Somatic embryogenesis in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum tuberosum</Emphasis> L.: a histological examination of key developmental stages

A potential novel method of producing high-quality potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) nuclear seeds is through the process of somatic embryogenesis (SE). Somatic embryo formation has been successfully reported in many plant species, but in potato, reliable SE systems are still at the experimental stage. A key factor in the success of any SE system is the ability to discriminate SE-specific cellular structures from those emerging through an organogenic route. In the investigation reported here we attempted to discriminate the progression of specific stages of potato SE by histological means. Internodal segment (INS) explants from 4- to 6-week-old cv. Desiree in vitro cultures were successively cultured on SE induction (for 2 weeks) and expression/regeneration media (for 3 weeks) with and without 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (5 M). Microscopic examination of histological slides prepared using INS explants at different stages revealed the presence of characteristic globular, heart and torpedo stages in the potato SE system along with other associated unique features such as protoderm development and discrete vascular connections. These results confirm the occurrence of potato SE as per the accepted definition of the term.Abbreviations 2,4-D 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - ELS Embryo-like structure(s) - INS Internodal segment(s) - PEM Proembryo mass - SE Somatic embryogenesis     

EF-G-independent reactivity of a pre-translocation-state ribosome complex with the aminoacyl tRNA substrate puromycin supports an intermediate (hybrid) state of tRNA binding

Following peptide-bond formation, the mRNA:tRNA complex must be translocated within the ribosomal cavity before the next aminoacyl tRNA can be accommodated in the A site. Previous studies suggested that following peptide-bond formation and prior to EF-G recognition, the tRNAs occupy an intermediate (hybrid) state of binding where the acceptor ends of the tRNAs are shifted to their next sites of occupancy (the E and P sites) on the large ribosomal subunit, but where their anticodon ends (and associated mRNA) remain fixed in their prepeptidyl transferase binding states (the P and A sites) on the small subunit. Here we show that pre-translocation-state ribosomes carrying a dipeptidyl-tRNA substrate efficiently react with the minimal A-site substrate puromycin and that following this reaction, the pre-translocation-state bound deacylated tRNA:mRNA complex remains untranslocated. These data establish that pre-translocation-state ribosomes must sample or reside in an intermediate state of tRNA binding independent of the action of EF-G.     

Polymorphism at rDNA loci in barley and its relation with climatic variables

The variation in length of the intergenic spacer (IGS) region of the ribosomal DNA repeat unit was examined in 63 accessions of wild barley, Hordeum spontaneum, and seven accessions of cultivated barley, Hordeum vulgare. The accessions of wild barley were collected from ecologically diverse climatic and edaphic microsites in Israel, and the barley cultivars were those grown in India. Sixteen spacer-length variants (slvs) observed in the present study presumably belonged to two known rDNA loci (Rrn1 and Rrn2). Each accession had one or more variants, which together represented the rDNA phenotype. The rDNA phenotypes of wild barley accessions were widely diverse and differed substantially from those of cultivated barley. The slv phenotypes and the corresponding alleles were shown to be largely correlated with different climatic, edaphic and ecogeographical microsites and niches (the ”Evolution Canyon” at Lower Nahal Oren, Mount Carmel; and Tabigha, Eastern Upper Galilee Mountains), so that a particular rDNA phenotype of an accession could be used to predict the climate and soil to which the accession belonged. This sharp microsite ecogeographic variation in ribosomal DNA appears adaptive in nature, and is presumably driven by climatic and edaphic natural selection. Received: 1 March 2001 / Accepted: 21 May 2001     

HY5 and ABI5 transcription factors physically interact to fine tune light and ABA signaling in Arabidopsis

Plant Molecular Biology - Cross-talk between light and ABA signaling is mediated by physical interaction between HY5 and ABI5 Arabidopsis. Plants undergo numerous transitions during their...     

