Identification and characterization of LPLAT7 as an sn-1-specific lysophospholipid acyltransferase

The main fatty acids at the sn-1 position of phospholipids (PLs) are saturated or monounsaturated fatty acids such as palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), and oleic acid (C18:1) and are constantly replaced, like unsaturated fatty acids at the sn-2 position. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism underlying the replacement of fatty acids at the sn-1 position, i.e., the sn-1 remodeling. Previously, we established a method to evaluate the incorporation of fatty acids into the sn-1 position of lysophospholipids (lyso-PLs). Here, we used this method to identify the enzymes capable of incorporating fatty acids into the sn-1 position of lyso-PLs (sn-1 lysophospholipid acyltransferase [LPLAT]). Screenings using siRNA knockdown and recombinant proteins for 14 LPLATs identified LPLAT7/lysophosphatidylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (LPGAT1) as a candidate. In vitro, we found LPLAT7 mainly incorporated several fatty acids into the sn-1 position of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE), with weak activities toward other lyso-PLs. Interestingly, however, only C18:0-containing phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were specifically reduced in the LPLAT7-mutant cells and tissues from knockout mice, with a concomitant increase in the level of C16:0- and C18:1-containing PC and PE. Consistent with this, the incorporation of deuterium-labeled C18:0 into PLs dramatically decreased in the mutant cells, while deuterium-labeled C16:0 and C18:1 showed the opposite dynamic. Identifying LPLAT7 as an sn-1 LPLAT facilitates understanding the biological significance of sn-1 fatty acid remodeling of PLs. We also propose to use the new nomenclature, LPLAT7, for LPGAT1 since the newly assigned enzymatic activities are quite different from the LPGAT1s previously reported.     

Robustness of Shrunken Predictors in Stratified Populations

The effect of assuming an inadequate superpopulation model in stratified sampling is studied when a shrinkage technique is used. The robustness is close related with the balance of the strata samples. This theoretical problem is present in studies of ecology. The results obtained enable to estimate the abundance of plankton when salinity is the auxiliary variable and expert's advise, in coast experimental stations networks, is used for fixing the superpopulation model.     

Method of Construction of Partial Tetra-Allel Crosses and Its Analysis

The present paper deals with a method of construction of Partial Tetra-allel Crosses (PTAC) through Doubly Balanced Incomplete Block Designs (DBIBD) and its analysis by explicit expressions of symmetric sums approach. We have also established an inequality for the estimability of individual design components of variance in the Hinkelmann's double crosses model. A simulation study has been carried out to compare the precision of the estimates of genetic components of variance based on the two different PTAC with same experimental size. A list of DBIBD's will be useful in the construction of PTAC has given in the appendix.     

Analysis of Line × Tester Progenies Compared in Orthogonally Supplemented Efficiency Balanced Incomplete Block Design

An analysis of experimental design is suggested for comparing progenies of lineXtester mating system. The line × tester mating system is an expanded top-cross mating system, used frequently in practice. This system is of interest for breeders dealing with estimation and testing of general as well as specific combining abilities. In the suggested design, treatments, i.e. hybrids obtained in crosses, and testers are studied in orthogonally supplemented incomplete block design. Analysis of variance has been presented, estimators of expected values for progenies and for testers have been given, testing of hypotheses concerning contrasts of interest for progenies, lines and testers has been discussed. Estimators of effects of general and specific combining abilities as well as tests permitting for testing the significance of various genetic parameters, have also been given.     

A balanced polymorphism in biomass resource allocation controlled by phosphate in grasses screened through arsenate tolerance

The response of arsenate and non-tolerant Holcus lanatus L. phenotypes, where tolerance is achieved through suppression of high affinity phosphate/arsenate root uptake, was investigated under different growth regimes to investigate why there is a polymorphism in tolerance found in populations growing on uncontaminated soil. Tolerant plants screened from an arsenic uncontaminated population differed, when grown on the soil from the populations origin, from non-tolerants, in their biomass allocation under phosphate fertilization: non-tolerants put more resources into tiller production and down regulated investment in root production under phosphate fertilization while tolerants tillered less effectively and did not alter resource allocation to shoot biomass under phosphate fertilization. The two phenotypes also differed in their shoot mineral status having higher concentrations of copper, cadmium, lead and manganese, but phosphorus status differed little, suggesting tight homeostasis. The polymorphism was also widely present (40%) in other wild grass species suggesting an important ecological role for this gene that can be screened through plant root response to arsenate.     

Evolution in heterogeneous populations: From migration models to fixation probabilities

Although dispersal is recognized as a key issue in several fields of population biology (such as behavioral ecology, population genetics, metapopulation dynamics or evolutionary modeling), these disciplines focus on different aspects of the concept and often make different implicit assumptions regarding migration models. Using simulations, we investigate how such assumptions translate into effective gene flow and fixation probability of selected alleles. Assumptions regarding migration type (e.g. source-sink, resident pre-emption, or balanced dispersal) and patterns (e.g. stepping-stone versus island dispersal) have large impacts when demes differ in sizes or selective pressures. The effects of fragmentation, as well as the spatial localization of newly arising mutations, also strongly depend on migration type and patterns. Migration rate also matters: depending on the migration type, fixation probabilities at an intermediate migration rate may lie outside the range defined by the low- and high-migration limits when demes differ in sizes. Given the extreme sensitivity of fixation probability to characteristics of dispersal, we underline the importance of making explicit (and documenting empirically) the crucial ecological/ behavioral assumptions underlying migration models.