Absract Archive November 2007 Research Article Micropropagation in Gymnema sylvestre Abstract A number of herbs have been traditionally used to control diabetes. Gymnema sylvestre is among the top five species of medicinal plants that lure greater attention for their pharmaceutical perspectives on control of diabetes. In an attempt to micro propagate gymnema using nodal explants, the modified medium (MS +KN 0.5 mg L-1+ NAA 0.1 mg L-1 + BA 1.0 mg L-1 + Malt extract 100 mg L--1+ Citric acid 100 mg L-1 +Yeast extract 100 mg L-1) showed good proliferation of shoots in 30 days of culture. These shoots were elongated, rooted in-vitro and successfully hardened. Introduction The universal premise that 'health is wealth', has been fortified by the consistent exploration for curative medicinal herbs by human beings since time immemorial. Historically, all medicinal preparations were derived from plants, whether in the simple form of plant parts or in the more complex form of crude extracts, mixtures, etc. Today, a substantial number of drugs are developed from plants. In the search for an alternative to production of desirable medicinal components from plants, biotechnological approaches, especially plant tissue cultures are found to have enormous potential as a supplement to traditional agriculture in the industrial production of bioactive plant metabolites. In-vitro propagation is particularly helpful in the rapid multiplication of plants that are otherwise multiplied very slowly by conventional methods of propagation. It also hastens the timely increase and availability of new varieties evolved through breeding. Tissue culture has opened new vista and has proved to be an effective technique for faster multiplication of plants, besides indicating the scope and potential in exploiting the regenerating behaviors and cell totipotency. Materials and Methods Materials Nutrient media and plant material Full strength and half strength of MS medium (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) were used for all the experiments with certain modifications. Nodal segments with axillary buds were used for micro propagation studies (Plate - 1A & 1B). The mother plants of gymnema used for the research work were authenticated by the Botanical Survey of India, (Government of India) Coimbatore. Authors:K.S. Ambika, R. Gnanam. Mini Review Human male infertility - A Sin? Curse from mother?! Summary In a society inability to beget children by a couple has more catastrophe than population over growth. Infertility is a major health problem today affecting 10% - 15% of the couples and in these couples, male factor infertility accounts for ~50% of causes. Normal semen was classified as containing a sperm concentration of at least 20 X 106/ml. Seminogram of infertile men reveals many abnormal conditions which includes azoospermia, oligospermia, teratospermia, athenospermia and necrospermia. Out of numerous causes of male infertility, genetic causes gains much focus. In order to explore the genetic causes, there are several candidate genes that are being studied that could lead to future breakthroughs. There is a strong speculation that male infertility could also be caused due to energy deficit, which is closely associated with the mitochondria. Mitochondria are the specialized cell organelles that have dual genetic origin. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been studied extensively for the past 2 decades and its role has been well established in many neurodegenerative disorders. However, very few studies have investigated the involvement of mtDNA mutations in human male infertility. About 85% of sperm samples of infertile men contained large-scale mtDNA deletions of variable sizes and that most spermatozoa had 2 to 7 deletions of mtDNA. The mtDNA mutations detected so far may just represent the “Tip of the iceberg” of all possible mutations in spermatozoa. Constant research and experiments are still on their journey to the ultimate destination of control and cure. Key words: Mitochondria, DNA mutation, Sperm motility, Infertility. Author:J.Poongothai. Research Article ß Chain of T-Cell Receptor protein structure reduces total energy in simulation process Abstract In-silco analysis was done for b chain of T-cell receptor (BCTR) protein, which is involved in a major human disease Rheumatoid Arthritis by using Molecular Dynamics Simulation (MDS). Several experiments was carried out to analyze physical and chemical properties of BCTR in three different insilico solvent systems, which are inorganic solvent (H2O), organic solvent (CH3OH) and mixed solvents (H20 + CH3OH). Total Energy of the BCTR protein conformation significantly reduced in all three media during MDS process. Keywords: Rheumatoid Arthritis, ß Chain of T-cell Receptor, Molecular Dynamics Simulation, Total Energy Introduction Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic and chronic disease, in which various joints in the body are inflamed, causing pain, stiffness, and also possible loss of function. It was observed that b chain of T-cell receptor (BCTR) protein has been shown to play a significant role in RA (Hongmin et al, 2005). To understand the 