In silico Analysis of whole-Genome of Solanum lycopersicum for Alpha-Crystallin Domains Associated with Heat Stress Tolerance

Living organisms alter their gene-expression patterns to withstand stressful conditions. Drought, salinity, heat and chilling are potent abiotic stresses causing an alteration in gene expression. Among these, high temperature stress stimulates Heat Shock Transcription Factors (HSF) which activate heat shock promoters, thus turning on the heat shock genes. Heat shock proteins are, therefore, products of heat shock genes and are classified as per their molecular weight, including small heat shock proteins (sHsps). Hsps are chaperones playing an important role in stress tolerance. These consist of a conserved domain, flanked by N- and C-terminal regions termed the alphacrystallin domain (ACD), and are widely distributed in living beings. Their role as chaperones is to help the other proteins in protein-folding and prevent irreversible protein aggregation. The conserved domains in sHsps are essential for heat-stress tolerance and for their molecular chaperone activity, enabling plant survival under increasing temperatures, leading to adaptations needed for coping with extremes climatic conditions. The present study focusses on identification of ACDs in the whole-genome of Solanum lycopersicum. A multinational consortium, International Tomato Annotation Group (ITAG), funded in part by the EU-SOL Project, provides annotation of the whole genome of S. lycopersicumavailable in the public domain. We used several in silico methods for exploring alpha-crystallin domains in all the chromosomes of S. lycopersicum. Surprisingly, these ACDs were found to be present in all the chromosomes excepting Chromosome 4; these are highly conserved in sHsps and are related to heat tolerance

In silico analysis of whole genome of Solanum lycopersicum for alpha-crystallin domains associated with heat stress tolerance.

Not AvailableLiving organisms alter their gene-expression patterns to withstand stressful conditions. Drought, salinity, heat and chilling are potent abiotic stresses causing an alteration in gene expression. Among these, high temperature stress stimulates Heat Shock Transcription Factors (HSF) which activate heat shock promoters, thus turning on the heat shock genes. Heat shock proteins are, therefore, products of heat shock genes and are classified as per their molecular weight, including small heat shock proteins (sHsps). Hsps are chaperones playing an important role in stress tolerance. These consist of a conserved domain, flanked by N- and C-terminal regions termed the alphacrystallin domain (ACD), and are widely distributed in living beings. Their role as chaperones is to help the other proteins in protein-folding and prevent irreversible protein aggregation. The conserved domains in sHsps are essential for heat-stress tolerance and for their molecular chaperone activity, enabling plant survival under increasing temperatures, leading to adaptations needed for coping with extremes climatic conditions. The present study focusses on identification of ACDs in the whole-genome of Solanum lycopersicum. A multinational consortium, International Tomato Annotation Group (ITAG), funded in part by the EU-SOL Project, provides annotation of the whole genome of S. lycopersicum available in the public domain. We used several in silico methods for exploring alpha-crystallin domains in all the chromosomes of S. lycopersicum. Surprisingly, these ACDs were found to be present in all the chromosomes excepting Chromosome 4; these are highly conserved in sHsps and are related to heat tolerance.Not Availabl

Iron-Doped, Mullite-Impregnated PVDF Composite: An Alternative Separator for a High Charge Storage Ceramic Capacitor

In this communication, the formation mechanism of the electroactive phase, morphology and the dielectric activities of increasing doping concentration (0-1.2M.W % of mullite) of Fe2+ ion-doped, mullite-impregnated polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanocomposite have been investigated. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) confirms the formation of an electroactive phase, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that the phase increases simultaneously and attains the maximum increment of 2.6 times compared to pristine PVDF. X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra also agreed well with the -phase increment behaviour and also confirmed the presence of required mullite phases. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images indicate the strong interaction between the polymer matrix and different concentrations of Fe2+ ion-doped mullite particles, resulting in enhanced electroactive phase formation and large dielectric constant of the nanocomposite films followed by significant low dielectric loss with high ac conductivity compared to pristine PVDF films at room temperature. This doped polymer composite can be used as a high dielectric separator and, using this separator, we have successfully fabricated a high-charge-storage device. This paper also demonstrates that the loading of conductive Fe2+ ions within the highly insulating mullite matrix has a critical concentration for the enhancement and nucleation of the electroactive phase of the PVDF polymer. In this critical concentration, the highest formation of a network and maximum numbers of homogeneously distributed iron-doped mullite (FeM) particles in PVDF matrix improves the effective interfacial polarization by Maxwell-Wagner-Sillar (MWS) polarization effect which is responsible for the enhancement of dielectric constant and ac conductivity followed by significant tangent loss. So, it can be concluded that the incorporation of Fe2+-doped mullite into PVDF matrix is an effective way to fabricate a high dielectric separator of high-charge-storage electronic devices

Not Available

Not AvailablePlants are exposed to a wide range of stresses and they respond to these stressed conditions by the activation of stress responsive genes. Microsatellites occur at thousands of locations in expressed regions, additionally, they have a higher mutation rate than other areas of DNA leading to genetic markers. A computational method was developed to capture exact repeat motifs in EST sequences of Solanum melongena and extract the sequences. This mathematical algorithm based repeat detection program searches for perfect repeats in the EST sequences without the need to specify the pre-defined repeat pattern for di, tri, tetra-, upto octa repeat with the exception of mono nucleotides. Hexa repeat motifs were abundantly available followed by tetra and di repeats. The identified EST derived markers with repeat motif can be used to identify the precise inheritance pattern of the expressed region. The redundant ESTs were filtered and 121 unique ESTs in S. melongena were found to have potential markers. These were spanned across 19 major proteins superfamilies having conserved domains associated with abiotic stress tolerance. These robust and potential EST derived markers are linked to genes that encode for specific traits providing tolerance against abiotic stresses which is useful in marker-assisted breeding programs.Not Availabl

