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K J Reddy

Publications and source records attributed to K J Reddy.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate in water.

Nitrate (NO(3)(-)) contamination of groundwater is a common problem throughout intensive agricultural areas (nonpoint source pollution). Current processes (e.g., ion exchange, membrane separation) for NO(3)(-) removal have various disadvantages. The objective of this study was to evaluate an electrocatalytic reduction process to selectively remove NO(3)(-) from groundwater associated with small agricultural communities. A commercially available ELAT (E-Tek Inc., Natick, MA) carbon cloth with a 30% surface coated Rh (rhodium) (1microg x cm(-1)) was tested at an applied potential of -1.5 V versus standard calomel electrode (SCE) with a Pt auxiliary electrode. Electrocatalytic reduction process (electrolysis) of NO(3)(-) was tested with cyclic voltammetry (CV) in samples containing NO(3)(-) and 0.1M NaClO(4)(-). Nitrate and NO(2)(-) concentrations in test solutions and groundwater samples were analyzed by ion chromatography (IC). The presence of Rh on the carbon cloth surface resulted in current increase of 36% over uncoated carbon cloths. The electrocatalysis experiments using Rh coated carbon cloth resulted in reduction of NO(3)(-) and NO(2)(-) on a timescale of minutes. Nitrite is produced as a product, but is rapidly consumed upon further electrolysis. Field groundwater samples subjected to electrocatalysis experiments, without the addition of NaClO(4)(-) electrolyte, also exhibited removal of NO(3)(-) on a timescale of minutes. Overall, results suggest that at an applied potential of -1.5 V with respect to SCE, Rh coated carbon cloth can reduce NO(3)(-) concentrations in field groundwater samples from 73 to 39 mg/L (16.58 to 8.82 mg/L as N) on a timescale range of 40-60 min. The electrocatalytic reduction process described in this study may prove useful for removing NO(3)(-) and NO(2)(-) from groundwater associated with nonpoint source pollution.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2003

A rapid and sensitive extractive spectrophotometric determination of copper(II) in pharmaceutical and environmental samples using benzildithiosemicarbazone.

Benzildithiosemicarbazone (BDTSC) is proposed as a sensitive and selective analytical reagent for the extractive spectrophotometric determination of copper(II). BDTSC reacts with copper(II) in the pH range 1.0-7.0 to form a yellowish complex. Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range 0.5-0.4 microg cm(-3). The yellowish Cu(II)-BDTSC complex in chloroform shows a maximum absorbance at 380 nm, with molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity values of 1.63 x 10(4) dm3 mol(-1) cm(-1) and 0.00389 microg cm(-2), respectively. A repetition of the method is checked by finding the relative standard deviation (RSD) (n = 10), which is 0.6%. The composition of the Cu(II)-BDTSC complex is established as 1:1 by slope analysis, molar ratio and Asmus' methods. An excellent linearity with a correlation coefficient value of 0.98 is obtained for the Cu(II)-BDTSC complex. The instability constant of the complex calculated from Edmond and Birnbaum's method is 7.70 x 10(-4) and that of Asmus' method is 7.66 x 10(-4), at room temperature. The method is successfully employed for the determination copper(II) in pharmaceutical and environmental samples. The reliability of the method is assured by analyzing the standard alloys (BCS 5g, 10g, 19e, 78, 32a, 207 and 179) and by inter-comparison of experimental values, using an atomic absorption spectrometer.

Alloys↗
PubMed2002

A rapid and sensitive extractive spectrophotometric determination of palladium(II) in synthetic mixtures and hydrogenation catalysts using pyridoxal-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone.

A rapid and sensitive extractive spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of palladium(II) in synthetic mixtures and hydrogenation catalysts using pyridoxal-4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazone (PPT) as an analytical reagent. The reagent forms a red-color complex with the metal at pH 3.0, which is extracted into benzene. The absorbance is measured at 460 nm. The method adheres to Beer's law up to a concentration range of 0.4-6.4 microg cm(-3). The molar absorptivity and Sandell's sensitivity are 2.20 x 10(4) dm3 mol(-1) cm(-1) and 4.85 x 10(-3) microg cm(-2), respectively. The correlation coefficient of the Pd(II)-PPT complex is 0.99, which indicates an excellent linearity between two variables. The detection limit of this method is 0.05 microg cm(-3). The instability constant of the Pd(II)-PPT complex calculated from Edmond and Birnbaum's method is 2.90 x 10(-5) and that of Asmus' method is 2.80 x 10(-5) at room temperature. The concurrent repetition of the method is checked and the relative standard deviation (RSD) (n = 5) was derived as 1.84 percent. The present method was applied to the determination of palladium(II) in synthetic mixtures and hydrogenation catalysts. The results were compared by employing an atomic-absorption spectrometer.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1997

Cloning, sequencing, and regulation of the global nitrogen regulator gene ntcA in the unicellular diazotrophic cyanobacterium Cyanothece sp. strain BH68K.

