Comparison between Ringer′s lactate and balanced salt solution on postoperative outcomes after phacoemulsfication: A randomized clinical trial

Aim: To compare the effects of balanced salt solution (BSS) and Ringer′s lactate (RL) on corneal thickness, endothelial morphology, and postoperative anterior chamber inflammation in eyes undergoing phacoemulsification. Setting: Iladevi cataract and IOL research center, Ahmedabad, India. Materials and Methods: This prospective randomized study comprised 90 consecutive patients with age-related cataract who were randomly assigned to either Group 1 (n = 45) with BSS or Group 2 (n = 45) with RL. Observations made included measurement of central corneal thickness (CCT), presence of anterior chamber flare and cells, endothelial cell loss, and change in coefficient of variation (CV). Data was analyzed using Mann Whitney test and test of proportion. Results: Mean increase in CCT on postoperative Day 1 was 58µm and 97µm in Groups 1 and 2 respectively ( P = 0.01). Increase in CCT at one month was 10µm and 11µm in Groups 1 and 2 respectively ( P = 0.99); increase in CCT at three months was 3µm and 6µm in Groups 1 and 2 respectively ( P = 0.86). Number of eyes with flare grades in a range of 0 to 3 was statistically higher in Group 2 on postoperative Day 1 ( P = 0.004, 0.016, < 0.001, 0.047 for Grade 0, 1, 2 and 3 respectively). Number of eyes with cells of Grade 3 on first postoperative day was significantly higher in Group 2 as compared to Group 1 ( P = 0.004). Three months postoperatively, endothelial cell loss was 5.5% and 7.8% in Groups 1 and 2 ( P = 0.21) and change in CV was 3 and 5.4 in Groups 1 and 2 ( P = 0.20) respectively. Conclusion: BSS offers a significant advantage over RL in terms of increase in corneal thickness and postoperative inflammation on the first postoperative day in patients undergoing phacoemulsification

FUSE binding protein1 interacts with Tumor Suppressor p53 and p53-Isoforms through their DNA Binding domain: Mapping the FBP1 binding site

828-835We have earlier demonstrated that a cellular factor, FUSE binding protein1 (FBP1), physically interacts and effectively suppresses the function of tumor suppressor p53 and promotes persistent HCV replication (Dixit et al. JVI 89:7905, 2015). In the present study, we demonstrate that FBP1 interacts with various naturally occurring p53-isoforms isolated from different cancers that carry large deletions at the N- and C-terminal regions but still have an intact DNA binding domain (DBD). We discovered that FBP1 specifically interacts with the DNA binding domain (DBD) of p53 and its isoforms. We further mapped the FBP1-interaction site and identified a 21-residue-long motif spanning amino acid residues 163-183 in the p53-DBD. We further confirmed that Arg175/Cys176, within this motif, is necessary for FBP1 interaction. Arg175/Cys176, located at the junction of the β4 and H1 helix of the L2 Loop, is required for the DNA binding function of p53. Occupying this site containing Arg175/Cys176 by FBP1 may block the DNA binding function of p53

ExpR, a LuxR Homolog of Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora, Activates Transcription of rsmA, Which Specifies a Global Regulatory RNA-Binding Protein

N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) is required by Erwinia carotovora subspecies for the expression of various traits, including extracellular enzyme and protein production and pathogenicity. Previous studies with E. carotovora subsp. carotovora have shown that AHL deficiency causes the production of high levels of RsmA, an RNA binding protein that functions as a global negative regulator of extracellular enzymes and proteins and secondary metabolites (Rsm, regulator of secondary metabolites). We document here that ExpR, a putative AHL receptor belonging to the LuxR family of regulators, activates RsmA production. In the absence of AHL, an ExpR(+) E. carotovora subsp. carotovora strain compared to its ExpR(−) mutant, produces higher levels of rsmA RNA and better expresses an rsmA-lacZ transcriptional fusion. Moreover, the expression of the rsmA-lacZ fusion in Escherichia coli is much higher in the presence of expR(71) (the expR gene of E. carotovora subsp. carotovora strain Ecc71) than in its absence. We also show that purified preparation of MBP-ExpR(71) binds (MBP, maltose binding protein) rsmA DNA. By contrast, MBP-ExpR(71) does not bind ahlI (gene for AHL synthase), pel-1 (gene for pectate lyase), or rsmB (gene for regulatory RNA that binds RsmA), nor does ExpR(71) activate expression of these genes. These observations strongly suggest transcriptional activation of rsmA resulting from a direct and specific interaction between ExpR(71) and the rsmA promoter. Several lines of evidence establish that N-3-oxohexanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C6-HL), the major AHL analog produced by E. carotovora subsp. carotovora strain Ecc71, inhibits ExpR(71)-mediated activation of rsmA expression. These findings for the first time establish that the expR effect in E. carotovora subsp. carotovora is channeled via RsmA, a posttranscriptional regulator of E. carotovora subspecies, and AHL neutralizes this ExpR effect