Does the antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles depend on the shape of the nanoparticle? A study of the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli

In this work we investigated the antibacterial properties of differently shaped silver nanoparticles against the gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli, both in liquid systems and on agar plates. Energy-filtering transmission electron microscopy images revealed considerable changes in the cell membranes upon treatment, resulting in cell death. Truncated triangular silver nanoplates with a {111} lattice plane as the basal plane displayed the strongest biocidal action, compared with spherical and rod-shaped nanoparticles and with Ag(+) (in the form of AgNO(3)). It is proposed that nanoscale size and the presence of a {111} plane combine to promote this biocidal property. To our knowledge, this is the first comparative study on the bactericidal properties of silver nanoparticles of different shapes, and our results demonstrate that silver nanoparticles undergo a shape-dependent interaction with the gram-negative organism E. coli.     

Expanded turn conformations: characterization and sequence-structure correspondence in alpha-turns with implications in helix folding

Like the beta-turns, which are characterized by a limiting distance between residues two positions apart (i, i+3), a distance criterion (involving residues at positions i and i+4) is used here to identify alpha-turns from a database of known protein structures. At least 15 classes of alpha-turns have been enumerated based on the location in the phi,psi space of the three central residues (i+1 to i+3)-one of the major being the class AAA, where the residues occupy the conventional helical backbone torsion angles. However, moving towards the C-terminal end of the turn, there is a shift in the phi,psi angles towards more negative phi, such that the electrostatic repulsion between two consecutive carbonyl oxygen atoms is reduced. Except for the last position (i+4), there is not much similarity in residue composition at different positions of hydrogen and non-hydrogen bonded AAA turns. The presence or absence of Pro at i+1 position of alpha- and beta-turns has a bearing on whether the turn is hydrogen-bonded or without a hydrogen bond. In the tertiary structure, alpha-turns are more likely to be found in beta-hairpin loops. The residue composition at the beginning of the hydrogen bonded AAA alpha-turn has similarity with type I beta-turn and N-terminal positions of helices, but the last position matches with the C-terminal capping position of helices, suggesting that the existence of a "helix cap signal" at i+4 position prevents alpha-turns from growing into helices. Our results also provide new insights into alpha-helix nucleation and folding.     

In vitro expression of partial resistance toPhytophthora palmivora by shoot cultures of papaya

Shoot apices ofCarica papaya were multiplied in vitro on solidified nutrient media supplemented with -naphthyl-acetic acid and 6-benzylaminopurine. The micropropagated shoots were inoculated in vitro, through a stem wound, with a sporangial suspension (1.2×10⁴ sporangia ml^-1) ofPhytophthora palmivora. The symptoms exhibited by the shoots in vitro were similar to those described previously for infection of the whole plant in the field. The time taken for the host tissue to become brown and to wilt and the time to sporulation of the pathogen were all recorded for each shoot of four varieties of papaya challenged with each of ten isolates ofP. palmivora. Significant differences were observed between host-pathogen combinations for these variables and host-specificity was detected amongst the isolates ofP. palmivora. The time taken for the shoot to wilt was positively correlated with the time to sporulation of the isolated but both these variables were negatively correlated with the time to browning of the shoot. In vitro selection for disease resistance will be useful during breeding programmes involving papaya genotypes which are maintained through clonal propagation.     

Mammalian myristoyl CoA: protein N-myristoyltransferase

Myristoyl CoA:Protein N-myristoyltransferase (NMT) is the enzyme which catalyses the covalent transfer of myristate from myristoyl CoA to the amino-terminal glycine residue of protein substrates. Although NMT is ubiquitous in eukaryotic cells, the enzyme levels and cellular distribution vary among tissues. In this article, we describe the properties of mammalian NMT(s) with reference to subcellular distribution, molecular weights, substrate specificity and the possible involvement of NMT in pathological processes. The cytosolic fraction of bovine brain contains multiple forms of NMT activity whereas bovine spleen contains only a single form. In bovine brain and spleen, the cytosol contained majority of NMT activity. In contrast, rabbit colon and rat liver NMT activity was predominantly particulate. Regional differences in NMT activity have been observed in both rabbit intestine and bovine brain. Results from our laboratory along with the existing knowledge, provide evidence for the existence of tissue specific isozymes of NMT.