Biology subjects

Minocha, R.

Publications and source records attributed to Minocha, R..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Enhancing salt tolerance in a hybrid poplar (Populus nigra x maximowiczii) through exogenous putrescine application: Growth, physiological, and biochemical responses

IntroductionPutrescine, a polyamine involved in plant growth and stress responses, has shown potential in mitigating abiotic stress effects. However, little is known about the exogenous addition of putrescine regarding salt tolerance in trees. MethodsThis study was conducted to investigate whether exogenous putrescine application via foliar spray enhances growth in a hybrid poplar (Populus nigra x maximowiczii, clone NM6) under a short duration of salt stress. Salt stress was induced by irrigating roots with 100 mM and 200 mM NaCl, followed by foliar spraying of putrescine on several days. Measurement of growth including plant height and stem diameter for each plant were recorded in the greenhouse every 15 days throughout the experiment. Gas exchange, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, soluble sugars and proteins, amino acids, polyamines, and relative water content were analyzed in foliage collected 3, 6, 7, 13, 20, 35 days after treatment. ResultsPutrescine spray on the salt-treated plants caused a significant increase in plant growth. Putrescine application caused a significant increase in fructose, glucose, and galactose in all plants, but putrescine spray had a variable impact on the sucrose content of 100 mM NaCl-treated plants. Based on metabolic responses, plants treated with 100 mM NaCl fared better when sprayed with putrescine than those treated with 200 mM NaCl. DiscussionExogenous application of putrescine mitigated growth inhibition effects of salinity. These finding highlight the potential of putrescine as a practical approach to increase salt tolerance in young poplar trees, with implications for forestry and land reclamation in saline environment.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2023

The Prp19C subunits Cwc15 and Syf2 function in TREX occupancy and transcription elongation

The Prp19 complex (Prp19C) is conserved from yeast to human and functions in many different processes such as genome stability, splicing and transcription elongation. In the latter, Prp19C ensures TREX occupancy at transcribed genes. TREX in turn couples transcription to nuclear mRNA export by recruiting the mRNA exporter to transcribed genes and consequently to nascent mRNAs. Here, we assess the function of the nonessential Prp19C subunits Syf2 and Cwc15 in the interaction of Prp19C and TREX with the transcription machinery, Prp19C and TREX occupancy as well as transcription elongation. Whereas both proteins are important for Prp19C-TREX interaction, Syf2 is needed for full Prp19C occupancy, and Cwc15 is important for the interaction of Prp19C with RNA polymerase II and TREX occupancy. These partially overlapping functions are corroborated by a genetic interaction between{Delta} cwc15 and{Delta} syf2. Finally, Cwc15 also interacts genetically with the transcription elongation factor Dst1 and functions in transcription elongation. In summary, we uncover novel roles of the nonessential Prp19C components Syf2 and Cwc15 in Prp19Cs function in transcription elongation.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2020

Genotypic and antigenic study of SARS-CoV-2 from an Indian isolate.

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are one of the largest groups of positive-sense RNA virus families within the Nidovirales order, which are further classified into four genera: alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. Coronaviruses have an extensive range of natural hosts and are known to be responsible for a broad spectrum of diseases in multiple species. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that has unleashed a global threat to public health and the economy. Coronaviruses are extensively present in birds and mammals, with horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus affinis), being the reservoir for the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 that seems to have resulted from a zoonotic spillover to the human host, causing respiratory infections, lung injury and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome(ARDS). About six coronavirus serotypes are linked with the disease in humans, namely HCoV-229E, HCoV-NL63, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-HKU1, SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and MERS-CoV. SARS-CoV-2 is the seventh CoV to infect humans. We analyzed the genome sequence of CoV-2 from isolates derived from China as well from India and encountered minute variations in their sequence. A cladogram analysis revealed the predominant strain circulating in India belongs to the A2a clad. We took one such strain (MT012098) and performed a rigorous in-silico genotypic and antigenic analysis to identify its relatedness to other strains. Further, we also performed a detailed prediction for B and T cell epitopes using BepiPred 2.0 server and NetCTL 1.2 server (DTU Bioinformatics), respectively. We hope this information may assist in an effective vaccine designing program against SARS-CoV-2.

biochemistry↗