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Castor protease homologous to microbial forms.

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Seed maturation in castor is accompanied by a tremendous degree of pro-protein processing in vacuolar sub-cellular components  with a clear implication for the proteases to generate them functionally active for the expression of this complex developmental  phenomenon in castor life span.Researchers from Japan have identified a novel vacuole processing enzyme which seem to process those inactive pro-proteins in vacuoles.Immunolocalization study was performed to confirm its existence in vacuoles and association with target proteins.Intrestingly,the enzyme as such is inactive after its direct synthesis from ribosomes but later processed to act against pro-proteins.

Further transcript profiling studies  revealed a startling fact that the vacuole processing enzyme from castor bean is analogous in terms of its functional domains to its isoforms present in S.mansoni and E.coli that attributed to its evolutionary relations.

Owing to developments in molecular genetics, identification of proteins  with evolutionary homology is possible on time and without ambiguity.Its medical siginificance is also noticed to a greater height when a suitable inhibitor or a regulatory molecule is devised by exploiting the isoform from castor bean instead of a direct experimentation with pathogen derived enzyme which is tedious to have containment and demanding a technical skill  under most of the circumstances besides our regular study over this protein in castor physiology.

For reference:http://www.plantcell.org/content/5/11/1651.full.pdf

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Extreme enzymes noticed in castor beans

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Castor chemistry is a complex subject and an extensive focus has been made so far over its lipid components and quantitative magnitude of them.However biochemists have realized well the macromolecular co-ordination at the cellular level to cause the emergence of complex traits that is witnessed at the phenotypic level.This logic stood as one of the basis for persuasion of research in castor enzyme chemistry associated with edible oil metabolism.

Scientists of this study have made a crude enzyme extract,soluble at acidic pH and incubated it with multiple, lipid substrates (reactants)  purified of castor oil origin.They were able to observe a differential hydrolytic activity over the substrates with lipids having short chain saturated and long chain unsaturated fatty acids being catalytically susceptible to a maximum extent which led the researchers to identify acidic lipases in their extract.They further confirmed that their crude extract is infact a lipase mixture through its biased sensitivity to inhibitors and substrates. Enzyme kinetics data  revealed that the enzyme mixture tends to follow a complex order and demand for an external emulsifier to achieve an accelerated catalytic action,proves to be a typical behaviour linked with catabolic lipases.

Experimental research is comprehensive to initiate in-depth enzyme  characterization in multiple biochemical dimensions. It followed a classical pattern in biochemistry so far in molecular profiling of seed materials that has not been studied in the concerned direction in past.Purification and in vitro analytical studies in these acidic lipases would answer their significance in lipid turnover processes in castor beans.

For reference:http://www.jlr.org/content/3/1/99.abstract?related-urls=yes&legid=jlr;3/1/99

Valuable metabolite probe from castor meal

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Castor meal is a concentrated residue matter produced after extraction of oil from castor seeds.Its application is so restricted due to ricin and poor molecular biochemical knowledge about the material.A surprising breakthrough has been made by the discovery of galactinol, a carbohydrate derivative associated with raffinose metabolism in plants to an appreciable extent on mass basis.

Experimental designs including chromatography and mass spectrometry were applied to isolate and confirm the purity of galactinol in castor meal.The scientists further stated that it is exciting as research in past in the concerned field is hindered by a lack of availability of commercial source of galactinol.

Galactinol discovery in castor meal illuminates the potential of castor meal which is currently applied as a field manure in most of the castor growing regions.Identification of high value metabolites would tremendously add the commercial value to this product on an international scale.

For further reference:http://www.springerlink.com/content/h25474813h184r73/

Novel nylons from castor oil

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Nylon is a  polymer with a wide spectrum of industrial applications.It is generally available in different grades depending on the nature of monomeric constituents of which Nylon6,10 and Nylon 11 are of special attention as their constituents are derived from castor oil.

Nylon 11 is a modern day polymer first produced by Arkema,France in 2009 by utilizing a castor oil derivative, aminoundecanoic acid which is unique to serve as a reactant for polymer synthesis by self-polycondensation. According to the firm,they commercialized the product as Rilsan and claims that the technology is accessed by firms Japan’ Unitika and Monnet and Sofila of France and proved to be satisfactory.They further claim that the products generated from Nylon 11 are dimensional stability, abrasion and thermal resistance etc.

In spite of its advantages,sources say that the yarns seem to be expensive and non biodegradable which may tend to raise the environmental and industrial concerns over the large and long range application of this wonderful polymer

For reference:http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb6547/is_2010_Nov/ai_n56249443/?tag=content;col1

Analysis of sub-cellular components in castor seed

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Castor seed is an evolved propagative material with a great molecular complexity in endosperm. Biochemical analysis of protein bodies in castor seed endosperm has been made.Protein bodies account for a major fraction in the total protein content in castor seed and is thought to involve in an important role in the mobilization of nutrients during seed development and germination.Scientists from an University in USA have isolated them from endosperm tissues and identified two principal units namely globoids and crystalloids embedded in an amorphous matrix.A protein fingerprint of buffer and detergent soluble matrix and crystalloid fractions from protein bodies was examined and revealed complexes and modified proteins including the toxin Ricin present in the soluble fraction.The principal techniques applied in this experimental study were gel electrophoresis and chromatography for resolution and analytical purposes.

Studies of such type are noteworthy to identify novel members of proteins along with their sub-cellular localization and biological functions.

