The relationship of the zone polarizing activity to supernumerary limb formation (twinning) in the chick wing bud.

The role of the polarizing zone mesoderm in development of supernumerary distal wing parts after 180° rotation of the wing tip was investigated. Postaxial mesoderm with and without polarizing tissue was repositioned preaxially in the wing bud and duplications occurred only when polarizing zone tissue was included. When the polarizing zone was removed and the distal tip of the wing reoriented, no duplication resulted. Similarly when the polarizing zone was removed, the distal tip reoriented and postaxial, nonpolarizing mesoderm introduced to restore the tissue mass of the stump, no twinning occurred. However, with the distal aspect reoriented on a stump from which postaxial, nonpolarizing mesoderm was removed, twinning occurred in 92.9% of the cases. Further, when the polarizing zone was removed, the distal aspect reoriented and a small piece of polarizing tissue returned, twinning resulted in 93.5% of the cases. These results indicate that polarizing zone tissue is required for the twinning that results after 180° rotation of the wing tip.     

Mitochondrial haplogroup N1a phylogeography,with implication to the origin of European farmers

Background  

Tracing the genetic origin of central European farmer N1a lineages can provide a unique opportunity to assess the patterns of the farming technology spread into central Europe in the human prehistory. Here, we have chosen twelve N1a samples from modern populations which are most similar with the farmer N1a types and performed the complete mitochondrial DNA genome sequencing analysis. To assess the genetic and phylogeographic relationship, we performed a detailed survey of modern published N1a types from Eurasian and African populations.     

The Internal Organization of Mycobacterial Partition Assembly: Does the DNA Wrap a Protein Core?

Before cell division in many bacteria, the ParBs spread on a large segment of DNA encompassing the origin-proximal parS site(s) to form the partition assembly that participates in chromosome segregation. Little is known about the structural organization of chromosomal partition assembly. We report solution X-ray and neutron scattering data characterizing the size parameters and internal organization of a nucleoprotein assembly formed by the mycobacterial chromosomal ParB and a 120-meric DNA containing a parS-encompassing region from the mycobacterial genome. The cross-sectional radii of gyration and linear mass density describing the rod-like ParB-DNA assembly were determined from solution scattering. A “DNA outside, protein inside” mode of partition assembly organization consistent with the neutron scattering hydrogen/deuterium contrast variation data is discussed. In this organization, the high scattering DNA is positioned towards the outer region of the partition assembly. The new results presented here provide a basis for understanding how ParBs organize the parS-proximal chromosome, thus setting the stage for further interactions with the DNA condensins, the origin tethering factors and the ParA.     

An Antioxidant Extract of Tropical Lichen,Parmotrema reticulatum,Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Breast Carcinoma Cell Line MCF-7

This report highlights the phytochemical analysis, antioxidant potential and anticancer activity against breast carcinoma of 70% methanolic extract of lichen, Parmotrema reticulatum (PRME). Phytochemical analysis of PRME confirms the presence of various phytoconstituents like alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, glycosides, phenols, saponins, tannins, anthraquinones, and ascorbic acid; among which alkaloids, phenols and flavonoids are found in abundant amount. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of PRME revealed the presence of catechin, purpurin, tannic acid and reserpine. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by nine separate methods. PRME showed excellent hydroxyl and hypochlorous radical scavenging as well as moderate DPPH, superoxide, singlet oxygen, nitric oxide and peroxynitrite scavenging activity. Cytotoxicity of PRME was tested against breast carcinoma (MCF-7), lung carcinoma (A549) and normal lung fibroblast (WI-38) using WST-1 method. PRME was found cytotoxic against MCF-7 cells with an IC₅₀ value 130.03±3.11 µg/ml while negligible cytotoxicity was observed on A549 and WI-38 cells. Further flow cytometric study showed that PRME halted the MCF-7 cells in S and G2/M phases and induces apoptosis in dose as well as time dependent manner. Cell cycle arrest was associated with downregulation of cyclin B1, Cdk-2 and Cdc25C as well as slight decrease in the expression of Cdk-1 and cyclin A1 with subsequent upregulation of p53 and p21. Moreover PRME induced Bax and inhibited Bcl-2 expression, which results in increasing Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and activation of caspase cascade. This ultimately leads to PARP degradation and induces apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. It can be hypothesised from the current study that the antioxidant and anticancer potential of the PRME may reside in the phytoconstitutents present in it and therefore, PRME may be used as a possible source of natural antioxidant that may be developed to an anticancer agent.     

Risk of Becoming Schizophrenic: Birth Order and HLA Profile

The present study was carried out to ascertain the birth order as a risk factor for schizophrenia on the basis of HLA genetics. India born schizophrenic patients of Siliguri, West Bengal who attended Outpatient Department of Psychiatry, North Bengal Medical College and Hospital were included in the study. After longitudinal follow up of 136 patients and 150 controls matched in age, sex and ethnicity were screened for the study. The typing of HLA was done by PCR-SSP method. The results showed a significantly increased frequency of HLA*A3 among the patients. Further, birth order was studied among HLA*A3 positive 108 patients and 41 controls. Although, results indicated higher incidence of schizophrenia among second children irrespective of sex but it was not found to be statistically significant. However, when the birth order of male and female patients was analyzed separately, a significant decreased incidence of schizophrenia was observed among the third female child. The findings do not corroborate with the earlier findings of association of birth order with schizophrenia.