scholarly journals Evaluation of Enzymatic Activity in the Transformation of Nectar into Honey in Indigenous Rockbee, Apis dorsata F.

Author(s):  
M. V. Balasubramanyam

Enzymes form integral part and play decisive role in biological Systems and metabolic network. The present studies delve on the role of enzymes viz., invertase, amylase, glucose oxidase and catalase in nectar-honey transformation during May 2019 to April 2020. Data on enzymatic activity in all the five stages  related to honey formation from nectar i.e., floral nectar (fn), honey crop of foragers (hf), honey crop of house bees (hh), unsealed honey cells (uh) and sealed honey cells (sh) was evaluated. Invertase in fn and sh cells was found minimum of 0.00 ml and maximum of 42.40 ml, respectively. Similarly, amylase in the fn was least (0.00 ml) and highest in sh (16.01 ml) and catalase was observed to be 0.001 ml in floral nector and highest in sealed honey cells i.e., 16.01 ml and 4.96 ml,respectively. Accordingly, glucose oxidase in fn and sh cells was minimum of 0.00 ml and maximum of 6.68 ml respectively. Correspondingly, catalase in the fn was least (0.00 ml) and highest in sh (4.96 ml).  The analysis of variance of invertase and amylase was significant at 1 % level (p<0.01), whereas glucose oxidase and catalase Were statistically non-significant at 1 % level (p<0.01). Results have confirmed that the sources of all enzymes are instigated from hypopharyngeal, post-cerebral, thoracic, labial and mandibular glands of foragers and house bees which are accountable for honey formation. Further, each enzyme is substrates specific which are discussed in ensuing paper.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 107 (9) ◽  
pp. 3609-3616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evgeny Edovitsky ◽  
Immanuel Lerner ◽  
Eyal Zcharia ◽  
Tamar Peretz ◽  
Israel Vlodavsky ◽  
...  

Heparanase is an endoglycosidase that cleaves heparan sulfate (HS), the main polysaccharide of the basement membrane (BM). HS is responsible for BM integrity and barrier function. Hence, enzymatic degradation of HS in the vascular subendothelial BM is a prerequisite for extravasation of immune cells and plasma components during inflammation. Here, we demonstrate a highly coordinated local heparanase induction upon elicitation of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction in the mouse ear. By monitoring in vivo activation of luciferase gene driven by the heparanase promoter, we demonstrate activation of heparanase transcription at an early stage of DTH. We report that heparanase is produced locally by the endothelium at the site of DTH-associated inflammation. Key DTH mediators, tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ, were found to induce heparanase in cultured endothelial cells. Endothelium emerges as an essential cellular source of heparanase enzymatic activity that, in turn, allows for remodeling of the vascular BM, increased vessel permeability, and extravasation of leukocytes and plasma proteins. In vivo administration of antiheparanase siRNA or an inhibitor of heparanase enzymatic activity effectively halted DTH inflammatory response. Collectively, our results highlight the decisive role of endothelial heparanase in DTH inflammation and its potential as a promising target for anti-inflammatory drug development.


Author(s):  
K. E. Stupak ◽  

The article deals with analyzing the main streams of the education policy in Finland, which reflect the relationship between a person and society in modern socio–economic conditions. Such policy directs the system of education to change the person and his mind himself. Finland using its education system, has long before been concerned about preparing people for the future by reforming approaches to teaching in schools and higher education institutions. As a result, it has achieved world–wide recognition and top positions in various ratings have resulted. Therefore, today there is a great interest of scientists in certain issues of education functioning in Finland. Thus, G. Androshchuk, V. Butova. I. Zhernokleeva, T. Pushkareva and others study in their works the purpose and decisive role of Finland's education policy in the development of the education system. S. Grinyuk and V. Zagvozdkin pay attention to the practical the steps of reforming the Finnish system of education. T. Drobyshevsk investigates the system of providing educational services in Finland as a sector of knowledge production. L. Volynets, P. Kukharchuk consider the principles of the state education policy of Finland. L. Smolskaya examines the role of the state policy in implementing the "Finnish phenomenon"; P. Basyliuk and Yu. Kulykova, focus attention on the study of the evolution of the system of higher education in Finland; O. Scherbak reveals peculiarities of vocational education and training.


Author(s):  
Dunja Apostolov-Dimitrijevic

This paper explains political democratization in Post-Milosevic Serbia, utilizing two different accounts of the democratization process: one rooted in the rational choice framework and the other in structuralism. While rational choice explains the decisive role of political leadership in overcoming path dependence, the structuralist explanations show the transnational linkages that encourage democratization in the face of domestic setbacks. This particular debate between the two types of explanations represents the larger debate concerning the role of internal factors and external linkages in propelling democratization in transitional societies. The paper concludes by integrating the two sets of explanations offered by each theoretical perspective, in order to develop a coherent understanding of Serbia's democratization.   Full text available at: https://doi.org/10.22215/rera.v9i1.240


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 216
Author(s):  
Alanna C. Tseng ◽  
Vivek R. Nerurkar ◽  
Kabi R. Neupane ◽  
Helmut Kae ◽  
Pakieli H. Kaufusi

