Peptide mass fingerprinting of Gram-positive marine-derived #NIOSBK35 gave us an insight into the proteins involved in conferring arsenic resistance as well as the probable metabolic pathways affected under metal stress. Analysis of the protein profiles obtained from LC/MS QToF (Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry-Quadrupole Time of Flight) resulted in the identification of 689 proteins. Further grouping of these proteins based on the arsenic concentration (0, 250, 500 and 850 ppm) and the time points (6, 9, 12, 18, 24 and 36 h) in growth phase showed that a total of 13 proteins were up-regulated, while 178 proteins were down-regulated across all the concentrations and time points. Arsenic specific proteins like arsenical pump-driving ATPase, ArsR family transcriptional regulator and arsenic operon resistance repressor were found to be highly up-regulated throughout all the conditions indicating their possible involvement in the tolerance to arsenic. MBL fold metallo-hydrolase, a known stress protein, was the only protein that was up-regulated at all time points across all arsenic concentrations. Metabolic pathways like translation, carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, membrane transport, metabolism of cofactors and vitamins, replication and repair, nucleotide metabolism along with stress proteins and hypothetical proteins were found to be significantly expressed. Our results also suggest that arsenic stress at higher levels is negatively affecting the expression of many normal functional proteins required for cell survival.

No abstract

High concentrations of Cr(vi) up-regulated a number of stress-responses in marine-derived Staphylococcus cohnii isolate, but Cr-related previously known proteins were not detected, indicating a probable parallel mechanism for Cr-tolerance.

The inhabitants of the Tones Valley have survived on their traditional management practices for their needs. The paper has looked at traditional systems of forestry and agricultural system management in the west-central Himalayan region. Based on a detailed analysis of traditional knowledge that is linked with biodiversity, natural and human-managed, various possibilities for sustainable management of natural resources, with concerns for sustainable livelihood of local communities have been explored for the tribal region in Tons Valley. It is concluded that, if the development interests of local people are marginalized for a long period of time, they might adopt actions detrimental to the goal of conservation. Capitalization of the positive dimensions of traditional knowledge and overcoming its negative dimensions through conventional science-based inputs could ease the difficult process of securing people's participation in environmental conservation and management together with the socioeconomic development of local communities.

No abstract

Cellular response against different heavy metal stress differs with the metal. Arsenic and chromium are heavy metals and toxic to living systems. The concentration of these metals in seawater is very low. However, due to their solubility in nature, they actively enter cells via various transport mechanisms and cause damage to the cells. Brevibacterium casei #NIOSBA88, a marine-derived, gram-positive isolate was multi-metal tolerant. Proteomic analysis of this isolate in response to arsenic and chromium resulted in the identification of total 2549 proteins, out of which 880 proteins were found to be commonly expressed at 750 mgL −1 arsenic and 100 mgL −1 chromium and in absence of both the metals. In contrast, 533, 212, and 270 proteins were found to be unique in the absence of any metal, 750 mgL −1 of arsenic and 100 mgL −1 of chromium respectively. Proteins such as antibiotic biosynthesis monooxygenase, ArsR family transcriptional regulator, cytochrome C oxidase subunit II, and thioredoxin reductase were exclusively expressed only in response to arsenic and chromium. Other proteins like superoxide dismutase, lipid hydroperoxide reductase, and thioredoxin-disulfide reductase were found to be upregulated in response to both the metals. Most of the proteins involved in the normal cell functioning were found to be downregulated. Major metabolic functions affected include amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, translation, and energy metabolism. Peptide mass fingerprinting of Brevibacterium casei #NIOSBA88 exposed to arsenic and chromium respectively revealed the deleterious effect of these metals on the bacterium and its strategy to overcome the stress.

No abstract

Alkaloid biogenesis in Claviceps sp. SD-58 was found to be associated with low growth and reduced consumption of sucrose and mannitol. The activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and aldolase increased up to 9 d of the fermentation cycle and then declined. A close parallel between the operation of pentose phosphate and glycolytic pathways and tryptophan content was demonstrated. An inverse relation between the operation of citric acid and glyoxylate cycles and the ability of the cells to synthesize alkaloids was noted. The role of carbon metabolic pathways during fermentative production of alkaloids is discussed.