Molecular Biology Research Communications 

About: Molecular Biology Research Communications is an academic journal published by Shiraz University. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Medicine & Population. It has an ISSN identifier of 2322-181X. Over the lifetime, 232 publications have been published receiving 1412 citations. The journal is also known as: MBRC.

Antioxidant activity of polyphenolic myricetin in vitro cell- free and cell-based systems.

Abstract: Myricetin (Myc) is one of the most important flavonoids in diet due to its abundance in foods with the highest antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activity of Myc was studied in cell-free and cell-based systems to evaluate the ROS protection efficiency of Myc. The studies were based on the assessment of reducing power of Myc according to ferric ion reduction and intracellular ROS level measurement by assaying the cellular fluorescence intensity using dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCF) probe as an indicator for ROS in cells. Moreover, the antitoxic capability of Myc was assessed using MTT method. Data indicated that intracellular ROS are highly toxic and applying low concentration of Myc not only inhibited cellular ROS production but also was accompanying with the protection of cells against the highly toxic and the lethal effects of peroxide compounds. Because of strong correlation between cellular ROS and their cell toxic properties, the higher antioxidant potency of Myc in cell medium resulted in effectively blocking intracellular ROS and protecting cell death. This property is achieved by the help of high polar solubility and cell membrane permeability of Myc.

Microsatellite (ssr) amplification by pcr usually led to polymorphic bands: evidence which shows replication slippage occurs in extend or nascent dna strands

Abstract: Microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) are very effective molecular markers in population genetics, genome mapping, taxonomic study and other large-scale studies. Variation in number of tandem repeats within microsatellite refers to simple sequence length polymorphism (SSLP); but there are a few studies that are showed SSRs replication slippage may be occurred during in vitro amplification which are produced 'stutter products' differing in length from the main products. The purpose of this study is introducing a reliable method to realize SSRs replication slippage. At first, three unique primers designed to amplify SSRs loci in the great gerbil (Rhombomys opimus) by PCR. Crush and soak method used to isolate interesting DNA bands from polyacrylamide gel. PCR products analyzed using by sequencing methods. Our study has been shown that Taq DNA polymerase slipped during microsatellite in vitro amplification which led to insertion or deletion of repeats in sense or antisense DNA strands. It is produced amplified fragments with various lengths in gel electrophoresis showed as 'stutter bands'. Thus, in population studies by SSRs markers recommend that replication slippage effects and stutter bands have been considered.

Impacts of seed priming with salicylic acid and sodium hydrosulfide on possible metabolic pathway of two amino acids in maize plant under lead stress.

Abstract: Heavy metals pollution is one of the key environmental problems. In this research, the effect of seed priming with salicylic acid and sodium hydrosulfide was investigated on methionine and arginine amino acids contents and some compounds derived from their metabolism as well as ZmACS6 and ZmSAMD transcripts levels in maize plants under lead stress. For this purpose, maize seeds were soaked in salicylic acid (0.5 mM) and sodium hydrosulfide (0.5 mM) for 12 hours and then exposed to lead (2.5 mM) for 9 days. The results showed that lead stress reduced nitric oxide content and shoot ZmACS6 and ZmSAMD transcript levels while increased glycine betaine, methionine, arginine and proline amino acids contents as well as root ZmACS6 and ZmSAMD transcript levels. Salicylic acid and sodium hydrosulfide pretreatments reduced methionine, arginine and proline accumulation and increased glycine betaine and nitric oxide contents and regulated the expression of ZmACS6 and ZmSAMD genes (genes participating in methionine metabolism) under lead stress. Our data suggest that salicylic acid and hydrogen sulfide play role in regulating the methionine and arginine metabolism in maize under lead stress condition.

Anticancer activity of cow, sheep, goat, mare, donkey and camel milks and their caseins and whey proteins and in silico comparison of the caseins.

Abstract: The present investigation was carried out to evaluate anticancer activity of cow, goat, sheep, mare, donkey and camel milks and their casein and whey proteins against MCF7 cell line. The structure-based properties of the casein proteins were also investigated, using bioinformatics tools to find explanation for their antitumor activities. The effect of different milks and their casein and whey proteins on MCF7 proliferation was measured using MTT assay at different concentrations (0.5, 1 and 2 mg/ml). The results showed that mare, donkey, cow and camel milks and their casein and whey proteins have potent cytotoxic activity against MCF7 cells in a dose dependent manner while sheep and goat milks and their proteins did not reveal any cytotoxic activity. The in silico results demonstrated that mare, donkey and camel caseins had highest positive and negative charges. The secondary structure prediction indicated that mare and donkey caseins had the maximum percentage of α helix and camel casein had the highest percentage of extended strand. This study suggests that there is a striking correlation between anti-cancer activity of milk caseins and their physicochemical properties such as alpha helix structure and positive and negative charges. In conclusion, the results indicated that mare, camel and donkey milks might be good candidates against breast cancer cells.

A preliminary study of the association between the ABCA1 gene promoter DNA methylation and coronary artery disease risk

Abstract: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a common health problem in Iranian population. ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) plays central role in the efflux of the cholesterol from peripheral tissues back to liver. Inactivation of ABCA1 by epigenetic change such as DNA methylation may contribute to the development of CAD. The present study investigated the association between promoter DNA methylation status of ABCA1 with the development and severity of CAD. Our study population consisted of 110 angiographically documented CAD patients and 110 controls. The severity of CAD was determined based on the number of stenotic vessels showing more than 50% stenosis. Promoter DNA methylation status of ABCA1 was determined by methylation specific PCR. Lipid profile was determined by routine colorimetric methods. Results showed that the frequency of ABCA1 DNA methylation was significantly higher in CAD group as compared with control group (16.36% vs 5.45%; P=0.015). Also, the methylation frequency of ABCA1 gene was significantly higher in older CAD patients as compared with younger CAD patients (P=0.038). No association was seen between plasma lipid concentration and the promoter DNA methylation status of ABCA1 (P>0.05). Also, the association between the severity of CAD and methylation of ABCA1 gene was not significant (P>0.05). In conclusion the current study indicated ABCA1 DNA methylation as a significant risk factor for development but not severity of CAD. Also, predisposition to the development of CAD by ABCA1 gene DNA methylation was independent of plasma lipid concentration.