- Email: [email protected]
Why bank plant genes?
T I B S - October 1980 [58]
Volume 5, No. 10
Trends in BiochLemical Sciences Published by the INTERNATIONAL UNION OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND ELSEVIER/NORTH-HOLLAND
G Microbes in the soil rapidly colnvert carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. George Hegeman reviews the processes involved. Sara Fuchs discusses recent developments in experimental auto-j immune myasthenia gravis
VEGETABLE GENE BANK
'Ire just paid in my monthly celery'
Why bank plant genes? breeding provides m o d e m agriculture with crop varieties having commercially p lant desirable features such as yield, disease resistance and uniformity. Breeding has two opposite effects on the total genetic range of a crop. Variability is increased by hybridization and introduction of genes from related wild species. In contrast, older varieties without the currently required combination of characteristics are not grown and quickly become extinct. This reduces genetic range: genes which could be of importance for future breeding are lost. For example, varieties of cauliflower with resistance to ringspot disease were allowed to become extinct 30 years ago, and today no gene for this resistance is available. To preserve the maximum range of genes for future vegetable breeding, a gene bank is being established at the National Vegetable Research Station, Wellesbourne, U.K. I shall describe how the bank will operate, and suggest that it provides opportunities for research in biochemistry and related disciplines of mutual benefit to biochemists and breeders. The Wellesbourne gene bank will be built and supported for seven years with a special £700,000 fund raised internationally by the famine relief organization Oxfam. Thereafter, it will be financed by the U.K. Agricultural Research Council. Oxfam's support reflects the importance of vegetable crops in developing countries: conservation and exploitation of vegetable genetic resources in breeding programmes should contribute significantly to solving the nutritional problems of the third world. Physically, gene banking involves storage of up to 1 1 of specially dried seed of each variety at - 20°C. Vegetable seeds can generally be stored under such conditions for 30-50 years without serious loss of viability. Seed of each lot will periodically be removed from store for regeneration o f fresh seed. The bank will store about 10,000 temperate and 3000 tropical vegetable varieties, as well as wild species which may be useful for breeding purposes. The Wellesbourne bank is the first to concentrate entirely on vegetables.. In other countries, there are banks for cereals and staple crops such as beans. Some have limited collections of particular vegetable
crops, or of varieties from limited geographical areas. The Wellesbourne bank will exchange varieties and information with other banks; seed of important varieties will be stored in duplicate in different parts of the world to guard against accidental loss. For instance, Wellesbourne will hold in duplicate the 3000 varieties of tropical vegetables in the Asian Vegetable Research Centre Gene Bank in Taiwan and the collection of the Indian Bureau of Genetic Resources. For its primary role as a source of genes for breeding, bank size is important. Therefore as many varieties as possible will quickly be taken into store. Storage will be non-discriminatory: any present day variety may contain genes which could be of use in the future. A source, to be useful, must be able to be tapped efficiently. All available information about each variety will be stored on computer file to aid selection and retrieval. Breeders will be able to request seed with genes for particular characteristics or combinations of characteristics. To encourage the full use of the bank's facilities by breeders and scientists, its services will be flee. While the implications of the gene bank for biochemically related research are less immediately obvious, there are several areas where the gene resources and information stored could help the biochemist. Conversely, knowledge derived from biochemical experiments on gene bank material will undoubtedly help the bank in
TtBS - October 1980
II the long term with its primary aim of assisting breeding. As a source of material of different varieties, often with known history and relationships, the bank will be invaluable for studies in comparative biochemistry, molecular evolution and biochemical taxonomy. Attention in breeding is increasingly being given to biochemical characteristics, such as amino acid composition of proteins, and lectin content. Moreover, biochemical methods such as isoenzyme tests are finding use in breeding and in differentiation of new varieties. Thus information from biochemical studies, if recycled to the gene bank data-base, will be of use to breeders interested in these aspects. For investigations of gene action, metabolic pathways, differentiation and morphogenesis, it is useful to have wild type and mutant alleles of relevant genes in an otherwise uniform genetic background. {Near isogenic lines suited to such studies 'have been produced: a notable example is the tomato series of over 100 mutant alleles transferred to a common genetic background by L. A. Darby and coworkers at the Glasshouse Crops Research Institute. Deposition of such lines with a central gene bank would increase their availability to biochemists. Many plant varieties are resistant to specific pests and diseases, but generally the biochemistry of the action of resistance genes is not understood. Studies of resistance biochemistry will benefit from the gene bank as a source of susceptible and resistant varieties. The understanding gained should help in future breeding for resistance, and in designing new chemical methods of disease control. The biochemistry of seed dormancy, germination, ageing and loss of viability require further study. The bank can assist by providing seed of known ages and storage history. More biochemical understanding of these processes may lead to the development of better gene-banking techniques. Gene banks are planned to have a long lifespan. Early in that lifespan, somatic hybridization and genetic engineering will probably begin to allow transfers of genetic material at present made impossible by barriers to normal hybridization. These biochemical techniques could instigate a new era in plant breeding. But genetic engineering cannot yet create useful genes de novo. The gene bank, by preserving a wide selection of existing genes and gene combinations, will provide an essential foundation for a genetic engineering approach to breeding new varieties. R. S. S. F R A S E R
R. S. S. Fraser is at the Biochemistry Section, National Vegetable Research Station, Wellesbourne, W a r w i c k C V 3 5 9EF, U.K. © Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press 1980
Trendsin Biochemical Sciences Contents Editor-in-Chief: J. T o o z e , EMBO,. P o s t f a c h 102240, 69 H e i d e l b e r g 1, F.R.G. Tel. H e i d e l b e r g
(06221) 383031. Telex461613. Editorial Board: R. L. B a l d w i n , Stanford, U.S.A.
