Analysis of effectiveness of R1-nj anthocyanin marker for in vivo haploid identification in maize and molecular markers for predicting the inhibition of R1-nj expression.

R1-nj anthocyanin marker inhibition is highly frequent in tropical maize germplasm considerably affecting efficiency of haploid identification. Molecular markers reliably differentiating germplasm with anthocyanin color inhibitor have been identified in this study. The R1-Navajo (R1-nj) color marker facilitates easy and quick identification of haploid kernels at the seed stage during in vivo haploid induction process in maize.

Molecular cloning and expression of bovine nucleoplasmin 2 (NPM2): a maternal effect gene regulated by miR-181a.

Background: Nucleoplasmin 2 (NPM2) is an oocyte-specific nuclear protein essential for nuclear and nucleolar organization and early embryonic development. The aims of this study were to clone the bovine NPM2 gene, determine its temporal expression during oocyte development and early embryogenesis, and evaluate the potential role of miRNA-181a in regulation of its expression.

Methods: A 329 bp cDNA fragment was amplified from bovine fetal ovary using primers designed based on the conserved regions of the human and mouse NPM2 cDNA sequences.

Role of importin alpha8, a new member of the importin alpha family of nuclear transport proteins, in early embryonic development in cattle.

Nuclear proteins such as transcription and chromatin remodeling factors are required for initiation of transcription in early embryos before embryonic genome activation. The nuclear transport of these proteins is mediated by transport factors such as importins. Through analysis of expressed sequence tags from a bovine oocyte cDNA library, we identified a new member of the importin alpha family (named importin alpha8).