In cyanobacteria, ammonium represses expression of proteins involved in nitrogen fixation and assimilation. The global nitrogen regulator gene ntcA encodes a DNA-binding protein, NtcA, that is a transcriptional activator of genes subject to nitrogen control. We report the cloning and sequencing of the ntcA gene from a nitrogen-fixing unicellular cyanobacterium, Cyanothece sp. strain BH68K. The gene comprises 678 nucleotides, and the deduced NtcA protein contains 226 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 25,026. In addition, ntcA mRNA levels were measured in cells grown under different nitrogen regimes. Under nitrogen-fixing conditions, ntcA transcripts were weakly expressed. Furthermore, ntcA expression was diminished or inversely proportional to nifHDK expression. Conversely, ntcA expression increased in nitrate-grown cells, and a concentration-dependent increase was seen in ammonium-grown cells up to 1 mM NH4Cl. These results indicate that ntcA is involved more in nitrogen assimilation than in nitrogen fixation and also imply that the rhythmic expression of ntcA and nifHDK transcription may be under the control of a circadian clock.

Aerobiosis↗
PubMed1996

Characterization of additional host restriction-modification systems in the unicellular cyanobacterium Cyanothece sp.

In order to develop a gene transfer system for the unicellular diazotrophic cyanobacterium Cyanothece sp. strain BH68K, this organism has been further investigated for the presence of additional host restriction-modification enzymes other than Csp68KI, previously reported for Cyanothece sp. Analysis of cell extracts by phosphocellulose and Mono Q fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) has led to the identification of three new restriction endonucleases. These enzymes have been designated Csp68KII, Csp68KIII, and Csp68KVI. Csp68KII is an isoschizomer of AsuII and restricts DNA at the recognition sequence 5'-TT/CGAA-3'. Cleavage occurred between thymine and cytosine producing 2 bp 5' overhang ends. The third restriction endonuclease, Csp68KIII, is an isoschizomer of AvaIII and restricts DNA at the recognition sequence 5'-ATGCA/T-3'. Cleavage occurred between the 3' adenosine and thymine nucleotides producing 4 bp 3' overhang ends. The fourth enzyme identified, Csp68KVI, recognizes CGCG and cleaves this sequence between the internal guanine and cytosine nucleotides producing blunt ends.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Identification of a nuclease and host restriction-modification in the unicellular, aerobic nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Cyanothece sp.

In the process of developing a gene transfer system for the marine, unicellular, nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Cyanothece sp. strain BH68K, two major restriction barriers have been identified. A cell wall-associated nuclease exhibited non-site-specific degradation of covalently closed circular and linear double-stranded DNA molecules, including Cyanothece sp. strain BH68K chromosomal DNA. The nuclease is easily released from intact cells by using water or buffer containing Triton X-100. Nuclease activity was undetectable in cell extracts prepared from water-washed cells. Comparison of the restriction endonuclease susceptibility of Cyanothece sp. strain BH68K DNA to that of Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 revealed that these organisms have a nearly identical pattern of restriction and therefore may contain similar systems for DNA methylation. Restriction by DpnI, MboI, and Sau3AI indicated the presence of adenine methylation. Cyanothece sp. strain BH68K cell extracts contain a type II restriction endonuclease, Csp68KI. The activity of Csp68KI was easily detected in cell extracts without extensive purification. Csp68KI is an isoschizomer of AvaII and recognizes the nucleotide sequence 5'-GG(A/T)CC-3'. Cleavage occurs between the guanosine nucleotides producing 3-bp 5' overhang ends.

Aerobiosis↗
PubMed1993

Unicellular, aerobic nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria of the genus Cyanothece.

Two marine, unicellular aerobic nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria, Cyanothece strain BH63 and Cyanothece strain BH68, were isolated from the intertidal sands of the Texas Gulf coast in enrichment conditions designed to favor rapid growth. By cell morphology, ultrastructure, a GC content of 40%, and aerobic nitrogen fixation ability, these strains were assigned to the genus Cyanothece. These strains can use molecular nitrogen as the sole nitrogen source and are capable of photoheterotrophic growth in the presence of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea and glycerol. The strains demonstrated a doubling time of 10 to 14 h in the presence of nitrate and 16 to 20 h under nitrogen-fixing conditions. Rapid growth of nitrogen-fixing cultures can be obtained in continuous light even when the cultures are continuously shaken or bubbled with air. Under 12-h alternating light and dark cycles, the aerobic nitrogenase activity was confined to the dark phase. The typical rates of aerobic nitrogenase activity in Cyanothece strains BH63 and BH68 were 1,140 and 1,097 nmol of C2H2 reduced per mg (dry weight) per h, respectively, and nitrogenase activity was stimulated twofold by light. Ultrastructural observations revealed that numerous inclusion granules formed between the photosynthetic membranes in cells grown under nitrogen-fixing conditions. These Cyanothece strains posses many characteristics that make them particularly attractive for a detailed analysis of the interaction of nitrogen fixation and photosynthesis in an aerobic diazotroph.

