA-B7 (10.14% vs. 2.42%) and HLA B-40 (10.28% vs. 5.03%) allele frequencies were significantly increased among the HLA-B27 negative patients when compared to the HLA-B27 positive patients. HLA B27 allele distribution among the different caste and population groups revealed that maximum allele frequencies were observed among the Gujarathi and Maharastrians with distinctive variations among the caste groups studied and reported from India. Our results confirm the HLA B27 association in SSA patients, but the strength of this association varies considerably between racial and ethnic groups. Further, HLA-B7 and HLA B-40 alleles may also be associated with HLA-B27 negative patients with clinical symptoms of spondyloarthropathy.

16 ref

017269   Dhar P K (Synthetic Genomics, Systems Biology Group, E209, RIKEN Genomic Sciences Centre, 1-7-22, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan, Email: pkdhar@gsc.riken.jp) : Next step in biology: a periodic table?. J Biosci, Bangalore 2007, 32(5), 1005-8.

Systems biology is an approach to explain the behaviour of a system in relation to its individual components. Synthetic biology uses key hierarchical and modular concepts of systems biology to engineer novel biological systems. The next step in biology is to use molecule-to-phenotype data using these approaches and integrate them in the form a periodic table. A periodic table in biology would provide chassis to classify, systematize and compare diversity of component properties vis-a-vis system behaviour. Using periodic table it could be possible to compute higher level interactions from component properties. Examines the concept of building a bio-periodic table using protein fold as the fundamental unit.

3 illus, 2 ref

017268   Demir Y;Nadaroglu H;Demir N (Chemistry Dep, Faculty of Education, Ataturk University, 25240, Erzurum, Turkey, Email: demirn@yahoo.com) : Purification and some properties of carbonic anhydrase from Elephas trogontherii (Steppe elephant) bone. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2007, 44(4), 252-56.

Four isoenzymes of carbonic anhydrase (CA) were purified from Elephas trogontherii (steppe elephant) bone (approx 0.3-0.5 million years old) from different locations (outer peripheral, cytosolic, inner peripheral and integral) using Sepharose 4B-L-tyrosine sulphanilamide affinity chromatography and their kinetics properties were investigated and compared with known CA isoenzymes. The purification degree of CAs was monitored by SDS-PAGE. Purification fold for outer peripheral, inner peripheral, cytosolic and integral CA was 395.6, 652.8, 1091 and 429.3 and the molecular mass (as determined by gel filtration chromatography) was 37, 36, 35, and 39 kDa, respectively.The optimal temperature for isozymes was 10-20, 30, 30 and 60°C and optimal pH was between 7.5-11, 7.5-10, 7.5-10 and 7.5 respectively. K_m values (at optimum pH and 20°C) for p-nitrophenyl acetate as substrate were 4.83, 6.80, 4.525 and 3.86 mM and the Vmax values for the same substrate were 0.00097, 0.0149, 0.00249 and 0.00072 μmol/L*min, respectively. I₅₀ values of isoenzymes for the inhibitors of CA- sulphanilamide, KSCN, acetazolamide and NaN₃ were also determined.

017267   Datta P;Chakrabarty S;Chakrabarty A; Chakrabarty A (Biophysics Div and Structural Genomics Section, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF, Bidhannagar, Kolkata-700 064, Email: abhijit.chakrabarty@saha.ac.in) : Spectrin interactions with globin chains in the presence of phosphate matabolites and hydrogen peroxide : implication for thalassaemia. J Biosci, Bangalore 2007, 32(6), 1147-51.

Differential interactions of the erythroid skeletal protein spectrin with the globin subunits of adult haemoglobin (HbA); these indicate a preference for α-globin over that for β-globin and intact HbA in an adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-dependent manner. The presence of Mg/ATP led to an appreciable decrease in the binding affinity of the α-globin chain to spectrin and the overall yield of globin-spectrin cross-linked complexes formed in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Similar effects were also seen in the presence of 2-,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3 DPG), the other important phosphate metabolite of erythrocytes. The binding affinity and yield of cross-linked high molecular weight complexes (HMWCs) formed under oxidative conditions were significantly higher in α-globin compared with intact haemoglobin, HbA and the β-globin chain. The results of this study indicate a possible correlation of the preferential spectrin binding of the α-globin chain over that of the β-globin in the haemoglobin disorder β-thalassaemia.

