The PRS gene family links primary metabolism and cell signalling in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The products of the five-membered PRS gene family in S. cerevisiae exist as three entities, Prs1/Prs3, Prs2/Prs5 and Prs4/Prs5, each capable of supporting cell viability. The signal generated from an integrated GFP-Prs1 construct is dependent on the presence of Prs3. Prs1 not only interacts with Prs3 but also with Slt2, the MAPK of the Cell Wall Integrity (CWI) pathway as shown by co-immunoprecipitation and confirming previous Y2H studies that the central region of Prs1, NHR1-1, is essential for the interaction with the CWI pathway. Point mutations in PRS1 corresponding to missense mutations associated with human neuropathies or in the divalent cation- and/or PRPP-binding sites interfere with CWI signalling resulting in temperature and/or caffeine sensitivity. The synthetic lethality of a strain lacking PRS1 and PRS5 can only be rescued by versions of Prs1 containing NHR1-1, implying that impaired CWI contributes to this loss of viability. Prs5 is unusual in that it contains two NHRs, one, NHR5-2, contains three phosphorylation sites. Mutation of these amino acid residues impinges on the expression of the transcription factor, Rlm1, an endpoint of the CWI pathway and reduces the temperature-dependent transcription of FKS2, the gene encoding the stress-induced catalytic subunit of 1,3-β-glucan synthase essential for maintaining CWI. This finding emphasizes the functionality of the three phosphorylation sites located in NHR5-2 of Prs5. The data presented support the hypothesis that the PRS gene family has, as a result of gene duplication and acquisition of NHRs, evolved to link primary metabolism with CWI

Physicochemical Properties and Enzymes Activity Studies in a Refined Oil Contaminated Soil in Isiukwuato, Abia State, Nigeria

Soil Physicochemical properties and enzyme concentration were evaluated in soil from a refined-oil contaminated community in Isiukwuato, Abia State three years after the spill. The soil enzymes examined were urease, lipase, oxidase, alkaline and acid phosphatases. Results show a significant (P< 0.05) decrease in the activities of these enzymes in the contaminated soil relative to the control. Soil temperature, Organic Carbon(OC), Organic Matter (OM), Exchangeable Acidity (EA), Saturation Base (SB) and Effective Cation Exchangeable Capacity (ECEC) were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the polluted soil. Soil Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Calcium (Ca) and Magnesium (Mg) were also elevated in contaminated soil. These results suggest that the soil is not yet suitable for agricultural activit

Curcuma longa (Turmeric): Ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities and toxicity profiles—A review

Introduction: Curcuma longa, popularly known as Turmeric, is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant used in folk medicine for the treatment, prevention, and management of various illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, Arthritis, diarrhoea, inflammation, psoriasis, hepatobiliary diseases, gastric and peptic ulcers. Results: This study reviewed the ethnomedicinal potentials, phytochemicals, and pharmacological activities of C. longa. In vitro and in vivo studies reported that C. longa and its major bioactive constituent (curcumin) pos�sess various pharmacological properties. These include; anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-osteoarthritis, antidiar�rheal, cardioprotective, anti-oxidative, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, anti-microbial, renoprotective and anti-inflammatory activities. This review demonstrated that the various pharmacological activities of C. longa might be attributed to the presence of numerous bioactive compounds. However, these varying potentials have not been effectively analysed for optimal application in developing new therapies. Also, the applicability and mode of action of the different bioactive compounds found in C. longa have not been fully exploited. Conclusion: This study showed that C. longa could be exploited by pharmaceutical industries to develop phar�maceutical products. However, there is a need for human clinical trials and quality control studies to establish effective and safe doses of C. longa and its major bioactive constituent-curcumin suitable for treating several disease