scholarly journals Synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism in arsenic (+3) methyltransferase of the Western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) and its gene expression among field populations

Ecotoxicology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daesik Park ◽  
Catherine R. Propper ◽  
Guangning Wang ◽  
Matthew C. Salanga
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Sequence Variation ◽  
Allelic Variation ◽  
Arsenic Concentration ◽  
Gambusia Affinis ◽  
Contamination Level ◽  
Water Medium ◽  
Single Nucleotide ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
High Arsenic

AbstractNaturally occurring arsenic is toxic at extremely low concentrations, yet some species persist even in high arsenic environments. We wanted to test if these species show evidence of evolution associated with arsenic exposure. To do this, we compared allelic variation across 872 coding nucleotides of arsenic (+3) methyltransferase (as3mt) and whole fish as3mt gene expression from three field populations of Gambusia affinis, from water sources containing low (1.9 ppb), medium-low (3.3 ppb), and high (15.7 ppb) levels of arsenic. The high arsenic site exceeds the US EPA’s Maximum Contamination Level for drinking water. Medium-low and high populations exhibited homozygosity, and no sequence variation across all animals sampled. Eleven of 24 fish examined (45.8%) in the low arsenic population harbored synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in exons 4 and/or 10. SNP presence in the low arsenic population was not associated with differences in as3mt transcript levels compared to fish from the medium-low site, where SNPs were noted; however, as3mt expression in fish from the high arsenic concentration site was significantly lower than the other two sites. Low sequence variation in fish populations from sites with medium-low and high arsenic concentrations suggests greater selective pressure on this allele, while higher variation in the low population suggests a relaxed selection. Our results suggest gene regulation associated with arsenic detoxification may play a more crucial role in influencing responses to arsenic than polymorphic gene sequence. Understanding microevolutionary processes to various contaminants require the evaluation of multiple populations across a wide range of pollution exposures.

scholarly journals The Behavior of Arsenic during the Thermal and Chemical Decomposition of the Ammonium–Arsenic Jarosite

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mizraim Flores ◽  
Francisco Patiño ◽  
Elia G. Palacios ◽  
Iván Reyes ◽  
Martín Reyes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Iron Oxide ◽  
Alkaline Medium ◽  
High Temperatures ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Arsenic Concentration ◽  
Incongruent Dissolution ◽  
Chemical Decomposition ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Ammonium Jarosite ◽  
High Arsenic

Arsenic, an element of environmental impact, can be incorporated into jarosite–type compounds and remain stabilised within the structure under a wide range of environmental conditions. In this study, a sample of ammonium–arsenic jarosite was synthesised by precipitation in sulphate medium at controlled pH of 1.2–1.8. The behaviour of arsenic during the thermal and chemical decomposition of jarosite was analysed; the degradation in alkaline medium of jarosite was also studied. According to the results, the synthesised jarosite is composed of joined rhombohedral crystals, forming tightly spherical shaped particles, 37–54 μm size. The ammonium jarosite produced possessed a high arsenic concentration; its calculated stoichiometry being (NH4)Fe2.45[(SO4)1.80(AsO4)0.20][(OH)4.15(H20)1.85]. It was found that arsenic is stabilised in the jarosite structure; upon heating, it remains in residual solids above 700°C, whilst in alkaline medium an incongruent dissolution takes place, with the arsenic retained in the solid phase along with iron. These solids, when exposed to high temperatures (1200°C), transform into a type of iron oxide known as hematite, so with arsenic it is retained an iron compound forming a stable compound which withstands high temperatures.

scholarly journals Programmable RNA recognition using a CRISPR-associated Argonaute

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Audrone Lapinaite ◽  
Jennifer A. Doudna ◽  
Jamie H. D. Cate
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Gene Expression Regulation ◽  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Seed Region ◽  
Single Nucleotide ◽  
Guide Rna ◽  
Argonaute Proteins ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Domains Of Life

