We have synthesized a series of bischalcones by the Claisen-Schmidt condensation and their effect was observed on bovine serum albumin. We have found that the synthesized bischalcones interacted with bovine serum albumin irrespective of the nature and position of the substituent with a little difference.

Pectinase is one of the most important commercially synthesised enzyme having its application in several industrial sectors like food and beverages, fruit clarifications etc. A.carbonarius has the capacity to produce Exo-pectinase 50 U/ml by submerged fermentation process as per the previous study. The present study describes the improvement of previously identified fungal strain Aspergillus carbonarius for enhancement of pectinase production by inducing mutations using physical and chemical mutagens. Aiming to increase the potentiality in pectinase production, the parental strain was treated for three times with four mutagens – UV irradiation, Colchicine, Hydrogen peroxide and Ethidium bromide to obtain mutants. Mutants were selected based on higher enzyme activity, improved growth rates and varied morphology with increased pectinase production. All the surviving mutants were assessed quantitatively after first mutagenic treatment. The stability of the best mutants was tested by repeating the exposures for two times to obtain 3rd generation mutants. These mutants were tested quantitatively to assess the pectinase production. Of all the best mutants E8 showed maximum activity producing 65U/ml pectinase enzyme compared to wild and sister mutants. The wild strain of A. carbonarius is a low pectinase producing organism as per literature. This strain was successfully mutated to increase the productivity rate to 1.8 fold in comparison to wild strain. This overproduction and strain stability may be due to repeated mutagenic treatments.

Uterine leiomyomas/fibroids are the most common pelvic tumors of the female genital tract. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF β) family members are multi-functional cytokines that play a key role in cellular growth, proliferation and differentiation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether TGF β1 – 509 C/T polymorphism could be used as a susceptibility marker in Uterine fibroids pathogenesis. ARMS PCR was carried out for controls and patients (n=103) to identify the specific genotypes. Genotypes and allelic frequencies in both groups were compared. Proportions of C homozygote, heterozygote and T homozygote for TGF β1gene polymorphisms were 37.9%, 44.7%, 17.5% in the control individuals and 37%, 51.5%, 11.7% in the uterine fibroid patients. There was no significant difference between the controls and the patients thus indicating the tumor suppressor effect of TGF β1 in the early stages of tumor pathogenesis. The study was found to be in association with the earlier reported data wherein TGF β1 acts as tumor suppressor in the early stages and as a tumor promoter in the later stages of tumor pathogenesis.

Present study was carried out to gauge the perception of the faculty members of Melaka Manipal Medical College (MMMC), Manipal, India regarding the problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum. The faculty were divided into those with prior experience of PBL (group A) and those without it (group B) and were asked to respond to a Likert scale questionnaire regarding the PBL curriculum. Majority of the faculty members agreed that PBL curriculum helps students to acquire critical thinking skills and has made them more responsible towards self-study. Majority of the inexperienced faculty members felt that students tend to selectively prepare for certain learning objectives rather than for the entire problem whereas majority of the experienced faculty disagreed (p

This paper describes the studies on the purification and partial characterization of serine alkaline protease produced through submerged fermentation process from a locally isolated Bacillus subtilis. This strain, grown in a highly alkaline medium (pH 10), produces an extracellular proteolytic enzyme. The alkaline protease was purified in a simple two-step procedure involving ammonium sulphate precipitation and gel filtration. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis of the purified alkaline protease indicated an estimated molecular mass of 30KDa. It was more active in the range of 20-60ºC and had an optimum activity at 55ºC with optimum pH of 10.5. Characterization of the protease showed that it required certain cations such as Mg++, Mn++ and Ca++ for maximal activity. The serine nature of the alkaline protease was confirmed by PMSF inhibition. The temperature and pH stability of this Alkaline Protease from Bacillus Subtilismakes it potentially useful forindustrial applications.

In the present investigation, successful and reproducible protocol for somatic embryogenesis was developed for sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) cv. E8. Direct somatic embryo induction without an intervening callus phase is reported for the first time from 5 days old cotyledonary and hypocotyl explants. Embryogenic frequency as well as number of somatic embryos was dependent on concentration of 2, 4-D. The optimum concentration of 2,4-D required for induction high frequency and large number of somatic embryos was 3.0mg/l. Addition of cytokinins along with 2, 4-D, further enhanced the number of somatic embryos. Maximum number of somatic embryos per explant was noted on MS medium supplemented with 3.0 mg/l 2, 4-D + 1.0 mg/l BAP. Cotyledonary explants proved superior over hypocotyl explants and BAP over Kinetin. Conversion of somatic embryos into complete plantlets was achieved on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l ABA + 5.0 mg/l AgNO3. Proliferation of embryogenic cultures was confirmed by histological studies.

Polyphenol oxidase(PPO) (E.C. number 1.10.3.1) has ubiquitous distribution in almost all living organism. Whereas, peroxidase(POD) (E.C. number 1.11.1) act as hormone regulation and defense mechanism in plants. Keeping in pace with their present-day industrial application, efforts have been made to evaluate the activity of these two enzymes (PPO and POD) using pepper pericarp (Capsicum annuum L.) as an experimental material using catechol and guaiacol as a substrate, respectively. The effects of enzyme extract, substrate, hydrogen peroxide concentration (only for POD), pH and temperature and antimicrobial activity against different bacterial strains were investigated.

Bioremediation studies on the capabilities of Aspergillus niger A1, Candida sp C10 and Rhizopus stolonifer R7 isolated from unpolluted soil in Minna, Niger State Nigeria was investigated and rate of degradation measured by weight loss. Aspergillus niger A1, exhibited the highest ability in degrading the crude oil than Candida sp C10, and Rhizopus stolonifer R7. Aspergillus niger A1 degraded 53.7% of the crude oil after 16 days period of incubation while Candida sp C10 and Rhizopus stolonifer R7 degraded 45.0% and 35.0% respectively over the same period of incubation.. The result obtained demonstrated that the three fungi isolates are competent petroleum degrading organisms and may be used as best approaches to restoring oil contaminated environments through bioremediation process.