Leaf photosynthetic rate is correlated with biomass and grain production in grain sorghum lines

Significant genetic variation in leaf photosynthetic rate has been reported in grain sorghum [Sorghum biocolor (L.) Moench]. The relationships between leaf photosynthetic rates and total biomass production and grain yield remain to be established and formed the purpose of this experiment. Twenty two grain sorghum parent lines were tested in the field during the 1988 growing season under well-watered and water-limited conditions. Net carbon assimilation rates were measured at mid-day during the 30 day period from panicle initiation to head exertion on upper-most fully expanded leaves using a portable photosynthesis system (LI-6200). Total biomass and grain production were determined at physiological maturity. The lines exhibited significant genetic variation in leaf photosynthetic rate, total biomass production and grain yield. Significant positive correlations existed between leaf photosynthesis and total biomass and grain production under both well-watered and water-limited conditions. The results suggest that leaf photosynthetic rate measured prior to flowering is a good indicator of productivity in grain sorghum.     

Human von Willebrand factor: a multivalent protein composed of identical subunits

A large-scale method for the isolation of von Willebrand factor (vWF) from human factor VIII concentrates was developed in order to study the structure of this protein and its platelet binding activity. vWF is composed of a number of glycoprotein subunits that are linked together by disulfide bonds to form a series of multimers. These multimers appear to contain an even number of subunits of 270K. Two minor components of Mr 140K and 120K were also identified, but these chains appear to result from minor proteolysis. The smallest multimer of vWF contained nearly equimolar amounts of the 270K, 140K, and 120K subunits, while the largest multimers contained less than 20% of the two minor components. Amino acid sequence analysis, amino acid composition, and cleavage by cyanogen bromide indicate that the 270K subunits are identical and each is a single polypeptide chain with an amino-terminal sequence of Ser-Leu-Ser-Cys-Arg-Pro-Pro-Met-Val-Lys and a carboxyl-terminal sequence of Glu-Cys-Lys-Cys-Ser-Pro-Arg-Lys-Cys-Ser-Lys. Platelet binding in the presence of ristocetin was 8-fold greater with multimers larger than five (i.e., containing more than 10 subunits of 270K) as compared to multimers less than three (containing less than six subunits of 270K). However, partially reduced vWF (Mr 500K), regardless of whether it was prepared from large or small molecular weight multimers, gave platelet binding similar to that of the smallest multimers. Likewise, partial proteolysis by elastase, thermolysin, trypsin, or chymotrypsin produced small "multimer-like" proteins with platelet binding properties similar to either partially reduced vWF or to the smallest multimers. We conclude that human vWF contains identical 270K subunits assembled into a multivalent structure. Disassembly by either partial reduction or partial proteolysis produces essentially monovalent protein with platelet binding properties similar to that of the smallest multimers. Multivalency is likely the primary factor responsible for the increase in biological activity with multimer size.     

Localized mutagenesis with bacteriophage Mu: method for increasing the frequency of specific bacterial mutants.

A method is described for markedly enriching a bacterial population for cells containing any given Mu insertion mutation. The method involves the transfer of a small piece of deoxyribonucleic acid from a Mu-infected Hfr donor donor strain to a suitable F- strain and a subsequent selection of those recombinant organisms that have received a Mu prophage from the donor. The method is particularly usefule for isolating mutants whose selection requires "brute-force" assay, since only a few hundred colonies have to be screened.     

Pharmacological analysis of ionotropic glutamate receptor function in neuronal circuits of the zebrafish olfactory bulb

Although synaptic functions of ionotropic glutamate receptors in the olfactory bulb have been studied in vitro, their roles in pattern processing in the intact system remain controversial. We therefore examined the functions of ionotropic glutamate receptors during odor processing in the intact olfactory bulb of zebrafish using pharmacological manipulations. Odor responses of mitral cells and interneurons were recorded by electrophysiology and 2-photon Ca(2+) imaging. The combined blockade of AMPA/kainate and NMDA receptors abolished odor-evoked excitation of mitral cells. The blockade of AMPA/kainate receptors alone, in contrast, increased the mean response of mitral cells and decreased the mean response of interneurons. The blockade of NMDA receptors caused little or no change in the mean responses of mitral cells and interneurons. However, antagonists of both receptor types had diverse effects on the magnitude and time course of individual mitral cell and interneuron responses and, thus, changed spatio-temporal activity patterns across neuronal populations. Oscillatory synchronization was abolished or reduced by AMPA/kainate and NMDA receptor antagonists, respectively. These results indicate that (1) interneuron responses depend mainly on AMPA/kainate receptor input during an odor response, (2) interactions among mitral cells and interneurons regulate the total olfactory bulb output activity, (3) AMPA/kainate receptors participate in the synchronization of odor-dependent neuronal ensembles, and (4) ionotropic glutamate receptor-containing synaptic circuits shape odor-specific patterns of olfactory bulb output activity. These mechanisms are likely to be important for the processing of odor-encoding activity patterns in the olfactory bulb.     

Pre-Analytical Conditions in Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing of Cell-Free Fetal RHD

Background

Non-invasive prenatal testing of cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) in maternal plasma can predict the fetal RhD type in D negative pregnant women. In Denmark, routine antenatal screening for the fetal RhD gene (RHD) directs the administration of antenatal anti-D prophylaxis only to women who carry an RhD positive fetus. Prophylaxis reduces the risk of immunization that may lead to hemolytic disease of the fetus and the newborn. The reliability of predicting the fetal RhD type depends on pre-analytical factors and assay sensitivity. We evaluated the testing setup in the Capital Region of Denmark, based on data from routine antenatal RHD screening.

Methods

Blood samples were drawn at gestational age 25 weeks. DNA extracted from 1 mL of plasma was analyzed for fetal RHD using a duplex method for exon 7/10. We investigated the effect of blood sample transportation time (n = 110) and ambient outdoor temperatures (n = 1539) on the levels of cffDNA and total DNA. We compared two different quantification methods, the delta Ct method and a universal standard curve. PCR pipetting was compared on two systems (n = 104).

Results

The cffDNA level was unaffected by blood sample transportation for up to 9 days and by ambient outdoor temperatures ranging from -10°C to 28°C during transport. The universal standard curve was applicable for cffDNA quantification. Identical levels of cffDNA were observed using the two automated PCR pipetting systems. We detected a mean of 100 fetal DNA copies/mL at a median gestational age of 25 weeks (range 10–39, n = 1317).

Conclusion

The setup for real-time PCR-based, non-invasive prenatal testing of cffDNA in the Capital Region of Denmark is very robust. Our findings regarding the transportation of blood samples demonstrate the high stability of cffDNA. The applicability of a universal standard curve facilitates easy cffDNA quantification.