Complex molecular mechanisms determine fitness of plants to biotic and abiotic stresses

The mode of growth and development of plants does not allow them to change their habitat upon stress imposition. Through the course of evolution, plants have acquired complex molecular pathways to deal with abiotic and biotic factors to ensure their survival. The changing climatic conditions have led to unprecedented weather patterns resulting in increased crop losses. Similarly, the spread of pathogens in an era of increasing international trade has resulted in introduction and adaptation of these pathogens to new areas and cause frequent epidemics. There is an increasing need to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying stress responses in plants and envision ways to develop new crop varieties with improved features.

     

Galangin: A metabolite that suppresses anti-neoplastic activities through modulation of oncogenic targets

With the dramatic increase in cancer incidence all over the world in the last decades, studies on identifying novel efficient anti-cancer agents have been intensified. Historically, natural products have represented one of the most important sources of new lead compounds with a wide range of biological activities. In this article, the multifaceted anti-cancer action of propolis-derived flavonoid, galangin, is presented, discussing its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, anti-angiogenic, and anti-metastatic effects in various cancer cells. In addition, co-effects with standard chemotherapeutic drugs as well as other natural compounds are also under discussion, besides highlighting modern nanotechnological advancements for overcoming the low bioavailability issue characteristic of galangin. Although further studies are needed for confirming the anti-cancer potential of galangin in vivo malignant systems, exploring this natural compound might open new perspectives in molecular oncology.     

A centenary for bacterial spot of tomato and pepper

Disease symptomsSymptoms include water‐soaked areas surrounded by chlorosis turning into necrotic spots on all aerial parts of plants. On tomato fruits, small, water‐soaked, or slightly raised pale‐green spots with greenish‐white halos are formed, ultimately becoming dark brown and slightly sunken with a scabby or wart‐like surface.Host rangeMain and economically important hosts include different types of tomatoes and peppers. Alternative solanaceous and nonsolanaceous hosts include Datura spp., Hyoscyamus spp., Lycium spp., Nicotiana rustica, Physalis spp., Solanum spp., Amaranthus lividus, Emilia fosbergii, Euphorbia heterophylla, Nicandra physaloides, Physalis pubescens, Sida glomerata, and Solanum americanum.Taxonomic status of the pathogenDomain, Bacteria; phylum, Proteobacteria; class, Gammaproteobacteria; order, Xanthomonadales; family, Xanthomonadaceae; genus, Xanthomonas; species, X. euvesicatoria, X. hortorum, X. vesicatoria.Synonyms (nonpreferred scientific names) Bacterium exitiosum, Bacterium vesicatorium, Phytomonas exitiosa, Phytomonas vesicatoria, Pseudomonas exitiosa, Pseudomonas gardneri, Pseudomonas vesicatoria, Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vesicatoria, Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria, Xanthomonas cynarae pv. gardneri, Xanthomonas gardneri, Xanthomonas perforans.Microbiological propertiesColonies are gram‐negative, oxidase‐negative, and catalase‐positive and have oxidative metabolism. Pale‐yellow domed circular colonies of 1–2 mm in diameter grow on general culture media.DistributionThe bacteria are widespread in Africa, Brazil, Canada and the USA, Australia, eastern Europe, and south‐east Asia. Occurrence in western Europe is restricted.Phytosanitary categorizationA2 no. 157, EU Annex designation II/A2.EPPO codesXANTEU, XANTGA, XANTPF, XANTVE.     

Genetics and Genomics Interventions for Promoting Millets as Functional Foods

Several crops, including millets with immense nutritional and therapeutic values, were once a part of our regular diet. However, due to domestication and selection pressures, many of them have become marginally cultivated crops confined to a particular region, race, or locality. Millets are a perfect example of neglected species that have the potential to address both food and nutritional insecurities prevalent among the ever-growing global population. Starvation and malnutrition contribute to a large number of health-related issues, being the main reason behind the occurrence of most of the severe diseases worldwide. These constraints are repeatedly disturbing both the social and economic health of global society. Naturally, millets are rich in minerals, nutrients, and bioactive compounds, and these crops are less dependent on synthetic fertilizers, systemic irrigation, and pest/weed control. Given this, the review emphasizes the nutritional values, health benefits, processing techniques, and genomic advancements of millets. In addition, it proposes a roadmap for enhancing the utility and commercialization of millets.     

