Biology subjects

Latini, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Latini, A..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

Allele mining, evolutionary genetic analysis of TaHKT1;5 gene and evaluation of salinity stress in selected lines of wheat.

This study reports the novel allelic diversity in HKT 1;5 gene (High Affinity Potassium Transporter) in bread wheat and its phylogenetic relationship among the paralogs/orthologs of in Triticum aestivum and its wild relatives. HKT 1;5 gene is a known and pivotal gene associated with the salinity tolerance in plants upon the discrimination of K+ over Na+ in leaves without change in Na+ concentration in root. This gene was sequenced in a diverse collection of bread wheat, durum wheat, wild relatives, and ditelosomic lines. Sequence analysis in bread wheat led to the identification of four alleles, which could be distinguished by number of SNPs. Sequence comparison between monocot bread wheat and dicot Arabidopsis thaliana revealed that the HKT1;5 gene is conserved at level of exonic regions; however, the presence of transposable elements especially in intronic regions is further intriguing towards evolutionary relatedness. Two paralogous or major alleles observed in Triticum monoccum and Aegilops tauschii were further categorized as sub-alleles based on their SNPs comparison. This gene was absent in T. urartu in accordance with existing evidence, while it was found in A. speltoides (an allelic variant) with a few base pairs insertion in the exon1 region causing a frameshift mutation with an altered amino acids and genomic database mining unveiled additional alleles in this species. Ditelosomic lines with 4DL and 4DS chromosomes revealed a higher similarity with bread and durum wheat respectively. Phylogenetic studies of HKT1;5 orthologs from different Poaceae species revealed the occurrence of five different ortholog groups with taxonomic consistency. Phenotyping based salinity stress experiment distinguished the unknown lines for salinity tolerance and sensitiveness in comparison with known reference lines and possible allelic comparison was made. The salinity stress analysis further revealed that some known drought/heat tolerance lines showed slightly better salinity tolerance with mean values and variability of traits than known saline tolerant wheat line at controlled ambient.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2022

Identification and evolutionary analysis of a Triticeae tribe specific novel non-autonomous DNA transposon in DREB related Dehydration Responsive Factor1 gene.

A non-autonomous DNA transposon was identified in the DRF1 gene, belonging to the DREB gene family, the presence of this element was initially assessed in the Triticum durum DRF1 gene and subsequently it was also identified in Aegilops speltoides and Triticum urartu DRF1 genes. The DRF1 gene consists of four exons and three introns, the transposon carrying core element is inserted between the first and the third introns. Our studies identified inverted repeats, target site duplications and the presence of many internal reverse and direct short tandem and long tandem repeats, that all represent signals of a transposable element. Based on transposon specific sequence and position of the terminal inverted repeats, a possible transposition mechanism was inferred. As the identified transposable element does not possess a sequence coding for a transposase enzyme, it represents a non-autonomous element. The transposon encompasses a core element with two small, transcribed regions (Exon 2 and Exon 3) that are combined by alternative splicing during gene expression and an intron (intron2). A possible role of this non-autonomous DNA transposon in the alternative splicing regulation was investigated by a genomics approach. Divergence time analysis supported the relatively recent evolution of this transposon in Triticeae comparing to other tribes and further there is no footprints or highly disrupted footprints sequence such as TIR, TSD in other earlier evolved Poaceae member species were observed, which revealed the novelty and well-preserved nature of these signals in Triticeae. While other monocots (apart from Poaceae) and dicots, including Arabidopsis thaliana, neither showed this transposon insertion and nor revealed the existence of alternative spliced gene transcripts. In Poaceae members the core element is well preserved with disturbed transposon and transposon signals, while the tribe Triticeae especially wheat, its progenitors have intact DRF1 transposon and its signals.

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2021

Exercise Attenuates Sickness Behavior And Protects Against Dopaminergic Impairment Induced By Neuroinflammation

Neuroinflammation affects dopamine metabolism and produces a set of symptoms known as sickness behavior, including fever, anhedonia, anorexia, weight loss, decreased sociability and mobility, and cognitive impairment. Motor and cognitive impairments related to sickness behavior are associated with dopamine (DA) metabolism imbalance in the prefrontal cortex. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration induces neuroinflammation and causes sickness behavior in mice, while physical exercise has anti-inflammatory properties and may attenuate sickness behavior and DA impairment. We investigated the effect of exercise on DA levels and sickness behavior induced by LPS in mice. Adult Swiss male mice (8-10 weeks, 47.1 {+/-} 0.7 g, n=495) performed six weeks of voluntary exercise in free-running wheels (RW group) or had the blocked wheel in their cages (sedentary, SED group). After six weeks of exercise, both groups received an intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) of either saline (SAL) or LPS (0.33 mg/kg, i.p.). All animals were submitted to behavioral tests for sickness behavior assessment (fatigue, locomotion, anhedonia, and social interaction). Neuroinflammation markers and DA metabolism were assessed in the prefrontal cortex. LPS administration provoked anorexia, body weight loss, impaired motor function, social withdrawal, and anhedonia. This sickness behavior was accompanied by reduced cortical DA metabolism and its metabolite, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC). Neuroinflammation was confirmed through increased levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1{beta} and IL-6. Inflammation was also confirmed in the blood by an increased content of IL-1{beta}. Physical exercise intervention prevented animals from neurochemical, biochemical, and behavioral alterations. These findings provide new evidence of physical exercises potential as an environmental approach to treating neuroinflammatory conditions.

animal behavior and cognition↗