SEPALLATA3: the 'glue' for MADS box transcription factor complex formation

Background  

Plant MADS box proteins play important roles in a plethora of developmental processes. In order to regulate specific sets of target genes, MADS box proteins dimerize and are thought to assemble into multimeric complexes. In this study a large-scale yeast three-hybrid screen is utilized to provide insight into the higher-order complex formation capacity of the Arabidopsis MADS box family. SEPALLATA3 (SEP3) has been shown to mediate complex formation and, therefore, special attention is paid to this factor in this study.     

DNA oligonucleotides with A, T, G or C opposite an abasic site: structure and dynamics

Abasic sites are common DNA lesions resulting from spontaneous depurination and excision of damaged nucleobases by DNA repair enzymes. However, the influence of the local sequence context on the structure of the abasic site and ultimately, its recognition and repair, remains elusive. In the present study, duplex DNAs with three different bases (G, C or T) opposite an abasic site have been synthesized in the same sequence context (5′-CCA AAG₆ XA₈C CGG G-3′, where X denotes the abasic site) and characterized by 2D NMR spectroscopy. Studies on a duplex DNA with an A opposite the abasic site in the same sequence has recently been reported [Chen,J., Dupradeau,F.-Y., Case,D.A., Turner,C.J. and Stubbe,J. (2007) Nuclear magnetic resonance structural studies and molecular modeling of duplex DNA containing normal and 4′-oxidized abasic sites. Biochemistry, 46, 3096–3107]. Molecular modeling based on NMR-derived distance and dihedral angle restraints and molecular dynamics calculations have been applied to determine structural models and conformational flexibility of each duplex. The results indicate that all four duplexes adopt an overall B-form conformation with each unpaired base stacked between adjacent bases intrahelically. The conformation around the abasic site is more perturbed when the base opposite to the lesion is a pyrimidine (C or T) than a purine (G or A). In both the former cases, the neighboring base pairs (G6-C21 and A8-T19) are closer to each other than those in B-form DNA. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that transient H-bond interactions between the unpaired pyrimidine (C20 or T20) and the base 3′ to the abasic site play an important role in perturbing the local conformation. These results provide structural insight into the dynamics of abasic sites that are intrinsically modulated by the bases opposite the abasic site.     

Comparative investigation on spindle behavior and MPF activity changes during oocyte maturation between gynogenetic and amphimictic crucian carp

The spindle behavior and MPF activity changes in the progression of oocyte maturation were investigated and compared with cytological observation and kinase assay between gynogenetic silver crucian carp and amphimictic colored crucian carp.MPF activity was measured by using histone H1 as phosphorylation substrate.There were two similar oscillatory MPF kinase activity changes during oocyte maturation in two kinds of fishes with different reproductive modes,but there existed some subtle difference between them.The subtle difference was that the first peak of MPF kinase activity was kept to a longerlasting time in the gynogenetic silver crucian carp than in the amphimictic colored crucian carp.It was suggested that the difference may be related to the spindle behavior changes,such as tripolar spindle formation and spindle rearrangement in the gynogenetic crucian carp.     

Caragana korshinskii seedlings maintain positive photosynthesis during short-term,severe drought stress

Seedling performance may determine plant distribution, especially in water-limited environments. Plants of Caragana korshinskii commonly grow in arid and semiarid areas in northwestern China, and endure water shortage in various ways, but little is known about their performance when water shortage occurs at early growth stages. The water relations, photosynthetic activity, chlorophyll (Chl) content and proline accumulation were determined in 1-year-old seedlings growing in a 1:1 mixture of Loess soil and Perlite and subjected to (1) a water deficit for 20 days and (2) kept adequately watered throughout. The water deficit induced low (−6.1 MPa) predawn leaf water potentials (LWP), but did not induce any leaf abscission. Stomatal conductance (g _s), leaf transpiration rate (E), and net photosynthetic rate (P _N) decreased immediately following the imposition of the water deficit, while the maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) (F_v/F_m) and the effective quantum yield of PSII (Φ_PSII) decreased 15 days later. An early and rapid decrease in g _s, reduced E, increased Chl (a+b) loss, increased the apparent rate of photochemical transport of electrons through PSII (ETR)/P _N, as well as a gradual increase in non-photochemical quenching of fluorescence (NPQ) and proline may have contributed to preventing Φ_PSII from photodamage. C. korshinskii seedlings used a stress-tolerance strategy, with leaf maintenance providing a clear selective advantage, considering the occasional rainfall events during the growing season.     

Non-invasive genetic identification of small mammal species using real-time polymerase chain reaction

DNA identification of non-invasive samples is a potentially useful tool for monitoring small mammal species. Here we describe a novel method for identifying five small mammal species: wood mouse, bank vole, common shrew, pygmy shrew and water shrew. Species-specific real-time polymerase chain reaction primers were designed to amplify fragments of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene from hair and scat samples. We also amplified nuclear DNA from scats, demonstrating their potential as a source of DNA for population genetic studies.     

Synthesis and preliminary analysis of a P-glycoprotein-specific [3H]-benzophenone photoaffinity label based on (-)-stipiamide

A benzophenone photoaffinity label 9 based on the polyene natural product (-)-stipiamide has been constructed using a diaminoethane spacer and the radioactive agent [3H]-BZDC (N-succinimidyl p-benzoyl-(2,3-3H)-dehydrocinnamate). Photoaffinity experiments show specific binding to human P-glycoprotein (Pgp) in the presence of cis-flupentixol but not with cyclosporin A.     

An ectomycorrhizal nitrogen economy facilitates monodominance in a neotropical forest

Tropical forests are renowned for their high diversity, yet in many sites a single tree species accounts for the majority of the individuals in a stand. An explanation for these monodominant forests remains elusive, but may be linked to mycorrhizal symbioses. We tested three hypotheses by which ectomycorrhizas might facilitate the dominance of the tree, Oreomunnea mexicana, in montane tropical forest in Panama. We tested whether access to ectomycorrhizal networks improved growth and survival of seedlings, evaluated whether ectomycorrhizal fungi promote seedling growth via positive plant–soil feedback, and measured whether Oreomunnea reduced inorganic nitrogen availability. We found no evidence that Oreomunnea benefits from ectomycorrhizal networks or plant–soil feedback. However, we found three‐fold higher soil nitrate and ammonium concentrations outside than inside Oreomunnea‐dominated forest and a correlation between soil nitrate and Oreomunnea abundance in plots. Ectomycorrhizal effects on nitrogen cycling might therefore provide an explanation for the monodominance of ectomycorrhizal tree species worldwide.     

Recognition of anaerobic bacterial isolates in vitro using electronic nose technology

AIMS: Use of an electronic nose (e.nose) system to differentiation between anaerobic bacteria grown in vitro on agar media. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cultures of Clostridium spp. (14 strains) and Bacteroides fragilis (12 strains) were grown on blood agar plates and incubated in sampling bags for 30 min before head space analysis of the volatiles. Qualitative analyses of the volatile production patterns was carried out using an e.nose system with 14 conducting polymer sensors. Using data analysis techniques such as principal components analysis (PCA), genetic algorithms and neural networks it was possible to differentiate between agar blanks and individual species which accounted for all the data. A total of eight unknowns were correctly discriminated into the bacterial groups. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of in vitro complex volatile pattern recognition and differentiation of anaerobic pathogens. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These results suggest the potential for application of e.nose technology in early diagnosis of microbial pathogens of medical importance.