Identification of AFLP markers linked to Fusarium wilt disease in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]

An experiment was conducted to identify markers linked to Fusarium wilt disease resistance, Parents namely TTB 7 and ICP 8863 were screened using 151 SSRs markers and 16 AFLP primer combinations. Parental screening revealed five SSR primers and 12 AFLP primer combinations polymorphic between parents. Bulk segregant analysis identified five AFLP primer combinations generating seven markers polymorphic between resistant and susceptible bulks while, none of the SSR markers were polymorphic. This indicates that, these markers are putatively linked to wilt disease. Screening of F2 segregating population of cross TTB 7 x ICP 8863 with these putatively linked markers revealed four markers (E-AAT/M-CTG850, ETCG/M-CTT650, E-TCG/M-CTA730 and E-TCG/M-CTT230) which segregated in 3:1 mendelian pattern. Simple linear regression performed on these four markers had identified two markers namely E-TCG/M-CTT650 and E-TCG/M-CTA730 linked to disease

CD98 Increases Renal Epithelial Cell Proliferation by Activating MAPKs

CD98 heavy chain (CD98hc) is a multifunctional transmembrane spanning scaffolding protein whose extracellular domain binds with light chain amino acid transporters (Lats) to form the heterodimeric amino acid transporters (HATs). It also interacts with β1 and β3 integrins by its transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains. This interaction is proposed to be the mechanism whereby CD98 mediates cell survival and growth via currently undefined signaling pathways. In this study, we determined whether the critical function of CD98-dependent amino acid transport also plays a role in cell proliferation and defined the signaling pathways that mediate CD98-dependent proliferation of murine renal inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells. We demonstrate that downregulating CD98hc expression resulted in IMCD cell death. Utilizing overexpression studies of CD98hc mutants that either lacked a cytoplasmic tail or were unable to bind to Lats we showed that CD98 increases serum-dependent cell proliferation by a mechanism that requires the CD98hc cytoplasmic tail. We further demonstrated that CD98-dependent amino acid transport increased renal tubular epithelial cell proliferation by a mechanism that does not require the CD98hc cytoplasmic tail. Both these mechanisms of increased renal tubular epithelial cell proliferation are mediated by Erk and p38 MAPK signaling. Although increased amino transport markedly activated mTor signaling, this pathway did not alter cell proliferation. Thus, these studies demonstrate that in IMCD cells, the cytoplasmic and extracellular domains of CD98hc regulate cell proliferation by distinct mechanisms that are mediated by common MAPK signaling pathways

Na+- and Cl−-coupled active transport of carnitine by the amino acid transporter ATB0,+ from mouse colon expressed in HRPE cells and Xenopus oocytes

ATB0,+ is an amino acid transporter energized by transmembrane gradients of Na+ and Cl− and membrane potential. We cloned this transporter from mouse colon and expressed the clone functionally in mammalian (human retinal pigment epithelial, HRPE) cells and Xenopus laevis oocytes to investigate the interaction of carnitine and its acyl esters with the transporter.When expressed in mammalian cells, the cloned ATB0,+ was able to transport carnitine, propionylcarnitine and acetylcarnitine. The transport process was Na+ and Cl− dependent and inhibitable by the amino acid substrates of the transporter. The Michaelis constant for carnitine was 0.83 ± 0.08 mm and the Hill coefficient for Na+ activation was 1.6 ± 0.1.When expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, the cloned ATB0,+ was able to induce inward currents in the presence of carnitine and propionylcarnitine under voltage-clamped conditions. There was no detectable current in the presence of acetylcarnitine. Carnitine-induced currents were obligatorily dependent on the presence of Na+ and Cl−. The currents were saturable with carnitine and the Michaelis constant was 1.8 ± 0.4 mm. The analysis of Na+- and Cl−-activation kinetics revealed that 2 Na+ and 1 Cl− were involved in the transport of carnitine via the transporter.These studies describe the identification of a novel function for the amino acid transporter ATB0,+. Since this transporter is expressed in the intestinal tract, lung and mammary gland, it is likely to play a significant role in the handling of carnitine in these tissues.A Na+-dependent transport system for carnitine has already been described. This transporter, known as OCTN2 (novel organic cation transporter 2), is expressed in most tissues and transports carnitine with high affinity. It is energized, however, only by a Na+ gradient and membrane potential. In contrast, ATB0,+ is a low-affinity transporter for carnitine, but exhibits much higher concentrative capacity than OCTN2 because of its energization by transmembrane gradients of Na+ and Cl− as well as by membrane potential

Musculoskeletal disorders and mental health-related issues as occupational hazards among dental practitioners in Salem city: A cross-sectional study

Background: Like in any other profession, dental surgeons are also afflicted by many occupational health hazards such as Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) and mental health related issues. Aims: To assess the distribution of MSD and mental health related issues amidst dentists in Salem City according to age, sex and number of working hours per week. Objectives: A survey was organized to check the rate of occurrence of these occupational health hazards among dental practitioners in Salem city. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among one hundred and fifty dentists practicing in Salem City in the form of questionnaire. Dentists were asked about any occupational disease that they suffered related to a musculo–skeletal pain and its location whether in the back, upper limbs or lower limbs. In addition to this,dentists were asked about mental stress that they had experienced. Results: MSD showed higher rate of prevalence compared to mental health related issues. Conclusion: The application of preventive measures is necessary, in view of the high rate of these disorders in the society of dental practitioners