Studies on carbohydrate metabolism in Bacillus sphaericus 1593

Bacillus sphaericus 1593 was found to grow poorly on glucose when provided as sole carbon source. However, growth was significantly much higher when acetate was provided as the carbon source, ascompared to glucose. The activities of aconitase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and isocitrate lyase were detectable which suggests the operation of TCA cycle, hexosemonophosphate pathway and glyoxylate by pass. Only one form of isocitrate dehydrogenase and two forms of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were observed by activity staining. Further studies weresubstantiated by low respiration rate observed, when variety of intermediates of biochemical pathways were checked. Some metabolites, like 2-oxoglutarate, pyruvate, oxaloacetate and malate showed inhibitory effect on isocitrate lyase activity

Activity staining method of chitinase on chitin agar plate through polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

A method for detection of chitinase activity on chitin agar plate after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis is described. Different staining dyes such as calcofluor white M2R, fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodamine B, ruthenium red and congo red were separately incorporated in chitin agar plates. After running polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the gel was transferred onto chitin agar plate containing different dyes for the activity staining. Thin layer of acetate buffer (0.2 M, pH 5) was pored on the gel, which helps faster diffusion of the enzyme from gel onto the plate. After incubation of about 7 h, bands of chitinase were visible by daylight or UV light. The method is very sensitive since it can detect even 0.5 units of chitinase. Thus, this method is sensitive, rapid, user-friendly, reliable and cost effective. Key Words: Activity staining, chitinase, dyes, sensitivity, stability. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.4(1) 2005: 87-9

Role of amino acids in halotolerant Aspergillus repens

Attempts have been made earlier to understand the mechanisms of osmoregulation and the ability ot adapt to fluctuations in the external osmolarity (Ben-Amotz and Avron 1983. Ann. Rev. Microbiol. 37:95-119, Csonka 1989. Microbiol. Rev. 53:121-147). Various strategies have been adopted by the cells in order to survive and proliferate in the presence of reduced water activity, including accumulation of carbohydrates. amino acids and quaternary ammonium compounds (Measures 1975. Nature 257:398-400, Brown et al. 1972. J. Gen. Microbiol. 72:589-591, Dannibier et al. 1988. Arch. Microbiol. 150:348-357). In the present study, attempts were made to investigate the role of amino acids that accumulate intracellularly in halotolerant Aspergillus repens under salt stress condition

Phosphate mediated changes in phospholipids in Neurospora crassa.

Phosphate mediated changes in phospholipids in Neurospora crassa

Regulation of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase under salt-stress condition in Aspergillus sydowii.

Physiological responses of organisms to particular stresses are well understood in only a few cases (Bachofen, R. 1986 Experientia 42:1179-1182

Variability of User Interaction with Multi-Platform News Feeds

The development of the World Wide Web (WWW) and proliferation of web enabled devices have allowed various news agencies to enrich their traditional method of distribution of news through TV, radio and print with simultaneous broadcast through the Web. The varying nature of devices through which the Web is accessed warrants different ways to feed the same content. This precipitates some variation in the way users interact with the news feeds. In this paper, we investigate how mental models and information scent affect this variation and user interaction on the whole. We present results from a preliminary survey conducted to capture the current news gathering behavior of general population and verify our assumptions. We then present observations from the study conducted using BBC news site over laptop, PDA and a cell phone

Calcium effects in Neurospora crassa

Calcium effects in N. crass

Phosphate mediated changes in fatty acid composition in Neurospora crassa.

Phosphate mediated changes in fatty acid composition in Neurospora crassa

Bioprospecting and antifungal potential of chitinolytic microorganisms

Fungal plant diseases are one of the major concerns to agricultural food production world wide. Soil borne pathogenic fungi such as Pythium, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia and Phytopthora attack most of the economically important crop plants (either through seed root before germination or seedling after germination) resulting in loss of billions of dollars. Moreover, the management of chitinous waste is also pressing need today. Mycolytic enzymes (chitinases, proteases and glucanase) producing microorganisms may help in solving these problems. These microorganisms have ability to lyse the fungal cell wall and also have the potential to manage the chitinous waste by producing chitinases. Many chitinolytic microorganisms have potential to control fungal plant pathogens but they are not fully successful in all the cases due to different geological and environmental conditions. Thus, bioprospecting to find novel, highly chitinolytic microorganisms which help in developing potential biocontrol agent. Furthermore, to increase the survivability of biocontrol agents, a formulation may also be necessary. This review is focused on the progress of chitinase genes, chitinolytic microorganisms and their diversity as well as formulation of chitinolytic producers which have the potential to control fungal plant pathogensKeywords: Bioprospecting, biocontrol, chitinolytic enzymes, formulatio