STAT1 and STAT2 Null Cells Are Resistant to RNA-Induced Apoptosis Due to Deficiency in Constitutive and Inducible Apoptosis-Regulating Genes

Although much progress has been made in identifying the signaling pathways that mediate viral RNA-induced apoptosis and activation of interferon-stimulated genes, the role that bacterial RNA plays in regulating these responses has remained undetermined. Herein, we identified bacterial RNA as a novel inducer of the apoptotic cell death. Unlike the parental cells, STAT1 and STAT2 mutants display apoptotic defects which were reversed by restoring the expression of wild type proteins. While STAT1 mutants lacking tyrosine-701 or a functional SH2 domain were effective as the wild-type protein in restoring the apoptotic response, the mutant carrying a point mutation at serine-727 of STAT1 was resistant to bacterial RNA-induced apoptosis. We also determined that the lack of apoptosis in the STAT1 and STAT2 mutants was correlated with the constitutive and inducible activation of apoptosis regulating proteins. Furthermore, we show that bacterial RNA induces transcriptional activation of STAT1, STAT2, IRF1, and ISGF3, which was impaired in STAT1 or STAT2 mutants. These observations suggested that the participation of STATs in regulating the apoptotic response is independent of their downstream functions as cytokine-induced transcriptional activators. In addition to bacterial immunity, the results presented here may also have implications in cellular pathophysiology and RNA-based therapy.

Assessment of Genetic Variation in Soybean (<i>Glycine max</i>) Accessions from International Gene Pools Using RAPD Markers: Comparison with the ISSR System

Soybean (Glycine max) is one of the most important crops in the world in terms of total production and usage. It is also among the least diverse species. The main objectives of the present study were to 1) assess the level of genetic variation among soybean (G. max) accessions from different countries using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers and 2) compare Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) and RAPD marker systems in detecting polymorphic loci in soybeans (G. max). Genomic DNAs from 108 soybeans (G. max) accessions from 11 different gene pools were analyzed using several ISSR and RAPD primers. The average level of polymorphic loci detected with the RAPD primers was 35%. The soybean accessions from the China, Netherlands, and Canada gene pools were the least genetically variable with 25%, 26%, and 30% of polymorphic loci, respectively. Accessions from Hungary (43%) and France (48%) showed the highest level of polymorphism based on the RAPD analysis. Overall, RAPD data revealed that the accessions from different countries are closely related with 64% genetic distance values below 0.40. The levels of polymorphic loci detected with the RAPD and ISSR marker systems were in general moderate and similar even if they target different regions of the genome. A combination of different marker systems that include RAPD/ISSR, microsatellites (SSR), and SNPs should provide the most accurate information on genetic variation of soybean (G. max) accessions.

Assessing genetic diversity and structure of fragmented populations of eastern white pine(Pinus strobus)and western white pine(P.monticola)for conservation management

Aims Many pine populations in Canada have fragmented distributions resulting from the effects of glaciations,overharvesting and white pine blister rust infections.Forest fragmentation can modify gene flow and reduce genetic diversity.Selective logging can reduce the density of trees,thereby altering mating patterns and increasing inbreeding.The hypothesis of the present study is that forest fragmentation will not increase inbreeding and will have no effect on genetic diversity parameters in the Canadian Pinus moniticola and P.strobus populations targeted because of(i)the long life span of the pine species,(ii)outbreeding and self-incompatibility of P.monticola and P.strobus and(iii)wind pollination resulting in high gene flow among populations.We studied the genetic diversity of P.strobus across its range in Canada,and we completed a detailed analysis of the genetic structure of P.monticola populations from western Canada using microsatellites genetic markers.Methods Seed samples from 10 P.monticola populations and 10 P.strobus populations were collected from western and eastern Canada,respectively.The mother trees included in seed lots were representative of each stand.Genomic DNA extracted from each sample was amplified with microsatellite primers.The intra-and interpopulation genetic diversity parameters were assessed using Popgene and Genepop softwares and the genetic distances among populations within each species using the PowerMarker software.