Expression patterns and association analysis of the porcine DHX58 gene

RIG-1 signalling is responsible for the detection of cytoplasmic viral RNA molecules. DEXH (Asp-Glu-X-His) box polypeptide 58 (encoded by DHX58) is a negative regulator of the RIG-1 signalling pathway. In human, the DHX58 gene can be upregulated and can inhibit the RIG-1 signalling pathway during viral infection. In this study, porcine DHX58 gene expression patterns were studied. According to our results, the porcine DHX58 gene was upregulated not only by the stimulation of Poly I:C but also by the stimulation of 1ipopolysaccharides (LPS). One polymorphism (g.4919G>C), detected in the ninth intron, was significantly associated with some blood parameters including the red cell distribution width of 1-day-old pigs and white blood cell counts, lymphocyte absolute counts, and platelet distribution width of 17-day-old pigs (P < 0.05). Moreover, the individuals with the genotype GG have a significantly higher mean white blood cell count than individuals with genotype CC or GC (P < 0.05). Our study indicates that DHX58 is an important gene that is associated with the immune response in swine.     

Fine‐scale Population Genetic Structure of Two Dioecious Indian Keystone Species,Ficus hispida and Ficus exasperata (Moraceae)

Although Ficus (Moraceae) is a keystone plant genus in the tropics, providing resources to many frugivorous vertebrates, its population genetic structure, which is an important determinant of its long‐term survival, has rarely been investigated. We examined the population genetic structure of two dioecious fig species (Ficus hispida and Ficus exasperata) in the Indian Western Ghats using co‐dominant nuclear microsatellite markers. We found high levels of microsatellite genetic diversity in both species. The regression slopes between genetic relationship coefficients (f_ij) and spatial distances were significantly negative in both species indicating that, on average, individuals in close spatial proximity were more likely to be related than individuals further apart. Mean parent–offspring distance (σ) calculated using these slopes was about 200 m in both species. This should be contrasted with the very long pollen dispersal distances documented for monoecious Ficus species. Nevertheless, overall population genetic diversity remained large suggesting immigrant gene flow. Further studies will be required to analyze broader scale patterns.     

Space use and genetic structure do not maintain color polymorphism in a species with alternative behavioral strategies

Space use including territoriality and spatial arrangement within a population can reveal important information on the nature, dynamics, and evolutionary maintenance of alternative strategies in color polymorphic species. Despite the prevalence of color polymorphic species as model systems in evolutionary biology, the interaction between space use and genetic structuring of morphs within populations has rarely been examined. Here, we assess the spatial and genetic structure of male throat color morphs within a population of the tawny dragon lizard, Ctenophorus decresii. Male color morphs do not differ in morphology but differ in aggressive and antipredator behaviors as well as androgen levels. Despite these behavioral and endocrine differences, we find that color morphs do not differ in territory size, with their spatial arrangement being essentially random with respect to each other. There were no differences in genetic diversity or relatedness between morphs; however, there was significant, albeit weak, genetic differentiation between morphs, which was unrelated to geographic distance between individuals. Our results indicate potential weak barriers to gene flow between some morphs, potentially due to nonrandom pre‐ or postcopulatory mate choice or postzygotic genetic incompatibilities. However, space use, spatial structure, and nonrandom mating do not appear to be primary mechanisms maintaining color polymorphism in this system, highlighting the complexity and variation in alternative strategies associated with color polymorphism.     

Inhibition of myeloid differentiation by inhibitors of ADP-ribosylation

Inhibitors of ADP-ribosylation inhibited the myeloid differentiation of murine myelomonocytic leukemia, WEHI-3BD+ cells induced by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Benzamide, at 2.0 mM, inhibited 50% of the WEHI-3BD+ cell differentiation but had no significant effect on the proliferation. However, benzylaminododecylguanine hydrochloride and p-methoxylbenzylaminodecamethylene guanidine sulfate at 2.0 and 2.2 microM, respectively, inhibited 50% of proliferation but had no effect at all on differentiation. The differential effects of inhibitors provide a model to study the role of ADP-ribosylation in myeloid differentiation.     

Stimulation of the protein synthetic process by adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate and hexose phosphates in gel-filtered rabbit reticulocyte lysates.

The addition of 0.167 to 4.0 mM cAMP to gel-filtered rabbit reticulocyte lysates stimulates the initial rate and the extent of polypeptide synthesis. The stimulation is at the initiation step of polypeptide synthesis as measured by the (i) increased dipeptide, methionyl-valine, accumulation in the presence of the specific initiation inhibitor, pactamycin, and (ii) increased formation of the 40 S and 80 S initiation complex when gel-filtered lysates are incubated with [35S]Met-tRNAFMet. Furthermore, a synergistic stimulation of protein synthesis is observed when cAMP and hexose phosphates (which alone elicit a 1.8-fold stimulation of protein synthesis) are added simultaneously to gel-filtered rabbit reticulocyte lysates. These results indicate that cAMP and hexose phosphates are both essential to maintain the high rate of initiation.