Germination is a key event in plant life cycle and imbibition temperature is an important factor for the major reorganization processes in the germinating seeds. Sub-physiological temperature at this stage affects virtually all aspects of cellular function including protein folding, kinetic parameters of membrane fluidity, protein assembly, and general metabolic processes. In this article we will review the research which has been carried out to decipher the basic mechanisms of low temperature (LT) stress with special emphasis on germination. With the better understanding of LT tolerance in some plant species we will also discuss how these attributes can be transferred in the important food crops to attain better germination stamina at sub-physiological temperatures. At germination stage, the cellular machinery in the embryo is not at its proper place and is going through reorganisation and any environmental severity has devastating effects on the fragile plant. But LT resistant species have evolved the ability to acclimatise, with the remodelling of cell and tissue structures and the reprogramming of metabolism and gene expression. Metabolic networks are redirected towards the synthesis of cryoprotectant molecules, which in association with other proteins bring about physical and biochemical restructuring of cell membranes through changes in the lipid composition and induction of other non-enzymatic proteins that alter the freezing point of water. Genetic engineering of crops for enhanced seed germination performance will certainly help to achieve optimum agricultural yields.

Sirtuins belong to an evolutionarily conserved class of proteins that regulate a variety of cellular functions such as genome maintenance, longevity, and metabolism. The conserved part of amino acids residues 244-498 of full length human SIRT1 have the functional activity. To construct a functional form of SIRT1 by DNA recombinant technology, we have expressed and purified truncated protein of 420 (193 to 611) amino acids of MW 47 kDa in prokaryotic system, Ecoli BL21 (DE3) strain. This functional protein has a potential to be used as a diagnostic tool and for the development of new therapeutic agent for age related disease.

Intergenic spacer region 2 (ITS2) between 5.8S RNA and 28S RNA is well established genomic region for molecular identification of plant as potential universal barcode. The Present studies deals with molecular identification of Tinospora sinensis, by a unique ITS2 region. Briefly, the plant genomic DNA isolated by CTAB method and targeted for amplification of ITS2 region by eukaryotic conserved primers i.e. RM5.8s1F and RM 28s R for generation of 400 bp amplicon followed by DNA sequencing. Sequence analysis by BLAST search on NCBI database and phylogenetic studies suggests 96% identity with published sequence of Tinospora sinensis, i.e. intraspecies identity and 92% identity with other species of Tinospora genera i.e. T. malabarica. Phylogenetic analysis by MEGA4.1 suggest more close relationship with Tinospora sinensis Thus, this is a first report of ITS2 based molecular detection of Tinospora sinensis from Indian soil.