Department of Biotechnology

About: Department of Biotechnology is a government organization based out in New Delhi, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Silver nanoparticle. The organization has 4800 authors who have published 5033 publications receiving 82022 citations.

Identification of the 10Sa RNA structural gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Abstract: In the course of screening a gene bank of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (1) with cDNA to RNA from M.tuberculosis, we have isolated a clone, pAK51, which contains significant sequence homology with Alcaligenes eutrophus lOSa RNA (57% identity) and Escherichia coli lOSa RNA (54% identity). The lOSa RNA has been described as a stable RNA (2, 3). The conservation of primary sequences does not end at the 3' end of the mature lOSa RNA but extends further downstream. The lOSa structural RNA gene is located within a 1 kb Pstl genomic fragment of DNA from M. tuberculosis H37Rv and M. tuberculosis H37Ra (Figure 1A). When total RNA isolated from M. tuberculosis H37Rv and M.tuberculosis H37Ra was probed with the putative lOSa RNAcoding region from pAK51, hybridization was obtained with RNA approximately 390—400 bases in length (Figure IB). Interestingly, the sequence located in the 3' terminal of lOSa RNA showed strong homology (4) with the pseudouridine arm of tRNA genes from several organisms (Figure 2).

50-kHz calls in rats: Effects of MDMA and the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT

Abstract: In recent years, 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations of laboratory rats have become increasingly important behavioral measures in research on emotion and motivation, since these calls may help to study appetitive subjective states, for example in relation to addiction. Among others, 50-kHz calls occur when rats experience or expect rewards, including drugs of abuse, and it is assumed that these calls depend on dopamine function, especially in the meso-limbic system. One established means to induce 50-kHz calls is to challenge rats with d -amphetamine, a psychomotor stimulant, which acts largely by boosting dopamine and noradrenaline function in the brain. In a 1st experiment, we studied whether another psycho-stimulatory amphetamine, namely the derivative 3,4-methylene-dioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy), could also enhance 50-kHz calls by using an activity box and testing conditions, which had previously been found to be appropriate in case of d -amphetamine. In support of previous work, we found that MDMA (2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg, ip) dose-dependently increased locomotion and center time, together with decreases in rearing activity, but the drug did not elicit 50-kHz calls. Assuming that this lack of effect is due to the drug's substantial pro-serotonergic effects in the brain, which may inhibit 50-kHz calls, we performed a 2nd experiment where we tested the serotonin 5-HT 1A receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-tetralin (8-OH-DPAT; 0.05, 0.5, 2.5 mg/kg, ip). This drug dose-dependently stimulates serotonin autoreceptors and heteroreceptors, can act in a psycho-stimulatory way and can enhance dopamine function. In the activity box, 8-OH-DPAT increased locomotor activity (0.5, 2.5 mg/kg) and decreased rearing (2.5 mg/kg); that is, the drug seemed to share some psycho-stimulatory effects with MDMA. Unlike MDMA, 8-OH-DPAT enhanced 50-kHz calls in a dose-dependent way, namely only with the 0.5 mg/kg dose. These results are discussed with respect to their possible neurochemical mechanisms, especially on 5-HT and dopamine in the brain.

Effect of concurrent chronic exposure of fluoride and aluminum on rat brain.

Abstract: The present in vivo study was designed to investigate the toxic potential of fluoride alone and in conjugation with aluminum on the rat brain. The region-specific response of both elements was studied in different regions of brain, namely the cerebrum, cerebellum, and medulla oblongata. Following fluoride exposure, oxidative stress increased significantly, estimated by increased lipid peroxidation and a decrease in the activity of the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. The neurotransmitter (e.g., dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin) content was also altered. However, these aspects were more pronounced in animals given fluoride and aluminum together. Histological evidence showed deprivation of neuronal integrity with higher magnitude in concurrent fluoride and aluminum exposure, as compared to fluoride alone. Thus, it can be concluded that aluminum appears to enhance the neurotoxic hazards caused by fluoride.

Proteomic studies on lactic acid bacteria: A review.

Abstract: Probiotics are amongst the most common microbes in the gastro-intestinal tract of humans and other animals. Prominent among probiotics are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. They offer wide-ranging health promoting benefits to the host which include reduction in pathological alterations, stimulation of mucosal immunity and interaction with mediators of inflammation among others. Proteomics plays a vital role in understanding biological functions of a cell. Proteomics is also slowly and steadily adding to the existing knowledge on role of probiotics. In this paper, the proteomics of probiotics, with special reference to lactic acid bacteria is reviewed with a view to understand i) proteome map, ii) mechanism of adaptation to harsh gut environment such as low pH and bile acid, iii) role of cell surface proteins in adhering to intestinal epithelial cells, and iv) as a tool to answer basic cell functions. We have also reviewed various analytical methods used to carry out proteome analysis, in which 2D-MS and LC-MS/MS approaches were found to be versatile methods to perform high-throughput sample analyses even for a complex gut samples. Further, we present future road map of understanding gut microbes combining meta-proteomics, meta-genomics, meta-transcriptomics and -metabolomics.

High-level tannase production by Penicillium atramentosum KM using agro residues under submerged fermentation

Abstract: A tannase-yielding fungal strain identified as Penicillium atramentosum KM was isolated from tannery effluent collected from a small-scale tannery. The fungal strain produced extracellular tannase under submerged fermentation (SmF) using amla (Phyllanthus emblica), ber (Zyzyphus mauritiana), jamoa (Eugenia cuspidate), jamun (Syzygium cumini) and keekar (Acacia nilotica) powdered leaves. Among the different substrates, amla and keekar leaves resulted in maximal extracellular production of tannase. Various process parameters were studied to optimize the extracellular yield of tannase under SmF. Maximum yield of tannase i.e., 32.8 and 34.7 U/ml was obtained with amla leaves (2% w/v) and keekar leaves (3% w/v), respectively, in selective mineral salt and production media, inoculated with 3 x 106 spores/ml cell suspension by incubating at 30°C for 72 h. The production of enzyme was induced strongly by the presence of maltose (0.2% w/v) as carbon source. Crude enzyme was optimally active at pH 5.5 and pH 7.5 using amla and keekar leaves, respectively. The fungal strain produced yields of tannase about twice as high as the highest reported yield of tannase. Our findings suggest that agro residues in the form of amla and keekar leaves can be one of the best and most cost effective alternatives to the costly pure tannic acid for industrial production of microbial tannase. The novelty in the present investigation is that is that P. atramentosum KM is the first fungal isolate found to produce tannase at high pH (i.e. 7.5) using keekar leaves.