Absract Archive   August 2010 Full length Article Screening, Isolation and Production of Protease by Marine Actinomycetes Abstract Marine actinomycetes which produce extra-cellular protease were collected from different locations of the Bay of Bengal starting from Pulicate Lake to KanyaKumari and are screened and isolated. A new and simple starch casein double layer agar method was employed for a quick screening of these actinomycetes. Among bacteria, actinomycetes have been found to be a unique source of commercially significant products. Given developments in microbial systematic is now possible to device sophisticated selective isolation strategies and to recognize and characteristic the novel organism. May general or non-selective media were formulated without regard to either the nutrient propertied or tolerances of the target actinomycetes. Many of these medias, Such as colloidal Chitin, half-strength nutrient, starch case in and M3 agar are widely used through little attempt has been made to evaluate their effectiveness. The differential activity of protease was determined at different optimum pH and temperatures. The production of protease by Phenyl Methyl Sulphonyl Fluoride (PMSF) showed that this enzyme belongs to the serine protease group. Keywords: Marine actinomycetes; Isolation; Screening; Molecular techniques; Prokaryote. Authors : *M.Guravaiah, T.Prabhakar, CH. Prameela, CH.Santhoshi Kumari and M.V.Guravaiah *Corresponding Author: Guru_aiah @yahoo.com Full length Article Molecular Docking Studies of 2-Aroylindole Derivatives as Tubulin Inhibitors Abstract Cancer can be described as the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. Tubulin, the major protein component of microtubules, is the target of numerous antimitotic drugs. Microtubules (MTs) are cytoskeletal polymers involved in many cellular functions. Tubulin binding molecules interfere with the dynamic instability of microtubules and thereby arrest mitotic cells in the M-phase of the cell division cycle, finally leading to apoptotic cell death. Some of the most commonly used Tubulin binding molecules from nature are colchicine, Vinca alkaloids vinblastine (Ozon, S., Guichet, A., Gavet, O., Roth, S. and Sobel, A., 2002). Drosophila Stathmin: A Microtubule-destabilizing Factor Involved in Nervous System Formation. Mol Biol Cell.13: 698–710. Vincristine, Rhizoxin, Maytansine, Combretastatin A4, Epothilone, and Paclitaxel. These drugs significantly affect the GTPase activity of beta-tubulin. A new class of simple synthetic antimitotic compounds based on 2-aroylindoles was discovered. Selected compounds inhibit angiogenesis. The protein-ligand interaction plays a significant role in structural based drug designing. In this study, the three-dimensional quantitative structure–activity relationships of 2-aroylindole derivatives as potent tubulin inhibitors with excellent antimitoic profile were investigated and docking studies were performed using GoldTM (CCDC Software Ltd., UK) and GlideTM (Schrödinger®, USA) Softwares. Virtual Screening has been done for all these inhibitors and the ligands were chosen for induced fit docking based on their binding affinity, glide energy and glide score. We identified that amino acid residues VAL238, ASN258 are important for inhibitor recognition via hydrogen bonding interactions. This information can be exploited to design Tubulin specific inhibitors. Keywords: Tubulin, drug design; 2- Aroylindole derivatives; Induced fit docking Authors : *S. Yuva Rani and S. Sandhia Alphonsia *Corresponding Author: adarsh.yuva@gmail.com Full length Article Studies on Exopolysaccharides Produced by Marine Biofilm Forming Bacteria Abstract In general, polysaccharides have many applications in industries such as detergent, textiles, adhesives, oil recovery. For this study, biofilm forming bacteria were isolated from different places in Mahabalipuram costal area. Based on the preliminary screening and secondary screening, four isolates showed efficient ability to produce profuse exopolysaccharides. Exopolysaccharides produced by four potential strains were purified and their protein, sugar were estimated. In order to determine the functional group in the exopolysaccharides, Fourier Transform Infra Red Spectroscopy was done, in which 3391 cm-1 shows O–H stretching band and 1060 cm-1 show polysaccharides. The potential strains are assessed for the surfactant activity and blue agar method in that, the MS3 and MS8 had emulsification ability and it confirms the surfactant ability. Then, the antimicrobial activity of the exopolysaccharides was tested against the fish pathogens. Based, on the phenotypic characteristics studied, the potential strains were identified as Bacillus sp. (MS1), Pseudomonas sp. (MS2), Staphylococcus sp. (MS3) and Alteromonas sp. (MS8). More investigations are needed to acquire its superlative benefits. Keywords: Exopolysaccharides; Biofilms; Emulsification ability; Surfactant ability Authors : S. Rajkumar, D. Jeevanand and *M. Bavya *Corresponding Author: mb87_micro@yahoo.co.in Full length Article SNP Based Drug Interaction Study on the Key Enzymes of Polyol Pathway: A Complication of Diabetes Mellitus Abstract Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic health disorder. It is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. One of the complications of Diabetes Mellitus results in activation of Polyol pathway. Activation of the Polyol pathway results in a decrease of reduced NADP+ and oxidized NAD+; these are necessary cofactors in redox reactions throughout the body. Aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase are the enzymes of Polyol pathway. Excessive activation of the Polyol pathway increases intracellular and extracellular sorbitol concentrations, increased of reactive oxygen species and decreased concentrations of nitric oxide and glutathione. Each of these imbalances can damage cells; in diabetes there are several acting together. Drug designing study was carried out concentrating on the enzymes aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase of Polyol pathway, the drugs selected showed interaction with aldose