Salicylic acid improves podophyllotoxin production in cell cultures of Linum album by increasing the expression of genes related with its biosynthesis

Treatment of Linum album cell cultures with 10 μM salicylic acid (SA) for 3 days improved podophyllotoxin (PTOX) production up to 333 μg/g dry weight (DW): over three times that of the control cultures. qPCR analyses showed that in SA-treated cells, the expression of the genes coding for phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), cinnamoyl-CoA reductase (CCR) and cinnamyl-alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), all involved in the first steps of PTOX biosynthesis, also increased reaching a peak 8–12 h after the treatment. Expression of the pinoresinol-lariciresinol reductase gene (PLR), which is involved in one of the last biosynthetic steps, was not affected by SA. The selective action of SA on these genes can be applied to control the biotechnological production of this anticancer agent.     

Cation-π interaction of alkali metal ions with C24 fullerene: a DFT study

Using first principle calculations, we investigated cation-π interactions between alkali cations (Li(+), Na(+), and K(+)) and pristine C(24) or doped fullerenes of BC(23), and NC(23). The most suitable adsorption site is found to be atop the center of a six-membered ring of the exterior surface of C(24) molecule. Interaction energies of these cations decreased in the order: Li(+)?>?Na(+)?>?K(+), with values of -31.82, -22.36, and -15.68 kcal mol(-1), respectively. It was shown that the interaction energies are increased and decreased by impurity doping of B and N atoms in adjacent wall of adsorption site, depending on electron donating or receptivity of the doping atoms.     

Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) Gene Polymorphisms and Risk of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Biochemical Genetics - Several studies have noted that vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms are involved in the susceptibility to Coronary artery disease (CAD). Nonetheless, the results have...     

An introduction to Iranian Collembola (Hexapoda): an?update to the species list

The Collembola fauna of Iran is little known and no comprehensive examination of this group of Hexapoda is available for this region. The only notable work on Collembola was carried out by Cox (1982). Recently, studies on the Collembola fauna have started in several regions. In this paper, publications by different researchers are documented and the species that have been found in different regions of Iran until January 2013 are listed. At present, 112 species, belonging to 18 families and 57 genera are known from Iran.