A correlation between BCL-2 modifying factor,p53 and livin gene expressions in cancer colon patients

Accumulating evidence has revealed that livin gene and BCL-2 modifying factor (BMF) gene are closely associated with the initiation and progression of colon carcinoma by activating or suppressing multiple malignant processes. Those genes that can detect colon - cancer are a promising approach for cancer screening and diagnosis. This study aimed to evaluate correlation between livin, BMF and p53 genes expression in colon cancer tissues of patients included in the study, and their relationship with clinicopathological features and survival outcome in those patients. In this study, 50 pathologically diagnosed early cancer colon patients included and their tissue biopsy with 50 matched adjacent normal tissue, and 50 adenoma tissue specimens were analyzed for livin gene and BMF gene expressions using real time PCR. The relationship of those genes expressions with clinicopathological features, tumor markers, Time to Progression and overall survival for those patients were correlated in cancer colon group. In this study, there was a significant a reciprocal relationship between over expression of livin gene and down regulation of BMF and p53 genes in colon cancer cells. Livin mRNA was significantly higher, while BMF and p53 mRNA were significantly lower in colorectal cancer tissue compared to benign and normal colon tissue specimens (P < 0.001), however, this finding was absent between colon adenomas and normal mucosa. There was a significant association between up regulation of livin and down regulation of BMF and p53 expressions with more aggressive tumor (advanced TNM stage), rapid progression with metastasis and decreased overall survival in cancer colon patients, hence these genes can serve as significant prognostic markers of poor outcome in colon cancer patients. This work highlights the role of livin, BMF and p53 genes in colorectal tumorigenesis and the applicability of using those genes as a diagnostic and prognostic markers in patients with colon carcinoma and as a good target for cancer colon treatment in the future.     

Biocides formulation of essential oils having antimicrobial activity

Essential oils of fennel, peppermint, caraway, eucalyptus, geranium and lemon were tested for their antimicrobial activities against some plant pathogenic micro-organisms (Fusarium oxysporum, Alternaria alternate, Penicilium italicum Penicilium digitatum and Botyritus cinerea). Essential oils of fennel, peppermint, caraway were selected as an active ingredient for the formulation of biocides due to their efficiency in controlling the tested micro-organisms. Successful emulsifiable concentrates (biocides) were prepared from these oils using different emulsifiers (Emulgator B.L.M. Tween20 and Tween80) and different fixed oils (sesame, olive, cotton and soybean oils). Physico-chemical properties of the formulated biocide (spontaneous emulsification, emulsion stability test, cold stability and heat stability tests as well as viscosity, surface tension and pH) were measured. The prepared biocides were ready to be tested for application in a future work as a safe pesticide against different pathogens.     

Metagenomic insights into strategies of carbon conservation and unusual sulfur biogeochemistry in a hypersaline Antarctic lake

Organic Lake is a shallow, marine-derived hypersaline lake in the Vestfold Hills, Antarctica that has the highest reported concentration of dimethylsulfide (DMS) in a natural body of water. To determine the composition and functional potential of the microbial community and learn about the unusual sulfur chemistry in Organic Lake, shotgun metagenomics was performed on size-fractionated samples collected along a depth profile. Eucaryal phytoflagellates were the main photosynthetic organisms. Bacteria were dominated by the globally distributed heterotrophic taxa Marinobacter, Roseovarius and Psychroflexus. The dominance of heterotrophic degradation, coupled with low fixation potential, indicates possible net carbon loss. However, abundant marker genes for aerobic anoxygenic phototrophy, sulfur oxidation, rhodopsins and CO oxidation were also linked to the dominant heterotrophic bacteria, and indicate the use of photo- and lithoheterotrophy as mechanisms for conserving organic carbon. Similarly, a high genetic potential for the recycling of nitrogen compounds likely functions to retain fixed nitrogen in the lake. Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) lyase genes were abundant, indicating that DMSP is a significant carbon and energy source. Unlike marine environments, DMSP demethylases were less abundant, indicating that DMSP cleavage is the likely source of high DMS concentration. DMSP cleavage, carbon mixotrophy (photoheterotrophy and lithoheterotrophy) and nitrogen remineralization by dominant Organic Lake bacteria are potentially important adaptations to nutrient constraints. In particular, carbon mixotrophy relieves the extent of carbon oxidation for energy production, allowing more carbon to be used for biosynthetic processes. The study sheds light on how the microbial community has adapted to this unique Antarctic lake environment.     

