Selection and proliferation of rapid growing cell lines from embryo derived cell cultures of yew tree (Taxus cuspidata Sieb. et Zucc)

Calli were induced from 300,000 embryos isolated from immature to mature stage of seeds collected on late September from 14 elite trees. When the embryos were cultured onto plastic Petri-dish containing 20 mL of modified B5 basal medium supplemented with 3% (w/v) sucrose, 500 mg/L casein hydrolysate, 250 mg/L myo-inositol, 0.5% (w/v) polyvinyl polypyrrolidon (PVPP), 2×MS vitamins, 0.5 mg/L gibberellic acid, and 10 mg/L 2,4-D after 2 weeks of culture, yellowish-white calli were immediately formed on the surfaces of embryos, and subcultured for 4 weeks in same culture medium. Because most of calli maintained for more than 3 months were revealed differences in their colors, surface texture, and growth rate, visual selection was made for first round screening. When the size of visually selected calli larger than 19 mm in their diameter were inoculated, persistent proliferation was observed. Among the plating methods tested for the selection of rapid growing cell lines at single cell and/or small cell aggregate level, 2-layer spread plating revealed as the best for single cell cloning. To enhance cell growth and maintain high rate of viability for long-term culture of yew cells in bioreactor, final cell volume less than 50% in SCV seemed to be the best. Time course study revealed that 30% of inoculum density was suitable for fed batch culture. Among the tested conditional media, the rate of 1∶2 (old medium: fresh medium) was recorded at the best for cell growth.     

Anaerobic degradation of papermill sludge in a two-phase digester containing rumen microorganisms and colonized polyurethane foam

Summary The use of reticulated polyurethane foam as a support material for the immobilization of methanogenic associations and its application to the anaerobic treatment of fine particulate solid wastes was investigated. The colonization of polyurethane support particles in a continuous upflow reactor fed on a mixture of acetate, propionate and butyrate, was both rapid and dense. The combination of rumen microorganisms and colonized support particles in a two-phase digester resulted in an efficient anaerobic decomposition of papermill sludge.     

(Z)-9-tetradecenal: a potent inhibitor of pheromone-mediated communication in the oriental tobacco budworm moth,Helicoverpa assulta

The behavioural significance of (Z)-9-tetradecenal to male H. assulta was tested by comparing the number of moths attracted to lures containing a standard synthetic female sex pheromone with lures in which (Z)-9-tetradecenal was also added. The standard pheromone mixture used contained 1000 g (Z)-9-hexadecenal, 50 g (Z)-11-hexadecenal, 300 g (Z)-9-hexadecenyl acetate and 15 g (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate impregnated on rubber septa. Addition of (Z)-9-tetradecenal to the standard pheromone was shown to significantly reduce the caught of male H. assulta when added in amounts greater than 10 g or 1% of the major pheromone component in both field and net-house experiments. The reduction in catch was found to be dependent on the quantity of (Z)-9-tetradecenal added to the standard pheromone. The implications of these results on conspecific and inter-specific pheromone-mediated communication in H. assulta and related sympatric heliothine species is discussed.Abbreviations Z9-16:AL (Z)-9-hexadecenal - Z11-16:AL (Z)-11-hexadecenal - Z9-16:AC (Z)-9-hexadecenyl acetate - Z11-16:AC (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate - Z9-14:AL (Z)-9-tetradecenal - Z9-16:OH (Z)-9-hexadecen-1-ol - Z11-16:OH (Z)-11-hexadecen-1-ol - RH relative humidity     

A calcified sinutubular junction: the discovery of a supravalvular aortic stenosis in an elderly woman

We report a case of a 64 year old woman with a calcified ring at the level of the sinotubular junction. Echocardiography and Computed Tomography showed a supravalvular aortic stenosis, without known associated lesions, except for the existence of an aberrant right subclavian artery. These combination of abnormalities makes it an unique case. Differential diagnosis of sinutubular calcification is added. From the literature a short review of supravalvular aortic stenosis is presented with indications for surgical intervention. Lifelong and regular follow up is necessary.     

The fluted giant clam (Tridacna squamosa) increases nitrate absorption and upregulates the expression of a homolog of SIALIN (H+:2NO3− cotransporter) in the ctenidium during light exposure

Coral Reefs - Giant clams flourish in nutrient-poor waters of tropical Indo-Pacific because they live in symbiosis with extracellular dinoflagellates (zooxanthellae) and receive photosynthates from...     