Comparative Analysis of Two Classes of Quorum-Sensing Signaling Systems That Control Production of Extracellular Proteins and Secondary Metabolites in Erwinia carotovora Subspecies

In Erwinia carotovora subspecies, N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) controls the expression of various traits, including extracellular enzyme/protein production and pathogenicity. We report here that E. carotovora subspecies possess two classes of quorum-sensing signaling systems defined by the nature of the major AHL analog produced as well as structural and functional characteristics of AHL synthase (AhlI) and AHL receptor (ExpR). Class I strains represented by E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica strain Eca12 and E. carotovora subsp. carotovora strains EC153 and SCC3193 produce 3-oxo-C8-HL (N-3-oxooctanoyl-l-homoserine lactone) as the major AHL analog as well as low but detectable levels of 3-oxo-C6-HL (N-3-oxohexanoyl-l-homoserine lactone). In contrast, the members of class II (i.e., E. carotovora subsp. betavasculorum strain Ecb168 and E. carotovora subsp. carotovora strains Ecc71 and SCRI193) produce 3-oxo-C6-HL as the major analog. ExpR species of both classes activate rsmA (Rsm, repressor of secondary metabolites) transcription and bind rsmA DNA. Gel mobility shift assays with maltose-binding protein (MBP)-ExpR(71) and MBP-ExpR(153) fusion proteins show that both bind a 20-mer sequence present in rsmA. The two ExpR functions (i.e., expR-mediated activation of rsmA expression and ExpR binding with rsmA DNA) are inhibited by AHL. The AHL effects are remarkably specific in that expR effect of EC153, a strain belonging to class I, is counteracted by 3-oxo-C8-HL but not by 3-oxo-C6-HL. Conversely, the expR effect of Ecc71, a strain belonging to class II, is neutralized by 3-oxo-C6-HL but not by 3-oxo-C8-HL. The AHL responses correlated with expR-mediated inhibition of exoprotein and secondary metabolite production

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Not AvailableHigh-isoflavones soybean genotypes are desired in nutraceutical industry. Conversely, low-isoflavones soybean genotypes are preferred to regular soybean in designing soy-based infant formula and in developing soy food products with reduced astringent taste. Concentration of individual form of isoflavones viz. daidzein, glycitein and genistein was determined in the seeds of 46 Indian and exotic soybean genotypes using high performance liquid chromatography. The study exhibited a 9-fold (234.3-2092.5 µg/g of seed) genetic variation for total isoflavones content, with 19 genotypes falling in high isoflavones (>1200 µg/g), and 14 genotypes in low isoflavoes category (<600 µg/g). For developing genotypes with further high or low values of isoflavones, it is critical to hybridize genetically diverse parents with-in high or low-isoflavones genotypes as analysed by HPLC. Genetic diversity analysis carried out using 58 simple sequence (SSR) markers exhibited 144 alleles with polymorphic information content (PIC) varying from 0.00 to 0.773. The pair-wise genetic similarity value between soybean genotypes varied from 0.24 to 0.95. Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) allocated the genotypes in 5 clusters with fairly good bootstrap support. Mantel’s test for cophenetic correlation with r = 0.810 indicated a good fit of the soybean genotypes in a group in the cluster analysis. Genetically diverse parents identified in low- and high-isoflavones category can be crossed to obtain trangressive segregants.Not Availabl

Patterned assembly of Yarrowia lipolytica yeast cells onto thermally evaporated octadecylamine films

Thermally evaporated patterned films of the lipid, octadecylamine (ODA), have been used in the immobilization of the hydrocarbon-degrading cells, Yarrowia lipolytica. The immobilization of the yeast cells occurs on hydrophobic surfaces presented by the lipid film elements in the patterned structure, the attachment of the cells to the lipid film occurring possibly through hydrophobic interactions between the hydrocarbon chains of the fatty amine film and the cell wall of the yeasts. It is observed that the cell immobilization is extremely faithful to the underlying lipid template indicating potential use in tissue engineering as well as materials applications involving specific enzyme-based biotransformations