Biochemically Triggered Heat and Drought Stress Tolerance in Rice by Proline Application

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Abiotic stresses are the prime coercion to sustainable crop production in changing climate scenario. Heat and drought stresses at reproductive as well as...     

Investigation on the Phytochemical Composition,Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibition Potential of Polygonum Plebeium R.Br: A Comprehensive Approach to Disclose New Nutraceutical and Functional Food Ingredients

The present work describes medicinal potential and secondary metabolic picture of the methanol extract (PP-M) of Polygonum plebeium R.Br. and its fractions; hexane (PP-H), ethyl acetate (PP-E) and water (PP-W). In total bioactive component estimation, highest contents of phenolic (89.38±0.27 mgGAE/g extract) and flavonoid (51.21±0.43 mgQE/g extract) were observed in PP-E, and the same fraction exhibited the highest antioxidant potential in DPPH (324.80±4.09 mgTE/g extract), ABTS (563.18±11.39 mgTE/g extract), CUPRAC (411.33±15.49 mgTE/g extract) and FRAC (369.54±1.70 mgTE/g extract) assays. In Phosphomolybdenum activity assay, PP-H and PP-E showed nearly similar potential, however, PP-H was the most active (13.54±0.24 mgEDTAE/g extract) in metal chelating activity assay. PP-W was the stronger inhibitor (4.03±0.05 mgGALAE/g extract) of the enzyme AChE, while PP-H was potent inhibitor of BChE (5.62±0.27 mg GALAE/g extract). Interestingly, PP-E was inactive against BChE. Against tyrosinase activity, PP-E was again the most active fraction with inhibitory value of 71.89±1.44 mg KAE/g extract, followed by the activity of PP-M and PP-W. Antidiabetic potential was almost equally distributed among PP-M, PP-H and PP-E. For mapping the chemodiversity of P. plebeium, PP-M was analyzed through UHPLC/MS, which led to the identification of more than 50 compounds. Flavonoids were the main components derived from isovitexin, kaempferol and luteolin however, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, gingerols and lyoniresinol 9′-sulfate were among important bioactive phenols. These findings prompted to conclude that Polygonum plebeium can be a significant source to offer new ingredient for nutraceuticals and functional foods.     

Gene cloning and characterization of glycine oxidase from newly isolated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis> strain R5

The gene encoding the glycine oxidase from Bacillus subtilis strain R5 (goxR) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The gene consisted of 1,110 nucleotides that encoded a protein (GoxR) of 369 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 40,761 Da. The GoxR exhibited 98.6% identity with glycine oxidase from B. subtilis strain 168. Gene expression and purification of the recombinant GoxR were performed. The recombinant GoxR existed in a homotetramer form. The recombinant protein effectively catalyzed the oxidation of glycine and d-alanine. The specific activity of the purified recombinant GoxR was 0.96 U/mg when glycine was used as a substrate and 1.0 U/mg when d-alanine was substrate. The enzyme displayed its highest activity at pH 8.0 and at a temperature of 50°C. The activation energy of the reaction catalyzed by the enzyme was calculated to be 26 kJ/mol. The enzyme activity was significantly inhibited in the presence of organic solvents. No enhancement of enzyme activity was observed in the presence of metal cations. The experimental results presented in this study demonstrate that the enzyme was a bonafide glycine oxidase.     

Etiology and genetic factors in clefts of lip and/or palate reported at children’s hospital,Lahore, Pakistan

The etiology of cleft lip (CL) and/or cleft palate (CP) has been extensively studied in industrialized countries and is suggested to be heterogeneous with increasing evidence that both genetic and environmental factors are operating. To evaluate this assertion in a developing country like Pakistan, a case finding cross-sectional study was completed from 1^st July 2010 to 31^st May 2011 for 100 cases of CL and/or CP referred to the Genetic Clinic of the Children’s Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. A clinical examination followed by necessary diagnostic work-up was completed for each case. The cause of CL and/or CP was clear in 18% of the children (n = 18). Environmental causes were found in 6 children (four mothers developed hyperthermia during the 2^nd month of gestation, one mother was diabetic, and one mother was a known case of epilepsy and took sodium valproate throughout her pregnancy). Six children were suffering from known genetic malformation syndromes (each with Jarcho-Levin syndrome, Oral-Facial-Digital syndrome type XI, Oral-Duplication syndrome, Kabuki syndrome, Fronto-nasal dysplasia and Nager syndrome). Novel chromosomal aberrations were identified in 2 children. In 82% of the children (n = 82) the cause of oro-facial clefts remained unknown. Impact of gender and consanguinity on the development of CL and/or CP was also studied. Prevalence of CP was significantly more among female children as compared to that in males (P < 0.05). Associated anomalies were present in 18% of the cases, anomalies of the craniofacial region being the most common. These findings were compared with regional and international studies.     

