Loss-of-Function Mutation of Soybean R2R3 MYB Transcription Factor Dilutes Tawny Pubescence Color.

Pubescence color of soybean is controlled by two genes, and . In the presence of a dominant allele, dominant and recessive alleles of the locus generate tawny and light tawny (or near-gray) pubescence, respectively. Flavones, responsible for pubescence color, are synthesized two copies of flavone synthase II genes ( and ).

Molecular chaperone prefoldin-assisted biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles with improved size distribution and dispersion.

Here we report a novel aspect of molecular chaperone prefoldin (PFD) as a biomaterial in the biocatalytic synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using glycerol dehydrogenase (GLD). We found that PFD could inhibit the aggregation of AuNPs during the biosynthesis, leading to the formation of AuNPs with controlled size distribution.

Absolute quantification of cholesteryl esters using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry uncovers novel diagnostic potential of urinary sediment.

Background: Urine has been utilized as a source of biomarkers in renal disease. However, urinary lipids have not attracted much attention so far. Here we studied urinary cholesteryl ester (CE) and its relevance in renal disease.

Controlling the formation process and atomic structures of single pyrazine molecular junction by tuning the strength of the metal-molecule interaction.

The formation process and atomic structures were investigated for single pyrazine molecular junctions sandwiched by three different Au, Ag, and Cu electrodes using a mechanically controllable break junction technique in ultrahigh vacuum conditions at 300 K. We demonstrated that the formation process of the single-molecule junction crucially depended on the choice of the metal electrodes. While single-molecule junction showing two distinct conductance states were found for the Au electrodes, only the single conductance state was evident for the Ag electrodes, and there was no junction formation for the Cu electrodes.

Mapping quantitative trait loci for root development under hypoxia conditions in soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.).

Greatest potential, QTLs for hypoxia and waterlogging tolerance in soybean roots were detected using a new phenotypic evaluation method. Waterlogging is a major environmental stress limiting soybean yield in wet parts of the world. Root development is an important indicator of hypoxia tolerance in soybean.

Cloning and characterization of soybean gene Fg1 encoding flavonol 3-O-glucoside/galactoside (1→6) glucosyltransferase.

Flavonoids are important secondary metabolites in plants. Sugar-sugar glycosyltransferases are involved in the final step of flavonoid biosynthesis and contribute to the structural diversity of flavonoids. This manuscript describes the first cloning of a sugar-sugar glucosyltransferase gene in the UGT family that attaches glucose to the 6″-position of sugar bound to a flavonol.

Quantitative trait locus mapping of soybean maturity gene E5.

Time to flowering and maturity in soybean is controlled by loci E1 to E5, and E7 to E9. These loci were assigned to molecular linkage groups (MLGs) except for E5. This study was conducted to map the E5 locus using F2 populations expected to segregate for E5.

Determination of the number of atoms present in nano contact based on shot noise measurements with highly stable nano-fabricated electrodes.

A highly stable experimental setup was developed for the measurement of shot noise in atomic contacts and molecular junctions to determine the number of atoms or molecules present. The use of a nano-fabricated mechanically controllable break junction (MCBJ) electrode improved the overall stability of the experimental setup. The improved stability of the system and optimization of measurement system enabled us to comprehensively investigate the shot noise as well as charge transport properties in Au atomic contacts and molecular junctions.

Ligand Binding Mechanism in Steroid Receptors: From Conserved Plasticity to Differential Evolutionary Constraints.

Steroid receptor drugs have been available for more than half a century, but details of the ligand binding mechanism have remained elusive. We solved X-ray structures of the glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors to identify a conserved plasticity at the helix 6-7 region that extends the ligand binding pocket toward the receptor surface. Since none of the endogenous ligands exploit this region, we hypothesized that it constitutes an integral part of the binding event.

CACTA-superfamily transposable element is inserted in MYB transcription factor gene of soybean line producing variegated seeds.

The R gene of soybean, presumably encoding a MYB transcription factor, controls seed coat color. The gene consists of multiple alleles, R (black), r-m (black spots and (or) concentric streaks on brown seed), and r (brown seed). This study was conducted to determine the structure of the MYB transcription factor gene in a near-isogenic line (NIL) having r-m allele.

A Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism in an Endo-1,4-β-Glucanase Gene Controls Seed Coat Permeability in Soybean.

Physical dormancy, a structural feature of the seed coat known as hard seededness, is an important characteristic for adaptation of plants against unstable and unpredictable environments. To dissect the molecular basis of qHS1, a quantitative trait locus for hard seededness in soybean (Glycine max (L) Merr.), we developed a near-isogenic line (NIL) of a permeable (soft-seeded) cultivar, Tachinagaha, containing a hard-seed allele from wild soybean (G.

Linkage mapping, molecular cloning and functional analysis of soybean gene Fg3 encoding flavonol 3-O-glucoside/galactoside (1 → 2) glucosyltransferase.

Background: Flavonol glycosides (FGs) are major components of soybean leaves and there are substantial differences in FG composition among genotypes. The first objective of this study was to identify genes responsible for FG biosynthesis and to locate them in the soybean genome. The second objective was to clone the candidate genes and to verify their function.

Charge-order melting in charge-disproportionated perovskite CeCu3Fe4O12.

A novel quadruple perovskite oxide CeCu3Fe4O12 has been synthesized under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions of 15 GPa and 1473 K. (57)Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy displays a charge disproportionation transition of 4Fe(3.5+) → 3Fe(3+) + Fe(5+) below ∼270 K, whereas hard X-ray photoemission and soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements confirm that the Ce and Cu valences are retained at approximately +4 and +2, respectively, over the entire temperature range measured.