2 illus, 24 ref

017266   Dani D N;Sainis J K (Molecular Biology Div, Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Mumbai-400 085, Email: jksainis@barc.gov.in ) : Modularity: a new perspective in biology. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2007, 44(3), 133-39.

Several decades of research in biochemistry and molecular biology have been devoted for studies on isolated enzymes and proteins. Recent high throughput technologies in genomics and proteomics have resulted in avalanche of information about several genes, proteins and enzymes in variety of living systems. Though these efforts have greatly contributed to the detailed understanding of a large number of individual genes and proteins, this explosion of information has simultaneously brought out the limitations of reductionism in understanding complex biological processes. The genes or gene products do not function in isolation in vivo. A delicate and dynamic molecular architecture is required for precision of the chemical reactions associated with "life". In future, a paradigm shift is, therefore, envisaged, in biology leading to exploration of molecular organizations in physical and genomic context, a subtle transition from conventional molecular biology to modular biology. A module can be defined as an organization of macromolecules performing a synchronous function in a given metabolic pathway. In modular biology, the biological processes of interest are explored as complex systems of functionally interacting macromolecules. The present article describes the perceptions of the concept of modularity, in terms of associations among genes and proteins, presenting a link between reductionist approach and system biology.

017265   Chowdhury S;Bandyopadhyay S;Sarmila Chandra; Mandal C (Infectious Disease and Immunology Div, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S.C. Mallick Road, Kolkata-700 027, Email: cmandal@iicb.res.in) : Comparative analysis of differential expression of sialic acids and adhesion molecules on mononuclear cells of bone marrow and peripheral blood in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at diagnosis and clinical remission. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2007, 44(5), 357-65.

Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is characterized by the neoplasm of immature haematopoietic precursor cells (HPCs). We report significant differences between the expression of sialoglycoproteins and adhesion molecules on mononuclear cells (MNCs) of bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) from individual children at diagnosis of the disease. Lymphoblasts in PB predominantly expressed 9-O-acetylated sialoglycoproteins (Neu5,9Ac₂-GPs), sialic acid, a2-3 linked sialic acid, L- and P-selectins and vascular cell adhesion molecule -1 (VCAM-1) on their surface compared to BM, as determined with selective lectins and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) by flow cytometric analysis. CD34+CD38+ cells present either in diagnostic PB or BM always showed enhanced expression of both α2-3 and α2-6 linked sialic acids, Neu5,9Ac₂-GPs, L- and P-selectins and VCAM-1, compared to CD34⁺CD38^- population, as confirmed by higher mean fluorescence intensity (MFI). Expression of ICAM-1 was reverse. However, MFI of Neu5,9Ac₂-GPs was always higher both in CD34⁺CD38⁺ and CD34⁺CD38^- population in PB compared to BM. Diverse trend of these cell surface macromolecules was observed during clinical remission. This is the first comparative study between PB and BM, where significant differential distribution of sialylated macromolecules and adhesion molecules was observed. Hence, supervising these cell surface macromolecules at various stages of treatment might help in minimal residual disease detection, identifying mobilization factor(s) and in isolation of normal HPCs for autologous BM transplantation.

017264   Chin C F;Shih A C C;Fan K C (Computer Science and Inforamtion Engieering Dep, National Central University, Chung-Li, Taiwan, Email: annking@iis.sinica.edu.tw) : Influence of mRNA decay rates on the computational prediction of transcription rate profiles from gene expression profiles. J Biosci, Bangalore 2007, 32(7), 1251-62.

Abundance of an mRNA species depends not only on the transcription rate at which it is produced, but also on its decay rate, which determines how quickly it is degraded. Both transcription rate and decay rate are important factors in regulating gene expression. With the advance of the age of genomics, there are a considerable number of gene expression datasets, in which the expression profiles of tens of thousands of genes are often non-uniformly sampled. Recently, numerous studies have proposed to infer the regulatory networks from expression profiles. Nevertheless, how mRNA decay rates affect the computational prediction of transcription rate profiles from expression profiles has not been well studied. To understand the influences, presents a systematic method based on a gene dynamic regulation model by taking mRNA decay rates, expression profiles and transcription profiles into account. Generally speaking, an expression profile can be regarded as a representation of a biological condition. The rationale behind the concept is that the biological condition is reflected in the changing of gene expression profile. Basically, the biological condition is either associated to the cell cycle or associated to the environmental stresses. The expression profiles of genes that belong to the former, so-called cell cycle data, are characterized by periodicity, whereas the expression profiles of genes that belong to the latter, so-called condition-specific data, are characterized by a steep change after a specific time without periodicity. Examines the systematic method on the simulated expression data as well as the real expression data including yeast cell cycle data and condition-specific data (glucose-limitation data). The results indicate that mRNA decay rates do not significantly influence the computational prediction of transcription-rate profiles for cell cycle data. On the contrary, the magnitudes and shapes of transcription-rate profiles for condition specific data are significantly affected by mRNA decay rates. This analysis provides an opportunity for researchers to conduct future research on inferring regulatory networks computationally with available expression profiles under different biological conditions.

