Synthesis, gene silencing, and molecular modeling studies of 4 '-C-aminomethyl-2 '-O-methyl modified small interfering RNAs.

The linear syntheses of 4′-C-aminomethyl-2′-O-methyl uridine and cytidine nucleoside phosphoramidites were achieved using glucose as the starting material. The modified RNA building blocks were incorporated into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) by employing solid phase RNA synthesis. Thermal melting studies showed that the modified siRNA duplexes exhibited slightly lower Tm (1 °C/modification) compared to the unmodified duplex. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the 4′-C-aminomethyl-2′-O-methyl modified nucleotides adopt South-type conformation in a siRNA duplex, thereby altering the stacking and hydrogen-bonding interactions. These modified siRNAs were also evaluated for their gene silencing efficiency in HeLa cells using a luciferase-based reporter assay. The results indicate that the modifications are well tolerated in various positions of the passenger strand and at the 3′ end of the guide strand but are less tolerated in the seed region of the guide strand. The modified siRNAs exhibited prolonged stability in human serum compared to unmodified siRNA. This work has implications for the use of 4′-C-aminomethyl-2′-O-methyl modified nucleotides to overcome some of the challenges associated with the therapeutic utilities of siRNAs

Effect of dates of planting and spacing on growth and yield characteristics of ginger (Zingiber officinale Ros.) var. IISR Mahima

A field trial was carried out with an objective to determine the optimum date of rhizome planting and spacing to obtain good growth and yield of ginger var. ‘IISR Mahima’ at Dapoli (Maharashtra). The experiment was laid out in split plot design with planting dates as main plot treatments (15th April, 1st May, 15th May, 30th May and 15th June) and intra row spacing as sub plot treatments (25 cm × 15 cm, 25 cm × 25 cm and 25 cm × 35 cm) in three replications. It is evident from the results that dates of planting had significant effect on almost all the characters under study. Planting of rhizomes on 15th April showed better growth, yield and yield attributing characters. Among spacing levels, the closer spacing of 25 cm × 15 cm recorded significantly higher plant height, green and dry ginger yield. The interaction treatments showed significant effect for most of the characters except for number of days required for sprouting, per cent sprouting and finger characters. Among the various treatment combinations planting on 15th April and 25 cm × 15 cm spacing exhibited higher plant height, yield of green (40.16 t ha-1) and dry ginger (8.58 t ha-1). Planting after 15th May with wider spacing 25 cm × 35 cm resulted in lower yield. &nbsp

Effect of dates of planting on growth, yield and quality of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe)

The trial was carried out during 2008–09 to study the ideal date of planting and spacing to obtain better growth, yield and quality of ginger crop var. ‘IISR Mahima’. The experiment was laid out in Split Plot Design with dates of planting as main plot treatment (15th April, 1st May, 15th May, 30th May and 15th June) and three treatments of spacing as sub plot treatment (35 cm × 25 cm, 25 cm × 25 cm and 15 cm × 25 cm) with three replications. The observations were recorded on dry recovery (%), harvest index, oil and crude fibre content. Dates of planting had significant effect on all the characters studied. April 15th planting showed better oil content. Among spacings, the spacing of 35 cm × 25 cm gave highest dry recovery. The closer spacing of 15 cm × 25 cm recorded higher harvest index. It was observed that spacing had no significant effect on quality attributes viz., oil and crude fibre content. The treatment combination of 15th April planting and 35 cm × 25 cm spacing exhibited higher dry recovery. The treatment combination of 15th April planting and 15 cm × 25 cm spacing showed maximum harvest index. Economics of interactions revealed maximum net returns of Rs. 559,690.1 ha-1 with benefit cost (B:C) ratio of 2.67 for the treatment combination of 15th April planting and 15 cm × 25 cm spacing. &nbsp

Standardization of stem thickness and length for harvesting cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum J. Pres.) bark

An experiment was conducted during 2008–09, 2009–10 & 2010–11 at Dapoli (Maharashtra) to study the effect of stem thickness and stem length for harvesting cinnamon bark. Twelve treatment combinations viz., two genotypes; Konkan Tej (G1), ACC-11 (G2), two lengths of stem; 50 cm (L1), 100 cm (L2) and three thicknesses of stem; 1–2 cm (T1), 2–3 cm (T2), 5–6 cm (T3) were used for experimentation. There were no significant differences in bark thickness before and after drying, fresh and dry weights of quill in the genotypes studied and length of cinnamon stem selected for bark extraction. Significantly highest bark thicknesses before (1.14 mm) and after (0.82 mm) drying and fresh (111.21 g) and dry (56.64 g) weights of quill were recorded in T3 (5–6 cm thick stem) treatment. Interaction effect of genotype, length and thickness of stem selected for coppicing indicate significant differences in bark thickness before and after drying and fresh and dry weights of quill. Significantly maximum bark thickness before drying (1.74 mm) was recorded in treatment combination G2L1T3, which was at par with G1L2T3 (1.72 mm), G2L2T3 (1.71 mm) and G1L1T3 (1.67 mm). The treatment combination G1L2T3 produced significantly highest bark thickness after drying (1.33 mm) fresh (223.31 g) and dry (117.28 g) weights of quill respectively. Significantly low bark thickness before drying (1.00 mm) fresh (49.13 g) and dry (22.92 g) weights of quill were recorded in treatment combination G1L1T1, which were at par with treatment combination G2L1T1. Higher oil percentage was observed in 5–6 cm thick stem i.e. Konkan Tej (3%) and ACC-11 (2.50%) respectively. Thus for coppicing of cinnamon for extraction of bark, harvesting of 5-6 cm thick stem is recommended. &nbsp

