Mitochondrial DNA common deletion is not associated with thyroid, breast and colorectal tumors in Turkish patients. Genet Mol Biol

Abstract Recently, efforts have been focused on mitochondrial DNA changes and their relation to human cancers. Among them, a 4977 bp deletion of mitochondrial DNA, named "common deletion", has been investigated in several types of tumors, with inconsistent results. In this study, we investigated the presence of the common deletion in tissues from 25 breast, 25 colorectal and 50 thyroid tumors and in the adjacent healthy tissues from Turkish patients. Samples from healthy volunteers were also evaluated for comparison. Two PCR-based methods were used for the detection of the common deletion. First, two pairs of primers were used to amplify wild-type and deleted mtDNA. Then, a highly sensitive nested-PCR was performed, to determine low amounts of deleted genomes. By the first method, wild-type mtDNAs were observed in all samples, but a deletion was observed in only six thyroid samples, by using the nested-PCR method. In conclusion, the mitochondrial common deletion was very rare in our study group and did not appear to be not related with cancer

Mitochondrial DNA common deletion is not associated with thyroid, breast and colorectal tumors in Turkish patients

Recently, efforts have been focused on mitochondrial DNA changes and their relation to human cancers. Among them, a 4977 bp deletion of mitochondrial DNA, named “common deletion”, has been investigated in several types of tumors, with inconsistent results. In this study, we investigated the presence of the common deletion in tissues from 25 breast, 25 colorectal and 50 thyroid tumors and in the adjacent healthy tissues from Turkish patients. Samples from healthy volunteers were also evaluated for comparison. Two PCR-based methods were used for the detection of the common deletion. First, two pairs of primers were used to amplify wild-type and deleted mtDNA. Then, a highly sensitive nested-PCR was performed, to determine low amounts of deleted genomes. By the first method, wild-type mtDNAs were observed in all samples, but a deletion was observed in only six thyroid samples, by using the nested-PCR method. In conclusion, the mitochondrial common deletion was very rare in our study group and did not appear to be not related with cancer

A two-stage pretreatment of seedlings improves adventitious shoot regeneration in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

The effects of a two-stage pretreatment of seedlings on the subsequent shoot regeneration capacity were investigated. Pretreated seedlings were obtained by germinating seeds on three different germination media and then further culturing on six different growth media. Lamina and petiole explants of two sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) breeding lines were then excised from the pretreated seedlings and cultured on five different shoot regeneration media. In both breeding lines, petiole explants produced significantly more shoots than lamina explants with higher frequencies of organogenic capacities; petiole explants of the lines M1195 and ELK345 produced a mean of 2.1 and 2.7 shoots per explant while their lamina explants produced 1.5 and 2.2 shoots per explant, respectively. A genotypic variation was evident as the line ELK345 was more productive for shoot development from both types of explants. In overall comparisons of different germination, growth and regeneration media, germination medium was most effective when supplemented with 0.5 mg/l 6-benzyladenine (BA) while both growth and regeneration media were most productive when contained a combination of 0.25 mg/l BA and 0.10 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Of all the treatments tested, the highest mean number of shoots per explant (8.3 shoots) and frequency of organogenic explants (75.6%) were obtained on regeneration medium supplemented with 0.25 mg/l BA and 0.10 mg/l IBA when petiole explants of the line ELK345 were excised from the seedlings that had been germinated on medium containing 0.5 mg/l BA followed by further growth on medium containing 0.25 mg/l BA and 0.10 mg/l IBA

Molecular cloning, characterization, and expression analysis of a gene encoding a Ran binding protein (RanBP) in Cucumis melo L.

Ran binding proteins (RanBPs) are highly conserved members of the GTP-binding protein family that are involved in nuclear protein export between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. In this study, a CmRanBP gene from a melon was isolated (Cucumis melo L.) using the RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) method. The 778 basepair long melon, with a RanBP cDNA encoding consisting of 197 amino acids (22.2 kDa protein), was characterized (GenBank accession no: EU853459). The predicted amino acid sequence of CmRanBP was found to be 70% identical to VvRanBP, PtRanBP, and RcRanBP from Vitis vinifera, Populus trichocarpa, and Ricinus communis, respectively. Within the RanBD (Ran binding domain), 5 highly conserved motifs and 1 Ran binding motif were found in all members of the RanBP gene family from various plant species. Expression profiles of the CmRanBP gene in different tissues under high temperature stress were also investigated by semiquantitative RT-PCR. The CmRanBP gene was expressed in a similar manner in the roots, leaves, and stems at 25 degrees C as a control environment. However, when the temperature was raised to 38 degrees C and 40 degrees C, expression levels of the CmRanBP gene were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in the root, leaf, and stem tissues. We show here for the first time that the CmRanBP gene expression was correlated with heat stress responses

Tissue sialic acid and fibronectin levels in human prostatic cancer

We investigated the tissue concentration of sialic acid and fibronectin in patients with prostatic cancer. The mean sialic acid and fibronectin levels in patients with prostatic cancer were 19.02 +/- 6.30 mu g/mg protein and 20.22 +/- 7.13 mu g/mg protein, respectively versus 13.01 +/- 4.53 mu g/mg protein and 11.77 +/- 6.74 mu g/mg protein for normal prostatic tissues. Sialic acid and fibronectin levels in cancerous patients were significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.05)

Expression Analysis of TaNAC69-1 and TtNAMB-2, Wheat NAC Family Transcription Factor Genes Under Abiotic Stress Conditions in Durum Wheat (Triticum turgidum)

NAC-type plant-specific transcription factor genes encode proteins that play important roles in abiotic stress responses, as well as regulation of plant development. In the current study, expression profiles of wheat NAC-type transcription factor genes, TaNAC69-1 and TtNAMB-2, were examined under drought, salt, cold, and heat stress conditions in wheat. Based on reverse transcription quantitative PCR results, TaNAC69-1 was strongly expressed under drought, salinity, and high-temperature stress conditions. Compared to control samples, a quick response at the transcription level of TaNAC69-1 was observed after 3 h of salt treatment with a ninefold upregulation. Highest level of expression was observed at 24 and 48 h posttreatment under heat and salinity treatments, respectively. Meanwhile, expression of TtNAMB-2 was significantly induced by salt and low-temperature stresses. Salt treatment induced expression of TtNAMB-2 and caused a 13-fold increase in transcript copy numbers at 48 h posttreatment. Examination of expression changes under abiotic stresses may provide important information for understanding roles of TaNAC69-1 and TtNAMB-2 genes which might be involved in response to environmental stresses

Antioxidative and physiological responses of two sunflower (Helianthus annuus) cultivars under PEG-mediated drought stress

Drought stress is one of the most important yield-reducing factors in crop production. Sunflower, an oilseed crop, is severely affected by abiotic stress. In this study, 2 sunflower cultivars (Musala and Aydin) were evaluated in terms of various biochemical and physiological responses under 2 different polyethylene glycol-mediated drought stress conditions. Stress-determining parameters such as malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and proline contents were determined. Both cultivars showed similar responses at osmotic potentials of both -0.4 and -0.8 MPa. Aydin was less affected than Musala under these stress conditions. MDA, H2O2, and proline levels were similar at both -0.4 and -0.8 MPa osmotic potentials in the 2 different cultivars. The 2 cultivars differed significantly in ascorbate peroxidase and catalase enzyme activities, which were more prominent in Aydin for both stress levels. However, glutathione reductase activity did not appear to be an essential part of the antioxidative system in either of the cultivars. Engineering antioxidative enzyme levels might provide a potential mechanism to cope with drought stress in sunflower