Two SMN (survival motor neuron) genes are presented in the human genome: SMN1,  which present the telomeric gene whose homozygous deletion or mutation like gene conversion, causes spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and SMN2, the centromeric version whose copy number modulates the phenotype of SMA These genes are commonly detected by Polymerase Chain reaction-based methods, and these are MLPA (Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification), qPCR (quantitative Polymerase chain reaction) and PCR-RFLP (Polymerase chain reaction-Restriction fragment length polymorphism). This paper reviews the current standing of the most common PCR methods used in the detection of spinal muscular atrophy genes. MLPA, qPCR, and PCR-RFLP currently represent the most common methods of choice for the detection of mutations, especially for deletion and duplication mutations.

When a plant is under heavy metals stress, it has different mechanism of coping with it. Brassica oleracea var. acephala (kale) is a plant that has an ability of heavy metal accumulation and removal of heavy metals from the ground. The plants were  exposed to 50, 100, 200, and 500 μM of CdCl2 for 5days, in controlled in vitro conditions. Root length was measured to confirm the Cd effect on plant growth. There are five key antioxidants enzymes responsible for the regulation of heavy metals stress: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), Peroxidase (POD) and Polyphenol oxidase (PPO). All enzymes showed significant activity, especially triggered by 500 μM CdCl2 in both varieties. The domestic sorts seem more resistant if compared to hybrid variety, showing significant lower expression of antioxidants enzymes at higher concentrations.  In general, significant percentage of enzymes is more expressed in the hybrid Italian sort, Nero di Toscana, indicating the ability of domestic sorts to be more resistant to heavy metal stress.

In order to define the term GMO, different scientific definitions and legal explanations are available. In theregulation process of GM foods, the US and EU legal frameworks are based on the methodologiesthemselves. Currently, for the production of GMOs, several genome editing tools are available. Along withdifferent site-directed nucleases (ZFN, TALENs, etc.), RNAi and CRISPR/Cas9 have proven to be the veryeffective tools for genome editing. According to the current EU legislative, introduced in 2018,CRISPR/Cas9 and RNAi techniques are regulated as methods that produce GMOs, because themethodology of the process itself resembles the traditional breeding methods. In the past few years, a largenumber of scientific publications have confirmed that CRISPR/Cas9 and RNAi technology produce GMOs,supporting and suggesting that the legislation policies in the EU and especially in the USA have to beelaborated. Besides, a huge public pressure makes it difficult to develop and implement new methodologiesfor GMO production. For this reason, ELSI society is responsible to investigate and question whether thenew genetic engineering techniques produce GMO food that is safe for human consumption.

Background: Metal-nicotianamine transporter (YSL) family protein belongs to the oligopeptide heavy metal transporter group, as characterized in Arabidopsis thaliana. Oligopeptide transporters (OPTs) are a group of membrane-localized proteins, involved in different transport mechanisms, contributing to nitrogen mobilization, glutathione transport and long-distance metal distribution. Metal-nicotianamine transporter gene 3 (YSL3) incorporates the oligopeptide transporter domain, found to transfer several heavy metals in diverse plant species, and among them cadmium transport in Brassica oleracea. Objective: To evaluate and confirm the expression of Metal-nicotianamine transporter (YSL3) under cadmium stress. Studied species: Brassica oleracea var. acephala Study site and dates: Brassica oleracea var. acephala samples were collected from Blagaj region, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: Through a simple bioinformatic approach the interactome partner of Metal-nicotianamine transporter (YSL3) was discovered and annotated. Oligopeptide transporter 3 (OPT3) and Metal-nicotianamine transporter (YSL3) genes were checked for expression levels under cadmium stress. Results: We have identified a strong interacting partner of YSL3, later confirmed as Oligopeptide transporter 3 (OPT3) protein in Brassica oleracea. The in vitro expression analysis by using a qRT-PCR revealed a significant upregulation of YSL3 and OPT3, during Cd stress. Conclusions: These findings indicate that the represented in-silico approach, followed by in vitro gene expression study, successfully confirmed YSL3 and identified OPT3 as a new gene, in correlation to cadmium stress.

Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala ABA biosynthesis genes (NCED2 and NCED3) in silico interactome analysis

Heavy metal ATPases (HMAs) are the most important proteins involved in heavy metal accumulation process. Brassica oleracea has 5 HMA (1-5) homologues whose 3D structure has been predicted and validated in this study by different bioinformatics tools. Phylogenetic and multiple sequence alignment analyses showed high relationship between HMA2 and HMA4, while two same domains were identified in all five HMA proteins: E1-E2 ATPase and haloacid dehydrogenase (HAD) domain. Four HMA (2-5) proteins were identified to be localized in the plasma membrane, while HMA1 localization is predicted to be in plastid. Interactome analysis revealed high interaction of all HMA (1-5) proteins with many metal ion binding proteins and chaperones. Among these, interesting and strong interaction is observed between all HMA (1-5) proteins and ATX1, while HMA1, HMA2 and HMA4 have been found to strongly interact with FP3 (farnesylated protein 3) and FP6 (farnesylated protein 6) proteins. Docking site predictions and electrostatic potentials between HMA2/HMA4 and the interactome proteins were explained and discussed in this study.

Nanoparticles are molecules with  size depended chemical and pyhsical characteristics, enabling  interesting and correlated approaches while dealing with  fundamental biological questions. Nanoparticles are capable of strong and important interaction with other molecules. Many different nanoparticles  are  produced,  with variety of different roles, but Gold nanoparticle as metal based beads, have specific importance due to their attractive physical and chemical properties, biocompatibility, and facile surface modification. In general, nanoparticles have the ability to interact with whole physiological surrounding once when they enter human body. In most of the cases, first molecule they interact with are proteins, which are the main constituens of human body and the driving force of most of the biological processes. This understanding of interaction between nanoparticles and proteins represents an important essence  for secure and efficient application of nanoparticles. In this regards, several methods for nanoparticle-protein interaction were developed and analysed in this review.Further, this paper reviews the current scientific development in nanoparticle-protein interactions.

With the metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus increase in the recent decade, the importance of early detection of insulin resistance is essential. However, a simple method is not currently available for precise measurements. Therefore the aim of this study was to elucidate the association of HbA 1c with metabolic syndrome as a constellation of cardiovascular risk factors. The study population consisted of 45 subjects with metabolic syndrome and 45 free of metabolic syndrome (control group).Total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, HbA 1c , body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured in both groups. HbA 1c levels are found much more in MS group than the control group, 8,7% and 6,2%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of HbA 1c is significantly higher in metabolic syndrome patients, 86,7% and 46,67%, respectively. Additionally, subjects with metabolic syndrome exhibited significantly higher blood glucose, triglyceride, systolic/diastolic blood pressure and cholesterol. Our results suggest that HbA 1c may be a marker for metabolic syndrome and may identify in a certain degree insulin resistance subjects.