Do Fertilizers and Irrigation Disruption Change Some Physiological Traits of Safflower?

To investigate the effects of nanofertilizers and biofertilizers on the morpho-physiological and biochemical traits of safflower under full irrigation and water deficit stress, this study was carried out as a split-plot experiment based on a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications at Urmia University in 2015. The main plot was full irrigation (control) and irrigation disruption at heading, flowering, and grain filling stages. Fertilizers, including control (without fertilizer), biofertilizer, water spray, foliar application of nanofertilizers, chemical fertilizers, and combined application of fertilizers, were assigned to the subplot. Plants under full irrigation and combined fertilizers had maximum height and chlorophyll a, whereas the lowest ones were obtained in irrigation disruption at the heading stage and control treatments. The maximum oil content (28.41%) was detected in irrigation disruption at the grain filling stage and nanofertilizer treatment, the lowest (21.96%) was obtained at irrigation disruption at the flowering stage and water spray treatment. The highest proline (397.21 µg g⁻¹ fresh leaf) was found in irrigation disruption at the grain filling stage and water spray treatment, and the lowest (154.68 µg g⁻¹ fresh leaf) was obtained at full irrigation and water spray treatment. Irrigation disruption at the heading stage and control treatments decreased carbohydrate content of fresh leaves by 86.54% compared to full irrigation and the combined fertilizers treatment. Irrigation disruption increases saturated fatty acids (palmitic and stearic acid) and decreases vitamin E and linoleic acid. The combined application of fertilizers significantly increased safflower oil quality. Overall, concerning the obtained highest oil percentage (28.41%), irrigation disruption during grain filling reduced water consumption and application of combined fertilizer via improving oil quality, so it is recommended to farmers.

     

Interaction of t-Butylbicyclophosphorothionate with γ-Aminobutyric Acid-Gated Chloride Channels in Cultured Cerebral Neurons

The role of t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate (TBPS) as an antagonist of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was studied with primary cultures of neurons from the chick embryo cerebrum. The addition of GABA stimulated the uptake of 36Cl- by neurons and the dose dependence of this effect followed hyperbolic kinetics with a K0.5 = 1.3 microM for GABA. TBPS proved to be a potent inhibitor of GABA-dependent Cl- uptake (IC50 = 0.30 microM). Analysis of the kinetics of this process revealed that TBPS is a noncompetitive inhibitor (Ki = 0.15 microM) with respect to GABA. Scatchard analysis of direct binding of [35S]TBPS to membranes isolated from neuronal cultures gave curvilinear plots. These could be resolved by nonlinear regression methods into two components with KD values of 3.1 nM and 270 nM. The TBPS binding constant for this lower affinity site agreed well with the IC50 and Ki values for inhibition of Cl- flux, suggesting that this site is physiologically relevant to GABA antagonism. GABA was a noncompetitive displacer of [35S]TBPS binding to the lower affinity site. The Ki value for this displacement by GABA (1.7 microM) was comparable to the value for GABA enhancement of Cl- flux. The binding of [35S]TBPS to its low-affinity site on neuronal membranes was ninefold higher in the presence of Cl- than with gluconate, an impermeant anion. The rank order for anion stimulation of [35S]TBPS binding was Br- greater than or equal to SCN- greater than Cl- greater than or equal to NO3- greater than I- greater than F- greater than gluconate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Antioxidant status and physiological responses of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to cycocel application and bio fertilizers under water limitation condition

