Volume 42, Issue 6

Recently, short telomeres have become a widely accepted cellular hallmark of aging. Telomere lengths in a single cell are heterogeneous and it is believed that the shortest telomere in a cell drives the induction of senescence. Hence, measuring the shortest telomere lengths (not just average) can provide more information about aging, cancer progression and telomere related diseases.Chronic exposure to DNA damaging agents, oxidative stress, inflammation, smoking, alcohol, exposure to acute and chronic stress promote telomere shortening and earlier onset of cell aging. Healthy life style including Mediterranean diet, moderate exercise, managing stress (breathing, meditation, yoga), spending time with loved ones and lots of laughter will help us to keep our telomeres long and safe.

Objective Phyllody disease caused by phytoplasma is an emerging problem in mungbean worldwide. However, the alterations in the host physiology and its associated biochemical components induced by the infection with phytoplasma in mungbean plant remain unknown. Hence the present study was performed with the diseased plants in order to determine the patho-physiological changes that take place. Methods Under present study, the changes in total phenolic compounds, total soluble proteins, peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll were studied in leaves of phytoplasma-infected and healthy plants of six mungbean genotypes. Results Total phenols were decreased significantly in four but increased in one genotype. Protein contents were increased significantly in two genotypes, POD in four, PPO in one and PAL in two genotypes. However, activity of CAT and amount of Chl a , Chl b and total Chl were decreased significantly in all genotypes. Conclusion These results suggest that phytoplasma can interfere with host metabolism and photosynthesis to induce disease. In conclusion, this study provides new insights into the mungbean response to phytoplasma infection.

Introduction In order to product (S)-2-pentanol which have been used as a key chiral intermediate required in the synthesis of several potential anti-Alzhemeir drugs, the effects of enzyme, acyl donor, substrate concentration and acyl donor/racemic-2-pentanol mole ratio were investigated on the kinetic resolution of racemic-2-pentanol. Methods Reactions were performed in a bioreactor of 50 mL capacity with a working volume of 30 mL on an orbital shaker at 150 rpm and at 30°C. Production parameters were investigated with different type of enzyme and acyl donor. Results The optimum conditions were obtained with Novozyme 435 and vinyl butyrate with the 50% conversion, 99% of enantiomeric excess for the substrate at 30 min. Optimum conditions are 1500 mM substrate and 4 mg/mL enzyme concentrations and 24.88 mM/min maximum initial reaction rate. It was obtained that Ping-Pong bi-bi mechanism was the appropriate reaction kinetic. Kinetic parameters were determined with Polymath 6.1 software as 4.16 mmol/min/g enzyme maximum reaction rates, 103.73 mM Km for (R)-2-pentanol and 51.18 mM Km for vinyl butyrate. Conclusion (S)-2-pentanol was obtained with 99% of enantiomeric excess. These data will be clear up to product (S)-2-pentanol at larger industrial scales in future.

Objective In this study, the aim was to isolate and identify bacterial strains in crude oil, drilling fluid and waste mud pit samples collected from the same oil field, determine the petroleum biodegradation and find the most effective bacteria in the samples in petroleum biodegradation. Methods The contents of crude oil, drilling fluid and waste mud pit samples were enriched in appropriate conditions. Upon identification of the isolated bacteria, the incubations in petroleum containing media were performed at 150 rpm at 30°C for 7 days. Petroleum biodegradations by bacteria were measured by using colorimetric, spectrophotometric and gravimetric methods. Results Bacillus cereus, Proteus mirabilis, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis were isolated from the crude oil sample; Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii, Bacillus cereus , Enterococcus faecalis were isolated from the waste mud pit; and Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus tequilensis, Bacillus axarquiensis and Enterobacter cloacae were isolated from the drilling fluid. Klebsiella pneumoniae was found to degrade 60% of the petroleum in the media and Bacillus axarquiensis degraded 51%. Conclusion In literature, no study was encountered showing biodegradation efficiencies of Bacillus axarquiensis which was isolated from the drilling fluid in our study. The use of Bacillus axarquiensis can contribute to advanced bioremediation studies.

Objective The aim of the study was to investigate quantitative and qualitative fatty acid profiles of the gonad and liver tissue of female Mastacembelus mastacembelus (spiny eel). Methods Total lipids were extracted with 5 mL of chloroform-methanol (2:1 v/v). Samples containing gonad and liver lipid were transesterified with acidified methanol. The fatty acid methyl esters were extracted with hexane. Fatty acids were detected by gas chromatography (GC). Results The major saturated fatty acids (SFAs) were myristic acid (C14:0), palmitic acid (C16:0) and stearic acid (C18:0) in both gonad and liver tissue. Oleic acid (C18:1 ω-9) and palmitoleic acid (C16:1 ω-7) were the prominent monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA). The dominant polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were linoleic acid (LA, C18:2 ω-6), arachidonic acid (AA, C20:4 ω-6), docosapentaenoic acid (C22:5 ω-3) and docoesahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6 ω-3). The ratio of ω-3/ω-6 ranged from 1.55 to 3.44 and 1.18 to 2.71 in the gonad and liver tissue, respectively. Conclusion The findings of this study will be useful for understanding the seasonal distribution of fatty acid composition in the liver and gonad of spiny eel.