3D structure of BCTR and energy and their variation with respect to physical and chemical properties (Volume, Pressure, Temperature, Potential Energy, Kinetic Energy and Total Energy) in three different simulated solvent systems of inorganic (H2O), organic (CH3OH) and mixed (H2O + CH3OH) media. Molecular Dynamics simulation is a major computational technique in biochemistry to analyze and determine the nature of a biomolecule in an In-silico environment. MDS works on High Performance Computing and Networking environment (HPCN), and is based on fundamental principles and laws of biophysics and biochemistry. The essential elements necessary for molecular dynamics simulations are: (1) The interaction potential (ie potential energy) for the particles, from which forces can be calculated, (2) The equations of motion governing the dynamics of the particles. Molecular dynamics is used to animate the molecular model obtained from energy minimization. Molecular dynamics is often also used for other purposes as well, such as studies of non-equilibrium processes as an efficient tool for optimization of structures overcoming local energy minima (Spoel et al., 2002). Authors:G. Joshi, S. Rama Rao, S.K. Sharma, R.K. Bhagobaty. Topical Interest Review Chikungunya Virus - Resurfaces after four Decades Abstract Humanity is at the receiving end of many viral diseases since stone ages. Sudden emergence and re-emergence of new viral (Chikungunya fever) diseases in human beings has surprised the medical scientists from time to time (after 43 years of it first out break in India). Chikungunya fever is caused by Chikungunya virus. It is transmitted to human by the bite of infected mosquito Aedes aegypti. Although many aspects about this disease are clear, there are some dark areas regarding vaccine development that need to be explored and understood, so as to effectively contain the spread of this disease. The present article details out almost everything about this disease, including the epidemic episode in India along with the review of the recent literature. Key words: Chikungunya viral fever, India, Epidemic. Introduction Chikungunya was first described in Tanzania, Africa in the year 1952 (1) It is derived from the word Makonde meaning "that which bends up", as a result of the arthritic symptoms of the disease. Following an outbreak in 1952 on the Makonde Plateau, along the border between Tanganyika and Mozambique, Marion Robinson (2) And W.H.R. Lumsden (3) The pioneers who described about the disease in the year1955. The culprit in Chikungunya viral spread is Aedes aegypti, a mosquito that once dwelled in forests and has, like rats and cockroaches, adapted to live as an unwelcome visitor in human habitation. The unwilling human hosts also end up providing blood meals for the female mosquito, which may well repay them by passing on disease causing germs present in its body. Chikungunya is a relatively rare form of viral fever caused by an alpha virus that is spread by mosquito bites from the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Aedes aegypti (the yellow fever mosquito), a household container breeder and aggressive daytime biter that is attracted to humans, is the primary vector of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) to humans. Aedes albopictus (the Asian tiger mosquito) may also play a role in human transmission in Asia, and various forest-dwelling mosquito species in Africa have been found to be infected with the virus (4). Chikungunya fever is a viral disease transmitted to humans by the bite of infected mosquitoes. It is mainly prevalent in Africa, the Indian Sub-Continent, and South East Asia. Chikungunya virus is an arthropod-borne (it is therefore an Arbovirus) and belongs to the group IV ((+) SS RNA), family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus. Human infections are acquired by the bite of infected Aedes aegypti mosquito and epidemics are sustained by human-mosquito-human transmission. This epidemic cycle is similar to that of dengue and urban yellow fever (5). Authors:S. Murugan, P.Uma Devi K. R. Mani, P.Chinnaswamy. Research Article Phytochemical constituents and antibacterial activities of Elaeocarpus ganitrus Roxb. and Canthium parviflorum Linn. Leaves Abstract Ethanol, acetone and aqueous extracts of Elaeocarpus ganitrus Roxb. and Canthium parviflorum Linn. leaves were screened for various phytochemicals and their antibacterial activities. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of secondary metabolites like alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, saponins, terpenoids and cardiac glycosides in all the extracts, except for phlobatannins in both the plant species. In-vitro antibacterial assay by agar disc diffusion method showed that acetone extracts of both the leaves were most active against all the eight test organisms than the other solvent extracts. Keywords: Phytochemicals, Antibacterial activity, Elaeocarpus ganitrus, Canthium parviflorum. Introduction The use of medicinal plants as source of remedies for the treatment of many diseases dated back to prehistory and people of all continents have this old tradition (Newman et al., 2000). In developing countries where medicines are quite expensive, it is obvious that these medicinal plants will find their way in the arsenal of anti-microbial drugs (Cowan, 1999). The medicinal value of these plants lies in some chemical substances known as phytochemicals that produce a definite physiological action on the human body (Hill, 1952). A knowledge of the chemical constituents of plants is desirable, not only for the discovery of therapeutic agents, but also because such information may be of value in disclosing new sources of such economic materials as tannins, oils, gums, precursors for the synthesis of complex chemical substances, etc., (Farnsworth, 1966). A large body of scientific evidence associating dietary phytochemicals with health and well-being of population, has stimulated tremendous activities to develop and commercialize products variously known as nutraceuticals, phytoceuticals, dietary supplements, functional foods, etc., (Stephen, 1998). Elaeocarpus ganitrus Roxb. (syn: Elaeocarpus sphaericus; Elaeocarpaeceae) is used in Ayurveda for mental diseases, epilepsy, asthma, hypertension, arthritis and liver diseases (Dasgupta et al., 1984). Canthium parviflorum Linn. (Rubiaceae) is traditionally used for snakebite in some villages in Shimoga District of Karnataka (Parinitha Mahishi et al., 2005). With this back ground, the study was designed to screen for the presence of phytochemicals and the antibacterial activities in the leaves of these plants. Authors:T. Sathish Kumar, P. Rajasekaran, S. Shanmugam, V. M. Bharathi Kumar. Mini Review Polymerase Switching Abstract Replication is an essential prelude to cell division and it sounds easy in the textbooks: before a cell divides it has to replicate or copy its DNA. But concealed within that simple statement is a logistic nightmare, especially for the more complicated nucleated cells of higher organisms (Okunoy et.al. 1999). The eukaryotic replication process is well understood in yeast and is believed to be the same in higher eukaryotes. Polymerase Switching is the process of replacing Polymerase, d which laid the primer, by polymerase that extends the primer. This is a complex process involving several proteins. Introduction DNA replication is the process of duplication of the complete genome that has to precede each cell division. The assembly of Pre-replication complex (preRC) occurs in the G1 phase and its activation in the S phase (Gibson DG, Bell SP, Aparicio. OH, 2006). The DNA has to be replicated before the mitotic or meiotic division of cell. The factors involved in eukaryotic replication and its regulation is extensively studied in the Yeast S.cerevisiae and S.pombe. Origin of Replication DNA replication initiates at defined sequences known as the origin of replication. These origins are at first identified as so-called autonomously replicating sequences (ARS). They are composed of several short well-defined sequence blocks that determine exactly the size of initiation of DNA synthesis. No origins were found in the DNA fragments without ARS function. Thus, in both mitosis and meiosis, chromosomal replication origins are coincident with ARS element but not all ARS elements have chromosomal origin function (Collins J, Newlon CS, 1994). The core consensus of ARS is 5'-(A\T)TTTAT(A/G)TTT(A/T)-3' and additional sequences 3' to the T-rich strand (Palzkill TG, Newlon CS, 1998). ARS function depends on the presence of exact match to the core consensus. The mutational studies on ARS indicates that three or more consecutive Adenines or Thymines without interruption by Guanine and Cytosine are required for the ARS activity of fission yeast replicators depends on the number of A/T stretches and the extent of their clustering (Okunoy et.al., 1999). Now this ARS is the DNA polymerase binding site but for the effective replication to occur, the DNA polymerase must bind to all DNA sequences that is they should identify features that are common to every possible sequence. DNA polymerase binding to the sugar phosphate backbone, which is actually the common feature of all sequence, would preferentially loose proof-binding activity that is it would not enable the polymerase to detect a mistake made in incorporating the wrong nucleotide into the nascent DNA strand. Hence, the polymerase with proof reading activity binds with the N3 atom of purine bases and the O2 atom of pyrimidine bases that occupy the same spatial location in any of the Watson Crick base pairs. However, the B subunit of the polymerase is always associated with the sugar phosphate backbone. Authors:Vinuselvi P,Vani V. Mini Review Polymerase Switching Abstract Replication is an essential prelude to cell division and it sounds easy in the textbooks: before a cell divides it has to replicate or copy its DNA. But concealed within that simple statement is a logistic nightmare, especially for the more complicated nucleated cells of higher organisms (Okunoy et.al. 1999). The eukaryotic replication process is well understood in yeast and is believed to be the same in higher eukaryotes. Polymerase Switching is the process of replacing Polymerase, d which laid the primer, by polymerase that