Altaf Ahmad

• Ph.D.
• Professor at Aligarh Muslim University

Genomics, Transcriptomics, Proteomics and Metabolomics of Crop Plants presents current operational methods applied to model crop plants. Including subcellular organelles, DNA fingerprinting and barcoding, sRNA, gene expression, rhizosphere engineering, marker assisted and 5G breeding, plant-microorganism interactions, stress signaling and responses...

Ethylene plays a crucial role throughout the life cycle of plants under optimal and stressful environments. The present study reports the involvement of exogenously sourced ethylene (as ethephon; 2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid) in the protection of the photosynthetic activity from glucose (Glu) sensitivity through its influence on the antioxidant sy...

Phytoremediation is an environment-friendly remediation technology, which has become widely accepted and is regarded as an easy and safe technique for removal of contaminants. Mercury (Hg) is one of the most toxic soil and water contaminants, which has not yet been widely treated via phytoremediation technology because Hg-accumulating plants were h...

N-acetyl-5-neuraminic acid (NeuAc) plays crucial role in improving the growth, brain development, brain health maintenance, and immunity enhancement of infants. Commercially, it is used in the production of antiviral drugs, infant milk formulas, cosmetics, dietary supplements, and pharmaceutical products. Because of the rapidly increasing demand, m...

Vitamin E plays an exemplary role in living organisms. α-Tocopherol is the most superior and active form of naturally occurring vitamin E that meets the requirements of human beings as it possesses the α-tocopherol transfer protein (α-TTP). α-Tocopherol deficiency can lead to severe anemia, certain cancers, several neurodegenerative and cardiovascu...

Salinity is one of the major constraints for agricultural productivity and the problem of salinity is likely to increase further. The aquatic fern Azolla is employed as an important bio-inoculant for the cultivation of rice paddy. In addition to this it is also used as feed supplement for cattle and poultry. However, increasing soil salinity is a s...

Increased problems associated with side effects and bacterial resistance of chemical drugs has prompted the research focus on herbal medicines in the past few decades. In the present investigation, the antimicrobial activity of the various parts of Avicennia marina (AM), a mangrove plant, has been evaluated. The plants were collected from the Jazan...

Nanobiotechnological improvements defined on the utilization of biological materials and principles have enormously partaken to revolutionize physical, chemical, and biological sciences. However, the exploration of plant nanobiotechnology is still in its outset. The search for novel tools to monitor plant biomolecules is an emerging issue for the n...

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is one of the major limiting factors for crop productivity. The yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) is severely limited by phosphorus deficiency. An attempt has been made in this study to identify P deficiency responsive differentially expressed proteins of rice through analysis of leaf proteome of contrasting P-responsive ric...

Ajmalicine is one of the most popular antihypertensive drugs obtained from the root barks of Cathranthus roseus (L.) G. Don and Rauvolfia serpentine (L.) Benth. ex Kurz. It has also potential antimicrobial, cytotoxic, central depressant and antioxidant activities. As the demand for the alkaloid is significantly high, metabolic engineering approache...

Sulfur (S) is an essential element for all forms of life. It is involved in numerous essential processes because S is considered as the primary source of one of the essential amino acids, methionine, which plays an important role in biological events. For the control and regulation of sulfate in a metabolic network through fluxomics, a non-invasive...

(+)-Catechin is an important antioxidant of green tea (Camelia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze). Catechin is known for its positive role in anticancerous activity, extracellular matrix degradation, cell death regulation, diabetes, and other related disorders. As a result of enormous interest in and great demand for catechin, its biosynthesis using metaboli...

An efficient protocol of plant regeneration through indirect organogenesis in Viola serpens was developed in the present study. Culture of leaf explants on MS (Murashige and Skoog) medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/L 6-benzyladenine and 0.13 mg/L 2,4-dichloro phenoxy acetic acid. Adventitious shoot formation was observed when calli were transferred o...

Reduced glutathione (GSH) level inside the cell is a critical determinant for cell viability. The level of GSH varies across the cells, tissues and environmental conditions. However, our current understanding of physiological and pathological GSH changes at high spatial and temporal resolution is limited due to non-availability of practicable GSH-d...

One of the major abiotic stresses that affect productivity of rice is salinity. Rice cultivars showed significant genetic variation in response to salt stress. In the present investigation, differential growth pattern and physio-chemical traits-based screening of high yielding rice cultivars of various salt affected areas of India was carried out,...

Nanotechnology is an emerging tool in the field of life sciences and has since continually proven its potential in contributing to sustainable competitiveness and growth in several industrial sectors. Though we have only managed to scrape the surface of the potential impact of nanotechnology in the coming years, the noteworthy findings, however, ca...

