Rapeseed Transformation with aroA Bacterial Gene Containing P101S Mutation Confers Glyphosate Resistance

Field weed infestations can cause serious problems and require regular and planned programs to control them. Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide that inactivates the 5-enolpyruvylshikimate 3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) enzyme and causes plant death. It has been reported that the mutation of proline 101 to serine in EPSPS is one of the effective mutations to reduce the affinity of glyphosate to EPSPS enzyme. In this study, we investigated the effect of the bacterial P101S mutant aromatic acid (aroA) gene on glyphosate resistance in transgenic rapeseeds. For this purpose, the mutant gene was synthesized and cloned into the pUC18 and pBI121 vectors. The gene was transferred to rapeseed by the Agrobacterium-mediated method. In this experiment, three generations of transgenic plants (T0, T1, and T2) were studied under in vitro and in vivo conditions. After the treatment of 75 putative transgenic plants with 10 mM glyphosate in T0 generation, resistant plants were identified and their seeds were harvested. In the T1 generation, out of 200 cultivated plants, 141 showed resistance. After the plants were treated with herbicides and resistance was determined, the seeds were harvested when they mature. In the T2 generation, most plants (162 plants of 200) were resistant to glyphosate. Therefore, the inheritance of resistance followed Mendel's first law, which is a sign of the monogenic character of resistance. Purification and increasing the percentage of resistant plants will be carried out in the next generations. It is concluded that P101S mutation guarantees glyphosate resistance of rapeseed and is recommended to study it in other plants.

Impact of priming on seed germination, seedling growth and gene expression in common vetch under salinity stress

Salinity is one of the most important abiotic stress factors that is expanding its influence because of global climate change and global warming. It causes gene expression changes, a reduction in seed germination and related characteristics, and poor seedling establishment in many crop plants by creating a lower osmotic potential in the seedbed and/or toxic ion effects in germinated seeds. In recent years, seed priming has been considered a promising strategy in modern stress management to protect plants against stress conditions. This study was conducted to elucidate the effects of osmopriming with polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG-6000) on seed germination, seedling growth and gene expression in the common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) in different saline conditions. Common vetch seeds were primed with PEG-6000 solutions having different osmotic potentials (0.00, -0.50,  -0.75, -1.00, -1.25, and -1.50 MPa) for 12 hours. Control (un-primed) and primed seeds were germinated and seedlings were grown in different saline conditions (EC= zero, 4, 8 and 16 dS m-1). Furthermore, gene expression was compared in the primed seedlings in two different osmotic potentials (0.00 and -1.50 MPa) by microarray technology. Results demonstrated that germination percentage of common vetch seeds and seedling growth were diminished by high salinity. However, several priming treatments alleviated the adverse effects of high salinity on germination and early seedling growth of common vetch. The microarray showed that the expression of many genes in both stress and normal conditions was not significantly different.

Impact of priming on seed germination, seedling growth and gene expression in common vetch under salinity stress

Salinity is one of the most important abiotic stress factors that is expanding its influence because of global climate change and global warming. It causes gene expression changes, a reduction in seed germination and related characteristics, and poor seedling establishment in many crop plants by creating a lower osmotic potential in the seedbed and/or toxic ion effects in germinated seeds. In recent years, seed priming has been considered a promising strategy in modern stress management to protect plants against stress conditions. This study was conducted to elucidate the effects of osmopriming with polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG-6000) on seed germination, seedling growth and gene expression in the common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) in different saline conditions. Common vetch seeds were primed with PEG-6000 solutions having different osmotic potentials (0.00, -0.50,  -0.75, -1.00, -1.25, and -1.50 MPa) for 12 hours. Control (un-primed) and primed seeds were germinated and seedlings were grown in different saline conditions (EC= zero, 4, 8 and 16 dS m-1). Furthermore, gene expression was compared in the primed seedlings in two different osmotic potentials (0.00 and -1.50 MPa) by microarray technology. Results demonstrated that germination percentage of common vetch seeds and seedling growth were diminished by high salinity. However, several priming treatments alleviated the adverse effects of high salinity on germination and early seedling growth of common vetch. The microarray showed that the expression of many genes in both stress and normal conditions was not significantly different.

A simplified and optimized protocol for total DNA extraction from insect species: applicable for studying genetic diversity and PCR-based specimen identification via partial amplification of cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene

The efficient DNA extraction from insects has been suggested as a critical and main step affecting molecular entomology for taxonomic identification, the establishment of DNA barcoding library and analysis of genetic diversity relationship between insect populations. For successfully apply these molecular techniques, high-quantity and high-quality of the extracted DNA are required. Several protocols for efficient genomic DNA extraction from insects have been developed. In this research, we represent a rapid, reliable and cost-effective method that it is not reliant on poisonous and enzymatic reagents for DNA extraction from insect tissues. Results showed that high quantity and high-quality of the isolated DNA by this method is suitable and can be used directly for PCR, also is enough to do hundreds of molecular reactions. In conclusion, we described a fast, cost-effective, non-toxic and enzyme-free protocol for high yield genomic DNA extraction from green Lacewings (Chrysoperla carnea) tissues in basic equipment laboratories.

