Activities of a Cellulase of the Termite, Ametermes Eveuncifer (Silverstri) Soldier: Clue to Termites Salt Intolerance

Table salt which contains predominantly NaCl is both toxic and lethal to termites and is therefore used to control the insect traditionally. In an attempt to find out a scientific explanation for this treatment and possibly design a pesticide for the destructive insect, we carried out some tests on the effects of NaCl (table salt), some other chloride and sodium salts on some important enzymes produced by termites. At 0.1mM concentration, all the chloride salts inhibited all the enzymes. Acid phosphatase and arginase were however mildly inhibited. Interestingly, some chloride salts were more potent than NaCl the conventional pesticide.  The greatest inhibition was by the chlorides of mercury (81%), manganese (78%), and sodium (76%). The inhibitory effect was more on cellulolytic enzymes; β-glucosidase and cellulase than on detoxifying enzymes; 3-MST and rhodanese. Again, all the sodium salts tested inhibited cellulase drastically with most of them more potent than NaCl. Thus both the sodium and chloride ions contributed immensely to the inhibition. Form these discoveries, one of the chloride salts of mercury, manganese and sodium or a combination of at least two can be used as a pesticide for termites. Almost all the sodium salts tested or a combination of at least two can also be used. Keywords: cellulase, cellulose, termites, salts, insects, enzyme

Household Level Factors Responsible for Gender Poverty Among Cassava Farmers in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State

Poverty is multidimensional, enduring and is prevailing not only globally, but also particular cultural, political and economic features of a specific country increasing it. The gulf between haves and have-nots has lingered. Gender disparities, inequality, spatial dimensions, political instability, week institutions and lack of spiritual capital causes the poverty. The objective of this study was to examine the determinants of poverty among cassava producing households by gender of household heads in Odeda local government area of Ogun state. A total of 120 cassava farming household comprising of 76 male headed households and 46 female headed households were interviewed using structured questionnaire, in obtaining information from them. The study revealed that there is a positive relationship between the household size and poverty status for both the female headed households and male headed households and also the age of the household head has a negative relationship with the poverty status of the female household while farm experience and off farm activities were negatively related to the poverty status among the male household. Also, it was found out that neither of the households dominates one another in the poverty analysis. It was concluded that the household size of both the male and female households is an important determinant of poverty status as it was significant to the poverty status of the respondents.&nbsp

Heterologous expression analyses of rice OsCAS in Arabidopsis and in yeast provide evidence for its roles in cyanide detoxification rather than in cysteine synthesis in vivo

While most dicot plants produce little ethylene in their vegetative stage, many monocots such as rice liberate a relatively large amount of ethylene with cyanide as a co-product in their seedling stage when etiolated. One of the known functions of β-cyanoalanine synthase (CAS) is to detoxify the co-product cyanide during ethylene biosynthesis in higher plants. Based on a tryptic peptide sequence obtained from a partially purified CAS activity protein preparation in etiolated rice seedlings, the full-length putative rice CAS-encoding cDNA sequence (OsCAS), which is homologous to those O-acetylserine sulphydrylase (OASS) genes, was cloned. Unlike most of the CAS genes reported from dicots, the transcription of OsCAS is promoted by auxins but suppressed by ethylene. To address the function and the subcellular localization of this gene product in planta, a binary vector construct consisting of this gene appended with a yellow fluorescent protein-encoding sequence was employed to transform Arabidopsis. Specific activities on CAS and OASS of the purified recombinant protein from transgenic Arabidopsis were 181.04 μmol H2S mg−1 protein min−1 and 0.92 μmol Cys mg−1 protein min−1, respectively, indicating that OsCAS favours CAS activity. The subcellular localization of OsCAS was found mostly in the mitochondria by immunogold electron-microscopy. Chemical cross-linking and in-gel assay on a heterodimer composed of functional and non-functional mutants in a yeast expression system on OsCAS suggested that OsCAS functions as a homodimer, similar to that of OASS. Despite the structural similarity of OsCAS with OASS, it has also been confirmed that OsCAS could not interact with serine-acetyltransferase, indicating that OsCAS mainly functions in cyanide detoxification

Nigerian mistletoe (Loranthus micranthusLinn) aqueous leaves extract modulates some cardiovascular disease risk factors in monosodium glutamate induced metabolic dysfunction

The safety of monosodium glutamates (MSG's) usage has generated much controversy locally and globally. This study investigates the efficacy of Loranthus micranthus in modulating the metabolic disorder associated with MSG intake. Thirty five (35) female rats randomized to three groups labeled 1 (7 rats), 2 (21 rats) and 3 (7 rats), respectively were used. They were administered with normal saline, MSG (200 mg/Kg) and MSG (200 mg/kg) + L. micranthus (600 mg/Kg), respectively for 28 days. Seven rats were then sacrificed from each group. The remaining rats in group 2 were then redistributed to groups labeled 4 and 5 consisting of 7 rats each. MSG was then withdrawn from all the rats. Group 4 was treated with L. Micranthus (600 mg/Kg) while normal saline was administered to group 5. All administrations were carried out for 30 days. The rats were then sacrificed and the serum was used for analysis. Analysis showed increase total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) -cholesterol, glucose and total protein concentrations and a reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL) -cholesterol (when MSG was administered). These parameters were restored to normal with L. micranthus treatment. Although no histological change was observed in the uterus, there was a significant increase in organs relative weight when rats were placed on MSG but this was reversed with L. micranthus. The study suggests the efficacy of L. micranthus in reversing cardiovascular disorder and its ability to prevent MSG induced fibroid in rat.Keywords: Cardiovascular diseases, cholesterol, Lipid profile, Loranthus micranthus, of monosodium glutamates (MSG).African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol 13(39) 3989-399