A novel linkage map of sugarcane with evidence for clustering of retrotransposon-based markers

The development of sugarcane as a sustainable crop has unlimited applications. The crop is one of the most economically viable for renewable energy production, and CO2 balance. Linkage maps are valuable tools for understanding genetic and genomic organization, particularly in sugarcane due to its complex polyploid genome of multispecific origins. The overall objective of our study was to construct a novel sugarcane linkage map, compiling AFLP and EST-SSR markers, and to generate data on the distribution of markers anchored to sequences of scIvana_1, a complete sugarcane transposable element, and member of the Copia superfamily. The mapping population parents (‘IAC66-6’ and ‘TUC71-7’) contributed equally to polymorphisms, independent of marker type, and generated markers that were distributed into nearly the same number of co-segregation groups (or CGs). Bi-parentally inherited alleles provided the integration of 19 CGs. The marker number per CG ranged from two to 39. The total map length was 4,843.19 cM, with a marker density of 8.87 cM. Markers were assembled into 92 CGs that ranged in length from 1.14 to 404.72 cM, with an estimated average length of 52.64 cM. The greatest distance between two adjacent markers was 48.25 cM. The scIvana_1-based markers (56) were positioned on 21 CGs, but were not regularly distributed. Interestingly, the distance between adjacent scIvana_1-based markers was less than 5 cM, and was observed on five CGs, suggesting a clustered organization. Results indicated the use of a NBS-profiling technique was efficient to develop retrotransposon-based markers in sugarcane. The simultaneous maximum-likelihood estimates of linkage and linkage phase based strategies confirmed the suitability of its approach to estimate linkage, and construct the linkage map. Interestingly, using our genetic data it was possible to calculate the number of retrotransposon scIvana_1 (~60) copies in the sugarcane genome, confirming previously reported molecular results. In addition, this research possibly will have indirect implications in crop economics e.g., productivity enhancement via QTL studies, as the mapping population parents differ in response to an important fungal disease13CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPnão temnão tem2010/51708-

Development of a system based on DNA microssatellite molecular markers for identifying sugarcane accessions (Saccharum ssp.)

Orientador: Gonçalo Amarante Guimarães PereiraDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de BiologiaResumo: Melhoristas de cana-de-acucar tentam há muito tempo desenvolver um sistema confiavel de identificacao genetica baseado em marcadores moleculares para ajudar programas de melhoramento genetico. Alem disso, a União Internacional para a Proteção de Novas Variedades de Plantas (UPOV) tambem procura por um sistema que atenda os padrões de um teste DHE (Distinguibilidade, Homogeneidade e Estabilidade) podendo ser usado para apoiar ou substituir o processo de caracterização morfológica convencional em processos de registro de variedades. Um processo de descoberta e validacao de marcadores microssatelites usando um banco de dados de ESTs como unica fonte de sequencias de DNA foi estabelecido no trabalho e um sistema de identificação genetica baseada em marcadores microssatelites para cana-de-acucar foi desenvolvido para apoiar o melhoramento de variedades de cana-de-acucar e processos de registro de variedades. Um banco de dados de sequencias expressas (ESTs) com 352.122 sequencias foi avaliado para identificacao de motivos de microssatelite e 150 loci com alto polimorfismo observado in silico foram selecionados e validados em dois sistemas de resolução: Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (PAGE) e Sequenciador de DNA. Um conjunto de 10 loci foi selecionado de acordo com os valores de Conteudo de Informação Polimorfica (PIC) e qualidade visual do perfil cromatografico. A capacidade do sistema de discriminar individuos foi avaliada em 1.205 acessos de cana-de-acucar eespecies relacionadas. Uma combinação de tres loci foi suficiente para distinguir todos os acessos com pelo menos duas diferenças (alelos discriminatorios). A reprodutibilidade do sistema foi testada em um grande numero de amostras obtidas de diversos tecidos, origens geograficas distintas e plantulas de dois metodos de propagacao por cultura de tecido (meristema e calo), mostrando-se confiavel. O sistema de identificação genética preenche todos os requisitos para distinguibilidade, homogeneidade e estabilidade (teste DHE). O sistema pode tambem ter muitas aplicações uteis em programas de melhoramento de cana-de-acucar, tais como controle da identidade de acessos que compoem um banco de germoplasma, determinação de paternidade e rastreabilidade de clones em fase de seleção.Abstract: Sugarcane breeders have been for long trying to develop a reliable molecular marker- based fingerprinting system that could aid their breeding programs. In addition, the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) has also been looking for such a system that, once it meets the standard of a DUS (Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability) test could be used to support or replace conventional morphological characterization used routinely to guarantee breeders property rights. A process of discovery and validation of microsatellites markers using EST database as the sole source for DNA sequences was established in this work and a microsatellite-based fingerprinting system for sugarcane was developed to support breeding of sugarcane varieties and property rights issues. An Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) database with 352,122 sequences was screened for microsatellite motifs and 150 loci with the highest polymorphism observed in silico were selected and validated in two fragment resolution systems, Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (PAGE) and automated DNA sequencer. A set of 10 loci was selected according to the Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) values and visual quality of chromatographic profiles. The capacity of the system to discriminate individuals was evaluated in 1,205 accessions of sugarcane and related species. A combination of three loci was sufficient to distinguish all accessions with the standard limit of at least two differences (discriminatory alleles). The reproducibility of the system was tested in large numbers of samples obtained from different tissues, distinct geographical origins, and plantlets from two tissue culture propagation methods (meristem and callus) and proved to be reliable. This fingerprinting system fulfills plant protection requirements for distinctness, uniformity, and stability (DUS test). The system may also have many useful applications in a sugarcane breeding program such as identification of mislabeled accessions in a germplasm bank, paternity determination and tracking of breeding populations.MestradoBioquimicaMestre em Biologia Funcional e Molecula

