In silico Prediction of MicroRNAs in Plant Mitochondria

MicroRNAs are endogenous, short (ca. 21 base), non-coding, post transcriptional, regulatory RNA molecules. These microRNAs (miRNAs) are complementary to their target messenger RNAs, and bind principally to its 3' UTR. The conserved nature of miRNAs, and their high sequence complementarities of miRNA and its targets in plants, provides the basis for the easy identification of miRNA and its targets. Presence of miRNA in plant mitochondria is scantily studied. Identification of miRNA targets in plant mitochondria might indicate the involvement of miRNA in mitochondrial gene regulation and nuclear mitochondrial interactions. In this study, we used a computational approach to predict miRNA targets in plant mitochondria. The mitochondrial gene targets identified for miRNAs are located both in mitochondrial and nuclear compartments. This observation points to a fairly early origin of miRNAs. Besides, most of the targets identified can have copies in two compartments and suggest the possibility of miRNA mediated regulation. This study unfurls the possibility of regulating the plant mitochondrial genes by amending the miRNA genes in the nuclear compartment

Fatty acid desaturases modulated octadecanoid pathway in Sesame

Omega 3 fatty acid desaturases are involved in the production of α-linolenic acid (LNA) an essential omega 3 fatty acid, which is present in only traces in sesame seeds. LNA is the precursor for jasmonic acid which is the end product of octadecanoid pathway. This study was undertaken to analyze the key components of octadecanoid pathway and its relationship with fatty acid content in sesame. Fatty acid desaturation and membrane fluidity are modulated differentially in various stresses. Sesame seedlings were subjected to transient stress to analyse the octadecanoid pathway and its impact on fatty acid desaturation.  The mRNA levels of omega 3 desaturases and LNA content were higher in cold stressed sesame seedlings than heat, drought and salinity stresses. The LOX activity and MDA content were higher in heat stressed sesame seedlings. Jasmonic acid content was higher in salinity stressed seedlings while abscisic acid registered the highest in drought stressed seedlings. Chloroplast fatty acid desaturase genes expression was found to increase the LNA content in cold stressed seedlings. The level of membrane damage measured by lipid peroxidation in terms of LOX activity and MDA content were found to be minimal in cold stressed seedling. This suggests a possible role of LNA in membrane fluidity and cold acclimation in sesame. A synergistic role of JA and ABA is also suspected in abiotic stress tolerance in sesame

B-Cell Lymphomas

B-cell lymphomas arise from different stages of differentiation of B-cells and constitute a broad spectrum, extending from small- to large-cell types, and from low to high grades of clinical behavior. It has undergone several terminologies and classifications. Because of the diverse terminology that is used in the multiple classifications of lymphomas, there have been attempts to develop uniform pathologic descriptions with clinical usefulness. The current WHO classification uses morphologic, immunophenotypic, genotypic, and clinical features to classify the lymphoid neoplasms into five broad categories as precursor B-cell neoplasms, peripheral B-cell neoplasms, precursor T-cell neoplasms, peripheral T-cell neoplasms and Hodgkin lymphoma. Hodgkin lymphoma though originates from B-cell has distinctive pathologic features and is treated as a separate entity. This chapter discusses about the etiology and pathogenesis, clinical features, recent WHO classification of B-cell lymphoma (2016), the highlights of modifications brought in, the morphology, immunophenotype, staging, treatment and prognosis of various B-cell lymphomas

Genetic Potential and Possible Improvement of <em>Sesamum indicum</em> L.

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is one of the traditional oil seed crop widely cultivated in many countries. The top producers of sesame seeds are mainly Tanzania, Myanmar, India, China and Japan. Sesame oil contains high level of unsaturated fatty acids (80%) and low levels of saturated fatty acids (20%). The main fatty acids are palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and trace amounts of linolenic fatty acids. Sesame seed contains 50–60% of high-quality oil rich in natural antioxidants such as sesamin, sesamolin, sesaminol and sesamol it enhances the stability and keeping quality of sesame oil. Sesame seeds have good sources of dietary fibre, fats, vitamins, minerals, proteins and rich in anti-oxidants. Polyunsaturated fatty acids in sesame will reduce the risk of high blood pressure, cardiac disorders and blood sugar levels. Sesame is believed to have been originated in India where maximum variability of genetic resources is available. High yielding varieties available to date have reached the yield plateau even with the advanced cultivation practices. The area under oilseed crops cultivation also reducing every year. Hence, there is an urgent need to increase the oil content and yield of Indian sesame varieties. Understanding the available germplasm and novel interventions to develop high yielding varieties warrant both molecular and phenotypic data which is meagre in case of sesame

Impact assessment of water efficient rice production technology on farmers’ field

The experiments were conducted during kharif season of 2018 and 2019 at farmers’ fields, Madurai in the Southern Zone of Tamil Nadu to find out the water efficient rice production technology. The experiment consisted of six crop establishment treatments viz., direct planting system, drum seeding, system of rice intensification (SRI), aerobic rice, drip irrigated rice and conventional planting system. The rice variety ASD 16 was used and the experiments were arranged in a randomized block design with four replications. Among the water efficient techniques, drum seeding registered the higher grain yield (5650 kg ha-1), which was comparable to the direct planting system (5592 kg ha-1). The system of rice intensification produced the grain yield of 5025 kg ha-1. The conventional method of transplanting produced higher yield than SRI. Interestingly, the water productivity was higher in aerobic rice (6.92 kg/ ha mm-1 of water) despite its lower yield. Around 49.6 % water can be saved by means of aerobic rice when compared to conventional method of rice cultivation. Hence, the water efficient methods like drum seeding and direct planting systems are recommended for canal irrigated areas, while aerobic rice is suitable for water scarcity regions, turn irrigation systems and well irrigated areas to enhance water use efficiency and sustain rice farming

