Broad Meloidogyne Resistance in Potato Based on RNA Interference of Effector Gene 16D10

Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are a significant problem in potato (Solanum tuberosum) production. There is no potato cultivar with Meloidogyne resistance, even though resistance genes have been identified in wild potato species and were introgressed into breeding lines. The objectives of this study were to generate stable transgenic potato lines in a cv. Russet Burbank background that carry an RNA interference (RNAi) transgene capable of silencing the 16D10 Meloidogyne effector gene, and test for resistance against some of the most important root-knot nematode species affecting potato, i.e., M. arenaria, M. chitwoodi, M. hapla, M. incognita, and M. javanica. At 35 days after inoculation (DAI), the number of egg masses per plant was significantly reduced by 65% to 97% (P < 0.05) in the RNAi line compared to wild type and empty vector controls. The largest reduction was observed in M. hapla, whereas the smallest reduction occurred in M. javanica. Likewise, the number of eggs per plant was significantly reduced by 66% to 87% in M. arenaria and M. hapla, respectively, compared to wild type and empty vector controls (P < 0.05). Plant-mediated RNAi silencing of the 16D10 effector gene resulted in significant resistance against all of the root-knot nematode species tested, whereas R_Mc1(blb), the only known Meloidogyne resistance gene in potato, did not have a broad resistance effect. Silencing of 16D10 did not interfere with the attraction of M. incognita second-stage juveniles to roots, nor did it reduce root invasion.     

Genome wide functional genetics in haploid cells

Some organisms such as yeast or males of social insects are haploid, i.e. they carry a single set of chromosomes, while haploidy in mammals is exclusively restricted to mature germ cells. A single copy of the genome provides the basis for genetic analyses where any recessive mutation of essential genes will show a clear phenotype due to the absence of a second gene copy. Most prominently, haploidy in yeast has been utilized for recessive genetic screens that have markedly contributed to our understanding of development, basic physiology, and disease. Somatic mammalian cells carry two copies of chromosomes (diploidy) that obscure genetic analysis. Near haploid human leukemic cells however have been developed as a high throughput screening tool. Although deemed impossible, we and others have generated mammalian haploid embryonic stem cells from parthenogenetic mouse embryos. Haploid stem cells open the possibility of combining the power of a haploid genome with pluripotency of embryonic stem cells to uncover fundamental biological processes in defined cell types at a genomic scale. Haploid genetics has thus become a powerful alternative to RNAi or CRISPR based screens.     

The impact of acute psychosocial stress on magnetoencephalographic correlates of emotional attention and exogenous visual attention

Stress-induced acute activation of the cerebral catecholaminergic systems has often been found in rodents. However, little is known regarding the consequences of this activation on higher cognitive functions in humans. Theoretical inferences would suggest increased distractibility in the sense of increased exogenous attention and emotional attention. The present study investigated the influence of acute stress responses on magnetoencephalographic (MEG) correlates of visual attention. Healthy male subjects were presented emotional and neutral pictures in three subsequent MEG recording sessions after being exposed to a TSST-like social stressor, intended to trigger a HPA-response. The subjects anticipation of another follow-up stressor was designed to sustain the short-lived central catecholaminergic stress reactions throughout the ongoing MEG recordings. The heart rate indicates a stable level of anticipatory stress during this time span, subsequent cortisol concentrations and self-report measures of stress were increased. With regard to the MEG correlates of attentional functions, we found that the N1m amplitude remained constantly elevated during stressor anticipation. The magnetic early posterior negativity (EPNm) was present but, surprisingly, was not at all modulated during stressor anticipation. This suggests that a general increase of the influence of exogenous attention but no specific effect regarding emotional attention in this time interval. Regarding the time course of the effects, an influence of the HPA on these MEG correlates of attention seems less likely. An influence of cerebral catecholaminergic systems is plausible, but not definite.     

