Analysis for Molecular Distinction in the Chloroplast DNA Sequences of Gymnospora montana (Celastraceae) and Belanites aegyptiaca (Balanitaceae) from Semi-arid Area

Gymnospora montana (Celastraceae) and Belanites aegyptiaca  (Balanitaceae) showed marked similarity in  their cpDNA sequences. Therefore, its detail analysis of cpDNA sequences is performed for codon use bias and its index, relative synonymous codon use value (RSCU), effective number of codons (ENC), GC content of the gene and frequencies of the nucleotides G+C at various positions in synonymous codon were calculated and compared it with Tribulus terresties. Length of the gene and ENC showed close relationship which suggest that longer genes has less codon bias. The codons for leucine, isoleucine and serine were most abundant in the studied plant species. The correlation analysis suggested that codon usage patterns in both cp genomes appear due to the different forces; natural selection, mutation pressure, GC content of gene and protein length.   Their role in gene evolution process is discussed

Standardization of leaf age for radical scavenging activity in Terminalia arjuna

Terminalia arjuna is one of the many such plant that used in indigenous system of medicine for curing different diseases. For effective formulation of herbal drug selection of proper age of the plant is imperative. In the present study, the T. arjuna plant (leaves) was collected from the Botanical garden of Saurashtra University. The leaves were grouped in to various size and growth analysis was performed. Each extract homogenized in methanol and was used for chlorophyll estimation and antioxidant activities. Radical scavenging activity of the methanol extract of different stages leaves were determined using a stable free radical 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), using Micro plate assay. Further the phenolic compounds were separated by Reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography analysis (RP-HPLC). At the leaf stage when maximum antioxidant activity was observed, phenol like Gallic acid showed distinct peak. The role of phenolic compounds in antioxidant activities is discussed

Molecular and Computational Analysis of Chlorophyll Pigment-binding Protein cp47 from Selected Species of Semi Arid Region of Western India

Photosynthesis means “synthesis with the help of light”, involves the composite functioning of various protein complexes. CP47 is a pigment-binding protein of PSII of a molecular mass of about 56 kDa. CP47, encoded by the chloroplastic psbB gene, is an integral part of the oxygen-evolving complex of PS -II centres. In the present study, analysis of a psbB gene was performed from various tree, shrub, vine and herb species of Saurashtra region. The genomic DNA was isolated from the 46 samples and psbB gene was amplified using specific primers (60R-61F) in PCR. The amplified gene was sequenced from all plant samples and submitted to NCBI database. The length of the amplified sequence was ~300 bp, was translated to the protein sequence. The obtained sequences were analyzed with the help of CPH and Pyre2 tools. The Pyre2 tools showed 40 reliable structure prediction out of 46. ProtParam was used for carrying out the protein physico-chemical analysis of all the proteins showing variations in the protein properties. The number of residues in favored region, as observed in the Ramachandran plot analysis, indicates reliability of the protein structure prediction. The obtained results for the sequence and structure analyses may help to understand the functional application of these proteins

Genome sequence of Ochrobactrum anthropi strain SUBG007, a plant pathogen and potential xenobiotic compounds degradation bacterium

Ochrobactrum anthropi SUBG007 was isolated from the fruit of Prunus dulcis in Rajkot (22.30°N, 70.78°E), Gujarat, India. Here we present the 4.37 Mb genome sequence strain SUBG007, which may provide the genetic information for the application in environment pollution degradation and agriculture field. The strain also posses many genes cluster which involved in production of important secondary metabolites. The nucleotide sequence of this genome was deposited into NCBI GenBank under the accession LUAY00000000

Retratação científica: um sinônimo de pseudociência?

