فصلنامه ژنتیک نوین
سال هجدهم شماره 4 (پیاپی 75، زمستان 1402)

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of short non-coding RNA molecules with a length of about 18-24 nucleotides, which control target genes expression at the post-transcriptional level. There are no reports of miRNA detection in Rheum ribes plant. Therefore, in the present study, in order to predict potential conserved miRNAs and their target genes in R.ribes roots, total RNA was extracted from the root tissue and sequenced. Then, non-coding transcripts were identified in R.ribes transcriptome and considered as miRNA precursor candidate sequences. In this study, 82047 transcripts were created from R.ribes root by de novo assembly method. By searching the homology of these transcripts with mirbas database and secondary structure prediction, 4 conserved miRNAs belonging to mir396, mir164, mir319 and mir168 families were identified. 574 transcripts from R.ribes root transcriptome were targeted by these miRNAs. In general, due to the regulatory role of identified miRNAs on a wide range of genes, these miRNAs can be used to identify genes related to secondary metabolites.

Cytochrome B plays a role in the electron transport chain, and as this gene leads to energy production in animals and increases efficiency, identifying the most effective factors on this gene and comparing the best applicable ligands in the electron transfer pathway can improve animal production and facilitate genetic studies. In this study, the interactions of protoheme and flavin mononucleotide in combination with cytochrome B were simulated using molecular docking to select the most effective ligand in electron transfer by comparing two practical ligands. The results of molecular docking and analysis using online servers showed that protoheme has the highest number of amino acids involved in electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions compared to flavin mononucleotide. Based on the obtained results of molecular docking, protoheme had the best binding energy and the best pose with the most negative energy and the largest number, indicating the best ligand-protein complex binding, compared to flavin mononucleotide, and it can be said that the higher number of interactions and bonds formed by the combination of protoheme with cytochrome B can confirm this claim. Arginine has a high positive charge and may have contributed to the formation of hydrogen bonds that may have increased electrostatic interactions in combining protoheme with cytochrome B. The cytochrome B protein-protein interaction network was predicted based on mitochondrial proteins, and 10 proteins with high potential node degree scores were identified.

Excessive amounts of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and a very high omega-6/omega-3 ratio, promote the pathogenesis of many diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. For the successful transfer of a gene to a plant, gene transfer optimization is needed. Sesame is an ancient oilseed plant known for its medicinally important lignans and its high quality edible oil. The increase of omega 3 in this plant helps to improve the quality of the oil.  In this research, in order to optimize the transfer conditions of FAD3 gene isolated from flax plant to sesame plant, the effects of cultivar (Darab and Dashtestan), pre-culture time (5, 6 and 7 days), Agrobacterium concentration (0.1, 0.5, 0.25 OD600), inoculation time (10, 20 and 30 minutes), co-cultivation time (zero, 24, 48 and 72 hours) and light effect (darkness and 16 hours of light) and acetosyringone concentration (0, 50 and 100 µM)) were investigated separately in a completely randomized design in 4 replications. The results showed that the 7-day pre-culture duration in the Dashtestan variety and 5-day pre-culture duration in the Darab variety, Agrobacterium concentration OD600= 1, inoculation time of 30 minutes, co-culture time of 24 hours in the dark and 100 μM acetosyringone had an important role in gene transfer efficiency. In this study, the Dashtestan cultivar showed a better regeneration percentage than the Darab cultivar. Finally, shoots were transferred into rooting media. Preliminary investigations of regenerated plants in the selected environment and PCR tests were done using specific primers and transgenic plants were selected.

Improvement of reproductive traits, in addition to the effect on herd reproduction, can be effect on treatment and veterinary costs, animal welfare, and most importantly, profitability. While today, reproduction problems are one of the main reasons for the lack of profitability in dairy cattle herds. The purposes of this study was to Genome Wide association study (GWAS) of Age at First Insemination (AFI) and Age at First Calving (AFC) traits and the Number of Inseminations per Conception (NIPC) in Holstein heifers.In order to conduct this study, the record of 150 heifers born between 1390-1392 was used based on the breeding value of milk production. The results showed that 5 SNPs were significanteffect on age at first insemination (pValue<0.04). which was observed in BTA3(2), BTA5(2), BTA15(2), BTA21, BTA23, BTA28 and BTA30 regions respectively. For the age at first calving, 10 SNPs has a high correlation (pValue<0.04) which was located on BTA3(2), BTA5(2), BTA15(2), BTA21, BTA23, BTA28 and BTA30 regions respectively. 11 SNPs had a high correlation (pValue<0.04) for the Number of Inseminations per Conception and were able to be above the significant threshold line, which were located in BTA11, BTA8, BTA28, BTA6(5), BTA13, BTA18 and BTA14. QTLs identified in the margins of significant SNPs, with body weight trait; calving difficulty, calf weight and heifer maturity age were related. Finally, the QTLs identified in the margins of significant SNPs confirm the fact that the age of the first insemination and the age of the first calving can be effective on production traits, reproduction, longevity and finally on the profitability of the herd. In this situation, it can be said that herd management has a significant role in advancing breeding goals.

Genetic diversity of coriander is very important for future breeding programs and genetic resource conservation. To evaluate genetic diversity and population structures, 20 populations of coriander collected from different regions of Iran were assessed using 10 ISSR markers. The markers generated a total of 111 bands in the studied populations of which 80 bands were polymorphic. The average polymorphism ranged from 0.2 to 0.35 per primer. To determine the efficiency of ISSR markers, their polymorphic information content (PIC) and polymorphic percentage were calculated. The average polymorphism was 72.2 percent among the assessed population. Primers P2 showed the best marker parameters and were identified as the most effective primers for assessing genetic diversity in Iranian coriander populations. Cluster analysis based on the Jaccard coefficient by UPGMA classified populations into three groups. According to the results, there is a high genetic diversity among Iranian coriander and ISSR can effectively differentiate the populations. This genetic diversity could be employed by the plant breeders in further breeding programs to introduce new varieties and improve conservation strategies as well.

Fusarium verticillioides is a fungal pathogen of maize that causes ear rot and contaminates the kernels with fomunisin mycotoxin. Induced resistance to diseases is one of the ways which plants use against pathogens. This research was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three replications for six different time courses (0, 24. 48. 72. 96 and 120 hours post inoculation) and with two resistant (K18) and susceptible (MO17) maize lines in the greenhouse of Seed and Plant Improvement Institute (SPII), located in Karaj. In order to better understand the defense systems of maize at the molecular level, plants were inoculated with a spore suspension of F. verticillioides at a concentration of 106 by creating a wound in the middle of the ear, one week after silk emergence. The expression rate of ZmCCoAOMT2 and CYP450 89A genes was checked using the Real-Time PCR evaluation method. The results showed that the expression level of both genes increased in the resistant line. The ZmCCoAOMT2 and CYP450 89A genes reached their maximum expression level 48 and 96 hours after inoculation respectively, in the resistant cultivar. A decrease in the expression level of ZmCCoAOMT2 gene was observed in the susceptible line after fungal inoculation, but the expression of CYP450 89A gene increased in this line. In general, the results of this research showed that the studied genes are related to the interaction of the plant with the pathogen and may help to induce resistance in the plant.