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The progress of nanotechnology presents many nanoparticles that are important in medicine, agriculture and industry. Quickly and entirely absorbed by plants, nano-compounds and remedy their nutrient deficiency and satisfy this need. Iron oxide nanoparticles with suitable surface chemistry can be used as a rich source of iron for plants due to its gradual release of Fe in a wide pH range (pH 3 to 11). The present study investigated the impact of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe 2 O 3 NPs in 0, 10, 20 and 30 µM concentrations) on physiological parameters of peppermint (Mentha piperita) under salt stress (0, 50, 100 and 150 mM concentrations of NaCl). Fe 2 O 3 NPs caused increases in leaf fresh weight and dry weight, phosphorus, potassium, iron, zinc, and calcium contents of the peppermint under salinity stress but did not have an effect on the sodium element. 30 µM concentration of Fe 2 O 3 NP was more impressive. Lipid peroxidation and proline contents of the peppermint under salinity decreased significantly by applying Fe 2 O 3 NPs. The maximum activities of total antioxidant enzymes (I %), catalase, superoxide dismutase, and guailcol peroxidase were observed in plants treated with 150 mM of NaCl, but application of Fe 2 O 3 NPs declined these antioxidant activities. The results suggest that the appropriate concentration of iron nanoparticles could be used for stress resistance of the peppermint.

BackgroundThe molecular pathway that controls cardiogenesis is temporally and spatially regulated by master transcriptional regulators such as NKX2-5, Isl1, MEF2C, GATA4, and β-catenin. The interplay between these factors and their downstream targets are not completely understood. Here, we studied regulation of β-catenin and GATA4 by NKX2-5 in human fetal cardiac myocytes.Methodology/Principal FindingsUsing antisense inhibition we disrupted the expression of NKX2-5 and studied changes in expression of cardiac-associated genes. Down-regulation of NKX2-5 resulted in increased β-catenin while GATA4 was decreased. We demonstrated that this regulation was conferred by binding of NKX2-5 to specific elements (NKEs) in the promoter region of the β-catenin and GATA4 genes. Using promoter-luciferase reporter assay combined with mutational analysis of the NKEs we demonstrated that the identified NKX2-5 binding sites were essential for the suppression of β-catenin, and upregulation of GATA4 by NKX2-5.ConclusionsThis study suggests that NKX2-5 modulates the β-catenin and GATA4 transcriptional activities in developing human cardiac myocytes.

Field Trials With Transgenic Aspen be recognized by the pathogen-associated molecular pattern system. For each of three different constructs, there was a line with dwarfism and growth abnormalities, suggesting random genetic/epigenetic changes. This high frequency of dwarfism (17%) is suggestive of a link between acetyl metabolism and chromatin function. These data represent the first evaluation of acetyl-reduced plants from the field, indicating some possible pitfalls, and identifying the best strategies, when developing highly productive acetyl-reduced feedstocks.