Abdul Razaque Memon, Emina Zahirovic
Genetics and Bioengineering programme, International University of Sarajevo, Hrasnicka cesta 15, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Abstract
Brassica nigra has the second smallest genome size (~ 632 Mbp) among the six cultivated species of Brassica. Brassica species are well known as metal accumulators and some of them are being used for phytoremediation in contaminated soils. Approximately 25% of the documented metal hyper accumulating species are, like A. thaliana, members of the Brassicaceae. The super metal accumulating capacity of Arabidopsis halleri and Thlaspi caerulescens have been well documented.
Because of their slow growth and low biomass, other fast-growing and high biomass brassica crop plants, for example Brassica juncea and Brassica nigra have been evaluated for their ability to hyper accumulate metals from contaminated soils. The Diyabeker ecotype of B. nigra collected from southeastern part of Turkey was found to be hyperaccumulator of Cu. We carried out the comparative transcriptome analysis in order to find out the expression level of metal induced genes and transcriptome changes both in low and high Cu treated plants. Microarray analysis showed that some of the genes were highly expressed (several hundred fold) with Cu treated plants compared to control.
Our microarray data using Affymetrix GeneChip Arabidopsis Genome Array (ATH1-121501 Genechip) indicate that possibly several genes including the genes in glutathione pathway, metal ATPase and ABC transporters are involved in metal tolerances in this ecotype. In this communication the use of molecular tools and the exploitation of Arabidopsis knowledge will be presented in detail.
The role of the C2 domain of Inn1 during cytokinesis in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Aslı Şadlı1, Karim Labib2
1Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Canik Başarı University, Samsun
2MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, University of Dundee, UK
Abstract
Cytokinesis is the final stage of the cell cycle in which the cytoplasm is divided to form two independent daughter cells. In animal cells and yeasts a contractile ring of actin and type II myosin forms at the cleavage site and contracts at the end of mitosis. Constriction of the actomyosin ring is coupled to ingression of the plasma membrane, but the molecular mechanism is still poorly understood.
The Inn1 protein plays an essential role during cytokinesis in budding yeast and is important for actomyosin ring contraction to be coupled to ingression of the plasma membrane and septum formation, although its mode of action remains unclear. The amino terminal portion of Inn1 comprises a C2 domain that is essential for cytokinesis.
To understand the role of the C2 domain of Inn1, we have screened for suppressors of the lethal defect in cytokinesis produced by a mutated version of Inn1 with a defective C2 domain and showed that the defect is suppressed by specific mutations in chitin synthase Chs2. We also showed that Inn1 associates with Chs2 in yeast cell extracts. In parallel, we found evidence for the possible involvement of another cytokinesis protein Cyk3 in activation of Chs2.
These findings suggest a model for activation of Chs2 proteins by orthologues of Inn1 and Cyk3, and hopefully provide the basis for future studies of cytokinesis in fungal species including a variety of human pathogens. This is especially important for developing future drugs against important fungal pathogens.
Keywords: cytokinesis, Inn1, Chs2, budding yeast
41
Investigation of polymorphic variants of LOX-1 genes in patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Turkish Population
Aydemir B
1, Cinemre FB
2, Cinemre H
3, Baykara O
4, Kiziler AR
5, Tuten A
6, Oncul M
6, Acıkgoz S
6, Akdemir N
7, Erkorkmaz U
8, Korkmaz GG
9, Uzun H
101Department of Biophysics, Medical Faculty, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey
2Department of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey
3Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey
4Department of Medical Biology, Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
5Department of Biophysics, Medical Faculty, Namık Kemal University, Tekirdag, Turkey
6Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University Istanbul, Turkey.
7Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey
8Department of Biostatistic, Medical Faculty, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey
9Kırklareli University, School of Health, Kirklareli, Turkey.
10Department of Biochemistry, Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, İstanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
Abstract
Gestational diabetes (GDM) is a chronic metabolic disease with a high prevalence worldwide. The etiology of diabetec complications is multifactorial, and is closely associated with genetic background.
The lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1), encoded by the ORL -1 gene, plays critical role in multiple signal transduction pathways and is involved in the process of pro-atherosclerotic conditions, such as dyslipidaemia and diabetes.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the polymorphisms of LOX-1 3’UTR188T>C and K167N (G501C) gene which can may cause susceptibility to GDM. We analyzed the distribution of LOX-1 K167N (G501C) and LOX-1 32UTR 188T>C polymorphisms in 84 GDM pregnant women and 110 pregnant healthy women in Turkish population, using PCR-RFLP method.
The frequencies of LOX-1 3’UTR188T>C, TT, CT and CC, were 63%, 26% and 11% in women with GDM and 58%, 32% and 10% in pregnant healthy women. There was no significant difference in the distribution of genotypes and alleles of LOX-1 3ÛTR188T>C between the two groups. In addition, the frequencies of LOX-1 K167N (G501C) exon 4 G>C, KK, KN and NN, were 23%, 10% and 66% in women with GDM and 13%, 33% and 54% in pregnant healthy women. There was no significant difference in the distribution of alleles of LOX-1 K167N(G501C) between the two groups. Patients having LOX-1 K167N (G501C) KN (OR: 5.067; 95% CI:1.872-13.716, P=0.001) genotype had a significantly higher risk of GDM than those with LOX-1 K167N (G501C) KK genotype.
This is the first report showing an association between LOX-1 gene polymorphisms and GDM development, and suggests that LOX-1 K167N polymorphism may confer increased risk for the development of maternal and fetal complications in diabetes. Further larger studies should be performed to confirm these results.
Keywords: LOX-1, polymorphism, gestational diabetes
GMO issue in B&H – five years after the enactment of Law on GMO B&H Adaleta Durmic-Pasic, Kasim Bajrovic, Anesa Ahatovic
Genetics and Bioengineering, International University of Sarajevo (IUS), Sarajevo, BiH
Abstract
In February 2009, Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted Law on GMO, which came in force in March 2009. The Law is harmonized with EU Legal Framework on GMO so the same provisions related to authorization, trade, transportation and labelling apply to GMO food and feed in B&H. In addition, Regulations related to the preparation of dossier for requesting the authorization for a GMO event, as well as the procedure for applying for a GMO event authorization were adopted in 2012. As of 2014 no requests for authorization of any GMO event were made.
Therefore, no GMO events are currently authorized in B&H for use in food in feed, which in practical terms means “zero tolerance”. Consequently, no requirement for labelling currently exists. This situation causes several issues related to GMO. Producers take advantage of generally poor understanding of what constitutes a GMO by the consumers and include unregulated “GMO free”
label in their marketing strategies. In return, consumers exert pressure on the authorities to make GMO label available on the food they consider to be GMO. Lack of authorized GMO events in a country that imports vast quantities of food and feed creates difficult situation for the authorities that is not unique for B&H. The cost to EU due to asynchronous approvals of rice, maize and soybean events exceeds 1 billion EUR. Enforcement of “zero tolerance” may cause grave financial consequences to B&H economy.