Assessment of genetic diversity in Lepidium sativum (Chandrasur) a medicinal herb used in folklore remedies in India using RAPD

Lepidium sativum L. is a fast growing edible herb which belongs to family Brassicaceae. The seeds of L. sativum are aperient, diuretic, tonic, demulcent, carminative, galatogogue and emmenagogue. They have been used in the treatment of bacterial and fungal infections, as an aperient and also possess antibacterial and antifungal properties. The seeds of this plant possess rapid bone fracture healing ability. Despite of its diverse medicinal properties no molecular data for diversity analysis is available till date. During this study random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to detect genetic variations of L. sativum. Initially 50 decamer primers were screened, out of which only 32 primers showed reproducible fragments with easily recordable bands. A total of 414 reproducible and clear bands were distinguished across the selected primers and statistical analysis showed 361 polymorphic bands and 53 monomorphic bands. Cluster analysis of the genotypes based on UPGMA divided the 18 genotypes into two main clusters, with first cluster having only HCS-20 genotype of L. sativum and other having rest of all 17 genotypes. The dendrogram based on similarity matrix revealed 23–66% genetic relatedness among 18 genotypes. The results of the present study can be used for molecular breeding and improvement of L. sativum for various desired traits through hybridization in future.     

Genetic profiling of genes from the oxidative stress pathway among North and South Indians

The case-control association study design has been extensively used for elucidating the genetic basis of complex traits. Considerable variation in frequencies of various gene polymorphisms has been reported across different populations and ethnic groups. Thus before beginning such studies, one must know the gene variants that exist in the population. Such information is not available for the ethnically distinct Indian population, which, on the basis of the languages spoken, can be further subdivided into Indo-Europeans (North Indians) and Dravidians (South Indians). In this study we provide information on allele and genotype frequencies, pairwise linkage disequilibrium, and predominant haplotypes in two populations (North India, n=96; South India, n=96) for several of the commonly investigated polymorphisms in the oxidative stress pathway genes. Of the 33 polymorphisms in 19 genes tested, significant differences in allele and genotype frequencies between the two populations were observed for SOD3 Ala58Thr, UCP1-3826 C/T, NOS3-786 T/C, and TNFA-308 G/A polymorphisms.     

Investigations into spectroscopic and optoelectronic behaviour of furoic acid-based Eu(III) complexes for advanced photonic applications

To illuminate the zone of organic light-emitting diodes, a novel series of four red luminescent europium complexes, one binary (C1) and three ternary (C2–C4), of 5-phenyl 2-furoic acid was synthesized with 2,2′-bipyridyl (bipy), bathophenanthroline (batho) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) as ancillary ligands and characterized by adopting various analytical techniques. All the findings of energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, elemental (CHN) analysis, Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy confirmed the coordination of ligand binding sites with the europium ion. To evaluate the thermal stability, thermogravimetric/difference thermogravimetric measurements were taken that revealed that the synthesized complexes were stable up to 245°C. Diffused reflectance studies indicated that these complexes had potential for their use in wide band-gap semiconductors, as all the four complexes showed metal-centred luminescence as a characteristic red emission peak that was observed at 613 nm under the excitation wavelength of 330 nm. The internal quantum efficiencies and luminescence lifetime of complexes were predicted using Judd–Ofelt and photophysical data. The monoexponential luminescence decay and Judd–Ofelt analysis suggested the presence of a single and asymmetric chemical environment in the coordination sphere of the europium metal. Commission International de l'Eclairage colour coordinates, correlated colour temperature values, and colour purity of the complexes validated their red emission in the visible region.     

