Deciphering the “Fuzzy” Interaction of FG Nucleoporins and Transport Factors Using Small-Angle Neutron Scattering

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Cure of tuberculosis using nanotechnology: An overview

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), a major health issue of the present era. The bacterium inhabits the host macrophage and other immune cells where it modulates the lysosome trafficking protein, hinders the formation of phagolysosome, and blocks the TNF receptor-dependent apoptosis of host macrophage/monocytes. Other limitations such as resistance to and low bioavailability and bio-distribution of conventional drugs aid to their high virulence and human mortality. This review highlights the use of nanotechnology-based approaches for drug formulation and delivery which could open new avenues to limit the pathogenicity of tuberculosis. Moreover phytochemicals, such as alkaloids, phenols, saponins, steroids, tannins, and terpenoids, extracted from terrestrial plants and mangroves seem promising against M. tuberculosis through different molecular mechanisms. Further understanding of the genomics and proteomics of this pathogenic microbe could also help overcome various research gaps in the path of developing a suitable therapy against tuberculosis.     

Prognosis in Acute Cerebrovascular Accidents in Relation to Respiratory Pattern and Blood—gas Tensions

Respiratory pattern and arterial blood gas tensions were assessed in patients with acute cerebrovascular accidents. Hyperventilation, low Pco₂, and high arterial pH were associated with a poor prognosis, whereas patients with normal respiratory pattern and blood gas tensions survived. Periodic and Cheyne-Stokes breathing carried an intermediate prognosis.     

in Vitro Somatic Embryogenesis in Typhonium Trilobatum Schott.

An in vitro protocol was developed for the production of plants via somatic embryogenesis in callus cultures derived from petiole and leaf explants of Typhonium trilobatum. Optimum callus formation was achieved on semisolid Murashige and Skoog's [9] medium supplemented with 0.25 mg L–1 kinetin and 3.0 mgL–1 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) after 6 weeks of culture. Somatic embryogenesis was achieved upon transferring the callus to a medium containing 1.0 mg Lminus 1 kinetin and 0.25 mg Lminus 1 NAA. In vitro tuberization was also achieved on medium containing 1/2 strength MS basal salts supplemented with 1.0 mg L–1 Kinetin and 0.1 mg L–1 NAA. Embryo maturation and germination was achieved on the MS basal salts supplemented with 0.01 mg L–1 NAA and 2% (w/v) sucrose. Some thousands somatic embryo derived plantlets were hardened in the greenhouse and eventually planted in the open field.     

Diagnostic value of qualitative and quantitative variables in thyroid lesions

Two hundred and thirty-three thyroid lesions were studied by fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology using standard cytologic criteria available in the literature. These included 114 cases of nodular colloid goitre (NCG), 47 cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), 12 follicular adenomas (FAd), five cases of subacute thyroiditis and three cases of thyrotoxicosis among the benign lesions. The malignant lesions seen were 30 cases of papillary carcinoma (PCa), 16 follicular carcinomas (FCa), three cases with double lesions, e.g. papillary carcinoma with coexisting NCG, and three of papillary carcinoma with HT. Emphasis was given to eight qualitative and quantitative (morphometric) variables in these various thyroid lesions. Cell measurements were done using a Visopan Lux projection microscope. The three qualitative variables included type of nuclear membrane (regular/irregular), type of nuclear chromatin and the presence or absence of conspicuous nucleoli. The quantitative variables studied were nuclear diameter, nuclear area, cytoplasmic diameter, cytoplasmic area & N/C ratio. Statistical analysis was performed in order to know whether the standard cytologic criteria used at FNA cytology in the literature (increased cellularity, microfollicles, increased N/C ratio, absence of significant haemosiderin-laden macrophages and scanty colloid) could differentiate a follicular adenoma from a follicular carcinoma. A statistical analysis was also performed to establish the utility of the qualitative and quantitative variables. The results showed that none of the standard cytologic criteria applied could differentiate follicular adenoma from a follicular carcinoma. With regard to qualitative variables, irregularity of nuclear membrane and presence of conspicuous nucleoli were most significant in papillary carcinoma, followed by follicular carcinoma, then by follicular adenoma; these features being hardly evident in nodular colloid goitre and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. A coarse nuclear chromatin was most significant in follicular carcinomas followed by follicular adenomas. It was less obvious in the benign conditions, but more prominent in Hashimoto's thyroiditis compared with a goitre. It was also not obvious in a papillary carcinoma. Of the quantitative variables, all measurements were greatest in PCa > FCa > FAd > NCG = HT. When differentiating follicular adenoma from follicular carcinoma the qualitative variables of significance were the presence or absence of nucleoli, the chromatin pattern and regularity/irregularity of nuclear membrane; the nuclear area was the most important feature among quantitative variables.     