Bacteria, Aerobic↗
PubMed1990

Regulation and sequence of the Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942 groESL operon, encoding a cyanobacterial chaperonin.

The molecular chaperonins such as GroEL are now widely regarded as essential components for the stabilization of integral membrane or secretory proteins before membrane insertion or translocation, as well as for the assembly of macromolecular complexes such as ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase. The groESL operon of Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942 was cloned as two independent lacZ-groEL translational fusions by immunoscreening a lambda ZAP genomic expression library and then sequenced. The derived amino acid sequences of the GroES and GroEL proteins demonstrated very high levels of amino acid identity with cognate chaperonins from bacteria and chloroplasts. The bicistronic 2.4-kilobase transcript from this operon, barely detectable in RNA preparations from cells grown at 30 degrees C, accumulated approximately 120-fold in preparations from cells grown for 20 min at 45 degrees C. Under these conditions, GroEL protein accumulated to 10-fold-higher levels. Primer extension analysis was used to identify a cyanobacterial heat shock promoter located at -81 base pairs from the groES initiation codon. The transcriptional -10 and -35 sequences differ slightly from Escherichia coli consensus heat shock promoter sequences.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Bacterial RNA isolation with one hour centrifugation in a table-top ultracentrifuge.

A procedure for the rapid preparation of cesium-chloride purified RNA from E. coli and the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC7942 is described. Cells are lysed in modified sucrose, Triton X-100, EDTA, Tris buffer with phenol/chloroform. The cleared lysate is extracted further with phenol/chloroform and RNA is peleted by centrifugation through a 5.7 M CsCl cushion. High quality RNA can be prepared in three hours using this procedure.

Aurintricarboxylic Acid↗
PubMed1989

DNA sequence and regulation of the gene (cbpA) encoding the 42-kilodalton cytoplasmic membrane carotenoprotein of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942.

The gene (cbpA) coding for a carotenoid-binding protein of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7942 (Anacystis nidulans R2) has been cloned and sequenced. A polyclonal antibody against the protein was used to identify immunoreactive clones from a lambda gt11 expression library of Synechococcus strain PCC 7942. The initial positive clone (lambda gtAN42) contained a 0.9-kilobase (kb) chromosomal fragment, which was used to detect a larger chromosomal fragment from a lambda EMBL3 library. The lambda EMBL3 recombinant, lambda EM109, contained an 18-kb portion of the Synechococcus strain PCC 7942 chromosome. The open reading frame of cbpA encoded 450 amino acids which give rise to a protein of 49,113 daltons. The hydrophobicity plot indicates that the protein may have a 49-residue signal sequence which is cleaved to yield a mature protein of 43,709 daltons. The protein has been localized in the cytoplasmic membrane by biochemical procedures as well as by electron microscopic immunocytochemistry. Northern (RNA) blot analysis indicates that transcription of cbpA is tightly regulated by DNA topology, light intensity, and iron concentration. Transcription is greatly induced by growth under high light intensities and repressed during growth under iron-deficient conditions. The DNA gyrase inhibitor novobiocin specifically inhibited the light-induced transcription. In Northern blots, the gene-specific probe hybridized to two size classes of RNA, with lengths of 2.0 and 6.2 kb. Since cbpA appears to be a component of the 6.2-kb transcript, it is likely part of a larger operon.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1988

A simple and efficient procedure for the isolation of high-quality phage lambda DNA using a DEAE-cellulose column.

A simple and rapid procedure for purifying large quantities of bacteriophage lambda particles and DNA is described. The procedure involves DEAE-cellulose column chromatography of the phage particles and elution of the phage particles from the column with a low-ionic-strength buffer. The resulting phage were well separated from RNA, DNA, and proteins derived from Escherichia coli host cells. The lambda DNA was prepared from the purified phage particles by the conventional method of phenol extraction and ethanol precipitation. This procedure did not use nucleases, proteases, detergents, or CsCl density gradient centrifugation. The lambda DNA obtained by this method was equivalent in purity to the material prepared by CsCl density gradient centrifugation and amenable to restriction enzyme digestion, ligation, radiolabeling, and double-stranded DNA sequencing. A detailed protocol is described for obtaining 0.5 to 1.0 mg DNA from a 1-liter liquid lysate in less than 5 h. This procedure is simple, inexpensive, and timesaving, and is particularly suitable for large-scale isolation of lambda DNA.

