Absract Archive   January 2010 Report Indian Funding Agencies For Research And Development In Science And Technology Introduction UGC strives to promote teaching and research in emerging areas in Humanities, Social Sciences,Languages, Literature, Pure Sciences, Engineering & Technology, Pharmacy, Medical, Agricultural Sciences etc. Author : Rahul Shrivastava * For Correspondence : rahulshrivastava_2000@yahoo.com Research Article In Silico Drug designing of NF-κB inhibition by Curcumin analogue “(3-((E-3-(4-METHOXY-2,6-DIMETHYLPHENYL)ACRYLOYL)BENZENE SULFONIC-ACID” through inhibiting Glycogen Synthase Kinase  – 3β (GSK-3β). Abstract “(3-((E-3-(4-METHOXY- 2, 6-DIMETHYLPHENYL) ACRYLOYL)BENZENESULFONIC ACID, is our new ligand a new molecule, showing potential lead molecule of anti-Inflammation, anti-Diabetes and anti-Cancer. In pharmacophore studies, active site residues are identified as SER 203, LYS 205, ARG 96, ARG180, VAL 214 and in ligand SO3 is important pharmacophore.  Recent reports suggest that glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) plays a key role in maintaining basal NF-κB target gene expression and cell survival in pancreatic cancer cell lines. However, the mechanism of the GSK-3β facilitates constitutive NF-κB signaling in pancreatic cancer regulations are maintained by IKK activity. The Lead molecule Curcumin is believed to be an inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) in an attempt to explain some of its interesting multiple pharmacological effects, such as its anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-malarial and anti-Alzheimer's properties. The investigation included simulated docking experiments to fit Curcumin analogues within the binding pocket of GSK-3β. Keywords: Curcumin, Glycogen synthase Kinase -3beta, cancer, docking, QSAR Authors : R.  Balajee1, M. S. Dhanarajan2 For Correspondence: E Mail: mallidhanagila@yahoo.com Research Article Antagonistic Mechanism Of Bacillus subtilis Against Crown Rot Pathogen In Arachis hypogaea Abstract Forty strains of Bacillus subtilis isolated from rhizosphere of healthy groundnut plants were challenged for its antagonistic potential against the crown rot pathogen, Aspergillus niger using Dual Plate Method. 12.5% (5 out of 40) strains were found to be antagonistic, among which B.subtilis 04 was found to exert maximum activity (80%). Further antagonistic strains were evaluated for its ability to produce mycolytic enzymes using autoclaved mycelium of pathogen as substrate. B.subtilis 03 was found to accumulate maximum of chitinase and glucanase (2.6 NAcGlc equivalents µMol/ml & 1.3 Glucose equivalents µMol/ml) when compared to others. Hence this particular strain was appraised for its ability to produce antibiotics using standard protocols. Supernatant of the culture filtrate supernatant showed 75% of inhibition of the pathogen. GC-MS studies revealed the presence of butanolides and dioxolane. Keywords: Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus niger, Crown Rot, Pathogenesis Related Protein Authors : *Anand.R. and Kulothungan.S. For Correspondence : E mail : anand_ramus@rediffmail.com Short Communication Reduction Of Thymine in mRNA Sequence Of Tumor Protein Abstract The order and content of thymine in protein coding frames of mRNAs are playing a major role in translating proteins with adequate hydrophobic residues. Importantly the frame1 (second nucleotide of codon) prefers to have 27% of thymine, which corresponds to the amount of large hydrophobic residues in the proteins. To understand this further at single gene or protein level, this work has been taken up here. The gene sequence of tumor protein has been chosen for this study. The study includes the thymine content in gene and mRNA sequences of tumor protein of different species. That is the total amount of thymine in introns and exons are counted separately. The results indicate that the gene contain almost equal amount of thymine and adenine while it is not so in mRNA. The coding mRNA sequence contains less thymine than adenine. The introns on the other hand contain greater amount of thymine than adenine. The reduction in thymine content in coding frames leads to reduction in number of large hydrophobic residues in the corresponding protein. So the loss in hydrophobicity leads to reduction in activity. This is in agreement with our earlier results. Further investigation on carbon content analysis also supports this result. Keywords: thymine reduction; mRNA sequence; tumor suppressor; large hydrophobic residue. Authors : * E.Rajasekaran 1 and P.Anandagopu 2 * For Correspondence : E mail : ersekaran@gmail.com Short Communication Microbial Bioconversion of Benzaldehyde to L-Phenylacetylcarbinol by immobilized Hansenula polymorpha Abstract Microbial Biotransformation of benzaldehyde to L Phenylacetylcarbinol (L-PAC) as a key intermediate for L-ephedrine synthesis has been evaluated using immobilized Hansenula polymorpha. During biotransformation, the benzaldehyde level and respiratory quotient significantly affected both L-PAC and by-product benzyl alcohol formation. By controlling the benzaldehyde level at 2 g/l, maintaining a respiratory quotient of 5-7 and pulse feeding glucose, a final concentration of 15.2 g/l L-PAC was achieved in a fed-batch process. This compares with previous published results of 10-12 g/l in batch culture and 10 g/l L-PAC in a semi continuous process with immobilized Zymomonas mobilis. In a single stage continuous process with immobilized Hansenula polymorpha, the steady state L-PAC concentration was significantly reduced because of the sustained toxic effects of benzaldehyde. Key words: Benzaldehyde; L Phenylacetylcarbinol; Hansenula polymorpha; Biotransformation. Authors : *Suresh K, Harisaranraj R, Saravanababu S * For Correspondence :: Email: sureshbioteck@ymail.co Short Communication Antioxidant Potential Of The Leaves And Flowers Of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn. Abstract Scientific interests in medicinal plants are re-emerging as plants are invaluable sources of new drugs and plant based antioxidants are preferred to the synthetic ones because of safety concerns. The present study deals with the comprehensive findings of the antioxidant potential of the leaves and flowers of the aromatic medicinal plant, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn. The antioxidant ability of the leaf and flower sample of the plant was determined by assessing the activity of enzymic antioxidants such as catalase, peroxidase and glutathione-s-transferase and non-enzymic antioxidants such as polyphenols, ascorbic acid and total carotenoids. The findings exhibited a significant difference in the levels of enzymic and non - enzymic antioxidants with the leaves showing higher antioxidant activity than that of the flowers. Keywords: Antioxidants, Oxidative stress, Medicinal plants, Nyctanthes arbor - tristis Linn. Authors : *Ramapriya, R.1 and Usha, K.2 * For Correspondence : ramapriya_raghunathan@yahoo.co.in Short Communication Evaluation Of Fungicide And Their Schedules For An Effective Control Of Stem Rot Disease In Tobacco Caused By Sclerotium rolfsii Abstract Sclerotium rolfsii were isolated from various tobacco fields (katheru farm) in Rajamundhry, Andhra pradesh. The isolation of pathogen was performed and identified on PDA medium. The fungicide (Ridomil MZ 72 WP) was applied to this fungal isolates SRD and SR1 (isolated and characterized from Tobacco field) SRG (isolated and characterized from Groundnut field). The various concentrations tried were 10, 25, 50, 100 and 150 ppm and their effect on the stem rot causing Sclerotium rolfsii, evaluated. Keywords: Sclerotium rolfsii, PDA, Ridomil M2 72 WP. Authors : *Sathish. G1, P.Rajasekaran2 and C.C.S. Rao3 * For Correspondence : gabsatish11@rediffmail.com Short Communication Investigation Of Antioxidant Properties Of Polyalthia longifolia leaves Abstract Ethanol and acetone extracts of Polyalthia longifolia (EEPL and AEPL) leaves were analyzed for their total antioxidant content, reducing power and DPPH. (1,1-dipheny l-2-picryl-hydrazyl) radical scavenging activity. The FRAP and CERAC results of EEPL and AEPL showed a moderate reducing power. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of EEPL and AEPL was found to be 87.92% and 92.84% respectively. The vitamin C content of EEPL and AEPL was found to be 35.065 mg/g and 31.475 mg/g tissue respectively. There was a positive correlation between the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity for both extracts (R2 = 0.860 for EEPL and R2 = 1.023 for AEPL). A positive correlation was also observed between the total flavonoid content and antioxidant activity (R2= 0.926 for EEPL and R2 = 1.022 for AEPL). The overall results suggested that phenolics and flavonoids present in the leaves provide significant antioxidant activity. Keywords: Antioxidants, DPPH, Flavonoids, Polyalthia Longifolia, Radical Scavenging Activity. Authors : *T. Sathish Kumar, Shanmugam. S, Sampath. M, Sivachandran. S.V * For Correspondence : sathishkumart29@gmail.com