No abstract

The higher plant Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) is an important model for identifying plant genes and determining their function. To assist biological investigations and to define chromosome structure, a coordinated effort to sequence the Arabidopsis genome was initiated in late 1996. Here we report one of the first milestones of this project, the sequence of chromosome 4. Analysis of 17.38 megabases of unique sequence, representing about 17% of the genome, reveals 3,744 protein coding genes, 81 transfer RNAs and numerous repeat elements. Heterochromatic regions surrounding the putative centromere, which has not yet been completely sequenced, are characterized by an increased frequency of a variety of repeats, new repeats, reduced recombination, lowered gene density and lowered gene expression. Roughly 60% of the predicted protein-coding genes have been functionally characterized on the basis of their homology to known genes. Many genes encode predicted proteins that are homologous to human and Caenorhabditis elegans proteins.

The yeast and human SKP1 genes regulate the mitotic cell cycle but are not yet known to be required for meiosis. Nine Arabidopsis SKP1 homologues have been uncovered and are named ASK1 through ASK9. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of a male sterile Arabidopsis mutant and show that the mutant defect was caused by a Ds transposon insertion into the ASK1 gene. In the ask1-1 mutant, abnormal microspores exhibit a range of sizes. Furthermore, during mutant male meiosis, although homologous chromosome pairing appeared normal at metaphase I, chromosome segregation at anaphase I is unequal, and some chromosomes are abnormally extended. Therefore, in ask1-1, at least some homologues remain associated after metaphase I. In addition, immunof luorescence microscopy indicates that the mutant spindle morphology at both metaphase I and early anaphase I is normal; thus, the abnormal chromosome segregation is not likely caused by a spindle defect. Because the yeast Skp1p is required for targeting specific proteins for ubiquitinmediated proteolysis, we propose that ASK1 controls homologue separation by degrading or otherwise removing a protein that is required directly or indirectly for homologue association before anaphase I.

Efficient functionalization of silicon substrates is important for the development of silicon-based sensors. Organic monolayers directly bonded to hydrogen-terminated silicon substrates via Si−C bonds display enhanced stability toward hydrolytic cleavage. Here, we show that monolayers presenting a high density of terminal azide groups are amenable to bioconjugation with alkynyl-derivatized glycans via a copper-catalyzed azide−alkyne 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. The prerequisite azide-functionalized silicon surface is fabricated via hydrosilylation of undecylenic acid with hydrogen-terminated silicon substrate followed by reaction of the thus formed monolayer of acid groups with short, bifunctional oligoethylene oxide chains carrying an amine function at one terminus and an azido group at the other. The possibility to functionalize these azido-surfaces with alkynyl-derivatized glycans such as propargyl mannose through a click protocol is demonstrated and evidenced using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. In addition, the interaction of these mannose-adorned silicon substrates with glycan binding proteins such as Lens culinaris lectin is investigated. The data establishes clearly the specificity of the interaction of this newly fabricated silicon surface for mannose-selective proteins as well as its reusability, thereby demonstrating its potential as a sensor.

No abstract

Genetic linkage maps of Vitis (2n = 38) have been constructed from a single interspecific hybrid grape population (60 seedlings) of 'Cayuga White' X 'Aurore'. The maps were primarily based on 422 RAPD markers but also included 16 RFLP and isozyme markers. These maps had an average distance of 6.1 cM between markers and were developed using a double-pseudotestcross strategy. The 'Cayuga White' map had 214 markers covering 1196 cM and that of 'Aurore' spanned over 1477 cM with 225 markers. The 'Cayuga White' map consisted of 20 linkage groups, whereas 22 linkage groups comprised the 'Aurore' map. The number of groups reduced to 19, as in some instances two or more groups from one parent showed homology with a single group from the other parent on the basis of markers heterozygous in both parents. Each linkage group ranged in size from 14 to 135 cM in 'Aurore' and from 14 to 124 cM in 'Cayuga White'. These maps provide enough coverage of the genome to allow quantitative trait locus analysis and map-based gene cloning.

A series of 2,4-diaryl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro- (36-40) and 2,4-diaryl-2,3-dihydro-1,5-benzothiazepines (25-35) have been synthesized from the corresponding chalcones 1-24. Both the benzothiazepines and chalcones were evaluated as DPPH free-radical scavengers and as inhibitors of cholinesterases, urease, and alpha-glucosidase. Compounds 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 13, 18, 21, 36a, 37a, 37b, and 39a showed significant cholinesterase inhibiting activities. Among the 15 dihydro-1,5-benzothiazepines, 26, 32, and 35 exhibited significant radical-scavenging activities; and six tetrahydro-1,5-benzothiazepines (35, 36a, 36b, 37a, 37b, and 39a) were found to be inhibitors of AChE and BChE. Compounds 22, 25, 26, 33, 35, 36a, 37b, and 39a inhibited urease, and 25 and 27-31 were found to be potent inhibitors of alpha-glucosidase.

The nuclear DNA content was analyzed in Vitis species, hybrid cultivars, and genera of the Vitaceae using flow cytometry. Significant variation was found among Vitis species, hybrids, and other genera of the Vitaceae (Ampelopsis and Parthenocissus). DNA content was estimated to range from 0.98 to 1.05 pg/2C within V. labrusca (ns) and 0.86 to 1.00 pg/2C within V. vinifera (ns). Genotypes from Vitis and Parthenocissus were similar in nuclear DNA content (approximately 1.00 pg/2C) whereas they differed significantly from Ampelopsis (1.39 pg/2C). No correlation between DNA content and the center of origin of genotypes of the Vitaceae was noted. Based on the present study, the Vitis genome size is 475 Mbp, 96% of which is non-coding. Knowledge of DNA content is useful in order to understand the complexity of the Vitis genome and to establish a relationship between the genetic and physical map for map-based cloning.