A map of rye chromosome 2R using isozyme and morphological markers

Summary The segregation of isozymic loci for leaf peroxidases (L2Per) has been investigated in backcrosses and F₂ offspring of rye lines having purple seeds (Ps) and monstrosum ears (mo). The Ps, L2Per-3b, mo, and L2Per-2 loci were linked. The Ps and mo loci have been previously located on the 2R chromosome, and the L2Per-3b and L2Per-2 loci have been located on the 2RS chromosome arm. The results favor the gene order Ps ... L2Per-3b ... mo ... L2Per-2 or Ps ... mo... L2Per-3b ... L2Per-2. The position of the loci relative to the centromere is still not known, but the obtained results suggest that the mo locus could be located on the 2RS chromosome arm. On the basis of previously reported linkage groups, the most probable arrangement of the loci located on chromosome 2R is: dw2 ... Ps ... (L2Per-3a ... L2Per-3b ... mo) ... L2Per-2. It has not been possible to know the position of L2Per-4 loci (also located on 2RS chromosome arm) relative to L2Per-3a and L2Per-3b loci.     

Functional analysis of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hansenula polymorpha MNN2-2</Emphasis> homologue encoding a putative UDP-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-acetylglucosamine transporter localized in the endoplasmic reticulum

The Kluyveromyces lactis UDP-GlcNAc transporter (KlMnn2-2p) is responsible for the biosynthesis of N-glycans containing N-acetylglucosamine. A putative gene of Hansenula polymorpha encoding a KlMnn2-2p homologue, HpMNN2-2, was identified and investigated for its function. The deletion mutant strain of HpMNN2-2 (Hpmnn2-2Δ) showed increased sensitivity to geneticin, hygromycin B, and tunicamycin. However, the Hpmnn2-2Δ strain exhibited increased resistance to Calcofluor white, an inhibitor of chitin biosynthesis, along with a reduced chitin content. The localization of HpMnn2-2p at the endoplasmic reticulum-enriched membrane, different from the Golgi localization of a K. lactis homologue, further supports the involvement of HpMnn2-2p in cell wall chitin biosynthesis.     

Thirty allele-level haplotypes centered around KIR2DL5 define the diversity in an African American population

KIR2DL5 alleles were physically linked to alleles at adjacent KIR loci to define this region of KIR haplotypes in 55 gene-positive random African Americans. The majority carried KIR2DL5B. Three KIR2DL5A and six KIR2DL5B alleles that have been previously described and 11 novel KIR2DL5 alleles were identified by DNA sequencing. Novel alleles included variation that may impact promoter activity; two alleles carried nonsynonymous coding region variation. Based on linkage with KIR2DS1, KIR2DS3, KIR2DS5, KIR2DL2, KIR2DL3, and KIR3DS1 alleles, seven haplotypes of KIR2DL5A and 23 haplotypes of KIR2DL5B were observed. The phylogenetic relationships among the KIR2DL5 alleles predicted their association with either KIR2DS3 (six alleles) or KIR2DS5 (seven alleles). All of the KIR2DL5A alleles were linked either to KIR3DS1*01301 or KIR3DS1*049N. The majority of the KIR2DL5B alleles were linked to seven KIR2DL2 alleles; two were linked to a novel allele of KIR2DL3. These findings underscore the diversity of KIR haplotypes present in this population.     

Cloning of the Bz2 locus of Zea mays using the transposable element Ds as a gene tag

Summary The Bz2 locus of Zea mays has been cloned, utilizing the presence of the transposable element Dissociation (Ds) at the locus as a gene tag. The Ds element inserted in the bz2-m allele was identified among many members of the Ac/Ds family in a Southern blot analysis of a population segregating for bz2-m and Bz2. After cloning a DNA fragment from the bz2-m allele, sequences flanking the Ds insertion were shown to be Bz2-specific and were used to isolate a homologous fragment from a wild-type Bz2 line. The Ds insertion in the bz2-m allele was found to be a Ds2 element identical to the Ds insertion in adh1-2F11.     

