The central role of PhEIN2 in ethylene responses throughout plant development in petunia

The plant hormone ethylene regulates many aspects of growth and development. Loss-of-function mutations in ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE2 (EIN2) result in ethylene insensitivity in Arabidopsis, indicating an essential role of EIN2 in ethylene signaling. However, little is known about the role of EIN2 in species other than Arabidopsis. To gain a better understanding of EIN2, a petunia (Petunia x hybrida cv Mitchell Diploid [MD]) homolog of the Arabidopsis EIN2 gene (PhEIN2) was isolated, and the role of PhEIN2 was analyzed in a wide range of plant responses to ethylene, many that do not occur in Arabidopsis. PhEIN2 mRNA was present at varying levels in tissues examined, and the PhEIN2 expression decreased after ethylene treatment in petals. These results indicate that expression of PhEIN2 mRNA is spatially and temporally regulated in petunia during plant development. Transgenic petunia plants with reduced PhEIN2 expression were compared to wild-type MD and ethylene-insensitive petunia plants expressing the Arabidopsis etr1-1 gene for several physiological processes. Both PhEIN2 and etr1-1 transgenic plants exhibited significant delays in flower senescence and fruit ripening, inhibited adventitious root and seedling root hair formation, premature death, and increased hypocotyl length in seedling ethylene response assays compared to MD. Moderate or strong levels of reduction in ethylene sensitivity were achieved with expression of both etr1-1 and PhEIN2 transgenes, as measured by downstream expression of PhEIL1. These results demonstrate that PhEIN2 mediates ethylene signals in a wide range of physiological processes and also indicate the central role of EIN2 in ethylene signal transduction.     

Benzimidazolone p38 inhibitors

The synthesis and in vitro p38 alpha activity of a novel series of benzimidazolone inhibitors is described. The p38 alpha SAR is consistent with a mode of binding wherein the benzimidazolone carbonyl serves as the H-bond acceptor to Met109 of p38 alpha in a manner analogous to the pyridine nitrogen of prototypical pyridylimidazole p38 inhibitors. Potent p38 alpha activity comparable to that of several previously reported p38 inhibitors is observed for this novel chemotype.     

Discovery of a potent, selective and orally active canine COX-2 inhibitor, 2-(3-difluoromethyl-5-phenyl-pyrazol-1-yl)-5-methanesulfonyl-pyridine

Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of 2-[3-di(and tri)fluoromethyl-5-arylpyrazol-1-yl]-5-methanesulfonylpyridine derivatives for canine COX enzymes are described. This led to the identification of 12a as a lead candidate for further progression. The in vitro and in vivo activity of 12a for the canine COX-2 enzyme as well as its in vivo efficacy and pharmacokinetic properties in dog are highlighted.     

Discovery and SAR of 2-aminothiazole inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinase 5/p25 as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease

High-throughput screening with cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (cdk5)/p25 led to the discovery of N-(5-isopropyl-thiazol-2-yl)isobutyramide (1). This compound is an equipotent inhibitor of cdk5 and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (cdk2)/cyclin E (IC(50)=ca. 320nM). Parallel and directed synthesis techniques were utilized to explore the SAR of this series. Up to 60-fold improvements in potency at cdk5 and 12-fold selectivity over cdk2 were achieved.     

The coelomycetous genera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chaetomella</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pilidium</Emphasis> represent a newly discovered lineage of inoperculate discomycetes

The coelomycetous genera Chaetomella and Pilidium were determined to be closely related to each other, yet are recognized as distinct genera based on both morphological observations and rDNA sequence analyses. Analyses of the SSU and LSU of the nuclear ribosomal RNA genes suggest that Chaetomella and Pilidium along with Sphaerographium tenuirostrum and Synchaetomella lunatospora constitute a distinct lineage within the ascomycetes that is allied with the Leotiomycetes. Chaetomella and Pilidium both produce black pycnidia generally opening by a raphe, acropleurogenous conidiogenous cells, and non-septate, hyaline, usually fusiform to falcate, rarely ellipsoid, conidia. Pycnidia of Pilidium are smooth while those of Chaetomella have setae of various types. A Hainesia sporodochial synanamorph was observed in cultures of C. oblonga and C. raphigera similar to H. lythri, the synanamorph of P. concavum. Specimens of C. oblonga, type species of Chaetomella, C. acutiseta, C. circinoseta, C. raphigera, Pilidium acerinum, type species of Pilidium, and P. concavum were examined. Diagnoses and illustrations are provided for these species along with a key to the accepted species in both genera. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this article is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.     

Combined subtractive cDNA cloning and array CGH: an efficient approach for identification of overexpressed genes in DNA amplicons

Background  

Activation of proto-oncogenes by DNA amplification is an important mechanism in the development and maintenance of cancer cells. Until recently, identification of the targeted genes relied on labour intensive and time consuming positional cloning methods. In this study, we outline a straightforward and efficient strategy for fast and comprehensive cloning of amplified and overexpressed genes.     

Structure of the model peptides of Bombyx mori silk-elastin like protein studied with solid state NMR

The peptides (AG)(6)(VPGVG)(AG)(7) and (AG)(5)(VPGVG)(2)(AG)(5) are models for a new type of protein with both composition and properties such as Bombyx mori silk and elastin. In this paper, we report the solid-state NMR results for these samples and related peptides; the structures after dialysis of the 9 M LiBr aqueous solution and after treatment with formic acid were determined and compared. The detailed structural analyses were performed using deconvolution subroutines assuming Gaussian line shapes for the Ala Cbeta peaks of the (AG)(n) sequences in these peptides. The peptide (AG)(6)(VPGVG)(AG)(7) took the silk II structure after the dialysis, which is in contrast to the silk I form of (AG)(15) after the same treatment. However, a drastic structural change of the (AG)(n) sequences was observed for (AG)(5)(VPGVG)(2)(AG)(5); the fraction of distorted beta-turn was 81% after the dialysis, but the distorted beta-sheet became dominant (84%) after treatment with formic acid. The local structures of the Gly residue of the VG units in the elastin-like subunits, (VPGVG) and (VPGVG)(2), were the distorted structures with a distribution of the torsion angles, which was derived from the 2D spin diffusion NMR spectral pattern of (AG)(5)VPG[1-(13)C]V[1-(13)C]GVPGVG(AG)(5). Observation of this distribution of the Gly residue was independent of the treatment, dialysis or formic acid.