ABSTRACTArgonaute proteins (Agos) are present in all domains of life. While the physiological function of eukaryotic Agos in regulating gene expression is well documented, the biological roles of many of their prokaryotic counterparts remain enigmatic. In some bacteria, Agos are associated with CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) loci and use non-canonical 5’-hydroxyled guide RNAs (gRNAs) for nucleic acid targeting. Here we show that using 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) as the 5’ nucleotide of gRNAs stabilizes in vitro reconstituted CRISPR-associated Marinitoga piezophila Argonaute-gRNA complexes (MpAgo RNPs) and significantly improves their specificity and affinity for RNA targets. Using reconstituted MpAgo RNPs with 5’-BrdU modified gRNAs, we mapped the seed region of the gRNA, and identified the nucleotides of the gRNA that play the most significant role in targeting specificity. We also show that these MpAgo RNPs can be programmed to distinguish between substrates that differ by a single nucleotide, using permutations at the 6th and 7th positions in the gRNA. Using these specificity features, we employed MpAgo RNPs to detect specific Adenosine to Inosine edited RNAs in a complex mixture. These findings broaden our mechanistic understanding of the interactions of Argonautes with guide and substrate RNAs, and demonstrate that MpAgo RNPs with 5’-BrdU modified gRNAs can be used as a highly-specific RNA-targeting platform to probe RNA biology.SIGNIFICANCEArgonaute proteins are present in bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes. They play an important role in a wide range of biological processes, from transcriptional and translational gene expression regulation to defense against viruses and silencing of mobile genetic elements. Here we present mechanistic insights into the interactions of the CRISPR-associated Marinitoga piezophila Argonaute (MpAgo) with its guide RNA (gRNA) and RNA substrates. By modifying the 5’-nucleotide of the gRNA, we demonstrate that MpAgo-gRNA complexes (RNPs) are easily programmable, have high affinity to fully complementary RNA substrates, and can discriminate by over 300 fold between substrates that differ by only a single nucleotide. These MpAgo RNPs should be useful for probing endogenous RNAs in living cells.

Study of dislocation loops in Arsenic-Rich as-grown GaAs

1987 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 350-351
Author(s):  
Byung-Teak Lee
Keyword(s):  
Point Defects ◽  
Electronic Devices ◽  
Arsenic Concentration ◽  
Stoichiometric Compound ◽  
Dislocation Loops ◽  
Gaas Crystal ◽  
Ion Milling ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
Arsenic Source ◽  
High Arsenic

Grown-in dislocations in GaAs have been a major obstacle in utilizing this material for the potential electronic devices. Although it has been proposed in many reports that supersaturation of point defects can generate dislocation loops in growing crystals and can be a main formation mechanism of grown-in dislocations, there are very few reports on either the observation or the structural analysis of the stoichiometry-generated loops. In this work, dislocation loops in an arsenic-rich GaAs crystal have been studied by transmission electron microscopy.The single crystal with high arsenic concentration was grown using the Horizontal Bridgman method. The arsenic source temperature during the crystal growth was about 630°C whereas 617±1°C is normally believed to be optimum one to grow a stoichiometric compound. Samples with various orientations were prepared either by chemical thinning or ion milling and examined in both a JEOL JEM 200CX and a Siemens Elmiskop 102.

As(III) Removal by Dynamic Adsorption onto Amberlite XAD7 Functionalized with Crown Ether and Doped with Fe(III) Ions

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (7) ◽  
pp. 2330-2334
Author(s):  
Mihaela Ciopec ◽  
Adina Negrea ◽  
Narcis Duteanu ◽  
Corneliu Mircea Davidescu ◽  
Iosif Hulka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adsorption Process ◽  
Arsenic Removal ◽  
Arsenic Concentration ◽  
Fixed Bed ◽  
World Health ◽  
Arsenic Content ◽  
Arsenic Adsorption ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Health Organization

