Journal of Cell and Molecular Research
Volume:1 Issue: 2, Winter and Spring 2009

Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase, encoded by the pepck gene, plays an important role in gluconeogenesis. It also seems to be important in metabolism of nitrogenous compounds in developing seeds of legumes, including amides and ureides which are then transformed into amino acids, necessary for the synthesis of storage proteins. In this research, pepck gene expression in mRNA level, in different genotypes of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), was determined. Two low protein genotypes (MCC291 and MCC373) and two high protein genotypes (MCC458 and MCC053) out of 20 chickpea genotypes were selected. Total RNA were extracted through different stages of seed development, and the expression of the pepck gene was estimated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The results of the RT-PCR showed that two isoforms of this gene are expressed in high protein genotypes, whereas in the low protein genotypes, the expression of these isoforms was not obvious. Also this method showed a differential expression of pepck gene in different stages of flowering and seed development. pepck gene is expressed in higher levels during the sheet formation and developing seeds compared to the flowering and seed formation stages. Probably, the differential expression of pepck gene is related to its possible role in metabolism of seed components, particularly in determination of the protein content of chickpea seeds.

Sex determination in Pistacia as a dioecious plant is economically desirable. Identification of the male and female plants has a great value for Pistacia yield production. In the present study, leaf samples from four female plants from cultivars of Pistacia including Akbary, Akbar Aghaei, Fandoghi, and Kalleh Ghochi as well as male plants were used for RAPD PCR amplification. Among 32 primers with 10 mer two primers (FPKI106 and FPK105) were able to discriminate between female and male plants. Few bands were detected in the DNA pattern of male while they were absent in the female individuals. The PCR conditions were reproducible and can be recommended for sex determination of Pistacia vera cultivars

Plant nonspecific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) are divided into nsLTP1 and nsLTP2. The existence of an internal hydrophobic cavity, is a typical characteristic of nsLTPs that serves as the binding site for lipid substrates. In this communication a simple, rapid and low-cost alternative method was developed for purification of nsLTP2 from rice paddy. After extracting, final supernatant was loaded on CM-Sepharose column, which had previously equilibrated with 0.05 M Tris-HCl buffer, pH 8. Bounded proteins were separated using a linear gradient of 0-0.5 M NaCl. Solution of separated proteins was dialyzed and applied on a Phenyl-Sepharose column which previously equilibrated with Tris-HCl 0.05 M, ammonium sulfate 1.5 M, EDTA 0.005 M and NaHSO3 0.3%, pH 8.4. Tris-Tricin SDS-PAGE of separated proteins, obtained from ionexchange column, showed multiple bands in the range of 2-20 kDa. Further purification using hydrophobic column resulted in single band of nsLTP2 at about 7 kDa, reflecting a purified sample in the gel.

Study of the different aspects of protection against the exposure of ionizing radiation has always been an active area of research. High cost and toxicity of radioprotective drugs have limited their use. So, search for new drugs with a high degree of protection and lower cost and side effects seem a necessity. In this study radioprotective effect of aqueous as well as alcoholic extracts of the Mann of Cotoneaster nummularia(
Shirkhesht), regarding their high accessibility and possibly low side effects, against 2 Gy Gamma irradiation, was analyzed using micronucleus assay on bone marrow cells of male mice (Balb/c). Different doses of 250, 500, 1000 mg/kg/BW for aqueous and 3750, 7500, 15000 mg/kg/BW for alcoholic extract of Shirkhesht were administered IP for five constitutive days prior to 2 Gy gamma irradiation. The result compared with the
known radioprotective effect of vitamin E after the same treatment schedule. High frequency of micronucleus was observed in non treated gamma-exposed mice, which represented the clastogenic effect of irradiation. Vitamin E, aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Shirkhesht treated mice represented a 5.56, 3.32 and 2.1 times decrease in the gamma-induced micronucleus frequency respectively. The data suggest a radioprotective effect of shirhkesht compared to vitamin E.

Osmotic stress is one of the major factors that significantly reduce yields in dry areas. Plants respond to this abiotic stress at physiological and molecular levels. Many genes are induced under stress conditions by transcription factors. Dehydration responsive element binding (DREB) protein is a subfamily of AP2/ERF transcription factors which control expression of many osmotic stress-inducible genes. In this study, 21 days old seedlings of Sardari cultivar, dry farming bread wheat transferred into hydroponics culture using Hoagland solution. Osmotic stress treatments performed with adding 100, 200 and 400 g/l poly-ethylene glycol 6000 to hydroponics culture to obtain –0.15, –0.49, and –1.76 MPa water potential, respectively. After the seedlings were withered and colorless, relative water content, dry weight, and photosynthesis measured. In addition, RTPCR,
and cDNA sequencing carried out. Molecular analysis of DREB translated protein sequence performed by DNAMAN, BLASTN, Pfam and PROSITE software. Results showed that osmotic stress decreased relative water content, root and shoot dry weight and net photosynthesis rate in comparison to control, significantly (P < 0.05). Sequence alignment indicated 98% homology with other Triticum aestivum DREB protein mRNA.
There was an AP2 domain in the translated protein with three -sheets and one -helix and contains the Val14 and Glu19 amino acids. An EST Sequence deposited in NCBI GenBank database with the accession number of ES466900.

Basement membrane of glomerular mesangium (BMG) is a thin membrane which helps to support the capillary loops in a renal glomerulus and type IV collagen is require for complete BM formation during glomerulogenesis. In this investigation specific antibody of type IV collagen has been used in light microscopy to study development of BMG of the embryonic and postnatal mouse glomerular mesangium. In this study, 20 female Balb/C mice were selected randomly and finding vaginal plug was assumed as day zero of pregnancy. 12 pregnant mice were sacrified by cervical dislocation in one of gestational days 13-18, their fetuses were fixed and serially sectioned. Immunohistochemical Study for tracing of collagen type IV in BMG was carried out. The same processes were carried out for kidneys preparation of pups on 5, 10, 15 and 20 days after birth (2 mothers for each day). The result of the present study revealed that collagen IV reaction was weak on day 15 of gestation. The amount of collagen increased continuously until next days of fetal life and primary of 10 days postnatal in BMG. After this period, collagen IV showed no significant change in newborns. These data indicate that collagen IV appears just during the glomerular vasculogenesis and because of continuity and glomerular endothelial cell differentiation, type IV collagen, is the major structural protein in BMG, have been implicated in these processes.

Relation between sexual maturity and levels of two main steroid hormones in gonads, 17- estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) were studied by using histological and adioimmunoassay in female kutum Rutilus frisii kutum during spawning season of the southern Caspian Sea. The study was carried out from February to May 2008 using 105 migrated fish specimens catched from the River sefid-rood by various tools of catching
including (Gillnet, Cast net, Seine net and Sheyl or Kulham). The results revealed that changes in plasma levels of gonadal steroids, (E2) and (T) were closely correlated with ovarian development and increased in Gonadosomatic index (GSI) (P