The genome of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.)

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) is a major crop for worldwide food and nutritional security, especially in sub‐Saharan Africa, that is resilient to hot and drought‐prone environments. An assembly of the single‐haplotype inbred genome of cowpea IT97K‐499‐35 was developed by exploiting the synergies between single‐molecule real‐time sequencing, optical and genetic mapping, and an assembly reconciliation algorithm. A total of 519 Mb is included in the assembled sequences. Nearly half of the assembled sequence is composed of repetitive elements, which are enriched within recombination‐poor pericentromeric regions. A comparative analysis of these elements suggests that genome size differences between Vigna species are mainly attributable to changes in the amount of Gypsy retrotransposons. Conversely, genes are more abundant in more distal, high‐recombination regions of the chromosomes; there appears to be more duplication of genes within the NBS‐LRR and the SAUR‐like auxin superfamilies compared with other warm‐season legumes that have been sequenced. A surprising outcome is the identification of an inversion of 4.2 Mb among landraces and cultivars, which includes a gene that has been associated in other plants with interactions with the parasitic weed Striga gesnerioides. The genome sequence facilitated the identification of a putative syntelog for multiple organ gigantism in legumes. A revised numbering system has been adopted for cowpea chromosomes based on synteny with common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). An estimate of nuclear genome size of 640.6 Mbp based on cytometry is presented.     

20‐year follow‐up study of physical morbidity and mortality in relationship to antipsychotic treatment in a nationwide cohort of 62,250 patients with schizophrenia (FIN20)

Antipsychotics are effective in preventing relapses of schizophrenia, but it is generally believed that their long‐term use is harmful for patients’ physical well‐being. However, there are no long‐term studies which have verified this view. This nationwide, register‐based cohort study aimed to assess the risk of hospitalization due to physical health problems, as a marker for severe physical morbidity, and the risk of all‐cause mortality, as well as of cardiovascular and suicidal death, associated with antipsychotic use in all patients treated for schizophrenia in inpatient care between 1972 and 2014 in Finland (N=62,250), with up to 20 years of follow‐up (median: 14.1 years). The use of antipsychotic drugs (i.e., use of any antipsychotic compared with non‐use) and the use of specific antipsychotics were investigated, and outcomes were somatic and cardiovascular hospitalization, and all‐cause, cardiovascular and suicide death. Hospitalization‐based outcomes were analyzed by a within‐individual design to eliminate selection bias, comparing use and non‐use periods in the same individual by stratified Cox model. Mortality outcomes were assessed by traditional between‐individual Cox multivariate models. The adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for any somatic hospitalization and cardiovascular hospitalization were 1.00 (95% CI: 0.98‐1.03) and 1.00 (95% CI: 0.92‐1.07) during use of any antipsychotic compared to non‐exposure periods within the same individual. The aHRs were 0.48 (95% CI: 0.46‐0.51) for all‐cause mortality, 0.62 (95% CI: 0.57‐0.67) for cardiovascular mortality, and 0.52 (95% CI: 0.43‐0.62) for suicide mortality during use vs. non‐use of any antipsychotic. The most beneficial mortality outcome was associated with use of clozapine in terms of all‐cause (aHR=0.39, 95% CI: 0.36‐0.43), cardiovascular (aHR=0.55, 95% CI: 0.47‐0.64) and suicide mortality (aHR=0.21, 95% CI: 0.15‐0.29). The cumulative mortality rates during maximum follow‐up of 20 years were 46.2% for no antipsychotic use, 25.7% for any antipsychotic use, and 15.6% for clozapine use. These data suggest that long‐term antipsychotic use does not increase severe physical morbidity leading to hospitalization, and is associated with substantially decreased mortality, especially among patients treated with clozapine.     

Chilling of dormant buds hyperinduces FLOWERING LOCUS T and recruits GA-inducible 1,3-beta-glucanases to reopen signal conduits and release dormancy in Populus

In trees, production of intercellular signals and accessibility of signal conduits jointly govern dormancy cycling at the shoot apex. We identified 10 putative cell wall 1,3-β-glucanase genes (glucan hydrolase family 17 [GH17]) in Populus that could turn over 1,3-β-glucan (callose) at pores and plasmodesmata (PD) and investigated their regulation in relation to FT and CENL1 expression. The 10 genes encode orthologs of Arabidopsis thaliana BG_ppap, a PD-associated glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) lipid-anchored protein, the Arabidopsis PD callose binding protein PDCB, and a birch (Betula pendula) putative lipid body (LB) protein. We found that these genes were differentially regulated by photoperiod, by chilling (5°C), and by feeding of gibberellins GA(3) and GA(4). GA(3) feeding upregulated all LB-associated GH17s, whereas GA(4) upregulated most GH17s with a GPI anchor and/or callose binding motif, but only GA(4) induced true bud burst. Chilling upregulated a number of GA biosynthesis and signaling genes as well as FT, but not CENL1, while the reverse was true for both GA(3) and GA(4). Collectively, the results suggest a model for dormancy release in which chilling induces FT and both GPI lipid-anchored and GA(3)-inducible GH17s to reopen signaling conduits in the embryonic shoot. When temperatures rise, the reopened conduits enable movement of FT and CENL1 to their targets, where they drive bud burst, shoot elongation, and morphogenesis.     

