Mycolytic enzymes produced by Streptomyces violaceusniger and their role in antagonism of wood-rotting fungi

Anand Nagpure, Bharti and Rajinder K. Gupta. 2013

Journal of Basic Microbiology. DOI 10.1002/jobm.201200474

An extracellular mycolytic enzyme cocktail produced by antagonist Streptomyces violaceusniger MTCC 3959 under submerged fermentation was characterized. The strain MTCC 3959 produced higher amounts of extracellular chitinase and protease during late exponential phase whereas β-1,3-glucanase production was at peak in mid stationary phase. Cell-free culture filtrate exhibited a broad range of antifungal activity against both white and brown rot fungi. The inhibitory activity was completely lost after the treatment with proteinase K and temperature, indicating that extracellular antifungal metabolites are heat labile and proteinaceous in nature. Optimum pH and temperature for chitinase was 9.0 and 60°C, for β-1,3-glucanase 6.0 and 60°C and for protease 9.0 and 70°C. Mycolytic enzymes were moderately thermostable with a wide pH stability range from pH 5.0 to 10.0. The zymogram analysis of cell-free culture filtrate revealed five chitinase and four protease isoenzymes with approximate molecular weight of 20.8-114.8 and 22.8-120.5 kDa, respectively whereas β-1,3-glucanase appeared as a single band of 131.8 kDa. S. violaceusniger MTCC 3959 produced mycolytic enzyme cocktail that can be effectively used for suppression of phytopathogenic basidiomycetes and can also evolve as a potential biofungicide.

Purification of chitinase and antagonism of Streptomyces violaceusniger towards wood rotting fungi

Purification and characterization of an extracellular chitinase from antagonistic Streptomyces violaceusniger

Anand Nagpure and Rajinder K. Gupta

Journal of Basic Microbiology, 2012, 52, 1-11

The actinomycetes Streptomyces violaceusniger showed strong antagonistic activity against various tested wood rotting fungi. An extracellular chitinase, produced by Streptomyces violaceusniger, was purified in the following procedures: ammonium sulfate precipitation and chromatographic separation of Q Sepharose. The molecular mass of the purified chitinase was 48 kDa, estimated by a sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Chitinase was optimally active at pH of 5.0, and at 50°C. It retains almost 100% activity in the pH range of 5.0. This chitinase has a high thermal tolerance and retained 100% of its activity at 50°C. Enzyme activity was inhibited by Hg²⁺ and Ag+ cations, but was not substantially inhibited by the K⁺ cation nor the chelating agent EDTA. The apparent Km and Vmax values for pNP-(GlcNAc)₂ were 0.1426 mM and 6.6 U/mg, respectively, at 37°C. The 48 kDa chitinase of Streptomyces violaceusniger is an exo-type enzyme, because maximum activity was obtained with chromogenic substrate pNP-(GlcNAc)₂.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jobm.201100648/abstract

The Carat: Indian Gold Measurement System

The carat (abbreviation ct or kt) is a measure of the purity of gold alloys. In the Unite States and Canada, the spelling karat (abbreviation k or kt) is used. The carat is a unit of mass equal to 200 mg and it is used for measuring gemstones and pearls.

1g = 5 ct

As a measure of purity, one carat is 24 times the purity by mass:

X = 24 Mg/Mm

where

X is the carat rating of the material,

M_g is the mass of pure gold or platinum in the material, and

M_m is the total mass of the material.

Therefore 24-carat gold (Au) is fine (99.9% Au w/w), 18-carat gold is 75% gold, 12-carat gold is 50% gold, and so forth. The most common carats used for gold in jewelry making are:

ü 24 carat (millesimal fineness 999 or higher)

ü 22 carat (millesimal fineness 916)

ü 21 carat (millesimal fineness 875)

ü 20 carat (millesimal fineness 833)

ü 18 carat (millesimal fineness 750)

ü 15 carat (millesimal fineness 625)

ü 14 carat (millesimal fineness 585)

ü 10 carat (millesimal fineness 417)

ü 9 carat (millesimal fineness 375)

ü 8 carat (millesimal fineness 333)

ü 1 carat (millesimal fineness 042)

Millesimal fineness is a system of denoting the purity of platinum, gold and silver alloys by parts per thousand of pure metal by mass in the alloy.

