High affinity inhibitors of the dopamine transporter (DAT): novel biotinylated ligands for conjugation to quantum dots

Compounds capable of inhibiting the dopamine transporter protein (DAT) that can be conjugated to cadmium selenide/zinc sulfide/core shell nanocrystals may be used to image the location and distribution of the DAT in neuronal cell membranes. This letter describes the synthesis of biotinylated analogs of the DAT antagonists GBR 12909 and GBR 12935 that can be attached to streptavidin coated cadmium selenide/zinc sulfide/core shell nanocrystals.     

The peroxisome: an update on mysteries

Peroxisomes contribute to several crucial metabolic processes such as β-oxidation of fatty acids, biosynthesis of ether phospholipids and metabolism of reactive oxygen species, which render them indispensable to human health and development. Peroxisomes are highly dynamic organelles that rapidly assemble, multiply and degrade in response to metabolic needs. In recent years, the interest in peroxisomes and their physiological functions has significantly increased. This review intends to highlight recent discoveries and trends in peroxisome research, and represents an update as well as a continuation of a former review article. Novel exciting findings on the biological functions, biogenesis, formation and degradation of peroxisomes, on peroxisomal dynamics and division, as well as on the interaction and cross-talk of peroxisomes with other subcellular compartments are addressed. Furthermore, recent findings on the role of peroxisomes in the brain are discussed.     

High-resolution mapping reveals linkage between genes in common bean cultivar Ouro Negro conferring resistance to the rust,anthracnose, and angular leaf spot diseases

Key message

Co-segregation analysis and high-throughput genotyping using SNP, SSR, and KASP markers demonstrated genetic linkage between Ur-14 and Co-3 ⁴ /Phg-3 loci conferring resistance to the rust, anthracnose and angular leaf spot diseases of common bean.

Abstract

Rust, anthracnose, and angular leaf spot are major diseases of common bean in the Americas and Africa. The cultivar Ouro Negro has the Ur-14 gene that confers broad spectrum resistance to rust and the gene cluster Co-3 ⁴ /Phg-3 containing two tightly linked genes conferring resistance to anthracnose and angular leaf spot, respectively. We used co-segregation analysis and high-throughput genotyping of 179 F_2:3 families from the Rudá (susceptible) × Ouro Negro (resistant) cross-phenotyped separately with races of the rust and anthracnose pathogens. The results confirmed that Ur-14 and Co-3 ⁴ /Phg-3 cluster in Ouro Negro conferred resistance to rust and anthracnose, respectively, and that Ur-14 and the Co-3 ⁴ /Phg-3 cluster were closely linked. Genotyping the F_2:3 families, first with 5398 SNPs on the Illumina BeadChip BARCBEAN6K_3 and with 15 SSR, and eight KASP markers, specifically designed for the candidate region containing Ur-14 and Co-3 ⁴ /Phg-3, permitted the creation of a high-resolution genetic linkage map which revealed that Ur-14 was positioned at 2.2 cM from Co-3 ⁴ /Phg-3 on the short arm of chromosome Pv04 of the common bean genome. Five flanking SSR markers were tightly linked at 0.1 and 0.2 cM from Ur-14, and two flanking KASP markers were tightly linked at 0.1 and 0.3 cM from Co-3 ⁴ /Phg-3. Many other SSR, SNP, and KASP markers were also linked to these genes. These markers will be useful for the development of common bean cultivars combining the important Ur-14 and Co-3 ⁴ /Phg-3 genes conferring resistance to three of the most destructive diseases of common bean.

     

Organismal differences in post-translational modifications in histones H3 and H4

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of histones play an important role in many cellular processes, notably gene regulation. Using a combination of mass spectrometric and immunobiochemical approaches, we show that the PTM profile of histone H3 differs significantly among the various model organisms examined. Unicellular eukaryotes, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) and Tetrahymena thermophila (Tet), for example, contain more activation than silencing marks as compared with mammalian cells (mouse and human), which are generally enriched in PTMs more often associated with gene silencing. Close examination reveals that many of the better-known modified lysines (Lys) can be either methylated or acetylated and that the overall modification patterns become more complex from unicellular eukaryotes to mammals. Additionally, novel species-specific H3 PTMs from wild-type asynchronously grown cells are also detected by mass spectrometry. Our results suggest that some PTMs are more conserved than previously thought, including H3K9me1 and H4K20me2 in yeast and H3K27me1, -me2, and -me3 in Tet. On histone H4, methylation at Lys-20 showed a similar pattern as H3 methylation at Lys-9, with mammals containing more methylation than the unicellular organisms. Additionally, modification profiles of H4 acetylation were very similar among the organisms examined.     

