Possible role of metal ionophore against zinc induced cognitive dysfunction in <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d-</Emphasis>galactose senescent mice

Metal ionophores are considered as potential anti-dementia agents, and some are currently undergoing clinical trials. Many metals are known to accumulate and distribute abnormally in the aging brain. Alterations in zinc metal homeostasis in the glutaminergic synapse could contribute to ageing and the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The present study was designed to investigate the effect of metal ionophores on long term administration of zinc in D-galactose induced senescent mice. The ageing model was established by combined administration of zinc and D-galactose to mice for 6 weeks. A novel metal ionophore, PBT-2 was given daily to zinc-induced d-galactose senescent mice. The cognitive behaviour of mice was monitored using the Morris Water Maze. The anti-oxidant status and amyloidogenic activity in the ageing mouse was measured by determining mito-oxidative parameters and deposition of amyloid β (Aβ) in the brain. Systemic administration of both zinc and D-galactose significantly produced memory deficits, mito-oxidative damage, heightened acetylcholinesterase enzymatic activity and deposition of amyloid-β. Treatment with PBT-2 significantly improved behavioural deficits, biochemical profiles, cellular damage, and curbed the deposition of APP in zinc-induced senescent mice. These findings suggest that PBT-2, acting as a metal protein attenuating compound, may be helpful in the prevention of AD or alleviation of ageing.     

Inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis and growth in plant pathogenic fungi in vitro

Polyamine (PA) biosynthesis inhibitors, difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), difluoromethylarginine (DFMA), methylglyoxal bis-(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG) and bis-(cyclohexylammonium) sulphate (BCHA) have been tested for their effects on colony diameters at different intervals after inoculation of four plant pathogenic fungi (Helminthosporium oryzae, Curvularia lunata, Pythium aphanidermatum and Colletotrichum capsici). All these inhibitors, except DFMA had strongly retarded the growth of four fungi in a dose- and species-dependent fashion, and H. oryzae and C. lunata were found to be most sensitive to the effects of PA inhibitors. P. aphanidermatum and C. capsici were relatively insensitive and required rather high concentrations of inhibitors to get greater inhibition of mycelial growth, except DFMA which had stimulatory effect on the growth of these two fungi. However DFMA had greatly suppressed the growth of H. oryzae and C. lunata. The effect was generally more pronounced with MGBG than with DFMO and BCHA, and 1 mM Put completely prevented the inhibitory effects of 1 and 5 mM DFMO. Analysis of free and conjugated PAs in two sensitive fungi (H. oryzae and C. lunata) revealed that Put was present in highest concentrations followed by Spd and Spm and their levels were greatly reduced by DFMO application, and such inhibitions were totally reversed by exogenously supplied Put; in fact, PA titers were considerably increased by 1 mM Put alone and in combination with 1 mM DFMO. These results suggest that PA inhibitors, particularly DFMO and MGBG may be useful as target-specific fungicides in plants.     

Response of pigeon pea cultivars to water stress

Decrease in soil water potential during vegetative and flowering stages of two cultivars of pipeon pea (Cajanus cajari) caused higher decrease in relative water content in cv. ICPL-151 than in cv. H-77-216. Both cultivars showed partial recovery during rehydration. Cv. H-77-216 also accumulated more proline and carbohydrates during stress and showed better drought tolerance than cv. ICPL-151.     

N-glycosylation induced changes in tau protein dynamics reveal its role in tau misfolding and aggregation: A microsecond long molecular dynamics study

Various posttranslational modifications like hyperphosphorylation, O-GlcNAcylation, and acetylation have been attributed to induce the abnormal folding in tau protein. Recent in vitro studies revealed the possible involvement of N-glycosylation of tau protein in the abnormal folding and tau aggregation. Hence, in this study, we performed a microsecond long all atom molecular dynamics simulation to gain insights into the effects of N-glycosylation on Asn-359 residue which forms part of the microtubule binding region. Trajectory analysis of the stimulations coupled with essential dynamics and free energy landscape analysis suggested that tau, in its N-glycosylated form tends to exist in a largely folded conformation having high beta sheet propensity as compared to unmodified tau which exists in a large extended form with very less beta sheet propensity. Residue interaction network analysis of the lowest energy conformations further revealed that Phe378 and Lys353 are the functionally important residues in the peptide which helped in initiating the folding process and Phe378, Lys347, and Lys370 helped to maintain the stability of the protein in the folded state.     