For example, an alloy containing 75% gold is denoted as "750". Many European countries use decimal hallmark stamps (i.e. '585', '750', etc) rather than '14K', '18K', etc., which is used in the United Kingdom and United States.

22/22K - a quality mark indicating the purity of gold most popularly used in India. This purity was adapted and practiced by the big jewellers and was later passed to jewel smiths. The first 22 signifies the "Skin purity", the purity of the top layer of the gold jewelry, and the second 22 signifies that after melting purity of the gold jewellery will be 22-carat, or 91.67% of pure gold. This system is used to show consistency in the quality of the gold.

This practice was pioneered and introduced in the early mid-1980s by Nemichand Bamalwa & Sons of Kolkata, India, sparking a revolution in India as it forced jewellers to indicate correctly the after-melting purity, and heightened consumer awareness made it a most sought-after stamp or quality mark.

This symbol or stamp is very popular on the gold jewellery business in Asian countries like India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Yemen, and Persian Gulf countries.

Ratti

A ratti is a traditional Indian unit of mass measurement, and has now been standardized as 0.12125 gram. It was measured by ratti seed. This seed is actually Abrus precatorius seed, known commonly as Jequirity, Crab's Eye, Rosary Pea, Indian Licorice, Akar Saga, Giddee Giddee, is a slender, perennial climber that twines around trees, shrubs, and hedges. It is a legume with long, pinnate-leafleted leaves. It is also known as Gunja in Sanskrit and some Indian languages and Ratti in Hindi. The plant is best known for its seeds, which are used as beads and in percussion instruments, and which are toxic due to the presence of abrin. The plant is native to Indonesia and grows in tropical and subtropical areas of the world where it has been introduced. It has a tendency to become weedy and invasive where it has been introduced.

· 1 tola = 12 masha or 11.67 gram

· 1 masha = 8 ratti or 0.97 gram

Masha

A masha is a traditional Indian unit of mass, now standardized as 0.97 grams.

Tola

The tola is a Vedic measure, with the name derived from the Sanskrit tol meaning "weighing" or "weight". One tola was traditionally the weight of 100 ratti (ruttee) seeds, and its exact weight varied according to locality. However, it is also a convenient mass for a coin: several pre-colonial coins, including the currency of Akbar the Great (1556–1605), had a mass of "one tola" within slight variation. The very first rupee, minted by Sher Shah Suri (1540–45), had a mass of 178 troy grains, or about 1% less than the British tola. The British East India Company issued a silver rupee coin of 180 troy grains, and this became the practical standard mass for the tola well into the 20th century.

Cabbage and Cyst

Cabbage, Brassica oleracea, is one of the richest when it comes to protective vitamins. Raw cabbage cleans the waste from the stomach and upper bowels which improves digestion and reduces constipation. Cabbage is applied in herbal medicine used to prevent cancer and ulcers. It may also be used to treat engorged (enlarged and tender) breasts and high blood sugar. Hailed as a cancer inhibitor, particularly colon cancer, cabbage also stimulates the immune system, kills harmful bacteria, soothes ulcers, and improves circulation. The outer leaves are a good source of vitamin E, making it good for the complexion. Also rich in vitamin C (raw white cabbage contains as much vitamin C as lemon juice) and sulphur.

Cabbage cyst nematode: Cyst nematode, Heterodera cruciferae, sedentary endoparasites, is not a major pest and its host range is limited to Cruciferae (nearly all genera includes Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower), and some weeds and members of Labiaceae. H. cruciferae has been reported from Europe, Russia, California, and South Australia (Stone and Rowe, 1976; Whitehead, 1998).