Development of doubled haploids from an elite <Emphasis Type="Italic">indica</Emphasis> rice hybrid (BS6444G) using anther culture

A total of 200 doubled haploids (DHs) were generated from an elite rice hybrid, ‘BS6444G’ for which an androgenic method was developed by manipulating the physical and chemical factors. The spike pretreated at 10?°C for 7–8 days was effective for callusing and green plant regeneration. The maximum callus frequency was achieved when the anthers cultured in N6 medium supplemented with 2.0 mg L^?1 2,4-diclorophenoxyacetic acid, 0.5 mg L^?1 6-benzylaminopurine and 3% maltose. Calli induced in N6 media also showed significant green shoot regeneration in MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg L^?1 1-napthalene acetic acid, 0.5 mg L^?1 kinetin, 1.5 mg L^?1 benzylaminopurine and 3% sucrose producing 210 green plants. Assessment of the ploidy status showed 95.71% fertile diploids and 4.2% polyploids; no haploids were observed. A total of 38 sequence-tagged microsatellite (STMS) markers proved able to discriminate a heterozygote from all the 200 DHs. The DHs grown in the field showed significant variation for their agronomic traits. Comparison of traits with control indicates homogeneity within each DH line and significant variance of traits between DH lines. Nine DH lines produce higher grain yield than the hybrid parent which suggests the possibility of exploiting hybrid vigor in indica rice through the development of DH lines of high yielding hybrids.     

Genetic dissection of seed weight by QTL analysis and detection of allelic variation in Indian and east European gene pool lines of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica juncea</Emphasis>

Key message

Seed weight QTL identified in different populations were synthesized into consensus QTL which were shown to harbor candidate genes by in silico mapping. Allelic variation inferred would be useful in breeding B. juncea lines with high seed weight.

Abstract

Seed weight is an important yield influencing trait in oilseed Brassicas and is a multigenic trait. Among the oilseed Brassicas, Brassica juncea harbors the maximum phenotypic variation wherein thousand seed weight varies from around 2.0 g to more than 7.0 g. In this study, we have undertaken quantitative trait locus/quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis of seed weight in B. juncea using four bi-parental doubled-haploid populations. These four populations were derived from six lines (three Indian and three east European lines) with parental phenotypic values for thousand seed weight ranging from 2.0 to 7.6 g in different environments. Multi-environment QTL analysis of the four populations identified a total of 65 QTL ranging from 10 to 25 in each population. Meta-analysis of these component QTL of the four populations identified six ‘consensus’ QTL (C-QTL) in A3, A7, A10 and B3 by merging 33 of the 65 component Tsw QTL from different bi-parental populations. Allelic diversity analysis of these six C-QTL showed that Indian lines, Pusajaikisan and Varuna, hold the most positive allele in all the six C-QTL. In silico mapping of candidate genes with the consensus QTL localized 11 genes known to influence seed weight in Arabidopsis thaliana and also showed conserved crucifer blocks harboring seed weight QTL between the A subgenomes of B. juncea and B. rapa. These findings pave the way for a better understanding of the genetics of seed weight in the oilseed crop B. juncea and reveal the scope available for improvement of seed weight through marker-assisted breeding.

     

Structure and molecular mobility of soy glycinin in the solid state

We report a multitechnique study of structural organization and molecular mobility for soy glycinin at a low moisture content (<30% w/w) and relate these to its glass-to-rubber transition. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy are used to probe structure and mobility on different length and time scales. NMR (approximately 10(-6) to 10(-3) s) reveals transitions at a higher moisture content (>17%) than DSC or SAXS, which sample for much longer times (approximately 10 to 10(3) s) and where changes are detected at >13% water content at 20 degrees C. The mobility transitions are accompanied by small changes in unit-cell parameters and IR band intensities and are associated with the enhanced motion of the polypeptide backbone. This study shows how characteristic features of the ordered regions of the protein (probed by SAXS and FTIR) and mobile segments (probed by NMR and DSC) can be separately monitored and integrated within a mobility transformation framework.