Genetic components and major QTL confer resistance to bean pyralid (Lamprosema indicata Fabricius) under multiple environments in four RIL populations of soybean

Bean pyralid (BP; Lamprosema indicata Fabricius) is one of the major leaf-feeding insects that affect soybean crops in central and southern China. Four recombinant inbred line populations (KY, WT, XG and SX) were tested during 2004-2006 in Nanjing, China, to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance to BP on the basis of data for rolled leaflet percentage under field infestation conditions. The mapping was performed using QTL Network V2.0 and checked with Windows QTL Cartographer V2.5 and IciMapping V2.2. The results showed that 81-92?% of the phenotypic variation was accounted for by additive QTL (27-43?%), epistatic QTL pairs (5-13?%), and collective unmapped minor QTL (38-58?%). In total, 17 QTL were detected on 11 linkage groups, of which two had additive effects, six had both additive and epistatic effects, and nine had only epistatic effects. Eight epistatic QTL pairs were observed, of which three pairs involved two QTL with additive effects, one involved one QTL with additive effect, and four involved no QTL with additive effects. Different genetic structures for BP resistance were found among the populations. Eight QTL (five additive and three epistatic pairs) were detected in KY, ten QTL (four additive and five epistatic pairs) were detected in WT, and only one additive QTL was detected in both the XG and the SX populations. BP12-1 and BP1-1 are major QTL, with the former accounting for 15, 31, and 50?% of the total genetic variation (including epistasis) in KY, WT, and XG, respectively, and the latter accounting for 13 and 32?% of the total genetic variation in KY and SX, respectively. The additive?×?year and epistasis?×?year interaction effects were negligible, indicating that the QTL were stable over the years. Because 41-68?% of the total genetic variation could not be accounted for by these QTL, the use of both identified QTL and unmapped minor QTL in breeding for BP resistance should be considered.     

Inheritance and Gene Mapping of Resistance to Soybean Mosaic Virus Strain SC14 in Soybean

Soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is one of the most broadly distributed diseases worldwide. It causes severe yield loss and seed quality deficiency in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). SMV Strain SC14 isolated from Shanxi Province, China, was a newly identified virulent strain and can infect Kefeng No. 1, a source with wide spectrum resistance. In the present study, soybean accessions, PI96983, Qihuang No. 1 and Qihuang No. 22 were identified to be resistant (R) and Nannong 1138‐2, Pixianchadou susceptible (S) to SC14. Segregation analysis of PI96983 x Nannong 1138‐2 indicated that a single dominant gene (designated as R_SC14) controlled the resistance to SC14 at both V₂ and R₁ developmental stages. The same results were obtained for the crosses of Qihuang No. 1 × Nannong 1138‐2 and Qihuang No. 22 × Nannong 1138‐2 as in PI96983 × Nannong 1138‐2 at V₂ stage, but at R₁ stage, the F₁ performed as necrosis (a susceptible symptom other than mosaic), F₂ segregated in a ratio of 1R:2N:1S, and the progenies of necrotic (N) F₂ individuals segregated also in R, N and S. It indicated that a single gene (designated as R_SC14Q, to be different from that of PI96983) controlled the resistance to SC14, its dominance was the same as in PI96983 × Nannong 1138‐2 (without symptoms) at V₂ stage and not the same at R₁ stage. The tightly linked co‐dominant simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker Satt334 indicated that all the heterozygous bands were completely corresponding to the necrotic F₂ individuals, or all the necrotic F₂ individuals were heterozygotes. It was inferred that necrosis might be due to the interaction among SMV strains, resistance genes, genetic background of the resistance genes, and plant development stage. Furthermore, the bulked segregant analysis (BSA) of SSR markers was conducted to map the resistance genes. In F2of PI96983 × Nannong 1138‐2, five SSR markers, Sat_297, Sat_234, Sat_154, Sct_033 and Sat_120, were found closely linked to RSC14, with genetic distances of 14.5 cM, 11.3cM, 4.3cM,3.2cM and 6cM, respectively. In F₂ of Qihuang No. 1 × Nannong 1138‐2, three SSR markers, Sat_234, Satt334 and Sct_033, tightly linked to R_SC14Q with genetic distances of 7.2 cM, 1.4 cM and 2.8 cM, respectively. Based on the integrated joint map by Cregan et al. (1999), both RScMand R_SC14Q were located between Sat_234 and Sct_033 on linkage with group F of soybean, with their distances from Sct_033 at the same side being 3.2 cM and 2.8 cM, respectively. Therefore, RSC14and R_SC14Q might be on a same locus. The obtained information provides a basic knowledge for marker‐assisted selection of the resistance gene in soybean breeding programs and fine mapping and map‐based cloning of the resistance gene. (Managing editor: Li‐Hui Zhao)     