Isolation, characterization and transposition of an (IS2)2 intermediate

We have isolated and characterized a dimer derivative of the extensively studiedEscherichia coli insertion sequence IS2. The dimer structure — called (IS2)₂ — consists of two IS2 elements arranged as a direct repeat, separated by 1 bp. The junction between the (IS2)₂ dimer and target sequences is located at various positions in independent isolates; however, one position was preferred. The transposition of (IS2)₂ into a target plasmid resulted in cointegrate-type structures. The transposition frequency of the (IS2)₂ dimer itself was significantly higher than that of the isogenic monomer IS2 insertion. The poor stability and high activity of (IS2)₂ indicates that this is an active transposition intermediate. The mode of transposition of (IS2)₂ is analogous to the joined dimer model described in the case of (IS21)₂ and (IS30)₂.     

Molecular cloning of the c2 locus of Zea mays, the gene coding for chalcone synthase

Summary The c2 locus of Zea mays, identified as one of the genes affecting anthocyanin biosynthesis, was cloned using the transposable element En (Spm) as a gene tag. The Spm element present at the c2 locus in the autonomously mutating c2-m1 line was isolated using En1 element specific probes. Sequences flanking the element were identified as c2 locus specific and were used to clone the nonautonomous c2-m2 and wild-type alleles. The cloning and analysis of a cDNA complementary to the c2 locus provided evidence that this gene encodes the enzyme chalcone synthase.     

A gene, SMP2, involved in plasmid maintenance and respiration in Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a highly charged protein

Summary The smp2 mutant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae shows increased stability of the heterologous plasmid pSR1 and YRp plasmids. A DNA fragment bearing the SMP2 gene was cloned by its ability to complement the slow growth of the smp2 smp3 double mutant (smp3 is another mutation conferring increased stability of plasmid pSR1). The nucleotide sequence of SMP2 indicated that it encodes a highly charged 95 kDa protein. Disruption of the genomic SMP2 gene resulted in a respiration-deficient phenotype, although the cells retained mitochondrial DNA, and showed increased stability of pSR1 like the original smp2 mutant. The fact that the smp2 mutant is not always respiration deficient and shows increased pSR1 stability even in a rho ⁰ strain lacking mitochondrial DNA suggested that the function of the Smp2 protein in plasmid maintenance is independent of respiration. The SMP2 locus was mapped at a site 71 cM from lys7 and 21 cM from ilv2/SMR1 on the right arm of chromosome XIII.     

Mutational analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis PP2CA2</Emphasis> involved in abscisic acid signal transduction

The homozygous T-DNA mutant of the PP2CA2 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana was identified at DNA and RNA levels. The semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed expression of PP2CA2 was induced by NaCl and ABA. When grown in presence of increasing concentration of exogenous ABA the pp2ca2 mutant showed a significant loss of ABA sensitivity in terms of seed germination, efficiency of post-germination growth and root growth. In presence of all ABA and NaCl concentrations tested the germination percentage of wild-type seeds was lower than that of mutant ppca2 seeds. Furthermore, in the presence of exogenous ABA, the pp2ca2 seeds showed higher germination percentages than wild-type at different stages of development and the pp2ca2 seedlings showed a reduced inhibition of root growth compared with wild-type plants. The above results indicated that the pp2ca2 was an ABA-hyposensitive mutant.     

纤枝短月藓BeLEA2基因的克隆及表达分析

为探究纤枝短月藓LEA2基因的结构和表达特征,该研究以纤枝短月藓为材料,首次利用PCR克隆技术得到纤枝短月藓BeLEA2基因序列,并对该基因进行分析。结果表明:(1)该基因序列中含有2个外显子和1个内含子,其开放阅读框(ORF)为456 bp,编码151个氨基酸,预测其相对分子质量为16515.96 Da。(2)将纤枝短月藓与其他植物LEA2基因氨基酸序列进行比对,构建系统进化树,结果显示纤枝短月藓与小立碗藓的亲缘关系最近。(3)利用HiTail-PCR技术克隆获得1072 bp的BeLEA2启动子序列,用PlantCARE在线工具对该启动子的顺式作用元件进行预测,结果表明该启动子除了含有核心启动子元件TATA-box和CAAT-box外,还含有ABRE、MYB、MYC、MYB结合位点(MBS)等其他顺式元件。(4)实时荧光定量PCR分析表明,BeLEA2基因在纤枝短月藓不同发育时期和不同组织中都有表达,且对脱水胁迫有响应。以上结果为进一步探究LEA2基因在苔藓植物中的功能及作用机制奠定了基础。     

