A principal role for AtXTH18 in Arabidopsis thaliana root growth: a functional analysis using RNAi plants

Rearrangement of cellulose microfibrils within cell-wall matrices is considered one of the most critical steps in the regulation of both the orientation and extent of cell expansion in plants. Xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolases (XTHs) are a family of enzymes that mediate the construction and restructuring of load-bearing cross links among cellulose microfibrils. The Arabidopsis thaliana XTH genes AtXTH17, 18, 19, and 20 are phylogenetically closely related to one another and are preferentially expressed in the roots. However, they exhibit different expression profiles within the root and respond to hormonal signals differently. To investigate their functions in root growth, we examined phenotypes of loss-of-function mutants for these genes using T-DNA insertion lines and RNAi plants. These functional analyses disclosed a principal role for the AtXTH18 gene in primary root elongation. Of the four XTH genes, AtXTH18 exhibits the highest level of mRNA expression. We also determined auxin-signaling pathways for these genes using a mutant with a defect in the AXR2/IAA7 gene and found that the expression of AtXTH19 in the elongation/maturation region of the root is under the control of the AXR2/IAA7 signaling pathway.     

Temperature and androgens regulate the biosynthesis of secretory proteins from rabbit cauda epididymidis

We have compared the biosynthesis of secretory proteins in rabbit cauda epididymidis maintained for 15 days at abdominal temperature with that of the scrotal cauda. Explants from both situations were incubated in vitro in the presence of [³⁵S] methionine, and the labelled proteins released into the incubation medium were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Body temperature specifically inhibited the synthesis of at least two polypeptides of 43 kDa and 21 kDa (designated EP21), whereas the synthesis of polypeptides of 80, 39, 31, and 24 kDa was increased. These changes resembled those produced by castration, but androgen treatment was not able to reverse the effect of body temperature. To confirm these observations, poly (A)⁺ RNA from the scrotal and the abdominal cauda respectively, was translated in vitro and the synthesized products were immunoprecipi-tated with an antibody against EP21 polypeptide. Both castration and body temperature strongly decreased the concentration of EP21 mRNA. In vivo testosterone administration restored the content of EP21 mRNA in cauda from castrated animals, but not in cauda maintained at body temperature. The changes observed might be related to the adverse effect of body temperature on sperm storage in the cauda epididymidis. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Altered Expression of Auxin-binding Protein 1 Affects Cell Expansion and Auxin Pool Size in Tobacco Cells

Auxin-binding protein 1 (ABP1) has an essential role in auxin-dependent cell expansion, but its mechanisms of action remain unknown. Our previous study showed that ABP1-mediated cell expansion is auxin concentration dependent. However, auxin distribution in plant tissue is heterogeneous, complicating the interpretation of ABP1 function. In this study, we used cells in culture that have altered expression of ABP1 to address the mechanism of ABP1 action at the cellular level, because cells in culture have homogeneous cell types and could potentially circumvent the heterogeneous auxin-distributions inherent in plant tissues. We found that cells overexpressing ABP1 had altered sensitivity to auxin and were larger, with nuclei that have undergone endoreduplication, a finding consistent with other data that support an auxin extracellular receptor role for ABP1. These cells also had a higher free auxin pool size, which cannot be explained by altered auxin transport. In cells lacking detectable ABP1, a higher rate of auxin metabolism was observed. The results suggest that ABP1 has, beyond its proposed role as an auxin extracellular receptor, a role in mediating auxin availability.     

Brassinosteroid Signal Transduction: A Mix of Conservation and Novelty

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a unique class of plant steroids that are structurally similar to animal steroid hormones and play important roles in plant growth and development. Unlike the animal steroids, which bind to classical intracellular steroid receptors that directly modulate gene activities after translocation into the nucleus, the plant steroids rely on transmembrane receptor kinases to activate a phosphorylation cascade to regulate gene expression. Recent genetic and biochemical studies have identified several critical BR signaling components and revealed a striking mechanistic similarity between the plant steroid signaling pathway and several well-studied animal signaling cascades involving a receptor kinase and glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3). A working model for BR signal transduction proposes that BR initiates its signaling pathway by promoting heterodimerization of two transmembrane receptor-like kinases at the cell surface, leading to inhibition of a GSK3 kinase and subsequent stabilization and nuclear accumulation of two GSK3 substrates that regulate BR-responsive genes. Such a simple model provides a framework for continued investigation of molecular mechanism(s) of plant steroid signaling.     

