Unraveling salinity stress responses in ancestral and neglected wheat species at early growth stage: A baseline for utilization in future wheat improvement programs

In this study, we analyzed the behavior of several neglected, ancestral, and domesticated wheat genotypes, including Ae. triuncialis, Ae. neglecta, Ae. caudata, Ae. umbellulata, Ae. tauschii, Ae. speltoides, T. boeoticum, T. urartu, T. durum, and T. aestivum under control and salinity stress to assess the mechanisms involved in salinity tolerance. Physiological and biochemical traits including root/shoot biomasses, root/shoot ion concentrations, activity of antioxidant enzymes APX, SOD, and GXP, and the relative expression of TaHKT1;5, TaSOS1, APX, GXP, and MnSOD genes were measured. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant effects of the salinity treatments and genotypes for all evaluated traits. Salinity stress (350 mM NaCl) significantly decreased root/shoot biomasses, K+ concentration in root/shoot, and root/shoot K+/Na+ ratios. In contrast, salinity stress significantly increased Na+ concentration in root and shoot, activity of antioxidant enzymes (APX, SOD, and GPX) and relative expression of salt tolerance-related genes (TaHKT1;5, TaSOS1, APX, GPX, and MnSOD). Based on heat map and principal component analysis, the relationships among physiological traits and relative expression of salt-responsive genes were investigated. Remarkably, we observed a significant association between the relative expression of TaHKT1;5 with root K+ concentration and K+/Na+ ratio and with TaSOS1. Taken together, our study revealed that two neglected (Ae. triuncialis) and ancestral (Ae. tauschii) wheat genotypes responded better to salinity stress than other genotypes. Further molecular tasks are therefore essential to specify the pathways linked with salinity tolerance in these genotypes.     

Effects of the IGRs compounds,lufenuron and fenoxycarb on Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Col.: Chrysomelidae)

In this research work, the susceptibility of egg and four larval instars of Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Col.: Chrysomelidae) to Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) compounds (lufenuron 25% EC and fenoxycarb 25% WP) was determined. Different larval instar groups were separated by measuring the head capsule width and were used in all bioassays. The data were analysed with log-probit transformation using the SPSS software. The LC₅₀ for egg was determined by dipping egg masses in different concentration of either compound for 10 s, and LC₅₀ values for each group of larvae was estimated by using treated potato plants. The LC₅₀ values of lufenuron on egg, first, second and third instars of larvae were 682.65, 40.58, 47.83 and 261.38 ppm, respectively, and for fenoxycarb, these were estimated as 897.50, 35.60, 57.91 and 355.23 ppm, respectively. The LD₅₀ values of lufenuron and fenoxycarb on second instar larvae were 139.56 and 228.42 ppm, respectively.     

Protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 gene polymorphism C1858T is not associated with leprosy in Azerbaijan,Northwest Iran

BACKGROUND:

Leprosy (Hansen''s disease) is a human chronic granulomatous infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Several types of study support a role for host genetics in susceptibility to leprosy. The protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 (PTPN22) gene encodes an intracellular lymphoid protein tyrosine phosphatase that has been shown to play a negative regulatory role in T-cell activation.

AIMS:

The aim of the present study was to find out associating the PTPN22 C1858T (R620W) polymorphism and leprosy in the Azeri population from Northwest Iran.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A total of 153 treated leprosy patients and 197 healthy and ethnic matched controls entered this study. We used restriction fragment length polymorphism method to type PTPN22 C1858T polymorphism.

RESULTS:

There was no significant difference in distribution of genotype and allele frequencies of PTPN22 C1858T polymorphism between leprosy patients and controls (P = 0.641 and 0.645; respectively). Moreover, there was no significant association between different clinical findings (karnofsky performance status score, clinical forms and manifestations of leprosy) and PTPN22 C1858T polymorphism. Data showed a low frequency of the minor (T) allele by 2.3% in leprosy and 1.5% in healthy individuals.

CONCLUSIONS:

The PTPN22 C1858T (R620W) is not relevant in susceptibility to leprosy in the Azeri population of Northwest Iran.     