Arsenic content in groundwater�s present a wide range of concentration, ranging from hundreds of micrograms to thousands of micrograms of arsenic per litter, while the maximum permitted arsenic concentration established by World Health Organization (WHO) is 10 mg L-1. According to the WHO all people, regardless of their stage of development and their social economic condition, have the right to have access to adequate drinking water. The most efficient and economic technique used for arsenic removal is represented by adsorption. In order to make this remediation technique more affordable and environmentally friendly is important to new materials with advance adsorbent properties. Novelty of present paper is represented by the usage of a new adsorbent material obtained by physical - chemical modification of Amberlite XAD polymers using crown ethers followed by iron doping, due to well-known affinity of arsenic for iron ions. Present paper aims to test the obtained modified Amberlite polymer for arsenic removal from real groundwater by using adsorption in a fixed bed column, establishing in this way a mechanism for the adsorption process. During experimental work was studied the influence of competing ions from real water into the arsenic adsorption process.

Reverse Screening Bioinformatics Approach to Identify Potential Anti Breast Cancer Targets Using Thymoquinone from Neutraceuticals Black Cumin Oil

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 599-609 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumathi Sundaravadivelu ◽  
Sonia K. Raj ◽  
Banupriya S. Kumar ◽  
Poornima Arumugamand ◽  
Padma P. Ragunathan
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cell Cycle ◽  
Cell Death ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽  
Normal Cells ◽  
Black Cumin ◽  
In Silico Docking ◽  
Wide Range

Background: Functional foods, neutraceuticals and natural antioxidants have established their potential roles in the protection of human health and diseases. Thymoquinone (TQ), the main bioactive component of Nigella sativa seeds (black cumin seeds), a plant derived neutraceutical was used by ancient Egyptians because of their ability to cure a variety of health conditions and used as a dietary food supplement. Owing to its multi targeting nature, TQ interferes with a wide range of tumorigenic processes and counteracts carcinogenesis, malignant growth, invasion, migration, and angiogenesis. Additionally, TQ can specifically sensitize tumor cells towards conventional cancer treatments (e.g., radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy) and simultaneously minimize therapy-associated toxic effects in normal cells besides being cost effective and safe. TQ was found to play a protective role when given along with chemotherapeutic agents to normal cells. Methods: In the present study, reverse in silico docking approach was used to search for potential molecular targets for cancer therapy. Various metastatic and apoptotic targets were docked with the target ligand. TQ was also tested for its anticancer activities for its ability to cause cell death, arrest cell cycle and ability to inhibit PARP gene expression. Results: In silico docking studies showed that TQ effectively docked metastatic targets MMPs and other apoptotic and cell proliferation targets EGFR. They were able to bring about cell death mediated by apoptosis, cell cycle arrest in the late apoptotic stage and induce DNA damage too. TQ effectively down regulated PARP gene expression which can lead to enhanced cancer cell death. Conclusion: Thymoquinone a neutraceutical can be employed as a new therapeutic agent to target triple negative breast cancer which is otherwise difficult to treat as there are no receptors on them. Can be employed along with standard chemotherapeutic drugs to treat breast cancer as a combinatorial therapy.

scholarly journals Microsatellite and Chromosome Evolution of Parthenogenetic Sitobion Aphids in Australia

Genetics ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 144 (2) ◽  
pp. 747-756 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Sunnucks ◽  
Phillip R England ◽  
Andrea C Taylor ◽  
Dinah F Hales
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Reproduction ◽  
Chromosome Evolution ◽  
Genetic Recombination ◽  
Allelic Variation ◽  
Repeat Unit ◽  
Chromosomal Evolution ◽  
Microsatellite Variation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Sexual Recombination ◽  
Minimum Numbers

