RNAi-mediated down-regulation of enhanced inorganic phosphorus and minerals in the transgenic rice.

Phytic acid or -inositol hexakisphosphate is an essential compound for the rice plants. It remains in the form of phytate, a mixed salt of different mineral cations, in the seeds. The phytate breaks down during germination and provides the inorganic phosphorus and mineral ions to the seedlings.

Proteo-metabolomic investigation of transgenic rice unravels metabolic alterations and accumulation of novel proteins potentially involved in defence against Rhizoctonia solani.

The generation of sheath blight (ShB)-resistant transgenic rice plants through the expression of Arabidopsis NPR1 gene is a significant development for research in the field of biotic stress. However, to our knowledge, regulation of the proteomic and metabolic networks in the ShB-resistant transgenic rice plants has not been studied. In the present investigation, the relative proteome and metabolome profiles of the non-transformed wild-type and the AtNPR1-transgenic rice lines prior to and subsequent to the R.

Development of a rapid and highly efficient -mediated transformation system for pigeon pea [ (L.) Millsp].

An efficient genetic transformation system is a prerequisite for studying gene functions, molecular breeding program, and introducing new traits. mediated genetic transformation is a widely preferred and accepted method for many plants, including pigeon pea. However, the efficiency of transformation of pigeon pea using the existing protocols is low and time-consuming.

Dual gene expression cassette is superior than single gene cassette for enhancing sheath blight tolerance in transgenic rice.

Sheath blight, caused by the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani, is a serious and destructive disease of the rice. In order to improve sheath blight resistance, we developed three different kinds of transgenic rice lines. The first transgenic line overexpresses the rice chitinase gene (OsCHI11); the second contains the Arabidopsis NPR1 (AtNPR1) gene and, the third has pyramided constructs with both the genes (OsCHI11 and AtNPR1).

Tissue-specific expression of Arabidopsis NPR1 gene in rice for sheath blight resistance without compromising phenotypic cost.

Rice sheath blight disease, caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani, is considered the second most important disease of rice after blast. NPR1 (non expressor of PR1) is the central regulator of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) conferring broad spectrum resistance to various pathogens. Previous reports have indicated that constitutive expression of the Arabidopsis thaliana NPR1 (AtNPR1) gene results in disease resistance in rice but has a negative impact on growth and agronomic traits.

Comparative nutritional compositions and proteomics analysis of transgenic Xa21 rice seeds compared to conventional rice.

Transgenic rice expressing the Xa21 gene have enhanced resistant to most devastating bacterial blight diseases caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). However, identification of unintended modifications, owing to the genetic modification, is an important aspect of transgenic crop safety assessment.

Green tissue-specific co-expression of chitinase and oxalate oxidase 4 genes in rice for enhanced resistance against sheath blight.

Green tissue-specific simultaneous overexpression of two defense-related genes ( OsCHI11 & OsOXO4 ) in rice leads to significant resistance against sheath blight pathogen ( R. solani ) without distressing any agronomically important traits. Overexpressing two defense-related genes (OsOXO4 and OsCHI11) cloned from rice is effective at enhancing resistance against sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani.

Down-regulation of lipoxygenase gene reduces degradation of carotenoids of golden rice during storage.

Down-regulation of lipoxygenase enzyme activity reduces degradation of carotenoids of bio-fortified rice seeds which would be an effective tool to reduce huge post-harvest and economic losses of bio-fortified rice seeds during storage. Bio-fortified provitamin A-enriched rice line (golden rice) expressing higher amounts of β-carotene in the rice endosperm provides vitamin A for human health. However, it is already reported that degradation of carotenoids during storage is a major problem.

RNAi mediated down regulation of myo-inositol-3-phosphate synthase to generate low phytate rice.

Background: Phytic acid (InsP6) is considered as the major source of phosphorus and inositol phosphates in cereal grains. Reduction of phytic acid level in cereal grains is desirable in view of its antinutrient properties to maximize mineral bioavailability and minimize the load of phosphorus waste management. We report here RNAi mediated seed-specific silencing of myo-inositol-3-phosphate synthase (MIPS) gene catalyzing the first step of phytic acid biosynthesis in rice.

Development of low phytate rice by RNAi mediated seed-specific silencing of inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate 2-kinase gene (IPK1).

Phytic acid (InsP(6)) is considered to be the major source of phosphorus and inositol phosphates in most cereal grains. However, InsP(6) is not utilized efficiently by monogastric animals due to lack of phytase enzyme. Furthermore, due to its ability to chelate mineral cations, phytic acid is considered to be an antinutrient that renders these minerals unavailable for absorption.

Comparative analysis of nutritional compositions of transgenic high iron rice with its non-transgenic counterpart.

Iron is an essential micronutrient for human nutrition and polished rice contains very low amount of iron. Rice with high iron content in seed endosperm has been developed by insertion of soybean ferritin gene under the control of the endosperm specific glutelin promoter into the genome of indica rice line IR68144. The nutritional composition of the brown and milled rice grain has been compared with that of the non-transgenic rice of the same variety.

Sporulation in mycobacteria.

Mycobacteria owe their success as pathogens to their ability to persist for long periods within host cells in asymptomatic, latent forms before they opportunistically switch to the virulent state. The molecular mechanisms underlying the transition into dormancy and emergence from it are not clear. Here we show that old cultures of Mycobacterium marinum contained spores that, upon exposure to fresh medium, germinated into vegetative cells and reappeared again in stationary phase via endospore formation.

A dideoxynucleotide-sensitive DNA polymerase activity characterized from endoreduplicating cells of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) during ontogeny of cotyledons.

Within this work we describe the purification and biochemical characterization of a ddNTP-sensitive DNA polymerase purified from mungbean (Vigna radiata cv B1, L.) seeds at 18 days after fertilization, when > 70% of the nuclei are reported to be in the endoreduplicated state. The purified enzyme is a single polypeptide of 62 kDa and many of its physicochemical properties are similar to those of mammalian DNA polymerase beta.

Dideoxynucleoside triphosphate-sensitive DNA polymerase from rice is involved in base excision repair and immunologically similar to mammalian DNA pol beta.

A single polypeptide with ddNTP-sensitive DNA polymerase activity was purified to near homogeneity from the shoot tips of rice seedlings and analysis of the preparations by SDS-PAGE followed by silver staining showed a polypeptide of 67 kDa size. The DNA polymerase activity was found to be inhibitory by ddNTP in both in vitro DNA polymerase activity assay and activity gel analysis. Aphidicolin, an inhibitor of other types of DNA polymerases, had no effect on plant enzyme.