Localization of a novel recessive powdery mildew resistance gene from common wheat line RD30 in the terminal region of chromosome 7AL

Segregation analysis of resistance to powdery mildew in a F₂ progeny from the cross Chinese Spring (CS) × TA2682c revealed the inheritance of a dominant and a recessive powdery mildew resistance gene. Selfing of susceptible F₂ individuals allowed the establishment of a mapping population segregating exclusively for the recessive resistance gene. The extracted resistant derivative showing full resistance to each of 11 wheat powdery mildew isolates was designated RD30. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis of bulked segregants from F₃s showing the homozygous susceptible and resistant phenotypes revealed an AFLP marker that was associated with the recessive resistance gene in repulsion phase. Following the assignment of this AFLP marker to wheat chromosome 7A by means of CS nullitetrasomics, an inspection of simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci evenly spaced along chromosome 7A showed that the recessive resistance gene maps to the distal region of chromosome 7AL. On the basis of its close linkage to the Pm1 locus, as inferred from connecting partial genetic maps of 7AL of populations CS × TA2682c and CS × Virest (Pm1e), and its unique disease response pattern, the recessive resistance gene in RD30 was considered to be novel and tentatively designated mlRD30.Communicated by C. Möllers     

Development of wheat–Aegilops speltoides recombinants and simple PCR-based markers for Sr32 and a new stem rust resistance gene on the 2S#1 chromosome

Key message

Wheat– Aegilops speltoides recombinants carrying stem rust resistance genes Sr32 and SrAes1t effective against Ug99 and PCR markers for marker-assisted selection.

Abstract

Wild relatives of wheat are important resources for new rust resistance genes but underutilized because the valuable resistances are often linked to negative traits that prevent deployment of these genes in commercial wheats. Here, we report ph1b-induced recombinants with reduced alien chromatin derived from E.R. Sears’ wheat–Aegilops speltoides 2D-2S#1 translocation line C82.2, which carries the widely effective stem rust resistance gene Sr32. Infection type assessments of the recombinants showed that the original translocation in fact carries two stem rust resistance genes, Sr32 on the short arm and a previously undescribed gene SrAes1t on the long arm of chromosome 2S#1. Recombinants with substantially shortened alien chromatin were produced for both genes, which confer resistance to stem rust races in the TTKSK (Ug99) lineage and representative races of all Australian stem rust lineages. Selected recombinants were back crossed into adapted Australian cultivars and PCR markers were developed to facilitate the incorporation of these genes into future wheat varieties. Our recombinants and those from several other labs now show that Sr32, Sr39, and SrAes7t on the short arm and Sr47 and SrAes1t on the long arm of 2S#1 form two linkage groups and at present no rust races are described that can distinguish these resistance specificities.     

G allele of the −930A>G polymorphism of the CYBA gene is associated with insulin resistance in obese subjects

It has been shown that NADPH oxidase plays a role in oxidative stress which has been involved in the development of metabolic syndrome. The ?930A/G polymorphism of the CYBA gene (that codes p22phox, a major component of the NADPH oxidase) has been associated with human hypertension and with a reduction in NADPH oxidase activity. In this work, we have examined the influence of the ?930A/G polymorphism on obesity risk and insulin resistance in a case-control study of Spanish subjects (n=313). In the obese group (n=159), there was a statistically significant association between the GG genotype of the ?930A/G polymorphism of the CYBA gene and fasting insulin levels and HOMA index. This outcome agrees with previous findings concerning functional analyses of this polymorphism and reinforces the hypothesis that insulin resistance is associated with oxidative stress. In conclusion, a protective effect in carriers of the ?930A/G, polymorphism of the p22phox gene against insulin resistance in a population of Spanish obese adults has been found.     

Exploring the five different genes associated with PKCα in bladder cancer based on gene expression microarray

Much progress has been made in understanding the mechanism of bladder cancer (BC) progression. Protein kinase C-α (PKCα) is overexpressed in many kinds of cancers. Additionally, PKCα is considered an oncogene that regulates proliferation, invasion, migration, apoptosis and cell cycle in multiple cancers. However, the mechanism underlying how these cellular processes are regulated by PKCα remains unknown. In the present study, we used PKCα siRNA to knock down PKCα gene expression and found that down-regulation of PKCα could significantly inhibit cell proliferation, migration and invasion and induce apoptosis and G1/S cell cycle arrest in vitro. Overexpression of PKCα promotes tumour growth in vivo. We applied cDNA microarray technology to detect the differential gene expression in J82 cells with PKCα knockdown and found that five key genes (BIRC2, BIRC3, CDK4, TRAF1 and BMP4) were involved in proliferation and apoptosis according to GO analysis and pathway analyses. Correlation analysis revealed a moderate positive correlation between PKCα expression and the expression of five downstream genes. BIRC2 and BIRC3 inhibit apoptosis, whereas CDK4, TRAF1 and BMP4 promote proliferation. Essentially, all five of these target genes participated in proliferation, and apoptosis was regulated by PKCα via the NF-kB signalling pathway.     

