Physiological adaptative characteristics of Imperata cylindrica for salinity tolerance

Two populations of cogongrass [Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeuschel], one from the saline regions of the Salt Range and the other from the non-saline regions of Faisalabad were assessed for salinity tolerance on the basis of some key morphological and physiological attributes. It was hypothesized that the tolerant population from the Salt Range must have developed some specific structural modifications, which are responsible for its better survival under high salinities. These adaptive components can be effectively used in modern technologies for improving degree of tolerance of other sensitive crops. The population from the Salt Range markedly excelled the Faisalabad population in terms of growth and physiological attributes measured in this study. The Faisalabad population of I. cylindrica was unable to survive at the highest salt level (200 mM NaCl). The tolerance of the Salt Range population to salt stress was found to be related to high accumulation of organic osmotica, particularly total free amino acids and proline as well as Ca²⁺ in the shoot. The distinctive structural modifications in the Salt Range population were found to be enhanced succulence, well-developed bulliform cells in leaves and smaller stomatal area.     

Synthesis,Chemical Characterization,DNA Binding,Antioxidant, Antibacterial,and Antifungal Activities of Ferrocence Incorporated Selenoureas

Ferrocene‐incorporated selenoureas 1‐(4‐methoxybenzoyl)‐3‐(4‐ferrocenylphenyl)selenourea (P4Me), 1‐(3‐methoxybenzoyl)‐3‐(4‐ferrocenylphenyl)selenourea (P3Me), and 1‐(2‐methoxybenzoyl)‐3‐(4‐ferrocenylphenyl)selenourea (P2Me) were synthesized and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy, CHNS, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. DNA interaction of the compounds was investigated with cyclic voltammetry, UV–visible spectroscopy, and viscometry, which is a prerequisite for anticancer agents. Drug‐DNA binding constant was found to vary in the sequence: K_P4Me (4.9000 × 10⁴ M^?1) > K_P2Me (2.318 × 10⁴ M^?1) > K_P3Me (1.296 × 10⁴ M^?1). Antioxidant (1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl), antifungal (against Faussarium solani and Helmentosporium sativum), and antibacterial (against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis) activities have also been reported in addition.     

Toxicity,Safety, and Efficacy Studies on Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Decidua basalis in Wistar Albino Rats by Intravenous and Subcutaneous Routes

Ex vivo expanded decidua-basalis(DB)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) obtained from single donors have demonstrated therapeutic benefits in in vitro and in vivo studies. In this report, the intravenous and subcutaneous administration of DB-MSCs obtained from five healthy donors was assessed considering clinical grade proliferation, accessibility, and toxic effects in Wistar albino rats. The ability of the obtained DB-MSCs for differentiating, as well as their expression of several cell surface markers and immunomodulatory activities, were all assessed. Clinical standard proliferated cells were administered to animals intravenously and subcutaneously in a series of preclinical models in order to assess their in vivo toxicity, general safety, and tumorigenic possibilities. We established that DB cells exhibit structural and functional traits with MSCs. At various doses supplied intravenously or subcutaneously, the research showed no fatality, abnormal response to therapy, or substantial pathological modifications in the rats. Furthermore, there was no indication of prenatal damage in the same animal species when the rats were repeatedly treated with DBMSCs. Thus, DBMSCs were demonstrated to be non-toxic, non-teratogenic, and non-tumorigenic. To determine whether they can be administrated to human patients without risk, more investigation is recommended.     

In vitro auxin treatment promotes cell division and delays endoreduplication in developing seeds of the model legume species Medicago truncatula

The role of auxins in the morphogenesis of immature seeds of Medicago truncatula was studied, focusing on the transition from the embryo cell division phase to seed maturation. We analyzed seed development in vitro, by flow cytometry, and through the determination of the kinetics of seed fresh weight and size. Thus, seeds were harvested at 8, 10 and 12 days after pollination and cultured in vitro on a medium either without auxin or supplemented with indole‐3‐butyric acid (IBA) or naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) at 1 mg l^?1. All parameters studied were determined every 2 days from the start of in vitro culture. The results showed that both auxins increased the weight and size of seeds with NAA having a stronger effect than IBA. We further demonstrated that the auxin treatments modulate the transition between mitotic cycles and endocycles in M. truncatula developing seed by favoring sustained cell divisions while simultaneously prolonging endoreduplication, which is known to be the cytogenetical imprint of the transition from the cell division phase to the storage protein accumulation phase during seed development.     

