Heterochromatin is the transcriptionally repressed portion of eukaryotic chromatin that maintains a condensed appearance throughout the cell cycle. At sites of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) heterochromatin, ...epigenetic states contribute to gene silencing and genome stability, which are required for proper chromosome segregation and a normal life span. Here, we focus on recent advances in the epigenetic regulation of rDNA silencing in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and in mammals, including regulation by several histone modifications and several protein components associated with the inner nuclear membrane within the nucleolus. Finally, we discuss the perturbations of rDNA epigenetic pathways in regulating cellular aging and in causing various types of diseases.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease, characterized by persistent hyperglycemia resulting from diminished insulin secretion or insulin resistance. The present study evaluated the ...ameliorative effects of Withaferin-A (WA) on DM-induced reproductive dysfunction in mice. For the same, mice were intraperitoneally injected with Streptozotocin (STZ), (40 mg/kg/day) for 5 consecutive days to induce DM. Mice were then treated with WA (8 mg/kg/day) in normal and diabetic conditions (STZ + WA). Next, blood glucose levels, oral glucose tolerance, intraperitoneal insulin tolerance, oxidative stress and reproductive parameters were estimated. For reproductive performance, immunofluorescent localization of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH-I) and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) in the preoptic area and paraventricular nucleus region of hypothalamus and ERα in testes was performed. STZ-induced diabetes triggered reproductive dysfunctions as mediated by low GnRH-I and ERα in the brain and ERα in the testes along with declined testosterone and estradiol levels. Treatment with WA significantly reduced the blood glucose levels and enhanced glucose clearance accompanied by reduced oxidative stress in the brain, pancreas and testes as indicated by the low levels of H2O2 and MDA in diabetic mice treated with WA (STZ + WA). This study reports, for the first time, that WA can efficiently ameliorate DM-induced reproductive dysfunctions by enhancing endogenous testosterone, estrogen and increased GnRH-I and ERα in the brain and ERα in the testes of DM-induced male mice.
This timely volume focuses on the period of decolonization and the Cold War as the backdrop to the emergence of new and diverse literary aesthetics that accompanied anti-imperialist commitments and ...Afro-Asian solidarity. Competing internationalist frameworks produced a flurry of writings that made Asian, African and other world literatures visible to each other for the first time. The book’s essays examine a host of print culture formats (magazines, newspapers, manifestos, conference proceedings, ephemera, etc.) and modes of cultural mediation and transnational exchange that enabled the construction of a variously inflected Third-World culture which played a determining role throughout the Cold War. The essays in this collection focus on locations as diverse as Morocco, Tunisia, South Asia, China, Spain, and Italy, and on texts in Arabic, English, French, Hindi, Italian, and Spanish. In doing so, they highlight the combination of local debates and struggles, and internationalist networks and aspirations that found expression in essays, novels, travelogues, translations, reviews, reportages and other literary forms. With its comparative study of print cultures with a focus on decolonization and the Cold War, the volume makes a major contribution both to studies of postcolonial literary and print cultures, and to cultural Cold War studies in multilingual and non-Western contexts, and will be of interest to historians and literary scholars alike.
The aim of the study was to examine the influence of single and consortia treatments of drought tolerant rhizobacteria producing ACC deaminase together with additional plant growth promoting (PGP) ...characteristics on finger millet growth, antioxidant and nutrient concentration under water-stressed and irrigated (no stress) conditions. These rhizobacteria belong to the
Variovorax
sp.
Achromobacter
spp.
Pseudomonas
spp. and
Ochrobactrum
sp. The single inoculant of RAA3 (
Variovorax paradoxus
) and a consortium inoculant of four bacteria, i.e., DPC9 (
Ochrobactrum anthropi
), DPB13 (
Pseudomonas palleroniana
), DPB15 (
Pseudomonas fluorescens
) and DPB16 (
Pseudomonas palleroniana
), significantly boosted the overall growth parameters and nutrient concentrations in leaves of finger millet. Moreover, elevated levels of the reactive oxygen species scavenging enzymes–superoxide dismutase (17.3%, 11.6%), guaiacol peroxidase (38.7%, 22.2%), catalase (33.7%, 21.3%) and ascorbate peroxidase (18.2%, 10.0%); cellular osmolytes–proline (41.5%, 25.0%), phenol (44.5%, 37.5%); higher leaf chlorophyll (64.4%, 30.8%) and a reduced level of hydrogen peroxide (50.7%, 59.5%) and malondialdehyde (48.4%,72.5%) were noted, respectively, after single inoculation of RAA3 and a consortium treatment by strains DPC9 + DPB13 + DPB15 + DPB16, in contrast with non-treated plants mainly under water-stressed conditions. This finding clearly illustrates that PGPB that express ACC deaminase along with additional PGP traits could be an efficient approach for improving plant health in environments, where agricultural practices are reliant on rain for water.
