Stability parameters and performance of interregional crosses in durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.)

Summary Twelve durum wheat varieties originating from 3 ecologically diverse regions and their 48 intergroup crosses were evaluated for stability of performance with respect to grain yield and certain component traits. The linear component of the genotype-environment interaction was revealed for grain yield, 100-grain weight and plant height, non-linear for tiller number whereas for grains per spike both components were equally important. However, except for tiller number, the linear component appeared to be contributing to a large extent towards the prevalent interactions. NP 404, Bijaga Yellow and Giorgio VZ 331 depicted stable performance for grain yield. However, considering all the attributes, the parents NP 404, Bijaga Yellow, Anhinga s and Mexicali 75 and hybrids NP 401 x Mexicali 75, NP 404 x Anhinga s, NP 412 x Mexicali 75, NP 404 x Gerardo VZ 466 and Anhinga s x Capeiti appeared promising. The Mexican group as a whole exhibited a more stable performance than the other two evaluated groups. Compensating shift among the component characters was evident in the case of parents as well as hybrids and stability of performance appeared to be under genetic control. Effective utilization of these two aspects through introduction in otherwise desirable varieties has been advocated.Part of Ph.D. thesis of senior author submitted to the Punjab Agricultural University     

Expression of a 24 kDa GTP-binding protein (Gn24) is increased in lovastatin treated human erythroleukemia cells

A major 27 kDa particulate and a minor 24 kDa cytosolic GTP-binding protein was detected in HEL cells upon incubation with [-³²P]GTP of nitrocellulose blots containing polypeptides separated using SDS-PAGE. Addition of lovastatin (30 M) to HEL cells in culture inhibited protein synthesis by 35%. However, this treatment resulted in a 5-fold increase, as quantitated by [-³²P]GTP binding, in the amount of cytosolic 24 kDa GTP-binding protein. Addition of cycloheximide plus lovastatin to cells in culture abolished the observed increase in 24 kDa GTP-binding protein. Incubation of cells with lovastatin plus [R,S]-[5-³H]mevalonolactone resulted in the incorporation of radioactivity into several polypeptides in both the cytosolic and particulate fractions including a polypeptide of molecular mass of 24 kDa in the cytosol. The mobility of this 24 kDa isoprenylated protein on SDS-PAGE was identical to that of the GTP-binding protein increased in response to lovastatin. However, the 24 kDa protein remained in the cytosol after undergoing isoprenylation. The 24 kDa protein was distinct from the HEL cell, G25K/CDC42Hs GTP-binding protein and the GTP-binding protein that was a substrate for botulinum toxin C3 catalyzed ADP-ribosylation. Results demonstrate that lovastatin specifically increases the expression of a 24 kDa GTP-binding protein in HEL cells and that, isoprenylation of low molecular mass GTP-binding protein(s) may have function(s) in addition to its role in the targetting of these proteins to cell membrane.     

Organization of the Rosy Locus in DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER: Further Evidence in Support of a CIS-Acting Control Element Adjacent to the Xanthine Dehydrogenase Structural Element

The present report summarizes our recent progress in the genetic dissection of an elementary genetic unit in a higher organism, the rosy locus (ry:3--52.0) in Drosophila melanogaster. Pursuing the hypothesis that the rosy locus includes a noncoding control region, as well as a structural element coding for the xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) peptide, experiments are described that characterize and map a rosy locus variant associated with much lower than normal levels of XDH activity. Experiments are described that fail to relate this phenotype to alteration in the structure of the XDH peptide, but clearly associate this character with variation in number of molecules of XDH per fly. Large-scale fine-structure recombination experiments locate the genetic basis for this variation in the number of molecules of XDH per fly to a site immediately to the left of the XDH structural element within a region previously designated as the XDH control element. Moreover, experiments clearly separate this "underproducer" variant site from a previously described "overproducer" site within the control region. Examination of enzyme activity in electrophoretic gels of appropriate heterozygous genotypes demonstrates the cis-acting nature of this variation in the number of molecules of XDH. A revision of the map of the rosy locus, structural and control elements is presented in the light of the additional mapping data now available.     

HY5 and ABI5 transcription factors physically interact to fine tune light and ABA signaling in Arabidopsis

Plant Molecular Biology - Cross-talk between light and ABA signaling is mediated by physical interaction between HY5 and ABI5 Arabidopsis. Plants undergo numerous transitions during their...     

Neoxanthin prevents H2O2-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells by activating endogenous antioxidant signals and suppressing apoptosis signals

Molecular Biology Reports - The liver has a solid inbuilt antioxidant defense system to regulate oxidative stress. However, exposure to an excessive level of ROS causes liver injury. This study...     

Mitochondrial oxidative stress elicits chromosomal instability after exposure to isocyanates in human kidney epithelial cells

The role of oxidative stress is often attributed in environmental renal diseases. Isocyanates, a ubiquitous chemical group with diverse industrial applications, are known to undergo bio-transformation reactions upon accidental and occupational exposure. This study delineates the role of isocyanate-mediated mitochondrial oxidative stress in eliciting chromosomal instability in cultured human kidney epithelial cells. Cells treated with 0.005 µM concentration of methyl isocyanate displayed morphological transformation and stress-induced senescence. Along the time course, an increase in DCF fluorescence indicative of oxidative stress, depletion of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GR) and consistent accumulation of 8-oxo-dG were noticed. Thus, endogenous oxidative stress resulted in aberrant expression of p53, p21, cyclin E and CDK2 proteins, suggestive of deregulated cell cycle, chromosomal aberrations, centromeric amplification, aneuploidy and genomic instability.     

Severe Painful Vaso-Occlusive Crises and Mortality in a Contemporary Adult Sickle Cell Anemia Cohort Study

Background

Frequent painful vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) were associated with mortality in the Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease (CSSCD) over twenty years ago. Modern therapies for sickle cell anemia (SCA) like hydroxyurea are believed to have improved overall patient survival. The current study sought to determine the relevance of the association between more frequent VOCs and death and its relative impact upon overall mortality compared to other known risk factors in a contemporary adult SCA cohort.

Methods

Two hundred sixty four SCA adults were assigned into two groups based on patient reported outcomes for emergency department (ED) visits or hospitalizations for painful VOC treatment during the 12 months prior to evaluation.

Results

Higher baseline hematocrit (p = 0.0008), ferritin (p = 0.005), and HDL cholesterol (p = 0.01) were independently associated with 1 or more painful VOCs requiring an ED visit or hospitalization for acute pain. During a median follow-up of 5 years, mortality was higher in the ED visit/hospitalization group (relative risk [RR] 2.68, 95% CI 1.1-6.5, p = 0.03). Higher tricuspid regurgitatant jet velocity (TRV) (RR 2.41, 95% CI 1.5-3.9, p < 0.0001), elevated ferritin (RR 4.00, 95% CI 1.8-9.0, p = 0.001) and lower glomerular filtration rate (RR=2.73, 95% CI 1.6-4.6, p < 0.0001) were also independent risk factors for mortality.

Conclusions

Severe painful VOCs remain a marker for SCA disease severity and premature mortality in a modern cohort along with other known risk factors for death including high TRV, high ferritin and lower renal function. The number of patient reported pain crises requiring healthcare utilization is an easily obtained outcome that could help to identify high risk patients for disease modifying therapies.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00011648 http://clinicaltrials.gov/