Browse publications by year: 2016

  1. Are bioactive-rich fractions functionally richer?
    Imam MU, Ismail M, Ooi DJ, Azmi NH, Sarega N, Chan KW, et al.
    Crit Rev Biotechnol, 2016 Aug;36(4):585-93.
    PMID: 25641328 DOI: 10.3109/07388551.2014.995586
    Plant bioresources are relied upon as natural, inexpensive, and sustainable remedies for the management of several chronic diseases worldwide. Plants have historically been consumed for medicinal purposes based on traditional belief, but this trend is currently changing. The growing interest in the medicinal properties of plant bioresources stems from concerns of side effects and other adverse effects caused by synthetic drugs. This interest has yielded a better understanding of the roles of plant bioactive compounds in health promotion and disease prevention, including the underlying mechanisms involved in such functional effects. The desire to maximize the potential of phytochemicals has led to the development of "rich fractions," in which extracts contain bioactive compounds in addition to elevated levels of the primary compound. Although a rich fraction effectively increases the bioactivity of the extract, the standardization and quality assurance process can be challenging. However, the supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) system is a promising green technology in this regard. Future clinical and pharmacological studies are needed to fully elucidate the implications of these preparations in the management of human diseases, thereby fostering a move toward evidence-based medicine.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Humans; Phytotherapy; Phenylpropionates/pharmacology*; Plant Extracts/pharmacology*; Benzoquinones/pharmacology*; Tocotrienols/pharmacology*
  2. Hydrogel-based methods for engineering cellular microenvironment with spatiotemporal gradients
    Wang L, Li Y, Huang G, Zhang X, Pingguan-Murphy B, Gao B, et al.
    Crit Rev Biotechnol, 2016 Jun;36(3):553-65.
    PMID: 25641330 DOI: 10.3109/07388551.2014.993588
    Natural cellular microenvironment consists of spatiotemporal gradients of multiple physical (e.g. extracellular matrix stiffness, porosity and stress/strain) and chemical cues (e.g. morphogens), which play important roles in regulating cell behaviors including spreading, proliferation, migration, differentiation and apoptosis, especially for pathological processes such as tumor formation and progression. Therefore, it is essential to engineer cellular gradient microenvironment incorporating various gradients for the fabrication of normal and pathological tissue models in vitro. In this article, we firstly review the development of engineering cellular physical and chemical gradients with cytocompatible hydrogels in both two-dimension and three-dimension formats. We then present current advances in the application of engineered gradient microenvironments for the fabrication of disease models in vitro. Finally, concluding remarks and future perspectives for engineering cellular gradients are given.
    MeSH terms: Cell Differentiation; Cues; Extracellular Matrix; Neoplasms; Porosity; Apoptosis; Hydrogels; Cell Proliferation; Tumor Microenvironment; Cellular Microenvironment; Cell Engineering
  3. Effects of even and odd number fatty acids cofeeding on PHA production and composition in Pseudomonas putida Bet001 isolated from palm oil mill effluent
    Mohd Razaif-Mazinah MR, Mohamad Annuar MS, Sharifuddin Y
    Biotechnol Appl Biochem, 2016 Jan-Feb;63(1):92-100.
    PMID: 25643814 DOI: 10.1002/bab.1354
    The biosynthesis of medium-chain-length poly-3-hydroxyalkanoates by Pseudomonas putida Bet001 cultivated on mixed carbon sources was investigated. The mixed carbon sources consisted of heptanoic acid (HA) and oleic acid (OA). A relatively low PHA content at 1.2% (w/w) and 11.4% (w/w) was obtained when HA or OA was used as the sole carbon source. When these fatty acids were supplied as a mixture, PHA content increased threefold. Interestingly, the mixture-derived PHA composed of both odd and even monomer units, namely. 3-hydroxyheptanoate, 3-hydroxyoctanoate, 3-hydroxydecanoate, and 3-hydroxydodecanoate and no unsaturated monomer was detected. It is hypothesized that the even-numbered monomers were derived primarily from OA, whereas the odd-numbered monomer was derived from HA. This also points out to an efficient and yet distinct fatty acids metabolism that fed the PHA biosynthesis machinery of this particular microorganism. PHA obtained was elastomeric because melting temperature (Tm ) and crystallinity were absent. It showed good thermal stability with degradation temperature (Td ) ranging from 275.96 to 283.05 °C.
