Identification of miRNAs from French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) under low nitrate stress

Objective: In this study, we report the role of miRNAs involved under nitrogen starvation from widely grown vegetable crop, French bean. In recent years, a great deal of attention has been paid to the elucidation of miRNAs involved in low nitrate stress. Methods: To identify miRNAs expressed under stress, cDNA libraries were analyzed. Results: We reported the nine potential miRNAs with 67 targets involved in nutrient transporters and other stress specific genes. Among the miRNA sequences obtained 6 sequences belong to miR172 family, one with miR169. RT-PCR analysis of expression of miR172 family was induced upon low nitrate stress while miR169 family was repressed. In addition, Pvu-SN7b and Pvu-miR16 may be new members of miRNA172 and miR169 families, respectively. Conclusion: The targets of Pvu-SN7b were major protein kinases, one among which is the Protein Kinase CK2. CK2 Kinase is found to involve in transcription-directed signaling, gene control and cell-cycle regulation. Other targets of Pvu-SN7b were involved in DNA-dependent transcription regulation, photo-periodism, calcium-mediated signaling. Pvu-miR16 targets Thymidine kinase, the key enzyme of deoxy-nucleotide synthesis. The cleavage of these targets affects cell proliferation there by affecting nodule formation. Pvu-miR8 inhibits translation of its target protein Pre-protein translocase, a membrane-bound protein transporter involved in trans-membrane protein transportation. Together these results denote the response and role of miRNAs to nitrate-limiting conditions in French bean

Expression of miRNAs confers enhanced tolerance to drought and salt stress in Finger millet (Eleusine coracona)

Plants respond to the environmental cues in various ways, recent knowledge of RNA interference in conferring stress tolerance had become a new hope of developing tolerant varieties. Here we attempt to unfold the molecular mechanism of stress tolerance through miRNA profiling and expression analysis in Finger millet (Eleusine coracona) under salt and drought stress conditions. The expression analysis of 12 stress specific conserved miRNAs was studied using semi-quantitative real time PCR and Northern blot assay. Our studies revealed that, although most of the miRNAs responded to the stresses, the expression of particular miRNA differed with the nature of stress and the tissue. The expression analysis was correlated with the existing data of their target genes. Abiotic stress up-regulated miRNAs are expected to target negative regulators of stress responses or positive regulators of processes that are inhibited by stresses. On the other hand, stress down-regulated miRNAs may repress the expression of positive regulators and/or stress up-regulated genes. Thus the current study of miRNAs and their targets under abiotic stress conditions displays miRNAs may be good candidates to attribute the stress tolerance in plants by transgenic technology

Effects of Cynodon dactylon on Stress-Induced Infertility in Male Rats

Cynodon dactylon (Family: Poaceae) is known to be a tackler in Indian mythology and is offered to Lord Ganesha. It is found everywhere, even on waste land, road side, dry places, and spreads vigorously on cultivated ground. This study was carried out with an objective to test if the constituents of this plant are useful in coping stress-induced sexual In this study, we considered immobilization stress to induce male infertility and the effect of C. dactylon in restoration of the dysfunction was evaluated by considering sexual behavioral observations, sexual performance, fructose content of the seminal vesicles, epididymal sperm concentration and histopathological examinations as parameters. Treatment of rats under stress with methanolic extract of C. dactylon has shown a promising effect in overcoming stress-induced sexual dysfunction, sexual performance, fructose content, sperm concentration and its effect on accessory sexual organs and body weight. We conclude that active constituents of C. dactylon present in methanolic extract have a potent aphrodisiac and male fertility activity

Influence of surface temperature on the mechanism of atomic layer deposition of aluminum oxide using an oxygen plasma and ozone

We have examined the role of substrate temperature on the surface reaction mechanisms during the atomic layer deposition (ALD) of Al(2)O(3) from trimethyl aluminum (TMA) in combination with an O(2) plasma and O(3) over a substrate temperature range of 70-200 degrees C. The ligand-exchange reactions were investigated using in situ attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Consistent with our previous work on ALD of Al(2)O(3) from an O2 plasma and O(3) [Rai, V. R; Vandalon, V.; Agarwal, S. Langmuir 2010, 26, 13732], both OH groups and carbonates were the chemisorption sites for TMA over the entire temperature range explored. The concentration of surface -CH(3) groups after the TMA cycle was, however, strongly dependent on the surface temperature and the type of oxidizer, which in turn influenced the corresponding growth per cycle. The combustion of surface CH(3) ligands was not complete at 70 degrees C during O(3) exposure, indicating that an O(2) plasma is a relatively stronger oxidizing agent. Further, in O(3)-assisted ALD, the ratio of mono- and bidentate carbonates on the surface after O(3) exposure was dependent on the substrate temperatur

