Characterization of genetic diversity in chickpea using SSR markers,Start Codon Targeted Polymorphism (SCoT) and Conserved DNA-Derived Polymorphism (CDDP)

Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants - To evaluate the genetic diversity among 48 genotypes of chickpea comprising cultivars, landraces and internationally developed improved lines genetic...     

Resveratrol potentially increased the tumoricidal effect of doxorubicin on SKOV3 cancer stem cells in vitro

Ovarian cancer is associated with a high percentage of recurrence of tumor and resistance to chemotherapy. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) form a rare population with a significant capacity to begin and expand malignant diseases. Eliminating the drug resistance of CSCs by factors that have fewer side effects to the patient is vital. To investigate the effect of resveratrol (RES) and doxorubicin (DOX) on drug resistance and apoptosis of CSCs; at the first, isolation of CSCs from SKOV3 ovarian carcinoma cells and their dosage adjustment (IC₅₀) with RES and DOX was performed. Then, isolated CSCs were treated with RES and DOX IC ₅₀ of 55 and 250 nM, respectively. Subsequently, their effects on drug resistance and cell death were evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction, rhodamine 123 uptakes. The results of the present study demonstrated that treatment of SKOV3 with 55 μM of RES and 250 nM of DOX simultaneously increased cell viability in CSCs to DOX after 24 and 48 hours by increasing the expression of Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX) and caspase-3 genes, and decreased the expression and function of multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) genes indicated by intracellular the rhodamine 123 content. Treatment of RES could increase the activity of DOX cell viability in CSCs originated from SKOV3 ovarian carcinoma and decrease drug resistance capacity to DOX.     

Two new species of Chrysis Linnaeus (Hymenoptera,Chrysididae) from Iran

The Iranian species in the Chrysis pulchella and C. varidens species groups are investigated. Six species are recognized, two of which are described for the first time: Chrysis gamberoonensis Farhad, Rosa and Talebi sp. nov. and Chrysis brunneamarginata Farhad, Rosa and Talebi sp. nov.. Chrysis gamberoonensis Farhad, Rosa and Talebi sp. nov. belongs to the C. pulchella group and is recognizable within this species group by its unique blue body coloration, scattered mesosoma punctures, polished pit row with elongated pits, and a small median tooth on the lateral edge of metasomal tergum 3. Chrysis brunneamarginata Farhad, Rosa and Talebi sp. nov. belongs to the C. varidens group and is recognizable by the usually colorless apical rim of metasomal tergum 3, and the unique shape of the anterior corners of the scutellum which are enlarged, thickened and directed backward covering the axillary trough. Dichotomous keys and distributional data for Iranian species included in these species groups are provided. Chrysis schwarzi Linsenmaier, 1968 is raised to species rank. The number of Iranian Chrysis species and subspecies is raised to 122.www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F419F860-3B90-4679-9A19-2CF5C255AE6B     

Cryopreservation of Cortical Tissue Blocks for the Generation of Highly Enriched Neuronal Cultures

In this study, we outline a standardized protocol for the successful cryopreservation and thawing of cortical brain tissue blocks to generate highly enriched neuronal cultures. For this protocol the freezing medium used is 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) diluted in Hank''s Buffered Salt Solution (HBSS). Blocks of cortical tissue are transferred to cryovials containing the freezing medium and slowly frozen at -1°C/min in a rate-controlled freezing container. Post-thaw processing and dissociation of frozen tissue blocks consistently produced neuronal-enriched cultures which exhibited rapid neuritic growth during the first 5 days in culture and significant expansion of the neuronal network within 10 days. Immunocytochemical staining with the astrocytic marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and the neuronal marker beta-tubulin class III, revealed high numbers of neurons and astrocytes in the cultures. Generation of neural precursor cell cultures after tissue block dissociation resulted in rapidly expanding neurospheres, which produced large numbers of neurons and astrocytes under differentiating conditions. This simple cryopreservation protocol allows for the rapid, efficient, and inexpensive preservation of cortical brain tissue blocks, which grants increased flexibility for later generation of neuronal, astrocyte, and neuronal precursor cell cultures.     

Genetic susceptibility to keloid disease and hypertrophic scarring: transforming growth factor beta1 common polymorphisms and plasma levels

Keloid disease and hypertrophic scars are dermal tumors that are often familial and typically occur in certain races. Their exact etiology is still unknown. Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) plays a central role in wound healing and fibrosis and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of keloid disease and hypertrophic scar. The aims of this study were to measure the plasma level of TGF-beta1 in patients compared with controls, and to investigate the association of five common single nucleotide polymorphisms in TGF-beta1 with the risk of keloid disease and hypertrophic scar formation. Platelet-poor plasma levels of TGF-beta1 in 60 patients (15 with hypertrophic scar and 45 with keloid disease) and 18 controls were measured using an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay technique. A polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method was used for genotyping TGF-beta1 polymorphisms. DNA samples from 133 patients (101 with keloid disease and 32 with hypertrophic scar) and 200 controls were examined. All patients and controls were Caucasians of Northern European extraction. There was no statistically significant difference in TGF-beta1 plasma levels between patients with keloid disease and hypertrophic scar and controls. There was also no statistically significant difference in genotype or allele frequency distributions between patients and controls for codons 10, 25, and 263 and for -509 and -800 single nucleotide polymorphisms of the TGF-beta1 gene. These results suggest that TGF-beta1 plasma levels and common polymorphisms are not associated with a risk of keloid disease and hypertrophic scar formation. This lack of association may be significant in view of the importance attached to the role of TGF-beta1 in dermal scarring. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a case-control association study in keloid disease and hypertrophic scars using any single nucleotide polymorphisms.     