Fragile X related protein 1 isoforms differentially modulate the affinity of fragile X mental retardation protein for G-quartet RNA structure

Fragile X syndrome, the most frequent form of inherited mental retardation, is due to the absence of expression of the Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP), an RNA binding protein with high specificity for G-quartet RNA structure. FMRP is involved in several steps of mRNA metabolism: nucleocytoplasmic trafficking, translational control and transport along dendrites in neurons. Fragile X Related Protein 1 (FXR1P), a homologue and interactor of FMRP, has been postulated to have a function similar to FMRP, leading to the hypothesis that it can compensate for the absence of FMRP in Fragile X patients. Here we analyze the ability of three isoforms of FXR1P, expressed in different tissues, to bind G-quartet RNA structure specifically. Only the longest FXR1P isoform was found to be able to bind specifically the G-quartet RNA, albeit with a lower affinity as compared to FMRP, whereas the other two isoforms negatively regulate the affinity of FMRP for G-quartet RNA. This result is important to decipher the molecular basis of fragile X syndrome, through the understanding of FMRP action in the context of its multimolecular complex in different tissues. In addition, we show that the action of FXR1P is synergistic rather than compensatory for FMRP function.     

Molecular machinery of mitochondrial dynamics in yeast

Mitochondria are amazingly dynamic organelles. They continuously move along cytoskeletal tracks and frequently fuse and divide. These processes are important for maintenance of mitochondrial functions, for inheritance of the organelles upon cell division, for cellular differentiation and for apoptosis. As the machinery of mitochondrial behavior has been highly conserved during evolution, it can be studied in simple model organisms, such as yeast. During the past decade, several key components of mitochondrial dynamics have been identified and functionally characterized in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These include the mitochondrial fusion and fission machineries and proteins required for maintenance of tubular shape and mitochondrial motility. Taken together, these findings reveal a comprehensive picture that shows the cellular processes and molecular components required for mitochondrial inheritance and morphogenesis in a simple eukaryotic cell.     

Variation in human hair ultrastructure among three biogeographic populations

Human scalp hairs are often examined microscopically to study the variation and diversity among a range of visible morphological traits. In this study, we focused on the ultrastructure of human scalp hair within its keratinized matrix, emphasizing, the density and distribution of melanosomes, variation in cuticle thickness within populations, and the relationship of hair fiber ultrastructure with biogeographic ancestry. We used transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to visualize hair cross-sections and generate micron-scale resolution images for analysis of particle morphology and the layered hair matrix. Our results revealed considerable variation in all parameters examined, including the relationship of ultrastructure to biogeographic ancestry. Among the three metapopulations studied (European, African, and East Asian), we identified hair cross-sectional shape, cuticle dimensions, and melanosome distribution as traits that reveal statistically significant ancestry-related patterns. This study establishes trait patterns in hair morphology and ultrastructure among three biogeographically defined metapopulations to improve the current understanding of human variation in hair form and establish a foundation for future studies on the genetic and developmental bases of phenotypic variation in hair ultrastructure related to genotype.     

东方蜜蜂微孢子虫侵染过程中nce-miR-34537和靶基因PIP5KI的表达谱

【目的】本研究旨在对前期鉴定到的nce-miR-34537进行表达和序列验证,预测nce-miR-34537的靶基因并明确其分子特性,进而检测nce-miR-34537及其靶基因在东方蜜蜂微孢子虫(Nosema ceranae)侵染意大利蜜蜂(Apis mellifera ligustica)工蜂过程的表达谱,为进一步探究nce-miR-34537调控东方蜜蜂微孢子虫侵染的功能和作用机制提供基础。【方法】通过Stem-loop-RT-PCR和Sanger测序验证nce-miR-34537的表达和序列。通过生物信息学软件预测nce-miR-34537的靶基因PIP5KI(I型磷脂酰肌醇4-磷酸-5-激酶基因)的理化性质等分子特性和保守基序,并构建基于氨基酸序列的系统进化树。采用RT-qPCR检测nce-miR-34537及其靶基因的表达谱。【结果】nce-miR-34537在东方蜜蜂微孢子虫孢子中真实存在和表达。nce-miR-34537共靶向PIP5KI等151个基因。PIP5KI蛋白的分子式为C₈₈₂H_{1 364}N₂₂₆