Bacteriophage lambda↗
PubMed1988

Cloning, nucleotide sequence, and mutagenesis of a gene (irpA) involved in iron-deficient growth of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC7942.

We describe the cloning and sequencing of a gene from the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC7942, designated irpA (iron-regulated protein A), that encodes for a protein involved in iron acquisition or storage. Polyclonal antibodies raised against proteins which accumulate during iron-deficient growth were used as probes to isolate immunopositive clones from a lambda gt11 genomic expression library. The clone, designated lambda gtAN26, carried a 1.7-kilobase (kb) chromosomal DNA insert and was detected by cross-reactivity with antibody against a 36-kilodalton protein. It was possible to map a 20-kb portion of the chromosome with various DNA probes from lambda gt11 and lambda EMBL-3 clones, and Southern blot analysis revealed that the irpA gene was present in a single copy and localized within a 1.7-kb PstI fragment. DNA sequencing revealed an open reading frame of 1,068 nucleotides capable of encoding 356 amino acids which yields a protein with a molecular weight of 38,584. The hydropathy profile of the polypeptide indicated a putative N-terminal signal sequence of 44 amino acid residues. IrpA is a cytoplasmic membrane protein as determined by biochemistry and electron microscopy immunocytochemistry. The upstream region of the irpA gene contained a consensus sequence similar to the aerobactin operator in Escherichia coli. This fact, plus a mutant with a mutation in irpA that is unable to grow under iron-deficient conditions, led us to suggest that irpA is regulated by iron and that the gene product is involved in iron acquisition or storage.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Nucleotide sequence of the gene from the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans R2 encoding the Mn-stabilizing protein involved in photosystem II water oxidation.

The gene for the Mn-stabilizing protein (MSP; the so-called extrinsic 33-kDa protein) that is involved in photosystem II water oxidation was cloned and sequenced from the genome of the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans R2. The gene (here designated woxA) was shown to be present in a single copy. The deduced amino acid sequence indicated that the translation product consisted of 277 amino acid residues with a Mr of 29,306. The comparison of the sequence with that of mature MSP from spinach chloroplasts suggested that the translation product is a precursor whose amino-terminal 28 amino acid residues represent the signal peptide for the protein to cross the thylakoid membrane into the lumen. The length of the putative signal peptide was less than half that of the transit peptide for thylakoid-lumenal proteins of higher plants, whereas the structural profile of the putative signal peptide was similar to that of the carboxyl-terminal portion of the higher plant transit peptides. The amino acid sequence of the mature A. nidulans R2 MSP showed rather low homology (48-49%) to higher plant MSPs, but the conserved amino acid residues appeared to be clustered. Five clusters were tentatively assigned, in which the homology values were in a range of 66-70%. Domains essential for the functioning of MSP are expected to be situated in these clusters. It is of note that the two cysteine residues in MSP were conserved, and the disulfide linkage between them may play an important role in maintaining the tertiary structure of MSP.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Lambda ZAP: improved strategies for expression library construction and use.

A strategy is presented for the efficient construction of lambda ZAP genomic expression libraries. Procedures are described for the evaluation of the status of vector DNA at each stage of library construction to facilitate troubleshooting. Ligation of lambda ZAP cohesive ends and preparation of the multiple cloning site were verified by restriction enzyme digestion of vector DNA. Sonication was a rapid way of producing random chromosomal fragments of a size range ideal for expression library construction. The advantages of cloning into the Not I site of the lambda ZAP polylinker are discussed. The choice of this site eliminated the need to perform the methylation of chromosomal DNA, which is required when the conventional Eco RI site is used. This method also facilitates restriction mapping of cloned inserts. Genomic expression libraries were constructed using this approach for Synechococcus sp. PCC7942, Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, and Prochlorothrix hollandica. The utility of expression libraries and in vivo excision was demonstrated by verifying the identity of clones coding for Synechococcus sp. PCC7942 cytochrome f, since the correct reading frames of these cloned inserts were determined unambiguously.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Dietary patterns and selected anthropometric indices in reproductive age women of a slum in urban: Kurnool.

Dietary intake in pregnant, lactating and non-pregnant nonlactating women of an urban slum in Kurnool, A.P. are about 30% less than the ICMR recommended daily allowances. Heights and weights of the subjects are similar to the National Nutrition Monitoring Bureau's values for slum women and some inter-religious difference is observed in the anthropometry of the subjects.

Adolescent↗