Genetic analysis of in vitro callus and production of multiple shoots in eggplant

Genetic analysis of four in vitro characters (callus initiation, callus productivity, embryogenic callus percentage, and mean number of regenerated shoots per callus) was conducted using a 6 × 6 diallel cross among four cultivars of eggplant (Solanum melongena) and two related species (S. indicum, S. surattense) showing different in vitro responses. Among the 30 hybrid families, the in vitro performance exceeded the midparent in 19, 29, 18, and 22 cases, respectively, for callus initiation, callus productivity, embryogenic callus induction, and number of regenerated shoots. Both additive and dominant effects were significant and additive gene action was predominant for three of four in vitro characters with the exception of callus productivity. Different degrees of dominance were observed in the expression of the four characters. The broad and narrow sense heritabilities were 0.97 and 0.82 for callus initiation frequency, 0.99 and 0.42 for total amount of callus, 0.99 and 0.92 for E-callus productivity, and 0.99 and 0.73 for mean number of shoots, respectively, suggesting that these traits can be easily transferred into economically important cultivars with low tissue culture response or recalcitrance.     

Identification of Pseudomonas bacteriophage PaP3 lysozyme

The complete genome of bacteriophage PaP3 was sequenced in a previous study by our laboratory; however, the PaP3 lysozyme gene could not be identified by homology search. In this study, based on bioinformatic analysis of its secondary structure, we have determined that the protein encoded by the p02 gene of PaP3 is likely to be a lysin. To confirm the function of the p02 gene, a recombinant expression plasmid was constructed by inserting the p02 gene into a pQE-31 plasmid; the recombinant construct was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli JM109. The lytic activity of the expressed, purified product was observed by gel diffusion assay. The result showed that the recombinant plasmid successfully expressed 6 × his-tagged p02 protein. The expressed product had a growth inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus but not on Pseudomonas aeruginosa or E. coli. However, it retained lytic activity against peptidoglycan from cell walls of P. aeruginosa and E. coli. Therefore, it is supposed that this lysozyme requires the help of holin or other punching proteins to exert lytic effects on live gram-negative bacteria. The results suggest that the p02 protein of PaP3 is a new member of the lysozyme family, which is not completely host-specific and might serve as an anti-staphylococcal agent.     

Generation of mice with a conditional null allele for Wntless

The Wnt‐signaling pathway is necessary in a variety of developmental processes and has been implicated in numerous pathologies. Wntless (Wls) binds to Wnt proteins and facilitates Wnt sorting and secretion. Conventional deletion of Wls results in early fetal lethality due to defects in body axis establishment. To gain insight into the function of Wls in later stages of development, we have generated a conditional null allele. Homozygous germline deletion of Wls confirmed prenatal lethality and failure of embryonic axis formation. Deletion of Wls using Wnt1‐cre phenocopied Wnt1 null abnormalities in the midbrain and hindbrain. In addition, conditional deletion of Wls in pancreatic precursor cells resulted in pancreatic hypoplasia similar to that previously observed after conditional β‐catenin deletion. This Wls conditional null allele will be valuable in detecting novel Wnt functions in development and disease. genesis 48:554–558, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Hippocampal brain amines in methotrexate-induced learning and memory deficit

Intrathecal methotrexate in children with leukemia is known to cause seizures, dementia, leukoencephalopathy, and cognitive dysfunction after long-term treatment. To investigate the cognitive dysfunction, male Wistar rats were given multiple intracerebroventricular injections of methotrexate. Its effect on behaviour was tested in the two-compartment conditioned avoidance task and dark-bright arena test. Levels of brain amines in the hippocampal region of the brain were estimated by HPLC. The qualitative and quantitative histopathological changes in the different regions of the hippocampus were studied by cresyl violet staining. Multiple injections (1 or 2 mg/kg) produced convulsions and learning and memory impairment but did not induce anxiolytic activity. They also reduced concentrations of all three brain amines (norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin) and the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. The CA4 region of the hippocampus was severely affected by intraventricular methotrexate. Disruption of brain monoamines has been proposed as a cause of brain dysfunction from this chemotherapy, and that disruption may in turn involve cytotoxic effects of methotrexate on brain tissue. The outcomes of this study may have therapeutic implications in the management of cancer conditions, particularly in childhood lymphoblastic leukemia.     

