Erratum: Signal propagation in proteins and relation to equilibrium fluctuations (PLoS Computational Biology (2007) 3, 9, (e172) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.0030172))

Elastic network (EN) models have been widely used in recent years for describing protein dynamics, based on the premise that the motions naturally accessible to native structures are relevant to biological function. We posit that equilibrium motions also determine communication mechanisms inherent to the network architecture. To this end, we explore the stochastics of a discrete-time, discrete-state Markov process of information transfer across the network of residues. We measure the communication abilities of residue pairs in terms of hit and commute times, i.e., the number of steps it takes on an average to send and receive signals. Functionally active residues are found to possess enhanced communication propensities, evidenced by their short hit times. Furthermore, secondary structural elements emerge as efficient mediators of communication. The present findings provide us with insights on the topological basis of communication in proteins and design principles for efficient signal transduction. While hit/commute times are information-theoretic concepts, a central contribution of this work is to rigorously show that they have physical origins directly relevant to the equilibrium fluctuations of residues predicted by EN models

Seaweeds and their importance

Seaweeds is the name implies to cover the macroscopic plants of the sea except the flowering plants. Most of the seaweeds are attached to rocks and also grow on other plants as epiphytes. Along the coast line of India, seaweeds are abundant where rocky or coral formations occur. This sort of substratum is found in the States of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat and in the vicinity of Bombay, Ratnagiri, Goa, Karwar, Vizhinjam, Varkala, Visakhapatnam and in the Lakshadweep and Andaman-Nicobar Islands. The seaweeds are classified into three important groups namely green, brown and red. Seaweeds contain different vitamins, minerals, trace-elements and proteins. Seaweeds are also a rich source of iodine

Seaweed culture and its prospects in India

For centuries, seaweeds of various kinds have been put to several uses in the countries of south and south-east Asia (Chapman and Chapman, 1980). The utilisation of these seaweeds has come up step by step starting with using them as food, later as raw material for industrial, medicinal, pharmaceutical and cosmetic purposes. The extended coastline of India of about 7500 kIn long with wide shelf area of 0.451 million sq. kIn. provide the most suitable environment for seaweed growth. The extensive shallow bays, coral reefs and lagoons, characterised by slow to moderately strong currents coupled with sandy and coralline bottoms make the Indian coastal belts, the ideal habitat for many economic seaweeds

Status of seaweed culture in India

In India, Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kuteh, Palk Bay, Lakshadweep and Bay islands are the important areas having considerable natural resources along the 6 100 km long coast line of the country. About 680 species of seaweeds belonging to the groups Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta, Rhodophyta and Cyanophyta occur naturally in varying degrees of abundance in shallow bays, lagoons and coastal areas which offer suitable substrata for their growth and propagation. Apart from their utility as a source of food, food derivatives, vitamins, proteins, etc., seaweeds provide the raw material for many agar and algin-based industries. The exploitation of carrageenophytes such as species of Hypnea, Acanthophora, Laurencia, etc. has yet to make a beginning in the country as these are available in sizeable quantities. In view of the constant demand for the seaweeds, research programmes on seaweed resources and their culture were taken up by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, and Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute at Mandapam at their Regional and Field Centre, respectively, and various other research organizations belonging to the State Fisheries Departments/Universities. As regards sea-weed farming, experiments were mainly carried out on species of Ulva, Gelidiella acerosa, Gracilaria edulis, Gracilaria corticata, Gelidiopsis variabilis, Gelidium pusillum, Hypnea musiformis, Acanthophora spicifera, Hormophysa triquetra, Cystoseira sp. and species of Sargassum

Status of seaweed industry in India

Forty percent of the population in India is estimated to be vegetarian. Seaweeds with its high nutritive value constitute a potential resource of valuable supplementary food. India has a coastline of 5698 km. Rocky and coral formations are found in Tamil Nadu, Grujarat states, and in the vicinities of Bombay, Karawar, Batnagiri, Goa, Vizhinjam, Varkala, Vishakapatnam, and in few other places like Chilka and Pulicat lakes, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Grujarat states are the important seaweed growing regions of the country

Seaweed and their importance

Agar agar and algin serve as stabilizers, emulsifiers, thickeners, and gelling agents

Introduction and growth of Gracilaria edulis, in Minicoy lagoon (Lakshadweep)

Agarophyte, Gracilaria edulis was not occuring in Minicoy lagoon .With a view to bringing in this commercially important resource into the vast lagoon of Minicoy Island, seed material of G. edulis was introduced from Kavaratti Island (Lakshadweep. 400 Km north of Minicoy) and Gulf of Mannar (Mandapam) in the year March 1990

Marine Algal Flora From Selected Centres Along The Madras Coast

A survey was made on the marine algae occurring at Pulicat, Kovalam, Muthukadu andMahabalipuram along the Madras coast. A total of 22 species were collected of which six species belonged to Chlorophyta, three to Phaeophyta, 10 to Rhodophyta and three to Cyanophyta. Out of the 22 species, 16 are recorded for the first time along the Madras coas