Genomes of 12 fig wasps provide insights into the adaptation of pollinators to fig syconia

Figs and fig pollinators are one of the few classic textbook examples of obligate pollination mutualism. The specific dependence of fig pollinators on the relatively safe living environment with sufficient food sources in the enclosed fig syconia implies that they are vulnerable to habitat changes. However, there is still no extensive genomic evidence to reveal the evolutionary footprint of this long-term mutually beneficial symbiosis in fig pollinators. In fig syconia, there are also non-pollinator species. The non-pollinator species differ in their evolutionary and life histories from pollinators. We conducted comparative analyses on 11 newly sequenced fig wasp genomes and one previously published genome. The pollinators colonized the figs approximately 66.9 million years ago, consistent with the origin of host figs. Compared with nonpollinators, many more genes in pollinators were subject to relaxed selection. Seven genes were absent in pollinators in response to environmental stress and immune activation. Pollinators had more streamlined gene repertoires in the innate immune system, chemosensory toolbox, and detoxification system. Our results provide genomic evidence for the differentiation between pollinators and nonpollinators. The data suggest that owing to the long-term adaptation to the fig, some genes related to functions no longer required are absent in pollinators.     

Proposal of Ensifer psoraleae sp. nov., Ensifer sesbaniae sp. nov., Ensifer morelense comb. nov. and Ensifer americanum comb. nov

In a survey of rhizobia associated with the native legumes in Yunnan Province, China, seven and nine strains isolated from the root nodules of Psoralea corylifolia, Sesbania cannabina and Medicago lupulina were respectively classified into the novel genomic species groups I and II in the genus Ensifer (former Sinorhizobium) based on the sequence analyses of the 16S rRNA gene. Analyses of concatenated housekeeping genes (atpD, recA and glnII) further revealed that they were distinct lineages in the genus, and group I was most similar to Ensifer terangae and Ensifer garamanticus (both with 94.2% similarity), while group II was most similar to Ensifer adhaerens (94.0%). These groups could be distinguished from closely related species by DNA–DNA relatedness, MALID-TOF MS, cellular fatty acid profiles and a series of phenotypic characters. Therefore, two novel species were proposed: Ensifer psoraleae sp. nov. (seven strains, type strain CCBAU 65732^T = LMG 26835^T = HAMBI 3286^T) and Ensifer sesbaniae sp. nov. (nine strains, type strain CCBAU 65729^T = LMG 26833^T = HAMBI 3287^T). They had a DNA G + C mol% (T_m) of 58.9 and 60.4, respectively. Both of the type strains formed effective nodules on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and their hosts of origin. In addition, the previously described species Sinorhizobium morelense and Sinorhizobium americanum were renamed as Ensifer morelense comb. nov. and Ensifer americanum comb. nov. according to the accumulated data from different studies.     

Trifluoromethanesulfonamide, diphenylphosphoramide and diphenylthiophosphoramide of (R)-(+)-1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-diamine as chiral catalyst ligands for the titanium(IV) alkoxide-promoted addition of diethylzinc to aldehydes

Chiral trifluoromethanesulfonamide 4, diphenylphosphoramides 5 and 6, and phenylthiophosphoramide 7 were prepared from the reaction of trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride, diphenylphosphinic chloride, and diphenylthiophosphinic chloride with (R)-(+)-1,1'-binaphthyl-2, 2'-diamine, respectively. They were used as catalytic chiral ligands in the asymmetric addition reaction of diethylzinc to aldehydes in the presence of titanium(IV) isopropoxide to give the corresponding sec-alcohols with 43-54%, 18-22%, 30-34%, and 52-64% enantiomeric excess, respectively. Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Positional cloning and characterization reveal the role of a miRNA precursor gene ZmLRT in the regulation of lateral root number and drought tolerance in maize

Lateral roots play essential roles in drought tolerance in maize(Zea mays L.). However, the genetic basis for the variation in the number of lateral roots in maize remains elusive. Here, we identified a major quantitative trait locus(QTL),q LRT5-1, controlling lateral root number using a recombinant inbred population from a cross between the maize lines Zong3(with many lateral roots) and 87-1(with few lateral roots).Fine-mapping and functional analysis determined that the candidate gene for qLRT...     

