Determination of GMO soy products in processed food from Bosnian market

The Bosnian and Herzegovinian market lacks data about the percentage of genetically modified soy products placed on the domestic market. There has been research on the issue of the presence of GMO products in our domestic market, but neither of the results is used as a reference for this occurrence. Therefore, this research topic tends to contribute to this issue, by examining genetically modified soy in processed food. The sample of seven products containing soya is examined by the methods of DNA isolation and real-time PCR for CP4 EPSPS. The results showed positive results for the presence of CP4 gene in certain products without an appropriate label. This mislabeling was confirmed since a couple of samples were labeled as GMO-free but contained CP4 gene, indicating GMO product.

An in-silico study of Polymerase Epsilon catalytic subunit proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana

Arabidopsis thaliana genome encodes two POLE2 homologs known as polymerase epsilon catalytic subunit A (POLE2A) and polymerase epsilon catalytic subunit B (POLE2B). They play a very important role in DNA repair mechanisms. In this study, bioinformatics tools were used to understand DNA repair mechanisms in A. thaliana in which POLE2A and POLE2B proteins are involved. Through interactome analysis of POLE2A and POLE2B homolog proteins in A. thaliana, their additional roles in DNA repair were explored. The most important proteins that are participating in DNA repairs, like MSH2, MSH5, PCNA1, PCNA2, PRL, and CDC45 were identified as interactors of both POLE2A and POLE2B. The three-dimensional structure of POLE2 proteins was identified to decipher the complexity of NER, GG-NER, MMR, TFIIH, and TC-NER repair mechanisms through the identification of docking sites. The interaction complex of POLE2A and POLE2B with six proteins was confirmed and found to have a significant role in DNA repair processes and UV-B tolerance. The interactome analysis of POLE2A and POLE2B performed here once again confirms the complexity of the DNA repair mechanism in plants.

Preliminary genetic characterization of Felis Catus: European shorthair cat from Bosnia

Felis Catus is a small carnivorous mammal and it is considered to be the only domesticated species among Felidae family. The purpose of this work is to genetically characterize cat breeds from Bosnia and Herzegovina and to compare them to one unknown completely different cat. To achieve this, samples of 20 cats that belong to the European Shorthair Cat (ESH) breed have been collected, plus the target subject. Further, for the genetic microsatellite characterization, the DNA material was isolated from each cat, in order to compare them to the sample taken from an unknown cat breed that will be referred to as the subject of this research. Genetic diversities within and between populations were be analyzed using 5 microsatellite markers. The obtained results showed that the subject cat genetically differs from other ESH breed cats, where the observed heterozygosity patterns within the cat breeds showed minimum but expected genetic variety among the analyzed cat species.

Polymerase chain reaction detection methods of Survival Motor Neuron genes: a review

Two SMN (survival motor neuron) genes are presented in the human genome: SMN1, which present the telomeric gene whose homozygous deletion or mutation like gene conversion, causes spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and SMN2, the centromeric version whose copy number modulates the phenotype of SMA These genes are commonly detected by Polymerase Chain reaction-based methods, and these are MLPA (Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification), qPCR (quantitative Polymerase chain reaction) and PCR-RFLP (Polymerase chain reaction-Restriction fragment length polymorphism). This paper reviews the current standing of the most common PCR methods used in the detection of spinal muscular atrophy genes. MLPA, qPCR, and PCR-RFLP currently represent the most common methods of choice for the detection of mutations, especially for deletion and duplication mutations.

Antioxidants enzyme activity in Brassica oleracea var. acephala under cadmium stress

When a plant is under heavy metals stress, it has different mechanism of coping with it. Brassica oleracea var. acephala (kale) is a plant that has an ability of heavy metal accumulation and removal of heavy metals from the ground. The plants were exposed to 50, 100, 200, and 500 μM of CdCl2 for 5days, in controlled in vitro conditions. Root length was measured to confirm the Cd effect on plant growth. There are five key antioxidants enzymes responsible for the regulation of heavy metals stress: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), Peroxidase (POD) and Polyphenol oxidase (PPO). All enzymes showed significant activity, especially triggered by 500 μM CdCl2 in both varieties. The domestic sorts seem more resistant if compared to hybrid variety, showing significant lower expression of antioxidants enzymes at higher concentrations. In general, significant percentage of enzymes is more expressed in the hybrid Italian sort, Nero di Toscana, indicating the ability of domestic sorts to be more resistant to heavy metal stress.