The self-incompatibility phenotype in brassica is altered by the transformation of a mutant S locus receptor kinase

The self-incompatible (SI) Brassica napus line W1, which carries the 910 S allele, was transformed with an inactive copy of the 910 S locus receptor kinase (SRK) gene. Two transformed lines were analyzed based on their heritable ability to set self-seed. The first line was virtually completely self-compatible (SC), and reciprocal pollinations with the original W1 line demonstrated that only the stigma side of the SI phenotype was altered. An analysis of the expression of endogenous SRK-910 demonstrated that the mechanism of transgene action is via gene suppression. Furthermore, the expression of the S locus glycoprotein gene present in the 910 allele (SLG-910), SLG-A10, which is derived from a nonfunctional S allele, and an S locus-related gene were also suppressed. When the transgene was crossed into another SI line carrying the A14 S allele, it was also capable of suppressing the expression of the endogenous genes and of making this line SC. The second transgenic line studied was only partly SC. In this case as well, only the stigma phenotype was affected, although no gene suppression was detected for endogenous SRK-910 or SLG-910. In this line, the expression of the transgene most likely was causing the change in phenotype, and no effect was observed when this transgene was crossed into the other SI line. Therefore, this work reinforces the hypothesis that the SRK gene is required, but only for the stigma side of the SI phenotype, and that a single transgene can alter the SI phenotype of more than one S allele.     

“On A Piece of Chalk”-Updated1

ABSTRACT. Many advances have been made in our knowledge of the biology of foraminifera over the past several decades. Fine structural, biophysical, and molecular biological studies have shown that the most prominent components of their distinctive bidirectional granuloreliculopods are bundles of micro tubules linked by crossbridges to each other, as well as to membrane-bound organelles and the plasma membrane. the microtubules ratchet past each other as dynein transduces the free energy of ATP to produce pseudopodal movements. In spite of the fact that there are over 40,000 described species of living and fossil species of foraminifera, there have been many recent exciting discoveries of new species and groups. New casting techniques are providing us with greater understanding of the complexities and functional aspects of form in the group. Significant advances are being made in understanding the distribution and energetics of deep-sea forms. Larger and planktonic foraminifera are the hosts for a particularly diverse range of endosymbiotic algae, including dinoflagellates, chlorophytes, unicellular rhodophytes, and diatoms. Chloroplast husbandry also occurs. Significant research effort has been expended yielding us considerable insight into various aspects of the endosymbiotic phenomenon. A unified conceptual framework has been drawn to help us understand the life cycle options found in foraminifera.     

Diets high in selenium and isoflavones decrease androgen-regulated gene expression in healthy rat dorsolateral prostate

Background  

High dietary intake of selenium or soybean isoflavones reduces prostate cancer risk. These components each affect androgen-regulated gene expression. The objective of this work was to determine the combined effects of selenium and isoflavones on androgen-regulated gene expression in rat prostate.     

A highly multiplexed quantitative phosphosite assay for biology and preclinical studies

Reliable methods to quantify dynamic signaling changes across diverse pathways are needed to better understand the effects of disease and drug treatment in cells and tissues but are presently lacking. Here, we present SigPath, a targeted mass spectrometry (MS) assay that measures 284 phosphosites in 200 phosphoproteins of biological interest. SigPath probes a broad swath of signaling biology with high throughput and quantitative precision. We applied the assay to investigate changes in phospho‐signaling in drug‐treated cancer cell lines, breast cancer preclinical models, and human medulloblastoma tumors. In addition to validating previous findings, SigPath detected and quantified a large number of differentially regulated phosphosites newly associated with disease models and human tumors at baseline or with drug perturbation. Our results highlight the potential of SigPath to monitor phosphoproteomic signaling events and to nominate mechanistic hypotheses regarding oncogenesis, response, and resistance to therapy.     

Influences of dietary soy isoflavones on metabolism but not nociception and stress hormone responses in ovariectomized female rats

Background  

Isoflavones, the most abundant phytoestrogens in soy foods, are structurally similar to 17beta-estradiol. Few studies have examined the nociception and stress hormone responses after consumption of soy isoflavones.     

Total antioxidant capacity – a novel early bio-chemical marker of oxidative stress in HIV infected individuals

Background  

Oxidative stress induced by the production of reactive oxygen species may play a critical role in the stimulation of HIV replication and the development of immunodeficiency. This study was conducted as there are limited and inconclusive studies on the significance of a novel early marker of oxidative stress which can reflect the total antioxidant capacity in HIV patients,     

Evolution of cytochrome P-450 proteins [published erratum appears in Mol Biol Evol 1988 Mar;5(2):199]

Thirty-four cytochrome P-450 sequences from one bacterial and six vertebrate species have been aligned with the aid of a computer alignment algorithm. Phylogenetic trees were constructed using the unweighted-pair-group and neighbor-joining methods. The two trees differed at only a single branch point near the base of the tree. The cytochrome P-450 superfamily of proteins clustered into eight families and contained 16 gene-duplication events. The first gene duplication occurred approximately 1,360 Myr before the present (Mybp) and gave rise to cytochrome P-450s found in two different cellular organelles, the mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum. Both groups utilize cholesterol or its metabolites as substrates, implying that cholesterol existed greater than 1,360 Mybp. The fourth gene duplication (approximately 900 Mybp) gave rise to the drug-metabolizing P-450s. These proteins aid in the detoxification of foreign chemicals, as opposed to the metabolism of endogenous compounds. The importance of the capacity to metabolize drugs is reflected in 11 further gene duplications occurring in this lineage. The first occurred approximately 800 Mybp and gave rise to the two major P-450 families, the phenobarbital and 3-methylcholanthrene families. An apparent increase in the rate of cytochrome P-450 evolution is noted between the bird-mammal divergence (300 Mybp) and the mammalian radiation (75 Mybp).