The effect of genomic information on optimal contribution selection in livestock breeding programs

Background

Long-term benefits in animal breeding programs require that increases in genetic merit be balanced with the need to maintain diversity (lost due to inbreeding). This can be achieved by using optimal contribution selection. The availability of high-density DNA marker information enables the incorporation of genomic data into optimal contribution selection but this raises the question about how this information affects the balance between genetic merit and diversity.

Methods

The effect of using genomic information in optimal contribution selection was examined based on simulated and real data on dairy bulls. We compared the genetic merit of selected animals at various levels of co-ancestry restrictions when using estimated breeding values based on parent average, genomic or progeny test information. Furthermore, we estimated the proportion of variation in estimated breeding values that is due to within-family differences.

Results

Optimal selection on genomic estimated breeding values increased genetic gain. Genetic merit was further increased using genomic rather than pedigree-based measures of co-ancestry under an inbreeding restriction policy. Using genomic instead of pedigree relationships to restrict inbreeding had a significant effect only when the population consisted of many large full-sib families; with a half-sib family structure, no difference was observed. In real data from dairy bulls, optimal contribution selection based on genomic estimated breeding values allowed for additional improvements in genetic merit at low to moderate inbreeding levels. Genomic estimated breeding values were more accurate and showed more within-family variation than parent average breeding values; for genomic estimated breeding values, 30 to 40% of the variation was due to within-family differences. Finally, there was no difference between constraining inbreeding via pedigree or genomic relationships in the real data.

Conclusions

The use of genomic estimated breeding values increased genetic gain in optimal contribution selection. Genomic estimated breeding values were more accurate and showed more within-family variation, which led to higher genetic gains for the same restriction on inbreeding. Using genomic relationships to restrict inbreeding provided no additional gain, except in the case of very large full-sib families.     

Family screening in patients with isolated bicuspid aortic valve

Netherlands Heart Journal - To determine the prevalence of undiagnosed bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and isolated aortic dilatation in first-degree relatives (FDRs) of patients with isolated BAV and...     

Contrasting patterns of genetic structure and phylogeography in the marine agarophytes Gelidiophycus divaricatus and G. freshwateri (Gelidiales,Rhodophyta) from East Asia

The evolutionary and population demographic history of marine red algae in East Asia is poorly understood. Here, we reconstructed the phylogeographies of two upper intertidal species endemic to East Asia, Gelidiophycus divaricatus and G. freshwateri. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic inferences of 393 mitochondrial cox1, 128 plastid rbcL, and 342 nuclear ITS2 sequences were complemented with ecological niche models. Gelidiophycus divaricatus, a southern species adapted to warm water, is characterized by a high genetic diversity and a strong geographical population structure, characteristic of stable population sizes and sudden reduction to recent expansion. In contrast, G. freshwateri, a northern species adapted to cold temperate conditions, is genetically relatively homogeneous with a shallow population structure resulting from steady population growth and recent equilibrium. The overlap zone of the two species roughly matches summer and winter isotherms, indicating that surface seawater temperature is a key feature influencing species range. Unidirectional genetic introgression was detected at two sites on Jeju Island where G. divaricatus was rare while G. freshwateri was common, suggesting the occurrence of asymmetric natural hybrids, a rarely reported event for rhodophytes. Our results illustrate that Quaternary climate oscillations have left strong imprints on the current day genetic structure and highlight the importance of seawater temperature and sea level change in driving speciation in upper intertidal seaweed species.     

Amiloride inhibition of the proton-translocating NADH-quinone oxidoreductase of mammals and bacteria

The proton-translocating NADH-quinone oxidoreductase in mitochondria (complex I) and bacteria (NDH-1) was shown to be inhibited by amiloride derivatives that are known as specific inhibitors for Na(+)/H(+) exchangers. In bovine submitochondrial particles, the effective concentrations were about the same as those for the Na(+)/H(+) exchangers, whereas in bacterial membranes the inhibitory potencies were lower. These results together with our earlier observation that the amiloride analogues prevent labeling of the ND5 subunit of complex I with a fenpyroximate analogue suggest the involvement of ND5 in H(+) (Na(+)) translocation and no direct involvement of electron carriers in H(+) (Na(+)) translocation.