Molecular simulations probing Kushecarpin A as a new lipoxygenase inhibitor

Zizyphus oxyphylla Edgew is used in Pakistan as a folk medicinal remedy for inflammatory conditions, pains especially rheumatic pain, fevers, allergy and diabetes. The aim of the current study was to scientifically validate the folk use of Z. oxyphylla Edgew by using the isolated compound in vitro and in vivo levels. Kushecarpin A was isolated from ethyl acetate fraction of the plant crude extract. Molecular docking simulations predicted Kushecarpin A as a potential new lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitor. Kushecarpin A showed significant lipoxygenase inhibition (IC50: 7.2 ± 0.02 μM) thus validated computational prediction. It also exhibited significant and highly significant inhibition (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01) of carrageenan-induced hind paw oedema at the doses of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg. Kushecarpin A seems to be a potentially new anti-inflammatory compound responsible for anti-inflammatory activities of Z. oxyphylla Edgew. In vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory inflammatory activities were found in good agreement with the folk medicinal use of Z. oxyphylla Edgew in inflammatory disorders.     

Molecular simulations of Taxawallin I inside classical taxol binding site of β-tubulin

A new taxoid Taxawallin I (1) along with two known taxoids (2-3) were isolated from methanolic bark extract of Taxus wallichiana Zucc. Structural characterization was confirmed by mass and NMR spectral techniques. Taxawallin I exhibited significant in-vitro anticancer activity against HepG2, A498, NCI-H226 and MDR 2780AD cancer lines. Tubulin binding assay was performed to assess its tubulin binding activity. Molecular docking analysis was performed to study the potential binding mode inside the taxol binding site of β-tubulin.     

印度河上游流域冰川度日因子变化及其影响因素

当前,基于正积温的度日模型广泛应用于冰川消融研究中,该模型的核心参数是度日因子。根据印度河上游Sachen、Gharko、Barpu冰川2014—2016年的物质平衡和气温实测资料,计算得到消融期内各冰川研究区的度日因子,并分析了度日因子的时空变化特征及影响因素。研究结果显示：Sachen、Gharko、Barpu冰川度日因子均值分别为2.83 mm?d^-1?℃^-1、3.74 mm?d^-1?℃^-1、3.91 mm?d^-1?℃^-1;各冰川度日因子皆随着海拔升高而递增,海拔递增率分别为0.003 7 mm?d^-1?℃^-1?m^-1、0.007 4 mm?d^-1?℃^-1?m^-1、0.004 1 mm?d^-1?℃^-1?m^-1;对于同一观测点而言,度日因子不是一个常数,会随着时间的变化而改变,冰川度日因子随着年际变化呈增加的趋势;度日因子受表碛影响显著,度日因子整体上随着表碛厚度的增加而递减。然而表碛厚度低于2 cm时,表碛的覆盖作用促进了冰川的消融,表碛覆盖区冰川度日因子大于裸露区冰川;冰川朝向的变化对度日因子产生了一定的影响,面向阳坡的冰川度日因子随海拔递增率大于阴坡。     

Effectiveness of potassium in mitigating the salt-induced oxidative stress in contrasting tomato genotypes

To check the efficacy of potassium in alleviating oxidative stress under salt stress, salt-tolerant (Indent-1) and salt-sensitive (Red Ball) tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) genotypes were exposed to three levels of sodium chloride (NaCl) (0, 75, 150 mM) and two levels of potassium (4.5 and 9 mM) in solution and foliar form. Thirty days of treatments revealed that increasing NaCl stress increased lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA) and correspondingly the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; and glutathione reductase GR) in both genotypes. However, higher potassium (K) level in solution or foliar spray during the salt-induced stress decreased MDA and antioxidant activity and increased the growth in salt-tolerant genotype than in the salt-sensitive genotype. Decrease in MDA concentration, activity of antioxidant enzymes, and increase in the growth of tomato plants by the application of potassium under salt stress suggest that potassium is an effective ameliorating agent against salt-induced oxidative damage.     

Flowering time in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): a key factor for global adaptability

Wheat is one of the most widely cultivated crops and, being the staple diet of more than 40 countries, it plays an imperative role in food security. Wheat has remarkable genetic potential to synchronize its flowering time with favourable environmental conditions. This ability to time its flowering is a key factor for its global adaptability and enables wheat plant to produce satisfactory grain yield under very diverse temperature and soil moisture conditions. Vernalization (Vrn), photoperiod (Ppd) and earliness per se (Eps) are the three genetic systems controlling flowering time in wheat. The objective of this review is to provide comprehensive information on the physiological, molecular and biological aspects of the three genetic constituents of flowering and maturity time in wheat. Reviews written in the past have covered either one of the aspects; and generally focused on one of the three genetic constituents of the flowering time. The current review provides (a) a detailed overview of all three gene systems (vernalization, photoperiod and earliness per se) controlling flowering time, (b) details of the primer sequences, their annealing temperatures and expected amplicon sizes for all known markers of detecting vernalization and photoperiod alleles, and (c) an up to date list of QTLs affecting flowering and/or maturity time in wheat.     

