Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Two Additional Loci underlying Durable Field Resistance to Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS)

Severe losses of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] grain yield occur as a result of the disease sudden death syndrome (SDS), caused by Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc. f. sp. phaseoli (Burk.) Snyd. & Hans. , type A. Selection for resistance to SDS is currently the most efficient means of yield protection. This study was undertaken within adapted soybean germplasm to identify and characterize loci underlying useful field resistance to SDS. One hundred eleven polymorphic DNA markers were compared with SDS disease response among 100 recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between a durably SDS resistant cultivar, 'Forrest', and a SDS susceptible cultivar, 'Essex'. SDS disease incidence (DI) and disease severity (DS) were determined in replicated, F.solani infested field-test sites during 4 yr encompassing five locations. Four separate chromosomal segments were strongly associated with mean SDS DI across 5 locations (P < 0.001). In a previous report using the same genetic materials tested in the same environments two of these quantitative trait loci (QTL) had been identified. With the further analysis with 40 additional markers, two more QTL were detected. The two new QTL were stably associated with SDS resistance within each of five F. solani infested locations (P < 0.007). These two loci were identified by RAPD markers OI03 450 and OG13 490 and by OE04 450 and OE02 1000 . The alleles that conferred resistance were both derived from Forrest. Jointly, the four QTL accounted for about 65% of total phenotypic variability in mean DI and 50% in mean DS. DNA markers can be used to define alleles conferring resistance to SDS. Selection for the SDS resistance QTL may allow efficient selection of resistant genotypes with good yield potential in F. solani infested fields.
Effects of an Ostracod (Cypris pubera) on the Rotifer Keratella tropica: Predation and Reduced Spine Development

This study investigates two different effects of an ostracod on a rotifer. The rotifer Keratella tropica and the ostracod Cypris pubera were cultured on the alga Cryptomonas erosa. Adult ostracods (2.2 mm body length) significantly reduced the population growth rate (r day–1) of K. tropica from 0.42 to 0.13. Individuals of this size ingested live rotifers and produced fecal pellets with rotifer loricas. Smaller ostracods (both 0.59 and 1.61 mm body lengths) did not affect K. tropica 's population growth rate. Surprisingly, C. pubera significantly inhibited spine development in K. tropica. Rotifers cultured with juvenile, non-predatory ostracods had similar lorica lengths but right and left posterior spines that were 10 and 30% shorter, respectively. The spine reduction induced by the ostracod kairomone is in striking contrast to the spine elongation induced in this rotifer by kairomones from copepods, cladocerans and Asplanchna. In shallow ecosystems, large ostracods that swim in the plankton may be important predators of rotifers. In addition, the presence of ostracods in plankton communities may be one of many factors affecting rotifer spine development. (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Effects of proteinase inhibitors on western corn rootworm life parameters

Abstract: Plants have developed defensive mechanisms to minimize predation by insect pests. Proteinase inhibitors are an example of plant compounds synthesized as a mechanism for defence. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of trans‐epoxysuccinyl‐l‐leucylamido (4‐guanidino) butane (E‐64), phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF‐serine protenase inhibitor) and Kunitz trypsin inhibitors on the pre‐ovipositional and ovipositional periods, the mean number of eggs laid per female, and the longevity of western corn rootworm (WCR), Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, adults. This study provides information on the effectiveness of proteinase inhibitors as a host‐plant resistance tool for managing WCR beetles. The study was conducted in 1997, 1998, and 2000. In 1997, E‐64 was added to an artificial diet at the concentrations of 0.05, 0.025 and 0.0125% (w/w), corresponding to 500, 250, and 125 ppm respectively. In 1998, PMSF was added to the artificial diet at the same concentrations. In 2000, Kunitz trypsin inhibitor was added to the artificial diet at concentrations of 0.2, 0.1 and 0.05% (w/w), corresponding to 2000, 1000, and 500 ppm respectively. The mean fecundity of beetles fed the untreated diet was between 67 and 111 eggs per female. The fecundity of beetles fed E‐64 and PMSF at different concentrations, ranged between 162 and 246 eggs per female for E‐64 and 61 and 80.5 eggs per female for PMSF. The fecundity of the beetles fed Kunitz trypsin inhibitor was between 155 and 225 eggs per female. When beetles fed on the diet which consisted of the lowest dosage of Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (500 ppm), fecundity was higher than that on untreated control. The proteinase inhibitors investigated did not show a negative impact on WCR adults. Beetle fecundity, the length of the pre‐ovipositional and ovipositional periods and the longevity of the beetles fed with proteinase inhibitors were not lower than that of the beetles fed only the artificial diet. This study does not support the use of investigated proteinase inhibitors at applied concentrations as effective host‐plant resistance tools for managing WCR beetles.
Mechanism of Release of Nucleotidic Material by Fermenting Brewer's Yeast

