Proteomic analysis of cotyledonary explants during shoot organogenesis in Vigna radiata

Vigna radiata or mungbean belongs to the legume family of plants. Mature mungbean seeds are rich source of dietary proteins for human nutrition. The present study was aimed to analyze the comparative protein profiles of two cotyledon types, Cot and Cot E, prior to and during early time points of shoot morphogenic induction to understand the unique differential regeneration response in these two explant types which was reported earlier. These explants were grown separately in vitro on the shoot induction medium (SIM) containing Gamborg’s B5 basal nutrient composition supplemented with 15 μM N₆-benzyladenine. Isolation and characterization of the proteomes from Cot and Cot E explants at different time points, during early events of shoot differentiation, were performed using two dimensional gel electrophoresis following matrix assisted laser desorption-ionization tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 112 differentially identified proteins were classified according to their putative biological function. The differential control of protein synthesis between these explants under control condition, i.e. before in vitro culture, was also noted. In Cot E explants SIM induced prompt acquisition of competence for direct shoot morphogenesis probably through fast phytohormone signaling. Over accumulated proteins in Cot E indicated stimulation of several metabolic and associated pathways earlier than Cot explants. Abundance of stress and defense related proteins in Cot E explants was presumably to cope up with stressful cultural condition. Enhanced accumulation of folding-assisted proteins involved in organogenesis mediated cellular reprogramming in Cot E explants contributed further in rapid and efficient regeneration responsiveness.     

Contrasting impact of DNA repair gene XRCC1 polymorphisms Arg399Gln and Arg194Trp on the risk of lung cancer in the north-Indian population

DNA repair forms the most effective defense system against DNA damage. The XRCC1 gene product is implicated in single-strand and base-excision repair mechanisms. Our main aim was to investigate the relationship between the XRCC1 gene with lung cancer on the north-Indian population. Blood samples from 225 North-Indian subjects including 103 newly diagnosed cases and 122 population-based healthy persons were collected. XRCC1 genotypes were detected using a PCR-RFLP technique. The data were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. XRCC1 polymorphisms at codon 399 were found to be protective in the development of lung cancer (OR--0.6, 95% CI--0.46-0.80, p-0.0008). The codon 194 Trp/Trp genotype was associated with a slightly increased risk of lung cancer. When assessed in nonsmokers, only the Arg/Trp genotype of XRCC1 codon 194 was positively associated with lung cancer (OR--2.3, 95% CI--0.77-7.20). Smoking also seemed to significantly interact with the combined genotypes of XRCC1 codon 399 Arg/Gln/Gln/Gln. In conclusion, the results have suggested that the XRCC1 gene might be the risk genotype for lung cancer in this population.     

Eco-friendly synthesis and study of new plant growth promoters: 3,3'-Diindolylmethane and its derivatives

3,3'-Diindolylmethane (DIM) derivatives 3a-k, prepared in one-pot from indoles 1a-k and hexamethylenetetramine (2) using ionic liquid [Bmim]BF(4) as eco-friendly recyclable solvent as well as catalyst, showed good plant growth promoting activity on Oryza sativa. Among the DIM derivatives synthesized 3c shows potent auxin like growth promoting activity.     

Deletion of the gene encoding the ubiquitously expressed glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit-related protein (UGRP)/glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit-beta results in lowered plasma cholesterol and elevated glucagon

In liver, glucose-6-phosphatase catalyzes the hydrolysis of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) to glucose and inorganic phosphate, the final step in the gluconeogenic and glycogenolytic pathways. Mutations in the glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit (G6Pase) give rise to glycogen storage disease (GSD) type 1a, which is characterized in part by hypoglycemia, growth retardation, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hepatic glycogen accumulation. Recently, a novel G6Pase isoform was identified, designated UGRP/G6Pase-beta. The activity of UGRP relative to G6Pase in vitro is disputed, raising the question as to whether G6P is a physiologically important substrate for this protein. To address this issue we have characterized the phenotype of UGRP knock-out mice. G6P hydrolytic activity was decreased by approximately 50% in homogenates of UGRP(-/-) mouse brain relative to wild type tissue, consistent with the ability of UGRP to hydrolyze G6P. In addition, female, but not male, UGRP(-/-) mice exhibit growth retardation as do G6Pase(-/-) mice and patients with GSD type 1a. However, in contrast to G6Pase(-/-) mice and patients with GSD type 1a, UGRP(-/-) mice exhibit no change in hepatic glycogen content, blood glucose, or triglyceride levels. Although UGRP(-/-) mice are not hypoglycemic, female UGRP(-/-) mice have elevated ( approximately 60%) plasma glucagon and reduced ( approximately 20%) plasma cholesterol. We hypothesize that the hyperglucagonemia prevents hypoglycemia and that the hypocholesterolemia is secondary to the hyperglucagonemia. As such, the phenotype of UGRP(-/-) mice is mild, indicating that G6Pase is the major glucose-6-phosphatase of physiological importance for glucose homeostasis in vivo.     

