Generation of a Sequence Characterized Amplified Region Probe for Authentication of Mainland Serow (Capricornis sumatraensis)

Mainland serow is an endanged artiodactyl of southern Anhui province, China, that is often subject to poaching. To provide an easy, rapid and reliable marker for identification of bushmeat, skin and other tissues of the species, we developed a sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) based on a species-specific random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker. Initially, a 1012-bp species-specific DNA fragment of mainland serow was detected by a RAPD primer S1193. Then, a serow-specific primer pair (SCF/SCR) was designed according to the specific RAPD fragment, resulting in a 438-bp SCAR for the species. Finally, the reliability of the SCAR primers was tested by a common multiplex polymerase chain reaction using the combination of the SCAR and cyt b universal primers. The results that all mainland serow samples presented two target bands but the others failed to produce the SCAR indicated that the designed primers were highly diagnostic. Therefore, the SCAR probe developed in this study will be useful for quick authentication of mainland serow tissue samples for conservation biology and bushmeat regulation.     

Actin regulators take the reins in Drosophila myoblast fusion

Skeletal muscle formation, growth and repair depend on myoblast fusion events. Therefore, in-depth understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms controlling these events that ultimately lead to skeletal muscle formation may be fundamental for developing new therapies for tissue repair. To this end, the greatest advances in furthering understanding myoblast fusion has been made in Drosophila. Recent studies have shown that transient F-actin structures, so-called actin plugs or foci, are known to form at the site of contacting myoblasts. Indeed, actin regulators of the WASP family that control the activation of the Arp2/3 complex and thereby branched F-actin formation have been demonstrated to be crucial for myoblast fusion. Myoblast-specific cell adhesion molecules seem to be involved in the recruitment of WASP family members to the site of myoblast fusion and form a Fusion-Restricted Myogenic-Adhesive Structure (FuRMAS). Currently, the exact role of the FuRMAS is not completely understood. However, recent studies indicate that WASP-dependent F-actin regulation is required for fusion pore formation as well as for the correct integration of fusing myoblasts into the growing muscle. In this review, I discuss latest cellular studies, and recent genetic and biochemical analyses on actin regulation during myoblast fusion.     

SCAR标记在茶树种质资源鉴定中的应用

SCAR标记是一种在RAPD技术的基础上发展起来的新型分子标记技术,提高了分子标记辅助选择育种的效率,在茶树种质资源的合理开发与利用中具有广阔的应用前景.运用优化后的RAPD反应体系对10个茶树品种的基因组DNA进行遗传差异分析,随机引物S89、S4分别在白毫早和福云6号中扩增得到长度为498 bp、1 622 bp的差异片段,命名为BHZ498、FY1622.根据它们的测序结果分别设计了一对特异引物,BHZ498的特异引物为SB1/SB2;FY1622的特异引物为SC1/SC2,用这两对特异引物对10个茶树品种的基因组DNA进行扩增.引物SB1/SB2和SC1/SC2分别在白毫早和福云6号中扩增出唯一的一条扩增带,而这两对引物在其他供试茶树材料中均无相应的扩增带,结果表明已将BHZ498、FY1622标记成功转化成SCAR标记.     

卡瓦胡椒SCAR标记的研究

目的：采用6份卡瓦胡椒材料、21份栽培胡椒和野生胡椒材料、1份不同属的草胡椒材料共计28份试验材料,开发1对特异SCAR引物。方法：在对它们进行了RAPD研究的基础上,通过克隆、测序和引物设计进行了SCAR分子标记研究。结果：本研究开发了1对特异SCAR引物P10．1和P10．2,用这对特异引物对本次试验的28份材料进行PCR扩增,结果显示,6份卡瓦胡椒材料扩增出了三条带,三条带离的较近,中间一条为预期494bp特异片段。其它胡椒属材料均扩增出一条494bp的特异带,而不同属的草胡椒无任何扩增。结论：这说明引物P10．1和P10．2适用于卡瓦胡椒的分子鉴定(三条带),也可用于胡椒属植物的分子鉴定(一条带),这对卡瓦胡椒种质资源的真伪鉴定及胡椒属植物的分子分类有一定帮助。     

Development of strain specific molecular markers for the Sclerotinia minor bioherbicide strain IMI 344141

The plant pathogenic fungus, Sclerotinia minor IMI 344141, has been developed as a bioherbicide for broadleaf weed control in turfgrass and a means to differentiate this biocontrol agent from like organisms is required. A strain specific molecular marker was developed to detect and monitor the Sclerotinia minor IMI 344141 bioherbicide strain. The method was based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of two sequence-characterized amplified regions (SCAR) primer pairs for a first round PCR, and another two sets of nested primers was used for a second round PCR if higher sensitivity was needed. Sclerotinia minor IMI 344141 was successfully traced from both pure cultures and environmental samples originating from bioherbicide-released field trials. DNA of the S. minor bioherbicide isolate IMI 344141 was detected in the soil 2 months after application, but was not detected in the 3- and 9-month samples after application. When applied as a bioherbicide, S. minor (IMI 344141) did not persist into the following spring season in turf environments. This molecular detection method provides a mechanism to distinguish this isolate from related organisms and a tool to monitor behavior of the biocontrol agent S. minor IMI 344141 in nature, particularly in soil.     

