PHLDA1 Mediates Drug Resistance in Receptor Tyrosine Kinase-Driven Cancer

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Development of a new wheat microarray from a durum wheat totipotent cDNA library used for a powdery mildew resistance study

Totipotent cDNA libraries representative of all the potentially expressed sequences in a genome would be of great benefit to gene expression studies. Here, we report on an innovative method for creating such a library for durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) and its application for gene discovery. The use of suitable quantities of 5-azacytidine during the germination phase induced the demethylation of total DNA, and the resulting seedlings potentially express all of the genes present in the genome. A new wheat microarray consisting of 4925 unigenes was developed from the totipotent cDNA library and used to screen for genes that may contribute to differences in the disease resistance of two near-isogenic lines, the durum wheat cultivar Latino and the line 5BIL-42, which are respectively susceptible and resistant to powdery mildew. Fluorescently labeled cDNA was prepared from the RNA of seedlings of the two near-isogenic wheat lines after infection with a single powdery mildew isolate under controlled conditions in the greenhouse. Hybridization to the microarray identified six genes that were differently expressed in the two lines. Four of the sequences could be assigned putative functions based on their similarity to known genes in public databases. Physical mapping of the six genes localized them to two regions of the genome: the centromeric region of chromosome 5B, where the Pm36 resistance gene was previously localized, and chromosome 6B.     

Structural basis of TRAPPIII‐mediated Rab1 activation

The GTPase Rab1 is a master regulator of the early secretory pathway and is critical for autophagy. Rab1 activation is controlled by its guanine nucleotide exchange factor, the multisubunit TRAPPIII complex. Here, we report the 3.7 Å cryo‐EM structure of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae TRAPPIII complex bound to its substrate Rab1/Ypt1. The structure reveals the binding site for the Rab1/Ypt1 hypervariable domain, leading to a model for how the complex interacts with membranes during the activation reaction. We determined that stable membrane binding by the TRAPPIII complex is required for robust activation of Rab1/Ypt1 in vitro and in vivo, and is mediated by a conserved amphipathic α‐helix within the regulatory Trs85 subunit. Our results show that the Trs85 subunit serves as a membrane anchor, via its amphipathic helix, for the entire TRAPPIII complex. These findings provide a structural understanding of Rab activation on organelle and vesicle membranes.     

Spawning seasons of Rasbora tawarensis (Pisces: Cyprinidae) in Lake Laut Tawar,Aceh Province,Indonesia

Background  

Rasbora tawarensis is an endemic freshwater fish in Lake Laut Tawar, Aceh Province, Indonesia. Unfortunately, its status is regarded as critical endangered with populations decreasing in recent years. To date no information on the spawning activities of the fish are available. Therefore, this study provides a contribution to the knowledge on reproductive biology of R. tawarensis especially on spawning seasons as well as basic information for conservation of the species.     

The effect of aging and acetyl-L-carnitine on the activity of the phosphate carrier and on the phospholipid composition in rat heart mitochondria.

The effect of aging and treatment with acetyl-L-carnitine on the activity of the phosphate carrier and on the phospholipid composition in rat heart mitochondria was studied. It was found that the activity of the phosphate carrier was reduced by aging. Treatment of aged rats with acetyl-L-carnitine reversed this effect. The mitochondrial level of cardiolipin was decreased with aging. Treatment of aged rats with acetyl-L-carnitine restored the level of cardiolipin to that of young rats. It is proposed that acetyl-L-carnitine may restore the correct phospholipid composition (cardiolipin level) of the mitochondrial membrane, altered by aging, thereby restoring the activity of the phosphate carrier.     

RNA synthesis by isolated Yoshida ascites hepatoma A.H. 130 cells mitochondria.

Mitochondria isolated from Yoshida ascites hepatoma A.H. 130 cells are able to incorporate 3H-UTP into RNA. The reaction has been extensively characterized and appear to be supported by a typical DNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and no special differences with the system of normal rat liver mitochondria have been found.