    MeSH terms: Fatty Acids/metabolism*; Heptanoic Acids/metabolism; Pseudomonas putida/growth & development; Pseudomonas putida/metabolism*; Pseudomonas putida/chemistry; Oleic Acid/metabolism; Polyhydroxyalkanoates/metabolism*; Polyhydroxyalkanoates/chemistry; Waste Water/microbiology
  4. The complete mitogenome of the invasive spiny-cheek crayfish Orconectes limosus (Rafinesque, 1817) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Cambaridae)
    Gan HM, Gan HY, Lee YP, Grandjean F, Austin CM
    Mitochondrial DNA A DNA Mapp Seq Anal, 2016 09;27(5):3181-3.
    PMID: 25648916 DOI: 10.3109/19401736.2015.1007326
    The invasive freshwater crayfish Orconectes limosus mitogenome was recovered by genome skimming. The mitogenome is 16,223 base pairs in length consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal subunit genes, 22 transfer RNAs, and a non-coding AT-rich region. The O. limosus mitogenome has an AT bias of 71.37% and base composition of 39.8% for T, 10.3% for C, 31.5% for A, and 18.4% for G. The mitogene order is identical to two other genera of northern hemisphere crayfish that have been sequenced for this organelle.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Base Composition; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics; RNA, Transfer/genetics; Open Reading Frames; AT Rich Sequence; Decapoda (Crustacea)/genetics*; Genome, Mitochondrial*; Introduced Species
  5. The complete mitogenome of the Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Nephropidae)
    Gan HM, Tan MH, Gan HY, Lee YP, Austin CM
    Mitochondrial DNA A DNA Mapp Seq Anal, 2016 09;27(5):3179-80.
    PMID: 25648918 DOI: 10.3109/19401736.2015.1007325
    The clawed lobster Nephrops norvegicus is an important commercial species in European waters. We have sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of the species from a partial genome scan using Next-Gen sequencing. The N. norvegicus has a mitogenome of 16,132 base pairs (71.22% A+ T content) comprising 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal subunit genes, 21 transfer RNAs, and a putative 1259 bp non-coding AT-rich region. This mitogenome is the second fully characterized for the family Nephropidae and the first for the genus Nephrops. The mitogenome gene order is identical to the Maine lobster, Homarus americanus with the exception of the possible loss of the trnI gene.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Base Composition; Nephropidae/genetics*; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics; RNA, Transfer/genetics; Open Reading Frames; AT Rich Sequence; Genome, Mitochondrial*
  6. The complete mitogenome of the giant clam Tridacna squamosa (Heterodonta: Bivalvia: Tridacnidae)
    Gan HM, Gan HY, Tan MH, Penny SS, Willan RC, Austin CM
    Mitochondrial DNA A DNA Mapp Seq Anal, 2016 09;27(5):3220-1.
    PMID: 25648928 DOI: 10.3109/19401736.2015.1007355
    The complete mitochondrial genome of the commercially and ecologically important and internationally vulnerable giant clam Tridacna squamosa was recovered by genome skimming using the MiSeq platform. The T. squamosa mitogenome has 20,930 base pairs (62.35% A+T content) and is made up of 12 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal subunit genes, 24 transfer RNAs, and a 2594 bp non-coding AT-rich region. The mitogenome has a relatively large insertion in the atp6 gene. This is the first mitogenome to be sequenced from the genus Tridacna, and the family Tridacnidae and represents a new gene order.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Base Composition; Codon; Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; Open Reading Frames; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Computational Biology/methods; Bivalvia/classification*; Bivalvia/genetics*; Genes, Mitochondrial; Genome, Mitochondrial*; Genome Size
  7. Sunitinib tissue distribution changes after coadministration with ketoconazole in mice
    Chee EL, Lim AY, Modamio P, Fernandez-Lastra C, Segarra I
    Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet, 2016 Jun;41(3):309-19.
    PMID: 25656737 DOI: 10.1007/s13318-015-0264-7
    Sunitinib is a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. It is metabolized via CYP3A4 and has low brain penetration due to efflux transporters ABCB1B and ABCG2. We studied the interaction with ketoconazole (50 mg/kg), antifungal drug which shares metabolic pathways and efflux transporters, in ICR female mice after oral coadministration (30 min apart) of 60 mg/kg sunitinib (study group) versus sunitinib alone (control group). Plasma, liver, kidney and brain sunitinib concentrations were measured by HPLC at 2, 5, 10, 20, 40 min, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12 h post-sunitinib administration, and non-compartmental pharmacokinetic parameters estimated. In plasma, ketoconazole coadministration increased plasma maximum concentration (C MAX) 60 %, delayed time to C MAX (T MAX); 1.6-fold greater area under the curve AUC0→∞ (p  0.05) and decreased in brain (1.70 ± 0.23, p > 0.05). The results showed a significant ketoconazole-sunitinib interaction that affected plasma, tissue pharmacokinetics and tissue uptake mechanisms. The study portrays the risk to increase toxicity and potential clinical translatability to treat tumors in tissues.