A selective androgen receptor modulator that reduces prostate tumor size and prevents orchidectomy-induced bone loss in rats

The pharmacological activity of JNJ-26146900 is described. JNJ-26146900 is a nonsteroidal androgen receptor (AR) ligand with tissue-selective activity in rats. The compound was evaluated in in vitro and in vivo models of AR activity. It binds to the rat AR with a K(i) of 400nM and acts as a pure androgen antagonist in an in vitro cell-based assay. Its in vitro profile is similar to the androgen antagonist bicalutamide (Casodex). In intact rats, JNJ-26146900 reduces ventral prostate weight with an oral potency (ED(50)) of 20-30mg/kg, again comparable to that of bicalutamide. JNJ-26146900 prevented prostate tumor growth in the Dunning rat model, maximally inhibiting growth at a dose of 10mg/kg. It slowed tumor growth significantly in a CWR22-LD1 mouse xenograft model of human prostate cancer. It was tested in aged male rats for its ability to prevent bone loss and loss of lean body mass following orchidectomy. After 6 weeks of dosing, bone volume decreased by 33% in orchidectomized versus intact vehicle-treated rats with a probability (P) of less than 0.05, as measured by micro-computerized tomography analysis. At a dose of 30mg/kg, JNJ-26146900 significantly reduced castration-induced tibial bone loss as indicated by the following parameters: bone volume, trabecular connectivity, trabecular number and spacing between trabeculae. Bone mineral density decreased from 229+/-34mg/cm(3) of hydroxyapatite to 166+/-26mg/cm(3) following orchidectomy, and was maintained at 194+/-20mg/cm(3) with JNJ-26146900 treatment (P<0.05 relative to orchidectomy alone). Using magnetic resonance imaging, the compound was found to partially prevent orchidectomy-induced loss of lean body mass. Our data show that selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) have the potential for anabolic effects on bone and muscle while maintaining therapeutic efficacy in prostate cancer.     

Synthesis and identification of novel oxa-steroids as progesterone receptor antagonists

A novel series of oxa-steroids 6 derived from (8S, 13S, 14R)-7-oxa-estra-4,9-diene-3,17-dione 1 have been synthesized and identified as potent and selective progesterone receptor antagonists. These novel oxa-steroids showed similar potency to mifepristone. Preliminary SAR study resulted in the most potent 17-phenylethynyl oxa-steroid 6i wih an IC(50) of 1.4nM. In contrast to the equipotent mifepristone toward the progesterone receptor (PR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR), compound 6i had over 200-fold selectivity for PR over GR.     

Generation of Peanut Drought Tolerant Plants by Pingyangmycin-Mediated In Vitro Mutagenesis and Hydroxyproline-Resistance Screening

In order to enlarge the potential resources of drought-tolerant peanuts, we conducted in vitro mutagenesis with Pingyangmycin (PYM) as the mutagen as well as directed screening on a medium supplemented with Hydroxyproline (HYP). After being extracted from mature seeds (cv. Huayu 20), the embryonic leaflets were cultured on somatic embryogenesis-induction medium with 4 mg/L PYM and the generated embryos were successively transferred to a germination medium with 4 and then 8 mmol/L HYP to screen HYP-tolerant plantlets. After that, these plantlets were grafted and transplanted to the experimental field. In the next generation, all seeds were sown in the field, and phenotype variation and trait segregation can be observed in most of the offspring (M₂ generation). The M₃ generation individuals were subjected to drought stress at the seedling stages. The activities of SOD and POD were substantially increased in eight offspring of 11 HYP-tolerant, regenerated plants than in their mutagenic parents. To determine the correlation between mutant phenotypes and genomic modification, we carried out a comparison of the DNA polymorphisms between the mutagenic parents and 13 M₃ generation individuals from different HYP-tolerant, regenerated plants with SSR primers. Results showed that most mutants and parent plants had signs of polymorphisms. Under drought stress, some M₃ generation individuals of 10 original HYP-tolerant, regenerated plants produced more pods than the mutagenic parent; twenty individuals among them produced >60 g pods/plant. M₄-generation seeds were tested for quality characteristics by Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIS) and nine individuals with higher protein content (>30%) and 21 individuals with higher oil content (>58%) were screened. We concluded that the use of PYM-based in vitro mutagenesis in combination with directed screening with HYP is effective for the creation of potential drought-tolerant mutants of peanut.     

Specific binding of integrin alphaIIbbeta3 to RGD peptide immobilized on a nitrilotriacetic acid chip: a surface plasmon resonance study

Nitrilotriacetic acid has been routinely used in protein purification for its high affinity for His-tagged protein in the presence of Ni²⁺. Here we reported a type of nitrilotriacetic acid chip (NTA-chip) prepared by transferring NTA-DOGS containing a lipid monolayer to a 50 nm thick gold layer deposited on a glass slide. The surface binding ability of His-tagged protein and regeneration of NTA chip were characterized using a synthetic polypeptide P1 (His-His-His-His-His-His--aminohexanoic-Gly-Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser). The effect of divalent cations on integrin binding affinity for RGD ligand was investigated after P1 had been immobilized onto the sensor chip. The results show that the NTA-chip is a useful tool to immobilize His-tagged protein on the chip surface, and can provide a functional orientation for further investigation. The results also show that removing of Ca²⁺ bound on low affinity sites or adding of Mn²⁺ can increase the binding ability of integrin.