Ins(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase-A overexpression induces cytoskeletal reorganization via a kinase-independent mechanism

In the present study, effects of increased IP3K-A [Ins(1,4,5)P(3) 3-kinase-A] expression were analysed. H1299 cells overexpressing IP3K-A formed branching protrusions, and under three-dimensional culture conditions, they exhibited a motile fibroblast-like morphology. They lost the ability to form actin stress fibres and showed increased invasive migration in vitro. Furthermore, expression levels of the mesenchymal marker proteins vimentin and N-cadherin were increased. The enzymatic function of IP3K-A is to phosphorylate the calcium-mobilizing second messenger Ins(1,4,5)P(3) to (Ins(1,3,4,5)P(4). Accordingly, cells overexpressing IP3K-A showed reduced calcium release and altered concentrations of InsPs, with decreasing concentrations of Ins(1,4,5)P(3), InsP(6) and Ins(1,2,3,4,5)P(5), and increasing concentrations of Ins(1,3,4,5)P(4). However, IP3K-A-induced effects on cell morphology do not seem to be dependent on enzyme activity, since a protein devoid of enzyme activity also induced the formation of branching protrusions. Therefore we propose that the morphological changes induced by IP3K-A are mediated by non-enzymatic activities of the protein.     

Design and synthesis of 2-amino-pyrazolopyridines as Polo-like kinase 1 inhibitors

A series of 2-amino-pyrazolopyridines was designed and synthesized as Polo-like kinase (Plk) inhibitors based on a low micromolar hit. The SAR was developed to provide compounds exhibiting low nanomolar inhibitory activity of Plk1; the phenotype of treated cells is consistent with Plk1 inhibition. A co-crystal structure of one of these compounds with zPlk1 confirms an ATP-competitive binding mode.     

The effect of NeemAzal-T/S®, a commercial neem product, on different developmental stages of the common greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Hom., Aleyrodidae)

The effects of NeemAzal-T/S^®, a commercial neem product, on different life development stages of the common greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westwood (Hom., Aleyrodidae) were tested in laboratory and greenhouse experiments. Treatment of eggs of T. vaporariorum did not affect either larval emergence or the time until larval emergence. However, the proportion of pupal formation (based on the numbers of emerged larvae) was significantly reduced after a treatment of the eggs 3, 5 and 7 days after oviposition, respectively. The proportion of emerged adults (based on the number of formed pupae) was only significantly reduced when eggs had been treated 5 and 7 days after oviposition. In all neem treatments the time until adult emergence was significantly delayed. A neem treatment of early larval instars of T. vaporariorum resulted in a significantly reduced proportion of pupal formation, but subsequent adult emergence (based on the number of formed pupae) was not affected. Treating early larval instars of T. vaporariorum significantly prolonged the time until adult emergence. A neem treatment of T. vaporariorum pupae significantly reduced the proportion of emerged adults but had no effect on the time until adult emergence. Exposing female whiteflies to fresh, 24-h-old and 72-h-old residues of NeemAzal-T/S^® had no effect on the mortality of the insects, though the number of eggs laid per female was significantly reduced in T. vaporariorum exposed to fresh neem residues. These findings are discussed within the context of integrated control of whiteflies in the greenhouse environment.     

(Chemo)enzymatic synthesis of dTDP-activated 2,6-dideoxysugars as building blocks of polyketide antibiotics.

The flexible substrate spectrum of the recombinant enzymes from the biosynthetic pathway of dTDP-beta-L-rhamnose in Salmonella enterica, serovar typhimurium (LT2), was exploited for the chemoenzymatic synthesis of deoxythymidine diphosphate- (dTDP-) activated 2,6-dideoxyhexoses. The enzymatic synthesis strategy yielded dTDP-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucose and dTDP-2,6-dideoxy-4-keto-alpha-D-glucose (13) in a 40-60 mg scale. The nucleotide deoxysugar 13 was further used for the enzymatic synthesis of dTDP-2,6-dideoxy-beta-L-arabino-hexose (dTDP-beta-L-olivose) (15) in a 30-mg scale. The chemical reduction of 13 gave dTDP-2,6-dideoxy-alpha-D-arabino-hexose (dTDP-alpha-D-olivose) (1) as the main isomer after product isolation in a 10-mg scale. With 13 as an important key intermediate, the in vitro characterization of enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of dTDP-activated 2,6-dideoxy-, 2,3,6-trideoxy-D- and L-hexoses can now be addressed. Most importantly, compounds 1 and 15 are donor substrates for the in vitro characterization of glycosyltransferases involved in the biosynthesis of polyketides and other antibiotic/antitumor drugs. Their synthetic access may contribute to the evaluation of the glycosylation potential of bacterial glycosyltransferases to generate hybrid antibiotics.     