West Nile virus (WNV) nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) harbors the viral triphosphatase and helicase for viral RNA synthesis and, together with NS2B, constitutes the protease responsible for polyprotein processing. NS3 is a soluble protein, but it is localized to specialized compartments at the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), where its enzymatic functions are essential for virus replication. However, the mechanistic details behind the recruitment of NS3 from the cytoplasm to the RER have not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we employed immunofluorescence and biochemical assays to demonstrate that NS3, when expressed individually and when cleaved from the viral polyprotein, is localized exclusively to the cytoplasm. Furthermore, NS3 appeared to be peripherally recruited to the RER and proteolytically active when NS2B was provided in trans. Thus, we provide evidence for a potential additional role for NS2B in not only serving as the cofactor for the NS3 protease, but also in recruiting NS3 from the cytoplasm to the RER for proper enzymatic activity. Results from our study suggest that targeting the interaction between NS2B and NS3 in disrupting the NS3 ER localization may be an attractive avenue for antiviral drug discovery.


BMC Zoology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva de la Peña ◽  
Javier Pérez-González ◽  
José Martín ◽  
Giovanni Vedel ◽  
Juan Carranza

Abstract Background In polygynous mammals, signalling may play a decisive role in mating behavior, mediating the intensity of male fights and female mate choice. During the rutting season, male red deer may show a visible dark patch in their ventral fur. Recently, this patch has been suggested to act as a flexible sexual signal, due to its relationships with other variables such as age, body size, antler development, volatile compounds, or the competitive environment. The analysis of fur pigmentation at the ventral patch suggests that this might also visually indicate the male intrinsic predisposition to take part in mating competition. Results To assess the possible role of this trait as a communicative signal related to mate competition, we used red deer behavioral observations during the rut in Doñana National Park (Spain) to examine the link between the degree of expression of the dark ventral patch and the rutting activity (assessed from both intra-and-inter-sexual behaviors). Consistent with our predictions, we found in a field study that males with large dark patches showed a higher frequency of rutting behaviors (mainly roaring and flehmen), more interactions with females, and attained larger harem sizes. Conclusions The dark ventral patch was a better predictor of male behavior than antler tines or territory holding, thus standing as a short-term indicator of male willingness to invest in mating competition.


Semiotica ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Ranta

Abstract The theoretical debate on the nature of narrative has been mainly concerned with literary narratives, whereas forms of non-literary and especially pictorial narrativity have been somewhat neglected. In this paper, however, I shall discuss narrativity specifically with regard to pictorial objects in order to clarify how pictorial storytelling may be based on the activation of mentally stored action and scene schemas. Approaches from cognitive psychology, such as the work of Schank, Roger C. & Robert P. Abelson. 1977. Scripts, plans, goals and understanding. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum; Mandler, Jean Matter. 1984. Stories, scripts, and scenes: Aspects of schema theory. London/Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum; Schank, Roger C. 1995. Tell me a story: Narrative and intelligence. Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press, suggest that cognition crucially depends on the storage and retrieval of action scripts or schemata, that is, narrative structures, which may occur at various levels of abstraction. These schemas incorporate generalized knowledge about event sequences, such as the order in which specific events will take place; causal, enabling, or conventionalized relations between these events, and what kind of events occur in certain action sequences. There also are scene schemas that are characterized by spatial rather than temporal relations. Further kinds of schemas seem also to play a decisive role. Drawing upon considerations from schema and script theory, I will focus on some concrete examples of pictorial narration, more specifically depictions of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, where narrative schema structures become involved and, indeed, the comprehensibility of the pictures as such presuppose mental script representations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 5657
Author(s):  
Seounghun Lee ◽  
Hyo-Jung Shin ◽  
Chan Noh ◽  
Song-I Kim ◽  
Young-Kwon Ko ◽  
...  

Activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in microglia plays a decisive role in the progress of neuropathic pain, and the inhibitor of kappa B (IκB) is a protein that blocks the activation of NF-κB and is degraded by the inhibitor of NF-κB kinase subunit beta (IKBKB). The role of IKBKB is to break down IκB, which blocks the activity of NF-kB. Therefore, it prevents the activity of NK-kB. This study investigated whether neuropathic pain can be reduced in spinal nerve ligation (SNL) rats by reducing the activity of microglia by delivering IKBKB small interfering RNA (siRNA)-encapsulated poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles. PLGA nanoparticles, as a carrier for the delivery of IKBKB genes silencer, were used because they have shown potential to enhance microglial targeting. SNL rats were injected with IKBKB siRNA-encapsulated PLGA nanoparticles intrathecally for behavioral tests on pain response. IKBKB siRNA was delivered for suppressing the expression of IKBKB. In rats injected with IKBKB siRNA-encapsulated PLGA nanoparticles, allodynia caused by mechanical stimulation was reduced, and the secretion of pro-inflammatory mediators due to NF-κB was reduced. Delivering IKBKB siRNA through PLGA nanoparticles can effectively control the inflammatory response and is worth studying as a treatment for neuropathic pain.


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