Effect of Biotic and Abiotic Stresses on Plant Metabolic Pathways

Plants are prone to encounter some environmental stresses that include both biotic and abiotic. Plants in response to these stress conditions alter their metabolism at the genetic level with consequential effects at the metabolite production. Phenolic compounds, which are secondary metabolites are one such chemical entity which plays a significant role in various physiological processes of the plant. They are mainly formed by three different types of metabolic pathways that produce phenyl propanoid derivatives, flavonoids, terpenoids based on the needs of the plant and the rate of their production is solely dictated by the type of stress condition. A number of phenolic compounds like phytoalexins, phytoanticipins and nematicides exhibit negative response to biotic stress against several soil borne pathogens and nematodes. But some of the phenolic compounds like acetosyringone, umbelliferone, vanillyl alcohol, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, apigenin and luteolin are found to exhibit beneficial effects to plants by encouraging rhizosphere formation particularly in Leguminosae family. Some of the ROS produced in various stress conditions are effectively dealt by various phenolics with antioxidant activity like hydroxyl benzoic acids and hydroxyl cinnamic acids. As the in vivo production of phenolics in plants is influenced by external factors it can certainly provide information for the adoption of agronomic practices to yield the full befits of commercial exploitation. As the in vivo production of phenolics in plants is influenced by external factors it can certainly provide information for the adoption of agronomic practices to yield the full befits of commercial exploitation

Association of insulin-like growth factor 2 Apa1 A820G gene (rs680) polymorphism with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Background: Hyperandrogenism is the cornerstone of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) as per androgen excess society - 2006 criteria. Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF 2) gene stimulates ovarian androgen secretion and is involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS. The objective of this study was to study the association of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) gene Apa1 A820G (rs680) polymorphism with PCOS.Methods: Prospective genetic case-control study, involving 204 women with PCOS and 204 healthy, sex and age matched controls. Anthropometric and biochemical profile were taken in a well-designed proforma. Isolation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) by salting out method and genotype analysis was done for all the study population using PCR-RFLP.Results: We have demonstrated an association between IGF2 Apa1 A820G gene (rs680) polymorphism and PCOS. Frequency of G allele was 0.40 in PCOS and 0.08 in controls (OR 7.639, CI 5.08 to 11.47, and P value <0.0001) indicates that the G allele is associated with PCOS in our population. The GG genotype conferred a significant risk of developing PCOS (OR 19.645, CI 2.569 to 148.61 and P value 0.0039). We found the significant association of GG genotype with body mass index and insulin resistance in PCOS when compared with controls.Conclusions: This study suggests that IGF 2 gene Apa1 A820G polymorphism is associated with PCOS and could be used as a relevant molecular marker to identify women with risk of developing PCOS in our population and may provide an understanding about the etiology of PCOS

Association of calpain 10 gene UCSNP-43 polymorphism (rs3792267) with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Background: The principle features of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) are insulin resistance (IR), hyperandrogenism (HA), obesity (Ob), oligo/anovulation and polycystic ovaries (PCO). PCOS is known to be associated with increased risk of type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and genes related to T2DM may also play a role in PCOS pathogenesis. Our aim is to study the association of CAPN-10 gene UCSNP-43 (rs3792267) polymorphism with PCOS. Methods: Case-control study, involved 204 women with PCOS and 204 healthy, sex and age matched controls. Anthropometric and biochemical profile were taken in a well designed proforma. Isolation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and genotype analysis was done for all the study population using PCR-RFLP.Results: No significant difference in allele and genotype frequencies of the CAPN-10, UCSNP- 43 (rs3792267) gene polymorphism were seen between the cases and controls. Frequency of A allele was 0.15 in PCOS and 0.19 in controls (OR 0.7207, CI 0.5 to 1.039 and p value 0.0793), indicates that the A allele is not associated with PCOS in our population, and show equal distribution of genotypes in PCOS patients and controls. The AA genotype conferred lack of association for developing PCOS (OR 0.4925, CI 0.1215 to 1.9968 and p value 0.3214). But the AA genotype showed elevated body mass index, waist to hip ratio, insulin resistance, triglyceride levels and decreased high density lipoprotein levels when compared to AG and GG genotypes of PCOS patients with controls.Conclusions: In conclusion, there is no disease risk association of CAPN-10 gene UCSNP-43 (rs3792267) polymorphism with PCOS

Association of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor gene ser680 asn (rs6166) polymorphism with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Background: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of female anovulatory infertility, with a prevalence of 6-10% among women of reproductive age, characterized by clinical and / or biochemical androgen excess, ovulatory dysfunction and polycystic ovaries. Sex hormones and hormone receptors play a fundamental role in folliculogenesis. Aim of the study was to study the association of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) Ser680Asn; rs6166 gene polymorphism with PCOS in our study population.Methods: Genetic case-control study, involving 204 women with PCOS and 204 healthy, sex and age matched controls. Anthropometric and biochemical profile were taken in a well-designed proforma. Isolation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) by salting out method and genotype analysis was done for all the study population using Polymerase chain reaction – Restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).Results: We have demonstrated an association between FSHR gene, Ser680SAsn (rs6166) polymorphism and PCOS. Frequency of A allele was 0.61 in PCOS and 0.44 in controls (OR 1.98, CI 1.5-2.6, and P value <0.0001) indicates that the A allele is associated with PCOS in our study population. The AA genotype conferred a significant risk of developing PCOS (OR 2.069, CI 1.33-3.211 and P value 0.0012). We found significant elevation of body mass index, LH, LH/FSH with AA genotype of PCOS when compared with controls.  The GG genotype showed increased basal FSH levels, insulin resistance in PCOS compared to other genotypes.Conclusions: FSHR Ser680Asn (rs6166) gene polymorphism is associated with PCOS, and can be used as a relevant molecular biomarker to identify risk of PCOS in our population

