Modeling and analysis of soybean (Glycine max. L) Cu/Zn,Mn and Fe superoxide dismutases

Superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) is an important metal-containing antioxidant enzyme that provides the first line of defense against toxic superoxide radicals by catalyzing their dismutation to oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. SOD is classified into four metalloprotein isoforms, namely, Cu/Zn SOD, Mn SOD, Ni SOD and Fe SOD. The structural models of soybean SOD isoforms have not yet been solved. In this study, we describe structural models for soybean Cu/Zn SOD, Mn SOD and Fe SOD and provide insights into the molecular function of this metal-binding enzyme in improving tolerance to oxidative stress in plants.     

Non-contiguous finished genome sequence and description of Bartonella senegalensis sp. nov.

Bartonella senegalensis sp. nov. strain OS02^T is the type strain of B. senegalensis sp. nov., a new species within the genus Bartonella. This strain, whose genome is described here, was isolated in Senegal from the soft tick Ornithodoros sonrai, the vector of relapsing fever. B. senegalensis is an aerobic, rod-shaped, Gram-negative bacterium. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and its annotation. The 1,966,996 bp-long genome contains 1,710 protein-coding and 46 RNA genes, including 6 rRNA genes.     

Lepiota vellingana sp. nov. (Basidiomycota, Agaricales) a new species from Lahore, Pakistan

A new species of Lepiota, L. vellingana, is described and illustrated from Lahore, Pakistan. It is characterized by a campanulate to plano-convex, slightly umbonate, white pileus covered with pinkish brown scales, crowded lamellae, guttulate basidiospores, long trichodermial stipe elements, and long trichodermial pileal elements.     

Antiosteoporotic flavonoids from Podocarpium podocarpum

A novel bi-isoflavonoid, podocarnone (1), together with five known flavonoids, namely genistein (2), afzelin (3), astragalin (4), luteolin (5) and pratensein (6), were isolated from the whole plants of Podocarpium podocarpum (DC.) Yang and Huang for the first time. The structure of podocarnone (1) was elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR techniques. All the isolated compounds were evaluated for their proliferative effects on osteoblasts derived from neonatal rat calvaria and inhibitory effects on multinucleated osteoclasts from rat marrow cells so as to explore the antiosteoporotic activity of these components. Podocarnone (1) exhibited potent stimulatory effects on osteoblastic proliferation and ALP (alkaline phosphatase) activity, and significantly inhibited the activity of osteoclastic TRAP (tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase) in the low concentration range of 10^?12–10^?14 mol/L, which were equivalent to the activity of genistein (2) in the concentration range of 10^?7–10^?9 mol/L. The other five known flavonoids also showed varied degrees of antiosteoporotic activities, and structure–activity relationship analysis revealed the number of phenolic rings contained in these structures maybe responsible for the antiosteoporosis property.     

Anthropozoic impacts on forest ecosystems: Case of the Zloul Valley (Ribat Al Khair Region,Morocco)

Over the second half of the past century, the Zloul Valley has undergone rapid and intense changes, such as deforestation and massive clearing as well as a grazing ban in olive plots since the introduction of olive cultivation approximately 30 years ago. The aim of this study was to explore these rapidly changing ecosystems. The floristic analysis revealed a more pronounced anthropozoic impact on the Chamaerops humilis and Ampelodesmos mauritanicus steppe group, which displayed the lowest floristic diversity, with a Shannon–Weaver index of 3.72, and a very high disturbance, of 68.85%. The grazing ban in olive plots had a positive effect on floristic richness and diversity, with the Shannon–Weaver index reaching a maximum value of 4.67. However, the floristic composition remained unbalanced, with an equitability index of 0.61 and a perturbation index of 70.8%. Therefore, these ecosystems have not been able to recover their initial equilibrium despite being under protection for long. The ecosystems of the Zloul Valley demonstrated alarming levels of degradation, especially on the southern slopes of Jbel Ikraa and Jnab Diss. Urgent measures must be taken to mitigate biodiversity loss and soil erosion as a matter of priority.     