Impact of Juvenile Stocking Size on the Major Carp Production in a Minor Reservoir,Bibinagar, India

The present study deals with the impact of juvenile stocking sizes of the major carp on production in a minor reservoir, Bibinagar, Nalgonda, India. Reservoir surface area equaled over 23.8 ha and water from the reservoir was used for irrigation and fisheries. Four experiments were conducted for 4 years from 2000–2001 to 2003–2004. The experiments were planned in such a way that every year juvenile stocking size was held constant and subsequent fish production analyzed. During the first year’s experiment (2000–2001) a stocking size of 25–30 mm (fry) was maintained. Similarly 50–55 (advanced fry), 75–80 mm (fingerling) and 100–105 mm (advanced fingerling) were stocked during 2001–2002, 2002–2003 and 2003–2004 respectively. Uniform yearly stocking densities (2000/ha) were established in each experiment in the month of July and fish were harvested in June of the subsequent year. Major carp production was enhanced with larger stocking size. Yearly productions equaled 144.00, 231.48, 632.91 and 1005.03 kg/ha/year with the above stocking sizes. Variation in stocking sizes had significant (P<0.05) effects on fish production. The number of fish per kg production decreased gradually with increases in stocking size with an average value of 3.97. Reservoir production of catla was the most abundant species, followed by rohu, common carp, mrigal and grass carp. These results show that stocking size has a great impact on fish production and the stocking of advanced fingerlings will provide maximum carp production in minor reservoirs in India.     

Dangerous visions: a review of visual antipredator strategies in spiders

Evolutionary Ecology - Many animals use visual traits as a predator defence. Understanding these visual traits from the perspective of predators is critical in generating new insights about...     

A Low-Temperature Additive-Involved Leaching Method for Highly Efficient Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cells

Inorganic CsPbI₃ perovskite with an optical bandgap ranging from 1.67 to 1.75 eV is a promising light-harvesting material as a top cell in tandem solar cells, but its high fabrication temperature can damage the middle layers or the bottom subcells. Here, an additive-involved leaching method to fabricate CsPbI₃ perovskite films is demonstrated, which can decrease the preparation temperature to 100 °C. The CsPbI₃ perovskite films with high crystallinity are achieved by a solution assisted reaction between DMAPbI₃ and Cs₄PbI₆ with the leaching of DMA⁺, Cs⁺, and I⁻. The as-prepared CsPbI₃ perovskite films exhibit much superior stability compared to their high-temperature counterparts. As a result, a power conversion efficiency of over 16% is obtained, and the unencapsulated device maintains over 93% of the initial efficiency after aging for 30 days in air with a relative humidity of 10%.     

Stress response mechanisms and description of three novel species Shewanella avicenniae sp. nov., Shewanella sedimentimangrovi sp. nov. and Shewanella yunxiaonensis sp. nov., isolated from mangrove ecosystem

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek - Three Gram-staining negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped and motile strains, FJAT-51800T, FJAT-52962T and FJAT-54481T were isolated from the sediment samples of...     

Breakpoint mapping of a novel de novo translocation t(X;20)(q11.1;p13) by positional cloning and long read sequencing

Disease associated chromosomal rearrangements often have break points located within disease causing genes or in their vicinity. The purpose of this study is to characterize a balanced reciprocal translocation in a girl with intellectual disability and seizures by positional cloning and whole genome sequencing. The translocation was identification by G- banding and confirmed by WCP FISH. Fine mapping using BAC clones and whole genome sequencing using Oxford nanopore long read sequencing technology for a 1.46 X coverage of the genome was done. The positional cloning showed split signals with BAC RP11-943 J20. Long read sequencing analysis of chimeric reads carrying parts of chromosomes X and 20 helped to identify the breakpoints to be in intron 2 of ARHGEF9 gene on Xp11.1 and on 20p13 between RASSF2 and SLC23A2 genes. This is the first report of translocation which successfully delineated to single base resolution using Nanopore sequencing. The genotype-phenotype correlation is discussed.