Standardization of stem thickness and length for harvesting cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum J. Pres.) bark

An experiment was conducted during 2008–09, 2009–10 & 2010–11 at Dapoli (Maharashtra) to study the effect of stem thickness and stem length for harvesting cinnamon bark. Twelve treatment combinations viz., two genotypes; Konkan Tej (G1), ACC-11 (G2), two lengths of stem; 50 cm (L1), 100 cm (L2) and three thicknesses of stem; 1–2 cm (T1), 2–3 cm (T2), 5–6 cm (T3) were used for experimentation. There were no significant differences in bark thickness before and after drying, fresh and dry weights of quill in the genotypes studied and length of cinnamon stem selected for bark extraction. Significantly highest bark thicknesses before (1.14 mm) and after (0.82 mm) drying and fresh (111.21 g) and dry (56.64 g) weights of quill were recorded in T3 (5–6 cm thick stem) treatment. Interaction effect of genotype, length and thickness of stem selected for coppicing indicate significant differences in bark thickness before and after drying and fresh and dry weights of quill. Significantly maximum bark thickness before drying (1.74 mm) was recorded in treatment combination G2L1T3, which was at par with G1L2T3 (1.72 mm), G2L2T3 (1.71 mm) and G1L1T3 (1.67 mm). The treatment combination G1L2T3 produced significantly highest bark thickness after drying (1.33 mm) fresh (223.31 g) and dry (117.28 g) weights of quill respectively. Significantly low bark thickness before drying (1.00 mm) fresh (49.13 g) and dry (22.92 g) weights of quill were recorded in treatment combination G1L1T1, which were at par with treatment combination G2L1T1. Higher oil percentage was observed in 5–6 cm thick stem i.e. Konkan Tej (3%) and ACC-11 (2.50%) respectively. Thus for coppicing of cinnamon for extraction of bark, harvesting of 5-6 cm thick stem is recommended. &nbsp

Incorporation of 4'-C-aminomethyl-2'-O-methylthymidine into DNA by thermophilic DNA polymerases.

The dual modified nucleotide 4′-C-aminomethyl-2′-O-methylthymidine 5′-triphosphate was synthesized and enzymatically incorporated into DNA by the thermophilic DNA polymerases Pfu and Therminator III. The dual ribose modification imparted increased exonuclease resistance to DNA compared to the well-known 2′-O-methyl modification

Two Chitotriose-Specific Lectins Show Anti-Angiogenesis, Induces Caspase-9-Mediated Apoptosis and Early Arrest of Pancreatic Tumor Cell Cycle.

The antiproliferative activity of two chito-specific agglutinins purified from Benincasa hispida (BhL) and Datura innoxia (DiL9) of different plant family origin was investigated on various cancer cell lines. Both lectins showed chitotriose specificity, by inhibiting lectin hemagglutinating activity. On further studies, it was revealed that these agglutinins caused remarkable concentration-dependent antiproliferative effect on human pancreatic cancerous cells but not on the normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells even at higher doses determined using MTT assay. The GI50 values were approximately 8.4 μg ml(-1) (0.247 μM) and 142 μg ml(-1) (14.8 μM) for BhL and DiL9, respectively, against PANC-1 cells. The growth inhibitory effect of these lectins on pancreatic cancer cells were shown to be a consequence of lectin cell surface binding and triggering G0/G1 arrest, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, sustained increase of the intracellular calcium release and the apoptotic signal is amplified by activation of caspases executing cell death. Interestingly, these lectins also showed anti-angiogenic activity by disrupting the endothelial tubulogenesis. Therefore, we report for the first time two chito-specific lectins specifically binding to tumor glycans; they can be considered to be a class of molecules with antitumor activity against pancreatic cancer cells mediated through caspase dependent mitochondrial apoptotic pathway

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Not AvailableThe root distribution pattern of 3 grape rootstocks, Dog Ridge, Salt Creek, and St. George, grafted with Thompson Seedless grapevine was studied at the National Research Centre for Grapes in Pune, India. The soil is heavy black cotton soil (vertisol) with a pH of> 8.0. Roots of different thicknesses ( 10 mm) were examined at horizontal distances of 0-30 cm, 31-60 cm, 61-90 cm, 91-120 cm, and 121-150 cm away from the trunk and also to depths of 0-30 cm, 31-60 cm, and 61-90 cm from the surface. Among the different categories of roots, Dog Ridge put forth the maximum root length in the 10 mm) up to a 60-cm distance, beyond which there was no spread in any of the rootstocks. At a depth of 0-30 cm, Dog Ridge put forth the greatest root mass, followed by Salt Creek and St. George. However, the highest root mass was recorded in all of the rootstocks at depths of 31-60 cm. Dry matter accumulation was highest in Thompson Seedless grafted on Dog Ridge, and Salt Creek was next. Dog Ridge rootstock grafted vines had more dry matter in the roots, trunk, primary arms, and canes while St. George had the least dry matter in roots.Not Availabl