Identification of dehydrin markers in Capsicum annuum for development of drought tolerant crops in changing environment

Not AvailableAim: Dehydrins contribute to drought stress tolerance in plants. Identification of dehydrin markers and incorporating in plant breeding programmes is essential for improving drought tolerance. This study focus on identifying markers linked to dehydrin protein for enhancing drought tolerance in Capsicum annuum. Methodology: The publically available 1,15,000 plus EST collection of C. annuum were explored for identifying the presence of markers. A computer program has been developed to read and analyse large fragments of nucleotide sequences and for locating the microsatellite repeat motifs in the EST collections of C. annuum. The program searches for exact motifs, a string of repeated units, with all possible combinations of motif occurrences. Results: Based on conserved protein domains, several ESTs were identified with potential markers. Among them, one-third was predominated by dehydrin marker also having high sequence similarity. Three dehydrin markers found to be highly conserved and robust and was associated at high frequency with the DHN protein. Interpretation: The potential dehydrin markers are directly linked to genes that encode trait specific characteristics and are much useful in marker-assisted breeding programs for imparting drought tolerance

Synthesis and Property of Copper-Impregnated alpha-MnO2 Semiconductor Quantum Dots

Because of the superior optical and electrical properties, copper-impregnated size tuneable high-temperature stable manganese dioxide semiconductor quantum dots (SQDs) have been successfully synthesized by a modified chemical synthesis technique. Their size-dependent dielectric properties, semiconducting properties, and current voltage (I-V) characteristics have been investigated. X-ray diffraction pattern and Raman spectra confirmed that the required phase is present. Because of the different sintering temperature tuneable size of SQDs has been found and confirmed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy. The band gap energy of the material is found to be 1.25-1.67 eV, measured from Tauc plot using UV-vis absorbance spectrum and their semiconducting properties have been confirmed by the non linear current voltage (I-V) behavior. Most intense green emission peak of photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy confirms the oxygen vacancy defect state. The stoke shifting of Raman spectra, UV absorption, and PL emission are the footprint of quantum confinement effect. Incorporation of a little amount of Cu in tetragonal hollandite structure of alpha-MnO2 generates strain within that structure. This leads to create sufficient crystal defect state as well as rise in dielectric constant accompanied with low dielectric loss and higher ac conductivity. All these highly desirable properties make the SQDs a potential candidate for developing multifunctional photo-electronic devices. Owing to the tuneable band gap and electronic transport of the SQDs, we realized that the controllable size paves the way for designing SQDs possessing unique properties for optical and electronic device applications. Using this material as a high dielectric separator, a high-performance supercapacitor has been successfully fabricated which can light up 15 light-emitting diodes for 47 min 23 s after charging them only for 30 s

Association of specific p53 polymorphisms with keratosis in individuals exposed to arsenic through drinking water in West Bengal, India

Although, more than six million people are endemically exposed to inorganic arsenic in West Bengal, India by drinking heavily contaminated groundwater, only about 300,000 people show arsenic induced skin lesions. This suggests that genetic variability plays an important role in arsenic induced skin lesions and skin cancers. Arsenic induced keratosis is considered as a possible precancerous state of in situ carcinoma. Several reports have suggested the role of p53 polymorphisms as potential marker for risk assessment of different types of cancers. This prompted us to study the association of three p53 polymorphisms with arsenic induced keratosis in a population exposed to arsenic through drinking water. A total of 366 unrelated individuals (177 individuals with arsenic induced keratosis and 189 individuals with no arsenic induced skin lesions) were recruited from North 24 Parganas, Nadia and Murshidabad districts between January 2003 and February 2005 for the study of the genotypic distribution of three p53 polymorphisms (16 bp duplication at intron 3, codon 72 Arg/Pro and G > A at intron 6 [nt 13,494]) by PCR-RFLP. The arginine homozygous genotype at codon 72, and homozygous genotype of no duplication polymorphism at intron 3 were over represented in the individuals with keratosis compared with individuals with no skin lesions (OR = 2.086; 95% CI = 1.318–3.299 and OR = 2.086; 95% CI = 1.257–3.457, respectively). This study indicates that individuals carrying the arginine homozygous genotype at codon 72, and/or no duplication homozygous genotype at intron 3 are at risk for the development of arsenic induced keratosis

Effect of Homeopathic Dilutions of Cuprum Arsenicosum on the Electrical Properties of Poly(Vinylidene Fluoride-Co-Hexafluoropropylene)

Background We report the effects of nanoparticles in homeopathic preparations of copper salts on the electrical properties of polymer film. Previous work showed that the incorporation of metal-derived homeopathic medicines increases the dielectric constant and alternating current (AC) conductivity of an electroactive polymer film that is commonly used as a capacitor in the electronic industry. We report here the effect of dilution of one homeopathic medicine, Cuprum arsenicosum (CuAs), at 200C potency on the electrical properties of the polymer film of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene). Methods CuAs 200c was incorporated in the film by the solution casting method. The electrical characteristics were measured at different frequencies using an inductance, capacitance, and resistance meter. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was performed to detect phase change in the polymer film dueto the incorporation of CuAs. Morphology and particle size were studied using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Results At 10 kHz frequency, both dielectric constant and AC conductivity increased approximately 18 times for the polymer film when incorporated with 2 mL CuAs at 200C potency. FTIR indicated the increase in conducting phase, while FESEM and EDX confirmed the presence of spherical CuAs particles. Conclusion The incorporation of CuAs in the electroactive polymer film enhances the conductivity and dielectric constant. We conclude that these changes arise from the change in phase of the polymer film, and because of the presence of two different metals that affects the interfacial polarization