ß -Glucosidases from the fungus trichoderma: an efficient cellulase machinery in biotechnological applications.

ß-glucosidases catalyze the selective cleavage of glucosidic linkages and are an important class of enzymes having significant prospects in industrial biotechnology. These are classified in family 1 and family 3 of glycosyl hydrolase family. ß-glucosidases, particularly from the fungus Trichoderma, are widely recognized and used for the saccharification of cellulosic biomass for biofuel production. With the rising trends in energy crisis and depletion of fossil fuels, alternative strategies for renewable energy sources need to be developed. However, the major limitation accounts for low production of ß-glucosidases by the hyper secretory strains of Trichoderma. In accordance with the increasing significance of ß-glucosidases in commercial applications, the present review provides a detailed insight of the enzyme family, their classification, structural parameters, properties, and studies at the genomics and proteomics levels. Furthermore, the paper discusses the enhancement strategies employed for their utilization in biofuel generation. Therefore, ß-glucosidases are prospective toolbox in bioethanol production, and in the near future, it might be successful in meeting the requirements of alternative renewable sources of energy.

Major Depressive Disorder - A co-morbid condition in a case of spino-cerebellar ataxia with writer's cramp.

The psychiatric manifestrations are 77% in patients with degenerative cerebellar diseases. The most common diagnoses are depressive disorders, personality changes and cognitive impairment. Here we report a case of major depressive disorder in a patient with spinocerebellar ataxia with writer's cramp.

Stevens johnson syndrome during treatment with lithium and valproate in mood disorder: a report of two cases.

Very rarely Stevens Johnson Syndrome develops following drug therapy particularly Lithium and Valproate. Worldwide, the reports regarding Lithium and Valproate induced Stevens Johnson Syndrome are very few. Here, we present two cases of Stevens Johnson Syndrome following treatment with Lithium and Valproate for Mood Disorder.

The effect of sugar mill effluent on enzyme activities of rice seedlings.

The effect of sugar mill effluent on the activities of peroxidase, amylase, and nitrate reductase of rice (Oryza Sativa L. C.V. Mushoori) seedlings have been investigated. In addition, an attempt was also made to investigate effluent-induced changes in the activities of mitochondrial enzymes, such as succinate dehydrogenase, during germination of rice seedlings. The effects were studied in relation to both concentration of effluent and time of exposure. The activity of all enzymes tested, except succinate dehydrogenase, decreased during effluent treatment. A marked increase in succinate dehydrogenase activity was noticed at various concentrations of effluent treatment. When time-dependent changes in succinate dehydrogenase activity were followed a nearly threefold increase was found with 12 hr of treatment after which a rapid loss was noticed. A correlation was established between the retardation of growth and development of effluent-treated rice seedlings with the activities of some key enzymes regulating growth and development.

Effect of a mercurial ayurvedic drug (kajyoli) on the ion concentration and respiratory activity in brain, liver and kidney of the albino rat.

The effect of a mercurial ayurvedic drug (kajyoli), on the concentration of Na+, K+ and Ca2+ in rat liver, kidney and brain, and on the respiratory activity of these tissues is reported. The doses used were 20 mg and 40 mg X day-1 X kg-1 body wt. daily for 30 days, the lower level being equivalent to the human dose. A marked dose-dependent decrease in respiratory activity occurred in the three tissues. The only significant changes seen in the ion concentration were a decrease in Na+ at the higher dose level in the kidney and a dose-dependent decrease in Ca2+ in the liver.

Analysis of the effect of industrial effluent on pigments, proteins, nucleic acids, and the 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol Hill reaction of rice seedlings.

The effect of an industrial effluent on cellular macromolecular composition and indophenol photochemical activity of isolated chloroplasts of rice (Orvza sativa L. C. V. Mushoori) seedlings have been investigated. Each experiment consisted of two parts. One was the effect of various concentrations and the other was the time-dependent changes induced by the undiluted effluent. The total pigments, proteins, and nucleic acids of rice seedlings declined with an increase in effluent concentration and the time of incubation. The loss in contents of macromolecules like deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), and protein was relatively more marked in the root than in the shoot. RNA and chlorophyll (Chl) contents of the seedlings were found most susceptible to effluent stress. Loss in Hill reaction activity measured as photoreduction of 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol (DCPIP) of isolated chloroplasts could be correlated in a general way with the loss of pigments, proteins and nucleic acids. Diphenyl carbazide- and Mn2+-induced restoration of loss in DCPIP photoreduction suggests that the damage of oxygen evolving systems is the initial site of action of the effluent.

Toxicological effects of dichlorvos (DDVP) on brain and liver acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity of Tilapia mossambica, Peters.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity of T. mossambica in relation to the interacting effects of aging and sub-lethal concentrations of Dichlorvos was studied. The enzyme activity of brain and liver decreased with increasing size (and age) and DDVP-exposed fish showed considerable inhibition of brain and liver AChE. The degree of enzyme inhibition followed a positive correlation with the insecticide concentration and the time of exposure. Brain exhibited a higher degree of enzyme inhibition in all age groups of fish as compared to liver. Small fish were more susceptible to the insecticide with respect to AChE activity. When transferred to clean water most of the exposed fish recovered their AChE activity and the recovery was greater in liver than in brain. Small fish exhibited comparatively a high level of recovery in the AChE activity. The degree of recovery followed an inverse relationship with the time of exposure.