The haplotype distribution of two genes of citrus tristeza virus is altered after host change or aphid transmission. (1/761)

Genetic variability of citrus tristeza virus (CTV) was studied using the haplotypes detected by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of genes p18 and p20 in six virus populations of two origins. The Spanish group included a CTV isolate and subisolates obtained by graft-transmission to different host species. The other included two subisolates aphid-transmitted from a single Japanese isolate. The homozygosity observed for gene p20 was always significantly higher than that expected under neutral evolution, whereas only three populations showed high homozygosity for p18, suggesting stronger host constraints for p20 than for p18. Sequential transmissions of a Spanish isolate to new host species increased the difference between its population and that of the successive subisolates for gene p18, as estimated by the F statistic. Analysis of molecular variance indicated that variation between both groups of populations was not statistically significant, whereas variations between populations of the same group or within populations were significant for both genes studied. Our data indicate that selection affects the haplotype distribution and that adaptation to a new host can be as important or more as the geographical origin. Variation of the CTV populations after host change or aphid transmission may explain in part the wide biological variability observed among CTV isolates.  (+info)

Nucleotide sequences and taxonomy of satsuma dwarf virus. (2/761)

The nucleotide sequences of genomic RNA1 (6795 nt) and RNA2 (5345 nt) of satsuma dwarf virus (SDV), a tentative member of the genus Nepovirus, were determined. The deduced genome organization of SDV showed similarities to the organization in como-, faba- and nepoviruses. There is extensive amino acid sequence similarity in the N-terminal regions of the proteins encoded by RNA1 and RNA2, as reported previously only for tomato ringspot nepovirus. However, unlike definitive nepoviruses, which have a single coat protein, SDV has two coat proteins. SDV RNA2 does not contain the long (> 1300 nt) 3' non-coding region characteristic of some nepoviruses. Phylogenetic analysis of SDV RNA polymerase placed SDV apart from como-, faba- and nepoviruses. These unique features suggest that SDV is distinct from the Comovirus, Fabavirus and Nepovirus genera, and needs to be separated into a new genus, probably within the family Comoviridae.  (+info)

The complete genome sequence of the major component of a mild citrus tristeza virus isolate. (3/761)

The genome of the Spanish mild isolate T385 of citrus tristeza virus (CTV) was completely sequenced and compared with the genomes of the severe isolates T36 (Florida), VT (Israel) and SY568 (California). The genome of T385 was 19,259 nt in length, 37 nt shorter than the genome of T36, and 33 and 10 nt longer than those of VT and SY568, respectively, but their organization was identical. T385 had mean nucleotide identities of 81.3, 89.3 and 94% with T36, VT and SY568, respectively. The 3' UTR had over 97% identity in all isolates, whereas the 5' UTR of T385 had 67% identity with VT, 66.3% with SY568 and only 42.5% with T36. In the coding regions, the nucleotide differences between T385 and VT were evenly distributed along the genome (around 90% identity); this was not observed between T385 and the other isolates. T385 and T36 had nucleotide identities around 90% in the eight 3'-terminal ORFs of the genome, but only 72.3% in ORF 1a, a divergence pattern similar to that reported previously for T36 and VT. T385 and SY568 had nucleotide identities close to 90% in the 5'- and 3'-terminal regions of the genome, whereas the central region had over 99% identity. Our data suggest that the central region in the SY568 genome results from RNA recombination between two CTV genomes, one of which was almost identical to T385.  (+info)

New defective RNAs from citrus tristeza virus: evidence for a replicase-driven template switching mechanism in their generation. (4/761)

Defective RNAs (D-RNAs) ranging in size from 1968 to 2759 nt were detected in four citrus tristeza virus (CTV) isolates by hybridization of electroblotted dsRNAs with two probes specific for the 5'- and 3'-terminal genomic regions. The RNAs that hybridized with both probes were eluted, cloned and sequenced. Comparison with the sequences of the corresponding genomic regions of the helper virus showed, in all cases, over 99% nucleotide identity and direct repeats of 4-5 nt flanking or in the vicinity of the junction sites. The presence of the repeats from two separate genome locations suggests a replicase-driven template switching mechanism for the generation of these CTV D-RNAs. Two of the CTV isolates that differed greatly in their pathogenicity contained an identical D-RNA, suggesting that it is unlikely that this D-RNA is involved in symptom modulation, which may be caused by another factor.  (+info)

cDNA sequence and expression of a cold-responsive gene in Citrus unshiu. (5/761)