Differential Genomic Effects of Six Different TiO2 Nanomaterials on Human Liver HepG2 Cells

Human HepG2 cells were exposed to six TiO₂ nanomaterials (with dry primary particle sizes ranging from 22 to 214 nm, either 0.3, 3, or 30 μg/mL) for 3 days. Some of these canonical pathways changed by nano‐TiO₂ in vitro treatments have been already reported in the literature, such as NRF2‐mediated stress response, fatty acid metabolism, cell cycle and apoptosis, immune response, cholesterol biosynthesis, and glycolysis. But this genomic study also revealed some novel effects such as protein synthesis, protein ubiquitination, hepatic fibrosis, and cancer‐related signaling pathways. More importantly, this genomic analysis of nano‐TiO₂ treated HepG2 cells linked some of the in vitro canonical pathways to in vivo adverse outcomes: NRF2‐mediated response pathways to oxidative stress, acute phase response to inflammation, cholesterol biosynthesis to steroid hormones alteration, fatty acid metabolism changes to lipid homeostasis alteration, G2/M cell checkpoint regulation to apoptosis, and hepatic fibrosis/stellate cell activation to liver fibrosis.     

Microtubule Orientation in the Brassinosteroid Mutants <Emphasis Type="Italic">lk,lka</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">lkb</Emphasis> of Pea

Short brassinosteroid (BR) mutants lk, lka and lkb of pea (Pisum sativum L.) were investigated by immunofluorescence microscopy to elucidate the role of brassinosteroids in cell elongation via an effect on the microtubules (MTs). This study adds to our knowledge the fact that brassinolide (BL) can cause MT realignment in azuki bean and rescue the MT organization of BR mutants in Arabidopsis. It provides novel information on both cortical and epidermal cells and presents detailed information about the ratios of all MT orientations present, ranging from transverse (perpendicular to the elongating axis) to longitudinal (parallel to the elongating axis). Experiments were conducted in vivo using intact plants with direct application of a small amount of brassinolide (BL) to the internode. Employing a BR-receptor mutant, lka, and the BR-synthesis mutants, lk and lkb, allowed the identification and isolation of any BR-induced responses in the MT cytoskeleton following BL application. Increases in growth rate were noted in all pea lines including WT following BL application. These increases were strong in the BR-synthesis mutants, but weak in the BR-receptor mutant. Immunofluorescence revealed significant differences in the average MT orientation of cortical cells of mutants versus WTs. Importantly, these mutants possessed abundant MTs, unlike the BR-deficient bul1-1 mutant in Arabidopsis. Following BL application, the epidermal and cortical cells of lk and lkb plants showed a large and significant shift in MT orientation towards more transverse, whereas lka plants showed a small and nonsignificant response in these cells. These results suggest that the BR response pathway is linked to the regulation of MT orientation.     