This informative book compiles the most up-to-date applications of nanobiosensors in fields ranging from agriculture to medicine. The introductory section describes different types of nanobiosensors and use of nanobiosensors towards a sustainable environment. The applications are divided into four broad sections for easy reading and understanding....

Nitrogen (N) is the basis of plant growth and development and, is considered as one of the priming agents to elevate a range of stresses. Plants use solar radiations through photosynthesis, which amasses the assimilatory components of crop yield to meet the global demand for food. Nitrogen is the main regulator in the allocation of photosynthetic a...

Cysteine plays a critical role in maintaining normal human metabolism, redox homeostasis, and immune regulation. Despite its functional versatility, cysteine metabolism in the human body is not well understood because of the lack of a robust tool for real-time measurement of cysteine at the cellular and sub-cellular level. In the present study, a g...

The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (and their reaction products) in abiotic stressed plants can be simultaneous. Hence, it is very difficult to establish individual roles of ROS (and their reaction products) in plants particularly under abiotic stress conditions. It is highly imperative to detect ROS (and their reaction products) and a...

Isoleucine is one of the branched chain amino acids that plays a major role in the energy metabolism of human beings and animals. However, detailed investigation of specific receptors for isoleucine has not been carried out because of the non-availability of a tool that can monitor the metabolic flux of this amino acid in live cells. This study pre...

Ajmalicine is naturally present in the root bark of Catharanthus roseus L. and Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth ex.Kurz. It has been extensively utilized in the treatment of hypertension across the world. The increased demand, overconsumption, and low content of the alkaloid in the plants have raised the issue of the depletion of natural sources. Th...

In the present investigation, the leaf proteome profile of the macro-mutant lines of Nigella sativa L. was analyzed to identify the key proteins involved in the expression of traits associated with the morphology, seed yield, and content of thymoquinone. In our earlier study, the macro-mutants were generated with contrasting morphological traits an...

Chronic over-nutrition promotes adipocyte hypertrophy that creates inflammatory milieu leading to macrophage infiltration and their phenotypic switching during obesity. The SH2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 1 (SHP-1)has been identified as an important player in inflammatory diseases involving macrophages. However, the role of SHP-1...

Since the last decade, a lot of advancement has been made to understand biological processes involving complex intracellular pathways. The major challenge faced was monitoring and trafficking of metabolites in real time. Although a range of quantitative and imaging techniques have been developed so far, the discovery of green fluorescent proteins (...

The growth of the nitrogen fixing aquatic pteridophyte Azolla microphylla is severely affected by salinity. Salinity exposure (0.5%) resulted in significant reduction in chlorophyll a and b content, altered chl a/b ratio and photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm). Chloroplasts maintain photosynthesis but are highly sensitive to salinity stress. Chloropl...

In the present study, an alternate method for germplasm storage in the form of artificial seeds was standardized via nodal explants excised from in vitro proliferated shoots. The explants were encapsulated using sodium alginate and calcium chloride as gelling matrix. For development of root along with shoot, excised nodal segments were pretreated w...

Microorganisms residing over the rhizosphere have the capability to catalyse metal uptake in a symbiotic relationship with the roots. This syntrophic relationship enhances the bioavailability of heavy metals and encourages the root adsorption capacity for vital in addition to non-essential metal. It also changes their chemical properties that ultim...

Ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) are glutamate-gated nonselective cation channels (NSCC) that mediate rapid conduction of impulses through the synapses in central nervous system of animals. At one time, signaling through the iGluRs was thought to be limited to the animal system but with the discovery of 20 glutamate receptor-like genes (GLRs...

Terpenoids are the most functionally and structurally varied group of plant metabolites. These are synthesized in all organisms but are especially abundant and diverse in plants. Despite their diversity of functions and structures, all terpenoids are derived from the common five-carbon (C5) building unit, isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and its isome...

Productivity of wheat (Triticumaestivum) is markedly affected by high temperature and nitrogen deficiency. Identifying the functional proteins produced in response to these multiple stresses acting in a coordinated manner can help in developing tolerance in the crop. In this study, two wheat cultivars with contrasting nitrogen efficiencies (N-effic...

Objective: The objective of this research was to develop the RAPD based SCAR marker for the correct identification of the Iris ensata Thunb. (I. ensata) plant from its adulterants. Methods: Five samples of I. ensata. from the different geographical area were used in this study. The plant genomic DNA was isolated with the CTAB method with some modif...

Sustainable development of cellular organisms depends on a precise coordination between the carbon and nitrogen metabolisms within the living system. Inorganic N is assimilated into amino acids which serve as an important N source for various regulatory metabolic pathways in plants. This study investigates the role of amino acids in C/N balance by...

