ANNUAL REPORT - Department of Biotechnology

drought stress. A project has been recently initiated
on field evaluation of mulberry transgenics (with HVA
I gene) jointly at University of Delhi, South Campus,
New Delhi and Central Sericultural Research and
Training Institute, Mysore. Work on identification of
QTLs associated with drought tolerant traits such as
water use efficiency (WUE) and root traits in
mulberry has been continued jointly at the University
of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore and Central
Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Mysore.
Significant variability was observed for WUE and
other physiological parameters in the segregating
population. A strong corelationship was observed
between root biomass and the predicted
transpiration among the mulberry germplasm
accessions. SSR markers are being used to screen
the root mapping population (200 individual) for
polymorphism. Three crosses were made between
high root and high WUE genotypes to identify
desirable lines having both WUE and root QTLs by
marker assisted selection. In another collaborative
project at both these institutions, efforts have been
continued towards cloning and characterization of
epicuticular wax synthesizing genes from mulberry
with a view to reduce transpiration and post-harvest
water loss. A few epicuticular wax (EW) related gene
fragments having homology with Arabidopsis have
been cloned. The cloned genes and other related
EW genes from Arabidopsis are being used as a
probe to examine the pattern of EW gene expression
by northern blot in contrasting mulberry accessions.
In a network project being implemented at the Centre
for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB),
Hyderabad, Central Sericultural Research & Training
Institute, Mysore, Karnataka State Sericulture
Research and Development Institute, Bangalore;
Central Sericultural Research & Training Institute,
Berhampore and Central Sericultural Germplasm
Resource Centre, Hosur, work on identification of
DNA markers associated with disease (powdery
mildew) and pests (tukra and nematode) resistance
in mulberry has been continued. One round of
screening of the identified germplasm for disease
response to three biotic agents has been completed
97
at the respective participating centres. Good genetic
variability has been recorded in the selected
mulberry germplasm for resistance to three biotic
agents. The DNA polymorphism data on 144
selected genotypes of mulberry have been
generated using 200 RAPD decamer primers and 50
inhouse developed mulberry specific microsatellite
markers. The same is being scored for undertaking
diversity analysis to infer the genetic base and
genetic interrelationships of the identified genepool.
Basic research in modern Biology
Support to R&D projects having fundamental
questions was continued to provide new vistas to the
knowledge required for understanding the intricacies
involved in applied research. An initiative was taken
to bring biologists, mathematicians, physicists and
engineers to develop a new and fast emerging area
of systems biology. During the period, the
department received 70 proposals and sanctioned
52 projects across various disciplines. On-going
projects resulted in publication of several research
papers in high impact journals. Significant
achievements of some of the projects are presented
below-
Drug Discovery
Studies are being carried out at NIPER, Mohali to
improve the oral bio-availability of cyclosporine and
to reduce nephrotoxicity associated with the
®
commercial formulation (Sandimmune Neoral ).
The relative bio-availability of cyclosporine from the
nanoparticulate formulation is 119.19% as compared
®
to Sandimmune Neoral . Additionally, cyclosporine
nanoparticles exhibited significantly lower
®
nephrotoxicity as compared to Sandimmune Neoral
in rats which was indicated by reduced blood urea
nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SC), as well as
histological examination of kidneys.
Hypoxia, a major factor influencing the extent of cell
injury in myocardial ischemia and infarction, is a
powerful regulator of gene expression for multiple
regulatory proteins, including cytokines and growth
Research and Development