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Background: Despite the genetic heterogeneity reported in familial ALS (FALS), SOD1 gene mutations are the most frequent cause of FALS, accounting for around 20% of familial cases (ALS1) and isolated sporadic cases. Mutant forms of SOD1 exhibit toxicity that promotes the death of motor neurons. It is well documented that FALS produces protein aggregates in the motor neurons of FALS patients, which have been found to be associated to mitochondria. Methods: In this study, we cloned the SOD1 gene, using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method, from both a healthy control and a living 79 -year-old man with diagnosis of sporadic form of ALS who had shown unusual rapid progression of disease. RNA samples were available from lymphocytes of them. pET28a expression system and BL21 chemically competent Escherichia coli strain as host were used for protein expression. Results: DNA Sequencing data showed both heterozygosis C to G transition at nucleotide position 21 leading to a C6W changing at protein level and a deletion at nucleotides position 73 to 169 leading to complete deletion of exon two.

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In the  Bacillusamyloliquefaciens α-amylase (BAA), the loop (residues from 177-185; region І) is the constructive part of the cage responsible for attachment to calcium. It has two more amino acid residues than the α-amylase from Bacillus licheniformis (BLA). Arg176 in this region makes an ionic interaction with Glu126 from region ІІ (residues 118-131) but this interaction is lost in BLA due to substitution of R176Q and E126V. It is the common feature of α-amylases that calcium ion is required for their thermal stability. The present work quantitatively estimates the effect of ionic interaction on the overall stability of the enzyme. To clarify the functional and structural significance of corresponding salt bridge, first an automated homology model of the mutant enzyme (∆E126) was built by the Swiss-Model Protein Modeling Server.  Bacillus amyloliquefaciens α-amylase (3BH4.pdb) was used as the template and examined by GETAREA and WHAT IF programs, then Glu126 was deleted (∆E126) by site-directed mutagenesis and the thermostability was examined for the wild-type and mutant enzymes. Modeling results showed that deletion of salt bridge affected on the hydrophobic and hydrophilic residues orientation of two discussed regions (Ι, ΙΙ). The mutant enzyme also exhibited lower thermostability relative to the wild-type enzyme. Thus, it may be suggested that salt bridge could affect on accessible surface area of the discussed regions, decrease water diffusion,  prevent diffusion of cations and improve the thermostability of the whole protein.

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The stability of enzymes with no reduction in their catalytic activity still remains a critical issue in industrial applications. Naturally occurring osmolytes are commonly used as protein stabilizer. Apart from increasing the stability and catalytic activity, these osmolytes do not change the structure of enzyme. There are a few general schemes about the stabilization mechanism of these osmolytes but the details of their mechanism have not been found so far. In this study, we investigated the simultaneous effects of sorbitol and trehalose on the activity and structural stability of Pseudomonas cepacia lipase (PCL) using UV–visible, fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. In order to trace the refractive index and dielectric constant alterations upon the addition of osmolytes, microenvironment of the enzyme (PCL) was studied by means of SPR technique.The results revealed that osmolytes increased catalytic activity and intrinsic fluorescence intensity of PCL. In the presence of both osmolytes the activity of enzyme is greater than when each of the osmolytes is used individally. Far-UV CD spectra indicated that the secondary structural content of protein has been some what increased upon interacting with these osmolytes.The results of SPR technique indicated none of the above osmolytes could change the dielectric constant of medium considerably. This study revealed the synergy of two osmolytes toward increasing the activity and stability of enzyme.

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The present paper provides the updated checklist of the genera and species in the subfamily Alysiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Iran. A total of 55 species belonging to 13 genera have been listed, that had been recorded from 15 provinces. The recorded species belong to the genera Alloea Haliday, 1833 (one species), Aphaereta Foerster, 1862 (two species), Aspilota Foerster, 1862 (two species), Dinotrema Foerster, 1862 (four species), Idiasta Foerster, 1862 (one species), Orthostigma Ratzeburg, 1844 (three species), Phaenocarpa Foerster, 1861 (one species), Pseudopezomachus Montero, 1905 (one species) and Synaldis Foerster, 1862 (four species) from the tribe Alysiini, and Chorebus Haliday, 1833 (28 species), Coelinidea Viereck 1913 (one species), Dacnusa Haliday, 1833 (five species) and Protodacnusa Griffiths, 1964 (two species) from the tribe Dacnusini.

