Two closely linked tomato HKT coding genes are positional candidates for the major tomato QTL involved in Na+/K+ homeostasis

The location of major quantitative trait loci (QTL) contributing to stem and leaf [Na⁺] and [K⁺] was previously reported in chromosome 7 using two connected populations of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of tomato. HKT1;1 and HKT1;2, two tomato Na⁺‐selective class I‐HKT transporters, were found to be closely linked, where the maximum logarithm of odds (LOD) score for these QTLs located. When a chromosome 7 linkage map based on 278 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was used, the maximum LOD score position was only 35 kb from HKT1;1 and HKT1;2. Their expression patterns and phenotypic effects were further investigated in two near‐isogenic lines (NILs): 157‐14 (double homozygote for the cheesmaniae alleles) and 157‐17 (double homozygote for the lycopersicum alleles). The expression pattern for the HKT1;1 and HKT1;2 alleles was complex, possibly because of differences in their promoter sequences. High salinity had very little effect on root dry and fresh weight and consequently on the plant dry weight of NIL 157‐14 in comparison with 157‐17. A significant difference between NILs was also found for [K⁺] and the [Na⁺]/[K⁺] ratio in leaf and stem but not for [Na⁺] arising a disagreement with the corresponding RIL population. Their association with leaf [Na⁺] and salt tolerance in tomato is also discussed.     

Production of endothelial progenitor cells obtained from human Wharton's jelly using different culture conditions

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) participate in revascularization and angiogenesis. EPC can be cultured in vitro from mononuclear cells of peripheral blood, umbilical cord blood or bone marrow; they also can be transdifferentiated from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). We isolated EPCs from Wharton's jelly (WJ) using two methods. The first method was by obtaining MSC from WJ and characterizing them by flow cytometry and their adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation, then applying endothelial growth differentiating media. The second method was by direct culture of cells derived from WJ into endothelial differentiating media. EPCs were characterized by morphology, Dil-LDL uptake/UEA-1 immunostaining and testing the expression of endothelial markers by flow cytometry and RT-PCR. We found that MSC derived from WJ differentiated into endothelial-like cells using simple culture conditions with endothelium induction agents in the medium.     

The accuracy of several multiple sequence alignment programs for proteins

Background  

There have been many algorithms and software programs implemented for the inference of multiple sequence alignments of protein and DNA sequences. The "true" alignment is usually unknown due to the incomplete knowledge of the evolutionary history of the sequences, making it difficult to gauge the relative accuracy of the programs.     

Microbial population dynamics on Golden Delicious apples from bud to harvest and effect of fungicide applications

The microbial population dynamics on apples cv. Golden Delicious were analysed every 15 days between bud and harvest in a fully replicated experiment in northern Spain in 1994 and 1995. The total microbial populations varied with developmental stage, and with prevailing climatic conditions. The predominant mycroflora were the filamentous fungi Cladosporium and Alternaria spp. and white and pink yeasts. Other genera isolated included mainly species of Epicoccum, Fusarium and Acremonium. However, the most important post-harvest pathogens Penicillium expansum and Botrytis cinerea were seldom isolated from ripening apples. Maximum total filamentous fungal populations occurred after fruit set and during early ripening [2 × 10⁴cfu (colony-forming units) g^-1 approximately] while those of bacteria were maximum at bud stage (3.5 × 10⁵and 3.0 × 10⁴ cfu g^-1 in 1994 and 1995 respectively). White yeasts were more numerous than pink yeasts. Endophytic infection of apple buds by Alternaria spp., responsible for core rot, was found in almost all bud tissue. By contrast, Cladosporium spp. were initially isolated later from 12.5–50% of tissue samples during blooming and fruit set. The impact of a four-spray fungicide regime during apple development significantly decreased the total filamentous fungal populations in both years, and that of Cladosporium spp. in 1994. However, bacterial populations were often higher on apples from fungicide-treated plots. Fungicide sprays decreased populations of Cladosporium, Alternaria and white yeasts for a maximum of up to 15–30 days after application. Fungicide application had little effect on endophytic infection of apples by Alternaria spp. between bud and harvest.     

