Differential Gene Expression in Two Nodule Zones of Soybean

Soybean, a leguminous plant and rhizobia establishes symbiotic relationships, forming root nodules. Nodule organogenesis starts with cortical cell division forming infection and parenchyma zones which houses N-fixing bacteria and block O2 for nitrogenase enzyme function, respectively. The mechanism by which root cortical cells give rise to two structurally and functionally different nodule tissues is not known. One approach to address this knowledge gap is to evaluate global gene expression patterns in these two tissue types during nodule development. Using INTACT method, we developed two promoters, ENOD2 (nodule parenchyma) and ENOD40 (infection zone) driven nuclear envelope biotin tagging constructs and isolated nuclei from targeted nodule zones with at least 88% purity and more than 50% efficiency. Nuclear transcriptomic validation using pathway analysis showed that cell wall, and lignin metabolic pathway related genes were highly enriched in nodule parenchyma while transport, and amino acid biosynthesis related genes were highly enriched in infection zone/nodule primordium. These were consistent with the currently known functions of these nodule tissue types. Further analysis with transcription factor families showed that members belonging to NIN-like transcription factor family typically associated with symbiosis were highly enriched in nodule primordium/infection zone at 5 and 10dpi (days post inoculation). Hormonal signaling and biosynthesis pathway analysis showed auxin signaling gene (ARF and AUX/IAA family) enriched in infection zone and cytokinin signaling gene related to HK family enriched in nodule parenchyma at 14dpi. This might possibly indicate tissue specific complementary roles of auxin and cytokinin in nodule development. Similarly, an auxin response factor (GLYMA17G37580, potential orthologue of Arabidopsis ARF5) was enriched in ENOD2- and ENOD40- promoter derived tissue at 7 and 10dpi respectively which indicated potential tissue specific roles for auxin during nodule development. Although we found expected expression pattern in two different tissue types, the statistical significance of the difference was \u3c 0.03 due to variation between replicates of the same sample. It is expected that the use of additional replicates should provide more conclusive results. Ultimately, this knowledge is expected in giving a better understanding of specific genes crucial for development and function of two nodule zones

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel series of 2-(2'-isopropyl-5'-methylphenoxy)acetyl amino acids and dipeptides

A series of new 2-(2'-isopropyl-5'-methylphenoxy)acetyl amino acids and peptides have been synthesized by coupling the 2-(2'-isopropyl-5'-methylphenoxy)acetic acid with amino acid methyl esters/dipeptides using DCC as coupling agent and TEA as base. The structures were elucidated by elemental analyses as well as FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and MS spectral data. The newly synthesized compounds were also evaluated for antibacterial and antifungal activities. Compounds (2, 6 and 15) were found to exhibit potent antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus and compounds (13, 14 and 16) were found to be potent antifungal agents against pathogenic Candida albicans.KEY WORDS: Phenoxy acetic acid, Amino acids, Dipeptides, Antibacterial activity, Antifungal activity.Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2006, 20(2), 235-245

Prva potpuna sinteza i biološko vrednovanje himenamida E

A new potent bioactive, proline-rich cyclic heptapeptide hymenamide E (13) was synthesized using the solution phase technique by cyclization of the linear peptide Boc-Phe-Pro-Thr-Thr-Pro-Tyr-Phe-OMe (12) after proper deprotection at carboxyl and amino terminals. Linear peptide segment was prepared by coupling the tripeptide unit Boc-Phe-Pro-Thr-OH (10a) with the tetrapeptide unit Thr-Pro-Tyr-Phe-OMe (11a) using dicyclohexylcarbodiimide as the coupling agent and N-methylmorpholine as the base. Structures of all new compounds were characterized by IR, 1H NMR spectral data as well as elemental analyses. In addition, the structure of compound 13 was verified by 13C NMR, fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The newly synthesized cyclopeptide was screened for its antibacterial, antifungal and anthelmintic activities against eight pathogenic microbes and two earthworm species. Compound 13 showed potent antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Ganoderma species comparable to that of griseofulvin as a reference drug and potent anthelmintic activity against earthworms Megascoplex konkanensis and Eudrilus species in comparison to piperazine citrate.Novi biološki aktivni ciklički heptapeptid himenamid E (13) sintetiziran je ciklizacijom linearnog peptida Boc-Phe-Pro-Thr-Thr-Pro-Tyr-Phe-OMe (12) nakon uklanjanja zaštitnih skupina sa C-terminalnih i N-terminalnih aminokiselina. Linearni peptidni segment pripravljen je spajanjem tripeptidne jedinice Boc-Phe-Pro-Thr-OH (10a) s tetrapeptidnom jedinicom Thr-Pro-Tyr-Phe-OMe (11a) u prisutnosti dicikloheksilkarbodiimida i N-metilmorfolina kao baze. Strukture novih spojeva potvrđene su IR i 1H NMR spektroskopijom i elementarnom analizom, a struktura spoja 13 i 13C NMR, spektroskopijom masa i diferencijalnom pretražnom kalorimetrijom. Novosintetizirani ciklopeptid testiran je na antibakterijsko, antifungalno i anthelmintičko djelovanje na osam patogenih mikroorganizama i dva parazita. Spoj 13 snažno djeluje antifungalno na gljivice Candida albicans i vrste Ganoderma i anthelmintički na nametnike Megascoplex konkanensis i vrste Eudrilus. Kao poredbene ljekovite tvari uporabljeni su grizeofulvin i piperazin citrat

