Surface ultrastructure of gill arches and gill rakers in relation to feeding of an Indian major carp, Cirrhinus mrigala

The surface ultrastructure of the gill arches and the gill rakers of an herbivorous fish, Cirrhinus mrigala was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. These structures show significant adaptive modifications associated with the food and feeding ecology of the fish. Closely lying short gill rakers and narrow inter-raker channels on the gill arches are associated to filter and retain food particles. Prominent epithelial protuberances on the gill rakers and the gill arches enable the taste buds, located at their summit, to project well above the surface of the epithelium. This could increase the efficiency of the taste buds in selective sorting of palatable food. Surface specializations of the postlingual organ are recognized adaptive modifications for selecting, trapping or holding food particles. Prominent molariform teeth born on the lower pharyngeal jaw, and the chewing pad opposite it, are associated to work together as an efficient pharyngeal mill. Mucous goblet cells are considered to elaborate mucus secretions to trap, glue and lubricate food particles for their smooth transport for swallowing.     

Chromatin remodeling in the noncoding repeat expansion diseases

Friedreich ataxia, myotonic dystrophy type 1 and 3 forms of intellectual disability, fragile X syndrome, FRAXE mental retardation, and FRA12A mental retardation are repeat expansion diseases caused by expansion of CTG.CAG, GAA.TTC, or CGG.CCG repeat tracts. These repeats are transcribed but not translated. They are located in different parts of different genes and cause symptoms that range from ataxia and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy to muscle wasting, male infertility, and mental retardation, yet recent reports suggest that, despite these differences, the repeats may share a common property, namely the ability to initiate repeat-mediated epigenetic changes that result in heterochromatin formation.     

Structural prediction and analysis of VIH-related peptides from selected crustacean species

The tentative elucidation of the 3D-structure of vitellogenesis inhibiting hormone (VIH) peptides is conversely underprivileged by difficulties in gaining enough peptide or protein, diffracting crystals, and numerous extra technical aspects. As a result, no structural information is available for VIH peptide sequences registered in the Genbank. In this situation, it is not surprising that predictive methods have achieved great interest. Here, in this study the molt-inhibiting hormone (MIH) of the kuruma prawn (Marsupenaeus japonicus) is used, to predict the structure of four VIHrelated peptides in the crustacean species. The high similarity of the 3D-structures and the calculated physiochemical characteristics of these peptides suggest a common fold for the entire family.     

Analysis of Endocytic Pathways in Drosophila Cells Reveals a Conserved Role for GBF1 in Internalization via GEECs

In mammalian cells, endocytosis of the fluid phase and glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins (GPI-APs) forms GEECs (GPI-AP enriched early endosomal compartments) via an Arf1- and Cdc42-mediated, dynamin independent mechanism. Here we use four different fluorescently labeled probes and several markers in combination with quantitative kinetic assays, RNA interference and high resolution imaging to delineate major endocytic routes in Drosophila cultured cells. We find that the hallmarks of the pinocytic GEEC pathway are conserved in Drosophila and identify garz, the fly ortholog of the GTP exchange factor GBF1, as a novel component of this pathway. Live confocal and TIRF imaging reveals that a fraction of GBF1 GFP dynamically associates with ABD RFP (a sensor for activated Arf1 present on nascent pinosomes). Correspondingly, a GTP exchange mutant of GBF1 has altered ABD RFP localization in the evanescent field and is impaired in fluid phase uptake. Furthermore, GBF1 activation is required for the GEEC pathway even in the presence of Brefeldin A, implying that, like Arf1, it has a role in endocytosis that is separable from its role in secretion.     

Acetoxy drug: protein transacetylase catalyzed activation of human platelet nitric oxide synthase by polyphenolic peracetates

An enhanced intracellular level of Nitric oxide (NO) is essential to ameliorate several pathological conditions of heart and vasculature necessitating the activation of NOS. We have projected in this report the acetylation of eNOS by polyphenolic peracetates (PA) catalyzed by the novel enzyme acetoxy drug: protein transacetylase (TAase) discovered in our laboratory as an unambiguous way of activating NOS which results in the manifestation of physiological action. The human platelet was chosen as the experimental system in order to validate the aforementioned proposition. PA caused profound irreversible activation of platelet NADPH cytochrome c reductase mediated by TAase. The convincing biochemical evidences are presented to show that PA could cause acetylation of the reductase domain of NOS leading to the activation of eNOS in tune with their specificities to platelet TAase. As a result, the enhanced level of NO due to activation of platelet eNOS by PA was found to inhibit the ADP-induced platelet aggregation. The present studies highlight for the first time the role of PA as the novel potent agent for enhancing the intracellular NO levels.     