A cDNA clone encoding a protein (CuCOR19), the sequence of which is similar to Poncirus COR19, of the dehydrin family was isolated from the epicarp of Citrus unshiu. The molecular mass of the predicted protein was 18,980 daltons. CuCOR19 was highly hydrophilic and contained three repeating elements including Lys-rich motifs. The gene expression in leaves increased by cold stress.  (+info)

Dietary folate from vegetables and citrus fruit decreases plasma homocysteine concentrations in humans in a dietary controlled trial. (6/761)

Elevated total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations are considered a risk factor for neural tube defects (NTD) and cardiovascular disease. Supplementation with folic acid decreases the risk of women having children with NTD. In both sexes, it decreases tHcy levels. We investigated the efficacy of natural dietary folate in improving folate and homocysteine status. We performed a 4-wk dietary controlled, parallel design intervention trial with 66 healthy subjects (18-45 y) divided into 3 treatment groups: the dietary folate group, the folic acid group and the placebo group. Each day each group was fed a different diet. The dietary folate group received a diet high in vegetables and citrus fruit (total folate content approximately 560 microgram) plus a placebo tablet. The folic acid group received a diet naturally low in folate (approximately 210 microgram) plus 500 microgram folic acid and placebo tablet on alternate days, i.e., 250 microgram folic acid/d. And the placebo group received the same low-folate diet as the folic acid group plus a placebo tablet. After 4 wk of intervention, folate status improved, and tHcy concentrations decreased in both the dietary folate and the folic acid groups. From the amount of additional folate (350 microgram/d) and folic acid (250 microgram/d) consumed, the relative bioavailability of dietary folate compared to folic acid was calculated to be 60-98%, depending on the endpoint used. In conclusion, increasing the consumption of vegetables and citrus fruit, both good sources of folate, will improve folate status and decrease tHcy concentrations. This may contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular disease and NTD in the general population  (+info)

Plasma and hepatic cholesterol and hepatic activities of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase and acyl CoA: cholesterol transferase are lower in rats fed citrus peel extract or a mixture of citrus bioflavonoids. (7/761)

The cholesterol-lowering effects of tangerine peel extract and a mixture of two citrus flavonoids were tested. Male rats were fed a 1 g/100 g high-cholesterol diet for 42 d with supplements of either tangerine-peel extract or a mixture of naringin and hesperidin (0.5 g/100 g) to study the effects of plasma and hepatic lipids, hepatic enzyme activities, and the excretion of fecal neutral sterols. Both the tangerine-peel extract and mixture of two flavonoids significantly lowered the levels (mean +/- SE) of plasma (2.44 +/- 0. 59 and 2.42 +/- 0.31 mmol/L, vs. 3.80 +/- 0.28 mmol/L, P < 0.05), hepatic cholesterol (0.143 +/- 0.017 and 0.131 +/- 0.010 mmol/g vs. 0.181 +/- 0.003 mmol/g, P < 0.05), and hepatic triglycerides (0.069 +/- 0.007 and 0.075 +/- 0.006 mmol/g vs. 0.095 +/- 0.002 mmol/g, P < 0.05) compared to those of the control. The 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase (1565.0 +/- 106. 0 pmol. min-1. mg protein-1 and 1783.0 +/- 282 pmol. min-1. mg protein-1 vs. 2487.0 +/- 210.0 pmol. min-1. mg protein-1, P < 0.05) and acyl CoA: cholesterol O-acyltransferase (ACAT) activities (548.0 +/- 65.0 and 615.0 +/- 80.0 pmol. min-1. mg protein-1 vs. 806.0 +/- 105.0 pmol. min-1. mg protein-1, P < 0.05) were significantly lower in the experimental groups than in the control. These supplements also substantially reduced the excretion of fecal neutral sterols compared to the control (211.1 +/- 26.7 and 208.2 +/- 31.6 mg/d vs. 521.9 +/- 53.9 mg/d). The inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase and ACAT activities resulting from the supplementation of either tangerine-peel extract or a combination of its bioflavonoids could account for the decrease in fecal neutral sterol that appears to compensate for the decreased cholesterol biosynthesis in the liver.  (+info)

Implicit testing of odor memory: instances of positive and negative repetition priming. (8/761)

The study provides a test and evaluation of a new repetition priming procedure designed to solve problems in investigating olfactory-specific priming. Although the results did not reveal any overall priming effect, a post-hoc analysis showed that incorrectly identified odors were more quickly processed than control odors, whereas correctly identified odors were processed more slowly These results are discussed and interpreted as instances of positive and negative repetition priming respectively.  (+info)

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