Genome Sequence of the Welan Gum-Producing Strain Sphingomonas sp. ATCC 31555

Sphingomonas sp. strain ATCC 31555 can produce an anionic heteropolysaccharide, welan gum, which shows excellent stability and viscosity retention even at high temperatures. Here we present a 4.0-Mb assembly of its genome sequence. We have annotated 10 coding sequences (CDSs) responsible for the welan gum biosynthesis and 55 CDSs related to monosaccharide metabolism.     

Analysis of lncRNA–mRNA networks after MEK1/2 inhibition based on WGCNA in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) responds poorly to treatment. Efforts have been exerted to prolong the survival time of PDA, but the 5-year survival rates remain disappointing. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of PDA development is significant. MEK/ERK pathway signaling has been proven to be important in PDA. lncRNA–mRNA networks have become a vital part of molecular mechanisms in the MEK/ERK pathway. Herein, weighted gene coexpression network analysis was used to investigate the coexpressed lncRNA–mRNA networks in the MEK/ERK pathway based on GSE45765. Differently expressed long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA) were found and 10 modules were identified based on coexpression profiles. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes were then performed to analyze the coexpressed lncRNA and mRNA in different modules. PDA cells and tissues were used to validate the analysis results. Finally, we found that NONHSAT185150.1 and B4GALT6 were negatively correlated with MEK1/2. By analyzing GSE45765, the genome-wide profiles of lncRNA–mRNA network after MEK1/2 was established, which might aid the development of drug-targeting MEK1/2 and the investigation of diagnostic markers.     

Clinical Application of an Innovative Multiplex-Fluorescent-Labeled STRs Assay for Prader-Willi Syndrome and Angelman Syndrome

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and Angelman syndrome (AS) are two clinically distinct neurodevelopmental disorders caused by absence of paternally or maternally expressed imprinted genes on chr15q11.2-q13.3. Three mechanisms are known to be involved in the pathogenesis: microdeletions, uniparental disomy (UPD) and imprinting defects. Both disorders are difficult to be definitely diagnosed at early age if no available molecular cytogenetic tests. In this study, we identified 5 AS patients with the maternal deletion and 26 PWS patients with paternal deletion on chr15q11-q13 by using an innovative multiplex-fluorescent-labeled short tandem repeats (STRs) assay based on linkage analysis, and validated by the methylation-specific PCR and array comparative genomic hybridization techniques. More interesting, one of these PWS patients was confirmed as maternal uniparental isodisomy by the STR linkage analysis. The phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of these individuals were also presented. Our results indicate that the new linkage analysis is much faster and easier for large-scale screening deletion and uniparental disomy, thus providing a valuable method for early diagnosis of PWS/AS patients, which is critical for genetic diagnosis, management and improvement of prognosis.     

Complete Genome Sequence of a Coxsackievirus B3 Isolated from a Sichuan Snub-Nosed Monkey

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is an enterovirus in the family Picornaviridae that is significant to human health, being associated with myocarditis, aseptic meningitis, and pancreatitis, among other conditions. In addition to humans, Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys can be infected and killed by CVB3. Here, we report the first complete genome sequence of a novel coxsackievirus B3 strain, SSM-CVB3, which was isolated from a deceased Sichuan snub-nosed monkey with severe myocarditis. Our findings may aid in understanding the evolutionary characteristics and molecular pathogenesis of this virus.