BMI and Waist Circumference as Predictors of Well‐being in Older Adults: Findings From the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

The aim of this study is to examine the association of BMI and waist circumference (WC), with a quality of life (QoL) indicator designed for older ages (CASP19), and with depressive symptoms (Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale). We included 8,688 individuals aged ≥52 years who participants of Wave 2 (2004–2005) and Wave 3 (2006–2007) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). To explore cross‐sectional relationships (2004–2005), we fitted regression models for BMI and WC (included simultaneously) as our predictors of QoL and depressive symptoms adjusted for covariates. To explore longitudinal relationships, BMI and waist at baseline (2004–2005) were related to the each outcome variable measured at follow‐up (2006–2007), and adjusted for baseline characteristics (2004–2005). For a given BMI, larger WC was associated with lower QoL and higher risk of depressive symptoms for women in cross‐sectional and longitudinal analyses. By contrast for a given WC increased BMI for women was positively associated with QoL and lower odds of depressive symptoms. In men, for a given BMI, increased WC was related to QoL only cross‐sectionally; neither WC nor BMI at baseline were associated with depressive symptoms (cross‐sectionally or longitudinally). In conclusion among older people, for a given BMI, increased WC was related with higher risk of poor QoL and, for women, of depressive symptoms; whereas for a given WC, increased BMI had a protective effect on QoL for women.     

Investigation and mapping of fluoride-endemic areas and associated health risk—A case study of Agra,Uttar Pradesh,India

The present study aimed at identifying the fluoride-endemic areas in five different blocks in Agra district, Uttar Pradesh, India. A total of 365 groundwater samples from 73 villages were analyzed for establishing the concentration range of fluoride in drinking water. The fluoride level in the study area varied from 0.14 to 4.88 mg/L. Out of 73, the fluoride levels in 45 villages did not meet the permissible Word Health Organization standards. The Baroli Ahir block was found the highly fluoride-endemic area followed by Saiyan, Bichpuri, Achnera and Etmadpur. Chronic daily intake of fluoride in adults was 1.25 and 1.5 times higher than those in children and infants, respectively. The probability of dental fluorosis in infants was higher (42%) while adults were more prone to bone and skeletal fluorosis (60%). The hazard quotient analysis revealed that children were found to be at maximum risk followed by infants and adults. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the fluoride concentration is the major influencing parameter responsible for different types of fluorosis in various age groups.     

SNP discovery from next-generation transcriptome sequencing data and their validation using KASP assay in wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L.)

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are becoming the most amenable form of DNA-based molecular markers for genetic analysis. In hexaploid bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), it is difficult to discern true polymorphic SNPs due to homoeologous and paralogous genes. Two serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) libraries were developed utilizing leaves from resistant plants carrying leaf rust resistance gene Lr28; one library was derived from leaves that were mock inoculated and the other was derived from leaves inoculated with the urediniospores of the leaf rust pathogen Puccinia triticina. Next-generation sequencing reads, after quality trimming and removal of fungal sequences, were mapped to wheat reference sequences at Ensembl Plants. CLC Genomics Workbench and Freebayes softwares were employed for SNP calling. A total of 611 SNPs were predicted to be common by both softwares, of which 207 varietal SNPs were identified by ConservedPrimer software. A subset of 100 SNPs was used for validation across 47 wheat genotypes using Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) assay; 83 SNPs could be successfully validated. These SNPs were positioned on wheat subgenomes and chromosome arms. When functionally annotated, many sequences harboring SNPs showed homology to resistance and resistance-like genes listed in Plant Resistance Gene database (PRGdb) as well as pathogenesis-related (PR) and stress-responsive genes. The results of the present study involving discovery of SNPs associated with resistance to leaf rust, a major threat to wheat production worldwide, will be valuable for molecular breeding for rust resistance.