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A R Caetano

Publications and source records attributed to A R Caetano.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Analysis of expressed sequence tags from Musa acuminata ssp. burmannicoides, var. Calcutta 4 (AA) leaves submitted to temperature stresses.

In order to discover genes expressed in leaves of Musa acuminata ssp. burmannicoides var. Calcutta 4 (AA), from plants submitted to temperature stress, we produced and characterized two full-length enriched cDNA libraries. Total RNA from plants subjected to temperatures ranging from 5 degrees C to 25 degrees C and from 25 degrees C to 45 degrees C was used to produce a COLD and a HOT cDNA library, respectively. We sequenced 1,440 clones from each library. Following quality analysis and vector trimming, we assembled 2,286 sequences from both libraries into 1,019 putative transcripts, consisting of 217 clusters and 802 singletons, which we denoted Musa acuminata assembled expressed sequence tagged (EST) sequences (MaAES). Of these MaAES, 22.87% showed no matches with existing sequences in public databases. A global analysis of the MaAES data set indicated that 10% of the sequenced cDNAs are present in both cDNA libraries, while 42% and 48% are present only in the COLD or in the HOT libraries, respectively. Annotation of the MaAES data set categorized them into 22 functional classes. Of the 2,286 high-quality sequences, 715 (31.28%) originated from full-length cDNA clones and resulted in a set of 149 genes.

Base Sequence↗

Physical mapping of genes in the porcine ovarian transcriptome.

Reproductive efficiency and associated traits are of major economic importance to the swine industry and have been more difficult to improve genetically than other production traits. Integration of phenotypical data with gene mapping and expression studies provides a powerful approach for dissection of the genetic basis regulating complex traits. We developed a total of 101 polymerase chain reaction-based markers, representing 91 unique genes, for expressed sequence tags previously reported to be putatively differentially expressed in the porcine ovarian transcriptome of a swine line selected on an index of high ovulation rate and embryonic survival. These were subsequently used in physical mapping experiments with a porcine radiation hybrid and somatic cell hybrid panels. Our results increased the information content of the porcine physical map useful for comparative mapping by c. 10%. Moreover, the mapped genes are likely to be biologically relevant to the molecular mechanisms that control ovulation rate in the pig. A total of 12 differentially expressed genes were mapped to regions previously reported to contain quantitative trait loci affecting swine ovulation rate.

Animals↗

Genome activation and developmental block in bovine embryos.

The ultimate goal of in vitro embryo culture systems is to perfectly mimic the condition of oocyte maturation, fertilization and embryo development. These systems are far more complex than standard in vitro cell culture because of the various environments through which the gametes and embryos pass during in vivo development. Improvement of the medium and other culture conditions has allowed for full development of a percentage of the fertilized oocytes but the great majority of bovine zygotes stop developing within a few cell cycles after initiating cleavage. This developmental block arises in the bovine embryo at the eight-cell-stage and is likely correlated with the cytoplasmic quality of the oocyte. Oocytes harbor all mRNAs and proteins needed to reach the fourth or fifth cell cycle, however, embryos that fail to transcribe their own genome fail to further develop. In this article, we review some of the advances in developmental block knowledge and describe a possible role of active embryo transcription that drives incompetent embryos to block and death.

Animals↗

The second generation of the International Equine Gene Mapping Workshop half-sibling linkage map.

A low-density, male-based linkage map was constructed as one of the objectives of the International Equine Gene Mapping Workshop. Here we report the second generation map based on testing 503 half-sibling offspring from 13 sire families for 344 informative markers using the CRIMAP program. The multipoint linkage analysis localized 310 markers (90%) with 257 markers being linearly ordered. The map included 34 linkage groups representing all 31 autosomes and spanning 2262 cM with an average interval between loci of 10.1 cM. This map is a milestone in that it is the first map with linkage groups assigned to each of the 31 automosomes and a single linkage group to all but three chromosomes.

Animals↗

Applying functional genomics research to the study of pig reproduction.

Functional genomics is an experimental approach that incorporates genome-wide or system-wide experimentation, expanding the scope of biological investigation from studying single genes to studying potentially all genes at once in a systematic manner. This technology is highly appealing because of its high throughput and relatively low cost. Furthermore, analysis of gene expression using microarrays is likely to be more biologically relevant than the conventional paradigm of reductionism, because it has the potential to uncover new biological connections between genes and biochemical pathways. However, functional genomics is still in its infancy, especially with regard to the study of pig reproduction. Currently, efforts are centred on developing the necessary resources to enable high throughput evaluation and comparison of gene expression. However, it is clear that in the near future functional genomics will be applied on a large scale to study the biology and physiology of reproduction in pigs, and to understand better the complex nature of genetic control over polygenic characteristics, such as ovulation rate and litter size. We can look forward to generating a significant amount of new data on differences in gene expression between genotypes, treatments, or at various temporal and spatial coordinates within a variety of reproductively relevant systems. Along with this capability will be the challenge of collating, analysing and interpreting datasets that are orders of magnitude more extensive and complex than those currently used. Furthermore, integration of functional genomics with traditional genetic approaches and with detailed analysis of the proteome and relevant whole animal phenotypes will be required to make full use of this powerful new experimental paradigm as a beneficial research tool.

