A quantitative evaluation of inter-varietal hybrids of Brassica campestris L.

Summary A quantitative evaluation of yield components was carried out in 150 inter-varietal hybrids of Brassica campestris using five each of the three varieties, brown sarson (BS) , yellow sarson (YS) and toria (TR). The results showed both additive and non-additive gene action for plant height, number of primary and secondary branches and number of siliquae on the main axis in all the six cross combinations BS-YS, YS-BS, BS-TR, TR-BS, YS-TR and TR-YS. The general combining abilities of BS, YS and TR indicated that their nature and magnitude depended largely on the other parents which entered the hybrids. There were differences in combining ability between direct and reciprocal combinations. GBS II, Kanpur Lotni 17, Kanpur Lotni 27 and DS 17D in BS, IB 3, IB 5, IB 6 and BP 12 in YS , and T 165, T 244 and T 1842 in TR were identified as potential parents for inter-varietal hybridisation. Reciprocal effects were found when BS or YS was used as parent and they were least when TR was used as a parent. The amount and degree of heterosis was substantial in inter-varietal crosses. Based on the heterosis-combining ability relationship, the role of inter-varietal hybridisation in population improvement of Brassica campestris is discussed. A number of methods of utilising the inter-varietal hybrids in multiple crosses and synthetic complexes is suggested as potential supplements to population breeding in this crop.Part of a Ph.D. thesis submitted by senior author to P.G. School, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi     

Initiation factors in protein synthesis by free and membrane-bound polyribosomes of liver and hepatoma.

The activity of initiation factors obtained from free and membrane-bound polyribosomes of liver and of transplantable H5123 hepatoma of rats was investigated by using an assay of protein synthesis in vitro in which poly (U)-directed polyphenylalanine synthesis was measured. Initiation factors of membrane-bound polyribosomes prepared by using the anionic detergent deoxycholate exhibited less activity in incorporating [14C]phenylalanyltRNA into polypetides than did initiation factors of free polyribosomes. However, when membrane-bound polyribosomes were prepared after using the non-ionic detergent Triton X-100, no significant differences in activities in polyphenylalanine synthesis were observed between the initiation factors of free and membrane-bound polyribosomes. These results suggest that Triton X-100 is preferable to deoxycholate in the isolation of of initiation factors from polyribosomes. Initiation factors, prepared by using Triton X-100, of free polyribosomes of hepatoma exhibited greater activity in the stimulation of polyphenylalanine synthesis than did the initiation factors of free or membrane-bound polyribosomes of host livers or of membrane-bound polyribosomes of hepatomas.     

Nanocrystalline SrS:Ce3+ system for the generation of white light‐emitting diodes

Nanocrystalline SrS phosphors doped with Ce³⁺ ions at different concentrations (0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 mol%) are synthesized via the solid‐state diffusion method (SSDM), which is suitable for the large‐scale production of phosphors in industrial applications. The as‐prepared samples are characterized using an X‐ray diffraction (XRD) technique, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX) analysis. The optical properties of these phosphors are analyzed using reflectance spectra, photoluminescence spectra and afterglow decay curves. The cubic structure of the SrS phosphor is confirmed by XRD analysis and the crystallite size calculated by Scherer's formula using XRD data shows the nanocrystalline nature of the phosphors. No phase change is observed with increasing concentrations of Ce³⁺ ions. The surface morphology of the prepared phosphors is determined by FESEM, which shows a sphere‐like structure and good connectivity of the grains. The authenticity of the formation of nanocrystalline phosphors is examined by HRTEM analysis. Elemental compositional information for the prepared phosphors is gathered by EDX analysis. Photoluminescence studies reveal that the emission spectra of the prepared phosphor shows broad band emission centered at 458 and 550 nm due to the transition of electrons from the 5d → 4f energy levels. The afterglow decay characteristics of different as‐synthesized SrS:Ce³⁺ nanophosphors are conceptually described. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Phospholipids promote dissociation of ADP from the Mycobacterium avium DnaA protein

The biochemical aspects of the initiation of DNA replication in Mycobacterium avium are unknown. As a first step towards understanding this process, M. avium DnaA protein, the counterpart of Escherichia coli replication initiator protein, was overproduced in E. coli with an N-terminal histidine tag and purified to homogeneity on a nickel affinity column. The recombinant DnaA protein bound both ATP and ADP with high affinity and showed a weak ATPase activity. ADP, following the hydrolysis of ATP, remained bound to the protein strongly and the exchange of ATP for bound ADP was found to be weak. Acidic phospholipids such as phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol, and cardiolipin, promoted the dissociation of ADP from the DnaA protein, whereas the neutral phospholipid, phosphatidylethanolamine, did not. The phospholipid promoted dissociation of ADP from DnaA protein was stimulated in the presence of the M. avium origin of replication. We suggest that the initiation of DNA replication in M. avium involves an interplay among DnaA, adenine nucleotides and phospholipids.     

Antimicrobial constituents from the rhizomes of Rheum emodi

The bioassay-guided chemical examination of the rhizomes of R. emodi resulted in the isolation of two new oxanthrone esters, revandchinone-1, revandchinone-2, a new anthraquinone ether revandchinone-3 and a new oxanthrone ether, revandchinone-4. Their structures were established based on spectroscopic and degradative evidence. Occurrence of oxanthrone ether is reported for the first time. The anti bacterial and anti fungal activity of the isolates is studied.     

