Development of highly polymorphic SNP markers from the complexity reduced portion of maize [Zea mays L.] genome for use in marker-assisted breeding

The duplicated and the highly repetitive nature of the maize genome has historically impeded the development of true single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in this crop. Recent advances in genome complexity reduction methods coupled with sequencing-by-synthesis technologies permit the implementation of efficient genome-wide SNP discovery in maize. In this study, we have applied Complexity Reduction of Polymorphic Sequences technology (Keygene N.V., Wageningen, The Netherlands) for the identification of informative SNPs between two genetically distinct maize inbred lines of North and South American origins. This approach resulted in the discovery of 1,123 putative SNPs representing low and single copy loci. In silico and experimental (Illumina GoldenGate (GG) assay) validation of putative SNPs resulted in mapping of 604 markers, out of which 188 SNPs represented 43 haplotype blocks distributed across all ten chromosomes. We have determined and clearly stated a specific combination of stringent criteria (>0.3 minor allele frequency, >0.8 GenTrainScore and >0.5 Chi_test100 score) necessary for the identification of highly polymorphic and genetically stable SNP markers. Due to these criteria, we identified a subset of 120 high-quality SNP markers to leverage in GG assay-based marker-assisted selection projects. A total of 32 high-quality SNPs represented 21 haplotypes out of 43 identified in this study. The information on the selection criteria of highly polymorphic SNPs in a complex genome such as maize and the public availability of these SNP assays will be of great value for the maize molecular genetics and breeding community.     

Different protective roles in vitro of alpha- and beta-domains of growth inhibitory factor (GIF) on neuron injuries caused by oxygen free radicals.

It was well known that beta-amyloid (Abeta) and tau protein play an important role in pathological procedure of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a senile dementia. The growth inhibitory factor (GIF, also named metallothionein-3, MT-3) had been demonstrated to inhibit the outgrowth of cortex neurons in the medium with extract of the AD patient brain. In our experiments, it was found that the neurons of cortex and the PC12 (pheochromocytoma) cells could be protected from the cytotoxicity of beta-amyloid 25-35 in presence of GIF and its domains. Additionally, GIF can scavenge the hydroxyl radical efficiently in CytC-VitC radical producing system and its alpha-domain shown more effective potentials than its beta-domain. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectra also show that the alpha-domain has more potential ability for eliminating reactive oxygen free radicals than its beta-domain. The results suggest that GIF could act as an efficient scavenger against free radicals in vitro and the alpha-domain in GIF molecule shows more potential in protecting against reactive oxygen species injury than the beta-domain.     

两系杂交小麦恢复系MR168抗条锈病基因遗传分析及分子标记定位

小麦条锈病是影响杂交小麦普及推广的重要因素。文章利用基因推导法和SSR分子标记技术,研究了温光型两系杂交小麦恢复系MR168的抗条锈性遗传规律及其控制基因染色体位置。结果表明,MR168对CY29、CY31、CY32、CY33等条锈菌生理小种表现高抗至免疫;对SY95-71/MR168杂交组合的正反交F1、BC1、F2和F3群体分单株接种鉴定显示,MR168对CY32号小种的抗性受1对显性核基因控制,该抗病基因来源于春小麦品种辽春10号。利用集群分离分析法(Bulked segregant analysis,BSA)和简单重复序列(Simple sequence repeat,SSR)分子标记分析抗病亲本MR168、感病亲本SY95-71及183个F2代单株,发现了与MR168抗条锈病基因连锁的5个微卫星标记Xgwm273、Xgwm18、Xbarc187、Xwmc269、Xwmc406,并将该基因初步定位在1BS着丝粒附近,暂命名为YrMR168;构建了包含YrMR168的SSR标记遗传图谱,距离YrMR168最近的两个微卫星位点是Xgwm18和Xbarc187,遗传距离分别为1.9 cM和2.4 cM,这两个微卫星标记可用于杂交小麦抗条锈病分子标记辅助育种。     

杂交水稻及其“三系”线粒体DNA的AP—PCR指纹图谱

为了研究水稻（Ｏｒｙｚａ ｓａｔｉｖａ Ｌ．）细胞质雄性不育（ＣＭＳ）与线粒体基因组的关系,应用ＡＰ－ＰＣＲ 分析,用７ 个任意单引物对６ 种水稻品系线粒体ＤＮＡ 进行了扩增。水稻线粒体ＤＮＡ 的ＡＰ－ＰＣＲ 产物可分为三种类型：（１）所有供试品系均能扩增的片段,它们代表了线粒体ＤＮＡ 在进化上的保守性序列。有４ 个引物检测到这类片段。（２）２ 个以上水稻品系共同出现而在全部供试材料间存在差异的扩增片段,这类片段是检测水稻线粒体ＤＮＡ多态性的主要来源。（３）一种细胞质类型所特有的扩增片段,从引物Ｒ２ 和Ｖ５ 的扩增产物中发现了这类片段,它们可能与ＣＭＳ有关联。另外,ＷＡ型不育系珍汕９７Ａ 与其杂种之间在６ 个引物的扩增图谱上均存在不同程度的差异,说明两者的线粒体ＤＮＡ序列结构可能存在某种差别     