Cyclotide proteins and precursors from the genus Gloeospermum: Filling a blank spot in the cyclotide map of Violaceae

Cyclotides are disulfide-rich plant proteins that are exceptional in their cyclic structure; their N and C termini are joined by a peptide bond, forming a continuous circular backbone, which is reinforced by three interlocked disulfide bonds. Cyclotides have been found mainly in the coffee (Rubiaceae) and violet (Violaceae) plant families. Within the Violaceae, cyclotides seem to be widely distributed, but the cyclotide complements of the vast majority of Violaceae species have not yet been explored. This study provides insight into cyclotide occurrence, diversity and biosynthesis in the Violaceae, by identifying mature cyclotide proteins, their precursors and enzymes putatively involved in their biosynthesis in the tribe Rinoreeae and the genus Gloeospermum. Twelve cyclotides from two Panamanian species, Gloeospermum pauciflorum Hekking and Gloeospermum blakeanum (Standl.) Hekking (designated Glopa A-E and Globa A-G, respectively) were characterised through cDNA screening and protein isolation. Screening of cDNA for the oxidative folding enzymes protein-disulfide isomerase (PDI) and thioredoxin (TRX) resulted in positive hits in both species. These enzymes have demonstrated roles in oxidative folding of cyclotides in Rubiaceae, and results presented here indicate that Violaceae plants have evolved similar mechanisms of cyclotide biosynthesis. We also describe PDI and TRX sequences from a third cyclotide-expressing Violaceae species, Viola biflora L., which further support this hypothesis.     

Competition at the soybean V6 stage affects root morphology and biochemical composition

• The experiment was conducted in the 2016/17 crop season in a greenhouse at Passo Fundo University, Brazil. We hypothesised that the morphological characteristics and biochemical and anatomical composition of soybean roots and shoots, when competing with weeds during different growth periods, are negatively affected, so current concepts of competition between plants should also consider changes in plant roots.
• The soybean cultivar P 95R51 and horseweed (Conyza bonariensis) were used. The treatments consisted of the presence or absence of weeds during different coexistence periods of soybean with horseweed. The periods were V0–V3, V0–V6, V0–R2, V3–R6, V6–R6 and R2–R6, where V0 was the date of soybean sowing and V3, V6, R2 and R6 were phenological stages of the crop. Two fresh roots were used to examine morphological traits. Four roots were used for quantification of dry matter and secondary metabolites.
• Root length was reduced by 21%, 14% and 20% when competing with a weed in the V0–V3, V0–V6 and R2–R6 coexistence periods, respectively. Total phenol content in the V0–V6 and V0–R2 periods was reduced when plants were in competition with weeds; a similar trend was found for flavonoids in the V0–V6 period.
• Soybean–horseweed competition from crop emergence to the V6 stage, in general, affects shoot and root morphological traits and the biochemical composition of the soybean roots. The presence of horseweed at the V3, V6 and R2 stages does not negatively alter the traits evaluated. Root anatomical composition is not modified during all coexistence periods with horseweed.