  8. Unexpected-Disturbance Program for Rehabilitation of High-Performance Athletes
    Teichmann J, Suwarganda EK, Lendewig C, Wilson BD, Yeo WK, Aziz RA, et al.
    J Sport Rehabil, 2016 May;25(2):126-32.
    PMID: 25658597 DOI: 10-1123/jsr.2014-0280
    CONTEXT: The Unexpected-Disturbance Program (UDP) promotes exercises in response to so-called involuntary short- to midlatency disturbances.

    OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effectiveness of the UDP in the last 6 wk of rehabilitation.

    DESIGN: Pre-post study with 2-tailed paired t tests for limited a priori comparisons to examine differences.

    SETTING: National Sports Institute of Malaysia.

    PARTICIPANTS: 24 Malaysian national athletes.

    INTERVENTIONS: 7 sessions/wk of 90 min with 3 sessions allocated for 5 or 6 UDP exercises.

    MAIN OUTCOMES: Significant improvements for men and women were noted. Tests included 20-m sprint, 1-repetition-maximum single-leg press, standing long jump, single-leg sway, and a psychological questionnaire.

    RESULTS: For men and women, respectively, average strength improvements of 22% (d = 0.96) and 29% (d = 1.05), sprint time of 3% (d = 1.06) and 4% (d = 0.58), and distance jumped of 4% (d = 0.59) and 6% (d = 0.47) were noted. In addition, athletes reported improved perceived confidence in their abilities. All athletes improved in each functional test except for long jump in 2 of the athletes. Mediolateral sway decreased in 18 of the 22 athletes for the injured limb.

    CONCLUSION: The prevention training with UDP resulted in improved conditioning and seems to decrease mediolateral sway.

    MeSH terms: Adult; Athletic Injuries/rehabilitation*; Athletic Injuries/surgery; Postural Balance/physiology; Exercise Test; Exercise Therapy/methods*; Female; Humans; Male; Running/physiology; Treatment Outcome; Muscle Strength/physiology; Athletic Performance/physiology; Young Adult; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction/rehabilitation*; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries/rehabilitation*; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries/surgery
  9. Association of Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Protein and Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene Polymorphisms With Coronary Artery Disease in the Multi-Ethnic Malaysian Population
    Chu WC, Aziz AF, Nordin AJ, Cheah YK
    Clin Appl Thromb Hemost, 2016 Sep;22(6):581-8.
    PMID: 25667236 DOI: 10.1177/1076029615571628
    Genetic variants of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) influence high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) metabolism and nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, respectively, and might increase the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). This study is to investigate the relationship between genetic polymorphisms and the risk of CAD and to evaluate their potential interactions. A total of 237 patients with CAD and 101 controls were genotyped. The association of the polymorphism with the risk of CAD varied among the ethnic groups. Moreover, the concomitant presence of both CETP B1 and eNOS 4a alleles significantly increased the risk of CAD in the Malay group (OR = 33.8, P < .001) and the Indian group (OR = 10.9, P = .031) but not in the Chinese group. This study has identified a novel ethnic-specific gene-gene interaction and suggested that the combination of CETP B1 allele and eNOS 4a allele significantly increases the risk of CAD in Malays and Indians.
    MeSH terms: Coronary Artery Disease/ethnology; Coronary Artery Disease/genetics*; Coronary Artery Disease/epidemiology; Female; Humans; Malaysia/ethnology; Malaysia/epidemiology; Male; Middle Aged; Polymorphism, Genetic; Risk Factors; Case-Control Studies; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/ethnology; Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics*; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/genetics*; Cholesterol Ester Transfer Proteins/genetics*
  10. Engineering of microscale three-dimensional pancreatic islet models in vitro and their biomedical applications
    Gao B, Wang L, Han S, Pingguan-Murphy B, Zhang X, Xu F
    Crit Rev Biotechnol, 2016 Aug;36(4):619-29.
