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An Evolutionary Based Strategy for Predicting Rational Mutations in G Protein-Coupled Receptors
Miguel Angel Fuertes,
Carlos Alonso
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 3, September 2021
Pages:
53-77
Received:
24 April 2021
Accepted:
11 May 2021
Published:
13 July 2021
Abstract: Capturing conserved patterns in genes and proteins is important for inferring phenotype prediction and evolutionary analysis. The study is focused on the conserved patterns of the G protein-coupled receptors, an important superfamily of receptors. Olfactory receptors represent more than 2% of our genome and constitute the largest family of G protein-coupled receptors, a key class of drug targets. As no crystallographic structures are available, mechanistic studies rely on the use of molecular dynamic modelling combined with site-directed mutagenesis data. In this paper, we hypothesized that human-mouse orthologs coding for G protein-coupled receptors maintain, at speciation events, shared compositional structures independent, to some extent, of their percent identity as reveals a method based in the categorization of nucleotide triplets by their gross composition. The data support the consistency of the hypothesis, showing in ortholog G protein-coupled receptors the presence of emergent shared compositional structures preserved at speciation events. An extreme bias in synonymous codon usage is observed in both the conserved and non-conserved regions of many of these receptors that could be potentially relevant in codon optimization studies. The analysis of their compositional structures would help to design new evolutionary based strategies for rational mutations that would aid to understand the characteristics of individual G protein-coupled receptors, their subfamilies and the role in many physiological and pathological processes, supplying new possible drug targets.
Abstract: Capturing conserved patterns in genes and proteins is important for inferring phenotype prediction and evolutionary analysis. The study is focused on the conserved patterns of the G protein-coupled receptors, an important superfamily of receptors. Olfactory receptors represent more than 2% of our genome and constitute the largest family of G protei...
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The Role of Homegarden Agroforestry in Biodiversity Conservation at Yayo Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve, Chora District, South-western Ethiopia
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 3, September 2021
Pages:
78-87
Received:
8 June 2021
Accepted:
13 July 2021
Published:
21 July 2021
Abstract: Traditional homegardens in southwest Ethiopia is well-known land use practices playing important role in biodiversity conservation aspects. The objective of this study was to examine the contribution of homegardens towards of biodiversity conservation. Homegarden plant diversity assessment was done. A simple random sampling method was used to select 45 homegardens. Diversity indices were used for analysis. A total of 79 plant species belonging to 41 families were identified. Family Fabaceae and Rutaceae have a relatively higher number of species (6 species each). In terms of habit, (34%) of the species were herbs followed by trees (30%), shrubs (27%) and climbers (9%). Farmers manage both exotic (61%) and indigenous (39%), from which 57% were food and 43% nonfood plant species. The Shannon, Simpson and evenness diversity indexes were 3.27, 0.053 and 0.87 respectively. Coffea arabica was the most frequent (86.67%) species followed by Persea americana (68.89) and Catha edulis (64.44) in homegardens of the area. This study suggests that homegardens contribute to plant biodiversity conservation in the study area. However, due to few market-oriented crops concentration, biodiversity of the system have been affected. Thus, gardeners should be encouraged to cultivate versatile plants in the practice for effective biodiversity conservation.
Abstract: Traditional homegardens in southwest Ethiopia is well-known land use practices playing important role in biodiversity conservation aspects. The objective of this study was to examine the contribution of homegardens towards of biodiversity conservation. Homegarden plant diversity assessment was done. A simple random sampling method was used to selec...
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Cocoa Pods and Seeds Characteristics of Different Hybrid Varieties in Southeastern Ghana
Daniel Ako Tetteh,
Daniel Obeng
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 3, September 2021
Pages:
88-91
Received:
8 May 2021
Accepted:
1 June 2021
Published:
2 August 2021
Abstract: The purpose of the study was to determine cocoa seed and pod characteristics of different cocoa hybrid varieties. We obtained the hybrid cocoa pods between the months of July and August, 2020 from Seed Production Division, of the Ghana Cocoa Board. We determined the characteristics of the cocoa pods and seeds using three clonal varieties namely C 67, C 85 and PA 150. The research method was a survey and descriptive method. The observed parameters were number of cocoa seeds per pod, pod diameter, pod length and fresh seed weight. We selected the cocoa pods, weighed and grouped into large size, medium size and small size cocoa pods. The number of seeds per pod was high in clone PA 150 in large cocoa pod size. Average fresh seed weight was high in clone 67 while length of pod of cocoa was high in medium cocoa pod size in clone 85. Average pod diameter was high in clone PA 150. The relationship between the number of seeds per pod and pod length was significant and positively correlated. For a successful cocoa production, analysis of the physical characteristics of cocoa pod and seeds should be encouraged in order to provide useful information for future breeding strategies, on-farm selection and conservation efforts.
Abstract: The purpose of the study was to determine cocoa seed and pod characteristics of different cocoa hybrid varieties. We obtained the hybrid cocoa pods between the months of July and August, 2020 from Seed Production Division, of the Ghana Cocoa Board. We determined the characteristics of the cocoa pods and seeds using three clonal varieties namely C 6...
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Litter Fall, Leaf Litter Decomposition, Soil Microfungi and Nutrient Content in Cocoa and Food Crop Agroforest Farmlands in Southeastern Ghana
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 3, September 2021
Pages:
92-98
Received:
9 May 2021
Accepted:
1 June 2021
Published:
2 August 2021
Abstract: This study is a comparison of the litterfall, litter decomposition and soil microfungi species diversity in cocoa and mixed food crop agroforest farmlands. The study was carried out in the Atewa and Fanteakwa districts of the Eastern region of Ghana. A total of thirty six sampled plots size of five 25 m x 25 m were randomly demarcated in cocoa agroforest, mixed food crop agrorest and the natural forest reserve. Data collected on litterfall mass and leaf litter decomposition at monthly intervals for a period five months. Soil microfungi species diversity was analyzed from soil samples collected at two depths 0-5cm and 0-10 cm respectively using pour plate method. The reduction in mass of cocoa leaf litter was significantly negatively correlated with the number of days of decomposition. The rate of release of NPK was positively correlated with litter mass. Litter mass production significantly declined in the cocoa agroforest and mixed food crop agroforest farmlands. Initial rate of litter decomposition was generally slow in the cocoa and mixed food crop farmlands than in the natural forest. Soil microfungi species diversity was high in natural forest and low in the cocoa and mixed food crop agroforest farmlands.
Abstract: This study is a comparison of the litterfall, litter decomposition and soil microfungi species diversity in cocoa and mixed food crop agroforest farmlands. The study was carried out in the Atewa and Fanteakwa districts of the Eastern region of Ghana. A total of thirty six sampled plots size of five 25 m x 25 m were randomly demarcated in cocoa agro...
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