Efficiency of different marker systems for genotype fingerprinting and for genetic diversity studies in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

AbstractGenetic relationships between 38 barley genotypes were determined with the aid of 36 RAPD, 54 STS and 26 SSR markers. The dendrogram groups showed high coincidence with growth habit and ear type. There were significant correlations between the Jaccard coefficients obtained using the matrices of each single marker type and their combined matrix. When the varieties were grouped using markers with above-average Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) values, the same groups were obtained as when using all markers, outlining their usefulness for estimating diversity between the varieties. Three RAPD or four SSR primers were sufficient to distinguish all the barley varieties from each other. The applicability of the various types of primers differed. The STS markers could best be used for estimating relationships between the varieties and the SSR markers for distinguishing genotypes from each other, while RAPD markers could be employed both for estimating the relationships between varieties and for variety identification

Altered mitochondrial response to activation of T-cells in neonate

Mitochondrial functions have a major impact on T-cell functionality. In this study we characterized whether mitochondrial function in the neonatal T-cells differs from that in the adult T-cells during short T-cell activation. METHODS: We used fow cytometry methods to test mitochondrial mass and to monitor mitochondrial Ca(2+) levels, mitochondrial potential and superoxide generation in parallel with cytoplasmic Ca(2+) levels during phythohaemagglutinine-induced activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells of 12 term neonates and 11 healthy adults. RESULTS: Baseline mitochondrial mass of CD4+ and CD8+ cells was lower in the neonate than in the adult. In comparison with the adult, neonatal resting CD4+ T-cells had lower cytoplasmic Ca(2+) levels and this was associated with normal activation induced Ca(2+)-response. During short-term activation cytoplasmic Ca(2+)-response was lower in neonatal than in adult CD8+ T-cells. Mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake was increased in CD4+ neonatal T cells while it decreased in CD8+ T-cells. Mitochondrial depolarization was increased in CD4+ and decreased in CD8+ neonatal T-cells compared to adults. Superoxide generation was higher and equal in neonatal CD4+ and CD8+ cells, respectively, compared to the adult ones. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that neonatal T-cells exhibit marked differences in mitochondrial function and superoxide generation compared to adult T-cells

Arabidopsis RETINOBLASTOMA RELATED directly regulates DNA damage responses through functions beyond cell cycle control

The rapidly proliferating cells in plant meristems must be protected from genome damage. Here, we show that the regulatory role of the Arabidopsis RETINOBLASTOMA RELATED (RBR) in cell proliferation can be separated from a novel function in safeguarding genome integrity. Upon DNA damage, RBR and its binding partner E2FA are recruited to heterochromatic γH2AX-labelled DNA damage foci in an ATM- and ATR-dependent manner. These γH2AX-labelled DNA lesions are more dispersedly occupied by the conserved repair protein, AtBRCA1, which can also co-localise with RBR foci. RBR and AtBRCA1 physically interact in vitro and in planta. Genetic interaction between the RBR-silenced amiRBR and Atbrca1 mutants suggests that RBR and AtBRCA1 may function together in maintaining genome integrity. Together with E2FA, RBR is directly involved in the transcriptional DNA damage response as well as in the cell death pathway that is independent of SOG1, the plant functional analogue of p53. Thus, plant homologs and analogues of major mammalian tumour suppressor proteins form a regulatory network that coordinates cell proliferation with cell and genome integrity

