The Mechanical Performance of Sugar Palm Fibres (Ijuk) Reinforced Phenolic Composites

Bushra Rashid,Zulkiflle Leman,Mohammad Jawaid,Mariyam Jameelah Ghazali,Mohamad Ridzwan Ishak 한국정밀공학회 2016 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.17 No.8

Sugar palm fibres are one of the natural fibres which have many features and need further study to understand their properties. The aim of this work is to investigate the flexural, compressive and impact properties of sugar palm fibres reinforced phenolic composites. Sugar palm fibres were used as a filler (particle size 150 μm) and with loading of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 vol.%. The fibres were treated by sea water and then fabricated into composites by hot press technique. Flexural, compressive, and impact tests were carried out as per ASTM D790, ASTM D695-08a, and ASTM D256 standards, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate the morphology and the interfacial bonding of the fibres-matrix in composites. The results show that the mechanical properties of the composites improve with the incorporation of fibres. The composite of 30 vol.% particle loading exhibit optimum values which are 32.23 MPa, 61.66 MPa, and 4.12 kJ/m2 for flexural, compressive, and impact strength, respectively. This was because good compatibility of fibre-matrix bonding. Consequently, sugar palm fibre is one of the prospective fibres and could be used as a potential resource to reinforcement polymer composite.

Effect of Glucose, Its Analogs and Some Amino Acids on Pre-steady State Kinetics of ATP Hydrolysis by PM-ATPase of Pathogenic Yeast (Candida albicans)

Bushra, Rashid,Nikhat, Manzoor,M., Amin,Luqman A., Khan The Korean Society for Integrative Biology 2004 Korean journal of biological sciences Vol.8 No.4

Fast kinetics of transient pH changes and difference spectrum formation have been investigated following mixing of ADP/ATP with partially purified plasma membrane PM-ATPase of the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans in the presence of five nutrients: glucose, glutamic acid, proline, lysine, and arginine and two analogs of glucose: 2-deoxy D-glucose and xylose. Average $H^+$- absorption to release ratio, indicative of population of ATPase undergoing complete hydrolytic cycle, was found to be 0.27 for control. This ratio varied between 0.25 (proline) to 0.36 (arginine) for all other compounds tested, except for glucose. In the presence of glucose, $H^+$- absorption to release ratio was exceptionally high (0.92). While no UV difference spectrum was observed with ADP, mixing of ATP with ATPase led to a large conformational change. Exposure to different nutrients restricted the magnitude of the conformational change; the analogs of glucose were found to be ineffective. This suppression was maximal in the case of glucose (80%); with other nutrients, the magnitude of suppression ranged from 40-50%. Rate of $H^+$- absorption, which is indicative of E~P complex dissociation, showed positive correlation with suppression of conformational change only in the case of glucose and no other nutrient/analog. Mode of interaction of glucose with plasma membrane $H^+$-ATPase thus appears to be strikingly distinct compared to that of other nutrients/analogs tested. The results obtained lead us to propose a model for explaining glucose stimulation of plasma membrane $H^+$-ATPase activity.

Effect of Glucose, Its Analogs and Some Amino Acids on Pre-steady State Kinetics of ATP Hydrolysis by PM-ATPase of Pathogenic Yeast (Candida albicans)

Bushra Rashid,Nikhat Manzoor,M. Amin,Luqman A. Khan 한국통합생물학회 2004 Animal cells and systems Vol.8 No.4

