Analysis of the Genetic Diversity in the Vigna minima Complex and Related Species in East Asia

Vigna subgenus Ceratotropis (V. angularis, V. minima, V. nakashimae, V. reflexo-pilosa, V. riukiuensis and V. umbellata) was investigated using AFLP methodology. Species in the V. minima complex, V. minima, V. nakashimae and V. riukiuensis, had greater intra-specific polymorphism than the other species analyzed. Vigna species from East Asia analysed could be clearly distinguished. The relationship between species was consistent using different analyses and showed V. riukiuensis and V. nakashimae are closely related. The phenetic distance between species (1-Jaccard's similarity coefficient) ranged from 0.279 between V. riukiuensis and V. nakashimae to 0.688 between V. reflexo-pilosa and V. minima. Genetic distance based on inferred nucleotide diversity (π) ranged from 0.012 between V. riukiuensis and V. nakashimae and 0.053 between both V. riukiuensis and V. nakashimae and V. reflexo-pilosa. The diversity (Ha) within species, based on Shannon's information index of phenotypic diversity, was lowest in V. reflexo-pilosa (0.006) and highest in V. minima (0.095). Korean and Japanese populations of V. nakashimae had distinct polymorphism. Vigna riukiuensis populations from Miyako island were genetically different from populations of other islands of southern Okinawa. Received 21 April 2000/ Accepted in revised form 5 September 2000     

Identification of a new fragrance allele in soybean and development of its functional marker

We have previously reported an association between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in exon 10 of GmBADH2 gene and fragrance in vegetable soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivar Kaori. The SNP causes amino acid substitution in a highly conserved motif of GmBADH2 protein, which is necessary for functional activity of the protein. In this study, we sequenced GmBADH2 in another fragrant soybean cultivar Chamame and discovered a new fragrance allele, which has a 2-bp (TT) deletion in exon 10. The deletion causes a reading frame shift and introduces a premature stop codon, which could abolish protein function and result in fragrance. The old and new fragrance-promoting alleles were designated Gmbadh2-1 and Gmbadh2-2, respectively. A simple and co-dominant functional marker was developed for genotyping Gmbadh2-2. The marker can discriminate between fragrant and non-fragrant soybeans and distinguish the two different fragrant soybeans, and thus is useful for routine genotyping for the fragrance trait in breeding programs. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in an F₂ population using Chamame as the fragrance donor revealed that the location of the fragrance QTL nearly coincided with that of the functional marker, confirming the association between GmBADH2 and fragrance in Chamame.     

Development and Evaluation of a Parenting Resilience Elements Questionnaire (PREQ) Measuring Resiliency in Rearing Children with Developmental Disorders

We developed a parenting resilience elements questionnaire (PREQ) measuring the degree to which mothers possess elements that aid in adapting to challenges and difficulties related to children with developmental disorders (DD). A total of 424 parents of children with DD were recruited from five medical institutes. Psychometric properties of PREQ were evaluated using data of 363 mothers of children with DD. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis was performed, predicting depressive symptoms and parenting behavior with PREQ subscales, a general health questionnaire, and the total difficulties score of a strength and difficulties questionnaire. Factor analysis revealed three reliable factors: “knowledge of the child’s characteristics,” “perceived social supports,” and “positive perceptions of parenting.” Moreover, multiple regression analysis showed that “knowledge of the child’s characteristics” was associated with parenting behavior, whereas “perceived social supports” predicted depressive symptoms; “positive perceptions of parenting” influenced both parenting behavior and depressive symptoms. These findings indicated that the PREQ may be used as a scale measuring resiliency in mothers of children with DD and is useful for evaluating their parenting ability in clinical interventions.     

Nucleosides and Nucleotides. 232. Synthesis of 2′-C-Methyl-4′-thiocytidine: Unexpected Anomerization of the 2′-Keto-4′-thionucleoside Precursor

The synthesis of 2′-C-methyl-4′-thiocytidine (16) is described. Since the 2′-keto-4′-thiocytidine derivative 2β unexpectedly isomerized to 2α and the methylation of 2β proceeded predominantly from the less hindered α-face to give 7, the desired product 16 was synthesized via the Pummerer reaction of the sulfoxide 14 and N ⁴ -benzoylcytosine.     

