Genome-wide characterization and expression analysis of pseudo-response regulator gene family in wheat

Molecular Biology Reports - Pseudo-response regulator (PRR) gene family members play a significant role in plant circadian clocks, flowering time inflorescence architecture development during...     

Stress-induced changes important for effective androgenic induction in isolated microspore culture of triticale (×<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticosecale</Emphasis> Wittm.)

The accumulation of abscisic acid (ABA) and the activities of antioxidative enzymes along with cell metabolic activity were monitored during androgenesis induction in triticale (×Triticosecale Wittm.). Tested cultivars ‘Mieszko’ and ‘Wanad’ were selected due to their significantly different responses to androgenic induction. Significant variation was observed in respect of superoxide dismutase activity and endogenous ABA content in anthers isolated from freshly cut tillers. For both cultivars, tillers pretreatment with low temperature decreased peroxidase activity by 36%, highly accelerated respiration rate and reduced heat production. At the same time, the level of ABA in ‘Mieszko’ was increased to the level measured in ‘Wanad’. This effect was associated with higher microspore culture viability and increased stress tolerance in ‘Mieszko’. Low temperature and metabolic starvation during 4-day anther preculture did not influence activities of antioxidative enzymes, while it resulted in slight decrease in respiration rate and heat emission. The importance of these changes for effective androgenesis induction is discussed.     

Two New Records of Genus Lepiota (Agaricaceae) from Pakistan

Biology Bulletin - In our ongoing efforts to inventory the lepiotaceous fungi of Pakistan, we here report on two species, new to Pakistan: Lepiota cingulum is also new to Asia, and L. oreadiformis....     

Synthesis,characterization, and wound healing properties of α/γ hybrid peptides

The present work describes the synthesis, characterization, and wound healing properties of α/γ hybrid peptides: Boc-Phe-γ⁴-Phe-Val-OMe ( S1 ), Boc-^DPhe-γ⁴-Phe-Val-OMe ( S2 ), Boc-Ala-γ⁴-Phe-Val-OMe ( S3 ), Boc-^DAla-γ⁴-Phe-Val-OMe ( S4 ), Boc-Leu-γ⁴-Phe-Val-OMe ( S5 ), and Boc-^DLeu-γ⁴-Phe-Val-OMe ( S6 ). Peptides S1–S6 were screened against human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and RAW 264.7 cells. Among all, S1 - and S2 -treated cells exhibited high cell viability; S1 and S2 induced keratinocyte migration and inhibited the production of the cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α. In vivo results demonstrated that the hybrid peptides S1 and S2 accelerate wound healing in Wistar rats with 83% and 88% at 50 μg/ml, and 74% and 76% at 25 μg/ml, respectively.     

Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Zinc and Multi-Microbe Probiotic on Growth Traits and Alteration of Intestinal Architecture in Broiler

Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins - This experiment aimed to investigate the effect of different levels of zinc (Zn) and a probiotic on the growth and intestinal health of broiler chickens. One...     

Tumor-Associated Antigen Peptides as Anti-Metastatic Vaccines

Cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) kill abnormal cells. CTLs recognize major histocompatibility complex class I molecules in complex with peptides derived from relevant antigens. The identification of tumor associated antigen peptides enabled the design of anti-tumor and anti-metastatic vaccines in a murine lung carcinoma.