6 illus, 21 ref

017263   Chi Z;Ma L;Gao L;Duan X (UNESCO Chinese Center of Marine Biotechnology, Ocean University of China, Yushan Road, No. 5, Qingdao, China, Email: zhenming@sdu.edu.cn) : Added inositol regulates invertase secretion and glucose-repressed SUC2 gene expression in Saccharomyces sp. W4. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2007, 44(3), 152-6.

The effect of inositol supplementation on glucose derepression, invertase secretion and SUC2 gene expression in Saccharomyces sp. W4 was studied. Invertase secretion was repressed, when the yeast cells, grown the synthetic medium without inositol (I- medium) contained more than 0.2% (w/v) initial concentration of glucose. However, in the same medium plus inositol (I+ medium, inositol conc. 100 mg/100 ml), invertase secretion was repressed only at glucose concentrations higher than 2.0% (w/v). Results showed that secreted invertase activity increased only in the I+ medium, whereas intracellular invertase activity remained constant in both media during the cell, growth. The mRNA encoding secreted invertase was higher in the glucose-derepressed cells grown in the I+ medium than in the glucose-repressed cells grown in the I- medium. Similarly, phosphatidylinositol (PI) content was significantly higher in the cells grown in the I+ medium than in the I- medium. These results indicated that PI might be involved in the glucose derepression, invertase secretion and SUC2 gene expression at the transcriptional level in the yeast.

017262   Chhetri D R;Roy S C (Plant Physiology and Biochem Lab, Post Graduate Dep of Botany, Darjeeling Govt Coll, Darjeeling-734 101) : Biochemical diversity in some rhododendron species from the Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas. J Hill Res 2007, 20(2), 46-52.

Biochemical analysis of eight Rhododendron species occurring in Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas showed a high level of soluble protein content in the species distributed over a wide range of altitudinal gradient (Rhododendron arboreum, R. cinnabarium etc.), while the amino acid content was high in the species growing in the highest region (R. maddenii) in this study. The proline content was more pronounced in the species growing under water stress conditions. A high level of carbohydrate content as well as catalase and peroxidase activities seemed to be an adaptive feature in some of the species.

2 illus, 3 tables, 25 ref

017261   Chauhan D K;Juhie;Lal S S (Zoology Dep, Ch. Charan Singh Univ, Meerut-250 004) : Immunomodulations in T and B-cells of albino rats immunized with male somatic antigen and challenged with different doses of infestion in experimental ascariasis. J expl Zool 2007, 10(2), 505-7.

T- and B-cells play an important role in providing immunity to hosts. The parasites modulate the immune components of the host. Ascariasis is still flourishing disease in developing and under developed countries. Ascariasis is caused by large parasites Ascaris lumbricoides. For the above studies as per experimental design four groups each containing 4 rats were used. The groups were (i) control, (ii) infected, (iii) male somatic antigen immunized and (iv) Male somatic antigen immunized along with challenge infection. 0.25 ml antigen with complete adjuvant was injected intramuscularly in thigh of albino rats. The rats were sacrificed on the 21 day of post challenge infection and blood was collected from the heart through cardiac puncture. For separation of T and B lymphocyte by ficoli hypaque and identified according to size and density and percentage was calculated. Percentage of T-lymphocytes were suppressed and B-cells were increased during experimental ascariasis.

1 table, 8 ref

017260   Chattree V;Khanna N;Bisht V;Rao D N (Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110 029, Email: dnrao311@rediffmail.com) : Liposomal delivery of Mycobacterium leprae antigen(s) with murabutide and Trat peptide inhibits Fas-mediated apoptosis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells derived from leprosy patients. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2007, 44(5), 386-93.

