Limited dispersal and geographic barriers cause population differentiation and structuring in Begonia maxwelliana at both large and small scales

Background: Genetic divergence is one of the key processes in speciation. In the Begoniaceae, genetic divergence caused by limited gene flow may explain its high species diversity and endemicity. This hypothesis has been supported by past genetic work but there is a lack of empirical studies on the causes of limited gene flow.

Aim: To identify the causes of limited gene flow in Begonia.

Methods: We examined the genetic structure among the populations of Begonia maxwelliana at the macro- and micro-spatial scales using microsatellites, measured seed dispersal range and observed flowering phenology.

Results: Population differentiation and structuring were detected at both the macro- and micro-scales. Dispersal range was short, and all populations showed similar reproductive behaviour.

Conclusions: The strong population differentiation and structuring among the populations studied imply that they are evolutionarily significant units and possible candidates for speciation. Geographical barriers and limited seed dispersal restrict gene flow in the populations, and these factors may be responsible for the rapid speciation and large diversity in the family.     

Genetic individualization of sable (Martes zibellina L. 1758) using microsatellites

Genetic individualization based on non-invasive sampling is crucial for estimating the numbers of individuals in endangered mammalian populations. In sable (Martes zibellina)-poaching cases, identifying the number of animals involved is critical for determining the penalty. In addition, investigating animal numbers for wild sable populations requires genetic individualization when collecting several samples in neighboring regions. Microsatellites have been demonstrated to be reliable markers for individual identification. Thirty-three microsatellite loci derived from Mustelidae were selected to develop a genetic individualization method for sable. Three reference populations containing 54 unrelated sables were used to calculate allele number, allelic frequencies, and the polymorphic information content of each locus. The data were subsequently used to assess the validity of a combination of twelve loci for sable individualization. We defined twelve polymorphic loci that were easy to be amplified and genotyped. Four significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were observed among the 12?loci in the three populations. The match probability of an individual from the reference populations with a random individual based on the 12?loci was 1.37?×?10^?13. Using the combination of the twelve loci provides sufficient power to individualize sables considering the levels of microsatellite polymorphism observed. These loci were successfully applied to a case of sable poaching and provided valid evidence to determine the penalty. The genetic individualization of sable based on these loci might also be useful to investigate the numbers of animals in wild populations.     

Unconstrained gene flow between populations of a widespread epiphytic lichen Usnea subfloridana (Parmeliaceae,Ascomycota) in Estonia

Few studies have investigated the genetic diversity of populations of common and widespread lichenized fungi using microsatellite markers, especially the relationships between different measures of genetic diversity and environmental heterogeneity. The main aim of our study was to investigate the population genetics of a widespread and mainly clonally reproducing Usnea subfloridana at the landscape scale, focusing on the comparison of lichen populations within hemiboreal forest stands. Particular attention has been paid to the genetic differentiation of lichen populations in two geographically distinct regions in Estonia and the relationships between forest characteristics and measures of genetic diversity. We genotyped 578 Usnea thalli from eleven lichen populations using seven specific fungal microsatellite markers. Measures of genetic diversity (allelic richness, Shannon's information index, Nei's unbiased genetic diversity, clonal diversity, the number of multilocus genotypes, the number of private alleles, and the minimum number of colonization events) were calculated and compared between Usnea populations. Shared haplotypes, gene flow and AMOVA analyses suggest that unconstrained gene flow and exchange of multilocus genotypes exist between the two geographically remote regions in Estonia. Stand age, mean circumference of the host tree, size of forest site and tree species composition did not show any significant influence on allelic richness, Shannon's information index, Nei's unbiased genetic diversity, clonal diversity, the number of private alleles, and the minimum number of colonization events of U. subfloridana populations. Therefore it was concluded that other factors of habitat heterogeneity could probably have a more significant effect on population genetics of U. subfloridana populations.     

Improvement of Brazilian bioethanol production – Challenges and perspectives on the identification and genetic modification of new strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts isolated during ethanol process

In Brazil, bioethanol is produced by sucrose fermentation from sugarcane by Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a fed-batch process that uses high density of yeast cells (15–25 % of wet weight/v) and high sugar concentration (18–22 % of total sugars). Several research efforts have been employed to improve the efficiency of this process through the isolation of yeasts better adapted to the Brazilian fermentation conditions. Two important wild strains named CAT-1 and PE-2 were isolated during the fermentation process and were responsible for almost 60 % of the total ethanol production in Brazil. However, in the last decade the fermentative substrate composition was much modified, since new sugar cane crops were developed, the use of molasses instead of sugar cane juice increase and with the prohibition of burning of sugarcane prior harvest. As consequence, these previously isolated strains are being replaced by new wild yeasts in most of ethanol plants. In this new scenario the isolation of novel better adapted yeasts with improved fermentative characteristics is still a big challenge. Here, we discuss the main aspects of Brazilian ethanol production and the efforts for the selection, characterization and genetic modifications of new strains with important phenotypic traits such as thermotolerance.     

Genetic aberrations in macroautophagy genes leading to diseases

The catabolic process of macroautophagy, through the rapid degradation of unwanted cellular components, is involved in a multitude of cellular and organismal functions that are essential to maintain homeostasis. Those functions include adaptation to starvation, cell development and differentiation, innate and adaptive immunity, tumor suppression, autophagic cell death, and maintenance of stem cell stemness. Not surprisingly, an impairment or block of macroautophagy can lead to severe pathologies. A still increasing number of reports, in particular, have revealed that mutations in the autophagy-related (ATG) genes, encoding the key players of macroautophagy, are either the cause or represent a risk factor for the development of several illnesses. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the diseases and disorders currently known that are or could be caused by mutations in core ATG proteins but also in the so-called autophagy receptors, which provide specificity to the process of macroautophagy. Our compendium underlines the medical relevance of this pathway and underscores the importance of the eventual development of therapeutic approaches aimed at modulating macroautophagy.     