Quinazolin derivatives as emerging alpha-glucosidase inhibitors

A series of C-7 substituted-2-morpholino-N-(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)quinazolin-4-amine have been synthesized and biochemical assay was examined against α-glucosidase function inhibition activity. A structure activity and structure property relationship study was experimented to surface the new hit compound. This study led to the identification of C-7substituted quinazolines with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) in the preffered micromolar range in addition with interesting physicochemical properties. Biological evaluation yielded eight analogs which rose with significant α-glucosidase inhibition potency (IC50 values < 2 μM, where reference compound (Acarbose) potency value is IC50 = 0.586 uM) and could be promising candidates for further lead optimization

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language: EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA" lang="EN-GB">Association of estrogen receptor 1 (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">ESR1</i>) haplotypes with risk for systemic lupus erythematosus among South Indians</span>

714-718Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disorder involving genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors and has higher incidence in women. In this study, we explored the association of estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) rs2234693 (PvuII) and rs9340799 (XbaI) polymorphisms with susceptibility to SLE. PCR-RFLP and ELISA were used for genetic analysis and determination of specific autoantibodies, respectively. The univariate analysis showed no independent association of rs2234693 (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 0.87 - 1.49, p = 0.36) and rs9340799 (OR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.66-1.14, p = 0.34). The haplotype analysis using SHEsis platform revealed strong linkage disequilibrium between these two polymorphisms (D': 0.81, r2: 0.55). Among the four haplotype groups, the C-A haplotype (rs2234693-rs9340799) was strongly associated with the risk for SLE (OR: 2.10, 95% CI: 1.32 - 3.34, p = 0.001). The homozygous variant genotype of rs2234693 exhibited elevated TNF-α and depleted IFN-α, while the effects of rs9340799 were contradictory. The wild genotype of rs2234693 exhibited lower levels of IL-12 with number of rs9340799 variant alleles pronouncing this effect. From this study, it is concluded that the ESR1 haplotypes may influence the Th2 cytokine profile and susceptibility to SLE among the South Indians

High sucrose diet induced diabetes in WNIN/Gr-Ob obese rats: Biochemical and histological changes

149-157Acceleration of natural ageing occurs due to multiple reasons such as stress, obesity and Type 2 diabetes working in a vicious cycle. In the present study, we tested if superimposing type 2 diabetes in a rat model of obesity accelerates ageing or not. We aggravated insulin resistance/ induced type 2 diabetes by feeding high sucrose diet (HSD) to 9-10 wk old, male, WNIN/Gr-Ob obese rats. We report here the changes in physiological, biochemical and histological parameters after 3 and 6 months of feeding. Rats fed HSD had the highest insulin resistance as evident from increased HOMA IR and AUC insulin during OGTT. Body weight gain and Food efficiency ratio (FER) were also significantly higher in HSD fed than the control rats after 6 months of feeding. Further, liver steatosis and kidney damage were the highest in the HSD fed rats as evident from ORO staining. Interestingly, HSD fed rats also had the highest intensity of ß-cell staining and functioning (as indicated by higher HOMA-ß). The findings indicate that parameters associated with ageing were accelerated in WNIN/Gr-Ob rats fed HSD, implying that aggravating insulin resistance in obese rats may be associated with accelerated ageing

Association of Parkinson's disease with altered serum levels of lead and transition metals among South Indian subjects

121-126Several epidemiologic studies have suggested an association between the Parkinson’s disease (PD) and exposure to heavy metals, such as lead, iron, copper, manganese, etc. A growing body of evidence suggests that heavy metals stimulate free radical formation in the brain and can lead to neurodegeneration. In the present study, we investigated whether such association exists in PD cases from rural and urban areas in our study population. The plasma levels of copper, iron, manganese and lead in PD cases (n = 150) and controls (n = 170) were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and correlated with the oxidative stress markers like malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl and total glutathione. Results indicated significant increase in the levels of copper (17.73 ± 4.48 vs. 13.0 ± 3.22 ng/ml) and iron (554.4 ± 123.8 vs. 421.7 ± 126.1 ng/ml) in PD cases compared to controls, whereas no significant differences in the levels of manganese and lead were observed. Further, the data based on urban or rural residence showed that plasma copper, iron, manganese levels were comparatively higher in rural subjects, whereas plasma lead levels were significantly higher in urban subjects. Increased plasma iron showed positive correlation with marker of lipid peroxidation (MDA), suggesting that increased iron levels induced oxidative stress in PD. These results substantiated the earlier observations about the role of environmental exposure and metal-induced oxidative stress in the etiology of PD