Prevalent Plant Growth Hormone Indole-3-acetic Acid Produced by Streptomyces sp. VSMKU1027 and its Potential Antifungal Activity against Phytofungal Pathogens

Microorganisms and plants can produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) by mechanisms that either involve tryptophan or do not involve tryptophan. The control of Zone of inhibition (ZOI) ranged from 1.2 cm to 1.0 cm. A promising antagonistic isolate, Streptomyces sp. VSMKU1027, exhibited robust antagonistic activity against two significant soil-borne phytopathogenic fungi, namely Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum, outperforming the control. The morphology of both R. solani and F. oxysporum, including their sclerotium and spores, became condensed and indistinct, and mycelial disintegration was observed due to the action of VSMKU1027, in contrast to the control. The isolate significantly produced antimicrobial traits and hydrolytic enzymes except hydrogen cyanide and cellulase. Furthermore, the promising isolate VSMKU1027 was identified as Streptomyces sp. based on its morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics. In comparison to the control, the isolate VSMKU1027 demonstrated increased synthesis of IAA and the hydrolytic enzyme protease with the corresponding substrates. The production of IAA was optimized on the sixth day, at 35°C and pH 6.5. The highest generation of IAA was recorded, with an ISP2 and 0.4% concentration of L-tryptophan

Human RECQ1 helicase-driven DNA unwinding, annealing, and branch migration : insights from DNA complex structures

RecQ helicases are a widely conserved family of ATP-dependent motors with diverse roles in nearly every aspect of bacterial and eukaryotic genome maintenance. However, the physical mechanisms by which RecQ helicases recognize and process specific DNA replication and repair intermediates are largely unknown. Here, we solved crystal structures of the human RECQ1 helicase in complexes with tailed-duplex DNA and ssDNA. The structures map the interactions of the ssDNA tail and the branch point along the helicase and Zn-binding domains, which, together with reported structures of other helicases, define the catalytic stages of helicase action. We also identify a strand-separating pin, which (uniquely in RECQ1) is buttressed by the protein dimer interface. A duplex DNA-binding surface on the C-terminal domain is shown to play a role in DNA unwinding, strand annealing, and Holliday junction (HJ) branch migration. We have combined EM and analytical ultracentrifugation approaches to show that RECQ1 can form what appears to be a flat, homotetrameric complex and propose that RECQ1 tetramers are involved in HJ recognition. This tetrameric arrangement suggests a platform for coordinated activity at the advancing and receding duplexes of an HJ during branch migration

Identification of a potent herbal molecule for the treatment of breast cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Breast cancer (BCa)-related mortality still remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Patients with BCa have increasingly shown resistance and high toxicity to current chemotherapeutic drugs for which identification of novel targeted therapies are required.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To determine the effect of PDBD on BCa cells, estrogen-receptor positive (ER⁺)-MCF-7 and estrogen-receptor negative (ER^-)-MDA 231 cells were treated with PDBD and the cell viability, apoptotic, cell cycle, Western blot and Promoter assays were performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>PDBD inhibits cell viability of ER⁺and ER^-BCa cells by inducing apoptosis without causing significant toxicity in normal breast epithelial cells. While dissecting the mechanism of action of PDBD on BCa, we found that PDBD inhibits Akt signaling and its downstream targets such as NF-κB activation, IAP proteins and Bcl-2 expression. On the other hand, activation of JNK/p38 MAPK-mediated pro-apoptotic signaling was observed in both ER⁺and ER^-BCa cells.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings suggest that PDBD may have wide therapeutic application in the treatment of BCa.</p

Chickpea

The narrow genetic base of cultivated chickpea warrants systematic collection, documentation and evaluation of chickpea germplasm and particularly wild Cicer species for effective and efficient use in chickpea breeding programmes. Limiting factors to crop production, possible solutions and ways to overcome them, importance of wild relatives and barriers to alien gene introgression and strategies to overcome them and traits for base broadening have been discussed. It has been clearly demonstrated that resistance to major biotic and abiotic stresses can be successfully introgressed from the primary gene pool comprising progenitor species. However, many desirable traits including high degree of resistance to multiple stresses that are present in the species belonging to secondary and tertiary gene pools can also be introgressed by using special techniques to overcome pre- and post-fertilization barriers. Besides resistance to various biotic and abiotic stresses, the yield QTLs have also been introgressed from wild Cicer species to cultivated varieties. Status and importance of molecular markers, genome mapping and genomic tools for chickpea improvement are elaborated. Because of major genes for various biotic and abiotic stresses, the transfer of agronomically important traits into elite cultivars has been made easy and practical through marker-assisted selection and marker-assisted backcross. The usefulness of molecular markers such as SSR and SNP for the construction of high-density genetic maps of chickpea and for the identification of genes/QTLs for stress resistance, quality and yield contributing traits has also been discussed

Biochemical composition of Enicostemma littorale Blume extracts

Analysis of organic solvent extracts of Enicostemma littorale reveals the presence of total phenols, vitamin C and E and carbohydrates. The organic solvent extracts of E. littorale exhibited antibacterial activities. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjb.v42i2.18046 Bangladesh J. Bot. 42(2): 367-369, 2013 (December)</jats:p

Rejuvenating irrigation tanks through local institutions

Recent attempts to modernise irrigation tanks with a focus on physical rehabilitation, but little institutional development to maintain and manage them, have resulted in a vicious cycle. With the lack of maintenance and upkeep, rehabilitated tanks soon fall into disrepair, necessitating a new round of externally-induced rehabilitation. Yet, there are many tanks under traditional local management operating at a high level of performance equilibrium. A study of 41 tanks from 22 districts of eight Indian states was taken up under the IWMI-Tata Programme to identify the characteristics of high performing local- managed tank institutions. The lessons learnt from the study can form the basis for an effective institutional protocol that can enhance the effectiveness of tank rehabilitation and modernization