The nuclear matrix is the structure that persists after removal of chromatin and loosely bound components from the nucleus. It consists of a peripheral lamina-pore complex and an intricate internal fibrogranular structure. Little is known about the molecular structure of this proteinaceous internal network. Our aim is to identify the major proteins of the internal nuclear matrix of HeLa 53 cell...

Two genes, relA and spoT, are known to be responsible for the production of ppGpp when E. coli cells undergoing amino acid starvation initiate the stringent response. In this modified state, cells have been reported to up-regulate processes which confer resistance to antibiotics. However, the individual contribution of relA was not separated from potential effects of spoT. By using 3 strains of...

E.coli, an important vector distributing antimicrobial resistance in the environment, was found to be multi-drug resistant, abundant, and genetically diverse in the Matang mangrove estuaries, Malaysia. One-third (34%) of the estuarine E. coli was multi-drug resistant. The highest antibiotic resistance prevalence was observed for aminoglycosides (83%) and beta-lactams (37%). Phylogenetic groups ...

A series of chalcones a1-20 bearing a 4-OMe groups on the A-ring were initially synthesized and their anticancer activities towards HepG2 cells evaluated. Subsequently, a series of chalcones b1-42 bearing methoxy groups at the 2' and 6'-positions of the B-ring were synthesized and their anticancer activities towards five human cancer cell lines (HepG2, HeLa, MCF-7, A549 and SW1990) and two non-...

Aminoglycosides are a class of antibiotics that inhibit protein synthesis in bacteria by binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit. However, it has been reported that certain aminoglycosides have secondary effects on the cell’s overall carbohydrate concentration. Previous studies have also reported an increase in capsule size. This study attempted to investigate the effects of kanamycin and streptom...

In the emerging issue of increased multi-resistant properties in food borne pathogens, zinc oxide (ZnO) and nano-particle zinc oxide (nano-ZnO) are being used increasingly as antimicrobial agents. Thus, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of nano-ZnO towards pathogens microbes Bacillus subtilus NRRL B-543, Bacillus megaterium ATCC 25848, Staph...

We attempted to improve a protocol to allow for the consistent extraction of total RNA from prokaryotic cells. Total RNA was isolated from Escherichia coli B23 and yeast cells using Trizol. In the comparison of two different protocols it was found that performing the phase separation independent from the bead bashing results in increased yield and purity of the RNA. We also attempted to improve...