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The cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) of wild-abortive (WA) cytoplasm has been widely used for breeding hybrid rice. Two restorer genes for the CMS have been found by traditional genetic analysis. To tag the restorer genes we used a set of near-isogenic lines (NILs) of Zhenshan 97 carrying different genotypes for fertility restoration from IR24, to perform RAPD analysis. From the survey of 720 random primers, six RAPD markers were identified to be associated with Rf-3. Three of these OPK05-800, OPU10-1100 and OPW01-350, were mapped on chromosome 1. Two F(2) populations from the crosses between Zhenshan 97 A and a near-isogenic restorer line ZSR21 and between Zhenshan 97 A and IR24 were used for mapping Rf-3. The three RAPD markers and three RFLP markers, RG532, RG140 and RG458, were found to be closely linked to Rf-3 in the two F(2) populations. The same location of Rf-3 was also found in a BC(1) population from the cross of IR58025 A//IR36/IR58025 B. At the RG532 locus, different alleles were found between two CMS lines, Zhenshan 97 A and IR58025 A, and between two restorer lines, IR24 and IR36. The use of these molecular markers closely linked to Rf-3 in facilitating the development of hybrid rice is discussed.

Embryo sac abortion occurs frequently in the spikelet of indica/ japonica hybrids in rice. To provide a comprehensive understanding of embryo sac sterility in typical indica/japonica hybrids, a simple eosin B staining procedure for use with confocal microscopy was developed to observe the mature embryo sacs of 35 indica/japonica F 1 s making up an incomplete diallel cross design (5 · 7). A diversity of abnormal embryo sacs existed in the hybrids. The main types were classified into five categories: (i) embryo sac degeneration (ESD), (ii) embryo sac without egg apparatus, (iii) embryo sac without female germ unit, (iv) embryo sac with abnormal polar nuclei and (v) abnormal small embryo sac (ASES). The frequencies of abnormal embryo sacs in the 35 hybrids ranged from 26.0% to 76.3%, with an average of 48.6%. The highest frequency of abnormality was 31.3% ESD. The frequencies of various abnormalities varied with parental genotype and environment.

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Background: Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 1 (TRAP1), an essential mitochondrial chaperone is induced in rat hearts following ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), but its role in myocardial I/R injury is unclear. The present study examined the function of TRAP1 in cardiomyocyte hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in vitro and myocardial I/R injury in vivo. Methods: HL-1 cardiomyocytes transfected with TRAP1 or vector were subjected to simulated I/R (SI/R) in vitro. Cell death and mitochondrial function were assessed. Wild type (WT) and TRAP1 knockout (TRAP1 KO) mice were subjected to cardiac I/R in vivo. The infarct size and myocardial apoptosis were determined. WT and TRAP1 KO cardiomyocytes were subjected to SI/R in vitro. Mitochondrial function was assessed. Results: TRAP1 overexpression protects HL-1 cardiomyocytes from SI/R-induced cell death in vitro. The reduced cell death was associated with decreased ROS generation, better-preserved mitochondrial ETC complex activity, membrane potential, and ATP production, as well as delayed mPTP opening. Loss of TRAP1 aggravates SI/R-induced mitochondrial damage in cardiomyocytes in vitro and myocardial I/R injury and apoptosis in vivo. Conclusion: The results of the present study show that TRAP1 provides cardioprotection against myocardial I/R by ameliorating mitochondrial dysfunction.