Slow transit constipation (STC) is a gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abnormal prolonged colonic transit time, which affects the life quality of many people. The decrease number of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) is involved in the pathogenesis of STC. However, the molecular mechanism of loss of ICCs in STC remains unclear, making it difficult to develop new agents for the disease. In

Identification of plant variety and cultivar is pivotal in the agricultural sector due to the abundance of plant varieties and cultivars developed in many crop species. However, plant variety and cultivar identification via basic morphological features is problematic and challenging when differentiating closely related species not only due to their limited differences but also due to technical limitations

Efficient analysis of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) across genomic samples enable in deciphering the relationship between genotype and phenotype. The core principle behind SNP comparison is to arrive at a probable list of variants that can differentiate two sets of data (populations). Such SNPs have direct applications in array design, genotype imputation and in cataloging of variants in regions

This study aimed to examine the expression of the genes associated with different development stages of primordial germ cells (PGCs) in differentiating mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). The cells were cultured in three groups of control, 10−8 M of all-trans retinoic acid and the combination of 10−7 M of Progesterone and retinoic acid for 7, 12, 17, and 22 days. Immunofluorescent and Quantitative

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease characterized by thickening and disorganization of the skin’s protective barrier. Although current models replicate some aspects of the disease, development of therapeutic strategies have been hindered by absence of more relevant models. This study aimed to develop and characterize an in vitro psoriatic human skin equivalent (HSE) using human keratinocytes HaCat

Infections caused by multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity across the world. Indiscriminate use of broad-spectrum antibiotics has seriously affected this situation. With the diminishing discovery of novel antibiotics, new treatment methods are urgently required to combat MDR pathogens. Polymyxins, the cationic lipopeptide antibiotics, discovered

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is one of the most important food crops around the world. China is the largest wheat production country and wheat yellow mosaic virus (WYMV) is a non-negligible threat to wheat production. This study aimed to explore miRNAs and their corresponding target genes responsive to WYMV in wheat. Linmai and Jimai were used for miRNA and degradome high-throughput sequencing. After

Numerous studies have identified that circular RNAs (circRNAs) functioned as important regulators in tumor initiation, carcinogenesis, drug or radiation resistance. This study aims to reveal the function of circ_0008344 on radiosensitivity in glioma. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was implemented for detecting the circ_0008344 and microRNA-433-3p (miR-433-3p) levels

Wilting of potato plants with an incidence of 20–30 % was observed for the first time in the agricultural farms of Andaman Islands, India. The infected plants showed wilting syndrome that included downward drooping of leaves, yellowing, and collapse of the entire plants. Characteristic milky-white exudate from the infected stem indicated bacterial etiology of the disease. Upon streaking onto 2, 3,

One aspect of the study of the origins of life focuses on how primitive chemistries assembled into the first cells on Earth and how these primitive cells evolved into modern cells. Membraneless droplets generated from liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) are one potential primitive cell-like compartment; current research in origins of life includes study of the structure, function, and evolution of

Feedback assists the memory system in preserving the learnings from ongoing activities and updating it for future retrievals. Thus, the feedback coming from an individual's performance affects the behavior and, thereby, the performance. However, little is known regarding the interactions of learning and memory associated regions. Thus, we employ a combination of functional connectivity and neurovascular

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to investigate the efficacy of yogic intervention (YI) on pulmonary functions (PFs) and respiratory muscle strength parameters in healthy individuals. PubMed/Medline, Embase, Google Scholar, SPORTdiscus databases as well as manual searches carried out until March 2020 on yoga AND pulmonary function were included based on Prisma guidelines. Twenty

Fluorescence microscopy has revolutionized life science research. It is a powerful technique to visualize molecular structures, physiological functions, and dynamic processes in living cells, tissues, and organisms. Excitation-light and/or excited-fluorescent proteins-mediated dysregulation in cell physiology are widely known but poorly considered. Although there are vast applications of fluorescence

The global emergence and spread of malaria parasites resistant to antimalarial drugs is a major problem in malaria control and elimination. In this study, samples from Pune district were characterized to determine prevalence of molecular markers of resistance to chloroquine (pfcrt codons C72S, M74I, N75E, K76T and pfmdr-1 N86Y, Y184F), pyrimethamine (pfdhfr C50R, N51I, C59R, S108N), sulfadoxine (pfdhps

