Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2008

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2008 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Acid phosphatase from snail heamolymph: a cheap and convenient source of enzyme for kinetic parameters determination

Femi Kayode Agboola* and Adeyinka Afolayan

Department of Biochemistry, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife 220001, Nigeria.

Accepted 14 February, 2008

Abstract

The study of enzymes occupies a very important position in biological, medical and industrial research. Also, the satisfactory performance of an enzyme assay provides a good introduction to biochemical techniques. This experiment presents a good introductory project to students for the estimation of the kinetic parameters of an enzyme. The spectrophotometric/colorimetric assay of acid phosphatase is very simple with a readily available substrate, p-nitrophenyl phosphate, which can easily be purchased, and other common laboratory reagents; sodium hydroxide, sodium acetate and ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA). The snail is cheap and the heamolymph collected required no hemolysis and/or centrifugation. The assay method does not require an additional reagent for colour development. Earlier acid phosphatase had been found to be present in a relatively high activity in the heamolymph of the giant African snail, Archachatina marginata, and is highly specific for p-nitrophenyl phosphate.

Key words: Acid phosphatase, snail, Archachatina marginata, heamolymph, p-nitrophenyl phosphate.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2008

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2008 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Aeration as a factor in textile dye bioremoval by Aspergillus niger

Wafaa M. Abd El-Rahim^1*, Ola Ahmed M. El-Ardy² and Hassan Moawad¹

¹Agricultural microbiology Department, National Research Center (NRC), NRC, Egypt.

²Chemical Engineering and Pilot Plant Department, NRC, Egypt.

Accepted 8 January, 2008

Abstract

Experiments were done to study the bioremoval/ biosorption of dis-azo dye by Aspergillus niger strain 20 in two concentrations using 5 liter bioreactor at five aeration rates. The experimental results are compared for various operating conditions. The dye used was direct brown and the inlet air flow rate was: 1/8, ¼, ½, 1, 2 v/v/min. The aeration rate of ½ v/v/min yielded 9.2 g fungal biomass and removed 72%  of the dye. Increasing of the aeration rate to 2 v/v/min increased the removal to 77%, whereas the biomass was decreased markedly at the end of the incubation time. The results also indicate that the fungal biomass obtained at the three other air flow rates was more or less the same after 3 days of incubation. The obtained results indicate that air flow rates 1/8, ¼ and ½ v/v/min gave better dye bioremoval as compared with the high aeration rate (1, 2 v/v/min) and can be recommended for dis-azo dye bioremediation. Isotherm experiments were conducted to determine the sorbents-desorption behavior of examined dye from aqueous solutions using Langmiur and Freundlich equations.

Key words: Textile dyes, removing, dis-azo, batch reactor, modeling, bioremediation.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2007

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2007 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Biochemical assessment of the effects of crude oil contaminated catfish (Clarias gariepinus) on the hepatocytes and performance of rat

T. O. Sunmonu* and O. B. Oloyede

Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.

Accepted 12 April, 2007

Abstract

Biochemical investigations were carried out to assess the effect of consumption of crude oil contami-nated catfish on the hepatocytes and performance of rat. Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) (n = 120) were grouped into 6 of 20 catfish each and held for 30 h in 5 different mixtures of crude oil polluted water (0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1% v/v). Catfish in the control group were held in borehole water. At the expira-tion of 30 h, the catfish were harvested and used to formulate diet. Albino rats (n = 60) were grouped into 6 of 10 rats each and fed on the formulated diet for a period of 30 days. Compared with the control, the result showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in the average daily feed intake in all the groups of rats. However, a significant reduction (p<0.05) was observed in the overall body weight, the liver-to-body weight ratio as well as the serum concentrations of albumin and globulin of rat as the amount of crude oil in the diet increased. A significant increase (p<0.05) was also observed in the serum bilirubin concentration of rats fed on diet formulated with crude oil contaminated catfish when compared with the control. Histological analysis also revealed that the architectural arrangement of the liver was alte-red following the consumption of diet containing catfish exposed to crude oil polluted water. Overall, the data obtained indicate a possible adverse effect on the performance and impaired liver function in the rats fed on diet containing catfish exposed to crude oil polluted water.

Key words: Crude oil, hepatocytes, catfish, albumin, globulin, bilirubin.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2007

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2007 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Altered plasma hexose sugar metabolism in sickle cell anaemia

Chidi G. Osuagwu¹ and Chika U. Mbeyi²

¹School of Health Technology, Federal University of Technology, PMB 1526, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

²School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Imo State University, Owerri, Imo, Nigeria.