Phyto diab care: Phytoremedial database for antidiabetics

Diabetes, a chronic disease debilitating to normal healthy lifestyle, onsets due to insufficient amount of insulin production or ineffective utilization of the amount produced. Although, pharmaceutical research has brought up remedial drugs and numerous candidates in various phases of clinical trials, off-target effects and unwanted physiological actions are a constant source of concern and contra indicatory in case of diabetic patients. Here we present a phytoremedial database, Phyto Diab Care, broadly applicable to any known anti-diabetic medicinal plant and phytochemicals sourced from them. Utilization of the traditional medicine knowledge for combating diabetes without creating unwanted physiological actions is our major emphasis. Data collected from peer-reviewed publications and phytochemicals were added to the customizable database by means of an extended relational design. The strength of this resource is in providing rapid retrieval of data from large volumes of text at a high degree of accuracy. Enhanced web interface allows multi-criteria based information filtering. Furthermore, the availability of 2D and 3D structures from molecular docking studies with any efficacy on the insulin signaling pathway makes the resource searchable and comparable in an intuitive manner. Phyto Diab Care compendium is publicly available and can be found in online.

Availability

http://www.gbpuat-cbsh.ac.in/departments/bi/database/phytodiabcare/HOME%20PAGE/Home%20page.html     

Evaluation of cytochrome b mtDNA sequences in genetic diversity studies of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Channa marulius</Emphasis> (Channidae: Perciformes)

Channa marulius (Hamilton, 1822) is a commercially important freshwater fish and a potential candidate species for aquaculture. The present study evaluated partial Cytochrome b gene sequence of mtDNA for determining the genetic variation in wild populations of C. marulius. Genomic DNA extracted from C. marulius samples (n = 23) belonging to 3 distant rivers; Mahanadi, Teesta and Yamuna was analyzed. Sequencing of 307 bp Cytochrome b mtDNA fragment revealed the presence of 5 haplotypes with haplotype diversity value of 0.763 and nucleotide diversity value of 0.0128. Single population specific haplotype was observed in Mahanadi and Yamuna samples and 3 haplotypes in Teesta samples. The analysis of data demonstrated the suitability of partial Cytochrome b sequence in determining the genetic diversity in C. marulius population.     

Disruption of gene expression rhythms in mice lacking secretory vesicle proteins IA-2 and IA-2β

Insulinoma-associated protein (IA)-2 and IA-2β are transmembrane proteins involved in neurotransmitter secretion. Mice with targeted disruption of both IA-2 and IA-2β (double-knockout, or DKO mice) have numerous endocrine and physiological disruptions, including disruption of circadian and diurnal rhythms. In the present study, we have assessed the impact of disruption of IA-2 and IA-2β on molecular rhythms in the brain and peripheral oscillators. We used in situ hybridization to assess molecular rhythms in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of wild-type (WT) and DKO mice. The results indicate significant disruption of molecular rhythmicity in the SCN, which serves as the central pacemaker regulating circadian behavior. We also used quantitative PCR to assess gene expression rhythms in peripheral tissues of DKO, single-knockout, and WT mice. The results indicate significant attenuation of gene expression rhythms in several peripheral tissues of DKO mice but not in either single knockout. To distinguish whether this reduction in rhythmicity reflects defective oscillatory function in peripheral tissues or lack of entrainment of peripheral tissues, animals were injected with dexamethasone daily for 15 days, and then molecular rhythms were assessed throughout the day after discontinuation of injections. Dexamethasone injections improved gene expression rhythms in liver and heart of DKO mice. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that peripheral tissues of DKO mice have a functioning circadian clockwork, but rhythmicity is greatly reduced in the absence of robust, rhythmic physiological signals originating from the SCN. Thus, IA-2 and IA-2β play an important role in the regulation of circadian rhythms, likely through their participation in neurochemical communication among SCN neurons.     

Disposition of norepinephrine and epinephrine in jejunum of WLH chicken.

Disposition of (-)-norepinephrine and (-)-epinephrine in jejunum of WLH chicken was studied using oil-immersion technique. The relative rate of different routes of disposition of catecholamines was in the following order: for (-)-NE COMT greater than or equal to MAO greater than or equal to U2 greater than U1, for (-)-Epi U2 greater than or equal to COMT greater than MAO greater than U1. The role of enzymatic degradation is almost equal to that of uptake processes for (-)-Epi, but it was greater for (-)-NE.