An Optimal Au Grating Structure for Light Absorption in Amorphous Silicon Thin Film Solar Cell

Plasmonics - Effect of different gold (Au) grating structures on light absorption in solar cell is investigated by finite elemental analysis using COMSOL multiphysics-RF module. The geometry of the...     

Characterization of antifungal metabolites produced by Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus coryniformis isolated from rice rinsed water

Molecular Biology Reports - A recent spike in demand for chemical preservative free food has derived the scientific community to develop natural ways of food preservation. Therefore,...     

Characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">TPMT</Emphasis> minisatellite locus in five ethnic groups of India

A total of 206 random, healthy individuals belonging to five distinct ethnic groups (Ezhavas, Arayas, Nairs, Vishwakarmas and Muslims) were analyzed for 18 bp VNTR repeat polymorphism present in the 5í flanking region of the Thiopurine Methyl Transferase gene (TPMT). In the present study, the population data of TPMT minisatellite was compared with the population data of other loci and the utility of minisatellite was evaluated in population studies. Human tandem repeat alleles of the TPMT minisatellite locus were characterized for the length polymorphism. The expected and observed heterozygosity did not show any significant difference. All five populations were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. High polymorphism information iontent (PIC) (≥0.658) and power of discrimination (PD) (ranging from 0.775–0.860) value of this VNTR showed that this marker is informative. The combined power of discrimination of TPMT minisatellite along with other two loci studied earlier in our lab was 0.9964. The paternity exclusion power (PE) of TPMT VNTR ranged from 0.203 to 0.533 and the combined power of paternity exclusion (with two other loci D8S315 and D2S1328) was ≥0.8285. All these parameters (heterozygosity, PD, PIC, PE) of TPMT minisatellite locus showed that this marker is informative and can be used for DNA typing and population studies besides being used in clinical investigation in checking thiopurine drug sensitivity of individuals. The text was submitted by the autor in English.     

The Structure of NtdA,a Sugar Aminotransferase Involved in the Kanosamine Biosynthetic Pathway in Bacillus subtilis,Reveals a New Subclass of Aminotransferases

NtdA from Bacillus subtilis is a sugar aminotransferase that catalyzes the pyridoxal phosphate-dependent equatorial transamination of 3-oxo-α-d-glucose 6-phosphate to form α-d-kanosamine 6-phosphate. The crystal structure of NtdA shows that NtdA shares the common aspartate aminotransferase fold (Type 1) with residues from both monomers forming the active site. The crystal structures of NtdA alone, co-crystallized with the product α-d-kanosamine 6-phosphate, and incubated with the amine donor glutamate reveal three key structures in the mechanistic pathway of NtdA. The structure of NtdA alone reveals the internal aldimine form of NtdA with the cofactor pyridoxal phosphate covalently attached to Lys-247. The addition of glutamate results in formation of pyridoxamine phosphate. Co-crystallization with kanosamine 6-phosphate results in the formation of the external aldimine. Only α-d-kanosamine 6-phosphate is observed in the active site of NtdA, not the β-anomer. A comparison of the structure and sequence of NtdA with other sugar aminotransferases enables us to propose that the VI_β family of aminotransferases should be divided into subfamilies based on the catalytic lysine motif.     

Aggressiveness spectrum and genetic variability of Fusarium spp. on rice and wheat varieties

Abstract

A total of 106 Fusarium spp. were isolated from infected roots and soil samples of wheat and rice. Of the 106 isolates, 32 from wheat, and 74 from rice, were isolated. Six Fusarium spp. (F. oxysporum, F. moniliforme, F. poae, F. graminearum, F. tricinctum and F. equiseti) were identified at specie level. In aggressiveness tests Fusarium spp. root rot causing fungi were screened out into different aggressiveness classes according to disease severity scales. The aggressiveness of Fusarium spp. was studied on wheat varieties (Inqalab-91 and chakwal-86) and on rice varieties (Basmati-385 and IRRI-6) under controlled conditions. The overall total number of aggressive isolates was higher in rice than in wheat. However, the percentage of severely aggressive isolates was high in wheat, whereas the percentage of moderately and slightly aggressiveness isolates was high in rice. In rice, five isolates were non-aggressive and on wheat 17 were non-aggressive. Random Amplified Polymorphism DNAs (RAPDs) were used to study the polymorphism and genetic variations within the population of Fusarium spp. that established to study correlation between taxonomical and genetical characters of fungi. Five random primers were used P1 (5′-AGGAGGACCC-3′), P2 (5′-ACGAGGGACT-3′), PE7 (5′-AGATGCAGCC-3′), P14 (5′-CCACAGCACG-3′) and PE20 (5′-AACGGTGACC-3′). Each of the 10-mer primers produced results based on the respective banding patterns they generated in present investigations. Primers distinguished the F. oxysporum, F. moniliforme, F. graminearum, F. tricinctum, F. poa and F. equiseti. All the tested primers yielded amplification products, and that were reproducible. Although there was some intraspecific variation with primers, some strains were similar and some were different in banding pattern. In F. oxysporum, F. moniliforme, F. graminearum, F. tricinctum, F. poa and F. equiseti were seen clustered close to one another but each primer separated them unambiguously. All primer (P1, P2, P14, PE7 and PE20) combination produced 62 bands. All primers have shown interspecific and intraspecific variations in banding patterns.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> effects of GA<Subscript>3</Subscript> on morphogenesis of CIP potato explants and acclimatization of plantlets in field

