Sudden-Onset Blindness in a Child With Hypertensive Emergency: Unmasking of Chronic Kidney Disease.

A 10-year-old male presented with sudden-onset diminution of vision in both eyes. On systemic examination, he had severe hypertension, no pulse deficit, short stature, and no other focal neurological deficit. Dilated fundoscopy showed bilateral grade 4 hypertensive retinopathy with macular star formation.

Identification of Gene Copy Number in the Transgenic Plants by Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR).

Transgenic events are defined as exogenous DNA insertion in the genome through genetic transformation. It is a powerful means for the improvement of crop plants and to understand the gene function. Multiple DNA insertion events may occur at one or several chromosomal locations.

CIPK9 targets VDAC3 and modulates oxidative stress responses in Arabidopsis.

Calcium (Ca ) is widely recognized as a key second messenger in mediating various plant adaptive responses. Here we show that calcineurin B-like interacting protein kinase CIPK9 along with its interacting partner VDAC3 identified in the present study are involved in mediating plant responses to methyl viologen (MV). CIPK9 physically interacts with and phosphorylates VDAC3.

VDACs: An Outlook on Biochemical Regulation and Function in Animal and Plant Systems.

The voltage-dependent anion channels (VDACs) are the most abundant proteins present on the outer mitochondrial membrane. They serve a myriad of functions ranging from energy and metabolite exchange to highly debatable roles in apoptosis. Their role in molecular transport puts them on the center stage as communicators between cytoplasmic and mitochondrial signaling events.

VDAC and its interacting partners in plant and animal systems: an overview.

Molecular trafficking between different subcellular compartments is the key for normal cellular functioning. Voltage-dependent anion channels (VDACs) are small-sized proteins present in the outer mitochondrial membrane, which mediate molecular trafficking between mitochondria and cytoplasm. The conductivity of VDAC is dependent on the transmembrane voltage, its oligomeric state and membrane lipids.

Mitochondrial Voltage-Dependent Anion Channels Are Involved in Maintaining Reactive Oxygen Species Homeostasis, Oxidative and Salt Stress Tolerance in Yeast.

Voltage-dependent anion channels (VDACs) are conserved proteins of the mitochondria. We have functionally compared VDACs using and M3 yeast system. VDAC (1, 2, and 4) were able to restore growth in elevated temperature, in oxidative and salt stresses, whereas VDAC3 only partially rescued in these conditions.

Genome analysis provides insight about pathogenesis of Indian strains of Rhizoctonia solani in rice.

The Rhizoctonia solani species complex is comprised of strains belonging to different anastomosis groups and causes diseases in several economically important crops, including rice. However, individuals within same anastomosis group exhibit distinct morphological and pathological differences on the same host. In this study, we have sequenced the genome of two aggressive Indian strains (BRS11 and BRS13) belonging to AG1-IA anastomosis group and compared them with the available genome of R.

Alterations in plant sugar metabolism: signatory of pathogen attack.

This review summarizes the current understanding, future challenges and ongoing quest on sugar metabolic alterations that influence the outcome of plant-pathogen interactions. Intricate cellular and molecular events occur during plant-pathogen interactions. They cause major metabolic perturbations in the host and alterations in sugar metabolism play a pivotal role in governing the outcome of various kinds of plant-pathogen interactions.

Alternative Splicing of CIPK3 Results in Distinct Target Selection to Propagate ABA Signaling in Arabidopsis.

Calcium (Ca) signaling is pivotal in transmission of information in the cell. Various Ca sensing molecules work to sense and relay the encrypted messages to the intended targets in the cell to maintain this signal transduction. CBL-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs) are crucial components of Ca signal transduction during various abiotic stresses.

Identification of candidate pathogenicity determinants of Rhizoctonia solani AG1-IA, which causes sheath blight disease in rice.

Sheath blight disease is one of the predominant diseases of rice and it is caused by the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani. The mechanistic insight about its widespread success as a broad host range pathogen is limited. In this study, we endeavor to identify pathogenicity determinants of R.

Alterations in rice chloroplast integrity, photosynthesis and metabolome associated with pathogenesis of Rhizoctonia solani.

