Comparison of anonymous and targeted molecular markers for the estimation of genetic diversity in ex situ conserved Lactuca

The anonymous marker systems microsatellites (simple sequence repeats), amplified fragment length polymorphisms and sequence-specific amplified polymorphisms were compared with the targeted marker systems sequence-related amplified polymorphisms, target region amplification polymorphisms and nucleotide binding site profiling for their ability to describe the genetic diversity in a selected set of 80 Lactuca accessions. The accessions were also described morphologically, and all characterisation methods were evaluated against the genetic diversity assessed by a panel of three crop experts. The morphological data showed a low level of association with the molecular data, and did not display a consistently better relationship with the experts’ assessments in comparison with the molecular data. In general, the diversity described by the targeted molecular markers did not differ markedly from that of the anonymous markers, resulting in only slight differences in performance when related to the expert-based assessments. It was argued that markers targeted to specific gene sequences may still behave as anonymous markers and that the type of marker system used is irrelevant when at low taxonomic levels a clear genetic structure is absent due to intensive breeding activities

Genetic Characterization of a Core Set of a Tropical Maize Race Tuxpeño for Further Use in Maize Improvement

The tropical maize race Tuxpeño is a well-known race of Mexican dent germplasm which has greatly contributed to the development of tropical and subtropical maize gene pools. In order to investigate how it could be exploited in future maize improvement, a panel of maize germplasm accessions was assembled and characterized using genome-wide Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers. This panel included 321 core accessions of Tuxpeño race from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) germplasm bank collection, 94 CIMMYT maize lines (CMLs) and 54 U.S. Germplasm Enhancement of Maize (GEM) lines. The panel also included other diverse sources of reference germplasm: 14 U.S. maize landrace accessions, 4 temperate inbred lines from the U.S. and China, and 11 CIMMYT populations (a total of 498 entries with 795 plants). Clustering analyses (CA) based on Modified Rogers Distance (MRD) clearly partitioned all 498 entries into their corresponding groups. No sub clusters were observed within the Tuxpeño core set. Various breeding strategies for using the Tuxpeño core set, based on grouping of the studied germplasm and genetic distance among them, were discussed. In order to facilitate sampling diversity within the Tuxpeño core, a minicore subset of 64 Tuxpeño accessions (20% of its usual size) representing the diversity of the core set was developed, using an approach combining phenotypic and molecular data. Untapped diversity represents further use of the Tuxpeño landrace for maize improvement through the core and/or minicore subset available to the maize community

Membrane vesicles, current state-of-the-art: emerging role of extracellular vesicles

Release of membrane vesicles, a process conserved in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, represents an evolutionary link, and suggests essential functions of a dynamic extracellular vesicular compartment (including exosomes, microparticles or microvesicles and apoptotic bodies). Compelling evidence supports the significance of this compartment in a broad range of physiological and pathological processes. However, classification of membrane vesicles, protocols of their isolation and detection, molecular details of vesicular release, clearance and biological functions are still under intense investigation. Here, we give a comprehensive overview of extracellular vesicles. After discussing the technical pitfalls and potential artifacts of the rapidly emerging field, we compare results from meta-analyses of published proteomic studies on membrane vesicles. We also summarize clinical implications of membrane vesicles. Lessons from this compartment challenge current paradigms concerning the mechanisms of intercellular communication and immune regulation. Furthermore, its clinical implementation may open new perspectives in translational medicine both in diagnostics and therapy

Wild Plant Genetic Resources in North America: An Overview

North America, including Canada, Mexico, and the United States, is rich in plant species used by humans in both ancient and modern times. A select number of these have become globally important domesticated crops, including maize, beans, cotton, and sunflower. Many other native and also naturalized species have potential for use, either directly or as genetic resources for breeding agricultural crops. However, despite increasing recognition of their potential value, deficiencies in information, conservation, and access to the diversity in these plants hinder their further use. This chapter provides an overview of the agriculturally relevant wild plant resources of North America, with focus on wild relatives of globally important major crops, as well as the wild cousins of regionally and locally important domesticates. The chapter concludes by providing an overview of strategies for conserving wild plant genetic resources, including the international regulatory frameworks affecting policies to various degrees in Canada, Mexico, and the United States

Galactan biosynthesis in snails: a comparative study of beta -(1 6) galactosyltransferases from Helix pomatia and Biomphalaria glabrata

Adult snails synthesize in their albumen glands a polysaccharide which is composed exclusively of D- or D- and L-galactose (Gal) residues which are interglycosidically linked by 1 → 3 and 1 → 6 bonds. It is the only carbohydrate source for embryos and freshly hatched snails. Two galactosyltransferases are described in this study which are most likely involved in the biosynthesis of this polysaccharide. One identified in Helix pomatia acts on oligosaccharides and could be used to synthesize a tetrasaccharide when the branched trisaccharide D-Gal-β-(1 → 3)-[D-Galβ-(1 → 6)]-D-Galβ-1 → OMe was offered as acceptor. This enzyme, requiring Mg++- and Mn++-ions for activity, introduced a linear β-(1 → 6) linkage at the terminal non-reducing ends and was not detected in Biomphalaria glabrata. The other enzyme, which introduced β-(1 → 6) linkages at subterminal D-Gal residues, thus forming branching points in the polysaccharide, was found in H. pomatia, Arianta arbustorum and B. glabrata with comparable activities. With the enzyme preparation of H. pomatia, up to four D-Gal residues were introduced into vicinal positions, forming single-membered side chains, if a hexasaccharide with five linearly β-(1 → 3)-linked D-Gal residues was offered as a acceptor. The multiple-branched structure formed is typical for snail galactans, making this enzyme a prime candidate for the branching enzyme in galactan synthesis. The enzyme activity could be solubilized and purified by affinity chromatography. In SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis, the Helix- derived eluate displayed two bands (68, 37 kDa) and that of Biomphalaria five bands (68, 63, 17.5; 15; 13 kDa). The purified material showed only 8% of the total activity of the crude extracts, but it could be shown that a phosphatase present in the crude extract can degrade UDP formed in the transfer reaction and thus drive the reaction to completion

S-type lectins occur also in invertebrates: high conservation of the carbohydrate recognition domain in the lectin genes from the marine sponge Geodia cydonium

The marine sponge Geodia cydonium contains several lectins. The main component, called lectin-1, is composed of three to four identical subunits. The subunits of the lectins were cloned from a cDNA library; two clones were obtained. From the deduced aa sequence of one clone, LECT-1, a mol. wt of 15,313 Da is calculated; this value is in good agreement with mass spectrometric analysis of 15,453 ± 25 Da. The sequence of another clone, LECT-2, was analysed and the aa sequence was deduced (15,433 Da). The two subunits have a framework sequence of 38 conserved aa which are characteristic for the carbohydrate-binding site of vertebrate S-type lectins. Clustering of lectin sequences of various species following their pairwise comparison establishes a dendrogram, which reveals that the sponge lectin could be considered as the ancestor for vertebrate S-type lectins