Protective immunity against intracellular pathogen Mycobacterium leprae is dependent on the activation of T cells. Repeated stimulation of T cells by M. leprae antigens MLCwA (M. leprae total cell wall antigen) and ManLAM (mannose capped lipoarabinomannan) may lead to apoptosis in leprosy patients. In the present study, inhibition of the Fas-induced apoptosis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of leprosy patients was investigated using above M. leprae antigen(s), in combination with immunomodulators murabutide (MB) and a Trat peptide in particulate form (liposome). Incubation of the cells with particulate mode of antigen presentation led to both decreased percentage of propidium iodide (PI) positive cells and T cells expressing Fas-FasL, as well as decreased caspase-8/-3 activities in the lepromatous patients, thereby inhibiting apoptosis, while converse was true with stimulation with soluble antigen. Concurrently, there was an upregulation of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-XL in the lepromatous patients, thereby inhibiting apoptosis. Thus, the liposomal formulation of antigen promoted proliferation of anergized T cell by inhibiting apoptosis through decreased expression of death receptors and caspase activities and increased expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-XL in these patients.

017259   Chakraborty S;Sengupta C;Roy K (Drug Theoretics and Cheminformatics Lab, Medicinal and Pharmaceutical, Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700 032, Email: kunalroy_in@yahoo.com) : Comparative QSAR modeling of COX-2 inhibitor 1,2-diarylimidazoles using E-state and physicochemical parameters. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2007, 44(3), 169-75.

Considering importance of developing selective COX-2 inhibitors, COX-2 binding affinity data of 4-(2-aryl-1-imidazolyl)-phenyl methyl sulfones and sulfonamides (n = 83) have been modeled using electrotopological state (E-state) index as electronic parameter, hydrophobic substituent constant (π) and molar refractivity (MR) of aryl ring substituents as lipophilic and steric parameters, respectively. Additionally, suitable dummy parameters have been used for the development of multiple regression equations in a stepwise manner. The study suggests that lipophilicity of ortho, meta and para substituents of the aryl ring increases the binding affinity, while molar refractivity (MR) of ortho and meta substituents of the aryl ring decreases the binding affinity. Again, electron-withdrawing substituents at meta and para positions of the aryl ring increase the binding affinity. Additionally, a 4-fluoro substituent on the aryl ring, a trifluoromethyl substituent at R₃ position and simultaneous presence of 3-chloro and 4-methyl groups on the aryl ring are conducive to the binding affinity. Also, an amino substituent is preferred over a methyl group at R₂ position suggesting preference of the sulfonamide moiety over the methyl sulfone moiety for the COX-2 binding affinity. Furthermore, importance of E-state values of different atoms in the generated relations suggests the influence of electron density distribution over the 1,2-diarylimidazole nucleus for the binding affinity. For this data set, E-state parameters perform better as electronic parameters in comparison to Hammett sigma parameters. When lipophilic whole molecular descriptor (ClogP) is used, instead of hydrophobic substituent constant (π), the former performs better than the latter.

017258   Bose M;Sinha S;Maiti P K (NO, IPGME & R, 244 A.J.C. Bose Road, Kolkata-700 020) : Reliability of bone marrow culture in the diagnosis of histoplasmosis. J mycopathol Res 2007, 45(1), 98-100.

Eight cases of disseminated histoplasmosis with multisystem involvement including 4 with adrenal enlargement were detected in Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine, during 1996-2000. Bone-marrow cultures were done in multiple sets of SDA slants. Histoplasma capsulatum was isolated from all 7 cases tested. From one experimental histoplasmosis in mice, fungus could be isolated from a crushed piece of femur. Of all clinical materials used for isolation of Histoplasma from clinically suspected cases, maximum amount of bone-marrow could be available as contaminant free material for isolation of the fungus. In body, yeast form of the fungus mostly resided in R.E. cells. Because bone-marrow contained plenty of RE cells and collection of the sample was least hazardous, attempts for isolation of Histoplasma should always be done with bone-marrow samples.

2 illus, 7 ref

017257   Biswas A;Paul A K (Microbiology Lab, Botany Dep, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata-700 019) : Poly (3-hydroxybutyric acid) production by moderately halophilic heterotrophic bacteria. J mycopathol Res 2007, 45(1), 139-44.