Purification and biochemical characterization of an acidophilic amylase from a newly isolated Bacillus sp. DR90

An acidophilic and Ca²⁺-independent amylase was purified from a newly isolated Bacillus sp. DR90 by ion-exchange chromatography, and exhibited a molecular weight of 68.9 kDa by SDS-PAGE. The optimum pH and temperature of the enzyme were found to be 4.0 and 45 °C, respectively. The enzyme activity was increased by Ba²⁺, Fe²⁺ and Mg²⁺, and decreased by Hg²⁺ and Zn²⁺, while it was not affected by Na⁺, K⁺, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and β-mercaptoethanol. Ca²⁺ and EDTA did not have significant effect on the enzyme activity and thermal stability. The values of K _m and V _max for starch as substrate were 4.5 ± 0.13 mg/ml and 307 ± 12 μM/min/mg, respectively. N,N-dialkylimidazolium-based ionic liquids such as 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide [HMIM][Br] have inhibitory effect on the enzyme activity. Thin layer chromatography analyses displayed that maltose and glucose are the main products of the enzyme reaction on starch. Regarding the features of the enzyme, it may be utilized as a novel candidate for industrial applications.     

Ethyl methanesulfonate treatment of celery plants affects the expression pattern of CEL I endonuclease

CEL I enzyme from celery, as a member of S1 family of nucleases, is known for its high specific activity in recognition and cleavage of base-substitution mismatches on heteroduplex DNA molecules. Despite valuable applications of the enzyme in mutation screening studies, little is known about its function at cellular level. In the present study, we investigated the pattern of CEL I expression in ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) treated celery plants. An abnormal growth pattern along with wide and clear lesions were observed on the treated plants. A considerable increase in the level of CEL I protein happened in vegetative and generative parts of EMS-treated plants compared with controls. Despite such induction, the enzyme is not expected to be involved in DNA repair during EMS treatment due to the absence of any known nuclear localization signal in the deduced sequence of CEL I protein. Considering the fact that CEL I orthologs are induced during programmed cell death, the high expression of CEL I upon EMS treatment could be due to the stress and necrotic cell death created by the treatment.     

Contribution of Azolla filiculoides to hydrazine elimination from water

Wetlands Ecology and Management - In this research we report the significant effect of the floating water fern Azolla filiculoides on the elimination of hydrazine (N2H4) from water, which is a...     

Recombinant Expression of a Plant-Derived Dimeric Antifungal Peptide (DiSkh-AMP1) Joined by a Flexible Linker in Escherichia coli and Evaluation of Its Biological Activity In Vitro

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - DiSkh-AMP1, a novel dimeric antifungal peptide contained 65 amino acid residues was recombinant produced by a flexible linker to improve...     

Dietary Supplementation of Potential Probiotics Bacillus subtilis,Bacillus licheniformis,and Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Synbiotic Improves Growth Performance and Immune Responses by Modulation in Intestinal System in Broiler Chicks Challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium

Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins - This study evaluates the effects of probiotics and synbiotics on the performance, immune responses, and intestinal morphology, and the expression of...     

Deciphering the complex three-way interaction between the non-integrin laminin receptor,galectin-3 and Neisseria meningitidis

The non-integrin laminin receptor (LAMR1/RPSA) and galectin-3 (Gal-3) are multi-functional host molecules with roles in diverse pathological processes, particularly of infectious or oncogenic origins. Using bimolecular fluorescence complementation and confocal imaging, we demonstrate that the two proteins homo- and heterodimerize, and that each isotype forms a distinct cell surface population. We present evidence that the 37 kDa form of LAMR1 (37LRP) is the precursor of the previously described 67 kDa laminin receptor (67LR), whereas the heterodimer represents an entity that is distinct from this molecule. Site-directed mutagenesis confirmed that the single cysteine (C¹⁷³) of Gal-3 or lysine (K¹⁶⁶) of LAMR1 are critical for heterodimerization. Recombinant Gal-3, expressed in normally Gal-3-deficient N2a cells, dimerized with endogenous LAMR1 and led to a significantly increased number of internalized bacteria (Neisseria meningitidis), confirming the role of Gal-3 in bacterial invasion. Contact-dependent cross-linking determined that, in common with LAMR1, Gal-3 binds the meningococcal secretin PilQ, in addition to the major pilin PilE. This study adds significant new mechanistic insights into the bacterial–host cell interaction by clarifying the nature, role and bacterial ligands of LAMR1 and Gal-3 isotypes during colonization.