Three-dimensional visualization and quantification of water content in the rhizosphere

? Despite the importance of rhizosphere properties for water flow from soil to roots, there is limited quantitative information on the distribution of water in the rhizosphere of plants. ? Here, we used neutron tomography to quantify and visualize the water content in the rhizosphere of the plant species chickpea (Cicer arietinum), white lupin (Lupinus albus), and maize (Zea mays) 12 d after planting. ? We clearly observed increasing soil water contents (θ) towards the root surface for all three plant species, as opposed to the usual assumption of decreasing water content. This was true for tap roots and lateral roots of both upper and lower parts of the root system. Furthermore, water gradients around the lower part of the roots were smaller and extended further into bulk soil compared with the upper part, where the gradients in water content were steeper. ? Incorporating the hydraulic conductivity and water retention parameters of the rhizosphere into our model, we could simulate the gradual changes of θ towards the root surface, in agreement with the observations. The modelling result suggests that roots in their rhizosphere may modify the hydraulic properties of soil in a way that improves uptake under dry conditions.     

Phylogenetic Characterization of Archaea in Saltpan Sediments

A study was undertaken to investigate the presence of archaeal diversity in saltpan sediments of Goa, India by 16S rDNA-dependent molecular phylogeny. Small subunit rRNA (16S rDNA) from saltpan sediment metagenome were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers specific to the domain archaea. 10 unique phylotypes were obtained by PCR based RFLP of 16S rRNA genes using endonuclease Msp 1, which was most suitable to score the genetic diversity. These phylotypes spanned a wide range within the domain archaea including both crenarchaeota and euryarcheaota. None of the retrieved crenarchaeota sequences could be grouped with previously cultured crenarchaeota however; two sequences were related with haloarchaea. Most of the sequences determined were closely related to the sequences that had been previously obtained from metagenome of a variety of marine environments. The phylogenetic study of a site investigated for the first time revealed the presence of low archaeal population but showed yet unclassified species, may specially adapted to the salt pan sediment of Goa.     

Isolation, structural characterization and antioxidant activity of a new water-soluble polysaccharide from Acanthophyllum bracteatum roots

ABPS-1, a new water-soluble polysaccharide with molecular weight of 26 kDa and a specific optical rotation of +170° (c 1.0, H₂O), was extracted from the roots of Acanthophyllum bracteatum by warm water and further successively purified through DEAE-cellulose A52 and Sephadex G-100 columns. Monosaccharide analysis revealed that the ABPS-1 was composed of Glc, Gal and Ara with a relative molar ratio of 1.4:5.2:1.0. Its structural features were elucidated by a combination of FT-IR, methylation and GC-MS analysis, periodate oxidation and Smith degradation, partial acid hydrolysis and ¹³C and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The data obtained indicate that ABPS-1 possessed a backbone of α-(1 → 6)-linked Gal with branches attached to O-2 by α-1 → linked Glc and at O-3 by α-1 → linked Gal and by α-(1 → 3)-linked Ara. The in vitro antioxidant activity showed that ABPS-1 possesses DPPH radical-scavenging activity in a concentration-dependent manner with an EC₅₀ value of 2.6 mg/ml.     

Thermal adaptability and disease association in common carp (Cyprinus carpio communis) acclimated to different (four) temperatures

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of temperature (20 °C, 24 °C, 28 °C and 32 °C) on the heamato-biochemical and histological alterations of Cyprinus carpio communis. Increase in the temperature showed significant decrease in the serum protein, while a reduced level of blood glucose at high temperature of 32 °C was observed leading to hypoglycemic conditions in the experimental fishes. A significant correlation (P<0.01) was observed between cholesterol (Cho) and triglycerides (TG) for different temperature treatments. Elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) at high temperatures was a good indicator of gill osmoregulatory failure. A variation of 86.40% and 38.33%, respectively, was noticed in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) at 32 °C over minimum experimental temperature of 20 °C. The increase in red blood cell (RBC) and Heamoglobin (Hb) concentration is associated with the decrease of mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), could be the reason for observed poikilo-anisocytosis. Histological studies of different organs of experimental fishes showed accumulation of MMC's (melanomacrophagic centers) and atrophy of the interrenal tissue on exposure to various levels of temperature. These changes were related to severity of thermal stress, being most marked when high temperature was prolonged during acclimatization. Some fishes were found infested by protozoan parasite at elevated temperature of 32 °C. Increased levels of certain biochemical and haemotological parameters studied were strongly correlated with disease in the Cyprinus carpio communis species.     