There are many cases of occasional epilepsy attacks, many people were saying that had worms in the brain, these people were also suggesting that it is getting very common in India and usually caused by eating undercooked or raw cabbage. I heard about tapeworm and round worms in stomach but never heard about a worn inside a brain. It was difficult to believe that by eating cabbages which I thought was probably the healthiest food one can have. It is an indeed parasitic disease/infection called Cysticercosis which causes this to happen. It happens when the tape worm larvae enter the body and forms cysts. When these cysts are found in brain this condition is called neurocysticercosis.

A very unhealthy, alarming and deadly disease is ringing alarm bells. Entering the body and then sneaking into the brain undetected, invisible organisms are creating havoc with the urban Indian's nervous system. 13 per cent of the epilepsy cases coming to Delhi's hospitals are being triggered by cyst formation in vulnerable areas of the human brain.

So if you thought that salads were healthy, think again. You've got be very careful in washing them. You need to wash them in running water at least thrice. Cabbage, spinach, etc, are increasingly grown in unhygienic conditions. Wash hands with soap and water after using the toilet and before handling food.

Precaution & Suggestions: Some people do tend to suffer digestive distress due to gas from cabbage. Try blanching the whole or quartered cabbage for five minutes, change the water, and then continue cooking in fresh water if necessary. Since cabbage can interfere with the uptake of iodine, those with goiter conditions should consult their physician before eating cabbage. Although consumption of cabbage may aggravate a pre-existing thyroid condition, it is generally not the initiating factor of such a condition.

Do not eat salads at roadside eateries or wedding functions. At home, vegetables like carrot, spinach, radish and cucumber should be washed thoroughly preferably five or six times. Fruits and burgers sprinkled with cabbage outside home should be skipped.

The Ice Age Cometh: Global Warming can cause Global Cooling

Scientists announced in the July 21, 1999, edition of the journal Nature findings that suggest that global warming can sometimes lead to cold weather or even a worldwide freeze. The authors conclusions demonstrate how global warming can, paradoxically, provoke a global freeze. If a modern glacier such as the Greenland Ice Sheet melts as a result of rising temperatures in the next century, it could trigger a similar flood and climate fluctuation. The ice age which had been receding for the last few centuries seems to be returning.

While many are aware of the dangers of global warming, not many know about global cooling. Scientists believe the cooling of the sun causes it. Global cooling is known for the absence of sunspot activity. According to the theory of global cooling, the sun had no sunspots between 2008 and 2009, while sunspot activity was at its peak in the 1990s. Correspondingly, this decade was the earth’s hottest since 1930.

49(o) Rule "None of the Above"

As per the 1969 act, in section “49-O” that a person can go to the polling booth, confirm his identity, get his finger marked and convey the presiding election officer that he doesn’t want to vote anyone. Rule is....

49-O. Elector deciding not to vote.-If an elector, after his electoral roll number has been duly entered in the register of voters in Form-17A and has put his signature or thumb impression thereon as required under sub-rule (1) of rule 49L, decided not to record his vote, a remark to this effect shall be made against the said entry in Form 17A by the presiding officer and the signature or thumb impression of the elector shall be obtained against such remark.

That means…

If a candidate wins, say by 123 votes, and that Particular ward has received “49-O” votes more than 123, then that polling will be cancelled and will have to be re-polled. Not only that, but the candidature of the contestants will be removed and they cannot contest the re-polling, since people had already expressed their decision on them. This would bring fear into parties and hence look for genuine candidates for their parties for election. This would change the way; of our whole political system. It is seemingly surprising why the election commission has not revealed such a feature to the public….

Plastic Bottels could be Dangerous for Health

Martin Wagner and Jorg Oehlmann From Goethe University, Frankfurt am main, Germany, analysed the Bottled mineral water. They suggested that plastic mineral water bottles contaminate drinking water with estrogenic chemicals and these chemicals are potent in vivo and result in an increased development of embryos in the New Zealand mud snail. This is the first time that any research team have shown that substances leaching out of plastic food packaging materials act as functional estrogens (female sex hormone). In addition, Canadian researchers at the University of Guelph have found the leaching of Bisphenol A (BPA), the chemical used in making plastics containers, might be responsible for impairing many brain functions such as learning and remembering. They also fear that it could be a factor behind Alzhemer’s, Schizophenia and depression.