A simplified and optimized protocol for total DNA extraction from insect species: applicable for studying genetic diversity and PCR-based specimen identification via partial amplification of cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene

The efficient DNA extraction from insects has been suggested as a critical and main step affecting molecular entomology for taxonomic identification, the establishment of DNA barcoding library and analysis of genetic diversity relationship between insect populations. For successfully apply these molecular techniques, high-quantity and high-quality of the extracted DNA are required. Several protocols for efficient genomic DNA extraction from insects have been developed. In this research, we represent a rapid, reliable and cost-effective method that it is not reliant on poisonous and enzymatic reagents for DNA extraction from insect tissues. Results showed that high quantity and high-quality of the isolated DNA by this method is suitable and can be used directly for PCR, also is enough to do hundreds of molecular reactions. In conclusion, we described a fast, cost-effective, non-toxic and enzyme-free protocol for high yield genomic DNA extraction from green Lacewings (Chrysoperla carnea) tissues in basic equipment laboratories.

Effects of various glutamine concentrations on gene expression and steviol glycosides accumulation in Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is one of the most important biologically sourced and low-calorie sweeteners that contains a lots of Steviol glycosides. Tissue culture is the best method for propagation of stevia and micro nutrients can affect both morphological traits and steviol glycosides production. In the present study, we investigated the effect of different concentrations of glutamine (10, 20, 30 and 40 g/l) on expression of UGT74G1 and UGT76G1 genes and stevioside and rebaudioside A accumulation in the leaves of stevia under in vitro conditions. The highest level of expression for UGT74G1 (1.000 Total lab unit) was seen at plants grown in MS media without glutamine and the highest gene expression level for UGT76G1 (1.321 Total lab unit) was observed at plants grown in 2% glutamine. Based on HPLC results, the highest amount of stevioside (22.74) was accumulated in plants which were under 3% glutamine treatment and the lowest production level of stevioside (16.19) was resulted under MS (0 glutamine) medium. The highest rebaudioside A (12.19) accumulation was observed under 2% glutamine treatment and the lowest accumulation of rebaudioside A (8.41) was seen at plants grown in MS medium.

Effects of different concentrations of mannitol on gene expression in Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni

Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni is one of the most important herbal sweetener plants from Asteracea family that have a lot of Steviol glycosides. Among different methods, tissue culture is the best way with high efficiency that is useful for studying stress tolerance mechanisms to obtain drought tolerance of stevia. For this purpose, different concentrations of mannitol (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 mg/l) were used as various treatments in the culture medium of stevia. According to the results, the highest level of UGT85C2 gene expression (1.181 Total lab unit) was seen in plants grown under 30 mg/l mannitol treatment and the lowest level of this gene expression (0.603 Total lab unit) was observed under 40 mg/l mannitol treatment. However, the highest level of KO gene expression (1.323 Total lab unit) was observed under 20 mg/l mannitol. It shows stevia growth is affected by osmotic stress. Water deficiency has a negative impact on Stevia. However, the expression of genes had increased by particular mannitol concentrations. Actually, stevia can survive under various abiotic stresses.

The association between circulating fetuin-A levels and type 2 diabetes mellitus risk: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Fetuin-A is a liver-derived circulating protein that is associated with insulin resistance and diabetes. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis of published observational studies was to investigate mean levels of fetuin-A in T2D patients and the relationship between blood fetuin-A levels and T2D risk.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library were systematically searched for potential relevant studies up to 1 December 2016. Natural logarithm-transformed estimate risks, standard mean differences on the basis of Hedges's adjusted g, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for all eligible studies and were combined to measure the pooled data using random-effects model.

RESULTS

A total of 32 studies including 27 case-control and 5 cohort studies were included in the current study. Fetuin-A levels in T2D patients were significantly higher than control groups [Hedges' g = 1.73, 95% CI (1.25-2.22), P < 0.001], with significant heterogeneity across studies (P < 0.001, I ² = 98.46%). Findings from meta-analyses of cohort studies showed a statistically significant association between fetuin-A levels and T2D risk [rate ratio = 1.62, 95% CI (1.26-2.08), P < 0.001], with no significant heterogeneity (P = 0.10, I ² = 46.06%).

CONCLUSION

We found a significant relationship between the fetuin-A levels with T2D risk. Although fetuin-A may be as a potential screening and prediction biomarker or a therapeutic target in T2D patients, further studies are required in this regard.

Sorting of polypropylene resins by color in MSW using visible reflectance spectroscopy

In this paper, an automated sorter is proposed for distinguishing polypropylene (PP) plastics based on their color. This sorting system uses visible (VIS) reflectance spectroscopy to separate PP resins according to their colors. A "Three-Filter" identification algorithm was developed to recognize the PP color (blue, red, green, white or yellow), and accordingly, give the command for throwing or not throwing PP to a series of electro pneumatic valves. The proposed sorting system was demonstrated to be fast and accurate, despite the presence of different labels and surface contamination on the PP resins.