Gene silencing in S. pombe occurs by heterochromatin formation at the centromere (cen), mating-type (mat) and telomere loci. It is mediated by silencing factors including Swi6, Clr1-4, Rhp6 and Polα. RNAi pathway also plays a role in establishment of silencing at the mat and cen loci. Recently, the stress response factors, Atf1 and Pcr1were shown to play an RNAi-independent role in silencing at the

Membraneless organelles (MLOs) in the cytoplasm and nucleus in the form of phase-separated biomolecular condensates are increasingly viewed as critical in regulating diverse cellular functions. We summarize a paradigm shift over the last 3 years in the field of interferon (IFN)-inducible antiviral Mx-family GTPases. Expression of the ‘myxovirus resistance proteins’ MxA in human cells and its ortholog

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increases the risk of fetal congenital ventricular hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). We explored the effects and mechanisms of the postnatal progression of fetal hypertrophic failure in rat pups with STZ-induced Gestational Diabetes (GD). The hearts of rat pups (newborn [NB], 8, 15, 25 and 35 days postnatal) were obtained. Histological characteristics and expression

Zinc-dependent HDAC subtypes (ZnHDACs) exhibit differential expression in various cancer types and significantly contribute to oncogenic cell transformation, and hence are interesting anticancer drug targets. The approved pan HDAC inhibitors (PHIs) lack subtype specificity and inhibit all ZnHDACs, causing severe side-effects. Considering the distinct tissue distribution and roles of individual ZnHDACs

Cancer metastasis occurs due to the ability of the tumour to evade immune recognition and response by altering the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC class I). A comprehensive understanding of the MHC class I alteration in breast cancer metastasis is vital for the rational design and improvement of immunotherapies for advanced cancer. In this study, we associate it with the elevation of

Autophagy affects the development, progression, and prognosis of various cancers including pancreatic cancer. To develop an autophagy-related prognostic model of pancreatic cancer, we systematically analyzed gene expression profile from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Genotype-Tissue Expression. Ten autophagy-relevant genes with potential prognostic values were identified, based on which a prognostic model

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second frequent malignancy among men in the world. Exosomal circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been reported to function in PCa progression. The current study aimed to investigate the role of exosomal circRNA homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 3 (circHIPK3) in PCa development. Exosomes were extracted from serum and cells utilizing commercial kit, and identified by transmission

RuBisCO (Ribulose 1,5 bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) by virtue of its dual specificity towards oxygen and carbon dioxide is an important rate-limiting step in photosynthesis and is believed to be the key factor for limited productivity of higher plants and algae. The photoautotrophic growth rate of cyanobacteria is a culmination of several factors including, rates of photosynthetic reactions,

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive and prevalent brain tumor in adults. The circRNA derived from CLSPN (hsa_circ_0011591, circCLSPN) is remarkably upregulated in GBM; however its functional role was uncovered yet. First, we examined expression of circCLSPN using GSE109569 database and RT-qPCR, and circCLSPN level was upregulated in human GBM tumor tissues and cells (A172 and LN18);

N-3-(oxododecanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone (3-O-C12-HSL), a small bacterial signaling molecule secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), can block dendritic cell (DC) maturation and participate in immune escape, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. We speculate that regulation of DC maturation and function by lncRNAs may be the mechanism by which 3-O-C12-HSL inhibits the immune response

Psychrophiles are organisms living in extremely cold conditions within the temperature range of −20°C to + 10°C. These organisms survive in harsh environment by modulating their genetic make-up to thrive in extremely cold conditions. These cold-adaptations are closely associated with changes in the life forms, gene expression, and proteins, enzymes, lipids, etc. This review gives a brief description

IL-3, a haematopoiesis regulatory factor, has previously been shown to inhibit both mouse and human osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. Here, the role of rat IL-3 on rat osteoclast differentiation was evaluated to address whether the inhibitory action of IL-3 on osteoclastogenesis is conserved in various species. It was observed that IL-3 inhibited rat osteoclast differentiation induced

Energy metabolism is a critical factor that influences disease pathogenesis. Recent high-throughput genomic studies have enabled us to look into disease biology with greater details. Celiac disease (CD) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease where ~60 non-HLA genes were identified which in conjunction with HLA genes explain ~55% of the disease heritability. In this study we aimed to identify susceptibility

The whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is a devastating polyphagous pest that causes significant losses in several economically important crops worldwide. Although chemical control is the fastest management strategy, insecticide resistance development poses a greater constraint in whitefly management. In this study, we used RNA interference (RNAi) technique to understand the role of target of rapamycin

The central dogma enunciated by Francis Crick and the postulate that sequence defines protein structure and function put forth by Christian Anfinsen (also referred to as the Thermodynamics Hypothesis) are some of the most fundamental tenets of molecular biology that have had very profound influences and implications. They were formulated based on observations (evidence) that was obvious to the preceptors

Obesity has been followed with interest as a risk factor for COVID-19, with triglycerides as one of four common criteria used to define obesity, which have been used to study the mechanism of obesity. In this study, we showed that angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) is widely expressed in the mouse body, including the kidney, spleen, brain, heart, lung, liver, and testis, and that ACE2 levels increased

This study reports for the first-time antioxidant activity and flavonoid composition of KP onion landrace which is useful for future breeding programs and to obtain geographical indication (GI) tag for the benefit of farmers. The present study was aimed to determine antioxidant capacity and flavonoid composition of bulbs of red onion (Allium cepa L.) landrace ‘Krishnapuram’ (KP) from India using high-performance

The main cause of death in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is tumor progression, in which metastasis and invasion play an important role. The metastatic cascade is marked by a change in morphological, biological, biochemical and functional characteristics, including the acquisition of cellular mobility. The migration activity of tumor cells determines the work of actin-binding proteins that cause

Diagnosis and treatment of various diseases in Ayurveda, the Indian system of medicine, relies on ‘prakriti’ phenotyping of individuals into predominantly three constitutions, kapha, pitta and vata. Recent studies propose that microbiome play an integral role in precision medicine. A study of the relationship between prakriti – the basis of personalized medicine in Ayurveda and that of gut microbiome

To promote diligent analysis of the progression of a disease, it is important to identify interesting biomarkers for the disease. Biclustering has already been established as an effective technique to help identify such biomarkers of high biological significance. Although in the recent past, a good number of biclustering techniques have been introduced, most of them fail to perform consistently across

Amarogentin (active component of Chirata) was found to prevent CCl4/NDEA-induced liver carcinogenesis at mild dysplastic stage through modulation of cell cycle, apoptosis, self-renewal pathways. The cell cycle regulatory genes LIMD1, P16 and RBSP3 were found to be upregulated in restricted liver lesions. To understand the mechanism of upregulation during restriction of cacinogenesis, the effect of

Rice grain shape and nutritional quality traits have high economic value for commercial production of rice and largely determine the market price, besides influencing the global food demand for high-quality rice. Detection, mapping and exploitation of quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with kernel elongation and grain quality in Basmati rice is considered as an efficient strategy for improving

Out study on genetic diversity was conducted with six chilli genotypes with inter- and intra-specific cross varieties of the three most popular chilli species (Capsicum annuum L., Capsicum chinense Jacq., and Capsicum frutescens L.). Twelve quantitative characters, viz. plant height (cm), primary branches, secondary branches, number of flowers, number of fruits/plant; dry fruit weight (g), fruit length

Like any other biological tissue, plant tissue also exhibits optical properties like refraction, transmission, absorption, coloration, scattering and so on. Several studies have been conducted using different parts of plants such as leaves, seedlings, roots, stems and so on, and their optical properties have been analyzed to study plant physiology, influence of environmental cues on plant metabolism

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-021-00173-3

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway is a DNA repair mechanism that rectifies a wide spectrum of DNA lesions. Xeroderma pigmentosum group of proteins (XPA through XPG) orchestrate the NER pathway in humans. We have earlier studied XPA homolog from Hydra (HyXPA) and found it to be similar to human XPA. Here, we examined if HyXPA can functionally complement human XPA-deficient cells and reduce their

GRAS proteins are multi-functional, regulating various aspects of plant growth and development. Besides, they are also involved in the stress tolerance of plants. Wheat is one of the major cereal crops of the world and efforts are being made to boost its productivity and stress tolerance to feed the increasing world population. Being a physiologically important transcription factor, GRAS genes can

