Gene expression pattern at desiccation in the anther of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lilium longiflorum</Emphasis>

Although gene expression profile of pollen has been described, there is limited information regarding a particular phase during anther/pollen development. This work characterizes gene expression pattern at desiccation in lily (Lilium longiflorum Thunb. cv Snow Queen) anthers. We have applied a suppression-subtractive hybridization (SSH) strategy, through which 90 clones were identified and sequenced. These clones resulted in the identification of 42 individual cDNAs among which 33 genes were specifically expressed at the desiccation phase of anthers of >150-mm buds. Fourteen cDNAs were chosen for further examination. Six genes were both dehydration- and abscisic acid (ABA)-inducible whereas the other eight genes were apparently dehydration-irrelevant. The group of dehydration- and ABA-induced genes was also induced by desiccation that developmentally occurs in the anther. The application of fluridone has a significant effect of inhibition on mRNA accumulation of these genes in maturing anthers during which desiccation occurs. Pollen germination analysis indicated that, of those dehydration-irrelevant genes, three were ABA-responsive and the other five were not. Thus, three separate signal pathways that function in the activation of late genes at desiccation during anther development are established. The first is the ABA-dependent pathway induced by environmental stress of dehydration. The other two pathways of signaling triggered by developmental cues, through which one is ABA-dependent and another is ABA-independent. The 14 gene proteins showed spatial and temporal expression patterns and may participate in membrane/cell wall synthesis, cytoskeletal organization, signaling, RNA binding, ubiquitin-mediated degradation and transportation during germination and tube growth. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Novel Role for γ-Catenin in the Regulation of Cancer Cell Migration via the Induction of Hepatocyte Growth Factor Activator Inhibitor Type 1 (HAI-1)

γ-catenin (Plakoglobin), a well-described structural protein functioning at the adherens junctions and desmosomes, was shown to be either lost or weakly expressed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and tumor tissues. However, the tumor suppressive affects of γ-catenin were not fully understood. In this study, we have identified a novel role for the affects of γ-catenin on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell migration. Expression of γ-catenin in NSCLC cells resulted in reduced cell migration as determined by both scratch assays and trans-well cell migration assays. Moreover, the affects of γ-catenin on cell migration were observed to be p53-dependent. Mechanistically, the anti-migratory effects seen via γ-catenin were driven by the expression of hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor Type I (HAI-1 or SPINT-1), an upstream inhibitor of the c-MET signaling pathway. Furthermore, the re-expression of γ-catenin sensitized NSCLC cells to c-MET inhibitor-mediated growth inhibition. Taken together, we identify γ-catenin as a novel regulator of HAI-1, which is a critical regulator of HGF/c-MET signaling. Therefore, targeting γ-catenin-mediated HAI-1 expression might be a useful strategy to sensitize NSCLC to c-MET inhibitors.     

An Indian scenario on renewable and sustainable energy sources with emphasis on algae

India is the fifth largest primary energy consumer and fourth largest petroleum consumer after USA, China, and Japan. Despite the global economic crisis, India’s economy is expected to grow at 6 to 8?%/year. There is an extreme dependence on petroleum products with considerable risks and environmental issues. Petroleum-derived transport fuels are of limited availability and contribute to global warming, making renewable biofuel as the best alternative. The focus on biogas and biomass-based energy, such as bioethanol and biohydrogen, will enhance cost-effectiveness and provide an opportunity for the rural community. Among all energy sources, microalgae have received, so far, more attention due to their facile adaptability to grow in the photobioreactors or open ponds, high yields, and multiple applications. Microalgae can produce a substantial amount of triacylglycerols as a storage lipid under photooxidative stress or other adverse environmental conditions. In addition to renewable biofuels, they can provide different types of high-value bioproducts added to their advantages, such as higher photosynthetic efficiency, higher biomass production, and faster growth compared to any other energy crops. The viability of first-generation biofuels production is, however, questionable because of the conflict with food supply. In the future, biofuels should ideally create the environmental, economic, and social benefits to the communities and reflect energy efficiency so as to plan a road map for the industry to produce third-generation biofuels.     

TRIF Licenses Caspase-11-Dependent NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation by Gram-Negative Bacteria

Systemic infections with Gram-negative bacteria are?characterized by high mortality rates due to the "sepsis syndrome," a widespread and uncontrolled inflammatory response. Though it is well recognized that the immune response during Gram-negative bacterial infection is initiated after the recognition of endotoxin by Toll-like receptor 4, the molecular mechanisms underlying the detrimental inflammatory response during Gram-negative bacteremia remain poorly defined. Here, we identify a TRIF pathway that licenses NLRP3 inflammasome activation by all Gram-negative bacteria. By engaging TRIF, Gram-negative bacteria activate caspase-11. TRIF activates caspase-11 via type I IFN signaling, an event that is both necessary and sufficient for caspase-11 induction and autoactivation. Caspase-11 subsequently synergizes with the assembled NLRP3 inflammasome to regulate caspase-1 activation and leads to caspase-1-independent cell death. These events occur specifically during infection with Gram-negative, but not Gram-positive, bacteria. The identification of TRIF as a regulator of caspase-11 underscores the importance of TLRs as master regulators of inflammasomes during Gram-negative bacterial infection.     

Confounding Effects of Benign Lung Diseases on Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Serum Biomarker Discovery

Introduction

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The discovery of new biomarkers could aid early diagnosis and monitoring of recurrence following tumor resection.