Epidemiological studies on somatic cell count and subclinical mastitis in buffaloes of Puducherry, India

The present study was conducted to investigate the normal somatic cell count (SCC), associated factors in hygienic management and to define subclinical mastitis in buffaloes in Puducherry. Samples were collected from 50 clinically normal buffaloes stationed at different farms of Puducherry region. Somatic cell count was measured for all the milk samples using Newman-Lampert staining technique. The upper limit of SCC was determined as ≥2, 00,000/ml of milk based on the mean ± 2SD of a total SCC. California mastitis test (CMT) was conducted for all the animals. In the present study subclinical mastitis was diagnosed on the basis of samples with SCCs ≥ 2, 00,000/ml. In the present study 96% of the milk samples were negative for California mastitis test (CMT). The SCC of CMT positive quarter was significantly higher (P&lt;0.01) than CMT negative quarters. Subclinical mastitis was found only in three buffaloes in the present study. Somatic cell counts were significantly higher in the buffaloes with subclinical mastitis. Regarding the hygiene, all the farms had poor management and improper housing. Proper education on hygienic management is need of the hour for buffalo owners of Puducherry region

Studies on the Impact of Semi-ripe along with Seedless Papaya (Carica papaya) Fruits Pulp and Seeds Extract on the Level of Sialic acid in male Albino Rat Reproductive tissue

The present research investigation intends at investigating the effect of on Sialic acid components in male albino rats of an aqueous extract of seeded papaya fruit pulp and seed extract specified as a combined dose and seedless variety papaya fruit pulp extract. The primary objective of the current research investigation was to evaluate the effects that occurred on male albino Wistar rats of semi-ripe fruit pulp extract from Carica papaya (fruits with and without seeds). The development of spermatozoa's ability to fertilise, the coating of spermatozoa with specific antigens, and changes in their membrane surface are all related to Sialic acid. Less spermatozoa cells in the testicular compartments and fewer of these cells are indicated by the decrease in Sialic acid contents in the testis and epididymis of both experimental groups

Plant mitochondrial L2 ribosomal protein genes and their expression.

The endosymbiotic hypothesis for the origin of mitochondria invokes the transfer of many genes from the respiring bacterium to the nucleus of the host cell early in the symbiotic association. Recent evidence suggests that such transfer is an ongoing evolutionary process in the plant lineage. This project focuses on the location and expression of genes coding for the mitochondrial (mt) large ribosomal subunit protein L2 in different plants to gain knowledge about their function and evolution. L2 is known to be one of the most conservative ribosomal proteins present in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The rice mt genome was found to have a single copy of a functional rpl2 gene with a group II intron whereas wheat has only a truncated rpl2 pseudogene corresponding to the extreme carboxyl terminus and no rpl2 homologous sequences were detected in the soybean mt genome. Nuclear-located transferred mt rpl2 copies have been identified in wheat and they are found to be transcribed. An RNA-mediated gene transfer is predicted since it lacks the mt intron at the expected splice site. In rice, the mt rpl2 gene is transcribed, spliced and edited. The mRNA levels of the rice mt rpl2 are very low compared to typical respiratory chain genes and have higher transcript accumulation in the germinating embryo stage than seedlings. The transcript profile is complex and different between stages indicating different processing pathways in germinating embryos and seedlings. Low steady state rpl2 mRNA levels compared to excised introns indicate a rapid turnover of mRNA and a stable excised form of intron. However the excised introns appear to be present as non-lariat forms by RT-PCR experiments. This observation suggests an initial hydrolysis step in the splicing reaction. Phylogenetic analyses on derived L2 and S12 protein sequences of mitochondria and other compartments indicate a rapid evolution of mt L2 proteins in comparison to mt S12. The transfer of mt genes to the nucleus points to an accelerated rate of evolution of L2 proteins. The codon usage pattern of the transferred wheat nuclear-located mt rpl2 sequences is in agreement with an adaptation to the pattern of other wheat nuclear genes. This study illustrates the recent evolutionary transfer of functional mt genes to the nucleus. It also indicates that the transferred genes may be modified to a certain extent during or after transfer to the new environment. The presence of a mitochondrial as well as a transferred nuclear copy may reflect the transition stage in a gene transfer event or the possibility of maintenance of the mt copy for specialized functional regulation during different developmental stages. (Abstract shortened by UMI.

Performance Evaluation of Novel Random Biased-Genetic Algorithm (NRB-GA): A Hybrid Load Balancing Algorithm in a Cloud Computing Environment

A novel random biased-genetic algorithm (NRB-GA) load-balancing algorithm that exhibits the characteristics of both genetic algorithms and biased random algorithms is designed and developed to improve the processing time and response time metrics of the cloud computing environment. The NRB-GA is designed to discover a virtual machine with fewer loads by applying a genetic algorithm with a fitness function that is inversely proportional to the average load over a period of time for each virtual machine and with biased parent selection to maximize the fitness values of offspring. The developed NRB-GA load-balancing algorithm is evaluated by analysing its performance for various simulated scenarios in a cloud computing environment with different user bases and data center configurations. The analysis of the experimental results of NRB-GA indicates that the average response time is reduced by 27.22%, 21.15%, and 22.34%, and the processing time is reduced by 25.73%, 16.14%, and 18.82% for one, two, and three data centers, respectively. It is evident that the proposed NRB-GA algorithm for load balancing outperforms other existing algorithms significantly.</jats:p