Combined agronomic and physiological aspects of nitrogen management in wheat highlight a central role for glutamine synthetase

In wheat the period of grain filling is characterized by a transition for all vegetative organs from sink to source status. To study this transition, the progression of physiological markers and enzyme activities representative of nitrogen metabolism was monitored from the vegetative stage to maturity in different leaf stages and stem sections of two wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars grown at high and low levels of N fertilization. In the two cultivars examined, we found a general decrease of the metabolic and enzyme markers occurred during leaf ageing, and that this decrease was enhanced when plants were N-limited. Both correlation studies and principal components analysis (PCA) showed that there was a strong relationship among total N, chlorophyll, soluble protein, ammonium, amino acids and glutamine synthetase (GS) activity. The use of a marker such as GS activity to predict the N status of wheat, as a function of both plant development and N availability, is discussed with the aim of selecting wheat genotypes with better N-use efficiency.     

Small effect of fragmentation on the genetic diversity of Dalbergia monticola, an endangered tree species of the eastern forest of Madagascar, detected by chloroplast and nuclear microsatellites

Background and Aims

The oriental forest ecosystem in Madagascar has been seriously impacted by fragmentation. The pattern of genetic diversity was analysed on a tree species, Dalbergia monticola, which plays an important economic role in Madagascar and is one of the many endangered tree species in the eastern forest.

Methods

Leaves from 546 individuals belonging to 18 small populations affected by different levels of fragmentation were genotyped using eight nuclear (nuc) and three chloroplast (cp) microsatellite markers.

Key Results

For nuclear microsatellites, allelic richness (R) and heterozygosity (H_e,nuc) differed between types of forest: R = 7·36 and R = 9·55, H_e,nuc = 0·64 and H_e,nuc = 0·80 in fragmented and non-fragmented forest, respectively, but the differences were not significant. Only the mean number of alleles (N_a,nuc) and the fixation index F_IS differed significantly: N_a,nuc = 9·41 and N_a,nuc = 13·18, F_IS = 0·06 and F_IS = 0·15 in fragmented and non-fragmented forests, respectively. For chloroplast microsatellites, estimated genetic diversity was higher in non-fragmented forest, but the difference was not significant. No recent bottleneck effect was detected for either population. Overall differentiation was low for nuclear microsatellites (F_ST,nuc = 0·08) and moderate for chloroplast microsatellites (F_ST,cp = 0·49). A clear relationship was observed between genetic and geographic distance (r = 0·42 P < 0·01 and r = 0·42 P = 0·03 for nuclear and chloroplast microsatellites, respectively), suggesting a pattern of isolation by distance. Analysis of population structure using the neighbor-joining method or Bayesian models separated southern populations from central and northern populations with nuclear microsatellites, and grouped the population according to regions with chloroplast microsatellites, but did not separate the fragmented populations.

Conclusions

Residual diversity and genetic structure of populations of D. monticola in Madagascar suggest a limited impact of fragmentation on molecular genetic parameters.     

The growth limits of a large number of Listeria monocytogenes strains at combinations of stresses show serotype--and niche-specific traits

Aims: The aim of this study was to associate the growth limits of Listeria monocytogenes during exposure to combined stresses with specific serotypes or origins of isolation, and identify potential genetic markers. Methods and Results: The growth of 138 strains was assessed at different temperatures using combinations of low pH, sodium lactate, and high salt concentrations in brain heart infusion broth. None of the strains was able to grow at pH ≤ 4·4, a_w ≤ 0·92, or pH ≤ 5·0 combined with a_w ≤ 0·94. In addition, none of the strains grew at pH ≤ 5·2 and NaLac ≥ 2%. At 30°C, the serotype 4b strains showed the highest tolerance to low pH and high NaCl concentrations at both pH neutral (pH 7·4) and mild acidic conditions (pH 5·5). At 7°C, the serotype 1/2b strains showed the highest tolerance to high NaCl concentrations at both pH 7·4 and 5·5. Serotype 1/2b meat isolates showed the highest tolerance to low pH in the presence of 2% sodium lactate at 7°C. ORF2110 and gadD1T1 were identified as potential biomarkers for phenotypic differences. Conclusions: Differences in growth limits were identified between specific L. monocytogenes strains and serotypes, which could in some cases be associated with specific genetic markers. Significance and Impact of the Study: Our data confirm the growth limits of L. monocytogenes as set out by the European Union for ready-to-eat foods and provides an additional criterion. The association of L. monocytogenes serotypes with certain stress responses might explain the abundance of certain serotypes in retail foods while others are common in clinical cases.     

Correlation between indigenous <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oenococcus oeni</Emphasis> strain resistance and the presence of genetic markers

This study reports on monitoring Oenococcus oeni intraspecific diversity evolution during winemaking. Three different wines were monitored. The proportion of O. oeni species was determined by species-specific PCR and O. oeni strains were distinguished by multiplex PCR-RAPD. Each strain was tested by PCR for 16 significant markers revealed by a previous genetic comparison between a strong oenological potential strain and one with poor oenological potential. Population levels and diversity changed according to winemaking stages, oenological practices and the chemical properties of the wine. In all situations, O. oeni was the best-adapted species. Within the O. oeni group, intraspecific strain diversity decreased and the malolactic fermentation was the result of the most resistant strains with the highest number of markers.     