reductase but showed no interaction with sorbitol dehydrogenase. So the study was concentrated mainly with aldose reductase (rate limiting enzyme). From the results it was concluded that five lead compounds namely Metformine, 1-(4-methylphenyl)-1,3,5-triazaspiro[5-5] undeca-2, 4-diene- 2,4-diamine, 1-(4-flurophenyl) -1,3,5-triazaspiro [5-5]undeca-2,4-diene-2,4-diamine, 1-(4-chlorophenyl)sulfonyl-3-(3 methylbutyl)urea and 1-[4-[2-(cyclopropylmethoxy) ethyl] phenoxy]-3-(isopropyl amino) propan-2-ol showed interaction with the enzyme aldose reductase of Polyol pathway also when their SNP(single nucleotide polymorphism) amino acids were mutated so these compounds were selected as lead compounds from which effective drugs could be built and can be used to restrict the activation of the pathway. Keywords: Hyperglycemia; Polyolpathway; SNPs; Lead Compounds Authors :*N.Arun and P.Kokila *Corresponding Author: aamaravian@gmail.com Short Communication Structural Dynamics of Peptide Nanotubes and Their Conformational Studies Using Molecular Dynamics on DPPC Bilayers Abstract Nanotubes resulting from the self-assembly of cyclic peptides formed by six α-amino acids are inserted into lipid bilayer. Inserting peptide nanotubes into lipid bilayers modulates the permeability properties of the cell wall, thus conferring potential bacteriocidal capability. Interaction of a peptide nanotube formed by cyclic hexapeptides, cyclo [KKLWLW] sub-units, organized in an anti-parallel; β-sheet like channel embedded in a surface of a hydrated dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer was investigated in a 4-ns molecular dynamics trajectory using Schrodinger software. Peptide nanotubes resulting from the self-assembly of cyclic peptides containing alternated D–L-α-amino acids, by means of a network of intermolecular hydrogen bonds, offer a wide range of structural and functional capabilities of biological relevance. Keywords: Cyclic peptide nanotube; Self-assembly; Molecular modeling; Molecular dynamics Authors : P. Senthil Kumar and *D. Jeya Sundara Sharmila *Corresponding Author: djssharmila@gmail.com Short Communication Determination of Antibacterial Activity and MIC of Crude Extract of Abrus precatorius L. Abstract Abrus precatorius L. is the common plant found in the South-Gujarat region. Antibacterial activity from crude Methanolic and Petroleum ether extracts of the legume plant Abrus precatorius (commonly known as Crab's Eye) was carried out. Different parts such as leaves, seeds and roots were taken and extract was prepared to study antibacterial activity on pathogenic as well as opportunistic pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi A, Salmonella paratyphi B, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. All the selected organisms were naturally isolated. Antimicrobial activity was determined by the filter paper disc method. Zone of growth inhibition was observed in case of root extract prepared in both Petroleum ether as well as Methanol against Staphylococcus aureus. Further the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was also determined for both the extracts against Staphlococcus aureus and it was found to be 0.44 mg/ml (440 µg/ml) and 0.40 mg/ml (400 µg/ml) for both petroleum ether extract and methanolic extract respectively. Key words: Antibacterial activity; Filter paper disc method; Zone of inhibition; MIC Authors : Kalpesh Mistry, Mansi Mehta, Nehal Mendpara, Sharmila Gamit and *Gaurav Shah *Corresponding Author: drgaurav@vnsgu.ac.in Short Communication Comparative Studies on Leaf-Epidermal Features of W. Somnifera and W. Obtusifolia – Highly Medicinal Species of India Abstract The leaf-epidermal features of Withania somnifera and Withania obtusifolia were studied with the main aim of evaluating their reliability in determining interspecific relationships among these two species. Both the species are Perennial shrub. The height of W. somnifera is 110–125 cm, while W. obtusifolia is 100–115 cm. The two species tend to share common attributes in the stem, leaf and the floral morphology, when they are grown in same habitat. The stem of the two species is erect-branched from base, yellowish-green and texture. The attributes such as stomata types are different for the two species studied. This study confirms that and leaf-epidermal features are useful in the systematic and biological consideration of W. somnifera and W. obtusifolia, since these two species are morphologically similar. Keywords: Morphology; Leaf epidermis; Withania; Solanaceae; Systematics Authors : *M. Senthil Kumar, A. Aslam, D. VinothKumar, A. Ramachandran and A. Shajahan *Corresponding Author: senthil2323@gmail.com Short Communication Characterization Studies of Extra-Cellular Amylase Enzyme from Mangrove Associated Fungi Hypocrea Lixii Mv1 Abstract Marine scientists are always aware of their role to identify, observe and research the flora and fauna that are confined to the mangrove ecosystem. As per the literature available, the sources of enzymes in India are also spread far and wide across the 70,000 ha of area covered by mangroves. Moreover, mangrove associated fungi has not been explored for enzymes to a satisfactory level as much as fresh water microbes. That, mangroves are a resource of endophytic fungi serving an end number of enzymes that finds their use in industrial processes is a breakthrough in itself. This study indicates the presence of foliar fungi in Rhizophora mucronata, Avicenna officialis and Avicenna marina and their extra-cellular production of amylase were confirmed on G.Y.P agar plates. Further maximum enzyme activity was optimized and the DNA of fungal strains were isolated to sequence the ITS region of 5.8 srRNA with an ITS primer. The novelty of the strain was checked by a BLAST analysis for submission to GENBANK. The present progress of molecular methods used to correlate the roles of foliar fungi with their bioactive metabolites is discussed with precision. Keywords: Hypocrea lixii; Extra-cellular enzyme production; Mangrove associated fungi Authors : Elsa Lycias Joel and *B. Valentin Bhimba *Corresponding Author: bvbhimba@yahoo.co.in