Sex and side differences and correlations between quantitative palmar characteristics in a sample Sardinian population

Differences between the sexes and between the sides and the correlations between four quantitative characteristics of palmar dermatoglyphics in a sample population of 809 individuals (418 males and 391 females) from the city of Cagliari, Sardinia, are tested. Males have a greater number of ridges than females, shown by a greater a-b ridge count and A-d ridge count, and a more transverse slope of the main lines, shown by a greater main line index and papillary number. The left palm shows a greater number of ridges than the right palm between the A line and the triradius d and between the triradii a and b, with a lower main line index and papillary number. The a-b ridge count has a negative correlation with the main line index and with the papillary number and a positive one with the A-d ridge count; these correlations are greater in the left palms, especially in the males.     

Can biochemical traits bridge the gap between genomics and plant performance? A study in rice under drought

The possibility of introducing metabolic/biochemical phenotyping to complement genomics-based predictions in breeding pipelines has been considered for years. Here we examine to what extent and under what environmental conditions metabolic/biochemical traits can effectively contribute to understanding and predicting plant performance. In this study, multivariable statistical models based on flag leaf central metabolism and oxidative stress status were used to predict grain yield (GY) performance for 271 indica rice (Oryza sativa) accessions grown in the field under well-watered and reproductive stage drought conditions. The resulting models displayed significantly higher predictability than multivariable models based on genomic data for the prediction of GY under drought (Q² = 0.54–0.56 versus 0.35) and for stress-induced GY loss (Q² = 0.59–0.64 versus 0.03–0.06). Models based on the combined datasets showed predictabilities similar to metabolic/biochemical-based models alone. In contrast to genetic markers, models with enzyme activities and metabolite values also quantitatively integrated the effect of physiological differences such as plant height on GY. The models highlighted antioxidant enzymes of the ascorbate–glutathione cycle and a lipid oxidation stress marker as important predictors of rice GY stability under drought at the reproductive stage, and these stress-related variables were more predictive than leaf central metabolites. These findings provide evidence that metabolic/biochemical traits can integrate dynamic cellular and physiological responses to the environment and can help bridge the gap between the genome and the phenome of crops as predictors of GY performance under drought.

Biochemical traits outperform the explanatory power of genetic markers when used as variables in models for predicting yield performance in rice under drought stress.     

Fingerprinting of Mixed Bacterial Strains and BIOLOG Gram-Negative (GN) Substrate Communities by Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus Sequence-PCR (ERIC-PCR)

PCR-based genomic fingerprinting by use of enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus primers (ERIC-PCR) was evaluated for its use in fingerprinting DNA of mixed Gram-negative bacterial strains and BIOLOG Gram-negative (GN) microplate substrate communities. ERIC-PCR fingerprints of six different pure bacterial strains and a combined mixture of the strains were compared with fingerprints obtained by two more established methods: amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) and random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis (RAPD-PCR). The ERIC-PCR fingerprint of the mixed strains was highly reproducible and was more species-specific and representative of the individual strain fingerprints than the ARDRA and RAPD-PCR fingerprints, respectively. ERIC-PCR fingerprinting of model and rhizosphere BIOLOG GN substrate communities also provided clearly distinguishable fingerprints. Results of this study suggest that ERIC-PCR represents a rapid and highly discriminating method for fingerprinting DNA of mixed Gram-negative bacterial strains and BIOLOG GN substrate communities. Received: 11 September 1998 / Accepted: 29 October 1998     

Asymmetric synthesis of the four diastereoisomers of a novel non-steroidal farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist: Role of the chirality on the biological activity

An asymmetric synthetic strategy was designed for the preparation of the four possible diastereoisomers of 3,6-dimethyl-1-(2-methylphenyl)-4-(4-phenoxyphenyl)-4,8-dihydro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-e][1,4]thiazepin-7-one, a non-steroidal FXR agonist, we recently discovered following a virtual screening approach. The results obtained from an AlphaScreen assay clearly demonstrated that only the isomer endowed with 4R,6S absolute configuration is responsible for the biological activity. A deep investigation of the different putative binding modes adopted by these enantiomerically pure ligands using computational modeling studies confirmed the enantioselectivity of FXR towards this class of molecules.     

