scholarly journals The Arabidopsis thaliana NAC transcription factor family: structure–function relationships and determinants of ANAC019 stress signalling

2010 ◽  
Vol 426 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael K. Jensen ◽  
Trine Kjaersgaard ◽  
Michael M. Nielsen ◽  
Pernille Galberg ◽  
Klaus Petersen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arabidopsis Thaliana ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Marker Genes ◽  
Target Sequence ◽  
Sequence Motifs ◽  
Stress Perception ◽  
Specific Sequence ◽  
Nac Domain ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Aba Hypersensitivity

TFs (transcription factors) are modular proteins minimally containing a DBD (DNA-binding domain) and a TRD (transcription regulatory domain). NAC [for NAM (no apical meristem), ATAF, CUC (cup-shaped cotyledon)] proteins comprise one of the largest plant TF families. They are key regulators of stress perception and developmental programmes, and most share an N-terminal NAC domain. On the basis of analyses of gene expression data and the phylogeny of Arabidopsis thaliana NAC TFs we systematically decipher structural and functional specificities of the conserved NAC domains and the divergent C-termini. Nine of the ten NAC domains analysed bind a previously identified conserved DNA target sequence with a CGT[GA] core, although with different affinities. Likewise, all but one of the NAC proteins analysed is dependent on the C-terminal region for transactivational activity. In silico analyses show that the NAC TRDs contain group-specific sequence motifs and are characterized by a high degree of intrinsic disorder. Furthermore, ANAC019 was identified as a new positive regulator of ABA (abscisic acid) signalling, conferring ABA hypersensitivity when ectopically expressed in plants. Interestingly, ectopic expression of the ANAC019 DBD or TRD alone also resulted in ABA hypersensitivity. Expression of stress-responsive marker genes [COR47 (cold-responsive 47), RD29b (responsive-to-desiccation 29b) and ERD11 (early-responsive-to-dehydration 11)] were also induced by full-length and truncated ANAC019. Domain-swapping experiments were used to analyse the specificity of this function. Chimaeric proteins, where the NAC domain of ANAC019 was replaced with the analogous regions from other NAC TFs, also have the ability to positively regulate ABA signalling. In contrast, replacing the ANAC019 TRD with other TRDs abolished ANAC019-mediated ABA hypersensitivity. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the biochemical and functional specificity of NAC TFs is associated with both the DBDs and the TRDs.

scholarly journals Analysis of the Genetic Variability of Virulence-Related Loci in Epidemic Clones of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

2005 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 366-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. Gomes ◽  
S. Vinga ◽  
M. Zavolan ◽  
H. de Lencastre
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Genetic Variability ◽  
Amino Acid Level ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Sequence Motifs ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Specific Sequence ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
Sequence Types ◽  
R Domain

ABSTRACT Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates have previously been classified into major epidemic clonal types by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis in combination with multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec typing. We aimed to investigate whether genetic variability in potentially polymorphic domains of virulence-related factors could provide another level of differentiation in a diverse collection of epidemic MRSA clones. The target regions of strains representative of epidemic clones and genetically related methicillin-susceptible S. aureus isolates from the 1960s that were sequenced included the R domains of clfA and clfB; the D, W, and M regions of fnbA and fnbB; and three regions in the agr operon. Sequence variation ranged from very conserved regions, such as those for RNAIII and the agr interpromoter region, to the highly polymorphic R regions of the clf genes. The sequences of the clf R domains could be grouped into six major sequence types on the basis of the sequences in their 3′ regions. Six sequence types were also observed for the fnb sequences at the amino acid level. From an evolutionary point of view, it was interesting that a small DNA stretch at the 3′ clf R-domain sequence and the fnb sequences agreed with the results of MLST for this set of strains. In particular, clfB R-domain sequences, which had a high discriminatory capacity and with which the types distinguished were congruent with those obtained by other molecular typing methods, have potential for use for the typing of S. aureus. Clone- and strain-specific sequence motifs in the clf and fnb genes may represent useful additions to a typing methodology with a DNA array.

scholarly journals A Comprehensive Phylogenetic and Bioinformatics Survey of Lectins in the Fungal Kingdom

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 453
Author(s):  
Annie Lebreton ◽  
François Bonnardel ◽  
Yu-Cheng Dai ◽  
Anne Imberty ◽  
Francis M. Martin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Relationship ◽  
Large Family ◽  
Gene Families ◽  
Carbohydrate Binding ◽  
Sequence Motifs ◽  
Fungal Lectin ◽  
Quaternary Structures ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Carbohydrate Ligand ◽  
Fungal Kingdom