The present study was carried out to investigate the impact of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the growth of three different crop species, wheat (
Triticum aestivum
, var. UP2338), cowpea (
Vigna ...sinensis
, var. Pusa Komal), and
Brassica
(
Brassica juncea
, var. Pusa Jai Kisan), along with their impact on the rhizospheric bacterial diversity. Three different concentrations (0, 50 and 75 ppm) of AgNPs were applied through foliar spray. After harvesting, shoot and root parameters were compared, and it was observed that wheat was relatively unaffected by all AgNP treatments. The optimum growth promotion and increased root nodulation were observed at 50 ppm treatment in cowpea, while improved shoot parameters were recorded at 75 ppm in
Brassica
. To observe the impact of AgNPs on soil bacterial community, sampling was carried out from the rhizosphere of these crops at 20 and 40 days after the spraying of AgNPS. The bacterial diversity of these samples was analyzed by both cultural and molecular techniques (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis). It is clearly evident from the results that application of AgNPs changes the soil bacterial diversity and this is further influenced by the plant species grown in that soil. Also, the functional bacterial diversity differed with different concentrations of AgNPs.
A large number of fossil coryphoid palm wood and fruits have been reported from the Deccan Intertrappean beds of India. We document the oldest well-preserved and very rare costapalmate palm leaves ...and inflorescence like structures from the same horizon.
A number of specimens were collected from Maastrichtian-Danian sediments of the Deccan Intertrappean beds, Ghughua, near Umaria, Dindori District, Madhya Pradesh, India. The specimens are compared with modern and fossil taxa of the family Arecaceae.
Sabalites dindoriensis sp. nov. is described based on fossil leaf specimens including basal to apical parts. These are the oldest coryphoid fossil palm leaves from India as well as, at the time of deposition, from the Gondwana- derived continents.
The fossil record of coryphoid palm leaves presented here and reported from the Eurasian localities suggests that this is the oldest record of coryphoid palm leaves from India and also from the Gondwana- derived continents suggesting that the coryphoid palms were well established and wide spread on both northern and southern hemispheres by the Maastrichtian-Danian. The coryphoid palms probably dispersed into India from Europe via Africa during the latest Cretaceous long before the Indian Plate collided with the Eurasian Plate.
The scarcity of non-renewable resources such as soils and fertilizers and the consequences of climate change can dramatically influence the food security of future generations. Mutualistic root ...microorganisms such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can improve plant fitness. We tested the growth response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), rice (Oriza sativa L.) and black gram (Vigna mungo L., Hepper) to an inoculation of AMF and PGPR alone or in combination over two years at seven locations in a region extending from the Himalayan foothills to the Indo-Gangetic plain. The AMF applied consisted of a consortium of different strains, the PGPR of two fluorescent Pseudomonas strains (Pseudomonas jessenii, R62; Pseudomonas synxantha, R81), derived from wheat rhizosphere from one test region. We found that dual inoculation of wheat with PGPR and AMF increased grain yield by 41% as compared to un-inoculated controls. Yield responses to the inoculants were highest at locations with previously low yields. AMF or PGPR alone augmented wheat grain yield by 29% and 31%, respectively. The bio-inoculants were effective both at Zero and at farmers’ practice fertilization level (70 kg N ha−1, 11 kg P ha−1 in mineral form to wheat crop). Also raw protein (nitrogen × 5.7) and mineral nutrient concentration of wheat grains (phosphorus, potassium, copper, iron, zinc, manganese) were higher after inoculation (+6% to +53%). Phosphorus use efficiency of wheat grains kg P grain kg−1 P fertilizer was increased by 95%. AMF and PGPR application also improved soil quality as indicated by increased soil enzyme activities of alkaline and acid phosphatase, urease and dehydrogenase. Effects on rice and black gram yields were far less pronounced over two cropping seasons, suggesting that AMF and PGPR isolated from the target crop were more efficient. We conclude that mutualistic root microorganisms have a high potential for contributing to food security and for improving nutrition status in southern countries, while safeguarding natural resources such as P stocks.
