Quantitative trait loci pyramiding for fruit quality traits in tomato

Fruit quality is a major focus for most conventional and innovative tomato breeding strategies, with particular attention being paid to fruit antioxidant compounds. Tomatoes represent a major contribution to dietary nutrition worldwide and a reservoir of diverse antioxidant molecules. In a previous study, we identified two Solanum pennellii introgression lines (IL7-3 and IL12-4) harbouring quantitative trait loci (QTL) that increase the content of ascorbic acid (AsA), phenols and soluble solids (degrees Brix; °Bx) in tomato fruit. The purpose of the present work was to pyramid into cultivated varieties the selected QTL for enhanced antioxidant and °Bx content. To better understand the genetic architecture of each QTL, the two ILs were crossed to the recurrent parent M82 (ILH7-3 and ILH12-4) and between them (ILH7-3+12-4). F1 hybrids (ILH7-3+12-4) were then selfed up to obtain F3 progenies in order to stabilize the favourable traits at the homozygous condition. Species-specific molecular markers were identified for each introgressed region and allowed us to select four F2 genotypes carrying both introgressions at the homozygous condition. The F3 double homozygous plants displayed AsA, total phenols and °Bx content significantly higher than M82. Therefore, they may represent suitable genetic material for breeding schemes aiming to increase antioxidant content in tomato fruit.     

Extracellular Oxidase from the Neonothopanus nambi Fungus as a Promising Enzyme for Analytical Applications

The Protein Journal - The extracellular enzyme with oxidase function was extracted from the Neonothopanus nambi luminescent fungus by using mild processing of mycelium with β-glucosidase and...     

Blockchain-based e-cheque clearing framework with trust based consensus mechanism

Cluster Computing - The cheque based banking transactions are widely used all over the world. The reason is that it is a hustle free and trusted way of money transaction. The existing cheque...     

Localization of melatonin receptor 1 in mouse retina and its role in the circadian regulation of the electroretinogram and dopamine levels

Melatonin modulates many important functions within the eye by interacting with a family of G-protein-coupled receptors that are negatively coupled with adenylate cyclase. In the mouse, Melatonin Receptors type 1 (MT(1)) mRNAs have been localized to photoreceptors, inner retinal neurons, and ganglion cells, thus suggesting that MT(1) receptors may play an important role in retinal physiology. Indeed, we have recently reported that absence of the MT(1) receptors has a dramatic effect on the regulation of the daily rhythm in visual processing, and on retinal cell viability during aging. We have also shown that removal of MT(1) receptors leads to a small (3-4 mmHg) increase in the level of the intraocular pressure during the night and to a significant loss (25-30%) in the number of cells within the retinal ganglion cell layer during aging. In the present study we investigated the cellular distribution in the C3H/f(+/+) mouse retina of MT(1) receptors using a newly developed MT(1) receptor antibody, and then we determined the role that MT(1) signaling plays in the circadian regulation of the mouse electroretinogram, and in the retinal dopaminergic system. Our data indicate that MT(1) receptor immunoreactivity is present in many retinal cell types, and in particular, on rod and cone photoreceptors and on intrinsically photosensitive ganglion cells (ipRGCs). MT(1) signaling is necessary for the circadian rhythm in the photopic ERG, but not for the circadian rhythm in the retinal dopaminergic system. Finally our data suggest that the circadian regulation of dopamine turnover does not drive the photopic ERG rhythm.     

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy-causing Asp175asn and Glu180gly Tpm1 mutations shift tropomyosin strands further towards the open position during the ATPase cycle

To understand the molecular mechanism by which the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy-causing Asp175Asn and Glu180Gly mutations in α-tropomyosin alter contractile regulation, we labeled recombinant wild type and mutant α-tropomyosins with 5-iodoacetamide-fluorescein and incorporated them into the ghost muscle fibers. The orientation and mobility of the probe were studied by polarized fluorimetry at different stages of the ATPase cycle. Multistep alterations in the position and mobility of wild type tropomyosin on the thin filaments during the ATP cycle were observed. Both mutations were found to shift tropomyosin strands further towards the open position and to change the affinity of tropomyosin for actin, with the effect of the Glu180Gly mutation being greater than Asp175Asn, showing an increase in the binding strong cross-bridges to actin during the ATPase cycle. These structural changes to the thin filament are likely to underlie the observed increased Ca²⁺-sensitivity caused by these mutations which initiates the disease remodeling.     

Ring opening of acylated β-d-arabinofuranose 1,2,5-orthobenzoates with nucleophiles allows access to novel selectively-protected arabinofuranose building blocks

β-d-Arabinofuranose 1,2,5-orthobenzoates with 3-O-acetyl, 3-O-benzoyl, and 3-O-chloroacetyl groups were prepared in an efficient manner starting from readily available crystalline methyl 2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-α-d-arabinofuranoside, and ring-opening reactions of these compounds with O- and S-nucleophiles were studied. Optimized conditions leading to the formation of the respective monosaccharide adducts (up to 96% isolated yields) and to α-(1→5)-linked disaccharide thioglycosides with 5'-OH unprotected (up to 30% isolated yields) were found. Basing on these results, a novel approach for effective differentiation of 3,5-diol system and 2-hydroxy group in arabinofuranose thioglycosides was proposed. The selectively protected derivatives prepared are valuable building blocks for the assembly of linear and branched oligoarabinofuranosides.     

Ring opening of acylated β-d-arabinofuranose 1,2,5-orthobenzoates with nucleophiles allows access to novel selectively-protected arabinofuranose building blocks

β-d-Arabinofuranose 1,2,5-orthobenzoates with 3-O-acetyl, 3-O-benzoyl, and 3-O-chloroacetyl groups were prepared in an efficient manner starting from readily available crystalline methyl 2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-α-d-arabinofuranoside, and ring-opening reactions of these compounds with O- and S-nucleophiles were studied. Optimized conditions leading to the formation of the respective monosaccharide adducts (up to 96% isolated yields) and to α-(1→5)-linked disaccharide thioglycosides with 5′-OH unprotected (up to 30% isolated yields) were found. Basing on these results, a novel approach for effective differentiation of 3,5-diol system and 2-hydroxy group in arabinofuranose thioglycosides was proposed. The selectively protected derivatives prepared are valuable building blocks for the assembly of linear and branched oligoarabinofuranosides.     

The kinetics and mechanisms of reactions in the flow systems glycine–sodium trimetaphosphate–imidazoles: the crucial role of imidazoles in prebiotic peptide syntheses

Amino Acids - The kinetics of oligopeptides formation in the flow systems glycine–sodium trimetaphosphate–imidazole/N-methylimidazole at thermocyclic regime has been investigated by...     

A comprehensive assessment of methods for de-novo reverse-engineering of genome-scale regulatory networks

De-novo reverse-engineering of genome-scale regulatory networks is an increasingly important objective for biological and translational research. While many methods have been recently developed for this task, their absolute and relative performance remains poorly understood. The present study conducts a rigorous performance assessment of 32 computational methods/variants for de-novo reverse-engineering of genome-scale regulatory networks by benchmarking these methods in 15 high-quality datasets and gold-standards of experimentally verified mechanistic knowledge. The results of this study show that some methods need to be substantially improved upon, while others should be used routinely. Our results also demonstrate that several univariate methods provide a "gatekeeper" performance threshold that should be applied when method developers assess the performance of their novel multivariate algorithms. Finally, the results of this study can be used to show practical utility and to establish guidelines for everyday use of reverse-engineering algorithms, aiming towards creation of automated data-analysis protocols and software systems.