葎草雄性连锁的ISSR标记克隆及SCAR标记的建立

以雌雄异株植物薇草(Humulus scandens L.)为材料,通过优化扩增体系中的退火温度、Mg2+浓度及模板浓度等主要影响因素,利用简单重复序列间扩增标记对其雌雄株性别的基因组差异进行研究.结果表明,62条ISSR引物中有40条引物能扩增出稳定的条带,共产生302条带.引物164扩增出1条雄性连锁标记,经克隆测序,该片段长度为553 bp,AT含量为64.3%,根据测序结果设计特异引物,将该标记转化为稳定性更好的SCAR标记.     

Cytogenetic characterization of Partamona cupira (Hymenoptera, Apidae) by fluorochromes

Four colonies of the stingless bee Partamona cupira (Hymenoptera: Apidae) were cytogenetically analyzed using conventional staining and the fluorochromes CMA(3) e DAPI. The females have 2n = 34 chromosomes (2K = 32 Mˉ+2 Aˉ). Some females, however, presented an additional large B acrocentric chromosome, to a total of 2n = 35. Chromosome B and the chromosomal pairs 2, 9 and 10 showed CMA (3) (+) bands, indicating an excess of CG base-pairs. A clear association was verified between the P. helleri B chromosome SCAR marker and the presence of a B chromosome in P. cupira. The data obtained suggests that B chromosomes in P. helleri and P. cupira share a common origin.     

Development of sequence amplified characterized region (SCAR) markers of helicoverpa armigera: a new polymerase chain reaction-based technique for predator gut analysis

A method is described for the development of DNA markers for detection of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in predator gut analysis, based on sequence characterized amplified regions (SCARs) derived from a randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) band. A 1200-bp DNA fragment of H. armigera, absent in the predator band pattern and in other closely related prey species, was identified by RAPD analysis. This fragment was cloned and its extremes sequenced to design extended strand-specific 20-mer oligonucleotide primers. Three pairs of SCAR primers, which amplified three different DNA fragments, were used to study the effect of fragment length on detection of prey in the predator gut. Using the pair of primers that amplified the longest fragment of H. armigera DNA, a single band of 1100 bp was obtained, but its detection was not possible in the predator gut. Detection of the ingested prey was possible with the other two pairs of SCAR primers, obtaining bands of 600 and 254 bp, respectively. Detection of H. armigera DNA in the gut of the predator Dicyphus tamaninii was evaluated immediately after ingestion (t = 0) and after 4 h. Detection of H. armigera DNA after 4 h was only possible using the pair of primers that amplified the shortest fragment (254 bp). The test for specificity, using these last pair of primers, showed that H. armigera was the only species detected. The detection threshold was defined at a 1:8192 dilution of a H. armigera whole egg in all samples.     

Molecular requirements for actin-based lamella formation in Drosophila S2 cells

Cell migration occurs through the protrusion of the actin-enriched lamella. Here, we investigated the effects of RNAi depletion of approximately 90 proteins implicated in actin function on lamella formation in Drosophila S2 cells. Similar to in vitro reconstitution studies of actin-based Listeria movement, we find that lamellae formation requires a relatively small set of proteins that participate in actin nucleation (Arp2/3 and SCAR), barbed end capping (capping protein), filament depolymerization (cofilin and Aip1), and actin monomer binding (profilin and cyclase-associated protein). Lamellae are initiated by parallel and partially redundant signaling pathways involving Rac GTPases and the adaptor protein Nck, which stimulate SCAR, an Arp2/3 activator. We also show that RNAi of three proteins (kette, Abi, and Sra-1) known to copurify with and inhibit SCAR in vitro leads to SCAR degradation, revealing a novel function of this protein complex in SCAR stability. Our results have identified an essential set of proteins involved in actin dynamics during lamella formation in Drosophila S2 cells.     

A male and hermaphrodite specific RAPD marker for papaya ( Carica papayaL.)

The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was used to determine the sex of a dioecious species, Carica papaya L., with three sex types, male, female and hermaphrodite. A 450 bp marker fragment, named PSDM(Papaya Sex Determination Marker), exists in all male and hermaphrodite plants but not in the female plants so far analyzed. The DNA sequence of PSDM exhibited no significant similarity to previously reported sequences. A sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) marker, SCARps, was developed from PSDM to determine the sex of papaya. Southern hybridization, using PSDM as a probe, showed that PSDM exists in the male and hermaphrodite genomes, but not in the female genome. This result strongly suggests that PSDM is located on the chromosome region that is specific to the male and the hermaphrodite. SCARps is a suitable marker for the precise and rapid diagnosis of sex in papaya. Received: 1 February 2001 / Accepted: 22 May 2001