G. Bernardi, Paris, France
R. A. Bradshaw. St. Louis, U.S.A.
K. v a n D a m , Amsterdam, The Netherlands
] Volume 5, No 10 October 1980
Why bank plant genes?, by R. S. S. Fraser Distance teaching of biochemistry at the Open University, by Anna J. Furth Lateral diffusion in eukaryotic cell membranes, by Mark S. Bretscher Masses of moles, by H. B. F. Dixon
VI VIII
IUB News
VIII
Questions and answers: Schizophrenic flavin, from Hugh Akers; reply, from A. G. Dawson Letter to the Editor: Lipogenesis in ruminants, from P. E. B. ReiUy Letter from Washington: Biological warfare: momentous decisions on flimsy evidence?, by Nicholas Wade 7 Rules: how to write a poor proposal, by Anne Eisenberg Development of the nitrocellulose filter technique for RNA-DNA hybridization, by B. D. Hall, L. Haarr and K. Kleppe
I III
IX
X XI XII
254
Reviews
Oxidation of carbon monoxide by bacteria, by George Hegeman Experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis - recent developments, by Sara Fuchs T. Hunt, Enzymic editing mechanisms in protein synthesis and Cambridge, U.K. DNA replication, by Alan R. Fersht Heparin-releasable (liver) lipase(s) may play a role in the S. N u m a , uptake of cholesterol by steroid-secreting tissues, by Kyoto, J a p a n Hans Jansen and Willem C. Hiillsmann Ribonucleoprotein particles and the maturation of M . F. U t t e r , eukaryote mRNA, by John T. Knowler and Cleveland, U.S.A. Andrew F. Wilks Formation of glyoxysomes,by J. Michael Lord and A. R. Williamson, Lynne M. Roberts Glasgow, U.K. The interaction ofE. coli RNA polymerase with promoters, by Hermann Bujard Staff Editor: 50 Years Ago: E. V. McCollum and oral health, by S. Prentis, Harry G. Day 14A RegentStreet, Cambridge, CB2 1DB.U.K. Book reviews Tel. Cambridge (0223) 59787, Telex 81623 Noticeboard
M. D. H a t c h , Canberra, Australia
256 259 262
265
268 271 274 278 XV XVII
Trends in BIochemle~Sciencesis published monthly (one volume per year) by Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press, 335 Jan van Galenstraat, Amsterdam, and the International Union of Biochemistry. Perseml subsaripl$a~ In Europe, Dr. 75.00; In the U.K. £ 18.00; In the U.S.A. and Canada US $37.50; In the rest of the world Dr. 78.50 per volume. Prices include handling and air delivery world wide. Ad~nt enquiri~: U.S.A.~Canada: Joseph Bourgholtzer, Inc., The JBI Building, Box 521, Mahwah, New Jet,sey 04730, U.S.A. Phone 201-529-3883. Othercountries: TIBS Business Office, 14A Regent Street, Cambridge CB2 1DB, U.K. Tel. Cambridge (0223) 59787, Telex 81623.
1980 Elsevier/North-Holland BiomedicalPress.All rightsreserved. No partof this publicationmay be reproduced, stored in a retrievalsystem, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,mechanical,photocopying, recording, or otherwise, withoutthe prior writtenpermission of the copyright owner and the International Unionof Biochemistry. Trends in BiochemicalSciencesin apolitical. The viewsand opinions expressedby its writersand correspondentsdo not necessarilyreflectthoseof the editorial board or the publisher.
