Improved in planta genetic transformation efficiency in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant - Production of transformed bitter gourd plants through in vitro regeneration is a laborious practice, which may also result in somaclonal...     

Molecular docking of potential inhibitors with the mTOR protein

The mTOR (mammalian or mechanistic Target of Rapamycin) is linked with oral cancer. Therefore, it is of interest to study the molecular docking-based binding of paclitaxel (a FDA approved drug for oral cancer) and its analogues with mTOR. Hence, we report the binding features of 10-Deacetyltaxol, 7-Epi-10-deacetyltaxol, 7-Epi-Taxol and 6alpha-Hydroxypaclitaxel with mTOR for further consideration.     

Enhanced gamma glutamyl transpeptidase activity in hat uterus following deciduoma induction and implantation

Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) is significantly enhanced in the rat uterus following implantation and during deciduoma morphogenesis. Uteri of gravid rats (Day 7 and 8 of pregnancy) show higher levels of this enzyme in the regions of implantation than in the interimplantation areas. Most of the GGT activity of induced deciduoma is present in the endometrium and the enzyme activity increases gradually to reach a peak five days post induction. Myometrial GGT activity is barely detectable during deciduoma growth. Results are discussed in relation to endometrial alterations during nidation and uterine glutathione content.     

Molecular docking analysis of compounds from Justica adhatoda L with the MUC1 oncoprotein

The MUC1 oncoprotein is known to be linked with different types of cancer. Therefore, it is of interest to document the molecular docking analysis of compounds from Justica adhatoda L with the MUC1 oncoprotein. We report the structure based molecular binding features compounds such as amrinone, ethambutol, pyrazinamide and vasicoline the MUC1 oncoprotein for further consideration in drug discovery.     

An efficient in planta transformation of Jatropha curcas (L.) and multiplication of transformed plants through in vivo grafting

An efficient and reproducible Agrobacterium-mediated in planta transformation was developed in Jatropha curcas. The various factors affecting J. curcas in planta transformation were optimized, including decapitation, Agrobacterium strain, pin-pricking, vacuum infiltration duration and vacuum pressure. Simple vegetative in vivo cleft grafting method was adopted in the multiplication of transformants without the aid of tissue culture. Among the various parameters evaluated, decapitated plants on pin-pricking and vacuum infiltrated at 250 mmHg for 3 min with the Agrobacterium strain EHA 105 harbouring the binary vector pGA 492 was proved to be efficient in all terms with a transformation efficiency of 62.66 %. Transgene integration was evinced by the GUS histochemical analysis, and the GUS positive plants were subjected to grafting. Putatively transformed J. curcas served as "Scion" and the wild type J. curcas plant severed as "Stock". There was no occurrence of graft rejection and the plants were then confirmed by GUS histochemical analysis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern hybridization. Genetic stability of the grafted plants was evaluated by using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), marker which showed 100 % genetic stability between mother and grafted plants. Thus, an efficient in planta transformation and grafting based multiplication of J. curcas was established.     

Assessment of the efficacy of amino acids and polyamines on regeneration of watermelon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrullus lanatus</Emphasis> Thunb.) and analysis of genetic fidelity of regenerated plants by SCoT and RAPD markers

A simple and efficient regeneration protocol was developed for watermelon from cotyledonary node explants excised from 7-day-old in vitro grown seedlings. This study describes the effect of amino acids and polyamines (PAs) along with plant growth regulators (PGRs) on multiple shoot induction and rooting. The highest number of multiple shoots (46.43 shoots/explant) was obtained from cotyledonary node and they were also elongated (6.3 cm/shoot) on MS medium supplemented with 1 mg l^??1 N ⁶ –Benzyladenine (BA), 5 mg l^??1 leucine, and 10 mg l^??1 spermidine. The elongated shoots developed profuse roots (23.03 roots/shoot) in MS medium containing 1 mg l^??1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), 5 mg l^??1 isoleucine, and 10 mg l^??1 putrescine. All the rooted plantlets were successfully hardened and acclimatized in the greenhouse with a survival rate of 98%. The present study described an efficient method to obtain a 1.5-fold increase in the number of shoots, compared with the available regeneration protocols for watermelon. The plants developed in this study showed fivefold higher photosynthetic pigments compared to the control plants. The genetic fidelity of the regenerated plants was evaluated by SCoT and RAPD marker analyses, and banding patterns confirmed the true-to-type nature of in vitro regenerated plants.     