SUMMARY— When a strain of brewer's yeast grown under suitable conditions was suspended in a solution of fermentable sugar, nucleotides and other U.V. –absorbing materials were rapidly released from the cells. The extent of release was dependent on the pH of the medium, the temperature, the concentration of fermentable sugar and on the presence of membrane–protecting (Ca++ or Mg++) or membrane–damaging (butanol, detergent) reagents. The released material was of low molecular weight and appeared to originate in a free intracellular pool. It was concluded that the mechanism of release of nucleotidic material was the result of a change in permeability of the cytoplasmic membrane of yeast contingent upon the transport and metabolism of fermentable sugar. Leakage of nucleotidic material from yeast was considered to be a normal physiological process of consequence in the brewing and wine–making industries.
Cytochromes P-450 from Cassava (Manihot esculentaCrantz) Catalyzing the First Steps in the Biosynthesis of the Cyanogenic Glucosides Linamarin and Lotaustralin

The first committed steps in the biosynthesis of the two cyanogenic glucosides linamarin and lotaustralin in cassava are the conversion of l-valine andl-isoleucine, respectively, to the corresponding oximes. Two full-length cDNA clones that encode cytochromes P-450 catalyzing these reactions have been isolated. The two cassava cytochromes P-450 are 85% identical, share 54% sequence identity to CYP79A1 from sorghum, and have been assigned CYP79D1 and CYP79D2. Functional expression has been achieved using the methylotrophic yeast,Pichia pastoris. The amount of CYP79D1 isolated from 1 liter of P. pastoris culture exceeds the amounts that putatively could be isolated from 22,000 grown-up cassava plants. Each cytochrome P-450 metabolizes l-valine as well asl-isoleucine consistent with the co-occurrence of linamarin and lotaustralin in cassava. CYP79D1 was isolated from P. pastoris. Reconstitution in lipid micelles showed that CYP79D1 has a higher k c value with l-valine as substrate than with l-isoleucine, which is consistent with linamarin being the major cyanogenic glucoside in cassava. BothCYP79D1 and CYP79D2 are present in the genome of cassava cultivar MCol22 in agreement with cassava being allotetraploid. CYP79D1 and CYP79D2 are actively transcribed, and production of acyanogenic cassava plants would therefore require down-regulation of both genes.
The RihA, RihB, and RihC Ribonucleoside Hydrolases ofEscherichia coli

Pyrimidine-requiring cdd mutants ofEscherichia coli deficient in cytidine deaminase utilize cytidine as a pyrimidine source by an alternative pathway. This has been presumed to involve phosphorylation of cytidine to CMP by cytidine/uridine kinase and subsequent hydrolysis of CMP to cytosine and ribose 5-phosphate by a putative CMP hydrolase. Here we show that cytidine, in cdd strains, is converted directly to cytosine and ribose by a ribonucleoside hydrolase encoded by the previously uncharacterized gene ybeK, which we have renamedrihA. The RihA enzyme is homologous to the products of two unlinked genes, yeiK and yaaF, which have been renamed rihB and rihC, respectively. The RihB enzyme was shown to be a pyrimidine-specific ribonucleoside hydrolase like RihA, whereas RihC hydrolyzed both pyrimidine and purine ribonucleosides. The physiological function of the ribonucleoside hydrolases in wild-type E. coli strains is enigmatic, as their activities are paralleled by the phosphorolytic activities of the nucleoside phosphorylases, and a triple mutant lacking all three hydrolytic activities grew normally. Furthermore, enzyme assays andlacZ gene fusion analysis indicated that rihBwas essentially silent unless activated by mutation, whereasrihA and rihC were poorly expressed in glucose medium due to catabolite repression.
A Receptor-like Protein-tyrosine Phosphatase PTPζ/RPTPβ Binds a Heparin-binding Growth Factor Midkine