人促红细胞生成素基因组基因和cDNA的克隆及其在COS－7细胞中的表达

利用ＰＣＲ技术,从正常人胎肝染色体ＤＮＡ中克隆到长度为１５７２ｂｐ的人促红细胞生成素（ＥＰＯ）基因组基因片段,它包含除第一个外显子和第一个内含子外所有外显子及内含子。再人工合成１３ｂｐ外显子１的编码区,并与１５７２ｂｐ片段拼接,从而得到除第一个内含子的人促红细胞生成素基因组基因。将克隆得到的ＥＰＯ基因插入载体ｐＳＶ２－ｄｈｆｒ得到ｐＳＶ２－ＥＰＯ表达载体,转染ＣＯＳ－７细胞后获得高效表达。利用自行研制的小鼠抗人ＥＰＯ单抗及兔抗人ＥＰＯ多抗,对表达产物进行ＥＬＩＳＡ定量测定,细胞分泌ＥＰＯ量高达２５１±７Ｕ／ｍｌ．Ｋｒｙｓｔａｌ法测得体外生物活性２４１．５±６．５Ｕ／ｍｌ．用ＥＰＯ单抗免疫沉淀结合ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ对转染细胞的表达产物做了进一步鉴定,清晰地看到了ＥＰＯ条带。从高效表达ＥＰＯ的转染细胞中分离纯化ｍＲＮＡ,用ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ方法扩增并克隆到ＥＰＯ的ｃＤＮＡ,这为ＥＰＯ在其它系统中的表达及ＥＰＯ的功能与结构的研究打下了基础。     

Expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis of Gregarine gametocyst development

Gregarines are protozoan parasites of invertebrates in the phylum Apicomplexa. We employed an expressed sequence tag strategy in order to dissect the molecular processes of sexual or gametocyst development of gregarines. Expressed sequence tags provide a rapid way to identify genes, particularly in organisms for which we have very little molecular information. Analysis of approximately 1800 expressed sequence tags from the gametocyst stage revealed highly expressed genes related to cell division and differentiation. Evidence was found for the role of degradation and recycling in gametocyst development. Numerous additional genes uncovered by expressed sequence tag sequencing should provide valuable tools to investigate gametocyst development as well as for molecular phylogenetics, and comparative genomics in this important group of parasites.     

Changes in composition of the outer epidermal cell wall of pea stems during auxin-induced growth

The gross composition of the outer epidermal cell wall from third internodes of Pisum sativum L. cv. Alaska grown in dim red light, and the effect of auxin on that composition, was investigated using interference microscopy. Pea outer epidermal walls contain as much cellulose as typical secondary walls, but the proportion of pectin to hemicellulose resembles that found in primary walls. The pectin and hemicellulose fractions from epidermal peels, which are enriched for outer epidermal wall but contain internal tissue as well, are composed of a much higher percentage of glucose and glucose-related sugars than has been found previously for pea primary walls, similar to non-cellulosic carbohydrate fractions of secondary walls. The epidermal outer wall thus has a composition rather like that of secondary walls, while still being capable of elongation. Auxin induces a massive breakdown of hemicellulose in the outer epidermal wall; nearly half the hemicellulose present is lost during 4 h of growth in the absence of exogenous sugar. The percentage breakdown is much greater than has been seen previously for whole pea stems. It has been proposed that a breakdown of xyloglucan could be the basis for the mechanical loosening of the outer wall. This study provides the first evidence that such a breakdown could be occurring in the outer wall.M.S. Bret-Harte would like to thank Dr. Peter M. Ray, of Stanford University, for helpful discussions and for technical and editorial assistance, Dr. Winslow R. Briggs, of the Camegie Institude of Washington, for the use of experimental facilities and for helpful discussions, Dr. Wendy K. Silk, of the University of California, Davis, for helpful discussions and financial support, Dr. Paul B. Green for financial support, and Drs. John M. Labavitch and L.C. Greve, of the University of California, Davis, for performing the -cellulose analysis on short notice, in response to a request by an anonymous reviewer. This work was supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship to M.S. B.-H., National Science Foundation Grant DCB8801493 to Paul B. Green, and the generosity of Wendy K. Silk (Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources, University of California, Davis) during the final writing.     