Production of the lantibiotic salivaricin A and its variants by oral streptococci and use of a specific induction assay to detect their presence in human saliva

Salivaricin A (SalA), the first Streptococcus salivarius lantibiotic to be characterized, appears to be inhibitory to most Streptococcus pyogenes strains. A variant of the SalA structural gene (salA1) is present in more than 90% of S. pyogenes strains, but only strains of M serotype 4 and T pattern 4 produce the biologically active peptide. The present study identifies four additional variants (salA2 to salA5) of the SalA structural gene and demonstrates that each of the corresponding inhibitory peptides (SalA2 to SalA5) is produced in vitro. These variants appear to be similar to SalA and SalA1 in their inhibitory activity against Micrococcus luteus and in their ability to act as inducers of SalA production. It had previously been shown that S. pyogenes strain SF370 had a deletion (of approximately 2.5 kb) in the salM and salT genes of the salA1 locus. In the present study, several additional characteristic deletions within the salA1 loci were identified. S. pyogenes strains of the same M serotype all share the same salA1 locus structure. Since S. salivarius is a predominant member of the normal oral flora of healthy humans, strains producing anti-S. pyogenes lantibiotics, such as SalA, may have excellent potential for use as oral probiotics. In the present study, we have used a highly specific SalA induction system to directly detect the presence of SalA in the saliva of humans who either naturally harbor populations of SalA-producing S. salivarius or who have been colonized with the SalA2-producing probiotic S. salivarius K12.     

Production of the Lantibiotic Salivaricin A and Its Variants by Oral Streptococci and Use of a Specific Induction Assay To Detect Their Presence in Human Saliva

Salivaricin A (SalA), the first Streptococcus salivarius lantibiotic to be characterized, appears to be inhibitory to most Streptococcus pyogenes strains. A variant of the SalA structural gene (salA1) is present in more than 90% of S. pyogenes strains, but only strains of M serotype 4 and T pattern 4 produce the biologically active peptide. The present study identifies four additional variants (salA2 to salA5) of the SalA structural gene and demonstrates that each of the corresponding inhibitory peptides (SalA2 to SalA5) is produced in vitro. These variants appear to be similar to SalA and SalA1 in their inhibitory activity against Micrococcus luteus and in their ability to act as inducers of SalA production. It had previously been shown that S. pyogenes strain SF370 had a deletion (of approximately 2.5 kb) in the salM and salT genes of the salA1 locus. In the present study, several additional characteristic deletions within the salA1 loci were identified. S. pyogenes strains of the same M serotype all share the same salA1 locus structure. Since S. salivarius is a predominant member of the normal oral flora of healthy humans, strains producing anti-S. pyogenes lantibiotics, such as SalA, may have excellent potential for use as oral probiotics. In the present study, we have used a highly specific SalA induction system to directly detect the presence of SalA in the saliva of humans who either naturally harbor populations of SalA-producing S. salivarius or who have been colonized with the SalA2-producing probiotic S. salivarius K12.     

Molecular docking of alkaloid compounds with the matrix metalloproteinase 2

Matrix metalloproteinase protein-2 (MMP-2) is linked to the human oral squamous cell carcinoma. Therefore, it is of interest to design new inhibitors for MMP-2 to combat the disease. Thus, we document the molecular docking features of Aristolochic acid, Cryptopleurine, Epipodophyllotoxin, and Fagaronine with MMP-2 for further consideration.     

Nitric oxide donor regulates Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation efficiency in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]

The present study investigates the potentiality of Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) to enhance the efficiency of genetic transformation in soybean. Half-seeds cultured on co-cultivation [4.44 μM N⁶-benzyl adenine (BA) and 30 μM SNP]; shoot induction (4.44 μM BA and 30 μM SNP) and rooting medium [4.93 μM indole 3-butyric acid (IBA) and 30 μM SNP] exhibited improved transformation efficiency (34.6%) in contrast to the regeneration system devoid of SNP (23%). The putatively transformed plants were evaluated by GUS assay and molecular analysis like PCR and Southern hybridization. Furthermore, the transformation system developed herein entails a shorter period (75-days) for developing plantlets from half-seeds of soybean. The outcome of this study revealed that the addition of SNP increased regeneration efficiency of plants, which translated to improved transformation efficiency in soybean.