Light Quality Affects Protocorm-Like Body (PLB) Formation,Growth and Development of In Vitro Plantlets of Phalaenopsis pulcherrima

Biology Bulletin - Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can be used as a useful alternative to the in vitro culture of various plant species, which not only accelerates plantlet growth and development but...     

S100 protein family and embryo implantation

It is well known that embryo implantation is a critical process in which embryo should be able to reach and attach to endometrium. Until now, various types of factors are involved in the regulation of this process. S100 proteins are calcium-binding proteins, which have vital roles in embryo implantation and have been considered as possible candidate markers for endometrial receptivity. However, studies regarding mode of actions of these proteins are scarce and more mechanistic insights are needed to clarify exact roles of each one of the S100 protein family. Understanding of function of these proteins in different compartments, stages, and phases of endometrium, could pave the way for conducting studies regarding the therapeutic significance of these proteins in some disorders such as recurrent implantation failure. In this review, we outlined roles and possible underlying mechanisms of S100 protein family in embryo implantation.     

Development of a new sensitive immunostrip assay based on mesoporous silica and colloidal Au nanoparticles

A new competitive immunostrip assay was developed to detect human serum albumin (HSA) in urine sample with use of conjugated monoclonal antibody gold nanoparticles (mAb–AuNPs) and mobile crystalline material (MCM)-41–HSA bioconjugate. To prepare the immunostrip, the colloidal AuNPs with an average particle diameter of 20 nm, was synthesized, labeled with antibody and applied on the conjugate pad as the detection reagent. Then, HSA was attached to the MCM-41 mesoporous nanoparticles and immobilized to a nitrocellulose membrane as the test line. In the optimized investigational conditions, the immunostrip could detect HSA in a high linear range (from 1 to 200 μg/ml) and low detection limit (ng/ml). The reliability of the testing procedure was examined by performing the immunostrip test with 30 urine samples and comparing the results with those obtained via immunoturbidimetry. The immunostrip was adequately sensitive and accurate for a rapid screening of HSA in the urine. This new strategy for competitive immunostrip design can be used and developed for other antigen based immunostrip assay.     

PEST motif serine and tyrosine phosphorylation controls vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 stability and downregulation

The internalization and degradation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2), a potent angiogenic receptor tyrosine kinase, is a central mechanism for the regulation of the coordinated action of VEGF in angiogenesis. Here, we show that VEGFR-2 is ubiquitinated in response to VEGF, and Lys 48-linked polyubiquitination controls its degradation via the 26S proteosome. The degradation and ubiquitination of VEGFR-2 is controlled by its PEST domain, and the phosphorylation of Ser1188/Ser1191 is required for the ubiquitination of VEGFR-2. F-box-containing β-Trcp1 ubiquitin E3 ligase is recruited to S1188/S1191 VEGFR-2 and mediates the ubiquitination and degradation of VEGFR-2. The PEST domain also controls the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) through phospho-Y1173. The activation of p38 stabilizes VEGFR-2, and its inactivation accelerates VEGFR-2 downregulation. The VEGFR-2-mediated activation of p38 is established through the protein kinase A (PKA)/MKK6 pathway. PKA is recruited to VEGFR-2 through AKAP1/AKAP149, and its phosphorylation requires Y1173 of VEGFR-2. The study has identified a unique mechanism in which VEGFR-2 stability and degradation is modulated. The PEST domain acts as a dual modulator of VEGFR-2; the phosphorylation of S1188/S1191 controls ubiquitination and degradation via β-Trcp1, where the phosphorylation of Y1173 through PKA/p38 MAPK controls the stability of VEGFR-2.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and biological control of Verticillium-wilted cotton plants

The interaction of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus etunicatum, Glomus intraradices, and Glomus versiforme) with a wilt-causing soil-borne pathogen, Verticillium dahliae, was studied in cotton. It was found that establishment by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi reduced disease index. In diseased cotton plants colonised by G. etunicatum, the disease index was less than other diseased mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal ones. In diseased cotton plants, chlorophyll content was lower than others. Three Glomus species significantly increased content of sugar and protein in shoot and root. Pathogen-infected plants had higher proline concentration in shoot and root than healthy plants. On the other hand, the increased content of proline as stress sensor showed that Verticillium accelerates senescence and reduces yield. These results suggest that the beneficial effects of mycorrhiza can alleviate the pathogenesis effects of V. dahliae partly, and also there is a competitive interaction between the pathogenic and symbiotic fungi.     

