African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12481

Table of Content: 30 November; 10(76)

November 2011

Review of somatic cell nuclear transfer in pig

It is now more than 8 years, since the first cloned pig from nuclear transfer wasreported. Success of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in pig is still low compared to that in bovine. Embryonic and neonatal abnormalities of cloned piglets are probably a result of incorrect or incomplete reprogramming of the transferred donor cell nuclei. Recently, technical refinements have resulted in a considerable increase of...

Author(s): Suchitra Muenthaisong, Andras Dinnyes, and  Tshimangadzo Lucky Nedambale,

November 2011

Genetic diversity evaluation of rapeseed genotypes (Brassica napus L.) based on phenotypic traits and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers

Oilseed is the most important source of vegetable oil and the basis of breeding strategies is genetic diversity assessment. Genetic diversity of 19 rapeseed genotypes as well as their ancient ancestors Brassica rapa L. and Brassica oleraceaL. were assessed using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers and morpho-phenological traits. Path analysis showed that number of pods per main...

Author(s): F. Ebrahimi, G. Mohammadi-Nejad, A. Baghizadeh and M. Abdolinejad

November 2011

Development of genomic tools for verification of hybrids and selfed progenies in cassava (Manihot esculenta)

Cross contamination arising from random natural processes and breeding errors is one of the prominent challenges to breeding in many crops including cassava (Manihot esculenta). This study attempts to identify molecular marker tools suitable for verifying the genetic purity of putative progenies of populations of cassava. It also proposes a rapid, high-throughput genomic DNA extraction protocol which is a modification...

Author(s): Gerald Otti, Ayodele Fakoya, Ikpan Andrew and Melaku Gedil

November 2011

A new putative plasmodesmata-associated protein, At1g19190, in Arabidopsis

Plasmodesmata are channels that traverse cell walls to establish a symplastic continuum through whole plants. A plasmodesmal-associated protein, AtRGP2, is delivered to the plasmodesmata via the Golgi apparatus. In this paper, GFP:At1g19190 fusion protein was constructed and compared to AtRGP2:YFP. GFP:At1g19190 displays fluorescence patterns along the cell periphery and in a punctate pattern that co-localizes with...

Author(s): Ping Cao, Jing Sun, Peng Zhao, Heng Liu and Guochang Zheng

November 2011

Isolation of a novel xyloglucan endotransglucosylase (OsXET9) gene from rice and analysis of the response of this gene to abiotic stresses

To understand the mechanism(s) underlying stress responses and discover new stress-tolerance genes in rice (Oryza sativa L.), expression profiles were obtained for leaf and panicle tissues at seedling, booting and heading stages of indica cultivar Pei’ai 64S plants under cold, drought or heat stresses using the GeneChip Rice Genome Array (Affymetrix) representing 51, 279 transcripts...

Author(s): Jiali Dong, Yunyun Jiang, Rongjun Chen, Zhengjun Xu and Xiaoling Gao

November 2011

Phylogeny of Korean Hornbeam (Carpinus turczaninovii) based on nuclear ribosomal ITS sequence

The genus Carpinus belonging to Coryloideae, Betulaceae, has significant economic and ornamental importance. This study was undertaken with the aim to understand the genetic diversity among eighteen isolates of Carpinus turczaninovii collected from different geographical regions of Korea, using ribosomal RNA (rRNA) internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences, to compare the...

Author(s): Sun, Y. L., Wang, D., Lee, H. B., Park, W. G., Kwon, O. W. and Hong, S. K.,

November 2011

Characters analysis of the Macadamia cv. Ikaika (333) germplasm resource

The growth, yield, kernel quality and wind resistance of Macadamia cv. Ikaika (333) introduced from Hawaii, were studied. The results showed that there was no remarkable difference of trunk height, trunk diameter and canopy diameter fromMacadamia cv. Ikaika (333), Kau (344), Own Choice, Makai (800), and Keauhou (246) at their early years. The yield of young Ikaika trees was much significantly higher...