Characterization of the pectin methylesterase-like gene AtPME3: a new member of a gene family comprising at least 12 genes in Arabidopsis thaliana

Pectin demethylesterification appears to be catalysed by a number of pectin methylesterase (PME) isoenzymes in higher plant species. In order to better define the biological role of these isoenzymes in plant cell growth and differentiation, we undertook molecular studies on the PME-encoding genes in Arabidopsis thaliana. In this paper, we report the characterization of AtPME3, a new PME-related gene of 4 kb in length that we have mapped on Chromosome III. AtPME3 encodes a putative mature PME-related isoenzyme of 34 kDa with a basic isoelectric point. Since the extent of the gene family encoding PME in higher plant species is still unknown, we resorted to the use of degenerate primers designed from several well-known consensus regions to identify new PME-related genes in the genome of Arabidopsis. Our results, in combination with several known expressed sequences tags (ESTs), indicate that the Arabidopsis genome contains at least 12 PME-related genes. Consequently, a method of systematic gene expression analysis has been applied in order to discern the expression pattern of these 12 genes throughout the plant at the floral stage. Whereas most of these genes appeared to be more or less ubiquitously expressed throughout the plant, several genes are distinguishable by their strikingly specific expression in certain organs. The present data bring a new insight into the role of specific PME-related genes in flower and root development.     

Differential expression of a polygalacturonase gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana

By systematic sequencing of a flower bud cDNA library from Arabidopsis thaliana, we have identified four cDNAs encoding polygalacturonase. The corresponding genes, together with seven other A. thaliana genes present in the databases, form a small gene family. Sequence comparisons of the deduced polypeptides within the gene family or with other plant polygalacturonases allow classification of the genes into different clades. Five polygalacturonases, including all those isolated from the flower buds, are closely related to the enzyme in pollen. Of the six remaining polygalacturonases, three are more closely related to the abscission-specific type of enzyme and two others to the fruit polygalacturonase. The last one is more distantly related to the others and might correspond to a new type of polygalacturonase. Expression of the different genes was analysed on Northern blots and by a PCR-based strategy. Results indicate that if, as expected, the cDNAs isolated from the flower bud library are strongly expressed in pollen, other genes are expressed at a low level in young developing tissues, such as in seedlings and roots, suggesting that they could be implicated in the cell wall modifications observed during cell elongation and/or expansion which occur in these tissues. Received: 7 December 1998 / Accepted: 1 April 1999     

Total epidermal cell walls of pea stems respond differently to auxin than does the outer epidermal wall alone

The effect of auxin on cell wall mass in the epidermis of third internodes of Pisum sativum L. cv. Alaska grown in dim red light was investigated using epidermal peels, to determine whether epidermal peels reflect the behavior of the outer epidermal cell wall. In contrast to the outer epidermal wall itself, where auxin caused thinning in proportion to growth (M.S. Bret-Harte et al, 1991, Planta 185, 462–471), auxin promoted an increase in wall mass in epidermal peels from treated internode segments in the absence of exogenously supplied sugar. The percentage gain in mass was smaller than the percentage elongation, however, so mass per unit length decreased in peels from auxin-treated segments. Epidermal peels from auxin-treated segments gained more wall mass than control peels even when adhering internal tissue at the basal end of the peel was removed. Epidermal peels also had a gross composition different from that of the outer wall alone (M.S. Bret-Harte and L.D. Talbott, 1993, Planta 190, 369–378). These discrepancies can be explained by the observation that the outer wall makes up only 30% of the mass of the epidermal peel. It appears that the inner walls of the epidermis, and walls of the outer layer of cortical cells that remain attached to the epidermis during peeling, nearly maintain their thickness by biosynthesis while the outer wall loses mass as previously described (Bret-Harte et al. 1991). These results indicate that epidermal peels may not be a good system for examining the biochemical and physiological properties of the outer epidermal cell wall.I would like to thank Dr. Peter M. Ray, of Stanford University, for the use of experimental facilities, helpful discussions, and technical and editorial assistance, Dr. Winslow R. Briggs, of the Carnegie Institute of Washington, for helpful discussions and for the use of experimental facilities, Dr. Paul B. Green, of Stanford University, for financial support, and Dr. Wendy K. Silk, of the Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources, University of California, Davis, for financial support. This work was supported by a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship, National Science Foundation grant DCB8801493 to Paul B. Green, and the generosity of Wendy K. Silk in the final writing.     