Growth Factor-Loaded Nano-niosomal Gel Formulation and Characterization

Controlled delivery of signaling factors could be a great approach in the tissue engineering field. Nano-niosomal drug delivery systems offer numerous advantages for this purpose. The present study reports the formulation and evaluation of a growth factor (GF)-loaded nano-niosome-hydrogel composite for GF delivery to modulate cell behavior. Niosomes were prepared, using span 60 surfactant with cholesterol (CH) in diethyl ether solvent, by reverse-phase evaporation technique. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were loaded simultaneously and the final suspension was embedded into agarose hydrogel. Particle size, vesicle morphology, protein entrapment efficiency (EE), and release profile were measured by dynamic light scattering (DLS) nanoparticle size analyzer, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and NanoDrop spectrophotometry methods, respectively. The release and performance of bFGF were revealed via human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation using microscopy imaging and MTT assay. Nano-niosomes had an average particle size of 232 nm and had encapsulated 58% of the total proteins present in the suspension. bFGF-BSA-loaded niosomal gel considerably enhanced HUVEC proliferation. This GF-loaded niosomal hydrogel could be a potent material in many biomedical applications including the induction of angiogenesis in tissue engineering.     

Reactivation of electron flow in chloroplasts of in vitro shootlets of apple through elimination of carbon source and evaluation of its activity by inhibitors of electron transport chain and chlorophyll fluorescence quenching

Electron transport chains (ETC) are drastically inactivated in chloroplasts of in vitro shootlets due to presence of carbon source in the growth media. This inactivation consequently creates limitations for in vitro studies on the role of chloroplasts in biotic and abiotic stresses. This research was carried out to evaluate reactivation of electron flow in chloroplasts ETC by elimination of carbon source and subsequent comparison of the effects of ETC inhibitors in the presence and absence of carbon source (i.e., sucrose) on the in vitro shootlets of apple rootstock, MM-111. All the tested ETC inhibitors, including uracil; glutaraldehyde, methyl viologen (MV) and DCMU triggered necrosis appearance on the in vitro apple shootlets exclusively on the carbon source-free media. Moreover, exposure of the in vitro shootlets to the various concentrations of ETC inhibitors demonstrated different severity of ETC inhibition by these inhibitors and their concentration-dependent effects on chloroplasts ETC. Uracil, the inhibitor of photosystem II, triggered the weakest shootlets necrosis, while DCMU exhibited no necrogenic effects at 50 mg/L and lower concentrations. MV, contrary to glutaraldehyde, did not have necrogenesis effects at 1 mg/L, but both of them caused sharp necrosis trigger on the shootlets as soon as 48–96 h after exposure to their effective concentrations. Evaluation of the shootlets H⁺-ATPase activity revealed that proton extrusion and pH decline in the growth media were mainly associated with the sucrose uptake by the shootlets, while no considerable pH decline observed in the presence of carbon source in the media. Finally, chloroplasts ETC activity of the shootlets was confirmed by higher percentage of O₂ and less CO₂ quantity in the atmospheres of the jars containing sucrose-free media, as well as by higher initial fluorescence (Fo) and maximum fluorescence (Fm) quenching parameters in the shootlets, in comparison with the sucrose-enriched condition.     

The novel paclitaxel-producing system: establishment of Corylus avellana L. hairy root culture

Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.), contains a valuable medicinal substance known as Paclitaxel®, which is one of the most effective anticancer drugs. The original plants produce negligible amount of paclitaxel; therefore, tissue culture techniques, especially hairy root culture, could be one of the most practical methods to enhance the amount of paclitaxel. The main goal of this study was to assess the induction of hairy roots in C. avellana. The effects of different strains of Agrobacterium rhizogenes including c58c1pRiA₄, K599, and 15834, and six culture media, MS (Murashige and Skoog), half-strength MS, quarter-strength MS, WPM (woody plant media), half-strength WPM, and quarter-strength WPM, were evaluated. The results showed that the maximum amounts of the rooted explants were obtained with c58c1pRiA4 strain in quarter-strength WPM medium. The investigations of explant type (leafstalk, petiole, lamina, and stem) and different propagation media (quarter-strength WPM, half-strength MS, and half-strength SH ((Schenk and Hildebrandt) medium) showed that the leafstalk was the most optimal explant for hairy root induction, and half-strength SH was the best culture medium for growth of the hairy roots in liquid medium. HPLC analyses confirmed the presence of paclitaxel (3.2 μg g⁻¹ (DW)) in hairy root extracts.

     

Development of urinary albumin immunosensor based on colloidal AuNP and PVA

The development of immunosensors with high sensitivity and specificity in detecting the pathogenic or physiologically relevant molecules in the body, offers a powerful opportunity in early diagnosis and treatment of diseases. In this study, we developed a new competitive immunosensor with employing antibody (Ab) labeled AuNP (Ab-AuNP) and PVA modified screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) surface to detect the urine albumin. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) of modified electrode showed a suitable and stable attachment between HSA antigen- mAb and AuNP. Cyclic voltammetric (CV) method demonstrated that modification process was well performed. Electrochemical measurements including differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) were employed for quantitative antigen detection. The electrochemical measurements performed with other proteins mixed with samples demonstrated a high specificity and selectivity for this biosensor in detecting the HSA. In optimal conditions, the immunosensor could detect HSA in a high linear range (from 2.5 to 200 μg/mL) with a low detection limit of 25 ng/mL. This new strategy could be improved and applied to detect the other antigen.