Variation in the nod gene RFLPs, nucleotide sequences of 16S rRNA genes, Nod factors, and nodulation abilities of Bradyrhizobium strains isolated from Thai Vigna plants

The analysis of nod genes and 16S rRNA gene regions, Nod factors, and nodulation abilities of Brady rhizobium strains isolated from tropical Thai Vigna species is reported. A total of 55 Bradyrhizobium strains isolated from two cultivated and six wild Vigna species growing in central and northern Thailand were evaluated. Thai Vigna spp. Bradyrhizobium strains showed higher levels of nod gene RFLP diversity compared with Thai soybean Brady rhizobium strains or temperate strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium elkanii. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene region using selected strains also suggests a high genetic diversity of the Thai Vigna-Bradyrhizobium association. Based on thin-layer chromatography analysis, Nod factors produced by tropical Thai Vigna spp. Brady rhizobium strains are more diverse than temperate Japanese and US strains of B. japonicum and B. elkanii. Thai Vigna spp. Bradyrhizobium strains showed variation in nodulation ability and affinity, estimated by the number of normal nodules versus green nodules in an inoculation study. There are some Bradyrhizobium-host combinations that could not form any nodules, suggesting that some genetic differentiation has evolved in their host range. However, most of the Thai Vigna spp. Bradyrhizobium strains formed nodules on the cultigens soybean (Glycine max), mungbean (Vigna radiata), azuki bean (Vigna angularis), and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). This is the first study on Bradyrhizobium strains associated with a range of cultivated and wild Vigna and reveals that these Bradyrhizobium strains are diverse and may provide novel sources of useful variation for the improvement of symbiotic systems.     

CD81 expression is important for the permissiveness of Huh7 cell clones for heterogeneous hepatitis C virus infection

Huh7 cells constitute a permissive cell line for cell culture of hepatitis C virus (HCV) particles. However, our Huh7 line shows limited permissiveness for HCV. Thus, in this study we set out to determine which host factors are important for conferring permissiveness. To analyze the limited permissiveness of our Huh7 cells, 70 clones were obtained after single-cell cloning of parental Huh7 cells. The cloned Huh7 cells exhibited various levels of HCV pseudoparticles and JFH-1 virus infection efficiency, and some clones were not permissive. A subgenomic replicon was then transfected into the cloned Huh7 cells. While the replication efficiencies differed among the cloned Huh7 cells, these efficiencies did not correlate with infectious permissibility. Flow cytometry showed that CD81, scavenger receptor class B type I, and low-density-lipoprotein receptor expression on the cell surfaces of the Huh7 clones differed among the clones. Interestingly, we found that all of the permissive cell clones expressed CD81 while the nonpermissive cell clones did not. To confirm the importance of CD81 expression for HCV permissiveness, CD81 was then transiently and stably expressed on a nonpermissive Huh7 cell clone, which was consequently restored to HCV infection permissiveness. Furthermore, permissiveness was down-regulated upon transfection of CD81 silencing RNA into a CD81-positive cell clone. In conclusion, CD81 expression is an important determinant of HCV permissiveness of Huh7 cell clones harboring different characteristics.     

Distribution and severity of spontaneous lesions in the neuroepithelium and Bowman’s glands in mouse olfactory mucosa: age-related progression

