Transcriptomic and metabolomic shifts in rice roots in response to Cr (VI) stress

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Widespread use of chromium (Cr) contaminated fields due to careless and inappropriate management practices of effluent discharge, mostly from industries related to metallurgy, electroplating, production of paints and pigments, tanning, and wood preservation elevates its concentration in surface soil and eventually into rice plants and grains. In spite of many previous studies having been conducted on the effects of chromium stress, the precise molecular mechanisms related to both the effects of chromium phytotoxicity, the defense reactions of plants against chromium exposure as well as translocation and accumulation in rice remain poorly understood.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Detailed analysis of genome-wide transcriptome profiling in rice root is reported here, following Cr-plant interaction. Such studies are important for the identification of genes responsible for tolerance, accumulation and defense response in plants with respect to Cr stress. Rice root metabolome analysis was also carried out to relate differential transcriptome data to biological processes affected by Cr (VI) stress in rice. To check whether the Cr-specific motifs were indeed significantly over represented in the promoter regions of Cr-responsive genes, occurrence of these motifs in whole genome sequence was carried out. In the background of whole genome, the lift value for these 14 and 13 motifs was significantly high in the test dataset. Though no functional role has been assigned to any of the motifs, but all of these are present as promoter motifs in the Database of orthologus promoters.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings clearly suggest that a complex network of regulatory pathways modulates Cr-response of rice. The integrated matrix of both transcriptome and metabolome data after suitable normalization and initial calculations provided us a visual picture of the correlations between components. Predominance of different motifs in the subsets of genes suggests the involvement of motif-specific transcription modulating proteins in Cr stress response of rice.</p

Classification and Regression Tree and Spatial Analyses Reveal Geographic Heterogeneity in Genome Wide Linkage Study of Indian Visceral Leishmaniasis

Genome wide linkage studies (GWLS) have provided evidence for loci controlling visceral leishmaniasis on Chromosomes 1p22, 6q27, 22q12 in Sudan and 6q27, 9p21, 17q11-q21 in Brazil. Genome wide studies from the major focus of disease in India have not previously been reported.We undertook a GWLS in India in which a primary ∼10 cM (515 microsatellites) scan was carried out in 58 multicase pedigrees (74 nuclear families; 176 affected, 353 total individuals) and replication sought in 79 pedigrees (102 nuclear families; 218 affected, 473 total individuals). The primary scan provided evidence (≥2 adjacent markers allele-sharing LOD≥0.59; nominal P≤0.05) for linkage on Chromosomes 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 20 and X, with peaks at 6p25.3-p24.3 and 8p23.1-p21.3 contributed to largely by 31 Hindu families and at Xq21.1-q26.1 by 27 Muslim families. Refined mapping confirmed linkage across all primary scan families at 2q12.2-q14.1 and 11q13.2-q23.3, but only 11q13.2-q23.3 replicated (combined LOD = 1.59; P = 0.0034). Linkage at 6p25.3-p24.3 and 8p23.1-p21.3, and at Xq21.1-q26.1, was confirmed by refined mapping for primary Hindu and Muslim families, respectively, but only Xq21.1-q26.1 replicated across all Muslim families (combined LOD 1.49; P = 0.0045). STRUCTURE and SMARTPCA did not identify population genetic substructure related to religious group. Classification and regression tree, and spatial interpolation, analyses confirm geographical heterogeneity for linkages at 6p25.3-p24.3, 8p23.1-p21.3 and Xq21.1-q26.1, with specific clusters of families contributing LOD scores of 2.13 (P = 0.0009), 1.75 (P = 0.002) and 1.84 (P = 0.001), respectively.GWLS has identified novel loci that show geographical heterogeneity in their influence on susceptibility to VL in India

Rapid validated high performance thin layer chromatography method for simultaneous estimation of mangiferin and scopoletin in Canscora decussata (South Indian Shankhpushpi) extract

AbstractMangiferin (polyphenolic xanthone) and scopoletin (phenolic coumarin) are well-studied biological markers present in Canscora decussata(Roxb.) Roem. & Schult., Gentianaceae. The objective set for the present studies is to establish and develop a new, simple, selective, sensitive, and precise high performance thin layer chromatography method for the simultaneous estimation of mangiferin and scopoletin in hydroalcoholic extract of C. decussata. The thin layer chromatographic separation of these biomarkers was carried out on aluminum plate pre-coated with silica gel 60F254, eluted with ethyl acetate:acetic acid:formic acid:water (10:0.5:0.5:1.5). The plate was then dried and densitometric scanning was performed at 254 nm using a Camag TLC scanner III. The system was found to give compact spots for mangiferin (RF 0.22) and scopoletin (RF 0.78). A good relationship of linear precision between the concentrations (100&#8211;600 ng/spot) and peak areas was obtained with correlation coefficient (r) of 0.9979 (mangiferin) and 0.9962 (scopoletin), respectively. The limits of detection and limit of quantification were determined to be 46 and 94 ng/spot for mangiferin and 31 and 78 ng/spot for scopoletin respectively. The percentage of recovery was found from 99.91 to 99.94% for mangiferin and 99.75 to 99.86% for scopoletin. Results obtained from recovery studies showed excellent reliability and reproducibility of the method. Present communication on validated high performance thin layer chromatography method may provide a new, selective, sensitive, and precise method to estimate mangiferin and scopoletin as phytomarkers in the hydroalcoholic extract of C. decussata used in Ayurvedic formulations

