Validated MAGIC and GWAS population mapping reveals the link between vitamin E content and natural variation in chorismate metabolism in tomato.

Tocochromanols constitute the different forms of vitamin E (VTE), essential components of the human diet, and display a high membrane protectant activity. By combining interval mapping and genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we unveiled the genetic determinants of tocochromanol accumulation in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) fruits. To enhance the nutritional value of this highly consumed vegetable, we dissected the natural intraspecific variability of tocochromanols in tomato fruits and genetically engineered their biosynthetic pathway.

Intrafamilial transmission of hepatitis C virus.

HCV infection is a major public health problem worldwide. Several studies reported that HCV infection might cluster in families or households. Horizontal intrafamilial transmission of the virus has been demonstrated previously.

Targeted enhancement of glutamate-to-γ-aminobutyrate conversion in Arabidopsis seeds affects carbon-nitrogen balance and storage reserves in a development-dependent manner.

In seeds, glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) operates at the metabolic nexus between carbon and nitrogen metabolism by catalyzing the unidirectional decarboxylation of glutamate to form γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). To elucidate the regulatory role of GAD in seed development, we generated Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) transgenic plants expressing a truncated GAD from Petunia hybrida missing the carboxyl-terminal regulatory Ca(2+)-calmodulin-binding domain under the transcriptional regulation of the seed maturation-specific phaseolin promoter. Dry seeds of the transgenic plants accumulated considerable amounts of GABA, and during desiccation the content of several amino acids increased, although not glutamate or proline.

A new structural model of Aβ40 fibrils.

The amyloid fibrils of beta-amyloid (Aβ) peptides play important roles in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease. Comprehensive solid-state NMR (SSNMR) structural studies on uniformly isotope-labeled Aβ assemblies have been hampered for a long time by sample heterogeneity and low spectral resolution. In this work, SSNMR studies on well-ordered fibril samples of Aβ(40) with an additional N-terminal methionine provide high-resolution spectra which lead to an accurate structural model.