Effect of phenolic compounds on abscisic acid-induced stomatal movement: Structure – activity relationship

Application of abscisic acid (ABA) brings about stomatal closure within 30 min in epidermal peels of Vicia faba . A number of phenolic compounds antagonise the effect of ABA. Derivatives of benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, coumarin and flavonoids have been studied in order to establish structure – activity relationship. Derivatives of benzoic acid reverse the ABA effects. Coumarin, esculetin and three hydro derivatives of cinnamic acid fail to show the anti-ABA activity. Thus, the presence of parahydroxyl group and double bond in the side chain is necessary for anti-ABA activity.     

Effect of temperature onin vitro pollen germination in pigeonpea

Pollen of pigeonpea(Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) cultivars H-77-216 and ICPL-151 were cultivatedin vitro at six different temperatures (12, 17, 22, 27, 32, 37 °C). Pollen of cv. H-77-216 started to germinate at 17 °C whereas the pollen of cv. ICPL-151 at 22 °C, the optimal temperatures were 22 and 27 °C, respectively. Pollen germination at different temperatures was found to be positively correlated with the tube length. Per cent pollen bursting increased with rising temperature. The indeterminate cv. H-77-216 showed a wide range of suitable temperatures (17 – 27 °C) for pollen germination while the determinate cv. ICPL-151 had optimum at 27 °C     

Association genetics of the parameters related to nitrogen use efficiency in Brassica juncea L.

Key message

Genome wide association studies allowed prediction of 17 candidate genes for association with nitrogen use efficiency. Novel information obtained may provide better understanding of genomic controls underlying germplasm variations for this trait in Indian mustard.

Abstract

Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss.) is low and most breeding efforts to combine NUE with crop performance have not succeeded. Underlying genetics also remain unexplored. We tested 92 SNP-genotyped inbred lines for yield component traits, N uptake efficiency (NUPEFF), nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUTEFF), nitrogen harvest index (NHI) and NUE for two years at two nitrogen doses (N_o without added N and N₁₀₀ added @100 kg/ha). Genotypes IC-2489-88, M-633, MCP-632, HUJM 1080, GR-325 and DJ-65 recorded high NUE at low N. These also showed improved crop performance under high N. One determinate mustard genotype DJ-113 DT-3 revealed maximum NUTEFF. Genome wide association studies (GWAS) facilitated recognition of 17 quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Environment specificity was high. B-genome chromosomes (B02, B03, B05, B07 and B08) harbored many useful loci. We also used regional association mapping (RAM) to supplement results from GWAS. Annotation of the genomic regions around peak SNPs helped to predict several gene candidates for root architecture, N uptake, assimilation and remobilization. CAT9 (At1g05940) was consistently envisaged for both NUE and NUPEFF. Major N transporter genes, NRT1.8 and NRT3.1 were predicted for explaining variation for NUTEFF and NUPEFF, respectively. Most significant amino acid transporter gene, AAP1 appeared associated with NUE under limited N conditions. All these candidates were predicted in the regions of high linkage disequilibrium. Sequence information of the predicted candidate genes will permit development of molecular markers to aid breeding for high NUE.

     

A Comprehensive in Silico Analysis for Identification of Immunotherapeutic Epitopes of HPV-18

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Human papillomavirus (HPV) remains the major cause of cervical cancer, globally. High risk HPV (Hr-HPV) 16 and 18 together account for...