Fast kinetics of transient pH changes and difference spectrum formation have been investigated following mixing of ADP/ATP with partially purified plasma membrane PM-ATPase of the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans in the presence of five nutrients: glucose, glutamic acid, proline, lysine, and arginine and two analogs of glucose: 2-deoxy D-glucose and xylose. Average H+ - absorption to release ratio, indicative of population of ATPase undergoing complete hydrolytic cycle, was found to be 0.27 for control. This ratio varied between 0.25 (proline) to 0.36 (arginine) for all other compounds tested, except for glucose. In the presence of glucose, H+ - absorption to release ratio was exceptionally high (0.92). While no UV difference spectrum was observed with ADP, mixing of ATP with ATPase led to a large conformational change. Exposure to different nutrients restricted the magnitude of the conformational change; the analogs of glucose were found to be ineffective. This suppression was maximal in the case of glucose (80%); with other nutrients, the magnitude of suppression ranged from 40-50%. Rate of H+ - absorption, which is indicative of E~P complex dissociation, showed positive correlation with suppression of conformational change only in the case of glucose and no other nutrient/analog. Mode of interaction of glucose with plasma membrane H+-ATPase thus appears to be strikingly distinct compared to that of other nutrients/analogs tested. The results obtained lead us to propose a model for explaining glucose stimulation of plasma membrane H+ - ATPase activity.

Transformation and Inheritance of Bt Genes in Gossypium hirsutum

( Bushra Rashid ),( Zafar Saleem ),( Tayyab Husnain ),( Sheikh Riazuddin ) 한국식물학회 2008 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.51 No.4

Transgenic plants offer many unique opportunities for managing pest populations. However, the inheritance, integration, and expression of multiple transgenes are prerequisite for maintaining sustainable resistance against insects in crops. We took a gene-pyramiding approach to produce Bt cotton expressing two Bt genes, cry1Ac and cry2A. Using sonication-assisted Agrobacterium-mediated transformation (SAAT), we achieved an efficiency of 6.26%. Putative transgenic plants were confirmed via PCR, Southern hybridization, and western-blotting. Those showing mortality of 75 to 100% for the second instar of Heliothis armigera (compared with 0% for the control) were considered Bt-positive. Transgenes were segregated according to a 3:1 Mendelian inheritance pattern in the T1 generation for Heliothis resistance. In our insect bioassay, the control plants showed >95% leaf damage, and insects reached the 4th instar stage of larval growth. In contrast, leaf damage on transgenic plants was limited to only a few bites, and insect mortality was 75 to 100%. ELISA confirmed transgene expression, and Bt protein was detected in leaf tissue. This performance was consistent with that of the parent transgenics. PCR and Southern blots verified integration of the cry1Ac and cry2A genes into the progeny. Therefore, this strategy provides a pathway toward cotton improvement and the development of durable resistance against insect damage.

Field Evaluation and Fiber Analysis of Transgenic Cotton

Bushra Rashid,Ghazanfar Ali Khan,Tayyab Husnain,Sheikh Riazuddin 한국작물학회 2009 Journal of crop science and biotechnology Vol.12 No.3

We report the field evaluation of second generation of transgenic cotton expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) genes cry1Ac and cry2A under CaMV 35S promoter. Sixty-five transgenic lines were grown under RCBD design. Transgenic plants exhibited inherent ability to resist target insect (p < 0.05 and 0.01). Morphological studies showed significant reduction in plant height making them favorable for breeding. Yield was significantly increased for the transgenic lines. Fiber analysis showed improved gin turn out 40% for transgenic lines in comparison to 32% for non-transformed lines. Fibre quality of transgenic lines was not affected when compared with non transgenic lines. Inheritance pattern for transgenic lines suggests the need of further studies to understand the complex molecular mechanisms for resistance management and biosafety studies to develop new Bt cotton varieties. We report the field evaluation of second generation of transgenic cotton expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) genes cry1Ac and cry2A under CaMV 35S promoter. Sixty-five transgenic lines were grown under RCBD design. Transgenic plants exhibited inherent ability to resist target insect (p < 0.05 and 0.01). Morphological studies showed significant reduction in plant height making them favorable for breeding. Yield was significantly increased for the transgenic lines. Fiber analysis showed improved gin turn out 40% for transgenic lines in comparison to 32% for non-transformed lines. Fibre quality of transgenic lines was not affected when compared with non transgenic lines. Inheritance pattern for transgenic lines suggests the need of further studies to understand the complex molecular mechanisms for resistance management and biosafety studies to develop new Bt cotton varieties.