Brassinosteroids, microtubules and cell elongation in Arabidopsis thaliana. II. Effects of brassinosteroids on microtubules and cell elongation in the bul1 mutant

In order to elucidate the involvement of brassinosteroids in the cell elongation process leading to normal plant morphology, indirect immunofluorescence and molecular techniques were use to study the expression of tubulin genes in the bul1-1 dwarf mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh., the characteristics of which are reported in this issue (M. Catterou et al., 2001). Microtubules were studied specifically in the regions of the mutant plant where the elongation zone is suppressed (hypocotyls and petioles), making the reduction in cell elongation evident. Indirect immunofluorescence of α-tubulin revealed that very few microtubules were present in mutant cells, resulting in the total lack of the parallel microtubule organization that is typical of elongating cells in the wild type. After brassinosteroid treatment, microtubules reorganized and became correctly oriented, suggesting the involvement of brassinosteroids in microtubule organization. Molecular analyses showed that the microtubule reorganization observed in brassinosteroid-treated bul1-1 plants did not result either from an activation of tubulin gene expression, or from an increase in tubulin content, suggesting that a brassinosteroid-responsive pathway exists which allows microtubule nucleation/organization and cell elongation without activation of tubulin gene expression. Received: 28 April 2000 / Accepted: 6 October 2000     

Plasma membrane protein composition and synthesis in soybean hypocotyl segments undergoing auxin-induced elongation

Summary The types and amount of plasma membrane proteins synthesized during cell elongation in response to auxin (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) treatment were investigated. Auxin-treated and control soybean (Glycine max L.) hypocotyl segments were incubated with [³⁵S]methionine for various times, ranging from 0.5 to 18 h, prior to isolation of plasma membrane by aqueous two-phase partitioning. Protein accumulated in the plasma membrane after auxin treatment. Despite this accumulation, the protein incorporation rate, estimated by the amount of label in the plasma membrane following a 0.5 h [³⁵S]methionine pulse, was unaffected by auxin treatment at both 0.5 and 18 h of treatment. Protein apparently accumulated by a mechanism distinct from enhanced incorporation. The plasma membrane proteins synthesized by elongating segments differed from controls at 18 h, as evidenced by the pattern of fluorographs following a 0.5 h radiolabelling. However, auxin treatment did not alter the 2-D gel pattern of the polypeptides detectable by silver stain.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - IEF isoelectric focusing - PM plasma membrane - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis     

Auxin-induced longitudinal-to-transverse reorientation of cortical microtubules in nonelongating epidermal cells of azuki bean epicotyls

Summary In epidermal cells of azuki bean (Vigna angularis) epicotyl segments, that were sequentially treated with an auxin-free solution and an auxin solution, cortical microtubules changed their orientation from longitudinal to transverse. Auxin caused the reorientation of microtubules from longitudinal to transverse in segments that were kept under anaerobic conditions and, therefore, showed no elongation, indicating that auxin can regulate the orientation of microtubules by a mechanism that does not involve auxin-induced change in the rate of cell elongation.Abbreviations DMSO dimethylsulfoxide - GA₃ gibberellic acid - IAA indoleacetic acid - MT microtubule - PBS phosphate-buffered saline     

The effect of ethylene and auxin on cell wall extensibility of the Semi-aquatic fern,Regnellidium diphyllum

Ethylene and auxin both enhance cell elongation growth in the rachis of the frond of Regnellidium diphyllum. Measurements of the stress relaxation modulus of the walls of methanol-killed rachis segments show that both auxin and ethylene cause an increase in cell wall extensibility, that the effects are additive, and that they occur in the presence of hypertonic solutions of mannitol that preclude cell elongation. The results are taken as evidence for the operation of two separate mechanisms for cell wall loosening.Abbreviation IAA indol-3yl-acetic acid     

Hormone mediated regulation of the shoot apical meristem

Recent work on hormone mediated regulation of the SAM is reviewed, emphasizing how combinations of genetic, molecular and modelling approaches have refined models based on classic experimental and physiological work. Special emphasis is given to newly described mechanisms that modulate the responsiveness of specific tissues to hormones and their potential to direct position dependent determination processes.