养殖大黄鱼一个繁育群体亲本亲缘关系剖析

该文利用23个微卫星标记对103尾大黄鱼繁育亲本进行遗传多样性检测和亲缘关系重建分析,并构建繁育体系指导大黄鱼配组。遗传多样性检测显示,103尾亲鱼在23个座位共获得等位基因数134个,平均5.82个,总平均观察杂合度0.599 3,表明该繁育群体尚保持一定水平的遗传多样性。采用似然率和组合优化法统计模型重建的同胞关系不尽相同,但结果均证实了这些繁育亲本亲缘关系十分相近。配组比对分析结果显示,两种方法的配组方案一致性高达85%,最终选择组合优化法的分组方案指导大黄鱼配组繁育。     

Genetic variability in Brazilian wheat cultivars assessed by microsatellite markers

Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is one of the most important food staples in the south of Brazil. Understanding genetic variability among the assortment of Brazilian wheat is important for breeding. The aim of this work was to molecularly characterize the thirty-six wheat cultivars recommended for various regions of Brazil, and to assess mutual genetic distances, through the use of microsatellite markers. Twenty three polymorphic microsatellite markers (PMM) delineated all 36 of the samples, revealing a total of 74 simple sequence repeat (SSR) alleles, i.e. an average of 3.2 alleles per locus. Polymorphic information content (PIC value) calculated to assess the informativeness of each marker ranged from 0.20 to 0.79, with a mean of 0.49. Genetic distances among the 36 cultivars ranged from 0.10 (between cultivars Ocepar 18 and BRS 207) to 0.88 (between cultivars CD 101 and Fudancep 46), the mean distance being 0.48. Twelve groups were obtained by using the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means analysis (UPGMA), and thirteen through the Tocher method. Both methods produced similar clusters, with one to thirteen cultivars per group. The results indicate that these tools may be used to protect intellectual property and for breeding and selection programs.     

Genetic variation of wild and hatchery populations of the catla Indian major carp (Catla catla Hamilton 1822: Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae) revealed by RAPD markers

Genetic variation is a key component for improving a stock through selective breeding programs. Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to assess genetic variation in three wild population of the catla carp (Catla catla Hamilton 1822) in the Halda, Jamuna and Padma rivers and one hatchery population in Bangladesh. Five decamer random primers were used to amplify RAPD markers from 30 fish from each population. Thirty of the 55 scorable bands were polymorphic, indicating some degree of genetic variation in all the populations. The proportion of polymorphic loci and gene diversity values reflected a relatively higher level of genetic variation in the Halda population. Sixteen of the 30 polymorphic loci showed a significant (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001) departure from homogeneity and the F(ST) values in the different populations indicated some degree of genetic differentiation in the population pairs. Estimated genetic distances between populations were directly correlated with geographical distances. The unweighted pair group method with averages (UPGMA) dendrogram showed two clusters, the Halda population forming one cluster and the other populations the second cluster. Genetic variation of C. catla is a useful trait for developing a good management strategy for maintaining genetic quality of the species.     

谷氨酰胺对胃癌患者血清VEGF，IL-8 及肿瘤标志物水平的影响

目的:探讨谷氨酰胺对胃癌术后血清VEGF、IL-8及肿瘤标志物水平影响。方法:收集我院胃癌需进行胃癌根治术患者92例,随机分为实验组和对照组。两组患者均根据自身病情进行胃癌根治术。术后第1天予250 mL生理盐水+2 mL亚甲蓝确认无反流后,对照组予以5%葡萄糖溶液500 mL泵入,第2天予能全力500 mL,第3天开始予以能全力1500 mL泵入;实验组在对照组基础上加用谷氨酰胺。两组均术前及术后第10天进行血清VEGF、IL-8及肿瘤标志物CEA、CA72-4、CA19-9水平检测。并于术前及术后1个月进行疼痛评估和生存质量评分。结果:1术后第10天两组患者血清VEGF、IL-8及肿瘤标志物CEA、CA72-4、CA19-9水平均下降,与对照组比较,实验组下降均更明显,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);2术后1个月两组患者VRS疼痛等级均下降,生存质量WHOQOL评分均上升,与对照组比较,实验组无疼痛人数明显增多、生存质量评分更高,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:谷氨酰胺可更显著改善胃癌术后患者血清VEGF、IL-8及肿瘤标志物水平,对提高患者机体免疫力、改善营养状态、提高患者生活质量有重要意义。     

miR-126 在膀胱癌患者尿液中的表达及临床意义

目的:探讨miR-126在膀胱癌患者尿液中的表达与临床病理特征的关系,评估miR-126的肿瘤标志物诊断价值。方法:收集48例初发膀胱尿路上皮癌患者与32例健康对照者晨尿,提取尿液总RNA,通过实时荧光定量PCR技术检测各样本中的miR-126的表达水平,并经受试者工作曲线(ROC)分析其诊断价值。结果:膀胱癌患者尿液中的miR-126表达水平相对健康对照组明显上调(P0.01),其表达水平在不同病理级别之间存在显著差异(P均0.05),且低级别组表达水平略高于高级别组,与肿瘤大小、数目以及淋巴转移也有一定的相关性(P0.05),而与患者的年龄、性别、TNM分期等均无相关性(P0.05)。通过ROC曲线分析尿液中miR-126诊断膀胱肿瘤的曲线下面积(AUC)为0.861,当最佳切点定在7.475时,miR-126诊断膀胱肿瘤的敏感性和特异性分别为75.0%、81.2%。结论:膀胱癌患者尿液中miR-126的表达差异能够反映病情进展程度,其表达水平对膀胱肿瘤的早期诊断及病情评估具有一定的价值。