Cloning and purification of alpha-neurotoxins from king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)

Thirteen complete and three partial cDNA sequences were cloned from the constructed king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) venom gland cDNA library. Phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequences of king cobra with those from other snake venoms revealed that obta

Insight into human sex ratio imbalance: the more boys born, the more infertile men

This study investigated, through large-scale statistical analysis of the global population, whether the human sex ratio is skewing worldwide, and if so, why and how it shifts, and the impact of any shift on human reproduction. A significant imbalance of t

More evidence for non-maternal inheritance of mitochondrial DNA?

Background: A single case of paternal co-transmission ofmitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in humans has been reported so far. Objective: To find potential instances of non-maternal inheritance of mtDNA. Methods: Published medical case studies (of single patients) were searched for irregular mtDNA patterns by comparing the given haplotype information for different clones or tissues with the worldwide mtDNA database as known to date-a method that has proved robust and reliable for the detection of flawed mtDNA sequence data. Results: More than 20 studies were found reporting clear cut instances with mtDNAs of different ancestries in single individuals. As examples, cases are reviewed from recent published reports which, at face value, may be taken as evidence for paternal inheritance of mtDNA or recombination. Conclusions: Multiple types (or recombinant types) of quite dissimilar mitochondrial DNA from different parts of the known mtDNA phylogeny are often reported in single individuals. From re-analyses and corrigenda of forensic mtDNA data, it is apparent that the phenomenon of mixed or mosaic mtDNA can be ascribed solely to contamination and sample mix up.

Status of hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) management in the Bay of Bengal: an assessment of population risk and data gaps for more effective regional management

Assessment of country status papers on hilsa fisheries presented at the BOBP – IGO Chittagong, Bangladesh 2010. Assessment of status hilsa management in Bangladesh, India and Myanmar. Brief recommendations of potential follow-up activities that could enhance management. Risk assessment of hilsa in each country with Productivity Susceptibility Analysis (PSA). Summary of new approach to assess ecological risk.

Fatty acid composition of more brown seaweeds (Phaeophyta) from the coast of Karachi

Six species of multicellular, thalloid, brown algae, belonging to five genera of the classes Laminariophyceae and Fucophyceae were collected from the coastal areas of Buleji near Karachi (Pakistan) during October 1997 and February 1998. They were extracted in chloroform: methanol, saponified, subjected to column chromatography (CC, TLC), esterified and analysed for fatty acid (FA) composition initially by gas-liquid-chromatography (GLC) and finally by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). They displayed only a few SCFAs, PUFAs and substituted FAs, no VLCFA, C22 UFA, CFA, DCFA and monoynoic FA, large amount of CI6:0, very large quantity of C18:1, very small RCCL and FA-diversity, C18 UFAs up to four DBs, C20 UFAs up to three DBs only. They were characterized by the largest amount of C18:1, lowest degree of unsaturation of C20 UFAs, lack of C22 UFAs, the shortest RCCL and the smallest FA-diversity as compared to other phyla.

Building more sustainable solutions in production-consumption systems: the case of food for people with reduced access

In new product development, the ability to integrate different dimensions of sustainability at a value chain level is still a complex, problematic goal. As product-service approaches are increasingly enabling the introduction of more sustainable paths, this paper describes the authors' experience thus far when building insights into conditions for the implementation of integrated solutions in a process of co-development and testing in real life conditions, which are driven by a social need focusing on food for people with reduced access. Throughout this process, which brought together producers, consumers and other stakeholders to design and test industrialised, sustainable solutions, empirical evidence demonstrates feasibility and usefulness of the approach and insight into the conditions for implementing interactive, comprehensive multi-stakeholder processes in real life situations. In addition, results show that the delivery of innovative solutions enabled to offer social added value, economic profits and environmental improvements under specific experimental conditions. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

CHARACTERIZATION OF OHS1, AN ARGININE/LYSINE AMIDASE FROM THE VENOM OF KING COBRA (OPHIOPHAGUS HANNAH)

In this paper, we present the results of purification and characterization of an arginine/lysine amidase from the venom of Ophiophagus hannah (OhS1). It was purified by Sephadex G-75 gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B. It is a protein of about 43,000, consisting of a single polypeptide chain. It is a minor component in the venom. The purified enzyme was capable of hydrolysing several tripeptidyl-p-nitroanilide substrates having either arginine or lysine as the C-terminal residue. We studied the kinetic parameters of OhS1 on six these chromogenic substrates. OhS1 did not clot fibrinogen. Electrophoresis of fibrinogen degraded with OhS1 revealed the disappearance of the alpha- and beta-chains and the appearance of lower mel. wt fragments. OhS1 had no hemorrhagic activity. It did not hydrolyse casein, nor did it act on blood coagulation factor X, prothrombin and plasminogen. The activity of OhS1 was completely inhibited by NPGB, PMSF, DFP, benzamidine and soybean trypsin inhibitor, suggesting it is a serine protease. Metal chelator (EDTA) had no effect on it.

PNA(T).DNA(AT) triplexes with Hoogsteen base pairing are more favorable

Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are nucleic acid analogs with the deoxyribose phosphate backbone replaced by pseudo-peptide polymers to which the nucleobases are linked. The achiral, uncharged and rather flexible properties of the peptide backbone permit peptide nucleic acids more potential than oligonucleotides in application to antisence and antigenic reagents. The process of PNA binding to DNA duplex and forming triplex is the first step of PNA interacting with PNA. But there are no PNA.2DNA triplex crystal data up to date and little has been reported on the structure features and the force of the PNA.2DNA triplex. In this work, PNA(T).DNA(AT) triplexes are successfully built and the structures and forces to stabilize the triplex after optimizations and molecule dynamics are systematically examined, which are expected to aid in the application of PNAs as anticense and antigene agents.