Improvement of potato has been accomplished using conventional and non-conventional approaches coupled with numerous tissue culture procedures. The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of gibberellic acid (GA₃) on the morphogenesis of International Potato Center (CIP) potato explants and acclimatization of plantlets in the field. Nodal segments as an explant source (1–1.5 cm) were isolated from 31 CIP potato plantlets and were inoculated into Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.0 (control), 0.1, 0.5, or 1.0 mg L^?1of GA₃. The variation in growth parameters of the cultivars was then observed. The highest shoot induction occurred in MS medium containing 1.0 mg L^?1 GA₃ with an increase in the inter-nodal distance between nodes as compared to other treatments. Higher concentration (1.0 mg L^?1) of GA₃ significantly increased plant height and root length in the treated germplasm however; this concentration was inhibitory to the number of nodes and roots per plant. The number of leaves was significantly increased in plants receiving GA₃ treatment at lower concentration (0.1 mg L^?1). The 31 CIP genotypes were transplanted to the field and checked for yield quality traits. It was concluded from the results that GA₃ had significant effects on morphogenesis and was effective in the acclimatization of CIP potato plantlets in field.     

Correlation between circulatory Kisspeptin and Adipokines in normal and over-weight Saudi females during menstrual cycle

We analyzed the association between kisspeptin and plasma adipokines (leptin and adiponectin) in normal-weight and over-weight young females. Thirty young Saudi females, based on their body mass index (BMI), were divided into two groups (15 students/group) as (1) Normal weight (NW): BMI = 18.5–24.99 and (2) Over-weight/obese (OW): BMI ≥ 25. Serum adipokines (leptin, adiponectin) and kisspeptin levels were measured in early follicular, pre-ovulatory, and luteal phase in both groups with ELISA. Menstrual cycle phases were confirmed by serum estradiol levels. There was no association of kisspeptin with leptin in early follicular (r ?0.34, P 0.31), pre-ovulatory (r ?0.32, P 0.34) and luteal phase (r 0.21, P 0.54). Likewise, kisspeptin was not found to be correlated with adiponectin in early follicular (r 0.41, P 0.21), pre ovulatory (r 0.24, P 0.48), and luteal phase (r 0.40, P 0.23) when values recorded during different time points during the cycle were plotted with each other.     

Primordial germ cell-mediated chimera technology produces viable pure-line Houbara bustard offspring: potential for repopulating an endangered species

Background

The Houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata) is a wild seasonal breeding bird populating arid sandy semi-desert habitats in North Africa and the Middle East. Its population has declined drastically during the last two decades and it is classified as vulnerable. Captive breeding programmes have, hitherto, been unsuccessful in reviving population numbers and thus radical technological solutions are essential for the long term survival of this species. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of primordial germ cell-mediated chimera technology to produce viable Houbara bustard offspring.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Embryonic gonadal tissue was dissected from Houbara bustard embryos at eight days post-incubation. Subsequently, Houbara tissue containing gonadal primordial germ cells (gPGCs) was injected into White Leghorn chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) embryos, producing 83/138 surviving male chimeric embryos, of which 35 chimeric roosters reached sexual maturity after 5 months. The incorporation and differentiation of Houbara gPGCs in chimeric chicken testis were assessed by PCR with Houbara-specific primers and 31.3% (5/16) gonads collected from the injected chicken embryos showed the presence of donor Houbara cells. A total of 302 semen samples from 34 chimeric roosters were analyzed and eight were confirmed as germline chimeras. Semen samples from these eight roosters were used to artificially inseminate three female Houbara bustards. Subsequently, 45 Houbara eggs were obtained and incubated, two of which were fertile. One egg hatched as a male live born Houbara; the other was female but died before hatching. Genotyping confirmed that the male chick was a pure-line Houbara derived from a chimeric rooster.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates for the first time that Houbara gPGCs can migrate, differentiate and eventually give rise to functional sperm in the chimeric chicken testis. This approach may provide a promising tool for propagation and conservation of endangered avian species that cannot breed in captivity.