Altered expression of fibronectin gene in cells infected with human cytomegalovirus.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) induces morphological changes in infected cells that are remarkably similar to those seen in oncogenically transformed cells. The molecular bases of these phenotypic alterations are not known but their occurrence in some transformed cells can be associated with abnormal fibronectin (FN) expression. In this report, we have compared FN levels in normal and HCMV-infected cells. In these studies, the HCMV-infected fibroblasts exhibited a progressive loss of cellular FN. Northern (RNA) blot analysis revealed that the decrease in FN levels resulted from a lowering of FN mRNA levels in HCMV-infected cells. We detected an initial decrease in FN mRNA of 25 to 30% at immediate-early and early times, whereas at late times after infection the levels of FN mRNA were lowered by greater than 80%. These results indicated that the HCMV-induced decrease in FN expression is due to a decrease in the quantity of FN mRNA and suggested that HCMV-encoded and/or -induced functions may be involved in producing these alterations.     

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase activities: Effects of serum albumin,acyl-CoA binding protein and fatty acid binding protein

The carnitine palmitoyltransferase activity of various subcellular preparations measured with octanoyl-CoA as substrate was markedly increased by bovine serum albumin at low M concentrations of octanoyl-CoA. However, even a large excess (500 M) of this acyl-CoA did not inhibit the activity of the mitochondrial outer carnitine palmitoyltransferase, a carnitine palmitoyltransferase isoform that is particularly sensitive to inhibition by low M concentrations of palmitoyl-CoA. This bovine serum albumin stimulation was independent of the salt activation of the carnitine palmitoyltransferase activity. The effects of acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP) and the fatty acid binding protein were also examined with palmitoyl-CoA as substrate. The results were in line with the findings of stronger binding of acyl-CoA to ACBP but showed that fatty acid binding protein also binds acyl-CoA esters. Although the effects of these proteins on the outer mitochondrial carnitine palmitoyltransferase activity and its malonyl-CoA inhibition varied with the experimental conditions, they showed that the various carnitine palmitoyltransferase preparations are effectively able to use palmitoyl-CoA bound to ACBP in a near physiological molar ratio of 1:1 as well as that bound to the fatty acid binding protein. It is suggested that the three proteins mentioned above effect the carnitine palmitoyltransferase activities not only by binding of acyl-CoAs, preventing acyl-CoA inhibition, but also by facilitating the removal of the acylcarnitine product from carnitine palmitoyltransferase. These results support the possibility that the acyl-CoA binding ability of acyl-CoA binding protein and of fatty acid binding protein have a role in acyl-CoA metabolismin vivo.Abbreviations ACBP acyl-CoA binding protein - BSA bovine serum albumin - CPT carnitine palmitoyltransferase - CPT₀ malonyl-CoA sensitive CPT of the outer mitochondrial membrane - CPT malonyl-CoA insensitive CPT of the inner mitochondrial membrane - OG octylglucoside - OMV outer membrane vesicles - IMV inner membrane vesicles Affiliated to the Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Montreal     

A study of the pollen grains of Amaranthus spinosus Linné and A. Dubius Mart ex Thellung and their hybrids

A pollen-morphology study of Amaranthus spinosus, A. dubius, and their hybrids has been carried out. Three pollen types have been observed, namely (1) Type A: micrograins; (2) Type B: grains with smaller pores; and (3) Type C: grains with larger pores. Type B is characteristic of A. spinosus, Type C of A. dubius, and the micrograins of the hybrids. Pollen size range, and frequency of the various morphotypes serve to throw light on the biosystematics of the plants studied.     

Liquid scintillation counting of aqueous samples using Triton-containing scintillants

Markedly unstable count rates were observed using a toluene-Triton (2:1, $\text{v}\text{v}$) scintillant during counting of water-soluble radioactive compounds when < 5% ($\text{v}\text{v}$) water was present, because of the separation of phases. Efficiency correction in these instances could not be made by using ³H₂O as internal standard, because under the same conditions count rates with tritiated water were stable. Increasing water to ≥6% stabilized the count rates. With toluene-Triton (2:1, $\text{v}\text{v}$) scintillant, the water level should preferably be maintained between either 6 and 12 or 18 and 24% for ¹⁴C- and ³H-labeled compounds for counting at 6°C or at ambient temperature (but only between 6 and 12% for ³H counting at room temperature). With a “Tritosol” (Anal. Biochem.63, 555 (1975) modified to contain 35 ml of ethylene glycol, 140 ml of ethanol, 250 ml of Triton X-100, 575 ml of xylene, 3 g of PPO, and ±200 mg of POPOP, water levels of up to 23% were acceptable for ¹⁴C and ³H for counting at room temperature or at 6°C. Within these limitations, with the toluene-Triton or with the modified Tritosol as scintillant, both polar and apolar radioactive compounds exhibited similar efficiencies and gave quench-correction curves, based on the external standard ratio, that were linear for both ¹⁴C and ³H-labeled compounds.     