No association of COMT (Val158Met) genotype with brain structure differences between men and women

We examined the effect of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism (rs4680), on brain structure in a subset (N = 82) of general population members of the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort, selected through a randomization procedure, aged 33-35. Optimised voxel-based morphometry was used to produce grey matter maps from each subject's high resolution T1 weighted brain magnetic resonance images, which were subsequently entered into a general linear model with COMT genotype as defined by Met allele loading, gender and genotype by gender interaction as independent variables. Additional analyses were carried out on grey matter volumes within the dorsal lateral pre-frontal cortex (DLPFC) to examine effects on overall DLPFC volume and also using the DLPFC as a mask for voxelwise analyses, as this is an area previously reported as associated with Met allele loading. We failed to find any statistically significant association with grey matter volume and Met allele loading in the COMT gene or interaction affects between COMT and gender in either the whole brain voxel-wise analysis or in the area of the DLPFC.     

Accumulation of Intracellular Glycogen and Trehalose by Propionibacterium freudenreichii under Conditions Mimicking Cheese Ripening in the Cold

Seven Propionibacterium freudenreichii strains exhibited similar responses when placed at 4°C. They slowed down cell machinery, displayed cold stress responses, and rerouted their carbon metabolism toward trehalose and glycogen synthesis, both accumulated in cells. These results highlight the molecular basis of long-term survival of P. freudenreichii in the cold.     

Effects of Easy-to-Use Protein-Rich Energy Bar on Energy Balance,Physical Activity and Performance during 8 Days of Sustained Physical Exertion

Background

Previous military studies have shown an energy deficit during a strenuous field training course (TC). This study aimed to determine the effects of energy bar supplementation on energy balance, physical activity (PA), physical performance and well-being and to evaluate ad libitum fluid intake during wintertime 8-day strenuous TC.

Methods

Twenty-six men (age 20±1 yr.) were randomly divided into two groups: The control group (n = 12) had traditional field rations and the experimental (Ebar) group (n = 14) field rations plus energy bars of 4.1 MJ•day⁻¹. Energy (EI) and water intake was recorded. Fat-free mass and water loss were measured with deuterium dilution and elimination, respectively. The energy expenditure was calculated using the intake/balance method and energy availability as (EI/estimated basal metabolic rate). PA was monitored using an accelerometer. Physical performance was measured and questionnaires of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), hunger and mood state were recorded before, during and after TC.

Results

Ebar had a higher EI and energy availability than the controls. However, decreases in body mass and fat mass were similar in both groups representing an energy deficit. No differences were observed between the groups in PA, water balance, URTI symptoms and changes in physical performance and fat-free mass. Ebar felt less hunger after TC than the controls and they had improved positive mood state during the latter part of TC while controls did not. Water deficit associated to higher PA. Furthermore, URTI symptoms and negative mood state associated negatively with energy availability and PA.

Conclusion

An easy-to-use protein-rich energy bars did not prevent energy deficit nor influence PA during an 8-day TC. The high content of protein in the bars might have induced satiation decreasing energy intake from field rations. PA and energy intake seems to be primarily affected by other factors than energy supplementation such as mood state.     

The core domain of retrotransposon integrase in Hordeum: predicted structure and evolution

Propagation of long terminal repeat (LTR)-bearing retrotransposons and retroviruses requires integrase (IN, EC 2.7.7.-), encoded by the retroelements themselves, which mediates the insertion of cDNA copies back into the genome. An active retrotransposon family, BARE-1, comprises approximately 7% of the barley (Hordeum vulgare subsp. vulgare) genome. We have generated models for the secondary and tertiary structure of BARE-1 IN and demonstrate their similarity to structures for human immunodeficiency virus 1 and avian sarcoma virus INs. The IN core domains were compared for 80 clones from 28 Hordeum accessions representative of the diversity of the genus. Based on the structural model, variations in the predicted, aligned translations from these clones would have minimal structural and functional effects on the encoded enzymes. This indicates that Hordeum retrotransposon IN has been under purifying selection to maintain a structure typical of retroviral INs. These represent the first such analyses for plant INs.      

A rapid and sensitive assay for protein disulphide isomerase activity

An assay procedure for the determination of protein disulphide isomerase activity is presented. The method is based on the reactivation of randomly cross-linked RNAase, the extent of RNAase reactivation being determined from the degradation of radioactively labelled RNA. The method is rapid and sensitive and allows one to test a large number of samples simultaneously.