猪眼角膜的生物力学特性

对猪眼角膜进行了有系统的单轴拉伸实验,通过实验来确定其极限强度,断裂能、显著非线性的应力-应变关系和滞后环.在不同的应变水平下进行了应为松弛实验并确定了连续松弛谱的各参数.从极限强度、断裂能和应力松弛来看,角膜的纵向和横向之间无重大的差异,据此,各向同性假定可用于初步的角膜力学模型.     

中亚热带不同母质和森林类型土壤生态酶化学计量特征

土壤生态酶化学计量比作为衡量土壤微生物能量和养分资源限制状况的重要指标,是当前生态学领域研究的热点之一,然而关于土壤母质和森林类型在调控土壤生态酶化学计量比中所扮演的角色及作用机制尚不明确。分别以砂岩和花岗岩发育的米槠林和杉木林土壤为研究对象,通过测定土壤物理化学性质、微生物量碳、氮和磷及土壤酶活性,探讨不同母岩发育的米槠林和杉木林土壤生态酶化学计量特征。结果显示,花岗岩发育的土壤酸性磷酸酶活性(AP)显著高于砂岩发育的土壤,βG:AP和NAG:AP的值显著低于砂岩发育的土壤。其中,花岗岩发育的米槠林土壤βG:AP和NAG:AP的值都显著高于杉木林,砂岩发育的土壤βG:AP和NAG:AP的值在两个林分间呈相反的结果。结果表明土壤生态酶化学计量比能够反映不同森林土壤之间磷养分限制强度,花岗岩比砂岩土壤受磷养分限制更严重。相关分析表明,土壤酶活性及生态酶化学计量比与土壤生物因子和非生物因子密切相关,而冗余分析发现土壤pH、总磷(TP)和微生物量碳(MBC)分别解释土壤酶活性和生态酶化学计量比变异的56.9%、27.9%和12.3%。未来森林经营及管理应考虑土壤母质和森林类型差异对区域森林土壤养分循环的影响。     

Organization and possible origin of the Bari-1 cluster in the heterochromatic h39 region of Drosophila melanogaster

The molecular organization of the heterochromatic h39 region of the Drosophila melanogaster second chromosome has been investigated by studying two BAC clones identified both by Southern blotting and by FISH experiments as containing tandem arrays of Bari1, a transposable element present only in this region. Such BAC clones appear to contain different portions of the h39 region since they differ in the DNA sequences flanking the Bari1 repeats on both sides. Thus, the 80 Bari1 copies estimated to be present in the h39 region are split into at least two separated subregions. On the basis of the analysis of the flanking sequences a possible mechanism depending on an aberrant activity of the Bari1 transposase is proposed for the genesis of the heterochromatic tandem arrays of the element.     

Solid Phase Synthesis of Phosphopeptides Incorporating 2,2-Dimethyloxazolidine Pseudoproline Analogs: Evidence for <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis> Leu-Pro Peptide Bonds in Stat3 Inhibitors

To answer the question of whether the conformation of the Leu-Pro bond is cis or trans in Ac-pTyr-Leu-Pro-Gln-Thr-Val-NH₂ when complexed with the SH2 domain of Stat3, we substituted 2,2-dimethyloxazolidines derived from serine (Ser(Ψ^Me,Mepro)) and threonine (Thr(Ψ^Me,Mepro)) for proline. The 2,2-dimethyloxazolidine and 2,2-dimethylthiazolidine pseudoproline (ΨPro) analogs induce predominantly cis Xxx-ΨPro peptide bonds. As these ΨPro analogs are acid-labile, the phosphopeptides were synthesized using Fmoc-based SPPS using unprotected phosphotyrosine and 4-hydroxybenzoate as the linker that allowed release from the support by alkaline ammonolysis, conditions that kept the oxazolidine rings intact. Incorporation of Ser(Ψ^Me,Mepro) resulted in 69% cis Leu-ΨPro bond content in aqueous solution whereas that for Thr(Ψ^Me,Mepro) analog was 63%. Affinities for Stat3 were 3–5 fold lower than the lead compound and were inversely correlated with cis content. Thus we conclude that the Leu-Pro peptide bond is trans when the peptide is bound to Stat3.