Evolving disease resistance genes

Defenses against most specialized plant pathogens are often initiated by a plant disease resistance gene. Plant genomes encode several classes of genes that can function as resistance genes. Many of the mechanisms that drive the molecular evolution of these genes are now becoming clear. The processes that contribute to the diversity of R genes include tandem and segmental gene duplications, recombination, unequal crossing-over, point mutations, and diversifying selection. Diversity within populations is maintained by balancing selection. Analyses of whole-genome sequences have and will continue to provide new insight into the dynamics of resistance gene evolution.     

Proteolytic 18O labeling by peptidyl-Lys metalloendopeptidase for comparative proteomics

The potential capabilities of a new proteolytic 18O labeling method employing peptidyl-Lys metalloendopeptidase (Lys-N) have been demonstrated for use in comparative proteomics. Conditions (pH>or=9.5) have been found such that Lys-N incorporates only a single 18O atom into the carboxyl terminus of each proteolytically generated peptide. This 18O labeling method has a major advantage over current protelytic 18O labeling methods that generate a mixture of isotopic isoforms resulting from the incorporation of one or two 18O atoms into each peptide species by the proteases (trypsin, Lys-C, or Glu-C) used. We demonstrate that the single 18O atom incorporation property of Lys-N overcomes the major problem of the current proteolytic 18O labeling methods and provides accurate quantification results for isotopically labeled peptides.     

Utilizing Waste Cable Wires for High‐Performance Fiber‐Based Hybrid Supercapacitors: An Effective Approach to Electronic‐Waste Management

In recent years, electronic waste (e‐waste) such as old cable wires, fans, circuit boards, etc., can be often seen in large piles of leftover in dumping yards. Employing these e‐waste sources for energy storage devices not only increases the economic value but also decreases the reliance on fossil fuels. In this context, waste cable wires are utilized to obtain precious copper (Cu) fibers and used as a cost‐effective current collector for the fabrication of fiber‐based hybrid supercapacitor (FHSC). With the braided Cu fibers, forest‐like nickel oxide nanosheet grafted carbon nanotube coupled copper oxide nanowire arrays (NiO NSs@CNTs@CuO NWAs/Cu fibers) are designed via simple wet‐chemical approaches. As a battery‐type material, the forest‐like NiO NSs@CNTs@CuO NWAs/Cu fiber electrode shows superior electrochemical properties including high specific capacity (230.48 mA h g^?1) and cycling stability (82.72%) in aqueous alkaline electrolyte. Moreover, a solid‐state FHSC is also fabricated using forest‐like NiO NSs@CNTs@CuO NWAs/Cu fibers as a positive electrode and activated carbon coated carbon fibers as a negative electrode with a gel electrolyte, which also shows a higher energy and power densities of 26.32 W h kg^?1 and 1218.33 W kg^?1, respectively. The flexible FHSC is further employed as an energy source for various electronic gadgets, demonstrating its suitability for wearable applications.     

Serum-free non-toxic freezing solution for cryopreservation of human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Objective

To develop a cost-effective, non-toxic and xeno-free freezing solution for the preservation of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (hADSC) with a long shelf-life.

Results

The potential of various hydrocolloids and organic osmolytes as cryoprotectants and individual components of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) as carrier media were evaluated to formulate a freezing solution for the cryopreservation of hADSCs. Among the hydrocolloids, the highest viability, 55 %, was achieved with post-thawed (after 48 h storage at ?80 °C) hADSCs cryopreserved in 10 % (v/v) polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) using PBS as carrier media. 0.9 % NaCl was a superior carrier medium resulting an enhanced cell viability (70 %) when used in 10 % PVP than other components of PBS. A higher cell viability (81 %) was achieved when 10 % PVP/0.9 % NaCl was supplemented with 60 mM ectoin. The cryopreserved cells retained normal cytoskeletal distribution pattern and adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation ability during 14 and 21 days of incubation.

Conclusion

A serum-free and non-toxic 10 % PVP/0.9 % NaCl/60 mM ectoin freezing solution was developed for cryopreservation of hADSC for application in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

     

Microsomal redox systems in brown adipose tissue: high lipid peroxidation,low cholesterol biosynthesis and no detectable cytochrome P-450