Prevalence of G6PD deficiency versus oxidizing drugs: a survey in the tertiary care hospital

Background: G6PD deficiency is distributed worldwide including India and is involved in accidental hemolysis and anemia by inadvertent use of oxidizing drugs. Awareness of community wise occurrence of G6PD deficiency can help in screening beforehand.Methods: On 150 community wise classified, non-anemic, non- hemolysed (in recent past) visitors of pathological laboratory attached to C U Shah Medical College, Surendranagar, Gujarat, Crayman’s hemoglobin colorimetric kit (item no 700540) was used to estimate normal or below normal status of G6PD.Results: 10 people (6.6% of population) were found deficient – 7 (4 male + 3 female) from Harijan community, 2 (1 male + 1 female) from Rabbari community and 1 (1 male + 0 female) from Lohana community.Conclusions: While applying oxidizing drugs in a person of Harijan community (prevalence 7 out of total 26, i.e. 27%), extra caution is required, esp. if a person otherwise vulnerable (e.g. alcoholic). For other less represented communities, larger stratified sampling is required

Čvrsta disperzija meloksikama: faktorijalno dizajnirani dozirani pripravak za gerijatrijsku populaciju

The objective of the present work was to improve the dissolution properties of the poorly water-soluble drug meloxicam by preparing solid dispersions with hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), mannitol and polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000 and to develop a dosage form for geriatric population. Differential scanning calorimetry, X–ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to investigate the solid-state physical structure of the prepared solid dispersions. Higher in vitro dissolution of solid dispersions was recorded compared to their corresponding physical mixtures and the pure drug. PEG 4000 in 1:9 drug to carrier ratio exhibited the highest drug release (100.2%), followed by mannitol (98.2%) and HEC (89.5%) in the same ratio. Meloxicam-PEG 4000 solid dispersion was formulated into suspension and optimization was carried out by 23 factorial design. Formulations containing higher levels of methyl cellulose and higher levels of either sodium citrate or Tween 80 exhibited the highest drug release.Cilj rada bio je poboljšati topljivost meloksikama u vodi pripravom čvrstih disperzija s hidroksietilcelulozom (HEC), manitolom i polietilen glikolom 4000 (PEG 4000) te razviti dozirani pripravaka za gerijatrijsku populaciju. Za ispitivanje fizičke strukture pripravljenih čvrstih disperzija korištene su diferencijalna pretražna kalorimetrija, difraktometrija rentgentskim zrakama, FTIR i pretražna elektronska mikroskopija. Čvrste disperzije su u in vitro uvjetima pokazale bolju topljivost u odnosu na fizičku smjesu i čistu ljekovitu tvar. Najbolje oslobađanje lijeka (100,2%). postignuto je iz disperzija s PEG 4000 (omjer ljekovite tvari i nosača 1:9). Slijede manitol (98,2%) i HEC (89,5%) (isti omjer meloksikama i polimera). Čvrsta disperzija meloksikama s PEG 4000 prevedena je u suspenziju te optimirana 23 faktorijalnim dizajnom. Najbolje oslobađanje ljekovite tvari postignuto je iz pripravaka koji sadrže veći udio etilceluloze i natrijevog citrata, odnosno Tween 80

