Mapping the ATP-binding domain of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) with coumarin- and isocoumarin-derived inhibitors

Replacement of the core heterocycle of a defined series of chromen-4-one DNA-PK inhibitors by the isomeric chromen-2-one (coumarin) and isochromen-1-one (isocoumarin) scaffolds was investigated. Structure–activity relationships for DNA-PK inhibition were broadly consistent, albeit with a reduction of potency compared with the parent chromenone.     

Recent developments in effector biology of filamentous plant pathogens

Filamentous pathogens, such as plant pathogenic fungi and oomycetes, secrete an arsenal of effector molecules that modulate host innate immunity and enable parasitic infection. It is now well accepted that these effectors are key pathogenicity determinants that enable parasitic infection. In this review, we report on the most interesting features of a representative set of filamentous pathogen effectors and highlight recent findings. We also list and describe all the linear motifs reported to date in filamentous pathogen effector proteins. Some of these motifs appear to define domains that mediate translocation inside host cells.     

Joining forces in the quest for orthologs

A report of the 24th International Conference on Yeast Genetics and Molecular Biology, Manchester, UK, 19-24 July 2009.     

The chelating effect of citric acid,oxalic acid,amino acids and Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria on phytoremediation of Cu,Zn, and Cr from soil using Suaeda vera

Phytoextraction is a green technique for the removal of soil contaminants by plants uptake with the subsequent elimination of the generated biomass. The halophytic plant Suaeda vera Forssk. ex J.F.Gmel. is an native Mediterranean species able to tolerate and accumulate salts and heavy metals in their tissues. The objective of this study was to explore the potential use of S. vera for soil metal phytoextraction and to assess the impact of different chelating agents such as natural organic acids (oxalic acid [OA], citric acid [CA]), amino acids (AA) and Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria (PFB) on the metal uptake and translocation. After 12 months, the highest accumulation of Cu was observed in the root/stem of PFB plots (17.62/8.19 mg/kg), in the root/stem of CA plots for Zn (31.16/23.52 mg/kg) and in the root of OA plots for Cr (10.53 mg/kg). The highest accumulation of metals occurred in the roots (27.33–50.76 mg/kg). Zn was the metal that accumulated at the highest rates in most cases. The phytoextraction percentages were higher for Cu and Zn (～2%) with respect to Cr (～1%). The percentages of metal removal from soil indicate the need to monitor soil properties, to recognize the influence of each treatment and to increase the concentration of bioavailable metals by the use of agricultural management practices aimed at promoting plant growth.     

Age-dependent changes in 24-hour rhythms of catecholamine content and turnover in hypothalamus, corpus striatum and pituitary gland of rats injected with Freund's adjuvant

Background  

Little information is available on the circadian sequela of an immune challenge in the brain of aged rats. To assess them, we studied 24-hour rhythms in hypothalamic and striatal norepinephrine (NE) content, hypothalamic and striatal dopamine (DA) turnover and hypophysial NE and DA content, in young (2 months) and aged (18–20 months) rats killed at 6 different time intervals, on day 18^th after Freund's adjuvant or adjuvant's vehicle administration.     

QTL‐seq: rapid mapping of quantitative trait loci in rice by whole genome resequencing of DNA from two bulked populations

The majority of agronomically important crop traits are quantitative, meaning that they are controlled by multiple genes each with a small effect (quantitative trait loci, QTLs). Mapping and isolation of QTLs is important for efficient crop breeding by marker‐assisted selection (MAS) and for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the traits. However, since it requires the development and selection of DNA markers for linkage analysis, QTL analysis has been time‐consuming and labor‐intensive. Here we report the rapid identification of plant QTLs by whole‐genome resequencing of DNAs from two populations each composed of 20–50 individuals showing extreme opposite trait values for a given phenotype in a segregating progeny. We propose to name this approach QTL‐seq as applied to plant species. We applied QTL‐seq to rice recombinant inbred lines and F₂ populations and successfully identified QTLs for important agronomic traits, such as partial resistance to the fungal rice blast disease and seedling vigor. Simulation study showed that QTL‐seq is able to detect QTLs over wide ranges of experimental variables, and the method can be generally applied in population genomics studies to rapidly identify genomic regions that underwent artificial or natural selective sweeps.