The phenomenon of scientific retraction is a shameful act for the scientific community, but a necessity to maintain the purity of science. The two main causes for retractions include plagiarism and research misconduct. The post retraction citation of articles is again a repetition of inappropriateness. Hence the editorial, peer review policies should be revised and the retractions should be publicized more to avoid the citation of the invalid literature. Also, the scientific readership has a responsibility to evaluate the scientific validity of published studies.El fenómeno de la retractación científica constituye una vergüenza para la comunidad científica, pero es necesario para mantener la pureza de la ciencia. Las dos causas principales de retractación son el plagio y faltas en la conducta de investigación. La citación de artículos posterior a su retractación es, de nuevo, una repetición inapropiada. Por lo tanto, la editorial y las normas de evaluación por pares debieran revisarse y las retractaciones publicarse más para evitar las citaciones de literatura inválida. También los lectores científicos tienen la responsabilidad de evaluar la validez científica de los estudios publicados.O fenômeno de retratação científica é uma vergonhosa atitude para a comunidade científica, mas uma necessidade para manter a pureza da ciência. As duas principais causas para a retratação incluem o plágio e a má conduta na pesquisa. A citação após retratação de artigos é novamente uma repetida inadequação. Daí porque o editorial e a política de revisão por pares devem ser revistas e as retratações deveriam ser mais divulgadas para evitar uma citação inválida da literatura. Ademais, o revisor científico tem uma responsabilidade de avaliar a validade científica dos estudos publicados

Systemic Control of Cell Division and Endoreduplication by NAA and BAP by Modulating CDKs in Root Tip Cells of Allium cepa

Molecular mechanism regulated by auxin and cytokinin during endoreduplication, cell division, and elongation process is studied by using Allium cepa roots as a model system. The activity of CDK genes modulated by auxin and cytokinin during cell division, elongation, and endoreduplication process is explained in this research work. To study the significance of auxin and cytokinin in the management of cell division and endoreduplication process in plant meristematic cells at molecular level endoreduplication was developed in root tips of Allium cepa by giving colchicine treatment. There were inhibition of vegetative growth, formation of c-tumor at root tip, and development of endoreduplicated cells after colchicine treatment. This c-tumor was further treated with NAA and BAP to reinitiate vegetative growth in roots. BAP gave positive response in reinitiation of vegetative growth of roots from center of c-tumor. However, NAA gave negative response in reinitiation of vegetative growth of roots from c-tumor. Further, CDKs gene expression analysis from normal, endoreduplicated, and phytohormone (NAA or BAP) treated root tip was done and remarkable changes in transcription level of CDK genes in normal, endoreduplicated, and phytohormones treated cells were observed

Whole genome sequencing of Halomonas sp. SUBG004 isolated from Little Rann of Kutch, a desert of India

A salt tolerant strain, designated as SUBG004, was isolated from the desert of India, Little Rann of Kutch. The organism is a Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic and rod shaped bacterium. Chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic properties were consistent with its classification in the genus Halomonas. Here we report the whole genome sequence of Halomonas sp. SUBG004 deposited in DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank under accession number JPEU0100000 which provides insights for salt stress adaptation through betaine synthesis

DNA barcoding and traditional taxonomy: An integrated approach for biodiversity conservation

Biological diversity is depleting at an alarming rate. Additionally, a vast amount of biodiversity still remains undiscovered. Taxonomy has been serving the purpose of describing, naming, and classifying species for more than 250 years. DNA taxonomy and barcoding have accelerated the rate of this process, thereby providing a tool for conservation practice. DNA barcoding and traditional taxonomy have their own inherent merits and demerits. The synergistic use of both methods, in the form of integrative taxonomy, has the potential to contribute to biodiversity conservation in a pragmatic timeframe and overcome their individual drawbacks. In this review, we discuss the basics of both these methods of biological identification- traditional taxonomy and DNA barcoding, the technical advances in integrative taxonomy, and future trends. We also present a comprehensive compilation of published examples of integrative taxonomy that refer to nine topics within biodiversity conservation. Morphological and molecular species limits were observed to be congruent in ~41% of the 58 source studies. The majority of the studies highlighted the description of cryptic diversity through the use of molecular data, whereas research areas like endemism, biological invasion, and threatened species were less discussed in the literature.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author