Phytonutrient Effects of Date Pit Extract against Azoxymethane-Induced Oxidative Stress in the Rat Colon

Waly, Mostafa Ibrahim,Al-Ghafri, Bushra Rashid,Guizani, Nejib,Rahman, Mohammad Shafiur Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.8

Plants and their by-products offer a diverse mixture of chemical constituents like natural antioxidants. Date-pits are rich in phenolic compounds that have antioxidant potential. The main objective of this study was to investigate the protective effect of a date-pit extract (DPE) against AOM-induced colonic carcinogenicity and oxidative stress. Thirty-two weanling male Sprauge-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (eight rats in each group). All rats were fed basic diet and water ad libitum, and randomly distributed per treatment groups as follows: negative controls injected with normal saline once a week for two weeks, a cancer group injected intra-peritoneally with azoxymethane (15mg/kg body weight) for two consecutive weeks, and DPE treated groups receiving the extract via the oral route (1.5ml/day) for the entire experiment in the presence or absence of AOM injection. Results showed that DPE contained phytonutrients that were capable of inhibiting chemically-induced oxidative stress in the rat colonic cells. In those animals that consumed DPE, a protective effect was observed against AOM-induced oxidative stress in rat colonic cells as evident by a significant decrease in MDA and oxidized DCF formation in AOM injected and DPE fed groups. It is concluded that DPE has potential antioxidant and anticarcinogenic properties.

Expression of Rice Chitinase Gene in Genetically Engineered Tomato Confers Enhanced Resistance to Fusarium Wilt and Early Blight

Jabeen, Nyla,Chaudhary, Zubeda,Gulfraz, Muhammad,Rashid, Hamid,Mirza, Bushra The Korean Society of Plant Pathology 2015 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.31 No.3

This is the first study reporting the evaluation of transgenic lines of tomato harboring rice chitinase (RCG3) gene for resistance to two important fungal pathogens Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol) causing fusarium wilt and Alternaria solani causing early blight (EB). In this study, three transgenic lines TL1, TL2 and TL3 of tomato Solanum lycopersicum Mill. cv. Riogrande genetically engineered with rice chitinase (RCG 3) gene and their R1 progeny was tested for resistance to Fol by root dip method and A. solani by detached leaf assay. All the R0 transgenic lines were highly resistant to these fungal pathogens compared to nontransgenic control plants. The pattern of segregation of three independent transformant for Fol and A. solani was also studied. Mendelian segregation was observed in transgenic lines 2 and 3 while it was not observed in transgenic line 1. It was concluded that introduction of chitinase gene in susceptible cultivar of tomato not only enhanced the resistance but was stably inherited in transgenic lines 2 and 3.

Expression of Rice Chitinase Gene in Genetically Engineered Tomato Confers Enhanced Resistance to Fusarium Wilt and Early Blight

Nyla Jabeen,Zubeda Chaudhary,Muhammad Gulfraz,Hamid Rashid,Bushra Mirza 한국식물병리학회 2015 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.31 No.3

This is the first study reporting the evaluation of transgenic lines of tomato harboring rice chitinase (RCG3) gene for resistance to two important fungal pathogens Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol) causing fusarium wilt and Alternaria solani causing early blight (EB). In this study, three transgenic lines TL1, TL2 and TL3 of tomato Solanum lycopersicum Mill. cv. Riogrande genetically engineered with rice chitinase (RCG 3) gene and their R1 progeny was tested for resistance to Fol by root dip method and A. solani by detached leaf assay. All the R0 transgenic lines were highly resistant to these fungal pathogens compared to nontransgenic control plants. The pattern of segregation of three independent transformant for Fol and A. solani was also studied. Mendelian segregation was observed in transgenic lines 2 and 3 while it was not observed in transgenic line 1. It was concluded that introduction of chitinase gene in susceptible cultivar of tomato not only enhanced the resistance but was stably inherited in transgenic lines 2 and 3.