     

Germination of <i>Eryngium regnellii</i>: a major species for ecological restoration of plant-pollinator interactions in the Southern Pampas (Buenos Aires,Argentina)

Eryngium regnellii Malme belongs to the largest genera in the Apiaceae family, with 250 species worldwide and 65 represented in South America. It is a herbaceous species typical of hill plant communities, which, along with remnant grassland patches, are the most relevant natural habitats for the maintenance of diversity in the Southern Pampas. Eryngium regnellii is key to the maintenance of pollination mutualisms, being a generalist (displaying a diverse assemblage of pollinators) and ubiquitous species (present in all studied sierras). However, fragmentation of the Pampean landscape due to agricultural intensification has led to the loss of natural environments. Therefore, the reintroduction of E. regnellii in strategic places would facilitate the occurrence of wild pollinators, while favoring pollination services in the agroecosystem. The germination requirements of E. regnellii were studied because a better knowledge of the reproductive biology of this species would provide information relevant to its reproduction and reintroduction into degraded areas. Germination percentages and mean time to germination were evaluated, using one control and two pre-germination treatments: chemical scarification with sulfuric acid, and mechanical scarification with sand paper. Chemical scarified seeds did not germinate. Mechanically scarified and control seed groups showed no significant differences either in germination percentages (49% and 59% respectively) or in mean germination time (13 and 14 days, respectively). Results indicate that E. regnellii shows no physical dormancy, and does not require specific pre-germination treatments for germination under the studied laboratory conditions. The high germination capacity of E. regnellii, along with its ecological attributes, make it a potential species for restoring plant-pollinator interactions in the fragmented landscapes of the Southern Pampas.     

Nitrate reductase activity,biomass, yield,and quality in cotton in response to nitrogen fertilization

In the production of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), nitrogen fertilization is one of the most costly crop practices, but important to reach high yields. However, high nitrogen (N) content in plants does not always translate into a high fibre production. One way of assessing the efficiency of the N fertilizer is through the enzymatic activity of the nitrate reductase (NR). This is a key enzyme in N assimilation, whose activity is regulated by a number of endogenous and exogenous factors that determine yield. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of N fertilization on yield, fibre quality, biomass, and NR enzymatic activity in vivo in the cotton variety Fiber Max 989. The evaluated application rates were 0, 50, 100, and 150 kg/ha of N, using urea as a source (46% N) in a randomizedblock design with three replicates. At harvest, the maximum yield of seed cotton and the greatest accumulation of total foliar biomass through time was reached after applying 150 kg N/ha. The different N-application rates did not affect the components of cotton-fibre quality. The activity of endogenous NR was greater on plants where 150 kg N/ha were applied. The highest cotton yield and N contents were obtained on these plants. Therefore, the NR activity in vivo could be used as a bioindicator of the N nutritional level in cotton.     

Critical Role of Flanking Residues in NGR-to-isoDGR Transition and CD13/Integrin Receptor Switching

Various NGR-containing peptides have been exploited for targeted delivery of drugs to CD13-positive tumor neovasculature. Recent studies have shown that compounds containing this motif can rapidly deamidate and generate isoaspartate-glycine-arginine (isoDGR), a ligand of αvβ3-integrin that can be also exploited for drug delivery to tumors. We have investigated the role of NGR and isoDGR peptide scaffolds on their biochemical and biological properties. Peptides containing the cyclic CNGRC sequence could bind CD13-positive endothelial cells more efficiently than those containing linear GNGRG. Peptide degradation studies showed that cyclic peptides mostly undergo NGR-to-isoDGR transition and CD13/integrin switching, whereas linear peptides mainly undergo degradation reactions involving the α-amino group, which generate non-functional six/seven-membered ring compounds, unable to bind αvβ3, and small amount of isoDGR. Structure-activity studies showed that cyclic isoDGR could bind αvβ3 with an affinity >100-fold higher than that of linear isoDGR and inhibited endothelial cell adhesion and tumor growth more efficiently. Cyclic isoDGR could also bind other integrins (αvβ5, αvβ6, αvβ8, and α5β1), although with 10–100-fold lower affinity. Peptide linearization caused loss of affinity for all integrins and loss of specificity, whereas α-amino group acetylation increased the affinity for all tested integrins, but caused loss of specificity. These results highlight the critical role of molecular scaffold on the biological properties of NGR/isoDGR peptides. These findings may have important implications for the design and development of anticancer drugs or tumor neovasculature-imaging compounds, and for the potential function of different NGR/isoDGR sites in natural proteins.