Seasonal trends in morpho-physiological attributes and bioactive content of Valeriana jatamansi Jones under full sunlight and shade conditions

Valeriana jatamansi Jones, an important medicinal herb of the Himalayan region, is an essential source of many therapeutic compounds and is traded/consumed in very high volume. The hypothesis of this study was that different seasons and light conditions may affect the content of medicinally valuable components with changes in the morpho-physiological attributes of the plant. Growing plants under suitable light conditions and harvesting of appropriate plant parts in optimum season is crucial for harnessing the full potential of the crop. Thus, the study was carried out to determine the seasonal response of V. jatamansi plants (genetically identical plants of same age) in terms of growth and phytochemical content under two different light conditions (full sunlight and 50% shade). During all seasons, growth parameters (plant height, leaf number, leaf area, relative water content, plant biomass) and the principle bioactive compounds (valerenic acid) were higher under shade conditions, while total flavonoids, tannins, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities were higher under full sunlight conditions. HPLC analysis revealed that valerenic acid and most of the phenolic content were higher during summer season, especially in leaf part of the plant. The study suggested harvesting of V. jatamansi plants (especially leaf), during summer season to harness high quality raw material and to prevent loss of belowground parts. This strategy can be adopted by farmers for large scale cultivation of species.Supplementary InformationThe online version of this article contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-021-00944-0     

Bacosides Encapsulated in Lactoferrin Conjugated PEG-PLA-PCL-OH Based Polymersomes Act as Epigenetic Modulator in Chemically Induced Amnesia

Neurochemical Research - The present study demonstrates the epigenetic mechanisms underlying the effect of Bacoside rich extract of Bacopa monniera—a nootropic herb, on scopolamine treated...     

Dry root rot (Rhizoctonia bataticola (Taub.) Butler): an emerging disease of chickpea – where do we stand?

Dry root rot caused by Rhizoctonia bataticola (Macrophomina phaseolina) of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is gaining importance in the changed scenario of climate when growing crop is predisposed to high temperature and moisture stress. Being mainly a soil-inhabiting pathogen, many environmental and soil factors are responsible for the development of disease. No systematic research related to the biology, ecology and epidemiology of dry root rot in chickpea has been conducted so far. Research is needed to improve the identification and characterisation of variability within its epidemiological and pathological niches. Limited literature available on host plant resistance for dry root rot indicated lack of resistant sources for this disease. The present article discusses current status of the disease in the context of climate change and possible management options to alleviate the problem.     

Patterns of morphological and genetic diversity of Valeriana jatamansi Jones in different habitats and altitudinal range of West Himalaya,India

Importance to know and understand diversity of Himalayan plants is increasingly recognized considering the fact that various natural and anthropogenic pressures might bring about serious influences to morphological and genetic diversity of the vegetation in the region. In this context, Valeriana jatamansi was investigated in detail, taking into account its importance in various Ayurvedic and modern medicines. Randomly selected mature plants from twenty five different populations (located between 1215 m to 2775 m asl) of V. jatamansi were analysed for their morphological attributes. Further, ISSR markers were used to detect genetic variation among 151 plants of selected 25 populations. Use of 20 primers yielded 125 reproducible polymorphic loci which were used to estimate different parameters of genetic diversity. These parameters were in turn applied to develop relationships with habitat types and altitude range. Significant variation (p < 0.05) in above ground dry weight (AGDW) and below ground dry weight (BGDW) across the populations was observed. Nei's genetic diversity index (He) ranged from 0.25 to 0.37 across the populations, with a mean of 0.31. Genetic diversity exhibited a decreasing trend with increasing altitude, and maximum diversity (He = 0.325) was observed in the range of 1201–1500 m asl. Among the different habitat conditions, highest genetic diversity (He = 0.334; Pp = 84.38) was observed in grassland habitats while minimum in mixed forest habitats (He = 0.285; Pp = 72.433). The genetic diversity (He) had significant negative relationships with AGDW, BGDW and rhizome diameter (Pearson r = −0.359, −0.424 and −0.317, respectively; p < 0.05). The genetic characterization of V. jatamansi from the western Himalaya by this study suggests influences of habitat types and the altitudinal range upon genetic diversity, and based on these proposals for conservation strategies in favour of the species are made.