Author(s): Liqing Du, Hui Zeng, Minghong Zou, Hanzhou Zhang, Lianfang Luo and Chaozhong Lu

November 2011

The dynamics of age structures on Agropyron michnoi and Leymus chinensis in community with two dominant species populations

Author(s): Jin Xiao-Ming, Ai Lin, Liu Ji-Dong And Lu Xin-Shi

November 2011

Physical and mechanical properties and the use of lesser-known native Silver Lime (Tilia argentea Desf.) wood from Western Turkey

Turkey including its native wood species with high commercial value are recognised internationally. This work presents information about physical and mechanical properties and the use of lesser-known native wood species. This article’s aim is to familiarize wood expert outside Turkey with the wood of Silver Lime by comparing its physical and mechanical properties with some of the world’s most...

Author(s): Süleyman KORKUT

November 2011

Effects of 1-butanol, neomycin and calcium on the photosynthetic characteristics of pepc transgenic rice

The effects of 1-butanol, neomycin and calcium on the photosynthesis of pepctransgenic rice were studied with over-expressed pepc transgenic rice (PC) of the 8th generation as study materials and with non-transgenic wild type (WT) rice and maize, a typical C4 plant, as control. The results show that, 0.04% 1-butanol and 0.05 mmol L-1 Ca2+ has a significant effect on the net photosynthetic...

Author(s): Li Xia, Wang Chao and Ren Chenggang

November 2011

Assessment of genetic diversity among Capsicum annuum L. genotypes using RAPD markers

Chilli or pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is an important commercial crop cultivated exclusively in tropical and temperate zones of the world. It is a good source of vitamin C, A and E and chilli oleoresin has a considerable use in pharmaceutical industry. India being the largest producer of chilli has tremendous potentiality to increase production in order to promote export besides meeting its domestic requirements....

Author(s): Maheshwari .R. Bhadragoudar and Chandrashekhar .G. Patil

November 2011

Effects of ensiling of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize (MON810) on degradation of the crystal 1Ab (Cry1Ab) protein and compositional quality of silage

The study investigated the degradation of the Bt protein (Cry1Ab) in Bt maize during ensiling and chemical composition of the silage. Two laboratory studies were conducted at the University of Fort Hare. One Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) maize cultivar (DKC80-12B) and its isoline (DKC80-10) in the 2008/2009 study and two Bt maize cultivar (DKC61-25B and PAN6Q-321B) and their isolines (DKC61-24 and PAN6777) in...

Author(s): Agathar Kamota, Pardon Muchaonyerwa and Pearson N. S. Mnkeni

November 2011

Inducement and identification of an endosperm mutant in maize

To screen a workable dosage combination of gamma-ray and NaN3 for mutation inducement, maize calli were treated with different dosages of 60Co gamma-ray and NaN3. Mutant lines were derived from the regenerated plants. The results indicate that the combination of 20 Gy of gamma-ray and 1 mmol/L of NaN3 is the most effective for mutation inducement of maize calli. Three endosperm mutant lines with...

Author(s): Ruo-Fei Yang, Wan-Chen Li, Jing He, Shu-Feng Zhou, Yue-Hui She and Feng-Ling Fu

November 2011

Diatom distribution in the surficial sediments of Lake Fuxian, Yunnan Plateau, China

Examination of surficial sediments at 14 sites shows minor, but consistent differences in the numbers and kinds of diatom assemblages in different regions of Lake Fuxian. Diatom assemblages in the surficial sediments at all sites were dominated by Cyclotella ocellata, Cyclotella rhomboideo-elliptica, Stephanodiscus hantzschii, Fragilaria crotonensis Cyclostephanos dubius and Stephanodiscus minutulus Aulacoseira...

Author(s): Yanling Li, Zhijun Gong and Ji Shen

November 2011

Relationship between diatom communities and environmental conditions at Honghe wetland, China

The relationship between diatom species and measured environmental variables was explored at different sites of Honghe wetland region located in northeastern China. Planktonic and epiphytic diatom assemblages in the wetland were identified from May to October of 2007 and 2008. Their relationships with environmental variables were examined using canonical correspondence analysis with forward selection and Monte Carlo...