extends the primer. This is a complex process involving several proteins. Introduction DNA replication is the process of duplication of the complete genome that has to precede each cell division. The assembly of Pre-replication complex (preRC) occurs in the G1 phase and its activation in the S phase (Gibson DG, Bell SP, Aparicio. OH, 2006). The DNA has to be replicated before the mitotic or meiotic division of cell. The factors involved in eukaryotic replication and its regulation is extensively studied in the Yeast S.cerevisiae and S.pombe. Origin of Replication DNA replication initiates at defined sequences known as the origin of replication. These origins are at first identified as so-called autonomously replicating sequences (ARS). They are composed of several short well-defined sequence blocks that determine exactly the size of initiation of DNA synthesis. No origins were found in the DNA fragments without ARS function. Thus, in both mitosis and meiosis, chromosomal replication origins are coincident with ARS element but not all ARS elements have chromosomal origin function (Collins J, Newlon CS, 1994). The core consensus of ARS is 5'-(A\T)TTTAT(A/G)TTT(A/T)-3' and additional sequences 3' to the T-rich strand (Palzkill TG, Newlon CS, 1998). ARS function depends on the presence of exact match to the core consensus. The mutational studies on ARS indicates that three or more consecutive Adenines or Thymines without interruption by Guanine and Cytosine are required for the ARS activity of fission yeast replicators depends on the number of A/T stretches and the extent of their clustering (Okunoy et.al., 1999). Now this ARS is the DNA polymerase binding site but for the effective replication to occur, the DNA polymerase must bind to all DNA sequences that is they should identify features that are common to every possible sequence. DNA polymerase binding to the sugar phosphate backbone, which is actually the common feature of all sequence, would preferentially loose proof-binding activity that is it would not enable the polymerase to detect a mistake made in incorporating the wrong nucleotide into the nascent DNA strand. Hence, the polymerase with proof reading activity binds with the N3 atom of purine bases and the O2 atom of pyrimidine bases that occupy the same spatial location in any of the Watson Crick base pairs. However, the B subunit of the polymerase is always associated with the sugar phosphate backbone. Authors:Vinuselvi P,Vani V. Nanohorn Technology Reborn Nano-technology has given us the tools . . . to play with the ultimate toy box of nature atoms and molecules. Everything is made from it . . . The possibilities to create new things appear limitless. ” - Horst L. Störmer Imagine being able to synthesize energy from cells that are 1 nanometer in size, Imagine being able to walk on the space without the help of bulky suits, Imagine electricity that's much more efficient than what we use today, Imagine drugs that are custom made, just to suit your body… These breakthroughs are not as far fetched, as we believe. Because Nanohorns are revolutionizing “Science”. Introduction Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are molecular-scale tubes of graphitic carbon with outstanding properties. The stiffest and strongest fibers, known for their remarkable electronic properties and many other unique characteristics. Since then there has been an academic and industrial interest for this technology. Also, there are thousands of article papers written every year on this hot-favorite topic. However, their commercial production has been a problem due to their large production costs of high quality CNT's. Dr. Sumio Iijima's research group made discovery of Carbon Nanohorns (CNH) in 1998. Carbon Nanotubes are made with the help of a catalyst, but however these CNH's do not require the need of a catalyst. The aggregates of Carbon Nanohorns can be produced with a yield of more than 90% through laser vaporization of carbon at room temperature. These aggregates have a dahlia-like shape with a large number of horn-shaped short single-layered nanotubes that stick out in all directions. The tips of these short nanotubes are capped with five-member rings. Carbon Nanohorns have a large surface area of about 400 square meters per gram. So, an important characteristic shown by them is “High Adsorbility”. The tip of these CNH's has the shape of a horn; hence it is called as “Nanohorns”. CNH can be visualized as nanometric carbon tubes taking a horn or cone shape at the tip. The extremity of the horn consists of five-member rings. Some thousands of horn structures are usually assembled into a spherical shape by orienting their extremities toward the outside. This shape somewhat resembles a chestnut bur or a sea urchin, which has a diameter of from 80 - 100 nanometers. The distorted structure of CNH is due to the presence of some five- or seven-member rings, but the whole assembly is stable because these structures are bonded at the center. The use of carbon nanohorns makes the structure more viable as the interaction between hydrogen and carbon nanohorns is stronger than the interaction between hydrogen and carbon nanotubes.