Wheat genome structure: translocations during the course of polyploidization

The genomic organization of Triticum timopheevii (2n=28, A^tA^tGG) was compared with hexaploid wheat T. aestivum (2n=42, AABBDD) by comparative mapping using microsatellites derived from bread wheat. Genetic maps for the two crosses T. timopheevii var. timopheevii × T. timopheevii var. typica and T. timopheevii K-38555×T. militinae were constructed. On the first population, 121 loci were mapped, and on the second population 103 loci. The transferability of the wheat markers to T. timopheevii was generally better for the A genome-specific markers (76–78% produced amplification products; 26 and 29% were polymorphic) than for B genome-specific markers (54% produced amplification products; 14 and 16% were polymorphic). Of the D genome-specific markers, one third produced amplification products in T. timopheevii, but only 5 and 2% were polymorphic in the corresponding mapping populations. The maps constructed confirmed the previously described translocation between chromosome arms 6A^tS and 1GS and revealed at least two yet unknown rearrangements on chromosomes 4A^t and 6A^t. The presence of other translocations and rearrangements between T. timopheevii and T. aestivum was demonstrated by a variety of markers mapping to nonhomoeologous positions.     

Spatial and temporal expression of surfactant proteins in hyperoxia-induced neonatal rat lung injury

Background

Although personal cigarette smoking is the most important cause and modulator of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure could influence the course of the disease. Despite the importance of this question, the impact of SHS exposure on COPD health outcomes remains unknown.

Methods

We used data from two waves of a population-based multiwave U.S. cohort study of adults with COPD. 77 non-smoking respondents with a diagnosis of COPD completed direct SHS monitoring based on urine cotinine and a personal badge that measures nicotine. We evaluated the longitudinal impact of SHS exposure on validated measures of COPD severity, physical health status, quality of life (QOL), and dyspnea measured at one year follow-up.

Results

The highest level of SHS exposure, as measured by urine cotinine, was cross-sectionally associated with poorer COPD severity (mean score increment 4.7 pts; 95% CI 0.6 to 8.9) and dyspnea (1.0 pts; 95% CI 0.4 to 1.7) after controlling for covariates. In longitudinal analysis, the highest level of baseline cotinine was associated with worse COPD severity (4.7 points; 95% CI -0.1 to 9.4; p = 0.054), disease-specific QOL (2.9 pts; -0.16 to 5.9; p = 0.063), and dyspnea (0.9 pts; 95% CI 0.2 to 1.6 pts; p < 0.05), although the confidence intervals did not always exclude the no effect level.

Conclusion

Directly measured SHS exposure appears to adversely influence health outcomes in COPD, independent of personal smoking. Because SHS is a modifiable risk factor, clinicians should assess SHS exposure in their patients and counsel its avoidance. In public health terms, the effects of SHS exposure on this vulnerable subpopulation provide a further rationale for laws prohibiting public smoking.     

The epidermis-specific extracellular BODYGUARD controls cuticle development and morphogenesis in Arabidopsis

The outermost epidermal cell wall is specialized to withstand pathogens and natural stresses, and lipid-based cuticular polymers are the major barrier against incursions. The Arabidopsis thaliana mutant bodyguard (bdg), which exhibits defects characteristic of the loss of cuticle structure not attributable to a lack of typical cutin monomers, unexpectedly accumulates significantly more cell wall-bound lipids and epicuticular waxes than wild-type plants. Pleiotropic effects of the bdg mutation on growth, viability, and cell differentiation are also observed. BDG encodes a member of the alpha/beta-hydrolase fold protein superfamily and is expressed exclusively in epidermal cells. Using Strep-tag epitope-tagged BDG for mutant complementation and immunolocalization, we show that BDG is a polarly localized protein that accumulates in the outermost cell wall in the epidermis. With regard to the appearance and structure of the cuticle, the phenotype conferred by bdg is reminiscent of that of transgenic Arabidopsis plants that express an extracellular fungal cutinase, suggesting that bdg may be incapable of completing the polymerization of carboxylic esters in the cuticular layer of the cell wall or the cuticle proper. We propose that BDG codes for an extracellular synthase responsible for the formation of cuticle. The alternative hypothesis proposes that BDG controls the proliferation/differentiation status of the epidermis via an unknown mechanism.     

Automatic layout and visualization of biclusters

Background  

Biclustering has emerged as a powerful algorithmic tool for analyzing measurements of gene expression. A number of different methods have emerged for computing biclusters in gene expression data. Many of these algorithms may output a very large number of biclusters with varying degrees of overlap. There are no systematic methods that create a two-dimensional layout of the computed biclusters and display overlaps between them.     

Characterization of puroindolines in the control of endosperm texture in common wheat lines with substitutions of homeologous group-5 chromosomes

The genetic control of grain hardness and its association with the specific friabilin content on starch granules of common wheat cultivars and lines with intervarietal substitutions of homeologous group-5 chromosomes were studied. A significant correlation was revealed between the technological parameters of grain hardness (mean size of flour particles) and the specific content of puroindolines on the starch surface estimated in terms of starch doses. The results obtained allowed the method of starch doses to be used to identify soft and hard wheat cultivars and lines based on an analysis of a single grain. The biochemical analysis confirmed the previously obtained estimates of flour-grinding properties of wheat cultivars and substitution lines and allowed specific genotypes to be characterized according to the composition of puroindolines. The influence of chromosomes 5D and 5A of donor wheat cultivars on the activity of the Ha loci of recipient cultivars was revealed and found to be associated with the composition of PIN products and with the expression of the Pina-D1 and Pinb-D1 genes.     