Aurora kinases despite their similarity have distinct roles in the cell cycle, which is regulated by cell-matrix adhesion and growth factors. This study reveals loss of adhesion and re-adhesion to differentially regulate Aurora kinases. AURKB activation that drops on the loss of adhesion recovers on re-adhesion in serum-deprived conditions but not in the presence of serum growth factors. A rapid 30

Decalepis salicifolia (Bedd. ex Hook. f.) Venter is a potential medicinal and highly aromatic plant species confined to the southernmost part of the Western Ghats of India. The plant is well known for its traditional uses among the various tribal communities of south India. The tubers of the plant possess characteristic vanillin-like aroma due to the presence of the compound 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde

Availability of comprehensive phylogenetic tree for flowering plants which includes many of the economically important crops and trees is one of the essential requirements of plant biologists for diverse applications. It is the first study on the use of chloroplast genome of 3265 Angiosperm taxa to identify evolutionary relationships among the plant species. Sixty genes from chloroplast genome was

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative condition provoking the loss of cognitive and memory performances. Despite huge efforts to develop effective AD therapies, there is still no cure for this neurological condition. Here, we review the main biological properties of Phycocyanobilin (PCB), accounting for its potential uses against AD. PCB, given individually or released in vivo

Gene therapy is considered a potential treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Researchers have been working on this for many years to find effective therapeutic targets. Here, we found that MRTF-A (myocardin-related transcription factor A) could activate the transcription of L-type Ca2+-channel-related protein CACNA1S (calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 S) by binding to the CarG

Pigment patterns in corollas are common, and act as nectar guides for pollinators. We discovered multiple floral morphs of Justicia adhatoda L. (Acanthaceae) with variable extents of corolla vein pigmentation in a population in Sariska, Rajasthan. Two floral morphs, one completely white and the other white with dark purple vein pigmentation, were compared in order to investigate any possible differences

Circular RNA (circRNA) plays an important role in the regulation of multiple biological processes. However, circRNA profiling and the potential biological role of circRNA in influenza A virus (IAV)-induced lung injury have not been investigated. In the present study, circRNA expression profiles in lung tissues from mice with and without IAV-induced lung injury were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing

Currently, we are at the threshold of the ‘post-antibiotic era’ due to the global emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and hence there is a dire need to discover new antibiotics. Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are a diverse class of natural products (NPs), some of which are under clinical trials for their antimicrobial potential. Thiopeptides are

Among all the proteins of Periplasmic C type Cytochrome family obtained from cytochrome \(C_7\) found in Geobacter sulfurreducens, only the Periplasmic C type Cytochrome A (PPCA) protein can recognize the deoxycholate (DXCA), while its other paralogs do not, as observed from the crystal structures. Though some existing works have used graph-theoretic approaches to realize the 3-D structural properties

Prenatal environment significantly influences mammalian fetal development and adverse in utero conditions have life-long consequences for the offspring health. Research has revealed that a wide variety of prenatal stress factors lead to increased risk of vulnerability to neuropsychiatric disorders in the individuals. Multiple mediators are involved in stress transfer from mother to the developing fetus

Microvascular hyperpermeability is a leading mechanism responsible for occurrence of edema in remote organs and tissues in patients with burn injury. Accumulated evidence has shown that exosomes can be transported into target cells, where they are capable of regulating biological functions and physiology. Of exosomal proteins contributing to enhanced inflammation and vascular permeability, S100 calcium

Phytic acid or Myo-inositol hexakisphosphate is an essential compound for the rice plants. It remains in the form of phytate, a mixed salt of different mineral cations, in the seeds. The phytate breaks down during germination and provides the inorganic phosphorus and mineral ions to the seedlings. However, humans do not get the benefit of those essential ions from rice consumption due to the absence

Signaling pathways orchestrate diverse cellular outcomes in the same tissue, spatially and temporally. These interactions, which are played out in micro-environments within cells and involve a relatively small number of core pathways, are the key to the development and function of multi-cellular organisms. How these outcomes are regulated has prompted interest in intracellular mechanisms that build

The mitochondrion conformation and the contents of conjugated polyamines were investigated using the embryos of developing wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grains of two cultivars differing in drought tolerance as experiment materials. After drought stress treatment for 7 days, the relative water content of embryo and relative increase rate of embryo dry weight of the drought-sensitive Yangmai No. 9 cv