An amino acid polymorphism in the membrane progesterone receptor alpha protein is tied to female sexual maturity in the large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea).

Progesterone is a major steroid hormone of vertebrates, which regulates many different physiological functions. This study reports on a radical amino acid exchange of an aromatic phenylalanine (F) or tyrosine (Y) with an aliphatic leucine (L) in the membrane progesterone receptor alpha protein of large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea), one of the important fishery species in the Northwest Pacific Ocean that is now critically endangered due to overfishing. This derived radical exchange is associated in wild Chinese populations with a slower rate of seasonal sexual maturation by the females.

Phenotypic differentiation and diversifying selection in populations of Eruca sativa along an aridity gradient.

Background: The aridity gradient in the eastern Mediterranean offers an opportunity to investigate intra-specific genetic differentiation and local adaptation in plant populations. Here we used genetic (F) and quantitative trait (P) differentiation to assess local adaptation among three natural populations of Eruca sativa (Brassicaceae) distributed along a climatic range representing desert, semi-arid and Mediterranean habitats.

Results: Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis revealed high genetic diversity in each population, but low genetic differentiation between populations and relatively high gene flow.

GTR1 and GTR2 transporters differentially regulate tissue-specific glucosinolate contents and defence responses in the oilseed crop Brassica juncea.

GTR1 and GTR2 transporters are components of the source to sink translocation network of glucosinolates, which are major defence metabolites in the Brassicaceae. These transporters can be genetically manipulated for reduction of seed-glucosinolates without inhibiting glucosinolate biosynthesis, thereby maintaining the inherent defence potential of plants. However, the different roles of GTRs in influencing tissue-specific distribution of glucosinolates in agriculturally important Brassica crops are yet unknown.

Heterotic patterns of primary and secondary metabolites in the oilseed crop Brassica juncea.

Heterosis refers to the superior performance of F1 hybrids over their respective parental inbred lines. Although the genetic and expression basis of heterosis have been previously investigated, the metabolic basis for this phenomenon is poorly understood. In a preliminary morphological study in Brassica juncea, we observed significant heterosis at the 50% flowering stage, wherein both the growth and reproduction of F1 reciprocal hybrids were greater than that of their parents.

Structure and genetic diversity of natural populations of Morus alba in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region.

Sequence-related amplified polymorphism markers were used to assess the genetic structure in three natural populations of Morus alba from trans-Himalaya. Multilocation sampling was conducted across 14 collection sites. The overall genetic diversity estimates were high: percentage polymorphic loci 89.

Chemical composition and antioxidant capacities of phytococktail extracts from trans-Himalayan cold desert.

Background: Himalayan plants are widely used in traditional system of medicine both as prophylactics and therapeutics for high altitude maladies. Our aim was to evaluate the antioxidant capacities and bioactive compounds of methanol and n-hexane extracts of the phytococktail comprising of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides), apricot (Prunus armeniaca) and roseroot (Rhodiola imbricata) from trans-Himalaya.

Methods: The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) and nitric oxide (NO) radical scavenging capacities and lipid peroxidation inhibition (LPI) property of the extracts were determined.