Genus Jatropha with 172 species having significant economic importance belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. There are no reports on molecular characterization and phylogenetic relationship among the species of Jatropha. Hence, the present study was undertaken to assess the extent of genetic variability that exist and also to establish phylogenetic relationship among Jatropha curcas, J. glandulifera, J. gossypifolia, J. integerrima, J. multifida, J. podagrica and J. tanjorensis using RAPD and AFLP. The percentage of loci that are polymorphic among the species studied was found to be 97.74% by RAPD and 97.25% by AFLP. The mean percentage of polymorphism (PP) was found to be 68.48 by RAPD and 71.33 by AFLP. The phylogram generated with RAPD and AFLP data showed maximum similarity. With the generated data maximum relatedness was found between J. curcas and J. integerrima this may be the reason for the success of inter hybrid crosses between these two species. Neither RAPD nor AFLP data generated in this study supports the view of J. tanjorensis, a natural interspecific hybrid between J. curcas and J. gossypifolia. The present study concludes that both RAPD and AFLP techniques are comparable in divergence studies of Jatropha species. The markers generated by RAPD and AFLP can be employed efficiently for interspecific hybrids identification, marker assisted selection and genetic resource management.

The G-quadruplex (GQ) motifs are considered as potential drug-target sites for several human pathogenic viruses such as Zika, Hepatitis, Ebola, and Human Herpesviruses. The recent outbreaks of Nipah virus (NiV) in India, the highly fatal emerging zoonotic virus is a potential threat to global health security as no anti-viral drug or vaccine in currently available. Therefore, here in the present study, we sought to assess the ability of the putative G-quadruplex forming sequences in the NiV genome to form G-quadruplex structures and act as targets for anti-viral compounds. Bioinformatics analysis underpinned by various biophysical and biochemical techniques (such as NMR, CD, EMSA, DMS footprinting assay) confirmed the presence of two highly conserved G-quadruplex forming sequences (HGQs) in the G and L genes of NiV. These genes encode the cell attachment glycoprotein and RNAdependent RNA polymerase, respectively and are essential for the virus entry and replication within the host cell. It remains possible that stabilization of these HGQs by the known G-quadruplex binding ligands like TMPyP4 and Braco-19 represents a promising strategy to inhibit the expression of the HGQ harboring genes and thereby stop the viral entry and replication inside the host cell. Accordingly, we report for the first time, that HGQs in Nipah virus genome are targets for G-quadruplex specific ligands; therefore, could serve as potential targets for anti-viral therapy.

Chiral Mn(iii) salen complexes S-1, R-1, S-2, R-2, S-3 and R-3 derived from the respective chiral salen ligands, viz., (1S,2S)-N,N'-bis-[3-tert-butyl-5-chloromethyl-salicylidine]-1,2-cyclohexanediamine S-1'/(1R,2R)-N,N'-bis-[3-tert-butyl-5-chloromethyl-salicylidine]-1,2-cyclohexanediamine R-1'/(1S,2S)-N,N'-bis-[3-tert-butyl-5-N,N'N'triethylaminomethyl-salicylidine]-1,2-cyclohexanediamine dichloride S-2'/(1R,2R)-N,N'-bis-[3-tert-butyl-5-N,N'N'triethylaminomethyl-salicylidine]-1,2-cyclohexanediamine dichloride R-2'/(1S,2S)-N,N'-bis-[3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene]-1,2-cyclohexanediamine S-3' and (1R,2R)-N,N'-bis-[3,5-di-tert-butyl-salicylidene]-1,2-cyclohexanediamine R-3', were synthesized. Characterization of the complexes was done by microanalysis, IR, LC-MS, UV-vis. and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Binding of these complexes with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was studied by absorption spectroscopy, competitive binding study, viscosity measurements, circular dichroism measurements, thermal denaturation study and observation of their different antioxidant activities. Among all the complexes used, the best result in terms of binding constant (intercalative) (130.4 x 10(4)) was achieved with the complex S-1 by spectroscopic titration. The complex S-1 showed strong antioxidant activity as well.

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