HTLV-1 Tax Stimulates Ubiquitin E3 Ligase,Ring Finger Protein 8, to Assemble Lysine 63-Linked Polyubiquitin Chains for TAK1 and IKK Activation

Human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) trans-activator/oncoprotein, Tax, impacts a multitude of cellular processes, including I-κB kinase (IKK)/NF-κB signaling, DNA damage repair, and mitosis. These activities of Tax have been implicated in the development of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) in HTLV-1-infected individuals, but the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. IKK and its upstream kinase, TGFβ-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), contain ubiquitin-binding subunits, NEMO and TAB2/3 respectively, which interact with K63-linked polyubiquitin (K63-pUb) chains. Recruitment to K63-pUb allows cross auto-phosphorylation and activation of TAK1 to occur, followed by TAK1-catalyzed IKK phosphorylation and activation. Using cytosolic extracts of HeLa and Jurkat T cells supplemented with purified proteins we have identified ubiquitin E3 ligase, ring finger protein 8 (RNF8), and E2 conjugating enzymes, Ubc13:Uev1A and Ubc13:Uev2, to be the cellular factors utilized by Tax for TAK1 and IKK activation. In vitro, the combination of Tax and RNF8 greatly stimulated TAK1, IKK, IκBα and JNK phosphorylation. In vivo, RNF8 over-expression augmented while RNF8 ablation drastically reduced canonical NF-κB activation by Tax. Activation of the non-canonical NF-κB pathway by Tax, however, is unaffected by the loss of RNF8. Using purified components, we further demonstrated biochemically that Tax greatly stimulated RNF8 and Ubc13:Uev1A/Uev2 to assemble long K63-pUb chains. Finally, co-transfection of Tax with increasing amounts of RNF8 greatly induced K63-pUb assembly in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, Tax targets RNF8 and Ubc13:Uev1A/Uev2 to promote the assembly of K63-pUb chains, which signal the activation of TAK1 and multiple downstream kinases including IKK and JNK. Because of the roles RNF8 and K63-pUb chains play in DNA damage repair and cytokinesis, this mechanism may also explain the genomic instability of HTLV-1-transformed T cells and ATL cells.     

Developing the Evidence Base to Inform Best Practice: A Scoping Study of Breast and Cervical Cancer Reviews in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Background

Breast and cervical cancers have emerged as major global health challenges and disproportionately lead to excess morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) when compared to high-income countries. The objective of this paper was to highlight key findings, recommendations, and gaps in research and practice identified through a scoping study of recent reviews in breast and cervical cancer in LMICs.

Methods

We conducted a scoping study based on the six-stage framework of Arskey and O’Malley. We searched PubMed, Cochrane Reviews, and CINAHL with the following inclusion criteria: 1) published between 2005-February 2015, 2) focused on breast or cervical cancer 3) focused on LMIC, 4) review article, and 5) published in English.

Results

Through our systematic search, 63 out of the 94 identified cervical cancer reviews met our selection criteria and 36 of the 54 in breast cancer. Cervical cancer reviews were more likely to focus upon prevention and screening, while breast cancer reviews were more likely to focus upon treatment and survivorship. Few of the breast cancer reviews referenced research and data from LMICs themselves; cervical cancer reviews were more likely to do so. Most reviews did not include elements of the PRISMA checklist.

Conclusion

Overall, a limited evidence base supports breast and cervical cancer control in LMICs. Further breast and cervical cancer prevention and control studies are necessary in LMICs.     

Comparative analysis of IgM sub-variants in salmonid fish and identification of a residue in μ3 which is essential for MAb4C10 reactivity

In rainbow trout (Onchorhynchus mykiss) it has been shown that high affinity IgM antibodies have a higher degree of disulfide polymerization and a longer half life time. In the present study, distinct IgM sub-variants related to ancestral tetraploidy in salmonid fish were analyzed to reveal possible characteristic differences between these. A monoclonal antibody (MAb4C10) which distinguishes between IgM-A and IgM-B in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) was further characterized. It was shown that substitution of a proline located in the loop between the B and C beta strands of the third constant domain (μ3) of salmon μA eliminated MAb4C10 reactivity. Accordingly, the reverse substitution in salmon μB restored MAb4C10 reactivity. Molecular cloning of μ cDNA from arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) revealed two sub-variants (μA-1 and μA-2), i.e. a similar situation as in Atlantic salmon and brown trout. However, arctic char IgM eluted in one peak by anion exchange chromatography, in contrast to salmon and brown trout IgM that are eluted in two peaks. The only characteristic residue of salmon and brown trout μB is an additional cysteine in the C-terminal part of μ4. Most likely, this cysteine is involved in inter-chain disulfide bonding and influences the elution profiles of IgM-A and IgM-B on anion exchange chromatography. Neither of the μ sub-variants in arctic char have the additional cysteine, and char IgM, as well as salmon and brown trout IgM-A, showed a lower degree of inter-chain disulfide bonding than IgM-B when subjected to denaturation and gel electrophoresis under non-reducing conditions. Hybrids of char/salmon expressed μA-1, μA-2, μA and μB, indicating that there are two paralogous Ig heavy chain gene complexes in the haploid genome of char, like in Atlantic salmon. A comparison of salmonid μ sequences is presented, including representatives of Salmoninae (trout, salmon and char), Thymallinae (grayling) and Coregoninae (whitefish).     

Interfacial Growth of Activated Carbon on WO3 Nanoplates for Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity by Surface Plasmon Resonance

Plasmonics - A highly efficient, visible-light-driven and hybrid-activated carbon-doped pure tungsten trioxide (WO3) composite photocatalyst, with greatest stability has been synthesized by using...