    PMID: 25669871 DOI: 10.3109/07388551.2014.1002381
    Diabetes now is the most common chronic disease in the world inducing heavy burden for the people's health. Based on this, diabetes research such as islet function has become a hot topic in medical institutes of the world. Today, in medical institutes, the conventional experiment platform in vitro is monolayer cell culture. However, with the development of micro- and nano-technologies, several microengineering methods have been developed to fabricate three-dimensional (3D) islet models in vitro which can better mimic the islet of pancreases in vivo. These in vitro islet models have shown better cell function than monolayer cells, indicating their great potential as better experimental platforms to elucidate islet behaviors under both physiological and pathological conditions, such as the molecular mechanisms of diabetes and clinical islet transplantation. In this review, we present the state-of-the-art advances in the microengineering methods for fabricating microscale islet models in vitro. We hope this will help researchers to better understand the progress in the engineering 3D islet models and their biomedical applications such as drug screening and islet transplantation.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Extracellular Matrix; Humans; Islets of Langerhans*; Cell Engineering*
  11. Fulltext ING2 (inhibitor of growth protein-2) plays a crucial role in preimplantation development
    Zhou L, Wang P, Zhang J, Heng BC, Tong GQ
    Zygote, 2016 Feb;24(1):89-97.
    PMID: 25672483 DOI: 10.1017/S0967199414000768
    ING2 (inhibitor of growth protein-2) is a member of the ING-gene family and participates in diverse cellular processes involving tumor suppression, DNA repair, cell cycle regulation, and cellular senescence. As a subunit of the Sin3 histone deacetylase complex co-repressor complex, ING2 binds to H3K4me3 to regulate chromatin modification and gene expression. Additionally, ING2 recruits histone methyltransferase (HMT) activity for gene repression, which is independent of the HDAC class I or II pathway. However, the physiological function of ING2 in mouse preimplantation embryo development has not yet been characterized previously. The expression, localization and function of ING2 during preimplantation development were investigated in this study. We showed increasing expression of ING2 within the nucleus from the 4-cell embryo stage onwards; and that down-regulation of ING2 expression by endoribonuclease-prepared small interfering RNA (esiRNA) microinjection results in developmental arrest during the morula to blastocyst transition. Embryonic cells microinjected with ING2-specific esiRNA exhibited decreased blastulation rate compared to the negative control. Further investigation of the underlying mechanism indicated that down-regulation of ING2 significantly increased expression of p21, whilst decreasing expression of HDAC1. These results suggest that ING2 may play a crucial role in the process of preimplantation embryo development through chromatin regulation.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Chromatin/genetics; Chromatin/metabolism; Female; Male; Mice, Inbred ICR; Homeodomain Proteins/physiology*; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*; Nuclear Localization Signals; Tumor Suppressor Proteins/physiology*; RNA Interference; Embryonic Development/genetics; Embryonic Development/physiology*; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21/genetics; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21/metabolism; Gene Knockdown Techniques; Histone Deacetylase 1/genetics; Histone Deacetylase 1/metabolism
  12. Availability and Utilization of Pigments from Microalgae
    Begum H, Yusoff FM, Banerjee S, Khatoon H, Shariff M
    Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 2016 Oct 02;56(13):2209-22.
    PMID: 25674822 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2013.764841
    Microalgae are the major photosynthesizers on earth and produce important pigments that include chlorophyll a, b and c, β-carotene, astaxanthin, xanthophylls, and phycobiliproteins. Presently, synthetic colorants are used in food, cosmetic, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. However, due to problems associated with the harmful effects of synthetic colorants, exploitation of microalgal pigments as a source of natural colors becomes an attractive option. There are various factors such as nutrient availability, salinity, pH, temperature, light wavelength, and light intensity that affect pigment production in microalgae. This paper reviews the availability and characteristics of microalgal pigments, factors affecting pigment production, and the application of pigments produced from microalgae. The potential of microalgal pigments as a source of natural colors is enormous as an alternative to synthetic coloring agents, which has limited applications due to regulatory practice for health reasons.
    MeSH terms: Carotenoids; Chlorophyll; Coloring Agents; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Light; Pigments, Biological/analysis*; Pigments, Biological/biosynthesis*; Temperature; beta Carotene; Xanthophylls; Phycobiliproteins; Microalgae/metabolism; Microalgae/chemistry*
  13. Gender and modulation frequency effects on auditory steady state response (ASSR) thresholds
    Zakaria MN, Jalaei B, Wahab NA
    Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol, 2016 Feb;273(2):349-54.