One size fits all in prostate cancer: a story tale whose time has come and gone

The touchstone to evaluate accurately the aggressiveness and invasiveness of prostate cancer is something of a holy grail in the facet of urologic oncology. Gene expression and sequencing studies have improved our interpretations of the genetic determinants of the disease but are unsuccessful in the establishment of any unified classification to improve the molecular stratification. These questions addressing failure in rational drug design are difficult to answer in the multifaceted and heterogeneous pathogenesis of prostate cancer. In this review, we have developed a roadmap of the "recalcitrant prostate cancer proteome" to recognize the aspects of prostate cancer that may be helpful in effectively translating these findings to the clinic.     

Lead (Pb)-Induced Regulation of Growth, Photosynthesis, and Mineral Nutrition in Maize (Zea mays L.) Plants at Early Growth Stages

The phytotoxic effects of lead (Pb) on seed germinability, seedling growth, photosynthetic performance, and nutrient accumulation (K(+) and Cu(2+)) in two maize genotypes (EV-1098 and EV-77) treated with varying levels of PbSO(4) (0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 mg L(-1)) were appraised in this study. In the seed germination experiment, lead stress significantly reduced seed germination percentage and index, plumule and radicle lengths as well as fresh and dry weights in both genotypes. In the second experiment, lengths and fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots decreased due to Pb in both genotypes with increase in plant age. Higher Pb levels also decreased photosynthetic rate (A), water use efficiency (A/E), and intrinsic water use efficiency (A/g(s)), but increased transpiration rate (E) and C(i)/C(a) ratio as a result of increase in stomatal conductance (g(s)). The concentrations of K(+) and Cu(2+) decreased in root, stem, and leaves of both genotypes, which could be a direct consequence of multifold increase in Pb concentration in these tissues. Overall, cv. EV-1098 had better Pb tolerance potential than EV-77 because the former genotype showed less reduction in seed germinability parameters, photosynthetic performance, and K(+) and Cu(2+) accumulation in shoot and root under lead stress.     

Toxic Effect of Nickel (Ni) on Growth and Metabolism in Germinating Seeds of Sunflower (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Helianthus annuus</Emphasis> L.)

To assess the toxic effect of nickel (Ni) on the growth and some key metabolic processes in sunflower, varying levels of Ni as Ni(NO₃)₂ up to 60 mg L⁻¹ were applied once to sunflower cultivars SF-187 and Hysun-33 at sowing time in sand culture. An increase in Ni in the growth medium adversely affected growth parameters, sugar concentration (both reducing and non-reducing), as well as the activities of α-amylase and protease. It also slowed down mobilization of stored proteins and amino acids in the germinating seeds. However, an increase in the activities of α-amylase and protease was observed over time from 24 to 120 h after sowing. Cultivar Hysun-33 showed better performance than SF-187 in the presence of excess Ni. Overall, Ni-induced reduction in germination of sunflower seed appeared to be due to disturbance in biochemical metabolism as the availability of sugars for the synthesis of metabolic energy as well as necessary amino acids for the synthesis of proteins and enzymes essential for the growing embryo are generally reduced due to suppression in α-amylase and protease activities.     

Protective effects of L-pGlu-(2-propyl)-L-His-L-ProNH2, a newer thyrotropin releasing hormone analog in in vitro and in vivo models of cerebral ischemia

In the present study, the newly synthesized TRH analog (l-pGlu-(2-propyl)-l-His-l-ProNH₂; NP-647) was evaluated for its effects in in vitro (oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD)-, glutamate- and H₂O₂-induced injury in PC-12 cells) and in vivo (transient global ischemia) models of cerebral ischemic injury. PC-12 cells were subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation for 6 h. Exposure of NP-647 was given before and during OGD. In glutamate and H₂O₂ induced injury, exposure of NP-647 was given 1, 6 and 24 h prior to exposure of glutamate and H₂O₂ exposure. NP-647, per se found to be non-toxic in 1-100 μM concentrations. NP-647 showed protection against OGD at the 1 and 10 μM. The concentration-dependent protection was observed in H₂O₂- and glutamate-induced cellular injury. In in vivo studies, NP-647 treatment showed protection of hippocampal (CA1) neuronal damage in transient global ischemia in mice and subsequent improvement in memory retention was observed using passive avoidance retention test. Moreover, administration of NP-647 resulted in decrease in inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 as well as lipid peroxidation. These results suggest potential of NP-647 in the treatment of cerebral ischemia and its neuroprotective effect may be attributed to reduction of excitotoxicity, oxidative stress and inflammation.