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is a co-factor of various enzymes and involved in the metabolism of every cell of human body. During infancy, low level of vitamin B12 is associated with negative consequences on the developing brain. Vitamin B12 deficiency causes various neurological abnormalities and pernicious anemia. Different methods such as, isotopic l...

Objective: The present investigation was undertaken for identification and assessment of eight accessions of Curcuma longa collected from all ecological zones in India by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers.Methods: DNA was isolated using modified cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was...

The nitrogen fixing aquatic pteridophyte Azolla is used as biofertilizer for rice paddy. It is also used as poultry and cattle feed due to high protein content. However, its mass cultivation and exploitation is constrained due to the abiotic stress conditions it is exposed to. The system is interesting due to the presence of symbiotic nitrogen fixi...

Water limitation of plants causes stomatal closure to prevent water loss by transpiration. For this purpose, progressing soil water deficit is communicated from roots to shoots. Abscisic acid (ABA) is the key signal in stress-induced stomatal closure, however, ABA as early xylem-delivered signal is still a matter of debate. In the present study, po...

SHP-1 (Src homology 2 domain containing protein tyrosine phosphatase) is a known negative regulator of insulin signaling and inflammation. To date, the molecular mechanism of metformin in modulating SHP-1 expression has remained elusive. In the present study, we have investigated the role of SHP-1 in relation to anti-hyperglycemic and anti-inflamma...

Experiments were carried out to determine the effect of different plant growth regulating hormones on in vitro propagation of Artemisia absinthium L. from leaf explants. Organogenic callus was observed when explants were inoculated on the MS medium supplemented with BAP, 1.0 mg/l in combination with 2,4-D, 0.5mg/l. Maximum adventitious (28) shoots...

Rubia cordifolia L. (common name-Indian Madder, Majith, Manjistha) from the family Rubiaceae is commonly known as is widely dispersed throughout the lower hills of India. The plant is famous drug in the Ayurvedic treatments. Extracts of this plant have shown many important medicinal properties.In this study, we quantified the amount of rubiadin in...

Salinity stress causes adverse physiological and biochemical changes in the growth and productivity of a plant. Azolla, a symbiotic pteridophyte and potent candidate for biofertilizer due to its nitrogen fixation ability, shows reduced growth and nitrogen fixation during saline stress. To better understand regulatory components involved in salinity...

Productivity of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern. and Coss.) is markedly reduced by salt stress. To develop salt tolerance in this important oilseed crop is a need of the hour. This study, based on analysis of growth parameters and antioxidant profile of fourteen Indian mustard genotypes treated with 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM of sodium chlori...

Rubia cordifolia Linn. (Rubiaceae) commonly known as Indian Madder, Majith, Manjistha etc. is widely dispersed throughout the lower hills of Indian. The plant is famous important drug in the Ayurvedic treatments. Extracts of this plant have shown many important medicinal properties. In this study we compared the therapeutic potential of methanolic...

Rubia cordifolia L. (common name-Indian Madder, Majith, Manjistha) from the family Rubiaceae is commonly known as is widely dispersed throughout the lower hills of India. The plant is famous drug in the Ayurvedic treatments. Extracts of this plant have shown many important medicinal properties.In this study, we quantified the amount of rubiadin in...

Brassica juncea is mainly cultivated in the arid and semi-arid regions of India where its production is significantly affected by soil salinity. Adequate knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the salt tolerance at sub-cellular levels must aid in developing the salt-tolerant plants. A proper functioning of chloroplasts under salinity conditions is...

p>The content of arsenic (As), a naturally occurring toxic element found in soils worldwide, has gone substantially high in agricultural soils due to various anthropogenic activities. The responses of seed germination, seedling growth, photosynthetic pigments and the components of the ascorbateglutathione (AsA-GSH) pathway were analyzed in Indian m...

Recognition of self-antigen and its destruction by the immune system is the hallmark of autoimmune diseases. During the developmental stages, immune cells are introduced to the self-antigen, for which tolerance develops. The inflammatory insults that break the immune tolerance provoke immune system against self-antigen, progressively leading to aut...

Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) are two essential elements that influence plant growth and development. The C and N metabolic pathways influence each other to affect gene expression, but little is known about which genes are regulated by interaction between C and N or the mechanisms by which the pathways interact. In the present investigation, proteome...

Background: Engineering microorganisms in order to improve the metabolite flux needs a detailed knowledge of the concentrations and flux rates of metabolites and metabolic intermediates in vivo. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) based genetically encoded nanosensors represent a promising tool for measuring the metabolite levels and cor...