Fertility Control in Free-Ranging Elk Using Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist Leuprolide: Effects on Reproduction,Behavior, and Body Condition

ABSTRACT Overabundant elk (Cervus elaphus) populations have become a significant problem in many areas of North America. This is particularly true for protected areas where high densities of elk can cause long-term ecological degradation. When lethal control is not acceptable in these environments, resource managers must often consider alternative methods for reducing the size of resident elk populations. A potential management alternative is controlling the fertility of female elk. A promising new approach to wildlife contraception involves the use of biodegradable implants containing the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist leuprolide. During fall 2002-spring 2004, we compared pregnancy rates, reproductive behavior, daily activity patterns, and body condition of 17 free-ranging female elk treated with a leuprolide formulation with 17 untreated females, in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA. After treatment, the pregnancy rate of treated elk was 0%, whereas 79% of control elk became pregnant. The effects of treatment were reversed the subsequent year with the pregnancy rate of treated females 100% compared with 91% for controls. Reproductive behaviors were similar for treated and control elk during the breeding and postbreeding seasons; treated elk did not exhibit postrut reproductive behaviors. Moreover, we found no differences in daily activity patterns of experimental groups during the breeding or postbreeding seasons. Treated elk did not show improved body condition over pregnant females. Instead, treated females catabolized proportionately more body fat during winter after treatment and at a higher rate than pregnant control elk. However, this effect was reversed the next spring with no difference in body fat between treated and control elk. We conclude from this experiment that leuprolide, administered as a controlled release formulation, offers a safe and effective method of controlling fertility in free-ranging female elk. However, practical application is limited by treatment duration and the need to treat females before the breeding season.     

Biosorption of Mercury from Industrial Effluent by Fungal Consortia

Mercury is present in different types of industrial effluents that cause environmental pollution. Conventional methods such as precipitation, oxidation/reduction, ion exchange, filtration, membranes, and evaporation are extremely expensive or inefficient for the removal of mercury from diluted solutions. In this context, the biosorption process has recently been shown to be an effective and economical method. The present work describes the mercury biosorption ability of three fungi, i.e., Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma viride, and Humicola insolens. Monocultures of these strains and 10 different combinations were investigated. The consortium of 24-h-old H. insolens and 48-h-old of A. niger and T. viride in equal ratio was found to be compatible. This consortium decreased the residual mercury from 2.02 to 0.001 μ g/L after 7 days of incubation, and caused a significant reduction in chemical oxygen demand (COD) (92.6%) from an initial level of 21 mg/L.     

β-Amyloid 25-35 Peptide Reduces the Expression of Glutamine Transporter SAT1 in Cultured Cortical Neurons

β-Amyloid (Aβ) peptides may cause malfunction and death of neurons in Alzheimer’s disease. We investigated the effect of Aβ on key transporters of amino acid neurotransmission in cells cultured from rat cerebral cortex. The cultures were treated with Aβ(25-35) at 3 and 10 μM for 12 and 24 h followed by quantitative analysis of immunofluorescence intensity. In mixed neuronal–glial cell cultures (from P1 rats), Aβ reduced the concentration of system A glutamine transporter 1 (SAT1), by up to 50% expressed relative to the neuronal marker microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) in the same cell. No significant effects were detected on vesicular glutamate transporters VGLUT1 or VGLUT2 in neurons, or on glial system N glutamine transporter 1 (SN1). In neuronal cell cultures (from E18 rats), Aβ(25-35) did not reduce SAT1 immunoreactivity, suggesting that the observed effect depends on the presence of astroglia. The results indicate that Aβ may impair neuronal function and transmitter synthesis, and perhaps reduce excitotoxicity, through a reduction in neuronal glutamine uptake. Special issue article in honor of Dr. Frode Fonnum.     

Changes in growth regulator content of radish seedlings, Raphanus sativus, infested with the aphid Myzus persicae

Following 10 days of infestation by the aphid Myzus persicae there was an increase in the amount of growth inhibiting substances and a decrease in cytokinins, gibberellins and auxins in infested as compared with similar uninfested radish seedlings. Even after previously infested seedlings have been freed of aphids for 10 days, differences in the hormone balance remained. The possible relationships between the changes in hormonal balance and the effect of the aphid infestation on growth, translocation and wilting are discussed.