Characterizing expression pattern of Six2Cre during mouse craniofacial development

Craniofacial development is a complex process involving diverse cell populations. Various transgenic Cre lines have been developed to facilitate studying gene function in specific tissues. In this study, we have characterized the expression pattern of Six2Cre mice at multiple stages during craniofacial development. Our data revealed that Six2Cre lineage cells are predominantly present in frontal bone, mandible, and secondary palate. Using immunostaining method, we found that Six2Cre triggered reporter is co-expressed with Runx2. In summary, our data showed Six2Cre can be used to study gene function during palate development and osteogenesis in mouse models.     

Hibiscus sabdariffa Extract Inhibits Adhesion,Biofilm Initiation and Formation in Candida albicans

Indian Journal of Microbiology - Microbial biofilms act as reservoirs for pathogenic sessile microbes which reside inside the three dimensional matrix of the biofilm, and are thus protected against...     

Neurobehavioral responses in swiss albino mice induced by an aqueous leaf extract from a medicinal plant named Heliotropium incanum Ruiz & Pav.

It is of interest to examine the adverse neuro-behavioural responses on mice treated with the aqueous crude extract of Heliotropium incanum (AEHI), which were evaluated using various behavioral paradigms. On the basis of median lethal dose value, doses of AEHI were chosen to be 150mg/kg and 440mg/kg for further experiment. Four groups comprising of five mice each were divided for the 14 days experiment. Group I, the control group, received distilled water; Group II and III received AEHI (150 mg/kg body weight and 440 mg/kg body weight) respectively; Group IV received standard drugs, Diazepam/Fluoxetine, administered orally. On administration of AEHI, it was revealed that dose 440 mg/kg showed less exploration activity in the hole board test; decrease in the number of squares crossed in locomotory test, time period in the open arm in the plus maze test was significantly reduced and the immobility time was significantly extended in comparison to control and standard drugs. The microscopic study of brain revealed damaged hippocampus along with nerve cells degeneration. Consequently, the results concluded that the outcome of the AEHI produced evidences for the anxiogenic activity in mice.     

An improved protocol for in vitro multiplication of Bacopa monnieri (L.)

A cost-effective and efficient protocol has been described in the present work for large scale and rapid in vitro propagation of a valuable medicinal herb Bacopa monnieri (L.) by shoot bud proliferation on internodal segments isolated from field grown mature plants. This shooting was achieved on low concentration of cytokinin with BAP 1.0 mg/l and Kn 0.5 mg/l within 3 weeks of inoculation contrary to earlier reports where auxin is also used in combination with cytokinin. Normally internodes gives rise to a clump of shoots (18 shoots). On an average within a period of three subcultures the internode explant generated 324 shoots thereby improving the economics of the cost of the plants produced and time required. For rooting this is a first report of its growth in a liquid culture. The regenerated plants resemble the mother plants in the general habitat without any morphological variation. This paper reports a very simple, reproducible procedure for in vitro propagation of Bacopa monnieri (L.) that can be used to form a foundation stock of elite plant material for large-scale cultivation.     

Morphophysiological and biochemical attributes influence intra-genotypic preference of shoot fly [Atherigona soccata (Rondani)] among sorghum genotypes

Shoot fly [Atherigona soccata (Rondani)] is a destructive pest of sorghum at the seedling stage and causes huge losses to grain yield and green fodder. The host-plant resistance mechanism is the best approach to reduce the attack of insects in plants. The damage parameters, morphophysiological traits, and biochemical metabolites had been investigated in the leaves and stem of contrasting sorghum genotypes, viz., resistant (IS18551, ICSV705, ICSV700), moderately resistant (PSC-4), and susceptible (SWARNA and SL-44) at 15 and 21 days after emergence (DAE) against shoot fly infestation. The resistant genotypes recorded lowest shoot fly oviposition and incidence (0.3–0.7 eggs plant⁻¹ and 10–15%) than the susceptible genotypes (2.4–3.0 eggs plant⁻¹ and 70–80%), respectively. The susceptible genotype SWARNA recorded 50% and 80% higher deadheart formation than the resistant genotype IS18551 at 15 and 21 DAE, respectively. Resistant genotypes exhibited higher trichome density at adaxial and abaxial part of leaf (118–145 and 106–131) with pink colored leaf sheath (scale 1.50–3.25), glossy leaves (scale1.00–1.25), and lower leaf surface wetness (scale1.25–2.00) compared with susceptible genotype with 49.3–73.3 and 25.3–64.0, scale 2.50–4.00, scale 2.75–3.50, and scale 3.25–4.25 for the respective parameters. Another defense response of sorghum toward the insect attack was modulation of plant metabolism. The infested genotypes responded to insect attack by upregulation of total soluble sugar, total phenol, prussic acid, and chlorophyll content by 1.2–2.1-fold, 1.5–2.0-fold, 1.2–1.3-fold, and 1.2–3.9-fold with more induction in susceptible genotypes at 21 DAE. On the whole, the present study indicates that morphophysiological and biochemical attributes contribute toward the resistance mechanism in sorghum against shoot fly infestation.

     

Analysis of Dom34 and Its Function in No-Go Decay

Eukaryotic mRNAs are subject to quality control mechanisms that degrade defective mRNAs. In yeast, mRNAs with stalls in translation elongation are targeted for endonucleolytic cleavage by No-Go decay (NGD). The cleavage triggered by No-Go decay is dependent on Dom34p and Hbs1p, and Dom34 has been proposed to be the endonuclease responsible for mRNA cleavage. We created several Dom34 mutants and examined their effects on NGD in yeast. We identified mutations in several loops of the Dom34 structure that affect NGD. In contrast, mutations inactivating the proposed nuclease domain do not affect NGD in vivo. Moreover, we observed that overexpression of the Rps30a protein, a high copy suppressor of dom34Δ cold sensitivity, can restore some mRNA cleavage in a dom34Δ strain. These results identify important functional regions of Dom34 and suggest that the proposed endonuclease activity of Dom34 is not required for mRNA cleavage in NGD. We also provide evidence that the process of NGD is conserved in insect cells. On the basis of these results and the process of translation termination, we suggest a multistep model for the process of NGD.     

Protease and carotenogenesis in Blakeslea trispora

Carotene production by single and mated Blakeslea trispora has been studied. On mating and on the addition of trisporic acid to minus cultures there was an increase in the membrane bound neutral protease (MW 126 000) activity. The protease probably acts by inactivating the inhibitory protein of carotene biosynthesis resulting in increased carotenogenesis.