Midkine is a 13-kDa heparin-binding growth factor with 45% sequence identity to pleiotrophin. Pleiotrophin has been demonstrated to bind to protein-tyrosine phosphatase ζ (PTPζ) with high affinity. In this study, we examined the binding of midkine to PTPζ by solid-phase binding assay. Midkine and pleiotrophin binding to PTPζ were equally inhibited by soluble pleiotrophin and also by some specific glycosaminoglycans. For both bindings, Scatchard analysis revealed low (3.0 nm) and high (0.58 nm) affinity binding sites. These results suggested that PTPζ is a common receptor for midkine and pleiotrophin. Midkine is structurally divided into the N- and C-terminal halves, and the latter exhibited full activity for PTPζ binding and neuronal migration induction. The C-terminal half contains two heparin-binding sites consisting of clusters of basic amino acids, Clusters I and II. A mutation at Arg78 in Cluster I resulted in loss of the high affinity binding and reduced neuronal migration-inducing activity, while mutations at Lys83 and Lys84 in Cluster II showed almost no effect on either activity. Chondroitinase ABC-treated PTPζ exhibited similar low affinity binding both to the native midkine and midkine mutants at Arg78. These results suggested that Arg78 in midkine plays an essential role in high affinity binding to PTPζ by interacting with the chondroitin sulfate portion of this receptor.
Inactivation of the Open Reading Frame slr0399 in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 Functionally Complements Mutations near the QA Niche of Photosystem II

The Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 triple mutant D2R8 with V247M/A249T/M329I mutations in the D2 subunit of the photosystem II is impaired in QA function, has an apparently mobile QA, and is unable to grow photoautotrophically. Several photoautotrophic pseudorevertants of this mutant have been isolated, each of which retained the originalpsbDI mutations of D2R8. Using a newly developed mapping technique, the site of the secondary mutations has been located in the open reading frame slr0399. Two different nucleotide substitutions and a deletion of about 60% of slr0399 were each shown to restore photoautotrophy in different pseudorevertants of the mutant D2R8, suggesting that inactivation of Slr0399 leads to photoautotrophic growth in D2R8. Indeed, a targeted deletion ofslr0399 restores photoautotrophy in D2R8 and in otherpsbDI mutants impaired in QA function. Slr0399 is similar to the hypothetical protein Ycf39, which is encoded in the cyanelle genome of Cyanophora paradoxa; in the chloroplast genomes of diatoms, dinoflagellates, and red algae; and in the nuclear genome of Arabidopsis thaliana. Slr0399 and Ycf39 have a NAD(P)H binding motif near their N terminus and have some similarity to isoflavone reductase-like proteins and to a subunit of the eukaryotic NADH dehydrogenase complex I. Deletion of slr0399 in wild type Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 has no significant phenotypic effects other than a decrease in thermotolerance under both photoautotrophic and photomixotrophic conditions. We suggest that Slr0399 is a chaperone-like protein that aids in, but is not essential for, quinone insertion and protein folding around QA in photosystem II. Moreover, as the effects of Slr0399 are not limited to photosystem II, this protein may also be involved in assembly of quinones in other photosynthetic and respiratory complexes.
Detecção de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares em raízes de cafeeiro e de crotalária cultivada na entrelinha

Avaliou-se a ocorrencia de fungos micorrizicos arbusculares (FMAs) no solo rizosferico e nas raizes de cafeeiro (Coffea arabica L.) e de Crotalaria breviflora DC. , cultivada na entrelinha como adubo verde. Amostras de solo rizosferico e raizes foram coletadas em julho de 1997, em parte de um experimento de longa duracao conduzido no campo pelo Instituto Agronomico do Parana, no municipio de Mirasselva, PR. Determinou-se a diversidade de FMAs, por meio da identificacao morfologica dos esporos, a frequencia de ocorrencia de populacoes de FMAs por meio da contagem direta de esporos no solo, e a colonizacao radicular. Extraiu-se DNA de raizes de cafeeiro colonizadas e nao-colonizadas e de esporos de Acaulospora longula e Scutellospora gilmorei, coletados na rizosfera, realizando-se a PCR ("Polimerase chain reaction") com primers ITS ("Internal transcribed spacer") e comparando os perfis de bandas obtidos. O cultivo de crotalaria na entrelinha do cafeeiro aumentou a concentracao de esporos de FMAs na rizosfera do cafeeiro. A crotalaria e o cafeeiro estimularam populacoes diferentes de FMAs. O genero Acaulospora predominou na rizosfera do cafeeiro, e Scutellospora e Gigaspora na rizosfera da crotalaria. Usando tecnicas moleculares, foi possivel caracterizar FMAs na rizosfera e nas raizes colonizadas do cafeeiro. O fungo micorrizico Scutellospora gilmorei, de ocorrencia comum em cafeeiro e crotalaria, nao foi encontrado colonizando as raizes do cafeeiro. O uso de tecnicas moleculares pode auxiliar no estudo da dinâmica populacional de FMAs no campo.
THE EPIZOOTIOLOGY AND ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF MALARIA IN HAWAIIAN LAND BIRDS