Functional characterization of human myosin-binding protein C3 variants associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy reveals exon-specific cardiac phenotypes in zebrafish model

Myosin-binding protein C 3 (MYBPC3) variants are the most common cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). HCM is a complex cardiac disorder due to its significant genetic and clinical heterogeneity. MYBPC3 variants genotype–phenotype associations remain poorly understood. We investigated the impact of two novel human MYBPC3 splice-site variants: V1: c.654+2_654+4dupTGG targeting exon 5 using morpholino MOe5i5; and V2: c.772+1G>A targeting exon 6 using MOe6i6; located within C1 domain of cMyBP-C protein, known to be critical in regulating sarcomere structure and contractility. Zebrafish MOe5i5 and MOe6i6 morphants recapitulated typical characteristics of human HCM with cardiac phenotypes of varying severity, including reduced cardiomyocyte count, thickened ventricular myocardial wall, a drastic reduction in heart rate, stroke volume, and cardiac output. Analysis of all cardiac morphological and functional parameters demonstrated that V2 cardiac phenotype was more severe than V1. Coinjection with synthetic human MYBPC3 messenger RNA (mRNA) partially rescued disparate cardiac phenotypes in each zebrafish morphant. While human MYBPC3 mRNA partially restored the decreased heart rate in V1 morphants and displayed increased percentages of ejection fraction, fractional shortening, and area change, it failed to revert the V1 ventricular myocardial thickness. These results suggest a possible V1 impact on cardiac contractility. In contrast, attempts to rescue V2 morphants only restored the ventricular myocardial wall hypertrophy phenotype but had no significant effect on impaired heart rate, suggesting a potential V2 impact on the cardiac structure. Our study provides evidence of an association between MYBPC3 exon-specific cardiac phenotypes in the zebrafish model providing important insights into how these genetic variants contribute to HCM disease.     

Variations in random amplified polymorphic DNA profile and toxin production among isolates of Colletotrichum falcatum Went from sugarcane in Tamil Nadu,India

Red rot, caused by Colletotrichum falcatum Went, is one of the most important diseases of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.). The pathogen shows a great diversity in virulence as a number of pathotypes are known to occur in nature. In the present study, the toxin producing ability and genetic variability among isolates of C. falcatum collected from major sugarcane growing areas of Tamil Nadu, India were analysed. The C. falcatum isolates differed significantly in their ability to produce toxin in vitro. The toxin from C. falcatum isolate Cf 671a induced the maximum electrolyte leakage (300 μS) from sugarcane leaf tissues. The genetic relatedness of the isolates of C. falcatum differing in toxin production potential was investigated by using RAPD analysis. Analysis of the genetic coefficient matrix derived from the scores of RAPD profiles showed that minimum and maximum percent similarities among the tested C. falcatum isolates were in the range of 19 to 95% respectively. The phylogenetic analysis by the UPGMA identified two main clusters. Cluster A contains only one isolate (Cf 98061) and all the other isolates were placed in Cluster B confirming high genetic diversity among the isolates. No correlation was observed between clustering of the C. falcatum isolates in the dendrogram and their toxin producing abilities.     

Estimation of Jordanian isolated Pectobacterium cellulase,pectinase concentrations,RAPD polymorphism and their maceration activity

Forty-two Pectobacterium isolates were recovered from contaminated soil and rotted vegetables in Jordan. Twenty of them were belonged to; Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. Carotovorum (Pbc) (= Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora), 11 isolates were belonged to Pectobacterium atrospeticum (= Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica) (Pba) and 11 isolates were not classifiable (Pbs). Maceration activity of the 42 proved their ability to macerate potato, carrot and radish slices. Maceration activity of the isolates either of the same subspecies or in between the isolates of different subspecies isolated from the same host or from different hosts was varied. The measured concentration in μM?ml^?1 of both cellulase and pectinase enzymes was variable too. The Rapid amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR finger printing of total genomic DNA using a pair of 10-mer oligonucleotide primers amplification showed similar DNA bands with some polymorphic variations amongst the isolates.     

Biochemical effects of chlorpyrifos organophosphorous insecticide,camphor plant oil and their mixture on Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.)

The biochemical effects of the chlorpyrifos organophosphate insecticide and camphor plant oil in addition to their combination were studied and compared against the fourth larval instars of the cotton leaf worm Spodoptera littoralis under laboratory condition. Biochemical analysis showed that the total protein content of the cotton leaf worm larval instars was decreased at 31, 26 and 13.5% by using a camphor extract, chlorpyrifos and combination, respectively. In addition, the activity of acid phosphatase, α-esterase was significantly declined. Biochemical analysis also showed that the alkaline phosphatase activity was increased comparing with control in another side. Acetylcholinesterase enzyme amount and activity were increased with the treatment of camphor extract followed by chlorpyrifos, even though the mixture of them nearly showed the same amount in control trail. In contrast, chitinase enzyme showed a negative effect of both camphor and chlorpyrifos with nearly about the same lowering in the amount and activity of chitinase, while the mixture of them revealed a high positive increasing in the amount and activity of chitinase. On the opposite trend, phenoloxidase enzyme of treated larvae increased by action of chlorpyrifos, followed by camphor, while the mixture of them showed a negative decrease when comparing with the control.