Amperometric determination of serum total cholesterol with nanoparticles of cholesterol esterase and cholesterol oxidase.

We describe the preparation of glutaraldehyde cross-linked and functionalized cholesterol esterase nanoparticles (ChENPs) and cholesterol oxidase nanoparticles (ChOxNPs) aggregates and their co-immobilization onto Au electrode for improved amperometric determination of serum total cholesterol. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images of ChENPs and ChOxNPs showed their spherical shape and average size of 35.40 and 56.97 nm, respectively. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies of Au electrode confirmed the co-immobilization of enzyme nanoparticles (ENPs). The biosensor exhibited optimal response at pH 5.5 and 40°C within 5 s when polarized at +0.25 V versus Ag/AgCl. The working/linear range of the biosensor was 10-700 mg/dl for cholesterol. The sensor showed high sensitivity and measured total cholesterol as low as 0.1 mg/dl. The biosensor was evaluated and employed for total cholesterol determination in sera of apparently healthy and diseased persons. The analytical recovery of added cholesterol was 90%, whereas the within-batch and between-batch coefficients of variation (CVs) were less than 2% and less than 3%. There was a good correlation (r = 0.99) between serum cholesterol values as measured by the standard enzymic colorimetric method and the current method. The initial activity of ENPs/working electrode was reduced by 50% during its regular use (200 times) over a period of 60 days when stored dry at 4°C.

Genome organisation and sequence comparison suggest intraspecies incongruence in M RNA of Watermelon bud necrosis virus.

Watermelon bud necrosis virus (WBNV), a member of the genus Tospovirus, family Bunyaviridae is an important viral pathogen in watermelon cultivation in India. The complete genome sequence properties of WBNV are not available. In the present study, the complete M RNA sequence and the genome organisation of a WBNV isolate infecting watermelon in Delhi (WBNV-wDel) were determined. The M RNA was 4,794 nucleotides (nt) long and potentially coded for a movement protein (NSm) of 34.22 kDa (307 amino acids) on the viral sense strand and a Gn/Gc glycoprotein precursor of 127.15 kDa (1,121 amino acids) on the complementary strand. The two open reading frames were separated by an intergenic region of 402 nt. The 5' and 3' untranslated regions were 55 and 47 nt long, respectively, containing complementary termini typical of tospoviruses. WBNV-wDel was most closely related (79.1% identity) to Groundnut bud necrosis virus, an important tospovirus that occurs in several crops in India, and was different (63.3-75.2% identity) from the other cucurbit-infecting tospoviruses known to occur in Taiwan and Japan. Sequence analysis of NSm and Gn/Gc revealed phylogenetic incongruence between WBNV-wDel and another isolate originating from central India (WBNV-Wm-Som isolate). The Wm-Som isolate showed evolutionary divergence from the wDel isolate in the Gn/Gc protein (74.6% identity) potentially due to recombination with the other tospoviruses that are known to occur in India. This is the first report of a comparison of complete sequences of M RNA of WBNV.

Stable genetic transformation of Vigna mungo L. Hepper via Agrobacterium tumefaciens.

Vigna mungo is one of the large-seeded grain legumes that has not yet been transformed. We report here for the first time the production of morphologically normal and fertile transgenic plants from cotyledonary-node explants inoculated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens carrying binary vector pCAMBIA2301, the latter of which contains a neomycin phosphotransferase ( nptII) gene and a beta-glucuronidase (GUS) gene ( uidA) interrupted with an intron. The transformed green shoots, selected and rooted on medium containing kanamycin, tested positive for nptII and uidA genes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. These shoots were established in soil and grown to maturity to collect the seeds. Mechanical wounding of the explants prior to inoculation with Agrobacterium, time lag in regeneration due to removal of the cotyledons from explants and a second round of selection at the rooting stage were found to be critical for transformation. Analysis of T(0) plants showed the expression and integration of uidA into the plant genome. GUS activity in leaves, roots, flowers, anthers and pollen grains was detected by histochemical assay. PCR analysis of T(1) progeny revealed a Mendelian transgene inheritance pattern. The transformation frequency was 1%, and 6-8 weeks were required for the generation of transgenics.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated genetic transformation of mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) - a recalcitrant grain legume.

Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Vigna radiata L. Wilczek has been achieved. Hypocotyl and primary leaves excised from 2-day-old in-vitro grown seedlings produced transgenic calli on B(5) basal medium supplemented with 5x10(-6) M BAP, 2.5x10(-6) M each of 2,4-D and NAA and 50 mg l(-1) kanamycin after co-cultivation with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains, LBA4404 (pTOK233), EHA105 (pBin9GusInt) and C58C1 (pIG121Hm) all containing beta-glucuronidase (gusA) and neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII) marker genes. Transformed calli were found resistant to kanamycin up to 1000 mg(.)l(-1). Gene expression of kanamycin resistance (nptII) and gusA in transformed calli was demonstrated by nptII assay and GUS histochemical analysis, respectively. Stable integration of T-DNA into the genome of transformed calli of mungbean was confirmed by Southern blot analysis. Transgenic calli could not regenerate shoots on B(5) or B(5) containing different cytokinins or auxins alone or in combination. However, for the first time, transformed green shoots showing strong GUS activity were regenerated directly from cotyledonary node explants cultured after co-cultivation with LBA4404 (pTOK233) on B(5) medium containing 6-benzylaminopurine (5x10(-7) M) and 75 mg l(-1) kanamycin. The putative transformed shoots were rooted on B(5)+indole-3-butyric acid (5x10(-6) M) within 10-14 days and resulted plantlets subsequently developed flowers and pods with viable seeds in vitro after 20 days of root induction. The stamens, pollen grains and T(0) seeds showed GUS activity. Molecular analysis of putative transformed plants revealed the integration and expression of transgenes in T(0) plants and their seeds.

In vitro multiplication of Peganum harmala--an important medicinal plant.

The frequency of shoot regeneration and multiplication of P. harmala was influenced by the type of explant and kind and concentration of hormones. Of the various seedling explants, cotyledonary node exhibited maximum shoot regeneration frequency from axillary region on MS medium supplemented with 5 microM BAP. Addition of 0.1 microM NAA enhanced the efficacy of BAP for multiple shoot regeneration as well as improved the growth of shoots. BAP (5 microM) in combination with NAA (0.1 microM) was found to be the optimal for inducing an average of 4-5 shoots per explant in 75% of the cultures within 5 weeks. Replacement of BAP with other cytokinins at equimolar concentration of BAP i.e. 5 microM was not effective in inducing multiple shoots. Regenerated shoots were rooted on MS medium containing IBA (8 microM) with 80% efficiency. The plantlets were successfully established in soil where 80% of them developed into morphological normal plants.

Plant regeneration from cotyledonary node explants of mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek).

Sexually-mature mungbean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) plants were efficiently regenerated from cotyledonary node explants. The explants were capable of directly developing multiple shoots on basal media devoid of any growth regulators. The shoot multiplication was influenced by media composition, growth regulators, age of donor seedling and explant type. The explants with both the cotyledons attached to the embryonic axis excised from 4-d-old seedlings, produced the highest number of shoots (5 or 6) in 100% of the cultures within 2 weeks on B5 basal medium (BBM) containing BAP or 2-iP, respectively, (at 5x10(-7)M) and 3% sucrose. Shoots elongated and developed better using BAP. Increasing micronutrients, carbohydrate and nitrogen levels in the medium above the original formulation of B5 basal medium appeared to be of no benefit for increasing the number of shoots. The shoots were rooted on basal MS medium or MS containing 10(-6) of NAA, IAA or IBA. This protocol was found applicable to six other cultivars of mungbean. One hundred rooted shoots were successfully established in soil in the glasshouse, where 90% of them survived. The regenerated plants flowered precociously, but produced normal pods and viable seeds.

In vitro high frequency plant regeneration of a tree legume Tamarindus indica (L.).

Optimal culture conditions for high frequency plant regeneration from excised cotyledons of Tamarindus indica were established. Maximum shoot bud differentiation (100%) occurred when the adaxial surface of the entire cotyledon (excised from 12-d old seedlings) was in contact with MS medium containing 5×10(-6)M BAP. On MS alone only roots were formed. Shoot or root formation was confined to nodal tissue at the top of the notch present on the adaxial surface at the proximal end of the cotyledon. Thirty-four to 95 shoots were regenerated in a 4 month period from individual cotyledons. Shoots were rooted on MS with 5.7×10(-6)M IAA. IAA (5.7×10(-7)M) alone induced complete plant formation. Regenerated plants were established in the soil with 70% success.