Expression profiling of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crambe abyssinica</Emphasis>under arsenate stress identifies genes and gene networks involved in arsenic metabolism and detoxification

Background  

Arsenic contamination is widespread throughout the world and this toxic metalloid is known to cause cancers of organs such as liver, kidney, skin, and lung in human. In spite of a recent surge in arsenic related studies, we are still far from a comprehensive understanding of arsenic uptake, detoxification, and sequestration in plants. Crambe abyssinica, commonly known as 'abyssinian mustard', is a non-food, high biomass oil seed crop that is naturally tolerant to heavy metals. Moreover, it accumulates significantly higher levels of arsenic as compared to other species of the Brassicaceae family. Thus, C. abyssinica has great potential to be utilized as an ideal inedible crop for phytoremediation of heavy metals and metalloids. However, the mechanism of arsenic metabolism in higher plants, including C. abyssinica, remains elusive.     

Topcats and underdogs: intraguild interactions among three apex carnivores across Asia's forestscapes

Intraguild interactions among carnivores have long held the fascination of ecologists. Ranging from competition to facilitation and coexistence, these interactions and their complex interplay influence everything from species persistence to ecosystem functioning. Yet, the patterns and pathways of such interactions are far from understood in tropical forest systems, particularly across countries in the Global South. Here, we examined the determinants and consequences of competitive interactions between dholes Cuon alpinus and the two large felids (leopards Panthera pardus and tigers Panthera tigris) with which they most commonly co-occur across Asia. Using a combination of traditional and novel data sources (N = 118), we integrate information from spatial, temporal, and dietary niche dimensions. These three species have faced catastrophic declines in their extent of co-occurrence over the past century; most of their source populations are now confined to Protected Areas. Analysis of dyadic interactions between species pairs showed a clear social hierarchy. Tigers were dominant over dholes, although pack strength in dholes helped ameliorate some of these effects; leopards were subordinate to dholes. Population-level spatio-temporal interactions assessed at 25 locations across Asia did not show a clear pattern of overlap or avoidance between species pairs. Diet-profile assessments indicated that wild ungulate biomass consumption by tigers was highest, while leopards consumed more primate and livestock prey as compared to their co-predators. In terms of prey offtake (ratio of wild prey biomass consumed to biomass available), the three species together harvested 0.4–30.2% of available prey, with the highest offtake recorded from the location where the carnivores reach very high densities. When re-examined in the context of prey availability and offtake, locations with low wild prey availability showed spatial avoidance and temporal overlap among the carnivore pairs, and locations with high wild prey availability showed spatial overlap and temporal segregation. Based on these observations, we make predictions for 40 Protected Areas in India where temporally synchronous estimates of predator and prey densities are available. We expect that low prey availability will lead to higher competition, and in extreme cases, to the complete exclusion of one or more species. In Protected Areas with high prey availability, we expect intraguild coexistence and conspecific competition among carnivores, with spill-over to forest-edge habitats and subsequent prey-switching to livestock. We stress that dhole–leopard–tiger co-occurrence across their range is facilitated through an intricate yet fragile balance between prey availability, and intraguild and conspecific competition. Data gaps and limitations notwithstanding, our study shows how insights from fundamental ecology can be of immense utility for applied aspects like large predator conservation and management of human–carnivore interactions. Our findings also highlight potential avenues for future research on tropical carnivores that can broaden current understanding of intraguild competition in forest systems of Asia and beyond.     

Purification,Characterization and Antibacterial Properties of Peptide from Marine Ascidian Didemnum sp.

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Marine ecosystems are unique and a largely diverse chest of natural resources which are still to be explored for new marine species....     

Bioconjugation of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine containing protein with a polysaccharide

We describe the simple bioconjugation strategy in combination of periodate chemistry and unnatural amino acid incorporation. The residue specific incorporation of 3,4-dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine can alter the properties of protein to conjugate into the polymers. The homogeneously modified protein will yield quinone residues that are covalently conjugated to nucleophilic groups of the amino polysaccharide. This novel approach holds great promise for widespread use to prepare protein conjugates and synthetic biology applications.     

Evaluation of photosynthetic efficiency of yam bean (Pachyrhizus erosus L.) at saturating photon flux density under elevated carbon dioxide

Physiology and Molecular Biology of Plants - The future CO2 concentration is projected to reach 900–1000&nbsp;ppm levels by the end of twenty-first century, pertaining to global climatic...     

EST-SSRs reveal genetic distinction between lac and grain yielding genotypes of pigeonpea

Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Pigeonpea, an important legume crop is a good host plant for lac cultivation in North East India. In the present study, sixty-three polymorphic EST...     