    PMID: 25682179 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-015-3555-3
    For estimating behavioral hearing thresholds, auditory steady state response (ASSR) can be reliably evoked by stimuli at low and high modulation frequencies (MFs). In this regard, little is known regarding ASSR thresholds evoked by stimuli at different MFs in female and male participants. In fact, recent data suggest that 40-Hz ASSR is influenced by estrogen level in females. Hence, the aim of the present study was to determine the effect of gender and MF on ASSR thresholds in young adults. Twenty-eight normally hearing participants (14 males and 14 females) were enrolled in this study. For each subject, ASSR thresholds were recorded with narrow-band chirps at 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 Hz carrier frequencies (CFs) and at 40 and 90 Hz MFs. Two-way mixed ANOVA (with gender and MF as the factors) revealed no significant interaction effect between factors at all CFs (p > 0.05). The gender effect was only significant at 500 Hz CF (p < 0.05). At 500 and 1,000 Hz CFs, mean ASSR thresholds were significantly lower at 40 Hz MF than at 90 Hz MF (p < 0.05). Interestingly, at 2,000 and 4,000 Hz CFs, mean ASSR thresholds were significantly lower at 90 Hz MF than at 40 Hz MF (p < 0.05). The lower ASSR thresholds in females might be due to hormonal influence. When recording ASSR thresholds at low MF, we suggest the use of gender-specific normative data so that more valid comparisons can be made, particularly at 500 Hz CF.
    MeSH terms: Acoustic Stimulation/methods*; Adult; Auditory Threshold/physiology*; Female; Humans; Male; Reference Values; Sex Factors; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem/physiology*; Young Adult
  14. Floral diversity and pollination strategies of three rheophytic Schismatoglottideae (Araceae)
    Low SL, Wong SY, Ooi IH, Hesse M, Städler Y, Schönenberger J, et al.
    Plant Biol (Stuttg), 2016 Jan;18(1):84-97.
    PMID: 25688576 DOI: 10.1111/plb.12320
    Homoplastic evolution of 'unique' morphological characteristics in the Schismatoglottideae - many previously used to define genera - prompted this study to compare morphology and function in connection with pollination biology for Aridarum nicolsonii, Phymatarum borneense and Schottarum sarikeense. Aridarum nicolsonii and P. borneense extrude pollen through a pair of horned thecae while S. sarikeense sheds pollen through a pair of pores on the thecae. Floral traits of spathe constriction, presence and movement of sterile structures on the spadix, the comparable role of horned thecae and thecae pores, the presence of stamen-associated calcium oxalate packages, and the timing of odour emission are discussed in the context of their roles in pollinator management. Pollinators for all investigated species were determined to be species of Colocasiomyia (Diptera: Drosophilidae).
    MeSH terms: Animals; Borneo; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Pollen; Drosophilidae; Germination; Araceae/anatomy & histology*; Araceae/physiology*; Flowers/anatomy & histology; Flowers/physiology*; Pollination/physiology*; Seed Dispersal
  15. Utility of labile plasma iron and transferrin saturation in addition to serum ferritin as iron overload markers in different underlying anemias before and after deferasirox treatment
    Porter JB, El-Alfy M, Viprakasit V, Giraudier S, Chan LL, Lai Y, et al.
    Eur J Haematol, 2016 Jan;96(1):19-26.
    PMID: 25691036 DOI: 10.1111/ejh.12540
    Plasma markers in addition to serum ferritin (SF) may be useful for the assessment of iron overload; however, predictive utility may differ depending on underlying, transfusion-dependent, anemias.
    MeSH terms: Benzoates/administration & dosage*; Female; Ferritins/blood*; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Iron/blood*; Male; Transferrin/metabolism*; Triazoles/administration & dosage*; Biomarkers/blood
  16. The complete mitogenome of the bluespotted ribbontail ray Taeniura lymma (Forsskål, 1775) (Elasmobranchii: Myliobatiformes: Dasyatidae)
    Austin CM, Tan MH, Croft LJ, Meekan MG, Gan HY, Gan HM
    Mitochondrial DNA A DNA Mapp Seq Anal, 2016 09;27(5):3205-7.