Laboratory and field experiments were conducted on the island of Hawaii from 1977- 1980 in an effort to determine the impact of avian malaria on the forest birds. At 16 study sites from sea level to tree line in mesic and xeric habitat, birds were captured and bled to determine the host and altitudinal distribution of blood parasites. In the laboratory, six bird species were challenged with malarial parasites to measure host susceptibility. Distributions, activity cycles, and transmission po- tentials of malarial parasite vectors were also analyzed. One species of Plasmodium was present from sea level to tree line, concentrated in the mid- elevational ranges in the ecotonal area where vectors and native birds had the greatest overlap. Native forest birds were: (a) more susceptible to malaria than were introduced species; (b) most likely to have malaria during the nonbreeding, wet season; (c) found ranging lower in xeric than in mesic forests; and (d) found to have a lower prevalence of malaria in xeric forests. Temporal as well as elevational differences in prevalence and parasitemia levels of wild birds were apparent throughout the annual cycle, a result of differing host and parasite responses to biotic and abiotic factors. Avian malaria probably did not reach epizootic proportions on Hawaii until after z 1920. However, since that time it has had a negative impact on the population dynamics of the native forest birds and is today a major limiting factor, restricting both abundance and distribution of these species on the island. In response, a number of native bird species have developed immunogenetic and behavioral responses that reduce the impact of the parasite on host populations.
Measurements of Mutagenic and Antimutagenic Activities of Bile Acids by Rec-assay

To study the carcinogenic activity of bile acids, we examined the mutagenic activity of bile acids by Rec-assay using B. subtilis H17 and M45 strains. Cholic, chenodeoxycholic, lithocholic, and glycolithocholic acids exerted much weaker mutagenicity than mitomicin C (MMC), and deoxycholic and glycodeoxycholic acids showed toxicity toward the bacteria. Most of the conjugated bile acids (glycocholic, taurocholic, and taurodexycholic acids) and their amino acid components (glycine and taurine) were neither toxic nor mutagenic. No bile acids enhanced the mutagenicity of N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), but glycine enhanced both toxicity and mutagenicity of MNNG in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, taurine decreased the mutagenicity of MNNG, and most of the bile acids decreased the mutagenicity of MMC. Furthermore, taurocholic acids decreased toxicity and/or mutagenicity of other bile acids. These results suggested that the mutagenic and comutagenic activities of bile acids can be disrega.
BK‐induced cytosolic phospholipase A2 expression via sequential PKC‐δ, p42/p44 MAPK, and NF‐κB activation in rat brain astrocytes

Bradykinin (BK), an inflammatory mediator, has been shown to induce cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) expression implicating in inflammatory responses in various cell types. However, the detailed mechanisms underlying BK‐induced cPLA2 expression in astrocytes remain unclear. RT‐PCR and Western blotting analysis showed that BK induced the expression of cPLA2 mRNA and protein, which was inhibited by Hoe140, suggesting the involvement of B2 BK receptors, confirmed by immunofluorescence staining using anti‐B2 BK receptor antibody. BK‐induced cPLA2 expression and phosphorylation of p42/p44 MAPK was attenuated by PD98059, indicating the involvement of MEK1/2‐p42/p44 MAPK in these responses. BK‐induced cPLA2 expression might be due to the translocation of NF‐κB into nucleus which was inhibited by Hoe140, helenalin, and PD98059, implying the involvement of NF‐κB. Moreover, BK‐induced cPLA2 expression was attenuated by rottlerin, suggesting that PKC‐δ might be involved in these responses. This hypothesis was supported by the transfection with a dominant negative plasmid of PKC‐δ significantly attenuated BK‐induced response. In addition, BK‐stimulated translocation of PKC‐δ from cytosol to membrane fraction was inhibited by rottlerin but not by PD98059, indicating that PKC‐δ might be an upstream component of p42/p44 MAPK. Accordingly, BK‐induced phosphorylation of p42/p44 MAPK was attenuated by rottlerin but not by helenalin. These results suggest that in RBA‐1 cells, BK‐induced cPLA2 expression was sequentially mediated through activation of PKC‐δ, p42/p44 MAPK, and NF‐κB. Understanding the regulation of cPLA2 expression induced by BK in astrocytes might provide a new therapeutic strategy of brain injury and inflammatory diseases. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Kinetics and Inhibition of Recombinant Human Cystathionine γ-Lyase