RNase HI Is Essential for Survival of Mycobacterium smegmatis

RNases H are involved in the removal of RNA from RNA/DNA hybrids. Type I RNases H are thought to recognize and cleave the RNA/DNA duplex when at least four ribonucleotides are present. Here we investigated the importance of RNase H type I encoding genes for model organism Mycobacterium smegmatis. By performing gene replacement through homologous recombination, we demonstrate that each of the two presumable RNase H type I encoding genes, rnhA and MSMEG4305, can be removed from M. smegmatis genome without affecting the growth rate of the mutant. Further, we demonstrate that deletion of both RNases H type I encoding genes in M. smegmatis leads to synthetic lethality. Finally, we question the possibility of existence of RNase HI related alternative mode of initiation of DNA replication in M. smegmatis, the process initially discovered in Escherichia coli. We suspect that synthetic lethality of double mutant lacking RNases H type I is caused by formation of R-loops leading to collapse of replication forks. We report Mycobacterium smegmatis as the first bacterial species, where function of RNase H type I has been found essential.     

Climate Drivers on Malaria Transmission in Arunachal Pradesh,India

The present study was conducted during the years 2006 to 2012 and provides information on prevalence of malaria and its regulation with effect to various climatic factors in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Correlation analysis, Principal Component Analysis and Hotelling’s T² statistics models are adopted to understand the effect of weather variables on malaria transmission. The epidemiological study shows that the prevalence of malaria is mostly caused by the parasite Plasmodium vivax followed by Plasmodium falciparum. It is noted that, the intensity of malaria cases declined gradually from the year 2006 to 2012. The transmission of malaria observed was more during the rainy season, as compared to summer and winter seasons. Further, the data analysis study with Principal Component Analysis and Hotelling’s T² statistic has revealed that the climatic variables such as temperature and rainfall are the most influencing factors for the high rate of malaria transmission in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.     

Mycobacterium tuberculosis MtrB Sensor Kinase Interactions with FtsI and Wag31 Proteins Reveal a Role for MtrB Distinct from That Regulating MtrA Activities

The septal association of Mycobacterium tuberculosis MtrB, the kinase partner of the MtrAB two-component signal transduction system, is necessary for the optimal expression of the MtrA regulon targets, including ripA, fbpB, and ftsI, which are involved in cell division and cell wall synthesis. Here, we show that MtrB, irrespective of its phosphorylation status, interacts with Wag31, whereas only phosphorylation-competent MtrB interacts with FtsI. We provide evidence that FtsI depletion compromises the MtrB septal assembly and MtrA regulon expression; likewise, the absence of MtrB compromises FtsI localization and, possibly, FtsI activity. We conclude from these results that FtsI and MtrB are codependent for their activities and that FtsI functions as a positive modulator of MtrB activation and MtrA regulon expression. In contrast to FtsI, Wag31 depletion does not affect MtrB septal assembly and MtrA regulon expression, whereas the loss of MtrB increased Wag31 localization and the levels of PknA/PknB (PknA/B) serine-threonine protein kinase-mediated Wag31 phosphorylation. Interestingly, we found that FtsI decreased levels of phosphorylated Wag31 (Wag31∼P) and that MtrB interacted with PknA/B. Overall, our results indicate that MtrB interactions with FtsI, Wag31, and PknA/B are required for its optimal localization, MtrA regulon expression, and phosphorylation of Wag31. Our results emphasize a new role for MtrB in cell division and cell wall synthesis distinct from that regulating the MtrA phosphorylation activities.     

Bacteria in cancer therapy: a novel experimental strategy

Resistance to conventional anticancer therapies in patients with advanced solid tumors has prompted the need of alternative cancer therapies. Moreover, the success of novel cancer therapies depends on their selectivity for cancer cells with limited toxicity to normal tissues. Several decades after Coley's work a variety of natural and genetically modified non-pathogenic bacterial species are being explored as potential antitumor agents, either to provide direct tumoricidal effects or to deliver tumoricidal molecules. Live, attenuated or genetically modified non-pathogenic bacterial species are capable of multiplying selectively in tumors and inhibiting their growth. Due to their selectivity for tumor tissues, these bacteria and their spores also serve as ideal vectors for delivering therapeutic proteins to tumors. Bacterial toxins too have emerged as promising cancer treatment strategy. The most potential and promising strategy is bacteria based gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy. Although it has shown successful results in vivo yet further investigation about the targeting mechanisms of the bacteria are required to make it a complete therapeutic approach in cancer treatment.     

Altered DNA methylation in leukocytes with trisomy 21

The primary abnormality in Down syndrome (DS), trisomy 21, is well known; but how this chromosomal gain produces the complex DS phenotype, including immune system defects, is not well understood. We profiled DNA methylation in total peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) and T-lymphocytes from adults with DS and normal controls and found gene-specific abnormalities of CpG methylation in DS, with many of the differentially methylated genes having known or predicted roles in lymphocyte development and function. Validation of the microarray data by bisulfite sequencing and methylation-sensitive Pyrosequencing (MS-Pyroseq) confirmed strong differences in methylation (p<0.0001) for each of 8 genes tested: TMEM131, TCF7, CD3Z/CD247, SH3BP2, EIF4E, PLD6, SUMO3, and CPT1B, in DS versus control PBL. In addition, we validated differential methylation of NOD2/CARD15 by bisulfite sequencing in DS versus control T-cells. The differentially methylated genes were found on various autosomes, with no enrichment on chromosome 21. Differences in methylation were generally stable in a given individual, remained significant after adjusting for age, and were not due to altered cell counts. Some but not all of the differentially methylated genes showed different mean mRNA expression in DS versus control PBL; and the altered expression of 5 of these genes, TMEM131, TCF7, CD3Z, NOD2, and NPDC1, was recapitulated by exposing normal lymphocytes to the demethylating drug 5-aza-2'deoxycytidine (5aza-dC) plus mitogens. We conclude that altered gene-specific DNA methylation is a recurrent and functionally relevant downstream response to trisomy 21 in human cells.