Níveis de vitamina C e ferro para tilápia do nilo (Oreochromis niloticus)

Os efeitos de diferentes níveis de vitamina C e ferro no desempenho produtivo e parâmetros fisiológicos da tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) foram avaliados por um período de 73 dias. O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado, com tratamentos dispostos em esquema fatorial com três níveis de vitamina C (125; 375 e 1115 mg/kg) e três níveis de ferro (30, 90 e 270 mg/kg), mais um tratamento adicional (0 mg/kg de suplementação de vitamina C e ferro), com quatro repetições cada tratamento, totalizando 10 grupos experimentais. Utilizaram-se 240 alevinos revertidos com peso médio inicial de 7,46 ± 0,49 g, distribuídos aleatoriamente em 40 aquários de 250 L, numa lotação de 6 peixes/aquário. Confeccionou-se dieta purificada com 32,0% de proteína bruta e 3300 kcal/kg de energia digestível. A ausência de vitamina C e ferro nas dietas propiciou o aparecimento de anemia microcítica e hipocrômica aos alevinos. A presença dessa vitamina em dosagens elevadas estimulou a liberação de eritrócitos imaturos na corrente sangüínea. Determinou-se, também, que níveis desses acima das exigências nutricionais descritas para a espécie não determinaram efeito detrimental no desempenho produtivo, na produção de proteínas plasmáticas ou nos aspectos morfológicos do fígado.The effects of different levels of vitamin C and iron on growth performance and physiological parameters on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were evaluated for 73 days. A factorial experiment with three levels of vitamin C (125; 375 e 1115 mg/kg) and three levels of iron (30, 90 e 270 mg/kg), plus an additional treatment (with 0 mg/kg of vitamin C and iron), was considered on a completely randomized design, with four replicates for each experimental group. It was randomly stocked 240 reverted fingerlings, an average weight of 7.46 ± 0.49 g, into 40, 250L, aquaria at a density of 6 fish/aquarium. A albumin-gelatin-diet was formulated to contain 32.0% of crude protein and 3,300 kcal/kg of digestible energy. Fingerlings of Nile tilapia fed diet without supplemental vitamin C and iron developed hypochromic microcytic anemia and the supplemental vitamin C determined the presence of immature erythrocytes on blood. It was also determined that iron serum concentration was influenced by vitamin C and iron supplied on diets, and that levels above to nutritional requirements for the specie did not determined detrimental effect on growth performance, plasmatic protein or morphologic characteristics of liver

Bax And Bcl-2 Expression And Tunel Labeling In Lumbar Enlargement Of Neonatal Rats After Sciatic Axotomy And Melatonin Treatment.

Peripheral axotomy in neonatal rats induces neuronal death. We studied the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and cell death promoter Bax in spinal cord of neonatal rats after sciatic transection and treatment with melatonin, a neuroprotective substance. Pups were unilaterally axotomized at P2 and received melatonin (1 mg/kg; sc) or vehicle 1 h prior to lesion, immediately after, at 1 h, 2 h and then once daily. Rats were sacrificed at 3 h, 6 h, 24 h, 72 h and 5 days postaxotomy. Intact animals were used as controls. Lumbar enlargement was processed for Nissl staining, immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR for Bax or Bcl-2 and TUNEL reaction. Motoneurons (MN) of lesioned (L) and normal (N) sides were counted, and MN survival ratio (MSR=L/N) was calculated. Bax and Bcl-2 showed cytoplasmic immunoreactivity (IR). Bax IR was noticeable in small cells but less evident in MN. In unlesioned pups, some Bax-positive small cells (B+) and TUNEL-positive nuclei (T+) were mainly seen in the dorsal horn. In lesioned animals given vehicle, Bax mRNA levels and numbers of B+ and T+ were increased in comparison with intact controls at 24 h postaxotomy. The basal IR for Bax in MN was not changed by axotomy. Bcl-2 IR was noted in all cells and, like Bcl-2 mRNA, was unaltered after lesion. Melatonin reduced MN loss at 24 h, 72 h and 5 days and T+ at 24 h after lesion but did not interfere with Bax or Bcl-2 expression. These results suggest that (1) sciatic transection at P2 increases Bax mRNA and the amount of B+ and T+ in the lumbar enlargement, (2) Bax IR in immature MN is not altered by axotomy and (3) melatonin protects MN and dorsal horn cells through a mechanism independent of Bax and Bcl-2.111280-9