Volume 5, No. 10
Trends in BiochLemical Sciences Published by the INTERNATIONAL UNION OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND ELSEVIER/NORTH-HOLLAND
G Microbes in the soil rapidly colnvert carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. George Hegeman reviews the processes involved. Sara Fuchs discusses recent developments in experimental auto-j immune myasthenia gravis
VEGETABLE GENE BANK
'Ire just paid in my monthly celery'
Why bank plant genes? breeding provides m o d e m agriculture with crop varieties having commercially p lant desirable features such as yield, disease resistance and uniformity. Breeding has two opposite effects on the total genetic range of a crop. Variability is increased by hybridization and introduction of genes from related wild species. In contrast, older varieties without the currently required combination of characteristics are not grown and quickly become extinct. This reduces genetic range: genes which could be of importance for future breeding are lost. For example, varieties of cauliflower with resistance to ringspot disease were allowed to become extinct 30 years ago, and today no gene for this resistance is available. To preserve the maximum range of genes for future vegetable breeding, a gene bank is being established at the National Vegetable Research Station, Wellesbourne, U.K. I shall describe how the bank will operate, and suggest that it provides opportunities for research in biochemistry and related disciplines of mutual benefit to biochemists and breeders. The Wellesbourne gene bank will be built and supported for seven years with a special £700,000 fund raised internationally by the famine relief organization Oxfam. Thereafter, it will be financed by the U.K. Agricultural Research Council. Oxfam's support reflects the importance of vegetable crops in developing countries: conservation and exploitation of vegetable genetic resources in breeding programmes should contribute significantly to solving the nutritional problems of the third world. Physically, gene banking involves storage of up to 1 1 of specially dried seed of each variety at - 20°C. Vegetable seeds can generally be stored under such conditions for 30-50 years without serious loss of viability. Seed of each lot will periodically be removed from store for regeneration o f fresh seed. The bank will store about 10,000 temperate and 3000 tropical vegetable varieties, as well as wild species which may be useful for breeding purposes. The Wellesbourne bank is the first to concentrate entirely on vegetables.. In other countries, there are banks for cereals and staple crops such as beans. Some have limited collections of particular vegetable
crops, or of varieties from limited geographical areas. The Wellesbourne bank will exchange varieties and information with other banks; seed of important varieties will be stored in duplicate in different parts of the world to guard against accidental loss. For instance, Wellesbourne will hold in duplicate the 3000 varieties of tropical vegetables in the Asian Vegetable Research Centre Gene Bank in Taiwan and the collection of the Indian Bureau of Genetic Resources. For its primary role as a source of genes for breeding, bank size is important. Therefore as many varieties as possible will quickly be taken into store. Storage will be non-discriminatory: any present day variety may contain genes which could be of use in the future. A source, to be useful, must be able to be tapped efficiently. All available information about each variety will be stored on computer file to aid selection and retrieval. Breeders will be able to request seed with genes for particular characteristics or combinations of characteristics. To encourage the full use of the bank's facilities by breeders and scientists, its services will be flee. While the implications of the gene bank for biochemically related research are less immediately obvious, there are several areas where the gene resources and information stored could help the biochemist. Conversely, knowledge derived from biochemical experiments on gene bank material will undoubtedly help the bank in
TtBS - October 1980
II the long term with its primary aim of assisting breeding. As a source of material of different varieties, often with known history and relationships, the bank will be invaluable for studies in comparative biochemistry, molecular evolution and biochemical taxonomy. Attention in breeding is increasingly being given to biochemical characteristics, such as amino acid composition of proteins, and lectin content. Moreover, biochemical methods such as isoenzyme tests are finding use in breeding and in differentiation of new varieties. Thus information from biochemical studies, if recycled to the gene bank data-base, will be of use to breeders interested in these aspects. For investigations of gene action, metabolic pathways, differentiation and morphogenesis, it is useful to have wild type and mutant alleles of relevant genes in an otherwise uniform genetic background. {Near isogenic lines suited to such studies 'have been produced: a notable example is the tomato series of over 100 mutant alleles transferred to a common genetic background by L. A. Darby and coworkers at the Glasshouse Crops Research Institute. Deposition of such lines with a central gene bank would increase their availability to biochemists. Many plant varieties are resistant to specific pests and diseases, but generally the biochemistry of the action of resistance genes is not understood. Studies of resistance biochemistry will benefit from the gene bank as a source of susceptible and resistant varieties. The understanding gained should help in future breeding for resistance, and in designing new chemical methods of disease control. The biochemistry of seed dormancy, germination, ageing and loss of viability require further study. The bank can assist by providing seed of known ages and storage history. More biochemical understanding of these processes may lead to the development of better gene-banking techniques. Gene banks are planned to have a long lifespan. Early in that lifespan, somatic hybridization and genetic engineering will probably begin to allow transfers of genetic material at present made impossible by barriers to normal hybridization. These biochemical techniques could instigate a new era in plant breeding. But genetic engineering cannot yet create useful genes de novo. The gene bank, by preserving a wide selection of existing genes and gene combinations, will provide an essential foundation for a genetic engineering approach to breeding new varieties. R. S. S. F R A S E R
R. S. S. Fraser is at the Biochemistry Section, National Vegetable Research Station, Wellesbourne, W a r w i c k C V 3 5 9EF, U.K. © Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press 1980
Trendsin Biochemical Sciences Contents Editor-in-Chief: J. T o o z e , EMBO,. P o s t f a c h 102240, 69 H e i d e l b e r g 1, F.R.G. Tel. H e i d e l b e r g
(06221) 383031. Telex461613. Editorial Board: R. L. B a l d w i n , Stanford, U.S.A.
