A high density physical map of chromosome 1BL supports evolutionary studies,map-based cloning and sequencing in wheat

Background

As for other major crops, achieving a complete wheat genome sequence is essential for the application of genomics to breeding new and improved varieties. To overcome the complexities of the large, highly repetitive and hexaploid wheat genome, the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium established a chromosome-based strategy that was validated by the construction of the physical map of chromosome 3B. Here, we present improved strategies for the construction of highly integrated and ordered wheat physical maps, using chromosome 1BL as a template, and illustrate their potential for evolutionary studies and map-based cloning.

Results

Using a combination of novel high throughput marker assays and an assembly program, we developed a high quality physical map representing 93% of wheat chromosome 1BL, anchored and ordered with 5,489 markers including 1,161 genes. Analysis of the gene space organization and evolution revealed that gene distribution and conservation along the chromosome results from the superimposition of the ancestral grass and recent wheat evolutionary patterns, leading to a peak of synteny in the central part of the chromosome arm and an increased density of non-collinear genes towards the telomere. With a density of about 11 markers per Mb, the 1BL physical map provides 916 markers, including 193 genes, for fine mapping the 40 QTLs mapped on this chromosome.

Conclusions

Here, we demonstrate that high marker density physical maps can be developed in complex genomes such as wheat to accelerate map-based cloning, gain new insights into genome evolution, and provide a foundation for reference sequencing.     

Evaluation and classification of RING-finger domains encoded by the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis</Emphasis> genome

Background

In computational analysis, the RING-finger domain is one of the most frequently detected domains in the Arabidopsis proteome. In fact, it is more abundant in Arabidopsis than in other eukaryotic genomes. However, computational analysis might classify ambiguous domains of the closely related PHD and LIM motifs as RING domains by mistake. Thus, we set out to define an ordered set of Arabidopsis RING domains by evaluating predicted domains on the basis of recent structural data.

Results

Inspection of the proteome with a current InterPro release predicts 446 RING domains. We evaluated each detected domain and as a result eliminated 59 false positives. The remaining 387 domains were grouped by cluster analysis and according to their metal-ligand arrangement. We further defined novel patterns for additional computational analyses of the proteome. They were based on recent structural data that enable discrimination between the related RING, PHD and LIM domains. These patterns allow us to predict with different degrees of certainty whether a particular domain is indeed likely to form a RING finger.

Conclusions

In summary, 387 domains have a significant potential to form a RING-type cross-brace structure. Many of these RING domains overlap with predicted PHD domains; however, the RING domain signature mostly prevails. Thus, the abundance of PHD domains in Arabidopsis has been significantly overestimated. Cluster analysis of the RING domains defines groups of proteins, which frequently show significant similarity outside the RING domain. These groups document a common evolutionary origin of their members and potentially represent genes of overlapping functionality.

     

Smart phone, smart science: how the use of smartphones can revolutionize research in cognitive science

Investigating human cognitive faculties such as language, attention, and memory most often relies on testing small and homogeneous groups of volunteers coming to research facilities where they are asked to participate in behavioral experiments. We show that this limitation and sampling bias can be overcome by using smartphone technology to collect data in cognitive science experiments from thousands of subjects from all over the world. This mass coordinated use of smartphones creates a novel and powerful scientific "instrument" that yields the data necessary to test universal theories of cognition. This increase in power represents a potential revolution in cognitive science.     

Distribution,functional impact,and origin mechanisms of copy number variation in the barley genome

Background

There is growing evidence for the prevalence of copy number variation (CNV) and its role in phenotypic variation in many eukaryotic species. Here we use array comparative genomic hybridization to explore the extent of this type of structural variation in domesticated barley cultivars and wild barleys.

Results

A collection of 14 barley genotypes including eight cultivars and six wild barleys were used for comparative genomic hybridization. CNV affects 14.9% of all the sequences that were assessed. Higher levels of CNV diversity are present in the wild accessions relative to cultivated barley. CNVs are enriched near the ends of all chromosomes except 4H, which exhibits the lowest frequency of CNVs. CNV affects 9.5% of the coding sequences represented on the array and the genes affected by CNV are enriched for sequences annotated as disease-resistance proteins and protein kinases. Sequence-based comparisons of CNV between cultivars Barke and Morex provided evidence that DNA repair mechanisms of double-strand breaks via single-stranded annealing and synthesis-dependent strand annealing play an important role in the origin of CNV in barley.

Conclusions

We present the first catalog of CNVs in a diploid Triticeae species, which opens the door for future genome diversity research in a tribe that comprises the economically important cereal species wheat, barley, and rye. Our findings constitute a valuable resource for the identification of CNV affecting genes of agronomic importance. We also identify potential mechanisms that can generate variation in copy number in plant genomes.     

Response-Locked Brain Dynamics of Word Production

The cortical regions involved in the different stages of speech production are relatively well-established, but their spatio-temporal dynamics remain poorly understood. In particular, the available studies have characterized neural events with respect to the onset of the stimulus triggering a verbal response. The core aspect of language production, however, is not perception but action. In this context, the most relevant question may not be how long after a stimulus brain events happen, but rather how long before the production act do they occur. We investigated speech production-related brain activity time-locked to vocal onset, in addition to the common stimulus-locked approach. We report the detailed temporal interplay between medial and left frontal activities occurring shortly before vocal onset. We interpret those as reflections of, respectively, word selection and word production processes. This medial-lateral organization is in line with that described in non-linguistic action control, suggesting that similar processes are at play in word production and non-linguistic action production. This novel view of the brain dynamics underlying word production provides a useful background for future investigations of the spatio-temporal brain dynamics that lead to the production of verbal responses.     

Molecular characterisation of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">STRUBBELIG-RECEPTOR FAMILY</Emphasis> of genes encoding putative leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis thaliana</Emphasis>

Background  

Receptor-like kinases are a prominent class of surface receptors that regulate many aspects of the plant life cycle. Despite recent advances the function of most receptor-like kinases remains elusive. Therefore, it is paramount to investigate these receptors. The task is complicated by the fact that receptor-like kinases belong to a large monophyletic family with many sub-clades. In general, functional analysis of gene family members by reverse genetics is often obscured by several issues, such as redundancy, subtle or difficult to detect phenotypes in mutants, or by decision problems regarding suitable biological and biochemical assays. Therefore, in many cases additional strategies have to be employed to allow inference of hypotheses regarding gene function.