Moderate halophi!ic heterotrophic bacteria, characteristic of saline environment have been isolated from soil samples of solar satterns of coastal regions of Orissa and West Bengal. Following standard dilution and plating method, a total of 96 bacteriail cultures were isolated in pure form and screened for accumulation of Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB)] by Nile blue A staining. Only two isolates, designated as SUR 201 and RAS 103 belonging to the genus Halomcnas were found to accumulate P(3HB) accounting <62>40% of their cell dry weight when grown in synthetic medium containing 10% (w/v) NaCl. Time course of growth of these two selected isolates in saline medium revealed maximum P(3HB) accumulation at 50 hr of incubation when the polymer content attained 42.5 and 48% of cell dry weight in isolate SUR 201 and RAS 103 respectively. Among the carbon sources tested, glucose was preferred for synthesis and accumulation of P(3HB), while growth of the isolates was promoted by sucrose and acetate. P(3HB) accumulation, however, was enhanced in presence of yeast extract and NH₄Cl. Phosphate and sulfate at concentrations suboptimal for growth favoured P(3HB) accumulation, but the maximum P(3HB) production by the both isolates was recorded at 10% (w/v) NaCl in the growth medium.

3 illus, 4 tables, 20 ref

017256   Bhattacharjee S;Majumder N;Bhattacharyya P; Bhattacharyya S;Majumdar S (Microbiology Dep, Bose Institute, P-1/12, C.I.T. Scheme VIIM, Kolkata-700 054, Email: ubrata@bic.boseinst.ernet.in) : Immunomodulatory role of arabinosylated lipoarabinomannan on Leishmania donovani infected murine macrophages. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2007, 44(5), 366-72.

Arabinosylated lipoarabinomannan (Ara-LAM), a surface glycolipid antigen isolated from avirulent Mycobacterium smegmatis is involved in modulation of host cell signaling. Investigated Ara-LAM-mediated modulation of impaired immune responses during visceral leishmaniasis caused by protozoan parasite Leishmania donovani. Ara-LAM treatment at dose of 3 μg/ml in L. donovani infected murine peritoneal macrophages as well as J774A.1 macrophage cell line exhibited a distinct up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-a and IL-12 both at the protein and transcriptional level. In addition, generation of nitric oxide and iNOS expression were also observed. The present study showed that Ara-LAM was significantly effective in elimination of L. donovani parasites from both peritoneal as well as J774A.1 macrophages. Thus, it could be utilized as an immunomodulatory agent in prevention of leishmanial pathogenesis.

017255   Bhandari R;Sharma P K (Botany Dep, Goa University, Goa-403 206, Email: prabhat_k_sharma@rediffmail.com) : Effect of UV-B and high visual radiation on photosynthesis in freshwater (Nostoc spongiaeforme) and marine (Phormidium corium) cyanobacteria. Indian J Biochem Biophys 2007, 44(4), 231-39.

Human activity is causing depletion of ozone in stratosphere, resulting in increased UV-B radiation and global warming. However, impact of these climatic changes on the aquatic organism (especially marine) is not fully understood. Here, we have studied the effect of excess UV-B and visible radiation on photosynthetic pigments, fatty acids content, lipid peroxidation, nitrogen content, nitrogen reductase activity and membrane proteins, induction of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) and antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in freshwater (Nostoc spongiaeform) and marine (Phormidium corium) cyanobacteria. UV-B treatment resulted in an increase in photosynthetic pigments in Nostoc and decrease in Phormidium, but high light treatment caused photobleaching of most of the pigments in both the species. Unsaturation level of fatty acids of both total and glycolipids remained unchanged in both the cyanobacteria, as a result of UV-B and high light treatments. Saturated fatty acids of total and glycolipids declined slightly in Nostoc by both the treatments, but remained unchanged in Phormidium. No changes in the unsaturated lipid content in our study probably suggested adaptation of the organism to the treatments. However, both treatments resulted in peroxidation of membrane lipids, indicating oxidative damage to lipids without any change in the level of unsaturation of fatty acid in the cell membrane. Qualitative and quantitative changes were observed in membrane protein profile due to the treatments. Cyanobacteria were able to synthesize MAAs in response to the UV-B treatment. Both treatments also increased the activities of SOD and APX. In conclusion, the study demonstrated induction of antioxidants such as SOD and APX under visible light treatment and screening pigment (MAAs) under UV-B treatment, which might protect the cyanobacteria from oxidative damage caused by high light and UV-B radiation.