Abstract Single-locus microsatellite variation correlated perfectly with chromosome number in Sitobion miscanthi aphids. The microsatellites were highly heterozygous, with up to 10 alleles per locus in this species. Despite this considerable allelic variation, only seven different S. miscanthi genotypes were discovered in 555 individuals collected from a wide range of locations, hosts and sampling periods. Relatedness between genotypes suggests only two successful colonizations of Australia. There was no evidence for genetic recombination in 555 S. miscanthi so the occurrence of recent sexual reproduction must be near zero. Thus diversification is by mutation and chromosomal rearrangement alone. Since the aphids showed no sexual recombination, microsatellites can mutate without meiosis. Five of seven microsatellite differences were a single repeat unit, and one larger jump is likely. The minimum numbers of changes between karyotypes corresponded roughly one-to-one with microsatellite allele changes, which suggests very rapid chromosomal evolution. A chromosomal fission occurred in a cultured line, and a previously unknown chromosomal race was detected. All 121 diverse S. near fragariae were heterozygous but revealed only one genotype. This species too must have a low rate of sexual reproduction and few colonizations of Australia.

scholarly journals Gene Expression Space Shapes the Bioprocess Trade-Offs among Titer, Yield and Productivity

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 5859
Author(s):  
Fernando N. Santos-Navarro ◽  
Yadira Boada ◽  
Alejandro Vignoni ◽  
Jesús Picó
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Gene Transcription ◽  
Performance Metrics ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Gene Copy ◽  
Substrate Uptake ◽  
Promoter Strength ◽  
Expression Levels ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Wide Range

Optimal gene expression is central for the development of both bacterial expression systems for heterologous protein production, and microbial cell factories for industrial metabolite production. Our goal is to fulfill industry-level overproduction demands optimally, as measured by the following key performance metrics: titer, productivity rate, and yield (TRY). Here we use a multiscale model incorporating the dynamics of (i) the cell population in the bioreactor, (ii) the substrate uptake and (iii) the interaction between the cell host and expression of the protein of interest. Our model predicts cell growth rate and cell mass distribution between enzymes of interest and host enzymes as a function of substrate uptake and the following main lab-accessible gene expression-related characteristics: promoter strength, gene copy number and ribosome binding site strength. We evaluated the differential roles of gene transcription and translation in shaping TRY trade-offs for a wide range of expression levels and the sensitivity of the TRY space to variations in substrate availability. Our results show that, at low expression levels, gene transcription mainly defined TRY, and gene translation had a limited effect; whereas, at high expression levels, TRY depended on the product of both, in agreement with experiments in the literature.

scholarly journals Effect of directly acting anti-viral agents on immunological imprints in chronic HCV-4a patients: interleukin-10 and vascular endothelial growth factor genes expression level

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Iman S. Naga ◽  
Amel Abdel Fattah Kamel ◽  
Said Ahmed Ooda ◽  
Hadeer Muhammad Fath Elbab ◽  
Rania Mohamed El-Sharkawy
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Angiogenic Factor ◽  
Vascular Endothelial ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Chronic Hcv ◽  
Endothelial Growth Factor

Abstract Background Hepatitis C virus infection is a global health challenge with Egypt being one of the highly affected countries. IL-10 has been suggested as a suitable marker to assess necroinflammation and to monitor the progression of liver damage. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic factor playing a central role in many physiological as well as pathological processes. Several factors can be predictive of the response to treatment and achievement of SVR; some of which are host-related, and others are virus-related. The gene expression of IL-10 and VEGF have multiple effects for treatment response. The aim of the present work was to study the effect of treatment with directly acting agents (DAA) on the expression of VEGF and IL-10 genes in chronic hepatitis C virus-infected Egyptian genotype-4a patients. Twenty-five HCV subjects where evaluated for IL-10 and VEGF gene expression before and after treatment with DAA. Results IL-10 expression was downregulated in 92% of the cases. VEGF expression was heterogeneous showing spreading of values along a wide range with 64% of the cases being downregulated. Conclusion DAAs do not completely reverse the immunological imprints established upon chronic HCV infection.

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