The ontogeny of acoustic individuality in the nasal calls of captive goitred gazelles, Gazella subgutturosa

Individualistic voices are important for establishing personalized relationships among individuals. In young animals, individual vocal identity is affected by permanent changes of the acoustics due to the growth of their vocal apparatus. Different acoustic variables change uncoordinatedly, so vocal individuality should be repeatedly upgraded along development. We compared classifying accuracy of individuals and sexes by nasal calls in fast-growing goitred gazelles Gazella subgutturosa at two ontogenetic stages, juvenile (3-6 weeks of age) and adolescent (23-26 weeks of age). Juvenile "spring" nasal calls and adolescent "fall" nasal calls were examined in the same 35 calves (18 males, 17 females), wild-born in May and then hand-raised. Discriminate function analysis based on four formants, fundamental frequency, duration and three power quartiles, revealed an equally high potential of spring and fall calls to encode sex. The individuality was very high in both ages but significantly higher in fall calls. Classifying calls to individuals was based on the same three acoustic variables (fundamental frequency and third and fourth formants) in both ages, although their actual values changed uncoordinatedly from spring to fall in most subjects. Our results suggest updating acoustic individuality in nasal calls of adolescent goitred gazelles accordingly to the newly emerged acoustic variation.     

Assembly of actin filaments induced by sequestration of membrane cholesterol in transformed cells

Cholesterol is a major lipid component of the plasma membrane that plays an important role in various signaling processes in mammalian cells. Our study is focused on the role of membrane cholesterol in the organization and dynamics of actin cytoskeleton. Experiments were performed on cultured transformed cells characterized by a poorly developed actin network and less prominent stress fibers: human embryonic kidney HEK293, human epidermoid larynx carcinoma HEp-2, and mouse fibroblasts 3T3-SV40. Using Factin labeling with rhodamine phalloidin, actin cytoskeleton rearrangements were analyzed after sequestration of membrane cholesterol by cyclic oligosaccharide methyl-beta-cyclodextrin and polyene macrolide antibiotic filipin. The cells treated with these agents displayed similar reorganization of actin cytoskeleton involving filament assembly. In HEp-2 carcinoma cells and 3T3-SV40 fibroblasts, cholesterol-sequestering reagents induced intense stress fiber formation and enhanced cell spreading; i.e., features of transformed phenotype reversion were observed. The cytoskeleton rearrangements are probably initiated by disruption of lipid raft integrity that is critically dependent on the level of the membrane cholesterol.     

Data from the serological examination of the population of the Republic of Congo for the presence of antibodies to orthopoxviruses. I. A comparative evaluation of different study methods and general results

The selective survey of the population of the Republic of Congo for the presence of antibodies to orthopoxviruses has been carried out with the use of the neutralization test, the hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) test and the ELISA. Despite a prolonged period (15 years) elapsed since the transmission of natural smallpox stopped in this country and despite the almost complete cessation of immunization against this infection since 1977, antibodies to orthopoxviruses can be detected in a considerable proportion of the population: 29%. This percentage grows as older age groups are examined, reaching 90.6% in the age groups of 16 years and over. Antibodies to orthopoxviruses have also been detected in children under 5 years of age, born after the eradication of smallpox and having no vaccination scars. The possible causes of this phenomenon are discussed. The comparison of the results obtained with the use of different tests has confirmed high sensitivity of ELISA. The HAI test is less sensitive, but this is compensated by its simplicity and its easy use for screening procedures. Besides, the positive results of this test indicate that the corresponding sera contain sufficiently high titers of virus-neutralizing antibodies detected by means of ELISA, which is of importance for their subsequent interspecific differentiation.     

A chemical and biological assessment of the state of urban soils

This paper assesses the state of urban soils with the methods of chemical analysis and biotesting using the city of Kirov as an example. The content of the total and mobile forms of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Cd, Ni, Fe, and Pb), pH of water and salt extracts, and content of humus in different regions of the city of Kirov are determined. Urban soils are characterized by a low level of pollution according to the total index of anthropogenic pollution (Z _c). Biotesting involves tests objects of different trophic groups: Daphnia magna Straus, Paramecium caudatum, and Escherichia coli. Results from comparatively analyzing the sensitivity of different biotesting methods are presented.     

Resistance to Fungal Diseases in Hybrid Progeny from Crosses between Common Wheat Variety Saratovskaya 29 and the Amphidiploid Triticum timopheevii/Triticum tauschii (AAGGDD)

The progeny of BC₆F_2–4–BC₉F_2–4 has been analyzed for resistance to brown rust (Lr genes) and powdery mildew (Pm genes). This progeny was obtained due to introgression of the alien material from the synthetic hexaploid wheat Triticum timopheevii/Aegilops squarrosa (= Triticum tauschiiaAGGDD, 2n = 42) into the common wheat variety Saratovskaya 29. Against the background of natural infection, the lines resistant to both diseases and to either of them were developed. The brown-rust and powdery-mildew resistance is controlled by one/two effective independent genes Lr and Pm.