Methods

We have prospectively collected serum from 97 lung cancer patients undergoing surgery with curative intent and compared their serum proteomes with those of 100 noncancer controls (59 disease-free and 41 with a range of nonmalignant lung conditions). We initially analyzed serum from 67 lung cancer patients and 73 noncancer control subjects by surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry using immobilized metal affinity capture ProteinChip arrays and subsequently validated our findings with an independent analysis of 30 lung cancer patients and 27 noncancer subjects.

Results

The data from both experiments show many significant differences between the serum proteomes of lung cancer patients and nondiseased control subjects, and a number of these polypeptides have been identified. However, the profiles of patients with benign lung diseases resembled those of lung cancer patients such that very few significant differences were found when these cohorts were compared.

Conclusions

This report provides clear evidence of the need to account for the confounding effects of benign diseases when designing lung cancer serum biomarker discovery projects.     

Marine Bacterial Compounds Evaluated by In Silico Studies as Antipsychotic Drugs Against Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is one of the brain disorders which affects the thinking and behavioral skills of patients. This disorder comes along with an overproduction of kynurenic acid in the cerebrospinal fluid and the prefrontal cortex of SCZ patients. In this study, marine bacterial compounds were screened for their suitability as antagonists against human kynurenine aminotransferase (hKAT-1) which causes the synthesis of kynurenic acid downstream which ultimately causes the SCZ disorder according to the kynurenic hypothesis of SCZ. The marine actinobacterial compound bonactin shows more promising results than other tested marine compounds such as the histamine H2 blocker famotidine and indole-3-acetic acid (IAC) from docking and in silico toxicological studies carried out here. The obtained results of the Grid-based Ligand Docking with Energetics (Glide) scores of extra-precision (XP) Glide against the target protein hKAT-1 on IAC, famotidine, and bonactin were ??6.581, ??6.500 and ??7.730 kcal/mol where Glide energies were ??29.84, ??28.391, and ??47.565 kcal/mol, respectively. Bonactin is known as an antibacterial and antifungal compound being extracted from a marine Streptomyces sp. Comparing tested compounds against the drug target hKAT-1, bonactin alone showed the best Glide score and Glide energy on the target protein hKAT-1.     

Cumulative exposure and dietary risk assessment of phthalates in bottled water and bovine milk samples: A preliminary case study in Tamil Nadu,India

Exposure to phthalates may cause adverse health effects in wildlife and humans. Study on phthalates exposure and risk is limited in the Indian context. Therefore, this preliminary investigation was performed to ascertain the phthalates exposure through bottled water and milk among the Indian sub-population. Phthalates were extracted from water and milk by solid-phase and ultrasonication methods, respectively, and analysis was performed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Total phthalates in bottled water and milk were in the range of 39–7820 ng/L and 56–686 ng/g, respectively, with the highest contribution from diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP). A substantial increase in phthalates concentration in bottled water was observed with increased shelf life. Total mean phthalates in packed milk (245 ng/g) and raw milk (134 ng/g) shows potential enrichment during “farm to table” process. Among phthalates, the lowest risk was expected from diethyl phthalate, whereas the highest risk was observed for DEHP with cumulative dietary exposure of 0.23 μg/kg bw/day (median). The human health risk based on tolerable daily intake and reference dose was found safe. This is the first study reporting phthalates migration in packed commodities from a developing country, India, which further warrants extensive phthalates exposure assessment to understand its effect on public health.     

PCR-identification of Dunaliella salina (Volvocales, Chlorophyta) and its growth characteristics

The saline pond microalga, Dunaliella salina (Dunal) Teod. maintained in De Walne's (basal) medium under laboratory conditions was confirmed by amplifying the chromosomal DNA of the microalga by PCR with specific primers MA1 and MA2. Seaweed extracts obtained from Sargassum wightii and Ulva lactuca were amended separately at 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0% and 2.5% levels to the basal medium in order to assess their potential on the growth and concentration of pigments, viz. Chl a, Chl b and beta-carotene of the alga. beta-Carotene was isolated and visible absorption spectrum was taken at 443 and 475 nm confirmed the presence of 9-cis-beta-carotene and all-trans-beta-carotene isomers. Maximum yield, highest division rate (mu) and highest pigment concentrations were observed in the cells grown in 1.5% S. wightii and 2.0% U. lactuca amended medium and these cells were subjected to DAPI staining. The results of epifluorescence microscopy and image analysis revealed a significant enhancement of the cell and nuclear area of the microalgae.     

Interaction of polyethyleneimine‐anchored copper(II) complexes with tRNA studied by spectroscopy methods and biological activities

Ultraviolet–visible, emission and circular dichroism spectroscopic methods were used in transfer RNA (tRNA) interaction studies performed for polyethyleneimine–copper(II) complexes [Cu(phen)(l ‐Tyr)BPEI]ClO₄ (where phen =1,10‐phenanthroline, l ‐Tyr = l ‐tyrosine and BPEI = branched polyethyleneimine) with various degrees of coordination (x = 0.059, 0.149, 0.182) in the polymer chain. The results indicated that polyethyleneimine–copper(II) complexes bind with tRNA mostly through surface binding, although other binding modes, such as hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions, might also be present. Dye‐exclusion, sulforhodamine B and 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays of a polyethyleneimine–copper(II) complex with a higher degree of coordination against different cancer cell lines proved that the complex exhibited cytotoxic specificity and a significant cancer cell inhibition rate. Antimicrobial screening showed activity against some human pathogens.