Effects of prostaglandins E-2 and F-2 alpha on the metabolism of [U-14C]glucose by mouse morulae-early blastocysts in vitro

During 5-h culture in the presence of radioactive glucose, PGE-2 (10 micrograms/ml) significantly inhibited incorporation of glucose into the acid-soluble glycogen pool. PGE-2 at 1 and 10 micrograms/ml and PGF-2 alpha at 1 microgram but not 10 micrograms/ml stimulated incorporation of glucose into non-glycogen macromolecules during culture. However, the utilization of acid-soluble glycogen and other biochemical pools was not affected by the presence of PGs in the medium during 24-h chase culture of pulse-labelled embryos. Carbon dioxide production was significantly suppressed in the presence of PGs but accumulation of lactate was not affected. The results indicate that PGE-2 and PGF-2 alpha, in physiological concentrations, directly influence the metabolism of glucose by preimplantation embryos.     

Floral Induction in Wolffia microscopica by Salicylic Acid and Related Compounds under Non-inductive Long Days

Flowering in Wolffia microscopica, a short-day plant, couldbe induced with salicylic acid (SA), under long days. Aspirin,benzoic acid and salicylaldoxime were also effective for inductionof flowering in this duckweed. Amonsgt these, SA is the mosteffective compound, as it could induce flowering even at 10^–7M. Flowering was further enhanced when Wolffia fronds were subjectedto short days, in the presence of SA. However, SA neither showedany effect on flowering ofW. microscopica in the absence ofEDTA in the nutrient medium, nor could it, by itself, supporteven the vegetative growth. The probable mechanism of actionof SA has also been discussed. It appears that the effect cannotbe due simply to chelation of metal ions and perhaps the salicylmoiety itself exerts a specific effect. (Received March 15, 1983; Accepted May 6, 1983)     

Molecular cloning and expression of a xylanase gene from Cellulomonas sp. into Escherichia coli

Summary The xylanase gene of Cellulomonas sp. NCIM 2353 was cloned in pUC 18 and selected by growth on xylan as the sole carbon source. The functional clone harboured the recombinant plasmid with an insert of 1.42 kbp, as determined by restriction mapping and Southern hydridization. The clone secreted a xylanase of 45 000 mol. wt. as determined by Western blot analysis using specific antixylanase antibodies. The DNA insert carried the full structural gene along with its promoter and possibly regulatory sequences, since xylanase activity in the clone Cs11 was inducible by xylan. Offprint requests to: D. N. Deobagkar     

High Frequency Divisions in Leaf Base Protoplasts of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Protoplasts were isolated from the basal meristematic region of leaves from 6-day-old seedlings of wheat (Triticum aestivum). Protoplasts divided when cultured on MS medium (as agarose beads) in presence of nurse tissue. Donor seedlings when grown on BAP-supplemented MS medium were found to be considerably superior for protoplast isolation and culture than when grown on MS basal medium, in terms of protoplast viability, cell wall formation and cell division frequency. In addition, reduction of ammonium content of the culture medium, together with a dark Incubation, led to a high protoplast division frequency of about 70%. Microcolonies of 10-to 12-celled stages were obtained in Triticum aestivum, varieties HD 2329, HD 2285, Kalyan Sona, Arjun and CPAN 1676.     

Computer aided study of the interaction of thyroid hormone receptor with DNA.

Interaction of the first zinc finger from human thyroid hormone receptor (finger) with hexanucleotide duplex d(AGGTCA).d(TGACCT) from thyroid regulatory element has been studied by molecular mechanics simulation technique. The structure of the finger as well as its complex with DNA is optimized using constrain of tetrahedral coordination of the zinc ion to Cys sulphurs. The finger is stabilized by series of H--bonds (5 in backbone, 2 in side chains and 2 between backbone and side chains). The complex is stabilized by H-bonds between side chains of Tyr 11, His 12, Tyr 13 and Arg 14 with G2, G3 and G8. DNA is in B form. H--bonding network within DNA is preserved. Opposite strand P-P and Cl'-Cl' distances are changed slightly. There is a systematic change in the backbone torsional angles and sugar pucker. Also, there is an evidence of protein-induced conformational change in DNA.     

HY5-COP1: the central module of light signaling pathway

Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Light acts catalytically to initiate a cascade of events to eventually regulate different aspects of plant development. The cascade of light signal...     

Decoding the wheat awn transcriptome and overexpressing TaRca1β in rice for heat stress tolerance

Plant Molecular Biology - Role of Rubisco Activase in imparting thermotolerance to the photosynthetic apparatus under high temperature. Thus, to improve the grain filling, we need to fine tune...     

Functional activity of RLIM/Rnf12 is regulated by phosphorylation-dependent nucleocytoplasmic shuttling

The X-linked gene Rnf12 encodes the ubiquitin ligase really interesting new gene (RING) finger LIM domain–interacting protein (RLIM)/RING finger protein 12 (Rnf12), which serves as a major sex-specific epigenetic regulator of female mouse nurturing tissues. Early during embryogenesis, RLIM/Rnf12 expressed from the maternal allele is crucial for the development of extraembryonic trophoblast cells. In contrast, in mammary glands of pregnant and lactating adult females RLIM/Rnf12 expressed from the paternal allele functions as a critical survival factor for milk-producing alveolar cells. Although RLIM/Rnf12 is detected mostly in the nucleus, little is known about how and in which cellular compartment(s) RLIM/Rnf12 mediates its biological functions. Here we demonstrate that RLIM/Rnf12 protein shuttles between nucleus and cytoplasm and this is regulated by phosphorylation of serine S214 located within its nuclear localization sequence. We show that shuttling is important for RLIM to exert its biological functions, as alveolar cell survival activity is inhibited in cells expressing shuttling-deficient nuclear or cytoplasmic RLIM/Rnf12. Thus regulated nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of RLIM/Rnf12 coordinates cellular compartments during mammary alveolar cell survival.