In order to study antioxidant status and physiological responses of wheat to cycocel (CCC) and bio fertilizers application under water limitation condition, a factorial experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications in 2015. Treatments included water limitation in three levels [normal irrigation (I₁) as control; moderate water limitation (I₂) or irrigation withholding at 50% of heading stage; severe water limitation (I₃) or irrigation withholding at 50% of booting stage]; four bio fertilizer levels [(no bio fertilizer (F₀), seed inoculation by Azotobacter chrocoocum strain 5 (F₁), Pseudomonas putida strain 186 (F₂), Azotobacter?+?Pseudomonas (F₃))] and four CCC levels [(without CCC as control (C₀), application of 400 (C₁), 800 (C₂) and 1200 (C₃) mg/l)]. The results showed that water limitation decreased the chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-b, total chlorophyll, carotenoid, stomata conductance, leaf area index (LAI) and relative water content of wheat, but activity of catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzymes and proline content were increased. Similar results were observed in CAT, POD and PPO activities due to bio fertilizers and CCC application. Besides the water limitation effects, CCC-treated plants displayed a significant decrease in stomata conductance and LAI. Generally, it was concluded that the application of bio fertilizers and CCC can be a proper tool for increasing wheat yield under water limitation.     

TGF-β1 prevents up-regulation of the P2X7 receptor by IFN-γ and LPS in leukemic THP-1 monocytes

The P2X7 receptor is an extracellular ATP-gated cation channel critical in inflammation and immunity, and can be up-regulated by IFN-γ and LPS. This study aimed to examine the effect of TGF-β1 on the up-regulation of P2X7 function and expression in leukemic THP-1 monocytes differentiated with IFN-γ and LPS. Cell-surface molecules including P2X7 were examined by immunofluorescence staining. Total P2X7 protein and mRNA was assessed by immunoblotting and RT-PCR respectively. P2X7 function was evaluated by ATP-induced cation dye uptake measurements. Cell-surface P2X7 was present on THP-1 cells differentiated for 3 days with IFN-γ and LPS but not on undifferentiated THP-1 cells. ATP induced ethidium⁺ uptake into differentiated but not undifferentiated THP-1 cells, and the P2X7 antagonist, KN-62, impaired ATP-induced ethidium⁺ uptake. Co-incubation of cells with TGF-β1 plus IFN-γ and LPS prevented the up-regulation of P2X7 expression and ATP-induced ethidium⁺ uptake in a concentration-dependent fashion with a maximum effect at 5 ng/ml and with an IC₅₀ of ~ 0.4 ng/ml. Moreover, ATP-induced YO-PRO-1²⁺ uptake and IL-1β release were abrogated in cells co-incubated with TGF-β1. TGF-β1 also abrogated the amount of total P2X7 protein and mRNA induced by IFN-γ and LPS. Finally, TGF-β1 prevented the up-regulation of cell-surface CD86, but not CD14 and MHC class II, by IFN-γ and LPS. These results indicate that TGF-β1 prevents the up-regulation of P2X7 function and expression by IFN-γ and LPS in THP-1 monocytes. This suggests that TGF-β1 may limit P2X7-mediated processes in inflammation and immunity.     

Current status and future prospects of transforming growth factor-β as a potential prognostic and therapeutic target in the treatment of breast cancer

The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway is one of the important pathways involved in the cancer cell proliferation, invasion, migration, angiogenesis, apoptosis, as well as in metastasis by agitation or invasion of metastasis-related factors, including matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), tumor microenvironment (TME), cancer stem cells (CSCs), and cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). These data suggest its potential value as a therapeutic object in the treatment of malignancies including breast cancer. Several pharmacological approaches have been established to suppress TGF-β pathway; such as vaccines, small molecular inhibitors, antisense oligonucleotides, and monoclonal antibodies. Some of these are now approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for targeting the TGF-β signaling pathway. This study attempts to summarize the current data about the functions of TGF-β in cancer cells, and their probable application in the cancer therapy with a specific emphasis on recent preclinical and clinical research in the treatment of breast cancer and its prognostic value.     

Evaluating the effect of a mixture of two main conjugated linoleic acid isomers on hepatic steatosis in HepG2 cellular model

Molecular Biology Reports - Hepatic steatosis is an early form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), caused by abnormal fat deposition in the hepatocytes. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is...     