Antioxidant markers based TLC-DPPH differentiation on four commercialized botanical sources of Shankhpushpi (A Medhya Rasayana): A preliminary assessment

Shankhpushpi is a cognition boosting traditional ayurvedic brain supplement. Convolvulus pluricaulis (Convolvulaceae), Evolvulus alsinoides (Convolvulaceae), Clitoria ternatea (Papilionaceae), and Canscora decussata (Gentianaceae) are botanical claimants of Shankhpushpi. This investigation is to focus the identification of the compound based on biological marker differentiation of four botanical claimants of Shankhpushpi for their antioxidant evaluation on thin layer chromatography (TLC) by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. A rapid TLC-DPPH method was developed to identify and differentiate four botanical claimants of Shankhpushpi in terms of presence of β-carotene, rutin, scopoletin, chlorogenic acid, and mangiferin. C. pluricaulis shows presence of scopoletin; E. alsinoides shows presence of β-carotene, scopoletin, and chlorogenic acid; C. ternatea shows presence of β-carotene, scopoletin, and rutin; and C. decussata shows presence of β-carotene, scopoletin, and mangiferin. The order, they followed, based on their antioxidant potential is β-carotene < mangiferin < rutin < scopoletin < chlorogenic acid. Antioxidants are attributed for their beneficial role in age-related cognition decline. The proposed method provides an edge in terms of identification and quantification of antioxidant constituents in a multi-component system. This method may also provide application for identification of correct plant sources used in the name of Shankhpushpi in marketed ayurvedic formulation, food supplement, and extracts

Pharmacognostic and phytochemical investigation of Ensete superbum (Roxb.) Cheesman pseudostem

The present study investigates preliminary pharmacognostic, phytochemical and antioxidant property of Ensete Superbum (Roxb.) Cheesman pseudostem. Macroscopical and microscopical features of the pseudostem have been documented. Presence of phytochemicals such as steroids, terpenoids, alkaloids, flavanoids, tannins and sugar were tested by chemical tests and TLC method. Total phenolic and total flavonoid content were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and complementary colorimetric methods (aluminum chloride method and 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine method, respectively). Antioxidant was evaluated by using DPPH free radical scavenging activity, H2O2 and reducing power by FeCl3. Pharmacognostic studies revealed presence of epidermis, hypodermis, vascular bundles, phloem fibres, sclereids ground tissue and stomata. Methanol extract of pseudostem showed highest concentration of phenolics and flavonoids and it also showed significant anti-oxidant activity (P&lt; 0.05) when compared with standard. TLC fingerprint of plant extract is useful in characterisation of plant extract for standardization

<span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Mangal;background:white;mso-ansi-language: EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:HI;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold" lang="EN-US">Pharmacognostic and phytochemical investigation of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Mangal; background:white;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language: HI;mso-bidi-font-weight:bold" lang="EN-US">Ensete superbum</span></i><span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:Mangal;background:white;mso-ansi-language: EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:HI;mso-bidi-font-weight: bold" lang="EN-US"> (Roxb.) Cheesman pseudostem</span></span>

51-58The present study investigates preliminary pharmacognostic, phytochemical and antioxidant property of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Ensete Superbum (Roxb.) Cheesman pseudostem. Macroscopical and microscopical features of the pseudostem have been documented. Presence of phytochemicals such as steroids, terpenoids, alkaloids, flavanoids, tannins and sugar were tested by chemical tests and TLC method. Total phenolic and total flavonoid content were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and complementary colorimetric methods (aluminum chloride method and 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine method, respectively).<span style="background:white; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> Antioxidant was evaluated by using DPPH free radical scavenging activity, H2O2 and reducing power by FeCl3. Pharmacognostic studies revealed presence of epidermis, hypodermis, vascular bundles, phloem fibres, sclereids ground tissue and stomata.<span style="background:white; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold"> Methanol extract of pseudostem showed highest concentration of phenolics and flavonoids and it also showed significant anti-oxidant activity (P< 0.05) when compared with standard. <span style="background:white; mso-bidi-font-weight:bold">TLC fingerprint of plant extract is useful in characterisation of plant extract for standardization.</span

Supported Perovskites as Catalysts for CO Oxidation

944-948Lanthanum and barium ferrites as well as lanthanum cobaltate binary oxidic species supported on alumina and zirconia were tested for their catalytic activity for the CO oxidation reaction. Synthesized perovskite oxides were supported on alumina or zirconia by dry impregnation. For the same percent loading of the perovskite (5 .8per cent), LaCoO3 /ZrO2 were found to be most active in comparison of La-Co-O solids supported on zirconia may be attributed to better reactivity of Co at B-site in comparison to Fe, homogeneous and higher dispersion on zirconia in comparison to alumina, ionic oxygen carrying capacity of zirconia and larger ionic size of Zr4+ ion

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in a patient with persistent hypoglossal artery and bilateral madelung deformity

We explore a case of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo in the context of Persistent Hypoglossal Artery (PHA) and bilateral Madelung Deformity (MD). PHA is associated with a raft of major adverse cardiovascular events. MD can result from manifold conditions such as Turner’s Syndrome and mesomelic dwarfism. In this case, the patient’s positive family history of MD across generations is suggestive of inherited mutation in the Short Stature Homeobox (SHOX) Gene. We discuss the putative impact of SHOX on the genesis of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) in a patient with PHA and bilateral MD