Genomic imbalances are confined to non-proliferating cells in paediatric patients with acute myeloid leukaemia and a normal or incomplete karyotype

Leukaemia is often associated with genetic alterations such as translocations, amplifications and deletions, and recurrent chromosome abnormalities are used as markers of diagnostic and prognostic relevance. However, a proportion of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) cases have an apparently normal karyotype despite comprehensive cytogenetic analysis. Based on conventional cytogenetic analysis of banded chromosomes, we selected a series of 23 paediatric patients with acute myeloid leukaemia and performed whole genome array comparative genome hybridization (aCGH) using DNA samples derived from the same patients. Imbalances involving large chromosomal regions or entire chromosomes were detected by aCGH in seven of the patients studied. Results were validated by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to both interphase nuclei and metaphase chromosomes using appropriate bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) probes. The majority of these copy number alterations (CNAs) were confirmed by FISH and found to localize to the interphase rather than metaphase nuclei. Furthermore, the proliferative states of the cells analyzed by FISH were tested by immunofluorescence using an antibody against the proliferation marker pKi67. Interestingly, these experiments showed that, in the vast majority of cases, the changes appeared to be confined to interphase nuclei in a non-proliferative status.     

Purification, Characterization, and Functional Role of a Novel Extracellular Protease from Pleurotus ostreatus

A new extracellular protease (PoSl; Pleurotus ostreatus subtilisin-like protease) from P. ostreatus culture broth has been purified and characterized. PoSl is a monomeric glycoprotein with a molecular mass of 75 kDa, a pI of 4.5, and an optimum pH in the alkaline range. The inhibitory profile indicates that PoSl is a serine protease. The N-terminal and three tryptic peptide sequences of PoSl have been determined. The homology of one internal peptide with conserved sequence around the Asp residue of the catalytic triad in the subtilase family suggests that PoSl is a subtilisin-like protease. This hypothesis is further supported by the finding that PoSl hydrolysis sites of the insulin B chain match those of subtilisin. PoSl activity is positively affected by calcium. A 10-fold decrease in the K_m value in the presence of calcium ions can reflect an induced structural change in the substrate recognition site region. Furthermore, Ca²⁺ binding slows PoSl autolysis, triggering the protein to form a more compact structure. These effects have already been observed for subtilisin and other serine proteases. Moreover, PoSl protease seems to play a key role in the regulation of P. ostreatus laccase activity by degrading and/or activating different isoenzymes.     

Molecular phylogeny and biogeography of the eastern Tapaculos (Aves: Rhinocryptidae: Scytalopus, Eleoscytalopus): Cryptic diversification in Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Scytalopus and the recently erected Eleoscytalopus are among the Neotropical groups of birds whose taxonomy is most difficult to resolve given their very conservative morphology. We investigated the phylogeny and species limits of Eleoscytalopus and the eastern Scytalopus using two mitochondrial genes and two nuclear introns of multiple individuals from all species of these groups. The eastern Scytalopus are separated in three well defined clades also supported by morphological or vocal characteristics, although the relationships between these clades could not be resolved. We found several allopatric and very divergent lineages in these genera whose characteristics are consistent with species-level divergence, especially in S. speluncae. The great divergence between E. psychopompus and its sister species supports the former as a valid species. Our results corroborate the importance of the Bahia refuge as an avian center of endemism.     

Vascular injury and modulation of MAPKs: a targeted approach to therapy of restenosis

Cardiovascular interventions that restore blood circulation to ischemic areas are accompanied by significant tissue damage, which triggers a vascular remodeling response that may result in restenosis of blood conduits. Early endothelial dysfunction and/or impairment is the early event of a cascade that leads, through an inflammatory response and dedifferentiation of medial smooth muscle cells with abundant deposition of extracellular matrix, to intimal hyperplasia. Here we present the molecular and cellular mechanisms of intimal hyperplasia secondary to vascular injury and discuss the potential role of therapeutic modulation of the intracellular signaling pathways that differentially effect vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells. The role of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and the outcome of their modulation in these processes are highlighted here as they provide a promising therapeutic target for prevention of restenosis.