Low nucleotide diversity at the pal1 locus in the widely distributed Pinus sylvestris.

Nucleotide polymorphism in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) was studied in the gene encoding phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (Pal, EC 4.3.1.5). Scots pine, like many other pine species, has a large current population size. The observed levels of inbreeding depression suggest that Scots pine may have a high mutation rate to deleterious alleles. Many Scots pine markers such as isozymes, RFLPs, and microsatellites are highly variable. These observations suggest that the levels of nucleotide variation should be higher than those in other plant species. A 2,045-bp fragment of the pal1 locus was sequenced from five megagametophytes each from a different individual from each of four populations, from northern and southern Finland, central Russia, and northern Spain. There were 12 segregating sites in the locus. The synonymous site overall nucleotide diversity was only 0.0049. In order to compare pal1 with other pine genes, sequence was obtained from two alleles of 11 other loci (total length 4,606 bp). For these, the synonymous nucleotide diversity was 0.0056. These estimates are lower than those from other plants. This is most likely because of a low mutation rate, as estimated from between-pine species synonymous site divergence. In other respects, Scots pine has the characteristics of a species with a large effective population. There was no linkage disequilibrium even between closely linked sites. This resulted in high haplotype diversity (14 different haplotypes among 20 sequences). This could also give rise to high per locus diversity at the protein level. Divergence between populations in the main range was low, whereas an isolated Spanish population had slightly lower diversity and higher divergence than the remaining populations.     

Production of ethylene glycol or glycolic acid from D-xylose in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - The important platform chemicals ethylene glycol and glycolic acid were produced via the oxidative D-xylose pathway in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae....     

The Fragaria vesca Homolog of SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS1 Represses Flowering and Promotes Vegetative Growth

In the annual long-day plant Arabidopsis thaliana, SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS1 (SOC1) integrates endogenous and environmental signals to promote flowering. We analyzed the function and regulation of the SOC1 homolog (Fragaria vesca [Fv] SOC1) in the perennial short-day plant woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca). We found that Fv SOC1 overexpression represses flower initiation under inductive short days, whereas its silencing causes continuous flowering in both short days and noninductive long days, similar to mutants in the floral repressor Fv TERMINAL FLOWER1 (Fv TFL1). Molecular analysis of these transgenic lines revealed that Fv SOC1 activates Fv TFL1 in the shoot apex, leading to the repression of flowering in strawberry. In parallel, Fv SOC1 regulates the differentiation of axillary buds to runners or axillary leaf rosettes, probably through the activation of gibberellin biosynthetic genes. We also demonstrated that Fv SOC1 is regulated by photoperiod and Fv FLOWERING LOCUS T1, suggesting that it plays a central role in the photoperiodic control of both generative and vegetative growth in strawberry. In conclusion, we propose that Fv SOC1 is a signaling hub that regulates yearly cycles of vegetative and generative development through separate genetic pathways.     

The Use of Atropine to Control Heart Rate Responses During Detomidine Sedation in Horses

Detomidine is a sedative-analgesic which has a pharmacological profile similar to xylazine. There is evidence that the sedative effects are mediated through alpha-2 adrenoceptors. Cardiopulmonary responses were determined using detomidine as the principal agent and as a preanesthetic prior to the induction of general anesthesia. Compatibility with guaifenesin, sodium thia-mylal and halothane were determined. As in the case of xylazine, detomidine produces a slowing of heart rates. This was found to be either sinus bradycardia or heart block. There may be a corresponding increase in systolic blood pressures. The respiratory pattern is altered through the arterial blood gases and pH data supported evidence of adequate ventilation. The heart rate response to detomidine without anticholinergic treatment was transient and related to he duration of drug action. Atropine sulfate, 0.02 mg/kg i.v. was effective in preventing or treating bradycardia or heart block from detomidine. Heart rates also increased during the administration of guaifenesin and sodium thia-mylal when given 50 min poisit-detomidine.