Redox Modulation at Work: Natural Phytoprotective Polysulfanes From Alliums Based on Redox-Active Sulfur

Purpose of review: This article provides a brief overview of natural phytoprotective products of allium with a special focus on the therapeutic potential of diallyl polysulfanes from garlic, their molecular targets and their fate in the living organisms. A comprehensive overview of antimicrobial and anticancer properties of published literature is presented for the reader to understand the effective concentrations of polysulfanes and their sensitivity towards different human pathogenic microbes, fungi, and cancer cell lines. Recent findings: The article finds polysulfanes potentials as new generation novel antibiotics and chemo preventive agent. The effective dose rates of polysulfanes for antimicrobial properties are in the range of 0.5–40 mg/L and for anticancer 20–100 μM. The molecular targets for these redox modulators are mainly cellular thiols as well as inhibition and/or activation of certain cellular proteins in cancer cell lines. Summary: Antimicrobial and anticancer activities of polysulfanes published in the literature indicate that with further development, they could be promising candidates for cancer prevention due to their selectivity towards abnormal cells

The hydrocephalus inducing gene product, Hydin, positions axonemal central pair microtubules

Background: Impairment of cilia and flagella function underlies a growing number of human genetic diseases. Mutations in hydin in hy3 mice cause lethal communicating hydrocephalus with early onset. Hydin was recently identified as an axonemal protein; however, its function is as yet unknown. Results: Here we use RNAi in Trypanosoma brucei to address this issue and demonstrate that loss of Hydin causes slow growth and a loss of cell motility. We show that two separate defects in newly-formed flagellar central pair microtubules underlie the loss of cell motility. At early time-points after RNAi induction, the central pair becomes mispositioned, while at later time points the central pair is lost. While the basal body is unaffected, both defects originate at the basal plate, reflecting a role for TbHydin throughout the length of the central pair. Conclusion: Our data provide the first evidence of Hydin's role within the trypanosome axoneme, and reveal central pair anomalies and thus impairment of ependymal ciliary motility as the likely cause of the hydrocephalus observed in the hy3 mouse

Potential soil P mobilisation capacity-method development and comparison of rhizosphere soil from different crops

BACKGROUND: Phosphorus (P) deficiency is wide-spread in agricultural soils. In light of increasing P fertilizer costs, it is of interest to assess the capacity of soil microbes to mobilise native soil P and added P. There is currently no method to assess P mobilisation in situ. METHODS: The soil P mobilisation potential was assessed by incubating low P soil for up to 30 days with poorly available P sources; C and N were added to increase microbial activity and ensure that only P was limiting microbial growth. RESULTS: The increase in microbial P from day 0 to day 15 showed that microbes were able to mobilise P from FePO4 and phytate. The P mobilisation potential(sum of microbial and resin P) of the rhizosphere soil decreased in the following order: faba bean > chickpea and white lupin > wheat. After 10 days, up to 80% of the mobilised P was microbial P, whereas after 30 days, almost all P mobilised was resin P. CONCLUSIONS: The method developed in this study is useful assessing not only potential of a soil to mobilise P but also, by using different poorly available P sources, the mechanisms of P mobilisation.Ying Wang, Hasbullah, Raj Setia, Petra Marschner and Fusuo Zhan