Genome-wide association study of leaf photosynthesis using a high-throughput gas exchange system in rice.

Enhancing leaf photosynthetic capacity is essential for improving the yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Although the exploitation of natural genetic resources is considered a promising approach to enhance photosynthetic capacity, genomic factors related to the genetic diversity of leaf photosynthetic capacity have yet to be fully elucidated due to the limitation of measurement efficiency. In this study, we aimed to identify novel genomic regions for the net CO2 assimilation rate (A) by combining genome-wide association study (GWAS) and the newly developed rapid closed gas exchange system MIC-100. Using three MIC-100 systems in the field at the vegetative stage, we measured A of 168 temperate japonica rice varieties with six replicates for three years. We found that the modern varieties exhibited higher A than the landraces, while there was no significant relationship between the release year and A among the modern varieties. Our GWAS scan revealed two major peaks located on chromosomes 4 and 8, which were repeatedly detected in the different experiments and in the generalized linear modelling approach. We suggest that high-throughput gas exchange measurements combined with GWAS is a reliable approach for understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying photosynthetic diversities in crop species.

Potential of rice landraces with strong culms as genetic resources for improving lodging resistance against super typhoons.

It is generally believed that rice landraces with long culms are susceptible to lodging, and have not been utilized for breeding to improve lodging resistance. However, little is known about the structural culm strength of landraces and their beneficial genetic loci. Therefore, in this study, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed using a rice population panel including Japanese rice landraces to identify beneficial loci associated with strong culms. As a result, the landraces were found to have higher structural culm strength and greater diversity than the breeding varieties. Genetic loci associated with strong culms were identified, and it was demonstrated that haplotypes with positive effects of those loci were present in a high proportion of these landraces. These results indicated that the utilization of the strong culm-associated loci present in Japanese rice landraces may further improve the lodging resistance of modern breeding varieties that have relied on semi-dwarfism.

Enhancement of zidovudine transfer to molt-4 cells, a human t-cell model, by dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate.

A possible approach to improve antiretroviral therapy with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors is to enhance inhibitor delivery to CD4-positive T cells. We previously showed that dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) enhances zidovudine (AZT) transfer into syncytiotrophoblast. Here, we investigated whether DHEAS also enhances AZT transfer into a cellular model of human T lymphocytes, and whether AZT is taken up by a specific transport system. The effects of DHEAS and related compounds on the uptake of [(3) H]AZT and other nucleosides by Molt-4 cells (a model of human CD4-positive T cells) were measured. [(3) H]AZT uptake by Molt-4 cells was nitrobenzylthioinosine insensitive and pH dependent, and the uptake was significantly inhibited by 1 mM ethylisopropylamiloride. [(3) H]AZT uptake by Molt-4 cells was increased in the presence of DHEAS, whereas uptake of other nucleosides was reduced. Kinetic study revealed that the maximum uptake velocity (up to 30 min) was increased in the presence of DHEAS. The structural requirements for AZT uptake-enhancing activity were studied using structural analogues of DHEAS. Estrone-3-sulfate and 16α-hydroxy DHEAS also enhanced AZT uptake into Molt-4 cells. The use of uptake enhancers may be a good strategy to improve the efficacy of antiretroviral therapy.

Enhancement of zidovudine uptake by dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in rat syncytiotrophoblast cell line TR-TBT 18d-1.

AZT (3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine; zidovudine), which is used for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1, is transplacentally transferred to the fetus across the blood-placenta barrier, which is composed of syncytiotrophoblasts. We recently showed that apical uptake of AZT by syncytiotrophoblasts is mediated by saturable transport system(s) in the TR-TBT 18d-1 cell line, and the cellular accumulation of AZT was increased in the presence of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). Here, we aimed to clarify the mechanism of this effect of DHEAS. Inhibitors of efflux transporters, including breast cancer resistance protein, P-glycoprotein, and multidrug resistance proteins, had little effect on the cellular accumulation of AZT in TR-TBT 18d-1. Kinetic study revealed that the rate constant for AZT uptake was greatly increased in the presence of 1 mM DHEAS. These results suggested that the effect of DHEAS was because of enhancement of the uptake process(es), rather than inhibition of efflux. When AZT uptake was analyzed according to the Michaelis-Menten equation, the estimated Michaelis constant, Km, for AZT uptake in the presence of 1 mM DHEAS was lower than that in its absence, whereas maximum uptake velocity, Vmax, and nonsaturable uptake clearance, kns, were similar in the presence and absence of DHEAS, indicating that DHEAS may change the recognition characteristics of the transporter for AZT in TR-TBT 18d-1. Thus, the increase of AZT uptake in TR-TBT 18d-1 cells in the presence of DHEAS was concluded to be because of a DHEAS-induced change in the affinity of AZT uptake system, although the transporter responsible for AZT uptake has not been identified.