A single-step method for purification of active His-tagged ribosomes from a genetically engineered Escherichia coli

With the rapid development of the ribosome field in recent years a quick, simple and high-throughput method for purification of the bacterial ribosome is in demand. We have designed a new strain of Escherichia coli (JE28) by an in-frame fusion of a nucleotide sequence encoding a hexa-histidine affinity tag at the 3′-end of the single copy rplL gene (encoding the ribosomal protein L12) at the chromosomal site of the wild-type strain MG1655. As a result, JE28 produces a homogeneous population of ribosomes (His)₆-tagged at the C-termini of all four L12 proteins. Furthermore, we have developed a single-step, high-throughput method for purification of tetra-(His)₆-tagged 70S ribosomes from this strain using affinity chromatography. These ribosomes, when compared with the conventionally purified ones in sucrose gradient centrifugation, 2D-gel, dipeptide formation and a full-length protein synthesis assay showed higher yield and activity. We further describe how this method can be adapted for purification of ribosomal subunits and mutant ribosomes. These methodologies could, in principle, also be used to purify any functional multimeric complex from the bacterial cell.     

Mode of action of the antiprion drugs 6AP and GA on ribosome assisted protein folding

The ribosome, the protein synthesis machinery of the cell, has also been implicated in protein folding. This activity resides within the domain V of the main RNA component of the large subunit of the ribosome. It has been shown that two antiprion drugs 6-aminophenanthridine (6AP) and Guanabenz (GA) bind to the ribosomal RNA and inhibit specifically the protein folding activity of the ribosome. Here, we have characterized with biochemical experiments, the mode of inhibition of these two drugs using ribosomes or ribosomal components active in protein folding (referred to as ’ribosomal folding modulators’ or RFMs) from both bacteria Escherichia coli and yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and human carbonic anhydrase (HCA) as a sample protein. Our results indicate that 6AP and GA inhibit the protein folding activity of the ribosome by competition with the unfolded protein for binding to the ribosome. As a result, the yield of the refolded protein decreases, but the rate of its refolding remains unaffected. Further, 6AP- and GA mediated inhibition of RFM mediated refolding can be reversed by the addition of RFMs in excess. We also demonstrate with delayed addition of the ribosome and the antiprion drugs that there is a short time-span in the range of seconds within which the ribosome interacts with the unfolded protein. Thus we conclude that the protein folding activity of the ribosome is conserved from bacteria to eukaryotes and most likely the substrate for RFMs is an early refolding state of the target protein.     

Biodegradation of oil in oily sludges from steel mills

Lab-scale batch studies were conducted to determine the biodegradability of oil associated with oily sludge from a steel mill using two microbial cultures enriched in the laboratory. After 60 days of biodegradation the residual oil content in mill sludge was reduced from 4.5-5% to 2.7-3.0%, corresponding to 40-45% loss with respect to initial. The rate of degradation was different for the two enrichment cultures studied. Significant loss of oil was observed in the un-inoculated controls while loss in the azide killed controls was negligible. Bioavailability limitations and the presence of structurally complex high molecular weight hydrocarbons in lubricating oil are responsible for the slow rate of degradation. Significant loss of oil in un-inoculated controls indicated the presence of indigenous microorganisms in oily mill sludge. The association of biomass with sludge solids and presence of a high level of residual oil may adversely affect the recyclability of iron-fines associated with the sludge.     

Diverse Gene Cassettes in Class 1 Integrons of Facultative Oligotrophic Bacteria of River Mahananda,West Bengal,India

Background

In this study a large random collection (n = 2188) of facultative oligotrophic bacteria, from 90 water samples gathered in three consecutive years (2007–2009) from three different sampling sites of River Mahananda in Siliguri, West Bengal, India, were investigated for the presence of class 1 integrons and sequences of the amplification products.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Replica plating method was employed for determining the antibiotic resistance profile of the randomly assorted facultative oligotrophic isolates. Genomic DNA from each isolate was analyzed by PCR for the presence of class 1 integron. Amplicons were cloned and sequenced. Numerical taxonomy and 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses were done to ascertain putative genera of the class 1 integron bearing isolates. Out of 2188 isolates, 1667 (76.19%) were antibiotic-resistant comprising of both single-antibiotic resistance (SAR) and multiple-antibiotic resistant (MAR), and 521 (23.81%) were sensitive to all twelve different antibiotics used in this study. Ninety out of 2188 isolates produced amplicon(s) of varying sizes from 0.15 to 3.45 KB. Chi-square (χ²) test revealed that the possession of class 1 integron in sensitive, SAR and MAR is not equally probable at the 1% level of significance. Diverse antibiotic-resistance gene cassettes, aadA1, aadA2, aadA4, aadA5, dfrA1, dfrA5, dfrA7, dfrA12, dfrA16, dfrA17, dfrA28, dfrA30, dfr-IIe, blaIMP-9, aacA4, Ac-6′-Ib, oxa1, oxa10 and arr2 were detected in 64 isolates. The novel cassettes encoding proteins unrelated to any known antibiotic resistance gene function were identified in 26 isolates. Antibiotic-sensitive isolates have a greater propensity to carry gene cassettes unrelated to known antibiotic-resistance genes. The integron-positive isolates under the class Betaproteobacteria comprised of only two genera, Comamonas and Acidovorax of family Comamonadaceae, while isolates under class Gammaproteobacteria fell under the families, Moraxellaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Aeromonadaceae and Enterobacteriaceae.

Conclusions

Oligotrophic bacteria are good sources of novel genes as well as potential reservoirs of antibiotic resistance gene casettes.