For further reading: http://www.plantphysiol.org/content/58/6/710.short

Proteases characterization in germinating castor seeds

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Castor, a key agricultural crop has long been studied at the morphological level for understanding its behaviour.Researchers have deepened their approach and made an attempt to implicate the phenotypic, germination phenomenon in castor with the molecular level of proteins.During germination, the energy reserves are mobilized from endosperm to emerging plant organs which appears to be regulated by catalysis.Scientists from University of California have identified two important proteolytic enzymes called them as aminopeptidases from castor bean endosperm after an experimental confirmation in their activity against synthetic substrates.They even found the enzymes’ functional activity under physiological conditions was at the peak during the initial phase of germination and completely vanished during endosperm senescence.The study was so robust which permitted the researchers to further identify other classes of proteases associated with castor seed germination but they showed an inverse relation with previous members in terms of their temporal presence.

Results of this study clearly indicate that proteases play a vital role in castor seed germination as we normally observe with plant seed germination and a comprehensive profiling of proteases would enable biologists to exploit them as candidate markers for the selection of seeds with effective germination and productive stand in the field.

For reference: http://www.plantphysiol.org/content/62/5/746.full.pdf

Mounting uncertainity in castor oil prices

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Castor oil is valued in the industrial world for its flexible applications but the  end user industries in the castor oil value chain continue to remain concerned over its price volatility in the market.Castor seeds bold type showed a surge by Rs:25 to Rs:5325 from the previous days close of Rs:5300.This trend was  applicable to industrial grade castor oil as well with prices increased slightly from Rs:10,900 to Rs10,950.Castor seed futures for June also shows an hiked pricing trend.It is vital to note that the prices are in fact doubles in a relatively short span of 6-8 months from the previous year.

Experts point to an increased demand and limited supply from the  market as prime factors for this crisis in castor but it would most probably have a serious impact on the revenue generation and  export of castor oil from India as the  importers particularly from the West seem to expect a consistency in the prices for their long term castor trading with India.

For further reference:http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/refined-palmolein-easeslow-demand/130004/&tp=on

Profiling of catalyst in castor seed

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Castor bean biochemistry has long been thoroughly analysed in the context of lipids as they are industrially potent metabolites but profiling of other bio-molecules and their control over co-ordinated metabolism are not comprehensive.

Biochemists have made research on castor bean derived enzyme,phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase(PEPC) which is an ubiquitous enzyme,implicated to carbon metabolism.The level and functional activity of this enzyme is  variable in castor seed and subjected to different molecular mechanisms for a regulation in functional activity during the course of seed development  .Recently, people have identified a modification called mono-ubiquitination in PEPC but its relevance to enzyme’s activity is not well understood and hence to identify its significance, biochemists have purified the enzyme and subjected for in vitro activity,inhibitor sensitivity and other physiochemical parameters.The results indicated a striking difference in enzyme behaviour between modified and unmodified versions with monoubiquitinated forms had a increased functional activity and enabled the researchers to detect the importance of this mechanism in developing castor seeds.Immunoelectroblotting and advanced mass spectrometry were the major analytical tools of this study.

The research is unique as it is often proved that ubiquitination will normally direct the labeled targets for proteolytic degradation for turn over.However in this case it is contrary and proves that this post translational modification in proteins is not completely favouring protein catabolism.

For further info:http://www.jbc.org/content/283/44/29650.full.pdf+html

Molecular profiling of castor allergic protein

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Castor seed is a potent source of allergic proteins and 2s albumin is a principal protein among them.Scientists have monitored the  expression of this protein over different developmental phases of the castor seed and plant.They were able to observe the expression of this protein  after 2 weeks of pollination and continued to exist till the completion of seed germination.Post germination events witnessed a loss in the levels of this allergen to a significant event.The researchers also detected that the protein adopts a post translational modification and found to be localized in endosperm and cotyledons of the seed during the course of its existence. Immuno-electroblotting and Quantitative PCR were the techniques applied in this research study to address the problems.

2S albumins are potent allergens from castor beans which affects the cultivation of castor in several countries as field workers find it difficult to physically handle the oil seed.Understanding the expression pattern of the allergen would assist the scientists to regulate the synthesis of this protein and ultimately generate a seed with levels of 2s albumin safe to cultivate and harvest castor.

For further reference:http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf071272p

Toxicological analysis of ricin protein.

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Ricin is a toxic protein in Castor.Italian researchers have conducted an ocular toxicological study of ricin in rabbits.They administered variable concentrations of the toxin onto the rabbit’s eyes and evaluated its toxic function.The experimental study revealed that the toxin induced inflammation response in eyes of experimental animals and they even removed the eyes and noticed microscopic pathological manifestations of the toxin.As a way of identifying the neutralizer to the toxin,they evaluated phosphate buffer and 10% lactose solutions with the former had no effect while latter exhibited a partial toxin neutralization activity.The dead subjects were also analyzed.Results indicated that an internal injury to the organs was also imposed by the toxin which further made scientists to conclude that the inability of the neutralizer solutions was due to the rapid absorption  and circulation of the toxin in the system.

This research information is of immense significance as history has witnessed the castor toxin as a biological weapon in Georgi Markov’ assassination.So research studies would be valuable tools to best combat the toxin under the conditions of emergency.

For detailed Reference:http://www.iovs.org/content/46/4/1113.full.pdf