Sheath blight disease is caused by a necrotrophic fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani and it continues to be a challenge for sustainable rice cultivation. In this study, we adopted a multi-pronged approach to understand the intricacies of rice undergoing susceptible interactions with R. solani.

Arabidopsis CBL interacting protein kinase 3 interacts with ABR1, an APETALA2 domain transcription factor, to regulate ABA responses.

Calcium (Ca) plays a vital role as a second messenger in several signaling pathways in plants. The calcineurin B-like proteins (CBLs) represent a family of plant calcium-binding proteins that function in propagating Ca signals by interacting with CBL interacting protein kinases (CIPKs). Phosphorylation of CBL by CIPK is essential for the module to display full activity towards its target protein.

A rice tonoplastic calcium exchanger, OsCCX2 mediates Ca2+/cation transport in yeast.

In plant cell, cations gradient in cellular compartments is maintained by synergistic action of various exchangers, pumps and channels. The Arabidopsis exchanger family members (AtCCX3 and AtCCX5) were previously studied and belong to CaCA (calcium cation exchangers) superfamily while none of the rice CCXs has been functionally characterized for their cation transport activities till date. Rice genome encode four CCXs and only OsCCX2 transcript showed differential expression under abiotic stresses and Ca(2+) starvation conditions.

Calcineurin B-Like Protein-Interacting Protein Kinase CIPK21 Regulates Osmotic and Salt Stress Responses in Arabidopsis.

The role of calcium-mediated signaling has been extensively studied in plant responses to abiotic stress signals. Calcineurin B-like proteins (CBLs) and CBL-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs) constitute a complex signaling network acting in diverse plant stress responses. Osmotic stress imposed by soil salinity and drought is a major abiotic stress that impedes plant growth and development and involves calcium-signaling processes.

Comprehensive structural, interaction and expression analysis of CBL and CIPK complement during abiotic stresses and development in rice.

Calcium ion is involved in diverse physiological and developmental pathways. One of the important roles of calcium is a signaling messenger, which regulates signal transduction in plants. CBL (calcineurin B-like protein) is one of the calcium sensors that specifically interact with a family of serine-threonine protein kinases designated as CBL-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs).

Genome-wide expressional and functional analysis of calcium transport elements during abiotic stress and development in rice.

Ca²⁺ homeostasis is required to maintain a delicate balance of cytosolic Ca²⁺ during normal and adverse growth conditions. Various Ca²⁺ transporters actively participate to maintain this delicate balance especially during abiotic stresses and developmental events in plants. In this study, we present a genome-wide account, detailing expression profiles, subcellular localization and functional analysis of rice Ca²⁺ transport elements.

Gene expression analysis of rice seedling under potassium deprivation reveals major changes in metabolism and signaling components.

Plant nutrition is one of the important areas for improving the yield and quality in crops as well as non-crop plants. Potassium is an essential plant nutrient and is required in abundance for their proper growth and development. Potassium deficiency directly affects the plant growth and hence crop yield and production.

Plant omics: genome-wide analysis of ABA repressor1 (ABR1) related genes in rice during abiotic stress and development.

Rice is one of the world's most important food crops. Approximately 50% of rice production is affected by drought, an abiotic stress greatly impacting crop quality and yield. Agrigenomics research now offers the promise of understanding the drought stress impacts at a systems level.

Comprehensive genomic analysis and expression profiling of phospholipase C gene family during abiotic stresses and development in rice.

Background: Phospholipase C (PLC) is one of the major lipid hydrolysing enzymes, implicated in lipid mediated signaling. PLCs have been found to play a significant role in abiotic stress triggered signaling and developmental processes in various plant species. Genome wide identification and expression analysis have been carried out for this gene family in Arabidopsis, yet not much has been accomplished in crop plant rice.

Rice phospholipase A superfamily: organization, phylogenetic and expression analysis during abiotic stresses and development.

Background: Phospholipase A (PLA) is an important group of enzymes responsible for phospholipid hydrolysis in lipid signaling. PLAs have been implicated in abiotic stress signaling and developmental events in various plants species. Genome-wide analysis of PLA superfamily has been carried out in dicot plant Arabidopsis.