Author(s): Nannan Zhang, Yawen Fan and Yixin Liu

November 2011

Effects of fermentation conditions on the production of 4-α-glucanotransferase from recombinant Escherichia coli

4-α-Glucanotransferase (4-α-GTase, EC 2.4.1.25) simultaneously catalyzes amylose molecular intra- and inter- transglycosylation to produce cyclodextrins (CDs) with DP of 9 to several hundreds. In this study, the 4-α-glucanotransferase (4-α-GTase) from recombinant Escherichia coli DH-5α was proved to produce large ring cyclodextrins (LR-CDs) with polymer degree of 20 to 47. To...

Author(s): Jinpeng Wang, Xuexia Ji, Yuxiang Bai, Zhengyu Jin, Xueming Xu,and Yin Li

November 2011

Ficus sycomorus latex: A thermostable peroxidase

Peroxidase from sycamore fig Ficus sycomorus latex (POLI) was purified by heat treatment, anion exchange chromatography and molecular exclusion chromatography. The purity was determined from high specific activity (9166 units/mg protein), purification fold (28), RZ value 3.1 and a single band in native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-PAGE and visualized peroxidase...

Author(s): Saleh A. Mohamed, Azza M. Abdel-Aty, Mohamed Belal Hamed, Mohamed O. El-Badry and Afaf S. Fahmy

November 2011

Evaluation of anti-adenovirus activity of some plants from Lamiaceae family grown in Iran in cell culture

The family Lamiaceae included some plants such as thyme species which have a lot of medical properties even in the Iranian traditional medicine. Some of these properties have not been approved by this original article. The aim of this study wasto evaluate the anti-adenovirus effect of the three plants from Lamiaceae family (Thymus...

Author(s): Horieh Saderi and Maryam Abbasi

November 2011

Proteomic analysis of the Arabidopsis thaliana-Botrytis cinerea interaction using two-dimensional liquid chromatography

A two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D LC) system, ProteomeLab PF 2D, was employed to study the defence proteome of Arabidopsis following infection with the necrotrophic fungal pathogen, Botrytis cinerea. This system demonstrated differential protein expression in control and treated samples in some fractions. However, the amount of proteins in the fractions and the level to which they were changing could not...

Author(s): Joseph M. K. Mulema, Patrick Okori and Katherine J. Denby,

November 2011

Protective effects of Digera muricata (L.) Mart. against carbon tetrachloride induced oxidative stress in thyroid of rat

Protective effects of Digera muricata (DM) methanol extract (DME) were evaluated against the oxidative stress of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in the thyroid of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Treatment of CCl4 1 ml/kg bw (25% CCl4/olive oil i.p) once a week for 16 weeks significantly decreased the activities of catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-transferase and glutathione peroxidase...

Author(s): Muhammad Rashid Khan, Azra Memon, Gul Nabi Khan, Maria Shabbir, Naima Saeed, Naseer Ali Shah, Jasia Bokhari, and Umbreen Rashid

November 2011

Medium optimization for protopectinase production by batch culture of Aspergillus terreus

Optimization of medium compositions for protopectinase production by Aspergillus terreus in submerged culture was carried out. The medium components having significant effect on protopectinase production were reported to be sucrose, yeast extracts and ammonium acetate by the Plackett-Burman design. Subsequently, the concentrations of the three factors were optimized using central composite design in response...

Author(s): Chuanhui Fan, Zhanmin Liu, and Lifeng Yao,

November 2011

Down-regulation of Notch-1 by γ-secretase inhibitor suppress the proliferation and migration of prostate cancer cells

Notch-1 signaling is crucial for stem cell maintenance and in a variety of tissues. Previous research has demonstrated that Notch-1 activity plays a key role in prostatetumorigenesis. However, the function of Notch-1 signaling in tumorigenesis can be either oncogene or suppressor gene. In our paper, γ-secretase inhibitor (N-[N-(3,5-difluorophenacetyl) -L-alanyl] -S-phenylglycine t-butyl ester, (DAPT) was used...