Influence of surface temperature on the mechanism of atomic layer deposition of aluminum oxide using an oxygen plasma and ozone

We have examined the role of substrate temperature on the surface reaction mechanisms during the atomic layer deposition (ALD) of Al(2)O(3) from trimethyl aluminum (TMA) in combination with an O(2) plasma and O(3) over a substrate temperature range of 70-200 degrees C. The ligand-exchange reactions were investigated using in situ attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Consistent with our previous work on ALD of Al(2)O(3) from an O2 plasma and O(3) [Rai, V. R; Vandalon, V.; Agarwal, S. Langmuir 2010, 26, 13732], both OH groups and carbonates were the chemisorption sites for TMA over the entire temperature range explored. The concentration of surface -CH(3) groups after the TMA cycle was, however, strongly dependent on the surface temperature and the type of oxidizer, which in turn influenced the corresponding growth per cycle. The combustion of surface CH(3) ligands was not complete at 70 degrees C during O(3) exposure, indicating that an O(2) plasma is a relatively stronger oxidizing agent. Further, in O(3)-assisted ALD, the ratio of mono- and bidentate carbonates on the surface after O(3) exposure was dependent on the substrate temperatur

Computational identification of conserved miRNAs and their potential targets in French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a novel growing family of endogenous, small, non- coding, single-stranded RNA molecules directly involved in regulating gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. High conservation of miRNAs in plant provides the foundation for identification of new miRNAs in other plant species through homology alignment. Here, previously known plant miRNAs were BLAST against the Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) database of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), and according to a series of filtering criteria, a total of 10miRNAs were identified, and 24potential target genes of them were subsequently predicted, most of which seemed to encode transcription factors or enzymes participating in regulation of development, growth and other physiological processes. Overall, our findings lay the foundation for further researches of miRNAs function inFrench bean

COMPUTATIONAL IDENTIFICATION OF CONSERVED MICRO RNAs FROM KODO MILLET ( Paspalum scrobiculatum )

Small RNA-guided gene silencing at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels has emerged as an important mode of gene regulation in plants and animals. Micro RNAs (miRNA) arise from long stem loop precursors which acted upon by DICER-Like enzymes. The miRNA and their precursor sequences are highly conserved among the species and this forms a key feature for their identification through homology alignment. Computational approach guides to identify the mature miRNAs as well as their precursors. The main principle behind the computational miRNA prediction is sequence and structure homologies. The in silico search for the homologues miRNA and their precursors among the Kodo millet ESTs enabled us to identify 4 miRNAs belonging to 3 families. A total of 34 targets were identified among which most were targeting the enzymes involved in fuel metabolism, cellular transporters, and structural proteins.Le petit gène silencing de l’ARN guide aux niveaux transcriptionnel and post-transcriptionnel a emergé comme un mode important de gène de regulation dans les plantes et animaux. Les Micro RNAs (miRNA) proviennent des boucles précurseurs de longues tiges qui agissent comme des enzymes DICER. Le miRNA et leurs séquences précurseurs sont hautement conservés parmi les espèces, ce qui forme une caractéristique clé pour leur identification à travers l’alignement homologue. L’approche computationnelle permet d’identifier les miRNAs en maturité ainsi que leurs précurseurs. Le principe principal dans cette prédiction computationnelle du miRNA est la séquence ainsi que la structure homologiques. L’investigation in silico pour les miRNA homologues et leurs précurseurs au sein du millet Kodo ESTs nous a permis d’identifier 4 miRNAs appartenant à 3 familles. Un total de 34 cibles étaient identifiés parmi lesquels étaient ciblés les enzymes impliqués dans le métabolisme énergétique, transporteurs cellulaires, et protéines structurales