A refined panel of 42 microsatellite loci to universally genotype catarrhine primates

1. Microsatellite genotyping is an important genetic method for a number of research questions in biology. Given that the traditional fragment length analysis using polyacrylamide gel or capillary electrophoresis has several drawbacks, microsatellite genotyping‐by‐sequencing (GBS) has arisen as a promising alternative. Although GBS mitigates many of the problems of fragment length analysis, issues with allelic dropout and null alleles often remain due to mismatches in primer binding sites and unnecessarily long PCR products. This is also true for GBS in catarrhine primates where cross‐species amplification of loci (often human derived) is common.
2. We therefore redesigned primers for 45 microsatellite loci based on 17 available catarrhine reference genomes. Next, we tested them in singleplex and different multiplex settings in a panel of species representing all major lineages of Catarrhini and further validated them in wild Guinea baboons (Papio papio) using fecal samples.
3. The final panel of 42 microsatellite loci can efficiently be amplified with primers distributed into three amplification pools.
4. With our microsatellite panel, we provide a tool to universally genotype catarrhine primates via GBS from different sample sources in a cost‐ and time‐efficient way, with higher resolution, and comparability among laboratories and species.

     

Biogeography of Banksia in southwestern Australia

Comprehensive new data bases on the taxonomy, distribution, ecology and climate of Banksia (Proteaceae) were used to study the biogeography of the sixty endemic species in southwestern Australia. They occur at the wettest coastal tip, with up to 1.5 m rainfall p.a., 1500 km along the north coast, 1000 km along the south coast and up to 450 km inland to the desert margin, with as low as 0.2 m rainfall p.a. The largest areas (sum of 30´ lat.×30´ long. grid cells) containing banksias were under much more arid climates than those with highest species density. Species density was usually lowest at the climatic extremes. Two nodes of species richness and ten floristic groups, each with a characteristic climate, landscape, vegetation and soil types and suite of indicator and endemic species, were recognized. A case is made for resurrecting the Lesueur (northern node) and Stirling (west portion of the southern node) phytogeographic districts, together with separating the West (east portion of the southern node) from the East Eyre district. These species-rich areas coincide with nutrient impoverished sands and laterite associated with dissected uplands having low, highly sclerophyllous vegetation. The distribution of strongly serotinous species and those with persistent florets is consistent with greater reliance on fire for creating suitable recruitment conditions with increasing aridity. The distribution of needle-leaved species is only partly explained by their superior drought tolerance. A preliminary transplant trial with two Banksia species showed that their distribution was only partly restricted by their current climatic profile.     

The relation between mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and different genes expression in patients with beta Thalassemia

Backgroundβ-thalassemia is an inherited hemoglobinopathy resulting in quantitative changes in the β-globin chain. Understanding the molecular basis of that disorder requires studying the expression of genes controlling the pathways that affect the erythropoietic homeostasis especially the MAPK pathway. The MAPKs are a family of serine/threonine kinases that play an essential role in connecting cell-surface receptors to DNA in the nucleus of the cell.Aimto study the effect of expression of GNAI2, DUSP5 and ARRB1 genes on MAPK signaling pathway in pediatric patients with beta thalassemia.MethodsForty children with beta thalassemia major (TM), forty children with beta thalassemia intermedia (TI) and forty age and gender matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Detection of GNAI2, DUSP5 and ARRB1 mRNA expression was done by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Resultsrevealed increased expression of ARRB1 (Arrestin Beta 1) gene, and decreased expression of both GNAI2 (Guanine nucleotide-binding protein G (i) subunit alpha-2) and DUSP5 (Dual specificity protein phosphatase 5) genes in both patient groups than control groups respectively.ConclusionsChange in the rate of expression of ARRB1, GNAI2 and DUSP5 may have a role in the pathogenesis of abnormal hematopoiesis in cases of β thalassemia through affecting the MAPK pathway.     

Meal frequency differentially alters postprandial triacylglycerol and insulin concentrations in obese women

Objective:

The aim of this study was to compare postprandial lipemia, oxidative stress, antioxidant activity, and insulinemia between a three and six isocaloric high‐carbohydrate meal frequency pattern in obese women.

Design and Methods:

In a counterbalanced order, eight obese women completed two, 12‐h conditions in which they consumed 1,500 calories (14% protein, 21% fat, and 65% carbohydrate) either as three 500 calorie liquid meals every 4‐h or six 250 calorie liquid meals every 2‐h. Blood samples were taken every 30 min and analyzed for triacylglycerol (TAG), total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, oxidized low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, myeloperoxidase, paraoxonase‐1 activity, and insulin.

Results:

The TAG incremental area under the curve (iAUC) during the three meal condition (321 ± 129 mg/dl·12 h) was significantly lower (P = 0.04) compared with the six meal condition (481 ± 155 mg/dl·12 h). The insulin iAUC during the three meal condition (5,549 ± 1,007 pmol/l^.12 h) was significantly higher (P = 0.05) compared with the six meal condition (4,230 ± 757 pmol/l^.12 h). Meal frequency had no influence on the other biochemical variables.

Conclusions:

Collectively, a three and six isocaloric high‐carbohydrate meal frequency pattern differentially alters postprandial TAG and insulin concentrations but has no effect on postprandial cholesterol, oxidative stress, or antioxidant activity in obese women.     

The Signs of Maize? A Reconsideration of What δ13C Values Say about Palaeodiet in the Andean Region

Palaeodietary isotope studies have long assumed C₄ signals in South American archaeological populations to be due to the consumption of maize (Zea mays), which in turn, underlie interpretations important social processes. We presents δ¹³C data from wild plants (n?=?89) from the south coast of Peru, which may have been significant in the diets of humans and animals in the past. A combination of these with previously published results from domesticates of the Andean region (n?=?144) brings the proportion of C₄ species likely to have contributed to the human dietary isotopic signal, whether directly or indirectly, to almost one third. This undermines the widespread assumption that maize is the only plant to contribute a C₄ signal to diets. By considering both direct and indirect routes whereby C₄ plants may have contributed to the human isotopic signal we show the need for a reassessment of how palaeodietary studies are interpreted in the Andes, and perhaps elsewhere in the Americas.