The effect of VRN1 genes on important agronomic traits in high‐yielding Canadian soft white spring wheat

For reproductive success, flowering time must synchronize with favourable environmental conditions. Vernalization genes play a major role in accelerating or delaying the time to flowering. We studied how different vernalization (VRN1) gene combinations alter days to flowering and maturity and consequently the effect on grain yield and other agronomic traits. The study focussed on the effect of the VRN1 gene series (Vrn‐A1, Vrn‐B1 and Vrn‐D1) and their combinations. The Vrn gene group Vrn‐A1a, Vrn‐B1, vrn‐D1 was the earliest to flower and mature, while Vrn‐A1b, Vrn‐B1, vrn‐D1 was the latest to flower. Spring wheat lines with vrn‐A1, Vrn‐B1, Vrn‐D1 were the highest yielding and matured at a similar time as those having vernalization genes Vrn‐A1a, Vrn‐B1 and Vrn‐D1. The findings of this study suggest that the presence of Vrn‐D1 has a direct or indirect role in producing higher grain yield. We therefore suggest the introduction of Vrn‐D1 allele into higher‐yielding classes within Canadian spring wheat germplasm.     

基于形态特性的豌豆(Pisum sativum)F_1,F_2和F_3代遗传研究和高产抗白粉病品系的选育(英文)

本研究的目的是确定豌豆F1和F2代的6个相对性状的遗传和连锁关系,并在F3代中选择高产抗白粉病株系.选择两个近等基因系Falloner和11760-3ER进行杂交,得到的F2代的性状分离比均为3:1,这符合X2(p＞0.07)适合度检测,表明是单基因遗传.花色和种子颜色与花青素关联的似然比分别为44.31和34.91,每个叶片中小叶数目和卷须类型关联的似然比为33.21.这三个关联的质量性状在P＜0.00具有非常显著的相关性,但与白粉病性状均不相关联.选择F3代的4个与产量密切相关的数量性状进行研究,发现总荚重和种荚比分别具有49.77%和20.01%的最高变异系数.相关性研究发现,总荚重与籽粒重量、荚宽、荚长和种荚比呈显著正相关.荚长与种荚比呈显著正相关.根据数量性状值和白粉病抗性表现,选择GN070140-2,GN070143-1和GN070140-0三个株系作为以后的栽培品种.     

磷肥对甜玉米籽粒植酸和锌有效性的影响

为明确磷肥对甜玉米籽粒营养特性的影响,利用不同品种的磷肥定位试验以及磷肥梯度水平试验,探讨甜玉米籽粒植酸、磷(P)、锌(Zn)含量及Zn有效性的时间(不同灌浆期)和空间(果穗上、中、下部;籽粒果皮、胚乳和胚)变化及其对外源磷肥的响应特性。试验结果表明,甜玉米籽粒的P和植酸含量随磷肥用量的增加而增加,Zn含量及其有效性则呈现下降趋势。磷肥投入对吐丝后16～24 d籽粒的植酸、P和Zn的积累(mg plant^–1)的影响最为显著,而对不同灌浆时期Zn有效性均表现出抑制效应。在中磷水平下,果穗不同穗位籽粒植酸(g kg^–1)和Zn有效性的差异并不显著。高磷水平显著提高了中、下部果穗植酸的含量,但对不同穗位籽粒Zn含量和Zn有效性均存在抑制效应。对籽粒内不同部位(果皮、胚乳和胚)进行比较,植酸、P以及Zn含量均以胚中含量最高,积累量占比则以胚乳中最高;而Zn有效性以胚中最高。高磷处理可显著提高籽粒内不同部位植酸和磷含量,降低Zn含量及其有效性。综上,合理磷肥施用可促进籽粒Zn积累,而过量磷肥投入会显著增加不同灌浆时期,以及胚乳和胚中的植酸含量和积累量...     

In vitro cell-toxicity of Peganum harmala alkaloids on cancerous cell-lines.

The alkaloidic fraction of the methanol extract of Peganum harmala seeds was tested in vitro on three tumoral cell-lines: UCP-Med and Med-mek carcinoma, and UCP-Med sarcoma. Proliferation was significantly reduced at all tested concentrations (20-120 micrograms/ml) during the first 24 h of contact. A cell lysis effect occurred after 24 h and increased thereafter to complete cell death within 48-72 h, depending on tested concentration.