Sodium butyrate induces cell death by autophagy and reactivates a tumor suppressor gene DIRAS1 in renal cell carcinoma cell line UOK146

Sodium butyrate (SB), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, is emerging as a potent anti-cancer drug for different types of cancers. In the present study, anti-cancer activity of SB in Xp11.2 (TFE3) translocated renal cell carcinoma cell line UOK146 was studied. Anti-proliferative effect of SB in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell line UOK146 was evaluated by MTT assay and morphological characteristics were observed by phase contrast microscopy which displayed the cell death after SB treatment. SB induces DNA fragmentation and change in nuclear morphology observed by increased sub-G1 region cell population and nuclear blebbings. Cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase was found after SB treatment. UOK146 cell line shows autophagy mode of cell death as displayed by acridine orange staining and flow cytometry analysis. LC3-II, a protein marker of autophagy, was also found to be upregulated after SB treatment. A tumor suppressor gene DIRAS1 was upregulated after SB treatment, displaying its anti-cancer potential at molecular level. These findings suggest that SB could serve as a novel regulator of tumor suppressors and lead to the discovery of novel therapeutics with better and enhanced anti-cancer activity.     

Microsatellite marker-based genetic diversity analysis of elite lentil lines differing in grain iron and zinc concentration

Trial comprising fifty lentil genotypes was conducted at three locations in India during year 2013–2014 for estimation of grain Fe and Zn concentrations and to analyze G × E interactions by employing the additive main effect and multiplication interaction model. The study revealed significant effects for genotype, environment and genotype by environment interaction for both grain Fe and Zn concentration. In this model genotypes with the IPCA score of nearly zero and mean greater than grand mean are considered as adaptable to the studied environments. For grain Fe concentration genotypes P13143, P13135, ILL2581, P2130, LL147, L4603, PL101 and Globe mutant and for grain Zn concentration genotypes P13122, P2239, P3204 and L11-245 were found stable. The diversity analysis using 20 genomic and 54 EST-SSR markers indicated that the studied genotypes were diverse. The EST-SSRs revealed lower polymorphism as compare to genomic SSRs. Two major clusters were identified with 37 % similarity. Indigenous genotypes were grouped in cluster I and all exotic accessions were grouped in cluster II indicating the role of geographic origin in diversity. Based on multi location evaluation for grain Fe and Zn concentrations and molecular characterization crosses are proposed for development of grain Fe and Zn rich varieties (P3220 × L4649 and VL103 × P2130) and development of mapping populations (P13122 × L11-287 and LL931 × P3220) for study of genetics and mapping of QTLs/gene(s).     

Compatibility of Inherent Fungal Endophytes of Withania somnifera with Trichoderma viride and its Impact on Plant Growth and Withanolide Content

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), also known as Indian ginseng, is an important ancient medicinal plant, used in the Indian traditional systems of medicine. In...     

In vitro proliferation of shoots and regeneration of cotton

Shoot proliferation from different explants of several Indian cultivars of cotton was studied in culture. Cotyledonary nodes taken along with the shoot apex of seedlings produced multiple shoots on modified MS nutrient agar supplemented with cytokinins. 6-Benzyladenine was most effective in inducing growth of multiple shoots. Explants of several genotypes formed organogenic masses that differentiated to secondary shoots on repeated subculture. The isolated shoots were rooted on basal medium supplemented with naphthaleneacetic acid and were transferred to soil after acclimatization. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of Single Low Intensity Light Pulse Exposure and Melatonin Treatment on the Circadian Variation of Melatonin in Indian Palm Squirrel Funambulus pennanti

The endogenous circadian rhythm of melatonin in mammals provides information regarding the resetting response of the mammalian circadian timing system in response to the changes in light dark cycle. Photoperiodic changes are reported to have acute and chronic effect on melatonin rhythm. Our aim in present experiment was to study the effect of single light pulse of low intensity on the circadian variation of melatonin in Indian palm squirrel. A short pulse of 5min was given to the animals at 22:55 h on day 16th in natural photoperiodic condition of long day length (LD ~ 13.55:10.05) and melatonin levels were estimated at every 4-h interval on ZT scale on day 17th (DD). Observations suggest that the light pulse given on day 16th suppressed the melatonin level on day 17th (DD). Besides this, it was also found that there was phase delay in the peak value of melatonin. Further, we tested the ability of single melatonin injection on the light pulse induced phase shift of acrophase of melatonin in this species F. pennanti . We injected the single physiological dose of melatonin (25 microgram/100 g body wt.) just 5 min prior to the commencement of light pulse (22:50 h) on day 16 and melatonin levels were estimated on day 17th as above. Injection of melatonin prior to light pulse altered the suppressing and phase shifting effect of light in terms of peak concentration of melatonin in squirrels. Above data may lead us to conclude that the biological clock mechanism controlling circadian rhythm of melatonin in this rodent is in response to the phase shifting effect of light and acute melatonin treatment. Further, we may suggest that single melatonin injection has the capability to entrain melatonin rhythm but a dose dependent study is required to facilitate the suggestion.     

Chickpea glutaredoxin (CaGrx) gene mitigates drought and salinity stress by modulating the physiological performance and antioxidant defense mechanisms

Glutaredoxins (Grxs) are short, cysteine-rich glutathione (GSH)-mediated oxidoreductases. In this study, a chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) glutaredoxin [LOC101493651 (CaGrx)] gene has been selected based on screening experiments with two contrasting varieties of chickpea, PUSA-362 (drought-tolerant) and ICC-1882 (drought-sensitive) under drought and salinity. The tolerant variety showed higher CaGrx gene expression, as compared to less in the sensitive variety, under both the stresses. The CaGrx gene was then over-expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana and were exposed to drought and salinity. The over-expression of CaGrx elevated the activity of glutaredoxin, which induced antioxidant enzymes (glutathione reductase; GR, glutathione peroxidase; GPX, catalase; CAT, ascorbate peroxidase; APX, glutathione-S-transferase; GST, superoxide dismutase; SOD, monodehydroascorbate reductase; MDHAR, and dehydroascorbate reductase; DHAR), antioxidants (GSH and ascorbate) and stress-responsive amino acids (cysteine and proline). Enhancement in the antioxidant defense system possibly administered tolerance in transgenics against both stresses. CaGrx reduced stress markers (H₂O₂, TBARS, and electrolyte leakage) and enhanced root growth, seed germination, and survival against both stresses. The physiological parameters (net photosynthesis; P_N, water use efficiency; WUE, stomatal conductance; g_s, transpiration; E, electron transport rate; ETR, and photochemical quenching; qP), chlorophylls and carotenoids, were improved in the transgenics during both stresses, that maintained the photosynthetic apparatus and protected the plants from damage. The enhanced activity of the cysteine biosynthesis enzyme, o-acetylserine (thiol) lyase (OAS-TL), increased the cysteine level in the transgenics, which elevated glutathione biosynthesis to maintain the ascorbate–glutathione cycle under both stresses. This investigation verified that the CaGrx gene provides tolerance against salinity and drought, maintaining physiological and morphological performances, and could be exploited for genetic engineering approaches to overcome both the stresses in various crops.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-021-00999-z.     

Polymorphisms involving the transmembrane domains of human TAP2

Correspondence to: S. Pillai.     

Chemical and biological components of atmospheric particulate matter and their impacts on human health and crops: a review

Aerobiologia - This article provides a brief review of morphological features (MFs), chemical and biological aspects of particulate matters (PMs) and their effects on humans and crops. Based on...