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The combined effect of different levels of dietary n-3 HUFAs [eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)] with α-Tocopherol on growth parameters (final weight, SGR, FCR, and some health indices (hematocrit, plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels) of the Caspian trout fry, Salmotruttacaspius, was investigated. Six experimental diets containing three different dietary levels of n-3 HUFAs (Low: 1 + 0.5, DHA+ EPA, Medium: 2 + 1, DHA + EPA, High: 4 + 2, DHA + EPA g/100g diet) with two different levels of α-Tocopherol (Low: 300 and High: 1000 mg/kg diet) were prepared and named: LL, LH, ML, MH, HL, HH (HUFA/α-Tocopherol) groups, respectively. Fries (600 ± 25 mg) were randomly distributed in tanks (50 fries per tank) and were fed with the experimental diets for 10 weeks. The work was conducted in triplicates. Results showed that the SGR and body weight were significantly higher in the MH group than other groups. Hematological parameters, especially plasma lipids and lipoproteins were more influenced by the dietary n-3 HUFA and vitamin E and interaction between vitamin E and n-3 HUFA has minimal effect on these parameters. Results of this study suggested that increasing of dietary n-3 HUFA could improved growth performance and enhance health in the Caspian trout fry when appropriate level of α- Tocopherol supplemented.

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Most patients with liver diseases are in the waiting list of liver implantation for a long period of time because of the lack of enough donors. Liver differentiation potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) is a new perspective in curing these patients. Tissue engineering improves hepatocyte differentiation by coating the culture surfaces with Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) such as Heparan Sulfate (HS). Cell detachment and death during hepatogenic differentiation hamper the efficiency of cell therapy. This study aims to establish a matrix. mimicking the liver extracellular matrix, which supports the attachment and proliferation potential of MSCs, as well. Collagen was physically coated on polystyrene plates. Collagen-GAG matrix was constructed by covalently immoblizing the HS molecules on collagen by EDC. Cell attachment and proliferation were evaluated by direct cell-counting and MTT methods. GAG presence on collagen was verified by Safranin O staining. Comparisons showed that the highest attachment belonged to collagen, collagen-HS and polystyrene, respectively. Collagen matrix showed also the highest cell proliferation. Collagen-GAG provided more suitable matrix for cell proliferation compared to polystyrene. The results further showed that biomimicked collagen-GAG matrix supports superior attachment and viability for MSCs compared to polystyrene.

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 Maltogenic Amylases (MAase) are a subfamily of Į-amylase family that can hydrolyze multiple substrates including starch, pullulan and cyclodextrins however, they prefer cyclodextrins to others, and unlike other Į-amylases, they are intracellular. This enzyme has the potential for use in many industrial processes such as food, fermentation and pharmacy. The effect of different concentrations of Ca2+ and K+ ions on irreversible thermoinactivation of the enzyme at 65 ÛC showed that Ca2+ and K+ decreased and increased its thermal stability. The CD spectra of the enzyme in the presence and absence of metal ions were measured to detect changes in the secondary structure contents. The spectra showed a decrease in the Į-helix content in the presence of 1 and 10 mM of Ca2+, but in the presence of 5 mM, a drastic increase in Į-helix content of the enzyme was witnessed. In the presence of 1 and 5 mM of Na+ the Į-helix content decreased, while it was increased in the presence of 10 mM. The results from intrinsic fluorescence of the protein (excitation at 280 nm) indicated that Ca2+ ion at 1 and 5 mM caused an increase in tertiary structure of the enzyme; however, at 10 mM, a decrease was observed in its tertiary structure. K+ ion at all concentrations increased the tertiary structure of the enzyme. These spectroscopic results are in a good agreement with the thermostability data. It was shown that destabilizing effect of calcium was enthalpic (decrease in ǻH#) whereas the stabilizing effect of potassium was entropic (decrease in ǻS#).

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Laboratory and field experiments were conducted to determine the efficacy of some insecticides on the control of Sarta longhorned beetle, Aeolesthes sarta Solsky adults and larvae. In the laboratory, three pairs of mated and non-oviposited adults were released on the logs of field elm, Ulmus minor Mill that had been treated with chlorpyrifos, carbaryl, permethrin or imidacloprid. In the field experiments, artificially infested U. minor var. umbraculifera Rehd trees were treated by imidacloprid and oxydemeton-methyl through soil and trunk injection. In the laboratory test the best results were obtained from imidacloprid and permethrin applications, because of occurrence of high adult mortality after short period and also preventing egg laying. Despite a few eggs that were laid on the chlorpyrifos treated logs, there were no living larvae in the sprayed logs. Results of the field tests showed that the number of living larvae did not differ significantly between oxydemeton-methyl and control treatment, however, imidacloprid injection was effective in controlling this pest.