Use of SRAP markers to assess genetic diversity and population structure of wild, cultivated, and ornamental pomegranates (Punica granatum L.) in different regions of Iran

Sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) was used to assess the genetic diversity of 63 cultivated, wild, and ornamental pomegranate genotypes from five different geographical regions of Iran. A total of 250 fragments were amplified using 13 primer combinations; among these, 133 bands (53?%) were polymorphic. The average PIC value was 0.28 over all PCs. The genetic distance among genotypes ranged from 0.10 to 0.37 with an average of 0.24. Cluster analysis using the neighbor-joining (NJ) method suggested there are close relationships between ornamental and some wild genotypes. Although AMOVA results revealed significant differences in the genetic diversity among the regions (P?=?0.0048), the genetic variation was mainly caused by variation of intra regions. The results indicated low genetic differentiation (Fst?=?0.025) and high gene flow (Nm?=?2.28) among regions. These results confirmed that SRAP markers could be powerful tools and an effective marker system for determining the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of the pomegranate.     

Demographic parameters of wrinkling aphid of pistachio leaf, Forda hirsuta Mordv. (Hem.:Pemphigidae) insitu of Rafsanjan's orchards

Wrinkling aphid of pistachio leaf, Forda hirsuta Mordv. (Hem.:Pemphigidae) is one of the pests of pistachio trees. This aphid caused the shrinkage, thickening, and changing the color of the pistachio leaves. Since insect feeds from leave edges, the thick and rolled upward wrinkles were formed, which its green color turned into red. Therefore, its economical damages are out of direct feeding from plant extraction, twisting pistachio leaves, and the decrease of photosynthesis. In this research two orchards and 10 trees that each of them were selected in Rafsanjan region and 58 fundatrix galls, 120 nymphal galls were marked and the demographic parameters for apterus parthenogenesis female of this aphid were calculated via daily observations. The results indicated that intrinsic rates of increase (r) for 1, 2 and 3 generations were 0.01, 0.0638 and 0.0575 femal/femal/days respectively, Doubling time (DT) were 69.31, 10.52 and 12.04 days, respectively, net fecundity rates were 1.71, 11.5 and 7.37 femal/femal/days, respectively, Net fertility rates were 1.11, 8.87 and 5.01 days, respectively, and mean generation times (Tc) were calculated to be 31.5, 32.2 and 31.87 days, respectively. Other reproductive parameters such as gross hatch rate, gross fecundity rate, gross fertility rate, mean age gross fecundity and fertility, mean age net fecundity and fertility, mean age hatch, finite rate of increase (lambda), intrinsic birth rate (b) intrinsic death rate (d) and daily reproductive rate were also calculated. The results revealed that population parameters especially r in the first and second generations were lowest and highest, respectively and mean longevity of fundatrix was 30 days and the born nymphs made separate galls in the edge of pistachio leaves.     

Dupuytren's: a systems biology disease

Dupuytren's disease (DD) is an ill-defined fibroproliferative disorder of the palm of the hands leading to digital contracture. DD commonly occurs in individuals of northern European extraction. Cellular components and processes associated with DD pathogenesis include altered gene and protein expression of cytokines, growth factors, adhesion molecules, and extracellular matrix components. Histology has shown increased but varying levels of particular types of collagen, myofibroblasts and myoglobin proteins in DD tissue. Free radicals and localised ischaemia have been suggested to trigger the proliferation of DD tissue. Although the existing available biological information on DD may contain potentially valuable (though largely uninterpreted) information, the precise aetiology of DD remains unknown. Systems biology combines mechanistic modelling with quantitative experimentation in studies of networks and better understanding of the interaction of multiple components in disease processes. Adopting systems biology may be the ideal approach for future research in order to improve understanding of complex diseases of multifactorial origin. In this review, we propose that DD is a disease of several networks rather than of a single gene, and show that this accounts for the experimental observations obtained to date from a variety of sources. We outline how DD may be investigated more effectively by employing a systems biology approach that considers the disease network as a whole rather than focusing on any specific single molecule.     

Proteomics reveals that redox regulation is disrupted in patients with ethylmalonic encephalopathy

Deficiency of the sulfide metabolizing protein ETHE1 is the cause of ethylmalonic encephalopathy (EE), an inherited and severe metabolic disorder. To study the molecular effects of EE, we performed a proteomics study on mitochondria from cultured patient fibroblast cells. Samples from six patients were analyzed and revealed seven differentially regulated proteins compared with healthy controls. Two proteins involved in pathways of detoxification and oxidative/reductive stress were underrepresented in EE patient samples: mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (SOD2) and aldehyde dehydrogenase X (ALDH1B). Sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase (SQRDL), which takes part in the same sulfide pathway as ETHE1, was also underrepresented in EE patients. The other differentially regulated proteins were apoptosis inducing factor (AIFM1), lactate dehydrogenase (LDHB), chloride intracellular channel (CLIC4) and dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 1 (DDAH1). These proteins have been reported to be involved in encephalopathy, energy metabolism, ion transport, and nitric oxide regulation, respectively. Interestingly, oxidoreductase activity was overrepresented among the regulated proteins indicating that redox perturbation plays an important role in the molecular mechanism of EE. This observation may explain the wide range of symptoms associated with the disease, and highlights the potency of the novel gaseous mediator sulfide.