Accepted 18 July, 2007

Abstract

Theoretical suggestion that the metabolism and plasma levels of some hexoses (glucose and fructose) in sickle cell anaemia could be altered was investigated. The levels were determined for 35 normal (HbAA) and for the three sickle cell states (32 HbAS; 35 HbSS, and 33 HbSS-in-crisis, HbSSc). The enzymatic glucose-oxidase method was employed in glucose estimation. The reaction of fructose with indole-3-acetic acid to yield a coloured product was exploited in the estimation of fructose. Mean plasma glucose was found to be highest in the HbSSc state (84.80 ± 4.10 mg/dl), followed by HbSS (78.59 ± 4.20 mg/dl), HbAS (74.80 ± 6.20 mg/dl) and lowest in HbAA (70.10 ± 0.05 mg/dl). The differences between the normal and all the disease states are significant (between HbAS and HbAA, for example: t =2.2717; df = 65; p < 0.05). The reverse order was observed with respect to fructose concentrations: lowest in HbSSc (0.99 ± 0.05 mg/dl), HbSS (1.09 ± 0.05 mg/dl), HbAS (1.25 ± 0.05 mg/dl), and highest in HbAA (1.32 ± 0.08 mg/dl). Regression of glucose on fructose showed positive correlation in the HbAA group (r = 0.7900; df = 33; p < 0.001), no correlation in the HbAS group (r = - 0.0193; df = 30; p > 0.20), and negative correlation in the HbSS group (r = - 0.3191; df = 65; p < 0.001). The differences between the ‘Glucose-to-Fructose Ratio’ for the different states are very significant (p<0.001) and could serve as biomarker of sickle cell anaemia intensity.

Key words: Hexose, anergy, glucose, fructose, spermatozoa, energy metabolism, metabolic control, sickle cell anaemia, glucose-to-fructose ratio.

African Journal of Biochemistry Research Vol.1 (6), pp. 124-126, November 2007 Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/AJBR ISSN 1996-0778 © 2007 Academic Journals

Short Communication

Garcinia kola extract reduced cisplatin-induced kidney dysfunction in rats

Okoko Tebekeme¹ and Awhin Ejiro Prosper²

¹Biochemistry Division, Department of Chemical Sciences, Niger Delta University. P. M. B. 71, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

²Department of Medical Biochemistry, Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria

Accepted 22 October, 2007

Abstract

The effect of Garcinia kola extract on cisplatin-induced renal insufficiency in rats was studied. A total of fifteen rats were used for the study and were split into three groups of five rats per group. Rats in group I were normal controls. Renal insufficiency was induced in rats of groups II and III by a single intraperitoneal administration of cisplatin (5 mg/kg b.w.). After three days, rats in group III received a daily dose of 10 mg/kg b.w. of the extract orally for another seven days. Renal insufficiency was later assessed by serum urea, serum creatinine and urine protein levels. The results showed that the levels of the measured parameters which were elevated as a result of the cisplatin administration were brought to near normal levels by the G. kola seed extract. This indicates that G. kola possessed significant potentials of ameliorating mild kidney insufficiency induced by the anticancer drug, cisplatin.

Key words: Garcinia kola, cisplatin, renal insufficiency, urea, creatinine.

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2007

Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr

© 2007 International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of carbon sources on cellulase (EC 3. 2. 1. 4) production by Penicillium chrysogenum PCL501

Nwodo-Chinedu, S.¹*, Okochi, V. I.², Smith, H. A.², Okafor, U. A.², Onyegeme-Okerenta, B. M. and Omidiji, O. ³

¹Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Technology, Covenant University,    KM 10 Idiroko Road, Canaan Land, PMB 1023 Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.

²Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, PMB 12003 Idiaraba, Nigeria.

³Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Akoka-Yaba, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria.

Accepted 15 May, 2007

Abstract

The effects of glucose, crystalline cellulose and sawdust of Mitragyna cilata on the growth and cellulase production, inferred from cellulase (EC 3. 2. 1. 4) activity, of Penicillium chrysogenum PCL501 was determined. Glucose-containing media gave the highest mycelia weight of 1.78 mg mL^-1 in 120 h of incubation. This is about 3.5 – 4.5 times the maximum weights of 0.51 and 0.40 mg mL^-1 respectively obtained from the cultures containing cellulose and sawdust. The cultures containing crystalline cellulose and sawdust produced extracellular protein with cellulase (EC 3. 2. 1. 4) activity whereas glucose-containing cultures yielded very low protein and no significant cellulase activity. Maximum protein content of 0.02, 0.13 and 0.46 mg mL^-1 respectively were obtained from the cultures containing glucose, cellulose and sawdust. Peak cellulase activity values of 100.0 and 92.2 Units L^-1 respectively were obtained for the cultures containing cellulose and sawdust. There is a correlation between the protein released and cellulase activity of the culture filtrates. P. chrysogenum PCL501 produces extracellular proteins with significant cellulase activity in media containing cellulose and sawdust but not in glucose- containing medium. Sawdust is indicated as a good inducer of cellulase activity in the organism. The waste cellulosic material can be used as low-cost carbon source for commercial cellulase production.

Key words: P. chrysogenum PCL501, growth, cellulase activity, glucose, cellulosic materials.