Diverse epigenetic mechanisms maintain parental imprints within the embryonic and extraembryonic lineages

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Upstream Regulators and Downstream Effectors of NADPH Oxidases as Novel Therapeutic Targets for Diabetic Kidney Disease

Oxidative stress has been linked to the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, the complication of diabetes in the kidney. NADPH oxidases of the Nox family, and in particular the homologue Nox4, are a major source of reactive oxygen species in the diabetic kidney and are critical mediators of redox signaling in glomerular and tubulointerstitial cells exposed to the diabetic milieu. Here, we present an overview of the current knowledge related to the understanding of the role of Nox enzymes in the processes that control mesangial cell, podocyte and tubulointerstitial cell injury induced by hyperglycemia and other predominant factors enhanced in the diabetic milieu, including the renin-angiotensin system and transforming growth factor-β. The nature of the upstream modulators of Nox enzymes as well as the downstream targets of the Nox NADPH oxidases implicated in the propagation of the redox processes that alter renal biology in diabetes will be highlighted.     

The nuclear pores of early meiotic prophase nuclei of plants

Summary Pollen mother cells at early meiotic prophase fromFritillaria lanceolata, F. mutica, Tulbaghia violacea, the lily “Formobel”,Triticum aegilopoides, T. dicoccoides, T. aestivum and synaptic and asynaptic forms ofT. durum were studied in thin sections with the electron microscope (a) in relation to distribution of nuclear pores (b) in respect of fine structure of the pore complex in those of the first four. The pores were distributed in random clusters during leptotene to pachytene in all plants, except in the two forms ofT. durum where there were either no pores or so few that they were not detectable. Probably correlated with this, the two membranes of the nuclear envelope were often widely separated and frequently sacculated. No pores were seen at leptotene in the part of the envelope to which, in theFritillarias and lily, the nucleolus was adpressed at this time. Evidence supporting a recent model which proposes that annuli are composed of three rings of eight granular subunits was obtained. These subunits as well as a dense central element, observed in most pores, were composed of filaments about 3 nm in diameter and evidently protein in character. There was evidence of a continuity between filaments in the central element and those in the rings of subunits which encircle the pore aperture at both the nuclear and cytoplasmic sides of the pore. In profiles of pores knobbed filaments were sometimes seen extending laterally from the pore wall into the perinuclear space at two sides. Questions concerning the role of the annulus are discussed. The author wish to thank Mr. R. F. Scott for construction to the model.     

Senescence in cut carnation flowers: Temporal and physiological relationships among water status, ethylene, abscisic acid and membrane permeability

Changes in water status, membrane permeability, ethylene production and levels of abscisic acid (ABA) were measured during senescence of cut carnation flowers ( Dianthus caryophyllus L. cv. White Sim) in order to clarify the temporal sequence of physiological events during this post-harvest period. Ethylene production and ABA content of the petal tissue rose essentially in parallel during natural senescence and after treatment of young flowers with exogenous ethylene, indicating that their syntheses are not widely separated in time. However, solute leakage, reflecting membrane deterioration, was apparent well before the natural rise in ethylene and ABA had begun. In addition, there were marked changes in water status of the tissue, including losses in water potential (ψ_w), and turgor (ψ_p), that preceded the rise in ABA and ethylene. As senescence progressed, ψ_w continued to decline, but ψ_p returned to normal levels. These temporal relationships were less well resolved when senescence of young flowers was induced by treatment with ethylene, presumably because the time-scale had been shortened. Thus changes in membrane permeability and an associated water stress in petal tissue appear to be earlier symptoms of flower senescence than the rises in ABA or ethylene. These observations support the contention that the climacteric-like rise in ethylene production is not the initial or primary event of senescence and that the rise in ABA titre may simply be a response to changes in water status.     

In vitro development of angiosperm floral buds and organs

In the last twenty-five years, young inflorescences, floral buds and individual floral organs of a number of species have been cultured in vitro. There is considerable variability in the requirement of plant growth regulators and nutritional factors for flower development of different species. This variability is compounded by the fact that the hormonal and nutritional requirements are different at various stages of organ and floral development. Experimental studies on normal and mutant flowers in vitro have provided insights into some of the regulatory processes in floral organogenesis. The potential use of the in vitro technique in elucidating the various mechanisms in flower development is stressed.     