Old and new glycopeptide antibiotics: From product to gene and back in the post-genomic era

Glycopeptide antibiotics are drugs of last resort for treating severe infections caused by multi-drug resistant Gram-positive pathogens. First-generation glycopeptides (vancomycin and teicoplanin) are produced by soil-dwelling actinomycetes. Second-generation glycopeptides (dalbavancin, oritavancin, and telavancin) are semi-synthetic derivatives of the progenitor natural products. Herein, we cover past and present biotechnological approaches for searching for and producing old and new glycopeptide antibiotics. We review the strategies adopted to increase microbial production (from classical strain improvement to rational genetic engineering), and the recent progress in genome mining, chemoenzymatic derivatization, and combinatorial biosynthesis for expanding glycopeptide chemical diversity and tackling the never-ceasing evolution of antibiotic resistance.     

蚕豆主要数量性状的遗传主成份和数量分类

对50个蚕豆品种的7个数量性状进行了遗传主成份分析, 初步提出了评选蚕豆品种的遗传主成份标准,并筛选出18个综合性状优良的亲本品种。测定了50个蚕豆品种的遗传距离, 根据遗传距离大小,将50个蚕豆品种聚类为2群、 3类、9组。分类结果指出,蚕豆品种的遗传距离大小与地理差异有些似有一定关系,但在总体上,二者间无必然联系。 Abastract:Analysis of major Genetic component analysis was performed for 7 quantitative characters of 50 faba bean lines and according to the analysis,18 lines were selected as parents.The 50 lines were classified into 2 subpopulations,3 types and 9 groups according to their genetic distance.The results showed that there was seemly a correlation between geographical distribution and genetic distance,nevertheless most lines within the same cluster were close in genetic distance but far in geographic sites.     

林氏果蝇种群间mtDNA的比较研究

运用１０种限制性内切酶分析了林氏果蝇来自不同地区的２２个单雌系的线粒体ＤＮＡ限制性片段长度多态性。采自台湾省的ＴＡＷ３１４６．１与大多数采自广东的品系相同,而广东省品中则存在一定度的分化,ＤＨＳ３０７、３１５和ＮＫＳ９２３４仅在ＨｉｎｄⅢ的酶切位点上与其余单雌系不同;ＴＡＷ３１４６．１与来自缅甸中部的ＭＭＹ３０７,ＭＤＭＹ３２６之间的遗传距离为０．００２７４;ＭＭＹ３０７与ＭＭＹ３２６之间无差异。     

山羊品种间线粒体DNA限制性片段长度多态性研究

本试验利用ＡｐａⅠ、ＢａｍＨⅠ、ＢｃｌⅠ、ＢｇｌⅠ、ＢｇｌⅡ、ＣｌａⅠ、ＥｃｏＲⅠ、ＥｃｏＲⅤ、ＨａｅⅡ、ＨｉｎｄⅢ、ＫｐｎⅠＰｓｔⅠ、ＰｖｕⅡ、ＳａｃⅠ、ＳａｌⅠ、ＳｍａⅠ和ＸｈｏⅠ计１８种限制性内切酶,研究了来自欧洲,非洲及国内的５个山羊品种共计３３只个体的ｍｔＤＮＡ,共检测了２７处限制性态型,可归结为８种单倍型。结果表明,国内２个百品种的基本单倍型为ＢａｍＨⅠ－Ａ,ＢｃｌⅠ－Ｂ、ＣｌａⅠ－Ａ     

THE EVOLUTION OF THRESHOLD TRAITS: A QUANTITATIVE GENETIC ANALYSIS OF THE PHYSIOLOGICAL AND LIFE-HISTORY CORRELATES OF WING DIMORPHISM IN THE SAND CRICKET

Many traits are phenotypically discrete but polygenically determined. Such traits can be understood using the threshold model of quantitative genetics that posits a continuously distributed underlying trait, called the liability, and a threshold of response, individuals above the threshold displaying one morph and individuals below the threshold displaying the alternate morph. For many threshold traits the liability probably consists of a hormone or a suite of hormones. Previous experiments have implicated juvenile hormone esterase (JHE), a degratory enzyme of juvenile hormone, as a physiological determinant of wing dimorphism in the crickets Gryllus rubens and G. firmus. The present study uses a half-sib experiment to measure the heritability of JHE in the last nymphal stadium of G. firmus and its genetic correlation with fecundity, a trait that is itself genetically correlated with wing morph. The phenotypic and genetic parameters are consistent with the hypothesis that JHE is a significant component of the liability. Comparison of sire and dam estimates suggest that nonadditive effects may be important. Two models have been proposed to account for the fitness differences between morphs: the dichotomy model, which assumes that each morph can be characterized by a particular suite of traits, and the continuous model, which assumes that the associated fitness traits are correlated with the liability rather than the morphs themselves. The latter model predicts that the fitness differences will not be constant but change with the morph frequencies. Variation in fecundity and flight muscle histolysis are shown to be more consistent with the continuous model. Data from the present experiment on JHE are inconclusive, but results from a previous selection experiment also suggest that variation in JHE is consistent only with the continuous model.