Új utakon az agrárgazdasági kutatások

Az agrárgazdaság nemzetközi kutatási irányzatait abból a célból tekintettük át, hogy a jövőben azokhoz a magyarországi kutatás is felzárkózhasson. Ehhez két közelítési módot alkalmaztunk: egyrészt a jelenlegi (főként a 2000-es) évtized szakirodalma alapján próbáltuk meghatározni a hosszabb távon várható tendenciákat, másrészt a közelmúltbeli konferenciák témáinak elemzésével kíséreltük meg a tematikai arányok rövid távú változásait megbecsülni. A hosszú távú új irányzatok közül kiemelhetők egyrészt a transzdiszciplináris kutatások, amelyeket az EUEU is zászlajára tűzött, s ma már nemzetközi intézete, folyóirata és nemzetközi szövetsége is van. Kiemelhetők másrészt a mezőgazdasági és közgazdasági paradigmákkal kapcsolatos egyenkénti és összehasonlító vizsgálatok, amelyek a jövőben szükséges szemléletmódokat alapozzák meg. Megkülönböztetett figyelmet érdemel a multifunkciós és a globalizált mezőgazdaság paradigmája, valamint a biofizikai, illetve ökológiai közgazdaságtan irányzata. Az áttekintett tizenegy nemzetközi tanácskozás programja tükrében azt vizsgáltuk, hogy az egyes nemzetközi tanácskozások témái mennyiben tudtak az elmúlt években a kutatások főáramába beágyazódni. Ez segíthet a hazai kutatások helyes irányainak kijelölésében. Kétségkívül a rendszerváltás utáni években jelentősen visszaesett a magyar kutatók nemzetközi fórumokon való jelenléte, ami csak a legutóbbi években kezd pozitív irányba elmozdulni. Ebben döntő szerepe van az új, fiatal és részben középgenerációnak, illetve néhány hazai műhelynek. A kérdés az, hogy milyen további tennivalóink vannak abban a tekintetben, hogy a következő években a hazai kutatók eredményei nagyobb arányban igazodjanak a főáramhoz és mérettessenek meg nemzetközi szinten, bekerülve a tanácskozások plenáris, „contributed paper” és poszter szekcióiba, és mindehhez milyen lépések szükségesek a kutatási témaválasztásban és az alkalmazott módszertanban. ---------------------- International trends of researches in agricultural economics have been surveyed in order to help Hungarian research in closing up. Two different approaches have been applied: we tried to indicate long-term tendencies based on recent literature (mainly of the present decade) while short-term shifts in theme structure have been assessed based on international conference topics. From the long-term new trends transdisciplinary researches can be highlighted which is a new target of the EU as well and has its own journal, research institute and international association. From another direction single and comparative analyses of agricultural and economical paradigms should be mentioned which can lay the foundation of attitudes or approaches usable in future researches. For examples, paradigms of multifunctional agriculture and that of globalised agriculture are worth to distinct attention, as are relatively new economic paradigms such as biophysical economics or ecological economics as well. In connection with conferences we tried to discover how programs of international meetings could join in the mainstream of researches. This could help in the correct determination of directions of Hungarian researches. After the political transition presence of Hungarian scientists on international meetings undoubtedly reduced and this trend seems to change only in the last years. In this change the young generation of researchers and some institutions play a great part. The challenge is what further works are to be done in better adapting domestic researches to the mainstream and enabling Hungarian scientists in a more intensive involvement to international meetings and in living up to their commitments

The Crystal and Molecular Structure of 5α-Cholestane-3,6-dione

The crystals of 5a-cholestane-3,6-dione (C27H44O2) are monoclinic, space group P2i with a= 1.9695(3), 6-0.7593(3), c = 0.8176(6) run, /?=92.78(3)°, V= 1.221(1) nm3 and Z=2. The structure was solved by the direct method and refined by the least squares technique to a conventional R = 0.097 for 2220 unique diffractometer observations. Ring D assumed an envelope shape. The side chain equatorially attached to C17 assumed open »zig-zag« conformation

Strong Genetic Effects on Bone Mineral Density in Multiple Locations with Two Different Techniques: Results from a Cross-Sectional Twin Study

Background and Objectives: Previous studies have demonstrated that risk of hip fracture is at least partly heritable. The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of the genetic component of bone mineral density (BMD), using both X-ray and ultrasound assessment at multiple sites. Materials and Methods: 216 adult, healthy Hungarian twins (124 monozygotic, MZ, 92 dizygotic, DZ; mean age 54.2 ± 14.3 years), recruited from the Hungarian Twin Registry with no history of oncologic disease underwent cross-sectional BMD studies. We measured BMD, T- and Z-scores with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at multiple sites (lumbar spine, femoral neck, total hip and radius). Quantitative bone ultrasound (QUS) was also performed, resulting in a calculated value of estimated bone mineral density (eBMD) in the heel bone. Heritability was calculated using the univariate ACE model. Results: Bone density had a strong genetic component at all sites with estimates of heritability ranging from 0.613 to 0.838 in the total sample. Lumbar BMD and calcaneus eBMD had major genetic components with estimates of 0.828 and 0.838 respectively, and least heritable (0.653) at the total hip. BMD of the radius had also a strong genetic component with an estimate of 0.806. No common environmental effect was found. The remaining variance was influenced by unique environment (0.162 to 0.387). In females only, slightly higher additive genetic estimates were found, especially in the case of the femoral neck and total hip. Conclusion: Bone mineral density is strongly heritable, especially in females at all locations using both DEXA and QUS, which may explain the importance of family history as a risk factor for bone fractures. Unshared environmental effects account for the rest of the variance with slight differences in magnitude across various bone regions, supporting the role of lifestyle in preventing osteoporotic fractures with various efficacy in different bone regions