Overwintering and growth regulator treatment effects on celery (Apium graveolens L.) flowering and seed production

Celery (Apium graveolens L.) plants cv. Jason overwintered in a polythene tunnel flowered earlier and grew taller than similar plants given a 10-week cold-treatment at 5°C prior to transplanting in the same tunnel in mid-February. However, there was no significant difference in the yield of seeds obtained from both treatments, plants grown at a density of 4m^-2 yielded less seeds than those at 2m^-2, though the yield per unit area was slightly higher from the high density treatment. Treatment with 100 mgl^-1 GA₃ applied twice just prior to flowering and during anthesis increased flower stalk, flower pedicel and stamen length but delayed flower opening and seed ripening and decreased seed set and seed yield. Treatment with a mixture of 1000 mgl^-1 GA₄ and GA₇ plus 1000 mgl^-1 ethephon on three occasions during seed ripening decreased seed yield and reduced seed germination though those seeds capable of germinating were less dormant than seeds from untreated plants. The size distribution of seeds was unaffected by any treatment other than the preseeding spray with GA₃ which reduced the percentage of medium-size seeds.     

Cytogenetic studies of the intergeneric hybrids between Secale cereale and Elymus caninus,E. brevipes,and E. tsukushiensis (Triticeae: Poaceae)

Summary Integeneric hybridizations were carried out between Secale cereale L. (2n = 14, RR) and three Elymus species, namely, E. caninus (L.) L. (2n = 28, SSHH), E. brevipes (Keng) Löve (2n = 28, SSYY) and E. tsukushiensis Honda (2n = 42, SSHHYY). Chromosome pairing was studied at metaphase I in the parental species and the hybrids. Meiotic configurations of the hybrids were 20.74 1+0.14 II for E. caninus x S. cereale (SHR), 16.35 I+2.17 II+0.09 III for E. brevipes x S. cereale (SYR) and 25.84 I+1.10 II+0.02 III for E. tsukushiensis x S. cereale (SHYR), in addition to some secondary associations in the different hybrids. It is concluded from the study that (1) a certain, different homoeologous relationship exists among S, H and Y genomes in the investigated Elymus species; (2) low homoeology is present between genomes of Elymus (S or H or Y) and rye (R); (3) the Secale genome affects homoeologous chromosome pairing between different genomes in E. brevipes and E. tsukushiensis.     

Meiotic behaviour of Un,D and R genomes in the amphiploid Aegilops ventricosa -Secale cereale and the parental species

Summary Meiotic pairing frequencies of the Un and D genomes of Ae. ventricosa and the R of S. cereale could be easily established at metaphase I in Aegilops ventricosa — Secale cereale amphiploid plants as well as in its parental species by using the C-banding technique procedure. The results show a high diminution of chromosome pairing for all genomes in the amphiploid with respect to its parental species probably due to C-heterochromatin content and/or genotypic or cryptic interactions between the three genomes.     

Phylogenetic relationships in theSideritis leucantha group (Lamiaceae)

Six closely related taxa of the sect.Eusideritis of the genusSideritis (S. leucantha, S. pusilla, S. flavovirens, S. granatensis, S. biflora andS. osteoxylla) are analysed to elucidate their phylogenetic relationships and position within the sect.Eusideritis. Meiotic behaviour, karyotype features, size and fertility of pollen grains, DNA amounts and seed protein profiles are reviewed. A polyploid origin of the group (from x = 7) and the further diversification through dysploidy and chromosome repatterning is postulated.S. osteoxylla is apparently of hybrid origin.     

小麦再生植株的变异研究 Ⅱ.再生植株当代(R_1代)的细胞学和形态学变异

再生植株具有高频率的染色体异常,其中有20.61％表现为染色体数量变异,最常见的为2n—1类型,其次为2n—2类型,也有2n 1、2n—3个体以及染色体数嵌合株。再生植株减数分裂各期均有染色体异常行为,可以见到的有落后染色体、染色体桥、断片、二分体延迟、微核,还有粗线期十字型配对等结构变异,以及五分体、六分体和畸型四分体等异常现象。微核率随培养时间延长而增加,可用作染色体伤害的一个指标。再生植株R_1代存在着许多形态学变异。性状变异与染色体数目变异没有明显关系。