The effects of free amino acids profiles on seeds germination/dormancy and seedlings development of two genetically different cultivars of Yemeni Pomegranates

Plant seeds used rely on a wide range of internal mechanisms and physio-chemical factors to ensure their germination under favorable environmental conditions. Most plant seeds have complex process of germination, including water, oxygen, temperature availability, genome-wide gene expression, signal transduction, hormones stimulations, inhibitors removal and catalytic protein synthesis. In addition, influences of seeds nutrient values such as, protein, lipids, sugars and free amino acids have a special importance. Regarding, seeds free amino acids. Discussion of these individual factors needs to be put in context of their role in germination processes. Regarding, free amino acids seed storage, there is limited information about their relevant functions in activation and/or deactivation of required metabolic mechanisms and interactive compounds involved in this process in commercial plant cultivars. Therefore, current study was aimed to determine the probable influence of free amino acid compositions of seeds on germination process of two different (Punica granatum L.) pomegranate cultivars including wild type Automi cultivar and edible Khazemi cultivar. In particular, we focused on the impact of amino acids contents variations on germination process and associated AAs compositional changes during various stages of germination and seedlings establishment. Amino acid analysis using HPLC detected all the essential and non-essential amino acids in the raw seeds of the studied cultivars, Automi and Khazemi along with AAs compositional changes occurred during different stages of seed germination. These AAs have been extensively analyzed in the context of their role in dormancy breaking capacities in plants species. Automi raw seeds are rich in Phe, that, is strongly related to ABA synthesis and hence might be responsible for the dormancy of Automi seeds, Khazemi raw seeds have sufficient levels of Arg, Glu and Met that have been reported to enhance seeds germination in plant, therefore Khazemi germination capacity was assumed to be regulated more or less by these AAs. In addition, changes in amino acid composition in the germinated Khazemi cultivar during various stages of seeds germination including imbibition, germination, and sprouts stages have been noticed to change in response with germination demands. This suggests that amino acids reserves in dry seeds are major determinant for germination capacity and germination behavior in the following steps of germination. The noticed particular AAs increase/decrease along the time course of Khazemi pomegranate germination till establishment of heterotrophic seedlings were used as cornerstones for elucidation and deduction of putative function and relevant biochemical pathways controlling initiation of seeds germination and seedlings developments. Based on publicly available databases of model plants and literatures surveys, we established correlations between prevailing AAs factors as biochemical parameters actively involved in seeds dormancy-breaking and germination process

Exploring the interaction between 3-D structure of TLR 9 and prostaglandin analogues

Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) is a class of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) approved to have an essential role with the development of autoimmune illnesses such as psoriasis and arthritis. TRL9 is predominantly expressed on dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages, and it mediates antigen presentation to T cells. In this regard, interfering with this interaction by inhibiting TLR9 could be an effective immunotherapy strategy for certain diseases. Based on previous research (Degraaf et al.2014, Farrugia et al., 2017) indicating that prostaglandins play a significant role in regulating or reducing the expression of TLRs, their function against intracellular TLRs such as TLR9 may involve direct inhibition of these receptors. The 3D structure of the human-TLR9 is modelled and described molecularly and then prepared to be docked by prostaglandin analogues, followed by molecular dynamic (MD) simulation, MM/PBSA analysis, and PCA analysis. The study uncovered significant direct interactions between TLR9 and prostaglandin analogues, specifically with the FDA-approved Bimatoprost (BI), which demonstrates the highest binding affinity (calculated as an estimated affinity) and an interesting MM/PBSA score and should be the primary focus of future research into the treatment of autoimmune diseases. In addition, the modelled structure of human-TLR9 and its binding site described in this study could serve as a useful starting point for the development of additional inhibitors