Design and in silico modeling of Indoloquinoxaline incorporated keratin nanoparticles for modulation of glucose metabolism in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

The following study was done to assess the glucose utilizing efficiency of Indoloquinoxaline derivative incorporated keratin nanoparticles (NPs) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Indoloquinoxaline derivative had wide range of biological activities including antidiabetic activity. In this view, Indoloquinoxaline moiety containing N, N-dimethyl (3-fluoro-6H-indolo [3,2-b] quinoxalin-6-yl) methanamine compound was designed and synthesized, and further it is incorporated into keratin nanoparticles. The formulated NPs, drug entrapment efficiency, releasing capacity, stability, and physicochemical properties were characterized by various spectral analyzer and obtained results of characterizations were confirmed the properties of NPs. The analysis of mechanism underlying the glucose utilization of NPs was examined through molecular docking with identified target, and observed in silico study reports shown strong interaction of NPs in the binding pockets of AMPK and PTP1B. Based on the in silico screening, the formulated NPs was performed for in vitro cellular viability and glucose uptake studies on 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Interestingly, 40 μg of NPs displayed 78.2 ± 2.76% cellular viability, and no cell death was observed at lower concentrations. Further, the concentration dependent glucose utilization was observed at different concentrations of NPs in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The results of NPs (40 μg) on glucose utilization have revealed eminent result 58.56 ± 4.54% compared to that of Metformin (10 μM) and Insulin (10 μM). The identified results clearly indicated that Indoloquinoxaline derivative incorporated keratin NPs significantly increased glucose utilization efficiency and protect the cells against the insulin resistance.     

Synthesis of Brunfelsamidine Ribonucleoside and Certain Related Compounds by the Stereospecific Sodium Salt Glycosylation Procedure

Abstract

A synthesis of 2,4-dideazaribavirin ( 2 ), brunfelsamidine ribonucleoside ( 8c ) and certain related derivatives are described for the first time using the stereospecific sodium salt glycosylation procedure. Glycosylation of the sodium salt of pyrrole-3-carbonitrile ( 4 ) with 1-chloro-2, 3-O-t-isopropylidene-5-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-α-D-ribofuranose ( 5 ) gave exclusively the corresponding blocked nucleoside ( 6 ) with β-anomeric configuration, which on deprotection provided 1-β-D-ribofuranosylpyrrole-3-carbonitrile ( 7 ). Functional group tranformation of 7 gave 2 , 8c and related 3-substituted pyrrole ribonucleosides. These compounds are devoid of any significant antiviral/antitumor activity invitro.     

The First Report on Excellent Cycling Stability and Superior Rate Capability of Na3V2(PO4)3 for Sodium Ion Batteries

Sodium ion batteries are attractive for the rapidly emerging large‐scale energy storage market for intermittent renewable resources. Currently a viable cathode material does not exist for practical non‐aqueous sodium ion battery applications. Here we disclose a high performance, durable electrode material based on the 3D NASICON framework. Porous Na₃V₂(PO₄)₃/C was synthesized using a novel solution‐based approach. This material, as a cathode, is capable of delivering an energy storage capacity of ～400 mWh/g vs. sodium metal. Furthermore, at high current rates (10, 20 and 40 C), it displayed remarkable capacity retention. Equally impressive is the long term cycle life. Nearly 50% of the initial capacity was retained after 30,000 charge/discharge cycles at 40 C (4.7 A/g). Notably, coulombic efficiency was 99.68% (average) over the course of cycling. To the best of our knowledge, the combination of high energy density, high power density and ultra long cycle life demonstrated here has never been reported before for sodium ion batteries. We believe our findings will have profound implications for developing large‐scale energy storage systems for renewable energy sources.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal and septate endophyte fungal associations in lycophytes and ferns of south India

We studied extent and type of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and septate endophytic (SE) fungal associations in five lycophytes and 50 ferns collected from Eastern and Western Ghats regions. Of the 54 species and one variety (belonging to 31 genera) examined; 54 taxa had AM association and AM fungal structures were absent in Marsilea quadrifolia. This is the first report of AM and SE fungal status for 26 species each. Of the 55 taxa examined, AM morphology has been evaluated for the first time in 51 species. The hydrophytic fern Salvinia molesta was mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal at different sites. All the epiphytic and saxicolous species examined were mycorrhizal. The percentage of AM colonization ranged from 22.23 (Christella parasitica) to 82.20 (Adiantum lunulatum) in ferns and 53.46 (Selaginella bryopteris) to 84.34 (Selaginella sp.) in lycophytes. Epiphytic life-forms had the maximum average AM colonization levels, whereas aquatic life-forms had the minimum colonization levels. The percentage root length colonized by septate fungi ranged between 0.59 in Ophioglossum reticulatum and 16.36 in Pteris pellucida. The root length with AM and SE fungal structures as well as their total colonization significantly varied among the taxa examined. Most of the lycophytes and ferns had intermediate-type of AM morphology with a few exhibiting Paris-type. AM fungal spore numbers ranged from 1.0 (Angiopteris evecta, Pteridium aquilinum) to (Nephrolepis exaltata) 9.3 spores per 25 g soil and varied significantly among taxa. AM fungal spore morphotypes belonging to Claroideoglomus, Funneliformis, Glomus and Rhizophagus were recorded.