Author(s): Tao Kong, Yusen Jia, Jingzhe Yang, Xin Wang, Chunsong Jia and Limin Liao

November 2011

Atorvastatin reverses the effects of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) on membrane potential in cultured rat aorta smooth muscle cells by activating big conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channels (BK) and scavenging hydrogen dioxide

Statins are known to exert vasculopretective effects which are independent of their cholesterol lowering ability. The aims of this study were to investigate a possible effect of atorvastatin on Ca2+-activated K+ channels (BK) in cultured rat aorta smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) and to assess their contribution to interleukin-1β (IL-1β) induced changes of membrane potential and BK activity. The membrane...

Author(s): Ying Yang#, Bo Yu, Yuan Gao# and Guiping Wu,

November 2011

Effect of different adhesion strategies on push-out bond strength of fiber reinforced composite posts

The aim of this study was to compare the bond strength of translucent fiber posts to root dentin, cemented with 4 adhesion strategies. Forty eight (48) sound human central incisors were decoronated and divided into 4 groups: Etch-and-rinse group, two-step self-etch group, one-step self-etch group, and self-adhesive resin cement group. The adhesion between the post and root canal walls was assessed using push-out test....

Author(s): Parnian Alizadeh Oskoee, Elmira Jafari Navimipour, Siavash Savadi Oskoee, Mahmoud Bahari and Fatemeh Pournaghiazar

November 2011

A proteomic analysis of short-term exposure to fipronil in larvae of Plutella xylostella

This study aimed at analyzing the short-term physiological response of Plutella xylostella L. (Diamondback moth), an insect pest of vegetables, to fipronil using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Protein expression in this insect was observed at 8,16 and 24 h after a fipronil treatment. Differential expression was examined for 20 protein spots, among which nine spots were...

Author(s): Miao Xie, Min-sheng You, Juan Cheng and Liette Vasseur,

November 2011

Species composition and depth variation of cutlassfish (Trichiurus lepturus L. 1785) trawl bycatch in the fishing grounds of Bushehr waters, Persian Gulf

Cutlassfish trawl fisheries have been used in the Persian Gulf, but very little information about species composition of the large rates of bycatch caught in this region is available. The data on total species composition of 40 hauls from vessels operating off the fishing grounds of Persian Gulf was collected from May 1st 2009 to 10th August 2010. From the estimated 952.3 tonnes of bycatch taken annually...

Author(s): H. Raeisi, S. A. Hosseini, S. Y. Paighambari, S. A. A. Taghavi and R. Davoodi

November 2011

Characterization of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers for the Chinese black sleeper, Bostrychus sinensis

We characterized 11 single nucleotide ploymorphism (SNP) markers for the Chinese black sleeper, Bostrychus sinensis. These markers were isolated from a genomic library and tested in ten geographically distant individuals of B. sinensis. Polymorphisms of these SNP loci were assessed using a wild population including 36 individuals. All the 11 loci exhibited bi-allelic polymorphism. The minor...

Author(s): Hangjun Wang, Liyan Zhang, Xiaowan Chen and Shaoxiong Ding

November 2011

Cross-species applicability of chicken microsatellite markers for investigation of genetic diversity in Indian duck (Anas platyrhynchos) populations

We obtained blood samples of 57 Indian ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) belonging to three indigenous duck populations of geographically distinct locations of the country and genotyped them using chicken microsatellite markers. Twenty three of the 30 loci were amplified and 17 loci yielded high success rate (> 91%). Observed and effective number of alleles ranged from 4 to 21 and 1.80 to 13.34, respectively. The...

Author(s): Mukesh, , Ruheena Javed, Uma Gaur, Han Jianlin and S. Sathyakumar

November 2011

Taxonomical analysis of the suspended bacterial fraction in the dromedary rumen fluid

An analysis of the dominant microbial taxa present in suspension within the rumen fluid from slaughtered one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) in Algeria was carried out using culture-independent molecular techniques. The rumen fluid of freshly eviscerated animals was sampled by a syringe and filtered through 0.22 µm filters in sterile conditions. Lyophilized filters were subsequently used as starting material...

Author(s): Houda Bouraoui, Elena Vendramin, Andrea Squartini, and Mohamed-Laid Haddi