Fungal lectins are a large family of carbohydrate-binding proteins with no enzymatic activity. They play fundamental biological roles in the interactions of fungi with their environment and are found in many different species across the fungal kingdom. In particular, their contribution to defense against feeders has been emphasized, and when secreted, lectins may be involved in the recognition of bacteria, fungal competitors and specific host plants. Carbohydrate specificities and quaternary structures vary widely, but evidence for an evolutionary relationship within the different classes of fungal lectins is supported by a high degree of amino acid sequence identity. The UniLectin3D database contains 194 fungal lectin 3D structures, of which 129 are characterized with a carbohydrate ligand. Using the UniLectin3D lectin classification system, 109 lectin sequence motifs were defined to screen 1223 species deposited in the genomic portal MycoCosm of the Joint Genome Institute. The resulting 33,485 putative lectin sequences are organized in MycoLec, a publicly available and searchable database. These results shed light on the evolution of the lectin gene families in fungi.

scholarly journals Orchid Bsister gene PeMADS28 displays conserved function in ovule integument development

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ching-Yu Shen ◽  
You-Yi Chen ◽  
Ke-Wei Liu ◽  
Hsiang-Chia Lu ◽  
Song-Bin Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arabidopsis Thaliana ◽  
Protein Interaction ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Flowering Plants ◽  
Complementation Test ◽  
Ovule Development ◽  
Mads Box ◽  
Temporal Expression ◽  
Protein Protein Interaction ◽  
Silique Length

AbstractThe ovules and egg cells are well developed to be fertilized at anthesis in many flowering plants. However, ovule development is triggered by pollination in most orchids. In this study, we characterized the function of a Bsister gene, named PeMADS28, isolated from Phalaenopsis equestris, the genome-sequenced orchid. Spatial and temporal expression analysis showed PeMADS28 predominantly expressed in ovules between 32 and 48 days after pollination, which synchronizes with integument development. Subcellular localization and protein–protein interaction analyses revealed that PeMADS28 could form a homodimer as well as heterodimers with D-class and E-class MADS-box proteins. In addition, ectopic expression of PeMADS28 in Arabidopsis thaliana induced small curled rosette leaves, short silique length and few seeds, similar to that with overexpression of other species’ Bsister genes in Arabidopsis. Furthermore, complementation test revealed that PeMADS28 could rescue the phenotype of the ABS/TT16 mutant. Together, these results indicate the conserved function of BsisterPeMADS28 associated with ovule integument development in orchid.

scholarly journals Structural and mechanistic basis for translation inhibition by macrolide and ketolide antibiotics

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bertrand Beckert ◽  
Elodie C. Leroy ◽  
Shanmugapriya Sothiselvam ◽  
Lars V. Bock ◽  
Maxim S. Svetlov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Sequence Motifs ◽  
Specific Sequence ◽  
Bacterial Ribosome ◽  
Translational Arrest ◽  
Exit Tunnel ◽  
Mechanistic Basis ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Context Specific

AbstractMacrolides and ketolides comprise a family of clinically important antibiotics that inhibit protein synthesis by binding within the exit tunnel of the bacterial ribosome. While these antibiotics are known to interrupt translation at specific sequence motifs, with ketolides predominantly stalling at Arg/Lys-X-Arg/Lys motifs and macrolides displaying a broader specificity, a structural basis for their context-specific action has been lacking. Here, we present structures of ribosomes arrested during the synthesis of an Arg-Leu-Arg sequence by the macrolide erythromycin (ERY) and the ketolide telithromycin (TEL). Together with deep mutagenesis and molecular dynamics simulations, the structures reveal how ERY and TEL interplay with the Arg-Leu-Arg motif to induce translational arrest and illuminate the basis for the less stringent sequence-specific action of ERY over TEL. Because programmed stalling at the Arg/Lys-X-Arg/Lys motifs is used to activate expression of antibiotic resistance genes, our study also provides important insights for future development of improved macrolide antibiotics.