Nitrogen (N) is essential for proper plant growth and its application has proven to be critical for agricultural produce. However, for unavoidable economic and environmental problems associated with excessive use of N-fertilizers, it is an urgent demand to manage application of fertilizers. Improving the N-use efficiency (NUE) of crop plants to sus...

The altered expression of SHP-1 (SH2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase) as a consequence of promoter hypermethylation or mutations has evidently been linked to cancer development. The notion of being a cancer drug target is conceivable as SHP-1 negatively regulates cell cycle and inflammatory pathways which are an inevitable part of on...

Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern and Coss] is cultivated mainly in the northwestern agroclimatic region of India and suffers huge losses in productivity due to salinization. In an effort to figure out adaptation strategies of Indian mustard to salt stress, we conducted a comparative proteome analysis of shoots of its two genotypes, with c...

This two-volume set takes an in-depth look at stress signaling in plants from a uniquely genomic and proteomic perspective and offers a comprehensive treatise that covers all of the signaling pathways and mechanisms that have been researched so far. Currently, plant diseases, extreme weather caused by climate change, drought and an increase in meta...

The effect of potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) on growth and antioxidant defence system of salt-stressed Indian mustard plants was studied. Twenty-day-old Indian mustard plants grown hydroponically in Hoagland’s growth medium were randomly divided into five groups. T0 served as control and did not receive any additional K or Ca (except that present i...

Neighboring cells in the same tissue can exist in different states of dynamic activities. After genomics, proteomics and metabolomics, fluxomics is now equally important for generating accurate quantitative information on the cellular and sub-cellular dynamics of ions and metabolite, which is critical for functional understanding of organisms. Vari...

Increased atmospheric [CO2] is likely to affect photosynthesis, plant growth, and yield potential of plants. Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) is an important oil seed crop that is widely grown in India. Therefore, the impact of elevated [CO2] (585 μmol mol−1) on pigment and protein content, chlorophyll a fluorescence, photosynthetic electron transport...

Cultivars of Triticum aestivum, T. durum and Secale cereale were grown at low (2 µM) and sufficient (500 µM) P under ambient (380 µmol mol-1, aCO2) and elevated CO2 (700 µmol mol-1, eCO2) to study the responses of cereal species in terms of growth and phosphorus utilization efficiency (PUE) under phosphorus x CO2 interaction. Dry matter accumulatio...

Background: Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most widely cultivated crop plants. Unavoidable economic and environmental problems associated with the excessive use of phosphatic fertilizers demands its better management. The solution lies in improving the phosphorus (P) use efficiency to sustain productivity even at low P levels. Untargeted metabo...

Cucuma longa Linn. (Fam-Zingiberaceae) is a valued medicinal plant contains curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin) as major bioactive constituents. Previously reported analytical methods for analysis of curcuminoids were found to suffer from low resolution, lower sensitivity and longer analytical times. In this study, a...

Atmospheric [CO2] has increased substantially in recent decades and will continue to do so, whereas the availability of phosphorus (P) is limited and unlikely to increase in the future. P is a non-renewable resource, and it is essential to every form of life. P is a key plant nutrient controlling the responsiveness of photosynthesis to [CO2]. Incre...

Atmospheric [CO2] has increased substantially in recent decades and will continue to do so, whereas the availability of phosphorus (P) is limited and unlikely to increase in the future. P is a non-renewable resource, and it is essential to every form of life. P is a key plant nutrient controlling the responsiveness of photosynthesis to [CO2]. Incre...

Atmospheric [CO2] has increased substantially in recent decades and will continue to do so, whereas the availability of phosphorus (P) is limited and unlikely to increase in the future. P is a non-renewable resource, and it is essential to every form of life. P is a key plant nutrient controlling the responsiveness of photosynthesis to [CO2]. Incre...

Atmospheric [CO2] has increased substantially in recent decades and will continue to do so, whereas the availabil- ity of phosphorus (P) is limited and unlikely to increase in the future. P is a non-renewable resource, and it is es- sential to every form of life. P is a key plant nutrient controlling the responsiveness of photosynthesis to [CO2]. I...

Inorganic nitrogen (N) is a key limiting factor of the agricultural productivity. Nitrogen utilization efficiency has significant impact on crop growth and yield as well as on the reduction in production cost. The excessive nitrogen application is accompanied with severe negative impact on environment. Thus to reduce the environmental contamination...

Atmospheric [CO2] has increased substantially in recent decades and will continue to do so, whereas the availability of phosphorus (P) is limited and unlikely to increase in the future. P is a non-renewable resource, and it is essential to every form of life. P is a key plant nutrient controlling the responsiveness of photosynthesis to [CO2]. Incre...