Animals↗

Comparative mapping of 18 equine type I genes assigned by somatic cell hybrid analysis.

Polymerase chain reaction primers designed from horse cDNA sequences and from consensus sequences highly conserved in mammalian species were used to amplify markers for synteny mapping 18 equine type I genes. These markers were used to screen a horse-mouse somatic cell hybrid panel (UCDavis SCH). Fourteen primer sets amplified horse-specific fragments, while restriction enzyme digests of PCR products were used to distinguish the fragments amplified from horse and mouse with four primer sets. Synteny assignments were made based on correlation values between each marker tested and other markers in the UCDavis SCH panel database. The 18 horse genes were assigned to previously established synteny groups. Synteny mapping of two genes previously mapped in the horse by FISH was used to anchor two UCD synteny groups to horse chromosomes. Previous chromosome assignments of three equine loci by FISH were confirmed. Comparative mapping analysis based on published human-horse Zoo-FISH data and the synteny mapping of 14 horse genes confirmed the physical assignment of 12 synteny groups to the respective horse chromosomes and was used to infer the physical location of one synteny group.

Animals↗

Equine synteny mapping of comparative anchor tagged sequences (CATS) from human Chromosome 5.

Comparative anchor tagged sequences (CATS) from human Chromosome 5 (HSA5) were used as PCR primers to produce molecular markers for synteny mapping in the horse. Primer sets for 21 genes yielded eight horse-specific markers, which were mapped with the UC Davis horse-mouse somatic cell hybrid panel into two synteny groups: UCD14 and UCD21. These data, in conjunction with earlier human chromosome painting studies of the horse karyotype and synteny mapping of horse microsatellite markers physically mapped by FISH, confirm the assignment of UCD21 to ECA21 and suggest that UCD14 is located on ECA14. In addition, our results can be used to substantiate previously published data which indicate that ECA21 contains material orthologous to HSA5p and HSA5q, and to propose an approximate region for an evolutionary chromosomal rearrangement event.

Animals↗

A synteny map of the horse genome comprised of 240 microsatellite and RAPD markers.

To generate a domestic horse genome map we integrated synteny information for markers screened on a somatic cell hybrid (SCH) panel with published information for markers physically assigned to chromosomes. The mouse-horse SCH panel was established by fusing pSV2neo transformed primary horse fibroblasts to either RAG or LMTk mouse cells, followed by G418 antibiotic selection. For each of the 108 cell lines of the panel, we defined the presence or absence of 240 genetic markers by PCR, including 58 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers and 182 microsatellites. Thirty-three syntenic groups were defined, comprised of two to 26 markers with correlation coefficient (r) values ranging from 0.70 to 1.0. Based on significant correlation values with physically mapped microsatellite (type II) or gene (type I) markers, 22 syntenic groups were assigned to horse chromosomes (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 30, X and Y). The other 11 syntenic groups were provisionally assigned to the remaining chromosomes based on information provided by heterologous species painting probes and work in progress with type I markers.

Animals↗

A comparative gene map of the horse (Equus caballus).

A comparative gene map of the horse genome composed of 127 loci was assembled based on the new assignment of 68 equine type I loci and on data published previously. PCR primers based on consensus gene sequences conserved across mammalian species were used to amplify markers for assigning 68 equine type I loci to 27 horse synteny groups established previously with a horse-mouse somatic cell hybrid panel (SCHP, UC Davis). This increased the number of coding genes mapped to the horse genome by over 2-fold and allowed refinements of the comparative mapping data available for this species. In conjunction with 57 previous assignments of type I loci to the horse genome map, these data have allowed us to confirm the assignment of 24 equine synteny groups to their respective chromosomes, to provisionally assign nine synteny groups to chromosomes, and to further refine the genetic composition established with Zoo-FISH of two horse chromosomes. The equine type I markers developed in this study provide an important resource for the future development of the horse linkage and physical genome maps.

Animals↗

Characterization of a microsatellite in the promoter region of the IGF1 gene in domestic horses and other equids.

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) regulates growth and metabolic functions in vertebrates. A dinucleotide repeat sequence located at the promoter region of the IGF1 gene has been reported in several vertebrate species and may affect the control of the transcriptional activity of this gene. The genotypes of animals from seven horse breeds were determined in order to study the potential association of allelic forms of this microsatellite with adult body size differences found in domestic horses. Among these breeds, five alleles were found. Breed-specific differences in adult body size could not be attributed to the presence or absence of any of the alleles observed. In addition, animals representing five other equid species were typed. Examples of apparent species-specific alleles were found. However, overlapping polymorphic size ranges preclude this microsatellite from being an absolute identifier for species or hybrid status in equids. The polymorphisms found at this IGF1 locus are useful for synteny and linkage mapping.

Alleles↗