Journal of Cell and Molecular Research 

About: Journal of Cell and Molecular Research is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Gene & Population. It has an ISSN identifier of 2008-9147. Over the lifetime, 159 publications have been published receiving 540 citations.

Association of growth trait and Leptin gene polymorphism in Kermani sheep

Abstract: Identification of genes affecting energy balance, milk yield and feed intake is an interesting area of researches in animal breeding. Leptin gene polymorphism is associated with key economic affair. Considering rich resources for animals, in our country, accomplishing a few assays to identify a gene that controls her traits with molecular genetics, and identifying the candidate genes in sheep breeds using DNA test can greatly help to her breeding progress. For analyzing Leptin gene polymorphism and its association with growth traits in Kermani sheep, blood samples of 120 sheep of both genes rearing at breeding centre of Shahre Babak were taken. In addition growth traits were measured. PCR was performed to amplify 275 bp fragments of exon 3 from Leptin gene. Then Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP) of PCR product was performed and Leptin band patterns (genotypes) were obtained using acrylamid gel and silver staining. For Leptin gene 10 genotypes including A/A, C/C, A/B, A/C, A/B/C, A/B/E, A/B/F, A/C/F, A/B/D/E and A/B/C/F were obtained. The results of this study showed that the growth traits are significantly affected by the genotypes. Accordingly, A/B/E, A/C, A/B/C/F and A/B/C/F genotypes had higher body weight at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of ages respectively. The animals with A/B, A/B, A/B/F and A/B/D/E genotypes had the smallest body weight at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of ages respectively. It is suggested that polymorphism in Leptin gene loci can be used as a selective criterion to improve growth traits in Kermani sheep.

The role of over expression of P5CS gene on proline, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase activity and lipid peroxidation of transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plant under in vitro drought stress

Abstract: In this study proline content and activity of catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and level of lipid peroxidation in terms of malondialdehyde (MDA) content were measured in transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Wisconsin), over expressing a Δ-1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase (P5CS) gene, and non transgenic plants as control. Drought stress was applied using polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 at concentrations of 217, 264, 320, 637, 1292 mmol/kg equal to (0, 5, 10, 20, 30% respectively). Proline content, especially in transgenic plants, was increased in leaves and roots significantly. CAT and APX activities increased under drought stress and the highest activity was observed in 10 and 20% of the PEG treatment. MDA content was increased by increasing of PEG and the highest MDA content was revealed in transgenic and non transgenic plants at 20% and 30%, respectively. Our results suggest that P5CS is an inducible gene and over production of proline and induction of CAT and APX activities are involved in drought tolerance mechanism.

Identification of Safflower as a fraud in commercial Saffron using RAPD/SCAR

Abstract: Saffron (Crocus sativus) is the most valuable and indigenous crop in Iran. The stigmas of flower are used as a popular natural flavouring, colouring and medicinal agent. However, the market suffers from frauds in this plant such as mixing with safflower petals due to high profit. Identification of these frauds with conventional and biochemical methods is difficult and low sensitive. Therefore, application of molecular markers such as random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)/sequence characterized amplified regions (SCAR) is being considered as an alternative. In this study, DNA was extracted from dry stigmas of 5 Saffron accessions and dry petals of 7 safflower cultivars. RAPD reactions with ten 15-mer random primers resulted in two specific monomorphic bands (500 and 700 bp) for safflower, while they were absent in saffron accessions. PCR analysis with specific SCAR primers amplified two specific bands (414 and 589 bp) for safflowers in different combinations of saffron stigmas and safflower petals. This was the case with very low rates or 1% of safflower. Therefore, this method seems to be suitable for fraud identification of safflower petals in commercial saffron samples.

Contributions to the flora and vegetation of Binalood mountain range, NE Iran: Floristic and chorological studies in Fereizi region

Abstract: The mountainous area of Fereizi is located in northwestern Binalood range, Khorassan, north east of Iran. Special climatic and geographical characteristics of the area make it a suitable habitat for various plant species. As a part of a research poject on the flora and vegetation of Binalood mountain range, the floristic composition of this area, life forms and chorology of vascular plants have been determined with emphasis on endemism. During several collection excursions in 2005 to 2007, a total number of 484 vascular plant taxa were identified in the area belonging to 229 genera and 59 plant families. The largest plant families in the area are Asteraceae (63 species), Poaceae (51 species), Fabaceae (50 species) and Brassicaceae (43 species). Astragalus (25 species) and Allium (13 species) are the richest genera. The dominant life forms are hemicryptophytes and therophytes. The floristic composition of the area is strongly influenced by Irano-Turanian elements (56.8%). The analysis of endemism shows that the area inhabited by 49 subendemic taxa and 21 Iranian endemic species from which 13 species are endemic to northeast of Iran and three rare and threatened species. Ferula flabelliloba, Cousinia termei and Sisymbrium integerrimum are local endemics to Binalood mountain range. Geranium charlesii is recorded as a new species for the flora of Iran.

Chromosome number and meiotic behaviour of two populations of Onobrychis chorassanica Bunge (O. sect. Hymenobrychis) in Iran

Abstract: The genus Onobrychis belongs to family Fabaceae and has about 130 species throughout the world. Onobrychis sect. Hymenobrychis with nearly 14 species in Iran is one of the important sections of the genus. The chromosome number and meiotic behaviour were studied in two populations of Onobrychis chorassanica belonging to this section native to Iran. This report is the first cytogenetic analysis of this taxon. Both populations are diploid and possess 2n = 2x = 14 chromosome number, consistent with the proposed base number of x = 7. Although these taxa displayed regular bivalent pairing and chromosome segregation at meiosis, some meiotic abnormalities were observed. The meiotic abnormalities included varied degrees of chromosome stickiness including B-chromosome, cytomixis, asynchronous nucleus, fragmented chromosomes, occurrence of laggard chromosomes, chromosome bridges, desynapsis, micronucleous and tripolar cells.