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Soil-dwelling mites and especially Gamasina (Mesostigmata) are very important to soil ecosystems. They are one of the major groups rich in species and abundance. In order to study mesostigmatic mite fauna, soil samples were collected from different oak forests of Lordegan region. The mites were extracted using Berlese-Tullgren funnels and then cleared in Lactic acid and mounted in Hoyer's medium. This study reports on the distribution of soil mesostigmatids in Iran and world-wide. Twenty species belonging to 13 genera of five families were collected and identified. Species are listed as follows: Ascidae: Arctoseius cetratus (Sellnick, 1940), Gamasellodes bicolor (Berlese, 1918), Antennoseius (Antennoseius) bacatus Athias-Henriot, 1961, Antennoseius (Antennoseius) masoviae (Sellnick, 1943). Blattisociidae: Lasioseius youcefi Athias-Henriot, 1959. Laelapidae: Cosmolaelaps rectangularis Sheals, 1962, Euandrolaelaps karawaiewi (Berlese, 1903), Gaeolaelaps aculeifer (Canestrini, 1883), Gaeolaelaps minor (Costa, 1968), Gaeolaelaps oreithyiae (Walter & Oliver, 1989), Haemolaelaps fenilis (Megnin, 1875), Haemolaelaps shealsi (Costa, 1968), Haemolaelaps schusteri (Hirschmann, 1966), Laelaspis kamalii Joharchi and Halliday, 2012, Laelaspis missouriensis (Ewing, 1904), Gymnolaelaps canestrinii (Berlese, 1903), Gymnolaelaps obscuroides (Costa, 1968). Ologamasidae: Sessiluncus hungaricus Karg, 1964, Allogamasellus sp.; Veigaiidae: Veigaia planicola Berlese, 1882. The genus Allogamasellus and Haemolaelaps schusteri are reported for the first time for Iranian mite fauna and the male of Laelaspis kamalii is reported for the first time for world fauna.

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Laccase (benzenediol: oxygen oxidoreductase), is a multicopper polyphenol oxidase enzyme which has glycoprotein structure. The Researches are indicated that laccase enzyme can play role in detoxification of aromatic pollutants (as petroleum derivatives) and conversion them to less toxic compounds. On the other hand, because of its extensive, fibrous root system; Festuca arundinacea, creates an appropriate environment that causes increased catalysis of petroleum contaminants. Considering the fact that increasing in catalysis of pollutants can be provided by presence and changes in activity of various plant enzymes, in this research; the changes in laccase activity of Festuca's vegetative organs under soil pollution with different concentration of diesel fuel has been investigated. For this purpose, at first, the seeds of Festuca were cultivated in pots containing diesel fuel polluted soils and also control pots in greenhouse conditions. Then in specified time treatments, plants were harvested and plant extract containing laccase were extracted from aerial parts and roots of the plant, separately. After doing centrifuge, changes in enzyme activity were calculated by spectrophotometer. The results show that creation of soil pollution treatments compared with control samples, leads to increase in laccase activity in many cases. In other words, by increasing in laccase activity, the plant will increase its potency of decomposition and assimilation of pollutant hydrocarbons.

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Water pollution is one of the most important problems for human beings. BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylenes) have vast application in industry and their carcinogenic effect on human body has approved. Hence these part of water pollutants (water-soluble aromatic components) have more importance. Monitoring systems that can detect presence of BTEX in water supplies are much expensive such as gas chromatography so we need simple systems to reduce the number of samples that we are suspected to them for more analysis by much more expensive systems. Bioreporters are a subgroup of biosensors which are using for sensing and monitoring some signals or reagents. A bioreporter is an organism like a bacteria or a plant that is genetically manipulated to have a promoter which is sensitive to a chemical or physical signal. Activation of the promoter In presense of the signal leads to product of the reporter gene which can be sensed or calculated by our laboratory supplies. A green fluorescent protein gene has been used as a reporter gene downstream of PtbuA1 as a BTEX sensitive promoter in Escherichia coli and its response to BTEX has been investigated in this study. Our results show our bioreporter can sense Toluene.The optimum time and temperature for the bioreporter is also defined.

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In the present article, by analyzing the participants’ errors in the writing section of the international DELF exam, the authors try to discuss the evolution and mutation of the Iranian learners' inter-language. The general purpose of this research, accordingly, is to pinpoint the effects of Persian language on learning French, as a foreign language, in such realms as vocabulary, and idiomatic and structural constructions. The research, as well takes into account the way inter-language evolves and changes in four levels of DELF exam based on the common European referent Framework for languages. Due to the fact that the language learners are impressed by their mother language, they, unconsciously, experience linguistic errors in such fields as vocabulary use, syntactic structure, and grammar while writing.
 The findings of this research revealed that Iranian French-language learners who participate in the international French exams, are basically under the impression of a simplified system of French language, the complexity of which is promoted along with the learners' general level. The analysis of the texts composed by the participants of the DELF exam reveals that the writing errors performed by the learners are mostly rooted in their mother language as well as their false assumptions and predispositions about language and its learning process.