Role of external calcium in homeostasis of intracellular pH in the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain PCC7120 exposed to low pH

The role of external Ca²⁺ in the homeostasis of intracellular pH (pHi) of Anabaena sp. strain PCC7120 in response to a decrease in the external pH (pHex) has been studied in cell suspensions. Increase in cytoplasmic pH after acid shock is dependent on the presence of Ca²⁺ in the medium. The observed Ca²⁺-mediated alkalization of the cytoplasm depends on the extent of the shift in external pH. Acid pH shifts resulted in an increased permeability of the cytoplasmic membrane to protons, which could be reversed by increasing the concentration of Ca²⁺ in the medium. Thus, the ability of Ca²⁺ to increase cytoplasmic pH might be correlated with an inhibition of net proton uptake by increasing concentrations of external Ca²⁺ under these conditions. This combined response resulted in the generation and maintenance of a larger pH gradient (ΔpH) at acid external pH values. All Ca²⁺ channel blockers tested, such as verapamil and LaCl₃, inhibited the observed Ca²⁺-mediated response. On the other hand, the Ca ionophore calcimycin (compound A23187) was agonistic, and stimulated both cytoplasmic alkalization and inhibition of net proton uptake. The protonophorous uncoupler carbonylcyanide m -chlorophenyl hydrazone, inhibited this Ca²⁺-mediated response, whereas monensin, an inhibitor of the Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter, had no significant effect. The results of the present study suggest that an influx of Ca²⁺ from the extracellular space is required for the regulation of cytoplasmic pH in Anabaena sp. strain PCC7120 exposed to low external pH values.     

Diagnostic criteria for diabetes revisited: making use of combined criteria

Background  

Existing cut-offs for fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and post-load glucose (2hPG) criteria are not equivalent in the diagnosis of diabetes and glucose intolerance. Adjusting cut-offs of single measurements have not helped so we undertook this project to see if they could be complementary.     

TASTE GROUP THRESHOLDS AND SENSORY EVALUATION OF SPANISH WINE VINEGARS

Wine vinegar is a product obtained from wine acidification which contains at least 5% by wt. of acetic acid, in general without any additives or colorings.
Aspects studied in this work include: the determination of the taste group thresholds (geometric mean of the individual best-estimate thresholds "BET") of two different acids (citric and acetic acids) in aqueous solution and spanish vinegars produced from table and sherry wines. The results obtained suggest that wine vinegar can be considered something more than just an acidulant agent.
In order to evaluate differences among wine vinegars, discriminant tests for twenty-five spanish vinegars (sherry, table and flavored vinegars) were applied. Six of the twelve attributes freely chosen by assessors allowed grouping of the spanish wine vinegars according to their sensory aspects.     

Endophilin functions as a membrane-bending molecule and is delivered to endocytic zones by exocytosis

Two models have been proposed for endophilin function in synaptic vesicle (SV) endocytosis. The scaffolding model proposes that endophilin's SH3 domain recruits essential endocytic proteins, whereas the membrane-bending model proposes that the BAR domain induces positively curved membranes. We show that mutations disrupting the scaffolding function do not impair endocytosis, whereas those disrupting membrane bending cause significant defects. By anchoring endophilin to the plasma membrane, we show that endophilin acts prior to scission to promote endocytosis. Despite acting at the plasma membrane, the majority of endophilin is targeted to the SV pool. Photoactivation studies suggest that the soluble pool of endophilin at synapses is provided by unbinding from the adjacent SV pool and that the unbinding rate is regulated by exocytosis. Thus, endophilin participates in an association-dissociation cycle with SVs that parallels the cycle of exo- and endocytosis. This endophilin cycle may provide a mechanism for functionally coupling endocytosis and exocytosis.     

Analysis of superfamily specific profile-profile recognition accuracy

Background  

Annotation of sequences that share little similarity to sequences of known function remains a major obstacle in genome annotation. Some of the best methods of detecting remote relationships between protein sequences are based on matching sequence profiles. We analyse the superfamily specific performance of sequence profile-profile matching. Our benchmark consists of a set of 16 protein superfamilies that are highly diverse at the sequence level. We relate the performance to the number of sequences in the profiles, the profile diversity and the extent of structural conservation in the superfamily.     

On the identity of Festuca jubata Lowe (Poaceae) and the description of a new Festuca species in the Azores Islands

The majority of authors consider Festuca jubata Lowe as an endemic species common to Madeira and the Azores. Saint-Yves proposed that F. jubata was an Azorean endemic and described a geovicarious taxon in Madeira: F. filiformis C. Sm. ex Link in Buch ssp. mandonii St.-Yves. We undertook a complete bibliographical revision of the taxonomy, nomenclature, and chorology of F. jubata s.l. , and contrasted it with morphological and anatomical studies performed on samples from the Azores and Madeira. Azorean plants usually identified as F. jubata had a character combination distinct from that of those with a Madeiran provenance. Saint-Yves' proposal of two independent taxa was correct, but he erroneously considered F. jubata as an Azorean endemic because the name F. jubata was based on Madeiran plants. Consequently, F. jubata auct. pl. from the Azores belongs to a new species.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 157 , 493–499.