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In-Silico Identification of Putative p53
Transcription Factor DNA-Binding Sites and Detection of
hnRNP Genes Regulated by p53
-- Avirup Dutta, Raghunath Chatterjee,
Paromita
Roychoudhury,
Patanjal Roy and Keya Chaudhuri
An evolutionary ancient transcription factor p53 coordinates diverse cellular responses to stress and
damage and plays an emerging role in various physiological processes by regulating the expression of a number of
genes of diverse families and pathways. The p53 DNA-binding motif consists of a consensus region of around 34
bases comprising two inverted palindromic repeats separated by a variable spacer region. An algorithm was
developed to identify putative binding elements on 503 selected human genes in the promoter regions and
subsequently scored using a reference weight matrix. The genes chosen were loosely classified into seven different
biological pathways or families related to various cellular and metabolic pathways. About 124 genes were identified
as potential p53 targets which had scores above a theoretical cut-off value. A group of hnRNP genes were tested
by semiquantative reverse transcription (RT) PCR analysis for p53 responsiveness. Semiquantitative
RT_PCR experiments were performed in p53 null cell line H1299 and in p53 transfected H1299 cells. Four out of
six genes responded to the presence of p53.
© 2010 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Effect of Dairy Effluent on the Morphological
and Biochemical Parameters of Black Gram (Vigna
mungo L. Hepper)
-- T Sasikala and N Poongodi
Effluent from dairy farming was chosen to assess its effect on seed germination, seedling growth and
certain biochemical parameters of black gram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper). Black gram seeds were raised in petri
plates irrigated with various concentrations of dairy effluent (0, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100%). At lower dilutions,
the effluent showed a favorable effect on seed germination, seedling growth and biochemical parameters, such
as protein, starch and chlorophyll content over control, of black gram. Among them, 50% and higher
concentration of effluent showed inhibitory effect.
© 2010 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
A Novel Approach to Intrude Secondary Metabolites
of Pseudomonas fluorescens
-- C N Murugalakshmi and S S Sudha
Microbes are important catalysts to regulate the functional properties of terrestrial ecosystems. In this
study, rhizosphere bacteria were isolated from soil and examined for their plant growth promoting properties. All
the four isolates were tested for hydrogen cyanide (HCN), salicylic acid, and auxin and lipase enzyme
production. Pf1 strains showed good reaction for the production of HCN. HCN production is indicative of
antagonistic ability. The lipase production varied between Pseudomonas fluorescens strains. Pf4 gave the highest result.
The amount of salicylic acid produced by Pf2 and pf4 was 0.63 and 0.64 respectively. Pf1 produced Indole
Acetic Acid (IAA), which most probably accounted for the overall synergistic effect on the growth of plant.
© 2010 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Beta Sheet ABA Block Co-Polypeptides Containing
b-Benzyl-L-Aspartate and L-Valine
-- Ajay Kumar
Conformational studies on b-benzyl-L-aspartate and L-valine containing block
co-polypeptides are reported using IR and CD spectra. The block copolypeptides
contain valine block in the center and on both sides of the valine are
b-benzyl-L-aspartate blocks. No changes in conformation with increase in chain length of
b-benzyl-L-aspartate blocks were observed, suggesting
strong influence of beta sheet forming valine on the conformation of
b-benzyl-L-aspartate blocks. All the three block co-polypeptides containing 10, 25 and 34 blocks of
b-benzyl-L-aspartate on either side of valine blocks
remained in b-conformation.
© 2010 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Biodegradation of Bisphenol A
by Pseudomonas monteilli Isolated from Effluents
of Thermal Paper Industry
-- Vijayalakshmi Gengadharan and V Ramadas
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a toxic industrial chemical which affects the endocrine system of living organisms even
at low concentrations. The BPA is widely used for the production of polycarbonates, epoxy resins and
thermal paper. BPA is a preferred color developer used in thermal paper industry. In the present investigation,
the effluent samples were collected from thermal paper industry from Erode, Tamil Nadu. The bacterial
species, Pseudomonas monteilli degraded the BPA, which was isolated from river nearby the thermal paper
industry, into which the effluent was discharged. P. monteilli tolerated dosage of BPA up to 700 ppm in nutrient
agar medium and also degraded as a sole carbon source up to 350 ppm in mineral salt medium. P. monteilli also utilized glucose with BPA as a carbon source up to 500 ppm in mineral salt medium. The optimum pH (8)
and optimum temperature (35 ºC) were also recorded for the effective degradation of BPA by the
organism. Chromatogram of BPA degradation by P.
monteilli was also obtained using HPLC.
© 2010 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
Managing Water Pollution All the Way Through
Well-Designed Environmental Biotechnology: A Review
-- Ashok Kumar, Deepika Chandel,
Indu Bala,
Ankita Muwalia and Lata Mankotiya
Water pollution problems due to industrial effluents in aquatic environments are increasing
day-by-day, as industrial effluent waste is degrading
the ecosystem, global water cycle and environment. Applications of biological
agents, along with physical, chemical and engineering processes to maintain, protect and restore the
environment, are involved in environmental
biotechnology (EB). Analytical analysis and tests like biological oxygen demand
(BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS) and total solids
(TS), etc., are required to assess the pollution load and strength of waste to be treated in
the most efficient manner. Biological waste water
treatment plant coupled with genetically engineered microbes which can act more efficiently to degrade toxic and
harmful substances and material may be improved by employing
EB. During bioremediation, genetically engineered strains of Deinococcus radiodurans can detoxify mercury and degrade toluene in radioactive environments.
Genetically engineered species of microbes improve overall biodegradation through initial proximity. Biological
treatment, bioremediation and natural attenuation have been a rapidly growing area of science over the past decade.
Natural attenuation is viewed as the best solution for cleaning up many waste sites and will save billions of dollars
in cleanup costs. The types of contaminants that
EB investigators have expertise in include chlorinated
solvents, petroleum hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, TNT, inorganic nitrogen
(NO3, NH4), tritium, Pu, Np, Cr, and
U. The bioremediation and natural attenuation
areas have both basic research and field application foci for the
EB. The basic research foci are co-metabolism, biotreatability, biotransformation kinetics, and modeling of
biogeochemical processes. The field application foci are co-metabolic techniques, biogeochemical assessment techniques,
and modeling of attenuation and environmental fate. There is further scope for research for modification and
applications in physical and chemical engineering processes and applications of genetically improved better strains of
microbes to control effluent pollution more efficiently.
© 2010 IUP. All Rights Reserved.
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