Intra‐season variations in distribution and abundance of humpback whales in the West Antarctic Peninsula using cruise vessels as opportunistic platforms

Fine‐scale knowledge of spatiotemporal dynamics in cetacean distribution and abundance throughout the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) is sparse yet essential for effective ecosystem‐based management (EBM). Cruise vessels were used as platforms of opportunity to collect data on the distribution and abundance of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) during the austral summer of 2019/2020 in a region that is also important for the Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) fishery, to assess potential spatiotemporal interactions for future use in EBM. Data were analyzed using traditional design‐based line transect methodology and spatial density surface hurdle models fitted using a set of physical environmental covariates to estimate the abundance and distribution of whales in the area, and to describe their temporal dynamics. Our results indicate a rapid increase in humpback whale abundance in the Bransfield and Gerlache Straits through December, reaching a stable abundance by mid‐January. The distribution of humpback whales appeared to change from a patchier distribution in the northern Gerlache Strait to a significantly concentrated presence in the central Gerlache and southern Bransfield Straits, followed by a subsequent dispersion throughout the area. Abundance estimates agreed well with previous literature, increasing from approximately 7000 individuals in 2000 to a peak of 19,107 in 2020. Based on these estimates, we project a total krill consumption of between 1.4 and 3.7 million tons based on traditional and contemporary literature on per capita krill consumption of whales, respectively. When taken in the context of krill fishery catch data in the study area, we conclude that there is minimal spatiotemporal overlap between humpback whales and fishery activity during our study period of November–January. However, there is potential for significant interaction between the two later in the feeding season, but cetacean survey efforts need to be extended into late season in order to fully characterize this potential overlap.     

Comparative responses to endothelin-2 and sarafotoxin 6b in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat

Pulmonary vascular responses to endothelin-2 and sarafotoxin 6b were investigated in the feline pulmonary vascular bed under natural flow and constant flow conditions. Injections of endothelin-2 and sarafotoxin 6b in a dose of 0.3 nmol/kg iv increased pulmonary arterial and left atrial pressures and cardiac output, and caused a biphasic change in calculated pulmonary vascular resistance. Endothelin-2 caused a biphasic change in systemic arterial pressure, while sarafotoxin 6b only decreased arterial pressure. Under constant flow conditions in the intact-chest cat, injections of endothelin-2 and sarafotoxin 6b in doses of 0.1-1 nmol into the perfused lobar artery increased lobar arterial pressure in a dose-related manner but were less potent than the thromboxane A2 mimic, U46619. An ET analog with only the Cys1-Cys15 disulfide bond and an amidated carboxy terminus had no significant activity in the pulmonary vascular bed. The present data show that endothelin-2 and sarafotoxin 6b have significant vasoconstrictor activity in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat.     

Evidence for Compartmentation of Synaptosomal Phosphate-Activated Glutaminase

Abstract: Phosphate-activated glutaminase (EC 3.5.1.2) in synaptosomal preparations is inhibited 40–60% by the sulphydryl group reagent N -ethylmaleimide (NEM), forming the basis for distinction between NEM-sensitive and NEM-insensitive glutaminases. The NEM effect cannot be explained by differential effects on distinct glutaminases because other glutaminases have not been detected, and the synaptosomal glutaminase activity can be fully accounted for by the activity of phosphate-activated glutaminase. By fractionation of mitochondria isolated from synaptosomal preparations, which are preincubated with and without NEM, both NEM-sensitive and NEM-insensitive glutaminases are found to be localized to the inner mitochondrial membrane. Variations in pH (7.0–7.6) and the phosphate concentration (5–10 mM) affect chiefly NEM-sensitive glutaminase, demonstrating that this glutaminase may be subject to regulation by compounds in the cytosol having restricted permeability to the inner mitochondrial membrane. Since p -hydroxymercuribenzoate, which is known to be impermeable to the inner mitochondrial membrane, inhibits glutaminase similarly to NEM, phosphate-activated glutaminase is assumed to be compartmentalized within the inner mitochondrial membrane. Thus, NEM-sensitive glutaminase is localized to the outer face and NEM-insensitive glutaminase to the inner region of this membrane and probably also to the matrix region.