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Species of four chrysidoid families, Bethylidae, Dryinidae, Embolemidae, and Sclerogibbidae that occurred in Iran are reviewed. A total of 54 species within 27 genera from Iran are listed. The family Bethylidae with 34 species belonging to 16 genera was the largest group followed by Dryinidae with 17 species belonging to eight genera. The known Bethylidae species from Iran certainly represent a very small piece of the world fauna, distributed mainly in the Palaearctic region. Of the seventeen species of Dryinidae, the known distribution of ten species is known yet limited to the Palaearctic region, but five species are distributed in the north of the Afrotropical region (Arabian peninsula). The families, Embolemidae and Sclerogibbidae each represented by two and a single species in Iran, respectively. Embolemus huberi Olmi is here recorded from Kirghizstan, Turkey and Turkmenistan for the first time. Until now, no species of the families Plumariidae and Scolebythidae have been recorded from Iran. Despite the importance and diversity of both bethylids and dryinids, it seems that the least attempts have been done to study their fauna in Iran.

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Current investigations indicate different in vitro infection patterns for Oka and Dumas strains. Infection of cells in culture with Dumas strain produces lower number of infectious particles while the Oka strain is highly infectious in vitro. It is postulated that weak expression of the replication genes in Dumas strain may be the reason for the attenuated phenotype. The objective of this study was to analyze the sequences of the promoter region in two of the VZV replication genes, 16 and 52 by studying the level of expression of a reporter gene. For this purpose, primers were designed from VZV published sequences to amplify the promoter regions of both genes using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique. The amplicons were cloned in a lacZ reporter vector. Cotransfaction of 52-Oka reporter plasmid with virus major trans-activator (IE62) in Huh7 cells showed that the presence of 52-Oka promoter was up regulated by the IE 62 trans-activator in a dose dependent manner resulting in ß-gal levels approximately 4-fold higher than those observed with 52-Dumas promoter and 10-fold higher than basal levels. In addition cotransfection of 16-Oka reporter plasmid did not show any significant change in activity in comparison with 16-Domus-reporter plasmid. Sequence determination of the promoter region in gene 52 indicated differences in 3 nucleotides in Dumas strain compared to Oka strain while no change was observed in the promoter sequences of gene 16 of the two strains. It is hence postulated a relationship between mutations in the Dumas promoter of replication genes, and the lower infectivity of the Dumas strain.

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Potato tuber moth (PTM), Phthorimaea operculella (Lep.: Gelechiidae) is a serious pest of potato, Solanum tuberosum (Solanaceae). To study factors influencing capture of male PTM by pheromone traps, two sets of experiments were conducted in a split-plot factorial design. In the first experiment, four factors were studied: potato cultivar (Agria, Marfona, Jelly, Arinda, Santea and Sabalan), storage type (cold and conventional), trap shape (funnel and delta) and trap color (white and green). Significant differences were found among storage types and potato cultivars. Total moth catches were eight times higher in conventional storage than that of cold storage. Agria and Marfona cultivars had the highest capture, while Arinda and Sabalan cultivars had the lowest. There were no significant differences between trap shapes and trap colors. Results showed that trap catches in different cultivars were affected by storage conditions. In cold storages the highest and lowest captures were 7.00 and 5.58 moth/trap/week, whereas in conventional storages the highest and lowest captures were 59.9 and 42.3. The second experiment was aimed to assess the effect of cellulose mulch on the capturing of PTM in conventional storages containing Agria. Results showed that pheromone traps in control (no-mulch) treatments caught three times more PTM than the mulched treatments. It is concluded that lower numbers of PTM were caught in potatoes held in cold storages than that of conventional storages. Otherwise, in conventional storages, cellulose mulch can be applied to reduce PTM population density.
 

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Electrical Kindling is one of the most popular epileptic model techniques that cause seizures such as temporal lobe epilepsy. So far, various therapies have been used to treatment of epilepsy. Among these treatments, low-frequency stimulation (LFS) has been widely considered for improving effect on drug-resistant epilepsy, but its mechanism is not well understood. Since calcium entering to the cytoplasm and increasing its concentration is one of the reasons for seizure, metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR1), dopamine receptor (D1) and ADPR cyclase (CD38), which increased calcium in the cytoplasm from different pathways, were selected. With this aim that by examining the change in the expression of these genes, we help to clarify the LFS improvement effect.  In this study, the hippocampus of rats was used and the changes in genes expression were investigated using real-time PCR technique. The results showed that the expression of all selected genes  increased significantly after kindling and then after the LFS the expression of all was returned to sham value. Hence, one of the ways in which LFS interferes may be related to the pathway for calcium entering to the cytoplasm.