CENP-G: a new centromeric protein that is associated with the α-1 satellite DNA subfamily

A new constitutive centromere-specific protein (CENP) has been identified as a result of its recognition as an autoantigen by serum from a patient with gastric antral vascular ectasia disease. Conventional immunoblotting and two-dimensional double blotting with both this antiserum and a known anti-centromere antiserum showed that this antiserum predominantly recognized a M _r 95,000 protein that is different from all known CENPs. We have named this new protein CENP-G. This protein was detected at the centromeric region throughout the cell cycle. In mitosis, it was restricted to the kinetochore inner plate as shown by immunogold labeling and electron microscopy. The centromeres of some human chromosomes are known to contain two subfamilies of α-satellite DNA. Using immunofluorescence combined with fluorescent in situ hybridization with subfamily-specific DNA probes, we revealed that CENP-G was specifically associated with one of the subfamilies, which we have named α-1, but not the other. The localization and the α-1-specific association suggested that CENP-G may play a role in kinetochore organization and function. Like CENP-B and C, but unlike CENP-A, this protein remained with the nuclear matrix after intensive extraction. While CENP-B is absent from the human Y chromosome, the existence of CENP-G on the Y chromosome has been proven by immunofluorescence and whole chromosome painting. CENP-G was also detected in CHO, Indian muntjac and Chinese muntjac cells, suggesting that it is conserved in evolution. Received: 23 March 1998 / Accepted: 2 April 1998     

Resistance to the cereal cyst nematode (Heterodera avenae Woll.) transferred from the wild grassAegilops ventricosa to hexaploid wheat by a “stepping-stone” procedure

Transfer of resistance toHeterodera avenae, the cereal cyst nematode (CCN), by a stepping-stone procedure from the wild grassAegilops ventricosa to hexaploid wheat has been demonstrated. The number of nematodes per plant was lower, and reached a plateau much earlier, in the resistant introgression line H93-8 (1–2 nematodes per plant) than in the recipient H10-15 wheat (14–16 nematodes per plant). Necrosis (hypersensitive reaction) near the nematode, little cell fusion, and few, often degraded syncytia were observed in infested H93-8 roots, while abundant, well-formed syncytia were present in the susceptible H10-15 wheat. Line H93-8 was highly resistant to the two Spanish populations tested, as well as the four French races (Fr1-Fr4), and the British pathotype Hall, but was susceptible to the Swedish pathotypes HgI and HgIII. Resistance was inherited as though determined by a single quasi-dominant factor in the F₂ generations resulting from crosses of H93-8 with H10-15 and with Loros, a resistant wheat carrying the geneCre1 (syn.Ccn1). The resistance gene in H93-8 (Cre2 orCcn2) is not allelic with respect to that in Loros. RFLPs and other markers, together with the cytogenetical evidence, indicate that theCre2 gene has been integrated into a wheat chromosome without affecting its meiotic pairing ability. Introduction ofCre2 by backcrossing into a commercial wheat backgroud increases grain yield when under challenge by the nematode and is not detrimental in the absence of infestation.     

“Cryptic” dinucleotide polymorphism in the 3′ region of the factor IX gene shows substantial variation among different populations

Long tandem dinucleotide repeats composed of alternating purines and pyrimidines [RY(i)] are abundant and highly polymorphic. Simple RY(i) are predominately composed of one tandem repeat of a dinucleotide sequence. In contrast, cryptic RY(i [cRY(i)] are composed of multiple short dinucleotide repeats. Herein, we describe the racial distribution of alleles for a polymorphic cRY(i) in the factor IX gene. Allele I is absent in Asians, whereas allele III is rare or absent in Caucasians or blacks. A polymorphic cRY(i) analyzed previously shows even more dramatic variation among racial groups, hinting that a battery of cRY(i) might have utility in assessing the racial origin of a DNA sample.     

Identification of β-glucosidase 1 as a biomarker and its high expression in hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with resistance to chemotherapy drugs

Context and objective: Long-term prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients is challenging, and novel biomarkers are needed to predict patient risk and serve as potential therapeutic target.