Enteral Iron Supplementation in Preterm or Low Birth Weight Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Iron is needed for growth and development of infants globally, but preterm and low birth weight (LBW) infants are at risk for severe iron deficiencies. To assess the effect of enteral iron supplementation on mortality, morbidity, growth, and neurodevelopment outcomes in preterm or LBW infants fed human milk. Secondary objectives were to assess the effect on biomarkers and dose and timing. METHODS Data sources include PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases to March 16, 2021. Study Selection includes controlled or quasi experimental study designs. Two reviewers independently extracted data. RESULTS Eight trials (eleven reports; 1093 participants, 7 countries) were included. No trials reported mortality. At latest follow-up, there was little effect on infection (very low certainty evidence, 4 studies, 401 participants, relative risk [RR] 0.98, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.56 to 1.73, I2 = 0.00%) and necrotising enterocolitis (3 studies, 375 participants, RR 1.47, 95% CI 0.68 to 3.20, I2 = 0.00%). There was an increase in linear growth (length) (moderate certainty evidence, 3 studies, 384 participants, mean difference 0.69 cm, 95% CI 0.01 to 1.37, I2 = 0%) but little effect on weight, head circumference, or cognitive development. There was an improvement in anemia (moderate certainty evidence, 2 studies, 381 participants, RR 0.25, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.62, I2 = 0.00%) but no effect on serum ferritin. Limitations include heterogeneity in the included studies. CONCLUSIONS There are important benefits for human milk-fed preterm and LBW infants from enteral iron supplementation. However, more randomized control trials are required to improve the certainty of evidence.publishedVersio

High light and temperature reduce photosynthetic efficiency through different mechanisms in the C4 model Setaria viridis.

Funder: start-up funding from Donald Danforth Plant Science CenterC4 plants frequently experience high light and high temperature conditions in the field, which reduce growth and yield. However, the mechanisms underlying these stress responses in C4 plants have been under-explored, especially the coordination between mesophyll (M) and bundle sheath (BS) cells. We investigated how the C4 model plant Setaria viridis responded to a four-hour high light or high temperature treatment at photosynthetic, transcriptomic, and ultrastructural levels. Although we observed a comparable reduction of photosynthetic efficiency in high light or high temperature treated leaves, detailed analysis of multi-level responses revealed important differences in key pathways and M/BS specificity responding to high light and high temperature. We provide a systematic analysis of high light and high temperature responses in S. viridis, reveal different acclimation strategies to these two stresses in C4 plants, discover unique light/temperature responses in C4 plants in comparison to C3 plants, and identify potential targets to improve abiotic stress tolerance in C4 crops

Anti-Quorum Sensing Compounds from Rare Actinobacteria

Actinobacteria have exceptional metabolic diversity and are a rich source of several useful bioactive natural products. Most of these have been derived from Streptomyces, the dominant genus of Actinobacteria. Hence, it is necessary to explore rare actinobacteria for the production of novel bioactive compounds. Amongst the novel metabolites, anti-quorum-sensing agents, which can curb infection without killing pathogens, are gaining importance. Not many studies are targeting anti-quorum-sensing agents from rare actinobacteria and this research area is still in its infancy. This field may lead to novel bioactive compounds that can act against bacterial quorum-sensing systems. These agents can attenuate the virulence of the pathogens without challenging their growth, thereby preventing the emergence of resistant strains and facilitating the elimination of pathogens by the host’s immune system. Therefore, this chapter describes the general characteristics and habitats of rare actinobacteria, isolation and cultivation methods, the methods of screening rare actinobacteria for anti-quorum sensing compounds, methods of evaluation of their properties, and future prospects in drug discovery

Particle density and transition temperature of weakly interacting quantum gases

An expression for single particle density of weakly interacting trapped quantum gases has been obtained for Fermi gas at all temperatures and for Bose gas above the transition temperature (Tc). This expression has been used to study the effect of interaction on density of harmonically trapped Bose gas. It is found that interaction has a large effect on the density at centre of the trap as observed experimentally. The same expression for density is also used to obtain the transition temperature of homogeneous Bose gas. Experimental results for Tc has been re-analysed on the basis of perturbative and non-perturbative theories. It is found that both the theories fit experimental data equally well in low-density regimes