High-pressure synthesis, crystal structure, and unusual valence state of novel perovskite oxide CaCu3Rh4O12.

A novel perovskite oxide, CaCu3Rh4O12, has been synthesized under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions (15 GPa and 1273 K). Rietveld refinement of synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data indicates that this compound crystallizes in a cubic AA'3B4O12-type perovskite structure. Synchrotron X-ray absorption and photoemission spectroscopy measurements reveal that the Cu and Rh valences are nearly trivalent.

The influence of feeding pattern on changes in plasma ghrelin in the Holstein cow.

We measured the plasma ghrelin and cortisol concentrations in non-lactating cows under fixed-time feeding conditions followed by an acute or gradual fasting treatment. During the 4 days before fasting, animals in Group 1 were fed a fixed amount of rations at 0800 and 1600 hr, and those in Group 2 were fed a gradually reduced amount. Thereafter, the plasma ghrelin concentrations of each animal were measured for 40 hr.

Allelic variation of soybean flower color gene W4 encoding dihydroflavonol 4-reductase 2.

Background: Flower color of soybean is primarily controlled by six genes, viz., W1, W2, W3, W4, Wm and Wp. This study was conducted to investigate the genetic and chemical basis of newly-identified flower color variants including two soybean mutant lines, 222-A-3 (near white flower) and E30-D-1 (light purple flower), a near-isogenic line (Clark-w4), flower color variants (T321 and T369) descended from the w4-mutable line and kw4 (near white flower, Glycine soja).

Atomic level rendering of DNA-drug encounter.

Computer simulations have been demonstrated to be important for unraveling atomic mechanisms in biological systems. In this study, we show how combining unbiased molecular dynamic simulations with appropriate analysis tools can successfully describe metal-based drug interactions with DNA. To elucidate the noncovalent affinity of cisplatin's family to DNA, we performed extensive all-atom molecular dynamics simulations (3.

Monte Carlo Free Ligand Diffusion with Markov State Model Analysis and Absolute Binding Free Energy Calculations.

Obtaining absolute binding free energies from unbiased ligand diffusion has attracted a significant amount of attention due to its implications in drug design. Several studies have used special purpose computers and software to achieve microsecond molecular dynamics which, combined with a Markov state model analysis, are capable of providing absolute binding free energies. We have recently developed a Monte Carlo based technique, PELE, capable of performing a dynamical exploration of the protein-ligand energy landscape including free ligand diffusion into the active site, at a fraction of the computational cost of molecular dynamics techniques.

Control of bond-strain-induced electronic phase transitions in iron perovskites.

Unusual electronic phase transitions in the A-site ordered perovskites LnCu3Fe4O12 (Ln: trivalent lanthanide ion) are investigated. All LnCu3Fe4O12 compounds are in identical valence states of Ln(3+)Cu(2+)3Fe(3.75+)4O12 at high temperature.

Linkage mapping, molecular cloning and functional analysis of soybean gene Fg2 encoding flavonol 3-O-glucoside (1 → 6) rhamnosyltransferase.

There are substantial genotypic differences in the levels of flavonol glycosides (FGs) in soybean leaves. The first objective of this study was to identify and locate genes responsible for FG biosynthesis in the soybean genome. The second objective was to clone and verify the function of these candidate genes.

New flavonol triglycosides from the leaves of soybean cultivars.

Soybean (Glycine max) is a major crop in the world. Three new flavonol 3-O-glycosides, kaempferol 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)-beta-D-galactopyranoside] (1), kaempferol 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 4)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)-beta-D-galactopyranoside] (4) and quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1--> 2)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)-beta-galactopyranoside] (5) were isolated from the leaves of soybean cultivars, together with three known compounds, kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1--> 6)-beta-D-galactopyranoside] (2), kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside] (3) and quercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 --> 2)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 --> 6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside] (6), and also common flavonoids. The isolated compounds possess similar structures and high water solubility, and so it was hard to isolate them (in particular 5 and 6) with a normal preparative HPLC system.

Suppression of intersite charge transfer in charge-disproportionated perovskite YCu3Fe4O12.

A novel iron perovskite YCu3Fe4O12 was synthesized under high pressure and high temperature of 15 GPa and 1273 K. Synchrotron X-ray and electron diffraction measurements have demonstrated that this compound crystallizes in the cubic AA'3B4O12-type perovskite structure (space group Im3, No. 204) with a lattice constant of a = 7.

B-site deficiencies in A-site-ordered perovskite LaCu3Pt(3.75)O12.

An A-site-ordered perovskite LaCu3Pt(3.75)O12 was synthesized by replacing Ca(2+) with La(3+) in a cubic quadruple AA'3B4O12-type perovskite CaCu3Pt4O12 under high-pressure and high-temperature of 15 GPa and 1100 °C. In LaCu3Pt(3.

Pd(2+)-incorporated perovskite CaPd3B4O12 (B = Ti, V).

Novel A-site ordered perovskites CaPd(3)Ti(4)O(12) and CaPd(3)V(4)O(12) were synthesized under high-pressure and high-temperature of 15 GPa and 1000 °C. These compounds are the first example in which a crystallographic site in a perovskite-type structure is occupied by Pd(2+) ions with a 4d(8) low spin configuration. The ionic models for these compounds were determined to be Ca(2+)Pd(2+)(3)Ti(4+)(4)O(12) and Ca(2+)Pd(2+)(3)V(4+)(4)O(12) by structural refinement using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction, hard X-ray photoemission, and soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

A MYB transcription factor controls flower color in soybean.

Purple-blue flower of soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) is controlled by the W2 locus.