scholarly journals Exogenous Application of Brassinosteroid 24-Norcholane 22(S)-23-Dihydroxy Type Analogs to Enhance Water Deficit Stress Tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 1158
Author(s):  
Katy Díaz ◽  
Luis Espinoza ◽  
Rodrigo Carvajal ◽  
Evelyn Silva-Moreno ◽  
Andrés F. Olea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arabidopsis Thaliana ◽  
Drought Stress ◽  
Stress Tolerance ◽  
Water Deficit ◽  
Alternative Pathway ◽  
Recovery Period ◽  
Homogeneous Solution ◽  
Water Deficit Stress ◽  
Marker Genes ◽  
Exogenous Application

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are plant hormones that play an essential role in plant development and have the ability to protect plants against various environmental stresses, such as low and high temperature, drought, heat, salinity, heavy metal toxicity, and pesticides. Mitigation of stress effects are produced through independent mechanisms or by interaction with other important phytohormones. However, there are few studies in which this property has been reported for BRs analogs. Thus, in this work, the enhancement of drought stress tolerance of A. thaliana was assessed for a series of 2-deoxybrassinosteroid analogs. In addition, the growth-promoting activity in the Rice Lamina Inclination Test (RLIT) was also evaluated. The results show that analog 1 exhibits similar growth activity as brassinolide (BL; used as positive control) in the RLIT bioassay. Interestingly, both compounds increase their activities by a factor of 1.2–1.5 when they are incorporated to polymer micelles formed by Pluronic F-127. On the other hand, tolerance to water deficit stress of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings was evaluated by determining survival rate and dry weight of seedlings after the recovery period. In both cases, the effect of analog 1 is higher than that exhibited by BL. Additionally, the expression of a subset of drought stress marker genes was evaluated in presence and absence of exogenous applied BRs. Results obtained by qRT-PCR analysis, indicate that transcriptional changes of AtDREBD2A and AtNCED3 genes were more significant in A. thaliana treated with analog 1 in homogeneous solution than in that treated with BL. These changes suggest the activation of alternative pathway in response to water stress deficit. Thus, exogenous application of BRs synthetic analogs could be a potential tool for improvement of crop production under stress conditions.

DNA—RNA hybridization

1975 ◽  
Vol 272 (915) ◽  
pp. 147-157 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acid ◽  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Nucleic Acid Hybridization ◽  
Biological Research ◽  
Specific Sequence ◽  
Different Populations ◽  
Higher Eukaryotes ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
Specific Sequences

Interest in nucleic acid hybridization stems mainly from its great power as a tool in biological research. It is used in several quite distinct ways. Because of the high degree of specificity that they show, hybridization techniques can be used to measure the amount of one specific sequence within a very heterogeneous mixture of sequences. Measurements of 1/10 6 -10 7 have been recorded. In extension of this, various properties of a specific sequence can often be studied. Secondly, because the kinetics of nucleic acid hybridization are quite well understood, it can be used to characterize both a pure sequence and a very complex mixture of sequences, like the genome of a vertebrate. Thirdly, again because of its specificity, it can be used to measure homologies between different populations of nucleic acids. Lastly, in conjunction with other techniques, it can be used as a basis for the fractionation of nucleic acid populations and the purification of specific sequences. Specific examples of these applications are given, with special reference to the organization of the genome in higher eukaryotes.

scholarly journals LATERAL FLORET 1 induced the three-florets spikelet in rice

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (37) ◽  
pp. 9984-9989 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting Zhang ◽  
Yunfeng Li ◽  
Ling Ma ◽  
Xianchun Sang ◽  
Yinghua Ling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Leucine Zipper ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Target Sequence ◽  
Class Iii ◽  
Rice Mutant ◽  
Inflorescence Structure ◽  
Meristem Maintenance ◽  
Floral Meristems ◽  
Sterile Lemma

The spikelet is a unique inflorescence structure in grass. The molecular mechanisms behind the development and evolution of the spikelet are far from clear. In this study, a dominant rice mutant, lateral florets 1 (lf1), was characterized. In the lf1 spikelet, lateral floral meristems were promoted unexpectedly and could generally blossom into relatively normal florets. LF1 encoded a class III homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-ZIP III) protein, and the site of mutation in lf1 was located in a putative miRNA165/166 target sequence. Ectopic expression of both LF1 and the meristem maintenance gene OSH1 was detected in the axil of the sterile lemma primordia of the lf1 spikelet. Furthermore, the promoter of OSH1 could be bound directly by LF1 protein. Collectively, these results indicate that the mutation of LF1 induces ectopic expression of OSH1, which results in the initiation of lateral meristems to generate lateral florets in the axil of the sterile lemma. This study thus offers strong evidence in support of the “three-florets spikelet” hypothesis in rice.

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