G. Bernardi, Paris, France
R. A. Bradshaw. St. Louis, U.S.A.
K. v a n D a m , Amsterdam, The Netherlands
] Volume 5, No 10 October 1980
Why bank plant genes?, by R. S. S. Fraser Distance teaching of biochemistry at the Open University, by Anna J. Furth Lateral diffusion in eukaryotic cell membranes, by Mark S. Bretscher Masses of moles, by H. B. F. Dixon
VI VIII
IUB News
VIII
Questions and answers: Schizophrenic flavin, from Hugh Akers; reply, from A. G. Dawson Letter to the Editor: Lipogenesis in ruminants, from P. E. B. ReiUy Letter from Washington: Biological warfare: momentous decisions on flimsy evidence?, by Nicholas Wade 7 Rules: how to write a poor proposal, by Anne Eisenberg Development of the nitrocellulose filter technique for RNA-DNA hybridization, by B. D. Hall, L. Haarr and K. Kleppe
I III
IX
X XI XII
254
Reviews
Oxidation of carbon monoxide by bacteria, by George Hegeman Experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis - recent developments, by Sara Fuchs T. Hunt, Enzymic editing mechanisms in protein synthesis and Cambridge, U.K. DNA replication, by Alan R. Fersht Heparin-releasable (liver) lipase(s) may play a role in the S. N u m a , uptake of cholesterol by steroid-secreting tissues, by Kyoto, J a p a n Hans Jansen and Willem C. Hiillsmann Ribonucleoprotein particles and the maturation of M . F. U t t e r , eukaryote mRNA, by John T. Knowler and Cleveland, U.S.A. Andrew F. Wilks Formation of glyoxysomes,by J. Michael Lord and A. R. Williamson, Lynne M. Roberts Glasgow, U.K. The interaction ofE. coli RNA polymerase with promoters, by Hermann Bujard Staff Editor: 50 Years Ago: E. V. McCollum and oral health, by S. Prentis, Harry G. Day 14A RegentStreet, Cambridge, CB2 1DB.U.K. Book reviews Tel. Cambridge (0223) 59787, Telex 81623 Noticeboard
M. D. H a t c h , Canberra, Australia
256 259 262
265
268 271 274 278 XV XVII
Trends in BIochemle~Sciencesis published monthly (one volume per year) by Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press, 335 Jan van Galenstraat, Amsterdam, and the International Union of Biochemistry. Perseml subsaripl$a~ In Europe, Dr. 75.00; In the U.K. £ 18.00; In the U.S.A. and Canada US $37.50; In the rest of the world Dr. 78.50 per volume. Prices include handling and air delivery world wide. Ad~nt enquiri~: U.S.A.~Canada: Joseph Bourgholtzer, Inc., The JBI Building, Box 521, Mahwah, New Jet,sey 04730, U.S.A. Phone 201-529-3883. Othercountries: TIBS Business Office, 14A Regent Street, Cambridge CB2 1DB, U.K. Tel. Cambridge (0223) 59787, Telex 81623.
1980 Elsevier/North-Holland BiomedicalPress.All rightsreserved. No partof this publicationmay be reproduced, stored in a retrievalsystem, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,mechanical,photocopying, recording, or otherwise, withoutthe prior writtenpermission of the copyright owner and the International Unionof Biochemistry. Trends in BiochemicalSciencesin apolitical. The viewsand opinions expressedby its writersand correspondentsdo not necessarilyreflectthoseof the editorial board or the publisher.