Results: We found β-glucosidase 1 is significantly overexpressed and activated in primary HCC tissue and multiple HCC cell lines. β-Glucosidase 1 expression is associated with predicting prognosis of HCC patients under chemotherapy. Silencing β-glucosidase 1 inhibits growth and survival of HCC cells, with preferential inhibitory effects on high β-glucosidase 1-expressing cells. Combination of chemo drug with β-glucosidase 1 inhibitor sensitized HCC cells to chemotherapy.

Conclusion: Our data support β-glucosidase 1 as a HCC biomarker due to its prognosis significance.     

In situ immunocytochemical evidence that a homolog of protein translation elongation factor EF-1α is associated with microtubules in carrot cells

Summary Evidence indicates that elongation factor-1 (EF-1), a ubiquitous and abundant protein factor involved in the first step of peptide elongation, is also associated with the cytoskeleton in a variety of organisms. Although the effects of these associations on EF-1's translational function have not been examined, the associations do appear to result in non-passive effects on the cytoskeleton. A carrot homolog of EF-1, pp 50, has been reported to interact with microtubules in vitro, inducing the formation of microtubule bundles that can be dissociated by Ca²⁺/calmodulin. The characterization of anti-pp 50 antibodies is reported here. Immunocytochemistry, using anti-pp 50 and anti-tubulin antibodies, was used to investigate the co-localization of pp 50 and microtubules in situ. In carrot protoplasts fixed after detergent lysis, at least a fraction of pp 50 appears to be associated with microtubules. Treatment of such protoplasts with amiprophos-methyl (APM) reduced both the presence of microtubules and the co-localizing pp 50-associated fluorescence. In taxol-treated protoplasts, increases in both microtubules and the colocalizing pp 50-associated fluorescence were observed. When carrot protoplasts were fixed prior to detergent extraction, confocal laser scanning microscopy likewise revealed co-localization. Furthermore, what is likely to be a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between fluorochromes associated with anti-pp 50 and anti-tubulin reporters was observed, indicating that some pp 50 is intimately associated with microtubules. The in situ cytoarchitectural evidence is consistent with a function previously proposed for pp 50 based on in vitro experiments — that pp 50 is a plant microtubuleassociated protein (MAP) whose function can be modulated by a Ca²⁺/calmodulin signal transduction mechanism in plant cells.Abbreviations APM amiprophos-methyl - BSA bovine serum albumin - EF-1 elongation factor-1-alpha - FRET fluorescence resonance energy transfer - MAP microtubule-associated protein - PBS phosphate buffered saline - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis     

Cytoplasmic virus-like particles associated with the nucleolus in wheat,similar to “S bodies” and retroposon particles

Summary Wheat roots from germinating seedlings of Chinese spring wheatTriticum aestivum grown for 36 hours at 20°C were examined by conventional thin-section electron microscopy. Virus-like particles were seen inside a large cytoplasmic intrusion into the nucleus having the appearence of a nucleolar vacuole. The particles were isometric and about 50 nm in diameter with a membrane-like coat and a small core. The cytoplasmic intrusion was bounded by nuclear envelope with pores apparent where it abutted nucleoplasm. The particles are similar to previously reported solitary particles S bodies from a range of plants but are also similar in size and morphology to the retroposon particles associated with copia like elements in other organisms. The position of the virus-like particles in the young wheat roots is discussed in relation to interactions with components of the cell skeleton.     

A SNP in the 5′ flanking region of the myostatin-1b gene is associated with harvest traits in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Background

Myostatin (MSTN) belongs to the transforming growth factor-β superfamily and is a potent negative regulator of skeletal muscle development and growth in mammals. Most teleost fish possess two MSTN paralogues. However, as a consequence of a recent whole genome-duplication event, salmonids have four: MSTN-1 (?1a and -1b) and MSTN-2 (?2a and -2b). Evidence suggests that teleost MSTN plays a role in the regulation of muscle growth. In the current study, the MSTN-1b gene was re-sequenced and screened for SNP markers in a commercial population of Atlantic salmon. After genotyping 4,800 progeny for the discovered SNPs, we investigated their association with eight harvest traits - four body-weight traits, two ratios of weight traits, flesh colour and fat percentage - using a mixed model association analysis.

Results

Three novel SNPs were discovered in the MSTN-1b gene of Atlantic salmon. One of the SNPs, located within the 5′ flanking region (g.1086C?>?T), had a significant association with harvest traits (p?<?0.05), specifically for: Harvest Weight (kg), Gutted Weight (kg), Deheaded Weight (kg) and Fillet Weight (kg). The haplotype-based association analysis was consistent with this result because the two haplotypes that showed a significant association with body-weight traits, hap4 and hap5 (p?<?0.05 and p?<?0.01, respectively), differ by a single substitution at the g.1086C?>?T locus. The alleles at g.1086C?>?T act in an additive manner and explain a small percentage of the genetic variation of these phenotypes.