    PMID: 25693694 DOI: 10.3109/19401736.2015.1007348
    The complete mitogenome of the ray Taeniura lymma was recovered from genome skimming using the HiSeq sequencing system. The T. lymma mitogenome has 17,652 base pairs (59.13% A + T content) made up of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal subunit genes, 22 transfer RNAs and a 1906 bp non-coding AT-rich region. This mitogenome sequence is the second for a ray from Australian waters, the first for the genus Taeniura and the ninth for the family Dasyatidae.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Base Composition; Fishes/genetics*; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics; RNA, Transfer/genetics; AT Rich Sequence; Fish Proteins/genetics; Genome, Mitochondrial*
  17. The complete mitogenome of the Australian freshwater shrimp Paratya australiensis Kemp, 1917 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Atyidae)
    Gan HY, Gan HM, Lee YP, Austin CM
    Mitochondrial DNA A DNA Mapp Seq Anal, 2016 09;27(5):3157-8.
    PMID: 25693707 DOI: 10.3109/19401736.2015.1007312
    The mitochondrial genome sequence of the Australian freshwater shrimp, Paratya australiensis, is presented, which is the fourth for genera of the superfamily Atyoidea and the first atyid from the southern hemisphere. The base composition of the P. australiensis, mitogenome is 33.55% for T, 18.24% for C, 35.16% for A, and 13.06% for G, with an AT bias of 71.58%. It has a mitogenome of 15,990 base pairs comprised of 13 protein-coding, 2 ribosomal subunit and 22 transfer RNAs genes and a non-coding AT-rich region. The mitogenome gene order for the species is typical for atyid shrimps, which conform to the primitive pan crustacean model.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Base Composition; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics; RNA, Transfer/genetics; Open Reading Frames; AT Rich Sequence; Decapoda (Crustacea)/genetics*; Genome, Mitochondrial*
  18. The complete mitogenome of the rock pool prawn Palaemon serenus (Heller, 1862) (Crustacea: Decapoda: Palaemonidae)
    Gan HY, Gan HM, Lee YP, Austin CM
    Mitochondrial DNA A DNA Mapp Seq Anal, 2016 09;27(5):3155-6.
    PMID: 25693708 DOI: 10.3109/19401736.2015.1007311
    The mitochondrial genome of the rock pool prawn (Palaemon serenus), is sequenced, making it the third for genera of the family Palaemonidae and the first for the genus Palaemon. The mitogenome is 15,967 base pairs in length and comprises 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal subunit genes, 22 transfer RNAs and a non-coding AT-rich region. The P. serenus mitogenome has an AT bias of 58.97% and a base composition of 29.79% for T, 24.14% for C, 29.18% for A, and 16.89% for G. The mitogenome gene order of P. serenus is identical to Exopalaemon carinicauda.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Base Composition; RNA, Ribosomal/genetics; RNA, Transfer/genetics; Open Reading Frames; AT Rich Sequence; Gene Order; Palaemonidae/genetics*; Genome, Mitochondrial*
  19. The complete mitogenome of the New Zealand freshwater crayfish Paranephrops planifrons White 1842 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Parastacidae)
    Lee YP, Gan HM, Tan MH, Lys I, Page R, Dias Wanigasekera B, et al.
    Mitochondrial DNA A DNA Mapp Seq Anal, 2016 09;27(5):3333-4.
    PMID: 25707411 DOI: 10.3109/19401736.2015.1018209
    The mitogenome of Paranephrops planifrons, was obtained by next generation sequencing. This crayfish has a mitochondrial genome of 16,174 base pairs with 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal subunit genes, 22 transfer RNAs (tRNA), and a non-coding AT-rich region of 771 bp. The P. planifrons nucleotide composition is: 33.63% for T, 21.92% for C, 34.46% for A, and 9.98% for G and has a 68.09% AT bias. While the mitogenome gene order for this species is consistent with aspects of the highly distinctive parastacid crayfish mitogenome gene arrangement, it has a novel gene order involving the rearrangements of a protein coding and several tRNA genes.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Base Composition; Codon; Astacoidea/classification*; Astacoidea/genetics*; Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; Gene Rearrangement; Open Reading Frames; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Gene Order; Genes, Mitochondrial; Genome, Mitochondrial*; Genome Size
  20. The efficacy of methylene blue encapsulated in silica nanoparticles compared to naked methylene blue for photodynamic applications
    Makhadmeh GN, Abdul Aziz A, Abdul Razak K
    Artif Cells Nanomed Biotechnol, 2016 May;44(3):1018-22.
    PMID: 25707443 DOI: 10.3109/21691401.2015.1008511
    This study analyzed the physical effects of methylene blue (MB) encapsulated within silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) in photodynamic therapy.
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