Annotation and BAC/PAC localization of nonredundant ESTs from drought-stressed seedlings of anindica rice

To decipher the genes associated with drought stress response and to identify novel genes in rice, we utilized 1540 high-quality expressed sequence tags (ESTs) for functional annotation and mapping to rice genomic sequences. These ESTs were generated earlier by 3'-end single-pass sequencing of 2000 cDNA clones from normalized cDNA libraries constructed from drought-stressed seedlings of anindica rice. A rice UniGene set of 1025 transcripts was constructed from this collection through the BLASTN algorithm. Putative functions of 559 nonredundant ESTs were identified by BLAST similarity search against public databases. Putative functions were assigned at a stringency E value of 10-6 in BLASTN and BLASTX algorithms. To understand the gene structure and function further, we have utilized the publicly available finished and unfinished rice BAC/PAC (BAC, bacterial artificial chromosome; PAC, P1 artificial chromosome) sequences for similarity search using the BLASTN algorithm. Further, 603 nonredundant ESTs have been mapped to BAC/PAC clones. BAC clones were assigned by a homology of above 95% identity along 90% of EST sequence length in the aligned region. In all, 700 ESTs showed rice EST hits in GenBank. Of the 325 novel ESTs, 128 were localized to BAC clones. In addition, 127 ESTs with identified putative functions but with no homology in IRGSP (International Rice Genome Sequencing Program) BAC/PAC sequences were mapped to the Chinese WGS (whole genome shotgun contigs) draft sequence of the rice genome. Functional annotation uncovered about a hundred candidate ESTs associated with abiotic stress in rice andArabidopsis that were previously reported based on microarray analysis and other studies. This study is a major effort in identifying genes associated with drought stress response and will serve as a resource to rice geneticists and molecular biologists

Oral administration of bovine milk-derived extracellular vesicles induces senescence in the primary tumor but accelerates cancer metastasis

The concept that extracellular vesicles (EVs) from the diet can be absorbed by the intestinal tract of the consuming organism, be bioavailable in various organs, and in-turn exert phenotypic changes is highly debatable. Here, we isolate EVs from both raw and commercial bovine milk and characterize them by electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, western blotting, quantitative proteomics and small RNA sequencing analysis. Orally administered bovine milk-derived EVs survive the harsh degrading conditions of the gut, in mice, and is subsequently detected in multiple organs. Milk-derived EVs orally administered to mice implanted with colorectal and breast cancer cells reduce the primary tumor burden. Intriguingly, despite the reduction in primary tumor growth, milk-derived EVs accelerate metastasis in breast and pancreatic cancer mouse models. Proteomic and biochemical analysis reveal the induction of senescence and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in cancer cells upon treatment with milk-derived EVs. Timing of EV administration is critical as oral administration after resection of the primary tumor reverses the pro-metastatic effects of milk-derived EVs in breast cancer models. Taken together, our study provides context-based and opposing roles of milk-derived EVs as metastasis inducers and suppressors

Specialised Pheromone and Lure Application Technology (SPLAT-Tuta): Novel Approach for the Management of Tomato Leaf Miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyr.)

The second most popular and widely cultivated vegetable in the world after potatoes is the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum M.).  Tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is one of the major invasive pests of tomato which is a destructive pest of tomato in field as well as greenhouse condition. Novel SPLAT (Specialized Pheromone & Lure Application Technology) for Tuta absoluta is a proprietary base matrix formulation of biologically inert materials used to control the release of semiochemicals and/or odors with or without pesticides. To check the efficiency of SPLAT technique three treatments were taken. When comparing the SPLAT field and conventional farmers practices field, SPLAT applied field (32.80 tonnes per ha) performed far superior than conventional field (21.50 tonnes per ha) in respective of leaf minor infestation and yield. Specialised Pheromone and Lure Application Technology (SPLAT) adoption favours sustainable pest management and reduces plant protection cost to the farmers

Synthesis of bis-1,2,3-triazolo-bridged unsymmetrical pyrrolobenzodiazepine trimers via ‘click’ chemistry and their DNA-binding studies

New conceivable synthetic approach for the construction of nitrogen-rich 1,2,3-triazolo-pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine (TPBD, 3a–c) trimers has been developed. The first example of a bis-1,2,3-triazolo-bridged unsymmetrical PBD trimer has been successfully synthesized by employing a CuAAC type ‘click’ chemistry protocol. This efficient route generates tri-imine functionality in a single molecule. It has been envisaged that such tri-imine functionalities could bring in efficient interaction with DNA in a sequence-selective manner in the minor groove of duplex DNA. One of the representative analogues 3c has shown improved DNA-binding ability (&#x0394;T<SUB>m</SUB>23.7 °C) by thermal denaturation studies using CT-DNA and this data is also supported by molecular modeling (MD) studies