The gene encoding human cystathionine γ-lyase was cloned from total cellular Hep G2 RNA. Fusion to a T7 promoter allowed expression in Escherichia coli, representing the first mammalian cystathionine γ-lyase overproduced in a bacterial system. About 90% of the heterologous gene product was insoluble, and renaturation experiments from purified inclusion bodies met with limited success. About 5 mg/liter culture of human cystathionine γ-lyase could also be extracted from the soluble lysis fraction, employing a three-step native procedure. While the enzyme showed high γ-lyase activity toward l-cystathionine (K m = 0.5 mm,V max = 2.5 units/mg) with an optimum pH of 8.2, no residual cystathionine β-lyase behavior and only marginal reactivity toward l-cystine and l-cysteine were detected. Inhibition studies were performed with the mechanism-based inactivators propargylglycine, trifluoroalanine, and aminoethoxyvinylglycine. Propargylglycine inactivated human cystathionine γ-lyase much more strongly than trifluoroalanine, in agreement with the enzyme’s preference for C-γ–S bonds. Aminoethoxyvinylglycine showed slow and tight binding characteristics with a K i of 10.5 μm, comparable with its effect on cystathionine β-lyase. The results have important implications for the design of specific inhibitors for transsulfuration components.
Effects of the Spatial Pattern of Leaf Damage on Growth and Reproduction: Whole Plants

Because of differences in their foraging patterns, different herbivores are likely to have different effects on plant fitness. We compared the effects of two contrasting patterns of leaf damage on the growth and reproduction of the wild gourd Cucurbita pepo ssp. texana. Plants were assigned to one of four damage treatments: (1) concentrated (15% damage on every third leaf); (2) dispersed (5% on each leaf); (3) high intensity (15% on each leaf); and (4) control (undamaged). We measured the growth rate of the main vegetative axis of the plants, internode length, the proportions of staminate and pistillate nodes, the proportions of staminate and pistillate buds that reached anthesis, the proportion of pistillate flowers that produced fruit, pollen production and pollen grain size, fruit production, fruit size, number of seeds per fruit, and seed size. Only one trait was significantly affected by the spatial pattern of damage: pollen production per flower increased under the concentrated but not the dispersed damage treatment. Fruit production showed a marginal decrease in the dispersed but not in the concentrated treatment. Very few traits were affected by foliar damage, regardless of the spatial pattern of distribution, suggesting that these plants have a high tolerance to simulated herbivory.
Unexpected large numbers of Mullus suvmuletus juveniles in open waters of the Mediterranean sampled with light attraction devices

Experimental night hauls with a purse-seine were performed using two light devices in waters off Majorca in the western Mediterranean to investigate light attraction of juvenile fishes in epipelagic waters over the continental slope. Large numbers of Mullus surmuletus were caught indicating that light devices are suitable for sampling juveniles (2-6 cm) of this species. The data obtained can be used to provide valuable information on geographic distribution and spatial aggregation patterns of this mullid, altogether with the acquisition of biological samples for growth or stomach contents analyses of juveniles stages.
Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT): Update

The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) is a prospective randomized multicenter clinical trial to compare the effects of intensive insulin therapy aimed at near normalization of blood glucose levels with the effects of conventional therapy on the early microvascular complications of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. With the successful completion of its planning and feasibility phases, the DCCT is currently conducting the full-scale long-term trial. The total study cohort (n = 1441) has been recruited and randomized to either intensive or standard therapy. The range of follow-up for all subjects will be 5–10 yr, with a median of 7 yr at the trial's end in 1993. Adherence to the study protocol and prescribed regimens remains excellent. Glycemic separation between the randomized treatments, demonstrated during the 1-yr feasibility phase, remains over the first 3 yr of the study. This update reviews the rationale and design of the DCCT,changes in the protocol since its inception, study progress to date, including baseline characteristics of the entire study population, and the results of analyses of baseline data.