Conclusions

The association analysis revealed that g.1086C?>?T had a significant association with all body-weight traits under study. Although the SNP explains a small percentage of the variance, our results indicate that a variation in the 5′ flanking region of the myostatin gene is associated with the genetic regulation of growth in Atlantic salmon.

     

Fluorescence in situ hybridization reveals a break in the α-satellite DNA of chromosome 1 in a family with a balanced whole-arm translocation

We have characterized a whole-arm translocation involving chromosomes 1 and 19 by traditional cytogenetic methods and fluorescence in situ hybridization with chromosome-specific -satellite and whole-chromosome painting probes, and different satellite III DNA probes. We have identified a break in the -satellite DNA region of chromosome 1, with division of this material into two a-satellite DNA blocks. This leaves one translocation chromosome with truncated -satellite DNA from chromosome 1 and the other trranslocation chromosome with all the -satellite DNA from chromosome 19 and truncated -satellite DNA from chromosome 1. We speculate whether the recombination event observed has taken place in tetraplex structures of satellite III DNA interspersed between -satellite DNA.     

Deletions of the steroid sulphatase gene in “classical” X-linked ichthyosis and in X-linked ichthyosis associated with Kallmann syndrome

Summary We have studied 16 men, from 10 unrelated Italian families, affected by steroid suphatase (STS) deficiency, which is the basic defect of X-linked ichthyosis (XLI). The patients' clinical diagnoses were of either isolated ichthyosis or ichthyosis associated with Kallmann syndrome (KS) (hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and anosmia). DNA from patients and their relatives was analysed by Southern blotting followed by hydridization with an STS cDNA probe. None of the patients affected by either XLI or XLI/KS showed any hybridization signal, thus revealing a deletion in the STS gene. We suggest that a gene deletion may be the most common molecular defect involved in XLI and that the syndrome XLI/KS may be due to a deletion of both the STS and the KS loci.     

A deletion mutation in the βA1/A3 crystallin gene (CRYBA1/A3) is associated with autosomal dominant congenital nuclear cataract in a Chinese family

Congenital cataracts are an important cause of blindness worldwide. In a family of Chinese descent, a dominant congenital nuclear cataract locus was mapped to chromosome 17q11.1-12. The maximum LOD score, 2.49, at recombination fraction 0, was obtained for marker D17S1294. The results of both linkage and haplotype analyses defined a disease-gene to an 11.78-cM region harboring the gene coding for A1/A3 crystallin (CRYBA1/A3). Mutation analysis of the CRYBA1/A3 gene identified a 3-bp deletion in exon 4, which cosegregated with the disease risk in this family and was not observed in 100 normal chromosomes. This mutation resulted in the deletion of a highly conserved glycine at codon 91 (G91) and could be associated with an incorrect folding of A1/A3 crystallin. It highlights the physiological importance of crystallin and supports the role of CRYBA1/A3 in human cataracts formation.Y. Qi and H. Jia contributed equally to this work     

Hypomethylation of the thymosin β(10) gene is not associated with its overexpression in non-small cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and is usually associated with a late diagnosis and a poor prognosis. Thymosin β₁₀ (TMSB10) is a monomeric actin sequestering protein that regulates actin cytoskeleton organization. The aberrant TMSB10 expression has been implicated in the pathogenesis of human cancers. However, its role in carcinogenesis is still controversial. To better understand the role of TMSB10 in lung tumorigenesis and its regulatory mechanism, we examined the methylation status and expression of the TMSB10 gene in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) using methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively. MSP analysis showed that the TMSB10 promoter was already unmethylated in most tumor tissues and became demethylated in 20 (14.4%) of the 139 NSCLCs. TMSB10 hypomethylation was not significantly correlated with the clinicopathological features. IHC showed that the TMSB10 protein was strongly expressed in the cytoplasm of malignant cells and its overexpression was detected in 50.0% of the tumor tissues compared to normal tissues. TMSB10 overexpression was frequently observed in sqaumous cell carcinomas compared to adenocarcinomas with border line significance (P = 0.072). However, TMSB10 methylation status was not linked to its overexpression. Collectively, these results suggest that TMSB10 hypomethylation may be a frequent event in NSCLCs, but it may not be a common mechanism underlying TMSB10 overexpression. However, further studies with large numbers of patients are needed to confirm our findings.