The [2Fe-2S] protein I (Shetna protein I) from Azotobacter vinelandii is homologous to the [2Fe-2S] ferredoxin from Clostridium pasteurianum

 The [2Fe-2S] protein from Azotobacter vinelandii that was previously known as iron-sulfur protein I, or Shethna protein I, has been shown to be encoded by a gene belonging to the major nif gene cluster. Overexpression of this gene in Escherichia coli yielded a dimeric protein of which each subunit comprises 106 residues and contains one [2Fe-2S] cluster. The sequence of this protein is very similar to that of the [2Fe-2S] ferredoxin from Clostridium pasteurianum (2FeCpFd), and the four cysteine ligands of the [2Fe-2S] cluster occur in the same positions. The A. vinelandii protein differs from the C. pasteurianum one by the absence of the N-terminal methionine, the presence of a five-residue C-terminal extension, and a lesser number of acidic and polar residues. The UV-visible absorption and EPR spectra, as well as the redox potentials of the two proteins, are nearly identical. These data show that the A. vinelandii FeS protein I, which is therefore proposed to be designated 2FeAvFdI, is the counterpart of the [2Fe-2S] ferredoxin from C. pasteurianum. The occurrence of the 2FeAvFdI-encoding gene in the nif gene cluster, together with the previous demonstration of a specific interaction between the 2FeCpFd and the nitrogenase MoFe protein, suggest that both proteins might be involved in nitrogen fixation, with possibly similar roles. Received: 21 December 1998 / Accepted: 1 March 1999     

铁皮石斛DoSMT2基因的克隆与表达分析

为了解SMT2基因在铁皮石斛（Dendrobium officinale）甾醇代谢过程中的作用,利用RACE技术克隆到1个DoSMT2基因,开放阅读框为1 089 bp,编码362个氨基酸,DoSMT2相对分子量为40.345 kD,理论等电点为8.13,属于稳定的亲水性蛋白。经BLAST P检索,DoSMT2蛋白属于AdoMet-MTases超级家族,含有4个S-腺苷蛋氨酸结合位点、1个甲基转移酶保守结构域和1个甾醇甲基转移酶C末端保守结构域。系统进化分析表明,DoSMT2与深圳拟兰（Apostasia shenzhenica）的SMT2亲缘关系最近,确定其属于SMT2家族。qRT-PCR分析结果表明,DoSMT2基因在茎和叶都能表达,10月份的表达量最高,叶片的表达量显著高于茎,推断叶片的甾醇代谢比茎活跃。构建了pET-29a-DoSMT2原核表达载体,并转化大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）,IPTG诱导表达出预期大小的蛋白。这为铁皮石斛DoSMT2的甲基化机制及甾醇化合物代谢研究奠定基础。     

A CYTOGENETIC STUDY OF A THREE-PAIRED RACE OF HAPLOPAPPUS GRACILIS

Haplopappus gracilis (Nutt.) Gray is an aneuploid species of Compositae of wide distribution in the southwestern U.S.A. and northern Mexico. Except for 2 types of supernumeraries, cytological samples from throughout its range have regularly shown 2 pairs of chromosomes. However, recent collections from a small area in south-central Arizona had 2n = 4, 2n = 5, and 2n = 6 in the same population. The 2n = 5 plants were hybrids between the 2n = 4 and 2n = 6 types. Both natural and artificial F₁ hybrids show preferential disjunction from a trivalent and produce genetically balanced gametes with n = 2 and n = 3. In backcrosses of the F₁ to n = 2 plants, a 1:1 ratio of 2n = 4 and 2n = 5 plants was obtained. The possible mechanisms for the evolution of n = 2 from n = 3 and vice versa are discussed.     