Contrast‐enhanced optical coherence tomography for melanoma detection: An in vitro study

Optical coherence tomography (OCT), with a high‐spatial resolution (<10 microns), intermediate penetration depth (~1.5 mm) and volumetric imaging capability is a great candidate to be used as a diagnostic‐assistant modality in dermatology. At this time, the accuracy of OCT for melanoma detection is lower than anticipated. In this letter, we studied for the first time, the use of a novel contrast agent consist of ultra‐small nanoparticles conjugated to a melanoma biomarker to improve the accuracy of OCT for differentiation of melanoma cells from nonmelanoma cells, in vitro. We call this approach SMall nanoparticle Aggregation‐enhanced Radiomics of Tumor (SMART)‐OCT imaging. This initial proof of concept study is the first step toward the broad utilization of this method for high accuracy all types of tumor detection applications.     

Identification of GABAA/Benzodiazepine Receptors on Clathrin-Coated Vesicles from Rat Brain

Abstract: To investigate the subcellular compartments that are involved in the endocytosis and intracellular trafficking of GABA_A/benzodiazepine receptors, we have studied the distribution and properties of clonazepam-displaceable binding of [³H]flunitrazepam to membrane fractions from rat brain. The microsomal fraction was subjected to density centrifugation and gel filtration to isolate clathrin-coated vesicles. Homogeneity of the coated-vesicle fraction was demonstrated by using electron microscopy and by analysis of clathrin subunits and clathrin light-chain kinase. Vesicles exhibiting specific binding of [³H]flunitrazepam eluted from the sieving gel as a separate peak, which was coincident with that for coated vesicles. Scatchard analysis of equilibrium binding of [³H]flunitrazepam to coated vesicles yielded a K_D value of 21 ± 4.7 nM and a B_max value of 184 ± 28 fmol/mg. The K_D value for coated vesicles was 12-19-fold that found with microsomal or crude synaptic membranes. This low-affinity benzodiazepine receptor was not identified on any other subcellular fraction and thus appears to be a novel characteristic of coated vesicles. The B_maxvalue for coated vesicles, expressed per milligram of protein, corresponded to 16 and 115% of that found for crude synaptic and microsomal membrane fractions, respectively. Because the trafficking of neurotransmitter receptors via clathrin-coated vesicles is most likely to occur through endocytosis, the data suggest that an endocytotic pathway may be involved in the removal of GABA_A/benzodiazepine receptors from the neuronal surfaces of the rat brain. This mechanism could play a role in receptor sequestration and down-regulation that is produced by exposure to GABA and benzodiazepine agonists.     

Agonist-Dependent Internalization of γ-Aminobutyric AcidA/Benzodiazepine Receptors in Chick Cortical Neurons

An impermeant benzodiazepine receptor ligand was prepared by derivatization of the aminobenzodiazepine 1012-S with 4-sulfophenylisothiocyanate. The resulting N-(4-sulfophenyl)-thiocarbamoyl derivative of 1012-S (SPTC-1012S) was purified by reverse-phase HPLC, and the predicted structure was verified by mass spectrometry. The apparent affinity of SPTC-1012S (IC50 = 9.8 +/- 2.9 nM) for displacement of [3H]flunitrazepam from intact chick cortical neurons was similar to that of 1012-S (IC50 = 4.0 +/- 0.3 nM). However, at concentrations from 0.1 to 10 microM, 1012-S was consistently more efficacious than SPTC-1012S, a finding indicating that 6-8% of the benzodiazepine receptor pool was not accessible to the impermeant compound. This inaccessible pool was eliminated by permeabilization of the cells with saponin or Triton X-100, a result suggesting that approximately 7% of neuronal benzodiazepine receptors are intracellular. Acute treatment (1-4 h at 37 degrees C) of neurons with 100 microM gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) or 100 nM clonazepam had little effect on the level of [3H]flunitrazepam binding but increased the proportion of intracellular receptors by 61 and 74%, respectively, compared with untreated controls. Similar treatment with 1 mM GABA increased the level of intracellular sites by 154-176%. The effect of GABA on receptor internalization was blocked by cotreatment with the GABAA receptor antagonist R 5135. The results suggest that SPTC-1012S can be used as a probe to study the internalization of the GABAA/benzodiazepine receptor complex under normal conditions or following acute or chronic treatment with agonists.