Quantitative proteomic analysis reveals novel stress-associated active proteins (SAAPs) and pathways involved in modulating tolerance of wheat under terminal heat.

Terminal heat stress has detrimental effect on the growth and yield of wheat. Very limited information is available on heat stress-associated active proteins (SAAPs) in wheat. Here, we have identified 159 protein groups with 4271 SAAPs in control (22 ± 3 °C) and HS-treated (38 °C, 2 h) wheat cvs. HD2985 and HD2329 using iTRAQ. We identified 3600 proteins to be upregulated and 5825 proteins to be downregulated in both the wheat cvs. under HS. We observed 60.3% of the common SAAPs showing upregulation in HD2985 (thermotolerant) and downregulation in HD2329 (thermosusceptible) under HS. GO analysis showed proton transport (molecular), photosynthesis (biological), and ATP binding (cellular) to be most altered under HS. Most of the SAAPs identified were observed to be chloroplast localized and involved in photosynthesis. Carboxylase enzyme was observed most abundant active enzymes in wheat under HS. An increase in the degradative isoenzymes (α/ß-amylases) was observed, as compared to biosynthesis enzymes (ADP-glucophosphorylase, soluble starch synthase, etc.) under HS. Transcript profiling showed very high relative fold expression of HSP17, CDPK, Cu/Zn SOD, whereas downregulation of AGPase, SSS under HS. The identified SAAPs can be used for targeted protein-based precision wheat-breeding program for the development of 'climate-smart' wheat.

Gamma irradiation protect the developing wheat endosperm from oxidative damage by balancing the trade-off between the defence network and grains quality.

Gamma irradiation has been reported to modulate the biochemical and molecular parameters associated with the tolerance of plant species under biotic/ abiotic stress. Wheat is highly sensitive to heat stress (HS), as evident from the decrease in the quantity and quality of the total grains. Here, we studied the effect of pre-treatment of wheat dry seeds with different doses of gamma irradiation (0.20, 0.25 and 0.30 kGy) on tolerance level and quality of developing wheat endospermic tissue under HS (38 °C, 1 h; continuously for three days). Expression analysis of genes associated with defence and starch metabolism in developing grains showed maximum transcripts of HSP17 (in response to 0.25 kGy + HS) and AGPase (under 0.30 kGy), as compared to control. Gamma irradiation was observed to balance the accumulation of H2O2 by enhancing the activities of SOD and GPx in both the cvs. under HS. Gamma irradiation was observed to stabilize the synthesis of starch and amylose by regulating the activities of AGPase, SSS and α-amylase under HS. The appearance of isoforms of gliadins (α, ß, γ, ω) were observed more in gamma irradiated seeds (0.20 kGy), as compared to control. Gamma irradiation (0.25 kGy in HD3118 & 0.20 kGy in HD3086) was observed to have positive effect on the width, length and test seed weight of the grains under HS. The information generated in present investigation provides easy, cheap and user-friendly technology to mitigate the effect of terminal HS on the grain-development process of wheat along with development of robust seeds with high nutrient density.

Identification of novel resources for panicle blast resistance from wild rice accessions and mutants of cv. Nagina 22 by syringe inoculation under field conditions.

Panicle blast is the most severe type of rice blast disease. Screening of rice genotypes for panicle blast resistance at the field level requires an efficient and robust method of inoculation. Here, we standardized a method that can be utilized for both small- and large-scale screening and assessment of panicle blast infection and disease reaction. The method involves inoculation of Magnaporthe oryzae spore culture in the neck of the rice panicle using a syringe and covering the inoculation site with wet cotton wrapped with aluminum foil to provide the required humidity for spore germination. The method was standardized using panicle blast-resistant cv. Tetep and susceptible cv. HP2216 inoculated with Mo-ni-025 isolate of M. oryzae. The method was evaluated at phenotypic as well as molecular level by expression analysis of disease responsive pathogenesis-related (PR) genes. We found this method simple, robust, reliable, and highly efficient for screening of large germplasm sets of rice for panicle blast. This was validated by screening the wild rice germplasm for panicle blast response in the field using three M. oryzae strains and subsequently with the most virulent strain in 45 EMS-induced mutants of Nagina 22 shortlisted based on field screening in a blast hotspot region. We identified five novel blast disease-resistant wild rice genotypes and 15 Nagina 22 mutants that can be used in breeding programmes.

Intermingling of gut microbiota with brain: Exploring the role of probiotics in battle against depressive disorders.

Depression is a debilitating psychiatric ailment which exerts disastrous effects on one's mental and physical health. Depression is accountable for augmentation of various life-threatening maladies such as neurodegenerative anomalies, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Depressive episodes are recurrent, pose a negative impact on life quality, decline life expectancy and enhance suicidal tendencies. Anti-depression chemotherapy displays marked adverse effects and frequent relapses. Thus, newer therapeutic interventions to prevent or combat depression are desperately required. Discovery of gut microbes as our mutualistic partner was made a long time ago and it is surprising that their functions still continue to expand and as of yet many are still to be uncovered. Experimental studies have revealed astonishing role of gut commensals in gut-brain signaling, immune homeostasis and hormonal regulation. Now, it is a well-established fact that gut microbes can alleviate stress or depression associated symptoms by modulating brain functions. Here in, we provide an overview of physiological alleyways involved in cross-talk between gut and brain, part played by probiotics in regulation of these pathways and use of probiotic bacteria as psychobiotics in various mental or depressive disorders.

Comparative Study of Outcome of Endoscopic Myringoplasty in Active and Inactive Mucosal Chronic Otitis Media Patients.

The objective of this study was to compare graft uptake and hearing improvement in active and inactive mucosal chronic otitis media patients after endoscopic myringoplasty. This is prospective study conducted at a government medical college and hospital from February 2014 to August 2015. A total of 40 active (wet) ears with mucoid discharge and 40 inactive (dry) ears (at least 6 weeks dry before surgery) with mucosal chronic otitis media were operated on by endoscopic myringoplasty by transcanal approach. Graft uptake and hearing gain rates 3 months after surgery were compared for both groups. Endoscopic myringoplasty using temporal fascia graft via transcanal approach was used. The graft take rate was 77.5% for the active ear group and 85% for the inactive ear group. The hearing gain rate was 82.5% for the inactive ear group and 72.5% for the active ear group. Differences were found to be statistically insignificant for both graft uptake and hearing gain. The success of endoscopic myringoplasty is not adversely affected by the presence of mucoid ear discharge at the time of surgery, and outcomes are comparable to those of the operation done for inactive ear.

in silico-prediction of downstream WRKY interacting partners of MAPK3 in Brassica.

Protein-Protein interactions (PPIs) are vital to most biological processes thus the identification of PPIs is of primary importance. Here, we endeavor to identify the downstream interacting partners of (BjMPK3P) in Brassica juncea using the docking approach. Out of 63 and 37 members of BrWRKY and BnWRKY transcription factors, 50 and 29 members are showing interactions with BjMPK3P respectively while the rest are showing non-interaction. Twenty two WRKY members are common to both the species. Using minimal sequence motif search as well as through docking approach several novel WRKY interacting proteins were also reported in the present study which need to be confirmed by in vitro kinase assay. Together, the results obtained essentially enhance our knowledge of the MAPK interacting protein network and provide a valuable research resource for developing a nearly important link between pathogen-activated MAPK signaling pathways and downstream transcriptional programming.