Rice growth improvement and grains bio-fortification through lime and zinc application in zinc deficit tropical acid sulphate soils

A two years field study was conducted to explain the effect of Zn and lime application on morphological characteristics, rice yield and yield components, and more broadly, grains bio-fortification (Zn and protein content (CP), and amino acid profiles). The lime and Zn interaction increased grains and straw yield more than two times (6.64 ton ha^?1) compared to the control (3.20 ton ha^?1). The maximum increase in the Zn content of grain, white rice and bran was obtained about 30% in whole grain, 42% in bran and 56% in white rice. Furthermore, CP increased by about 8% in bran, 12.3% in whole grain, and 27% in white rice compared to control. Also, the Zn and lime application and their interaction were significantly increased the amino acids, especially essential parts.     

Physical mapping of NBS-coding resistance genes to the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Me</Emphasis>-gene cluster on chromosome P9 reveals markers tightly linked to the <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis> gene for root-knot nematode resistance in pepper

Natural root-knot nematode resistance genes are unique resources to control this major pest in pepper (Capsicum annuum). Although four genes (Me1, Me3, Me7 and N) conferring broad-spectrum resistance were mapped to a cluster in a 28-cm interval on chromosome P9, limited markers targeting this region were available. In the present study, the Me-gene cluster was structurally annotated for resistance genes to develop markers targeting the N gene. As a result, the Me-gene cluster (4.07 Mb in size) was found to contain three resistance gene hotspots. In addition, a SSR maker tightly linked to the N gene (0.8 cM away) was developed for marker-assisted selection in pepper.     

The impact of target site accessibility on the design of effective siRNAs

Small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) assemble into RISC, the RNA-induced silencing complex, which cleaves complementary mRNAs. Despite their fluctuating efficacy, siRNAs are widely used to assess gene function. Although this limitation could be ascribed, in part, to variations in the assembly and activation of RISC, downstream events in the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway, such as target site accessibility, have so far not been investigated extensively. In this study we present a comprehensive analysis of target RNA structure effects on RNAi by computing the accessibility of the target site for interaction with the siRNA. Based on our observations, we developed a novel siRNA design tool, RNAxs, by combining known siRNA functionality criteria with target site accessibility. We calibrated our method on two data sets comprising 573 siRNAs for 38 genes, and tested it on an independent set of 360 siRNAs targeting four additional genes. Overall, RNAxs proves to be a robust siRNA selection tool that substantially improves the prediction of highly efficient siRNAs.     

A profiling platform for the identification of selective metalloprotease inhibitors

Although proteases represent an estimated 5% to 10% of potential drug targets, inhibitors for metalloproteases (MPs) account for only a small proportion of all approved drugs, failures of which have typically been associated with lack of selectivity. In this study, the authors describe a novel and universal binding assay based on an actinonin derivative and show its binding activities for several MPs and its lack of activity toward all the non-MPs tested. This newly developed assay would allow for the rapid screening for inhibitors of a given MP and for the selectivity profiling of the resulting hits. The assay has successfully enabled for the first time simultaneous profiling of 8 well-known inhibitors against a panel of selected MPs. Previously published activities for these inhibitors were confirmed, and the authors have also discovered new molecular targets for some of them. The authors conclude that their profiling platform provides a generic assay solution for the identification of novel metalloprotease inhibitors as well as their selectivity profiling using a simple and homogeneous assay.     

Paraoxonase-1 activity in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum

There is increasing evidence that oxidative stress may play a role in the pathophysiology of hyperemesis gravidarum. Serum paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) is a high density lipoprotein (HDL)-associated enzyme that prevents oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein. The aim of the study was to measure the serum levels of PON-1 activity in women with hyperemesis gravidarum. Thirty-four women with hyperemesis gravidarum and 31 healthy pregnant women were enrolled in the study. Serum PON-1 activity was measured spectrophotometrically. Lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) levels were measured by iodometric assay. PON-1 activity was significantly lower and LOOH levels were significantly higher in pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum than in healthy pregnant women (P < 0.0001, for all). There were significant correlations between PON-1 and LOOH, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (HSCRP; P < 0.0001, for all). By using multiple regression analysis LDL, HDL, HSCRP and LOOH were independent determinants of serum PON-1 activity in the study. Decreased PON-1 activity might be related to increased oxidative stress and inflammation in pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum. Subjects with hyperemesis gravidarum might be more prone to the development of atherogenesis due to low serum PON-1 activity.