Age-related changes were examined in the distribution and severity of spontaneous lesions in the neuroepithelium and Bowman’s glands in mouse olfactory mucosa. The olfactory mucosa of female ICR mice at postnatal ages from 10 days to 16 months were investigated histologically by hematoxylin and eosin staining, high-iron diamine-Alcian blue (HID-AB) staining, and immunohistochemistry for olfactory marker protein (OMP), βIII tubulin (βIIIT), and Ki67. The lesions in the neuroepithelium and Bowman’s glands were quantitatively assessed by morphometric analyses of sections stained with anti-OMP antibody or HID-AB. The first appearance of neuroepithelial abnormality was observed in the dorsomedial portion of the olfactory mucosa in 5-month-old mice. The distribution and severity of lesions progressed with increasing age. In mildly affected epithelium in which OMP-positive olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) were present but in smaller amounts, the numbers of βIIIT-positive and Ki67-positive neuroepithelial cells tended to be increased, indicating that neurogenesis was upregulated in these areas. In contrast, severely affected epithelium in which OMP-positive ORNs were virtually absent showed high variability in the numbers of βIIIT- and Ki67-positive cells among the areas examined, probably reflecting differences in the capacity of the basal cells remaining in the affected area to generate new neuronal cells. Histological analysis with HID-AB revealed that spontaneous lesions in Bowman’s glands also occurred in aged mouse olfactory mucosa. Lesions in the neuroepithelium and underlying Bowman’s glands tended to be spatially co-localized, suggesting a close association between pathogeneses in these two structures. Moreover, lesions in Bowman’s glands were associated with changes in the biochemical composition of mucus on the olfactory mucosa. This information should prove useful in improving the understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying age-related changes in the peripheral olfactory system. This work was supported by grants from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (nos. 14770886, 16790987 and 18799002; K. Kondo) and a grant from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (Comprehensive Research on Aging and Welfare, no. H13-choju-012; K. Nibu).     

Selective synthesis of 1,6-anhydro-β-d-mannopyranose and -mannofuranose using microwave-assisted heating

The dehydration of d-mannose and the demethanolization of methyl-α-d-mannopyranoside (MαMP) or methyl-α-d-mannofuranoside (MαMF) were examined using microwave-assisted heating for a 3-min irradiation at temperature from 120 to 280 °C in ordinary or dry sulfolane without any catalyst. The microwave-assisted heating of MαMP and MαMF smoothly proceeded to selectively afford the anhydromannoses, 1,6-anhydro-β-d-mannopyranose (AMP) and 1,6-anhydro-β-d-mannofuranose (AMF), respectively, in high yields. For MαMP in ordinary sulfolane at 240 °C, AMP was selectively obtained in the AMF:AMP ratio of 4:96, whereas AMF was the major product at the AMF:AMP ratio of 97:3 from MαMF in dry sulfolane at 220 °C.     

The genetics of domestication of yardlong bean, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. ssp. unguiculata cv.-gr. sesquipedalis

Background and Aims

The genetics of domestication of yardlong bean [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. ssp. unguiculata cv.-gr. sesquipedalis] is of particular interest because the genome of this legume has experienced divergent domestication. Initially, cowpea was domesticated from wild cowpea in Africa; in Asia a vegetable form of cowpea, yardlong bean, subsequently evolved from cowpea. Information on the genetics of domestication-related traits would be useful for yardlong bean and cowpea breeding programmes, as well as comparative genome study among members of the genus Vigna. The objectives of this study were to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for domestication-related traits in yardlong bean and compare them with previously reported QTLs in closely related Vigna.

Methods

Two linkage maps were developed from BC₁F₁ and F₂ populations from the cross between yardlong bean (V. unguiculata ssp. unguiculata cv.-gr. sesquipedalis) accession JP81610 and wild cowpea (V. unguiculata ssp. unguiculata var. spontanea) accession TVnu457. Using these linkage maps, QTLs for 24 domestication-related traits were analysed and mapped. QTLs were detected for traits related to seed, pod, stem and leaf.

Key Results

Most traits were controlled by between one and 11 QTLs. QTLs for domestication-related traits show co-location on several narrow genomic regions on almost all linkage groups (LGs), but especially on LGs 3, 7, 8 and 11. Major QTLs for sizes of seed, pod, stem and leaf were principally located on LG7. Pleiotropy or close linkage of genes for the traits is suggested in these chromosome regions.

Conclusions

This is the first report of QTLs for domestication-related traits in yardlong bean. The results provide a foundation for marker-assisted selection of domestication-related QTLs in yardlong bean and enhance understanding of domestication in the genus Vigna.