The presence of redox systems in microsomes of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in cold exposed rats was investigated and compared with liver. BAT microsomes showed high activity of lipid peroxidation measured both by the formation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and by oxygen uptake. NADH and NADPH dependent cytochrome c reductase activity were present in both BAT and liver microsomes. Aminopyrine demethylase and aniline hydroxylase activities, the characteristic detoxification enzymes in liver microsomes could not be detected in BAT microsomes. BAT minces showed very poor incorporation of [1-¹⁴C]acetate and [2-¹⁴C]-mevalonate in unsaponifiable lipid fraction compared to liver. Biosynthesis of cholesterol and ubiquinone, but not fatty acids, and the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl CoA reductase appear to be very low in BAT. Examination of difference spectra showed the presence of only cytochrome b ₅ in BAT microsomes. In addition to the inability to detect the enzyme activities dependent on cytochrome P-450, a protein with the characteristic spectrum, molecular size in SDS-PAGE and interaction with antibodies in double diffusion test, also could not be detected in BAT microsomes. The high activity of lipid peroxidation in microsomes, being associated with large oxygen uptake and oxidation of NADPH, will also contribute to the energy dissipation as heat in BAT, considered important in thermogenesis.Abbreviations BAT Brown Adipose Tissue - MDA malondialdehyde     

Antagonistic molecular interactions of photosynthetic pigments with molecular disease targets: a new approach to treat AD and ALS

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are progressive neurodegenerative diseases that affect the neurons in the brain and the spinal cord. Neuroinflamation and apoptosis are key players in the progressive damage of the neurons in AD and ALS. Currently, there is no drug to offer complete cure for both these diseases. Riluzole is the only available drug that can prolong the life time of the ALS patients for nearly 3 months. Molecules that offer good HIT to the molecular targets of ALS will help to treat AD and ALS patients. P53 kinase receptor (4AT3), EphA4 (3CKH) and histone deacetylase (3SFF) are the promising disease targets of AD and ALS. This paper discusses on a new approach to combat neurodegenerative diseases using photosynthetic pigments. The docking studies were performed with the Autodock Vina algorithm to predict the binding of the natural pigments such as β carotene, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, phycoerythrin and phycocyanin on these targets. The β carotene, phycoerythrin and phycocyanin had higher binding energies indicating the antagonistic activity to the disease targets. These pigments serve as a potential therapeutic molecule to treat neuroinflammation and apoptosis in the AD and ALS patients.     

Chronic Arsenic Exposure and Risk of Post Kala-azar Dermal Leishmaniasis Development in India: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BackgroundVisceral leishmaniasis (VL), with the squeal of Post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL), is a global threat for health. Studies have shown sodium stibogluconate (SSG) resistance in VL patients with chronic arsenic exposure. Here, we assessed the association between arsenic exposure and risk of developing PKDL in treated VL patients.MethodsIn this retrospective study, PKDL patients (n = 139), earlier treated with SSG or any other drug during VL, were selected from the study cohort. Trained physicians, unaware of arsenic exposure, interviewed them and collected relevant data in a questionnaire format. All probable water sources were identified around the patient’s house and water was collected for evaluation of arsenic concentration. A GIS-based village-level digital database of PKDL cases and arsenic concentration in groundwater was developed and individual point location of PKDL cases were overlaid on an integrated GIS map. We used multivariate logistic regression analysis to assess odds ratios (ORs) for association between arsenic exposure and PKDL development.ResultsOut of the 429 water samples tested, 403 had arsenic content of over 10 μg/L, with highest level of 432 μg/L among the seven study villages. Multivariate adjusted ORs for risk of PKDL development in comparison of arsenic concentrations of 10.1–200 μg/L and 200.1–432.0 μg/L were 1.85 (1.13–3.03) and 2.31 (1.39–3.8) respectively. Interestingly, similar results were found for daily dose of arsenic and total arsenic concentration in urine sample of the individual. The multivariate-adjusted OR for comparison of high baseline arsenic exposure to low baseline arsenic exposure of the individuals in the study cohort was 1.66 (95% CI 1.02–2.7; p = 0.04).ConclusionOur findings indicate the need to consider environmental factors, like long time arsenic exposure, as an additional influence on treated VL patients towards risk of PKDL development in Bihar.     

Asperenone: an inhibitor of 15-lipoxygenase and of human platelet aggregation from Aspergillus niger

Asperenone was isolated from the fermented broth of Aspergillus niger CFTRI 1105 and acted as an inhibitor of soybean 15-lipoxygenase (15-LOX) and human platelet aggregation. The IC₅₀ values against 15-LOX and human platelet aggregation were 0.3 mM and 0.23 mM, respectively.     

Regioselective synthesis of isoxazole–mercaptobenzimidazole hybrids and their in vivo analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity studies

Regioselective synthesis of isoxazole–mercaptobenzimidazole hybrids and their efficiency in in vivo analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity was described. A comparison of structure–activity relationship for there compounds was also emphasized.