► Crop response to bio-inoculants isolated from wheat was highest in wheat (+41%). ► Consortia of AMF and PGPR were more effective than single inoculants. ► Bio-inoculants were most effective at sites with previously low yield. ► Also soil enzymes and mineral nutrient concentration of wheat grains were increased. ► Inoculants have a high potential to increase food security and resource use efficiency.
Fusarium wilt caused by
Fusarium
oxysporum f. sp.
lycopersici (Sacc.) W.C. Synder and H.N. Hans is the major limiting factor in the production of tomato. An effort was made to develop an eco-friendly ...approach to control
Fusarium wilt in tomato using fluorescent
Pseudomonas,
Trichoderma
harzianum and
Glomus intraradices, an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF). Besides direct interaction with plant pathogens, bioagents have been reported to induce systemic resistance in plants. In the present study, a large number of
Trichoderma sp. and pseudomonad isolates were evaluated for their efficacy to control
Fusarium wilt of tomato.
T. harzianum was multiplied on six different substrates out of which Jhangora, an undertilized grain crop, proved to be the superior substrate. Application of
T. harzianum and fluorescent
Pseudomonas by seed bio-priming significantly increased seed germination (22–48%) and reduced the days required for germination (2.0–2.5
days). All bioagents used in this study significantly reduced the incidence of wilt in pot and field trials and combinations of bioagents were more effective than single isolate treatments. The combination of fluorescent
Pseudomonas,
T.
harzianum and AMF provided significantly better control than uninoculated treatment, reducing disease incidence and severity by 74% and 67% in pots and field, respectively. The combination treatments also increased yield by 20%. Addition of cow dung compost (CDC) further reduced disease and improved yield in all treatments. Comparing to control (-CDC), the combination of all three bioagents with CDC significantly reduced disease by 81 and 74% in pots and field, respectively and enhanced the yield by 33%.
Epigenetic modifications are heritable, reversible changes in histones or the DNA that control gene functions, being exogenous to the genomic sequence itself. Human diseases, particularly cancer, are ...frequently connected to epigenetic dysregulations. One of them is histone methylation, which is a dynamically reversible and synchronously regulated process that orchestrates the three-dimensional epigenome, nuclear processes of transcription, DNA repair, cell cycle, and epigenetic functions, by adding or removing methylation groups to histones. Over the past few years, reversible histone methylation has become recognized as a crucial regulatory mechanism for the epigenome. With the development of numerous medications that target epigenetic regulators, epigenome-targeted therapy has been used in the treatment of malignancies and has shown meaningful therapeutic potential in preclinical and clinical trials. The present review focuses on the recent advances in our knowledge on the role of histone demethylases in tumor development and modulation, in emphasizing molecular mechanisms that control cancer cell progression. Finally, we emphasize current developments in the advent of new molecular inhibitors that target histone demethylases to regulate cancer progression.
Special AT-rich sequence binding protein-2 (SATB2) is a nuclear matrix protein that binds to nuclear attachment regions and is involved in chromatin remodeling and transcription regulation. In stem ...cells, it regulates the expression of genes required for maintaining pluripotency and self-renewal and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). In this study, we examined the oncogenic role of SATB2 in prostate cancer and assessed whether overexpression of SATB2 in human normal prostate epithelial cells (PrECs) induces properties of cancer stem cells (CSCs). The results demonstrate that SATB2 is highly expressed in prostate cancer cell lines and CSCs, but not in PrECs. Overexpression of SATB2 in PrECs induces cellular transformation which was evident by the formation of colonies in soft agar and spheroids in suspension. Overexpression of SATB2 in PrECs also resulted in induction of stem cell markers (CD44 and CD133), pluripotency-maintaining transcription factors (cMYC, OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and NANOG), CADHERIN switch, and EMT-related transcription factors. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that SATB2 can directly bind to promoters of BCL-2, BSP, NANOG, MYC, XIAP, KLF4, and HOXA2, suggesting SATB2 is capable of directly regulating pluripotency/self-renewal, cell survival, and proliferation. Since prostate CSCs play a crucial role in cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis, we also examined the effects of SATB2 knockdown on stemness. SATB2 knockdown in prostate CSCs inhibited spheroid formation, cell viability, colony formation, cell motility, migration, and invasion compared to their scrambled control groups. SATB2 knockdown in CSCs also upregulated the expression of E-CADHERIN and inhibited the expression of N-CADHERIN, SNAIL, SLUG, and ZEB1. The expression of SATB2 was significantly higher in prostate adenocarcinoma compared to normal tissues. Overall, our data suggest that SATB2 acts as an oncogenic factor where it is capable of inducing malignant changes in PrECs by inducing CSC characteristics.
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