Disassembly intermediates of RbsD protein remain oligomeric despite the loss of an intact secondary structure

Cotton QTLdb: a cotton QTL database for QTL analysis, visualization, and comparison between Gossypium hirsutum and G. hirsutum × G. barbadense populations

KEY MESSAGE

A specialized database currently containing more than 2200 QTL is established, which allows graphic presentation, visualization and submission of QTL. In cotton quantitative trait loci (QTL), studies are focused on intraspecific Gossypium hirsutum and interspecific G. hirsutum × G. barbadense populations. These two populations are commercially important for the textile industry and are evaluated for fiber quality, yield, seed quality, resistance, physiological, and morphological trait QTL. With meta-analysis data based on the vast amount of QTL studies in cotton it will be beneficial to organize the data into a functional database for the cotton community. Here we provide a tool for cotton researchers to visualize previously identified QTL and submit their own QTL to the Cotton QTLdb database. The database provides the user with the option of selecting various QTL trait types from either the G. hirsutum or G. hirsutum × G. barbadense populations. Based on the user's QTL trait selection, graphical representations of chromosomes of the population selected are displayed in publication ready images. The database also provides users with trait information on QTL, LOD scores, and explained phenotypic variances for all QTL selected. The CottonQTLdb database provides cotton geneticist and breeders with statistical data on cotton QTL previously identified and provides a visualization tool to view QTL positions on chromosomes. Currently the database (Release 1) contains 2274 QTLs, and succeeding QTL studies will be updated regularly by the curators and members of the cotton community that contribute their data to keep the database current. The database is accessible from http://www.cottonqtldb.org.

Formaldehyde stress

Formaldehyde, one of the most toxic organic compounds, is produced and processed in human cells. The level of human endogenous formaldehyde is maintained at a low concentration (0.01-0.08 mmol L(-1) in blood) under physiological conditions, but the concentration increases during ageing (over 65 years old). Clinical trials have shown that urine formaldehyde concentrations are significantly different between elderly Alzheimer's patients (n=91) and normal elderly volunteers (n=38) (P<0.001). Abnormally high levels of intrinsic formaldehyde lead to dysfunction in cognition such as learning decline and memory loss. Excess extracellular and intracellular formaldehyde could induce metabolic response and abnormal modifications of cellular proteins such as hydroxymethylation and hyperphosphorylation, protein misfolding, nuclear translocation and even cell death. This cellular response called formaldehyde stress is dependent upon the concentration of formaldehyde. Chronic impairments of the brain resulted from formaldehyde stress could be one of the mechanisms involved in the process of senile dementia during ageing.