Absract Archive   September 2009 Research article Codon Usage Analysis Of Mycobacterium tuberculosis CDC1551 Strain House Keeping Genes Abstract The genes that are involved in the basic functions of the cell that are needed for the surveillance of the cell are called as house keeping genes. These genes are expressed constitutively and the work focuses on the identification of the codon usage of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis CDC1551 strain.130 house keeping genes were selected. The AT content, GC content, Codon Adaptation Index (CAI) were calculated for the individual genes. Eighty five percentage of the genes had a CAI value greater than 0.7. Based on the CAI value, acyP gene was identified as the highly expressed gene. The analysis of the different parameters of the coded protein sequence was also carried out. The structural analysis of the protein could reveal it as a potential drug target. Keywords: Codon Usage, Codon Adaptation Index (CAI), Mycobacterium tuberculosis CDC1551. Authors: Tamizhmuhil P and Bharathi N For Correspondence: E mail : sakthi_bioinformatics@yahoo.co.in Research article Diosgenin Production From Callus, Suspension And Hairy Root Cultures Of Trigonella foenum-graecum Abstract In fenugreek seed explants, the maximum survival (97.5 %) could be reached against a contamination level of 3.75 % with treatment of 70 % alcohol for 1 min. and 0.1 % HgCl2 for 8 min. The callus induction percentage is as high as 93.75 % in the leaf explant, corresponding to the plant growth regulator of 2, 4-D 1.2 mg L-1 The same percentage could be observed on seed explant at a treatment level of 2,4-D 1.8 and 2.0 mg L-1. The stem explants showed a callus induction percentage of 91.25% at very low level of 2,4-D (0.2 mg L-1.) Coconut water at 7.5% and 10% used to induce callus induction to the tune of more than 98% in leaf, stem and seeds explants. Coconut water at a dosage of 10% resulted in the highest callus fresh weight of 5.25 g/tube for seed explants. The coconut water dosage at 10 % resulted in a maximum PCV of 6.7 %. The Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain, A4 was used for transformation studies of Trigonella for inducing the hairy roots and molecular analysis of hairy roots was done to confirm the transformation. The diosgenin content was found maximum with seed suspension as 24.64 mg/g of FW. With respect to the callus induced from different explants, all of them almost yielded the same quantity (approximately 20.00mg/g of FW). The in vitro hairy roots produced better results with respect to diosgenin yield (20.22 mg/g of FW) when compared to the roots from invitro germinated seedlings. Key words: Trigonella Cell culture Transformation HPLC - Diosgenin Abbreviations: 2,4-D - 2,4 Dichloro phenoxy Acetic Acid; MS - Murashige and Skoog; PCV - Packed cell volume;FW Fresh weight; HgCl2 - Mercuric chloride ; YEB -Yeast Extract Broth. Authors: Ambika Binesh and Gnanam R. For Correspondence: E mail :ambikaks@gmail.com Research article In silico Gene Expression Profiling and Molecular Docking Studies of Mycobacterium leprae House Keeping Genes Abstract Genes located on Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid (DNA) are involved in the process of gene expression to synthesize the corresponding polypeptide products or Ribonucleic Acids (RNA). Genes involved in basic functions needed for the sustenance of the cell are termed as House Keeping Genes, which are constitutively expressed (they are always ON). The House Keeping Genes of Mycobacterium leprae were selected and their Gene Expression Profiling was studied. Using the codon adaptation index as a numerical estimation of gene expression level, Tuf, a gene coding for Elongation factor Protein was predicted to be highly expressed. So, it was selected as a Drug Target for the treatment of leprosy. Natural and Synthetic inhibitors have been studied for their inhibitory activity against the Ef-Tu protein. Virtual Screening has been carried out on all these compounds and based upon their binding affinity, glide energy and glide score, the ligands were selected for Induced fit docking studies. ADME properties were also predicted for all these compounds. The docking and ADME studies were performed using Schrödinger Suite. Authors: Sithara M S and Tamizhmuhil P For Correspondence: E mail : shereensithara@gmail.com Short Communication Purification And Characterization Of Naringinase From Candida tropicalis Abstract Naringinase (E.C.3.2.1.40), an enzyme that hydrolysis naringin into naringenin by releasing two sugars, rhamnose and glucose. In this study, the yeast Candida tropicalis producing naringinase was purified and characterized. The enzyme was purified by using ultrafiltration, Ammonium sulfate precipitation, Anion exchange chromatography and, Gel filtration chromatography. The purity was checked by SDS-PAGE and has been found that the molecular weight of the enzyme is 73 and 78kDa. The purified enzyme was characterized to find its optimum pH, temperature and, substrate concentration. The substrate specificity was compared with rutin and naringin. Key words : Enzyme, Naringinase, Candida tropicalis, SDS-PAGE. Authors: Saranya D, Shanmugam S, Sathish kumar T, Thayumanavan B and Rajasekaran P For Correspondence: E mail : shan2274@gmail.com Short Communication In Vitro Propagation Of The Medicinal Herb – Clerodendrum inerme Abstract Clerodendrum inerme is a potential medicinal plant. Since the whole plant is used as drug, the entire plant has to be destroyed and this has resulted in the depletion of the plant population. In vitro propagation of C. inerme will lead to conservation and mass production of quality plant material. The nodal segments were used as explants and cultured on MS media with different concentrations of BAP with NAA and BAP with sucrose for shoot initiation. After three weeks they were cultured in MS media with various concentrations of BAP for multiple shoot induction. Maximum multiple shoots were obtained in MS with 2.0 mg/l BAP and 3% sucrose. After three weeks of subculturing, the regenerated micro-shoots were rooted in half strength MS fortified with 1.5 mg/l of IBA. Ninety per cent of the cultured shoots produced roots. The rooted plantlets showed 100% field survival after hardening. Keywords : Garden quinine, Nodal segment, Multiple shoot induction, Plant regeneration Authors: Srinath G , Sridhar V and Renuka R. For Correspondence: E mail : renukaraman@yahoo.com Tutorial Review Cells Involved In Immune System Introduction Immunity (derived from immunitas: Latin for exemption from civic duties and prosecution) means protection from disease and especially infectious disease. Cells and molecules involved in such protection constitute the immune system and the reaction against an introduced foreign agent is known as the immune response. Not all immune responses protect from disease; some foreign agents, such as the allergens found in house dust mite, cat dander or rye grass pollen, cause disease as a consequence of inducing an immune response. Likewise some individuals mount immune responses to their own tissues as if they were foreign agents due to autoimmunity. Thus, the immune response can cause the autoimmune diseases common to man such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or myasthenia gravis. Most individuals do not suffer from autoimmune disease because they have developed tolerance towards their own (self) antigens/tissues. The immune system stockpiles a huge arsenal of cells, not only lymphocytes but also cell-devouring phagocytes and their relatives. All these cells play accessory roles in immunity like activating lymphocytes, increasing the effectiveness of antigen clearance by phagocytosis, or to secrete various immune-effector molecules. Some immune cells take on all comers, while others are trained on highly specific targets. To work effectively, most immune cells need the cooperation of their comrades. Sometimes immune cells communicate by direct physical contact and sometimes by releasing chemical messengers. The immune system stores just a few of each kind of the different cells needed to recognize millions of possible enemies. When an antigen appears, those few matching cells multiply into a full-scale army. After their job is done, they fade away, leaving sentries behind to watch for future attacks. Authors: Gautam Kapoor, Vivek Verma and Venkatesh Rengaswamy For Correspondence: E mail : swami.confocal@gmail.com.