Glutamate oxalate transaminase (GOT) genetics in Mus musculus: Linkage,polymorphism, and phenotypes of the Got-2 and Got-1 loci

A comparison of electrophoretic patterns of F₁ and backcross progeny of two inbred strains of mice has revealed a new autosomal variant of the mitochondrial form of GOT. The loci controlling the production of the soluble and mitochondrial forms of GOT have been designated Got-1 and Got-2, respectively. The two alleles of the Got-2 locus have been designated Got-2 ^a and Got-2 ^b, which represent the slow- and fast-migrating electrophoretic forms. Twenty-seven inbred strains of mice have been classified for Got-2 ^a and Got-2 ^b. It has been demonstrated that the polymorphism of Got-2 is widely distributed in feral mice. Got-2 was shown to be linked to Es-1, and evidence is also presented for linkage between Got-2 and Es-2, Es-5, and oligosyndactyly (Os). The absence of linkage of Got-2 to seven other loci has also been demonstrated. GOT was expressed in vitro in cell lines derived from human and mouse tissues.     

Penetration and Post-Penetration Resistance to Magnaporthe oryzae in Arabidopsis

The rate of entry of Magnaporthe oryzae into the Arabidopsis pen2 quintuple (pen2 NahG pmr5 agb1 mlo2) mutant was significantly higher than those into the pen2 quadruple (pen2 NahG pmr5 agb1 and pen2 NahG pmr5 mlo2) mutants. The lengths of the infection hyphae in the pen2 quintuple mutant were intermediate between the pen2 quadruple mutants. These results suggest that different genetic networks, consisting of PEN2, PMR5, AGB1, and MLO2, control penetration and post-penetration resistance to M. oryzae in Arabidopsis.     

Do histocompatibility antigens recognize themselves?

In the Simonsen spleen weight assay, theH-2K ^ba mutant does not respond against theH-2K ^bd mutant orH-2K ^bd /H-2K ^b hybrid, while the parentalH-2K ^b haplotype does respond. TheH-2K ^ba /H-2K ^b hybrid reacts strongly to bothH-2K ^bd andH-2K ^bd /H-2K ^b , indicating that the donor genotype could influence the reactivity against the same antigenic difference. The response of theH-2 ^ba mutant against a number of unrelated H-2 antigens does not differ from that of the parental haplotype. TheH-2K ^bd mutant reacts againstH-2K ^b andH-2K ^ba , and theH-2K ^b parent reacts against both theH-2K ^ba andH-2K ^bd mutants. The specific defect of reactivity in theH-2K ^ba mutant is effectively complemented by crossing with a number of unrelatedH-2 haplotypes. TheH-2 ^ka andH-2 ^fa mutants complement poorly compared to corresponding parental strains CBA and A.CA, while the B10.M (H-2 ^f ) strain does not complement at all (which is probably attributable to an undetectedH-2 mutation in the last strain). The data strongly suggest that the product of theH-2K locus-which is known to function as a transplantation antigen, lymphocyte activating determinant, and serologically defined antigen-also influences the immune response capacity against a mutant histocompatibility determinant.     

Role of CheY1 and CheY2 in the Chemotaxis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">A. tumefaciens</Emphasis> Toward Acetosyringone

Agrobacterium tumefaciens has a chemtaxis operon, which includes orf1, orf2, cheY1, cheA, cheR, cheB, cheY2, orf9, and orf10. In-frame deletions of cheY1 and cheY2 were constructed and the chemosensory behavior of the mutants was examined on swarm plates and in a chemotaxis assay toward acetosyringone. The cheY2 mutant (C1/delY2) showed impaired chemotactic capabilities in both swarming and chemotaxis assays. The effect of lacking CheY1 on chemotaxis is less severe than that of CheY2, under the conditions studied.