Introduction The tropical plant amylases involved in the fruit ripening stage is outstanding for their high activities in converting starch to sugars within a short period at high temperatures over 40°C. Methods The α amylase iso-enzymes from Ok-Rong mango ( Mangifera indica Linn. cv. Ok-Rong) were purified in 2 steps, using 70% ammonium sulfate precipitation and affinity chromatography on a β-cyclodextrin sepharose 6B column, and characterized for biochemical properties. Results The enzyme was purified 105-fold with a final specific activity of 59.27 U mg −1 . SDS-PAGE revealed two bands of 60 and 64 kDa. pI were supposed to be 4.6 and 5.0. Those were resolved into isoforms I and II by a zymographic method. They were matched with α amylase Amy1 from Vigna mungo and α amylase-like isoform I from Theobroma cacao after LC-MS/MS analysis. Isoforms I and II exhibited maximum activity at pH 4, retained more than 50% of their activity after 1 h of incubation at pH 5–9. Two isoforms showed high activity over a wide range of temperatures at 30°–90°C, with the highest activity at 70°C. They retained more than 50% of their activity at 30°C–40°C after 1 h of incubation. The enzymes were confirmed to be metalloenzymes by the effect of EDTA. In addition, limit-dextrin, amylopectin and soluble starch were suggested to be good substrates. Conclusion Two α amylase iso-enzymes were classified as members of the low-pI group of amylases with identical structure, properties and functions. They are mesophilic with high possibilities for application for many purposes.

Objective In this study, α-amylase from a thermophilic bacterium Geobacillus sp. TF14 was purified and immobilized on two different supports. Methods Ion exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography techniques were employed for the purification. Results The enzyme was purified as 17.11 fold and determined as a single band of 54 kDa on SDS-PAGE. Purified enzyme showed two pH optimums of pH 5.00 and pH 9.00 and the enzyme is quite stable at these pHs over a period of 48 h. Purified enzyme showed maximal activity at 75°C and stability at this temperature over a period of 72 h. It was observed that Ca 2+ activated the enzyme at about 70% at 5 mM final concentration. SDS, Triton X100, Triton X114 and Tween 20 caused around 50% loss of initial activity at a final concentration of 1% (w/v). Purified enzyme was immobilized on the surface of Dowex and chitin. Immobilization highly enhanced temperature optima and thermal stability. Dowex immobilized enzyme maintained most of its initial activity in the presence of SDS, Triton X100, Triton X114 and Tween 20 at a concentration of 1%. Conclusion It can be concluded that the purified enzyme may find application in many fields of starch based industries.

Introduction Toxoplasmosis is a major disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii that infects approximately half the world’s population. The development of an effective vaccine would be extremely valuable for preventing disease. SAG1 is a major surface antigen of parasites and one of the most antigenic proteins of T. gondii . Developing highly antigenic and effective vaccine formulations using new generations of adjuvants and delivery systems is very important. Polyacrylic acid (PAA) is a polymer that increases the immunogenicity of an antigen to which it is covalently linked. The aim of this study was to develop a new formulation candidate with high stability and immunogenicity potential against toxoplasmosis via a covalent conjugation of PAA and the SAG1 protein. Methods PAA and SAG1 were covalently conjugated using a water-soluble carbodiimide crosslinker that activates carboxyl groups for spontaneous reaction with primary amines. To demonstrate conjugation of these molecules in size exclusion chromatography (SEC), fluorescence spectroscopy was used. Results For the first time, one of the most important surface antigens of T. gondii was conjugated to a PAA polymer, SEC and fluorescence spectra results. Discussion and conclusion The obtained SAG1-PAA conjugate can be used for vaccine development against T. gondii in future.

Objective Determine the best elevation and phenological stages effects on essential oil content and composition in Stachys obtusicrena. Materials and methods Three phenological stages (vegetative, full flowering and seeding) and three elevation ranges (2500–2700, 2700–2900 and over 2900 m), shoots of plants collected from Kallar mountain as natural habitats from Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province. Composition of essential oil detected by GC/MS. Results The maximum amount of secondary metabolites of β-ocimene, methyl chavicol, germacrene-D, 1,8 cineole and phthalate had measured in vegetative stage and various of elevation ranges. The most essential oil content (0.145%) was obtained in 2700–2900 m and full flowering stage. The most components in full flowering were β-eudesmol, menthol and γ-eudesmol. The most of germacrene-D, levomenol, β-thujene, β-caryophyllene, β-sesquiphellandrene, α-eudesmol and delta-cadinene was achieved in seeding stage. Conclusion Elevation and phenological stages had significant effect on essential oil of Stachys . The most of delta-3-carene, cis -β-ocimene, β-caryophyllene and levomenol obtained in plants in loam silty sandy texture. It seems that this texture had more capacity to hold of water and nutrients and then made better growth and essential oil production.