Molecular docking analysis of phytocompounds from Acacia farnesiana with protein targets linked to bronchitis

Acute bronchitis is a lower respiratory tract lung infection that causes bronchial inflammation. The known protein drug targets are peptidoglycan D, D-transpeptidase, and DNA topoisomerase 4 subunit A for bronchitis linked infections. These are the membrane associated macromolecules which takes a major role in the formation of cell wall membrane by synthesising the cross-linked peptidoglycan. Therefore, it is of interest to design molecules with improved binding features with these protein targets. Hence, we document the molecular docking analysis data of four phytocompounds from Acacia farnesiana having optimal binding features with these targets linked to bronchitis for further consideration.     

Binding of Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin and rise of cyclic GMP in COLO 205 human colonic carcinoma cells

Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin (STa) was found to bind on the surface of human colonic (COLO 205) cells. The binding of [¹²⁵I]STa to cell membranes was found to be specific, reversible and saturable. Scatchard analysis of the equilibrium binding demonstrated a single class of binding sites with a K_d of 0.5×10⁻¹⁰ M. Autoradiographic analysis of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the specific incorporation of [¹²⁵I]STa into a single STa binding protein with a molecular mass of 95 kDa. Following incubation of COLO 205 cells with STa, a rise of intracellular cGMP was also evident.     

Immunosensors for Pesticide Analysis: Antibody Production and Sensor Development

ABSTRACT:?

Immunosensors, a type of affinity biosensor, are based on the binding interactions between an immobilized biomolecule (antibody/antigen) on the electronic transducer surface with the analyte of interest (antigen/antibody), resulting in a detectable signal. The sensor system takes advantage of the high selectivity provided by the molecular recognition characteristic of an antibody, which binds reversibly with a specific antigen.

This review article presents the current status of immunosensors, highlighting their potential benefits and limitations for pesticide analysis. The basic criteria for generating specific antibodies against low-molecular-mass pesticides, which are usually nonimmunogenic in nature, are briefly discussed. The article also describes the fundamentals of important transducer technologies and their use in immunosensor development.     

Effects of ALA,EPA and DHA in high-carbohydrate,high-fat diet-induced metabolic syndrome in rats

We compared the cardiovascular, hepatic and metabolic responses to individual dietary n-3 fatty acids (α-linolenic acid, ALA; eicosapentaenoic acid, EPA; and docosahexaenoic acid, DHA) in a high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-induced model of metabolic syndrome in rats. Additionally, we measured fatty acid composition of plasma, adipose tissue, liver, heart and skeletal muscle in these rats. The same dosages of ALA and EPA/DHA produced different physiological responses to decrease the risk factors for metabolic syndrome. ALA did not reduce total body fat but induced lipid redistribution away from the abdominal area and favorably improved glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, dyslipidemia, hypertension and left ventricular dimensions, contractility, volumes and stiffness. EPA and DHA increased sympathetic activation, reduced the abdominal adiposity and total body fat and attenuated insulin sensitivity, dyslipidemia, hypertension and left ventricular stiffness but not glucose tolerance. However, ALA, EPA and DHA all reduced inflammation in both the heart and the liver, cardiac fibrosis and hepatic steatosis. These effects were associated with complete suppression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 activity. Since the physiological responses to EPA and DHA were similar, it is likely that the effects are mediated by DHA with EPA serving as a precursor. Also, ALA supplementation increased DHA concentrations but induced different physiological responses to EPA and DHA. This result strongly suggests that ALA has independent effects in metabolic syndrome, not relying on its metabolism to DHA.     

Sequestering miR165/166 enhances seed germination in Arabidopsis thaliana under normal condition and ABA treatment

Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Seed germination is a dynamic process involving imbibition, increased metabolic activity and protrusion of a tiny plantlet rupturing the seed coat....     

Stepping in the direction of the fall: the next foot placement can be predicted from current upper body state in steady-state walking

During human walking, perturbations to the upper body can be partly corrected by placing the foot appropriately on the next step. Here, we infer aspects of such foot placement dynamics using step-to-step variability over hundreds of steps of steady-state walking data. In particular, we infer dependence of the ‘next’ foot position on upper body state at different phases during the ‘current’ step. We show that a linear function of the hip position and velocity state (approximating the body center of mass state) during mid-stance explains over 80% of the next lateral foot position variance, consistent with (but not proving) lateral stabilization using foot placement. This linear function implies that a rightward pelvic deviation during a left stance results in a larger step width and smaller step length than average on the next foot placement. The absolute position on the treadmill does not add significant information about the next foot relative to current stance foot over that already available in the pelvis position and velocity. Such walking dynamics inference with steady-state data may allow diagnostics of stability and inform biomimetic exoskeleton or robot design.