Characterisation and immunolocalisation of a pollen-specific calmodulin-binding protein from rice

2006 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiusheng Zhang ◽  
Jingjing Zhang ◽  
Daichang Yang ◽  
Yangsheng Li ◽  
Shaoqing Li ◽  
...  

A novel calmodulin (CaM)-binding protein of rice (Oryza sativa pollen CaM-binding protein, OsPCBP) was isolated. It contains six tetratrcopeptide repeats (TPRs) with a molecular mass of ~76.7 kDa. Database searches show that OsPCBP is conserved in monocots and dicots. The results from CaM–agarose pull-down assays show that OsPCBP binds to CaM in a Ca2+-dependent manner and its CaM-binding domain (CBD) is located in a segment VSKGWRLLALVLSAQQRY. Northern blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis have demonstrated that OsPCBP is a pollen-specific and late-expressed gene. Immunolocalisation showed that OsPCBP was localised in the amyloplast and intine during the late stage of pollen development. However, upon pollen hydration, there was some leakage of protein and the distribution of OsPCBP in the intine varied with the duration of hydration. After pollen germination, much OsPCBP was observed in the pollen tube wall. These results indicate the relationship of OsPCBP with starch accumulation and its involvement in pollen germination.

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-19
Author(s):  
Kuder Reshma Shabnam ◽  
Dharmapuri Gangappa ◽  
Gundala Harold Philip

Evaluation of the toxic effects of a widely used synthetic pyrethroid, deltamethrin (DM), was carried out in this study. This pesticide is preferred for pest control because of its low environmental persistence and toxicity. We investigated the expression pattern of four genes, namely, you ( you), yot ( you-too), momo ( mom) and ubo ( u-boot) during early development of zebrafish, that is, from 12 hpf to 48 hpf stages. These stages are selected as most of the important developmental aspects take place during this period. All four genes are known to play a vital role in development of notochord and somites. To understand the effect of DM on development, embryos of 4 hpf stage were exposed to two concentrations (100 and 200 µg/L) of DM, and observations were made at 12, 24 and 48 hpf stages. Our earlier studies have shown phenotypic abnormalities such as notochord bending, tail deformation, yolk sac and pericardial edema, lightening of body and eye pigmentation and interfered in somite patterning, during these stages of development. Understanding the relationship of phenotypic abnormalities with these four genes has been our primary objective. These four genes were analyzed by Reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction and intensity of the bands has shown induction in their expression after exposure to the toxicant. In spite of the expression of genes, it was noticed that DM caused abnormalities. It can be said from the results that translational pathway could have been affected.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (16) ◽  
pp. 8864
Author(s):  
Hongxi Chen ◽  
Mohammad Amjad Hossain ◽  
Jong-Hoon Kim ◽  
Jae Youl Cho

Kahweol is a diterpene present in coffee. Until now, several studies have shown that kahweol has anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic functions. Due to the limited research available about skin protection, this study aims to discern the potential abilities of kahweol and the possible regulation targets. First, the cytotoxicity of kahweol was checked by 3-4-5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2-5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, while 2,20-azino-bis (3ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt and 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl were used to examine the radical scavenging ability. Polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed to explore the proper time points and doses affecting skin hydration and barrier-related genes. Luciferase assay and Western blotting were used to explore the possible transcription factors. Finally, fludarabine (a STAT1 inhibitor) was chosen to discern the relationship between skin-moisturizing factors and STAT1. We found that HaCaT cells experienced no toxicity from kahweol, and kahweol displayed moderate radical scavenging ability. Moreover, kahweol increased the outcome of HAS1, HAS2, occludin, and TGM-1 from six hours in a dose-dependent manner as well as the activation of STAT1 from six hours. Additionally, kahweol recovered the suppression of HAS2, STAT1-mediated luciferase activity, and HA secretion, which was all downregulated by fludarabine. In this study, we demonstrated that kahweol promotes skin-moisturizing activities by upregulating STAT1.


Blood ◽  
1975 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 599-609 ◽  
Author(s):  
ER Eichner ◽  
CJ Paine ◽  
VL Dickson ◽  
MD Jr Hargrove

Abstract We studied the effect of serum folate-binding protein (FBP) on folate radioassays and the relationship of the serum level of unsaturated FBP to the serum folate level in various clinical states. Our modification of a heat-extracted radioassay was compared to a whole serum radioassay. Our results confirmed the existence of elevated serum levels of unsaturated FBP in some normal subjects, in some women taking oral contraceptives, and in most patients with uremia. Elevated levels of unsaturated FBP will produce falsely low results in folate radioassay unless the FBP has been destroyed by heat, as was done in the modified radioassay here presented. In normal and uremic subjects, serum folate and unsaturated FBP levels tended to correlate, whereas in patients taking large doses of folic acid the level of unsaturated FBP fell as the level of serum folate rose.


2009 ◽  
Vol 154 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-73.e1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Goodman ◽  
Timothy E. Graham ◽  
Lawrence M. Dolan ◽  
Stephen R. Daniels ◽  
Eric R. Goodman ◽  
...  

2006 ◽  
Vol 55 (12) ◽  
pp. 1675-1683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeya Nadarajah ◽  
Mark J. S. Lee ◽  
Lisa Louie ◽  
Latha Jacob ◽  
Andrew E. Simor ◽  
...  

Borderline oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (BORSA) exhibit oxacillin MIC values of 1–8 μg ml−1, but lack mecA, which encodes the low-affinity penicillin-binding protein (PBP)2a. The relationship of the BORSA phenotype with specific genetic backgrounds was assessed, as well as amino acid sequence variation in the normal PBP2. Among 38 BORSA, 26 had a common PFGE profile of genomic DNA, and were multilocus sequence type (ST)25. The other isolates were genetically diverse. Complete pbp2 sequences were determined for three BORSA, corresponding to ST25, ST1 and ST47, which were selected on the basis of lacking blaZ-encoded β-lactamase. The essential transpeptidase-domain-encoding segment of pbp2 was also sequenced from seven additional ST25 isolates. Amino acid substitutions occurred in the transpeptidase domain of all BORSA, irrespective of clonal type. A Gln629→Pro substitution was common to all ST25 BORSA, but most could be distinguished from one another by additional unique substitutions in the transpeptidase domain. The ST1 and ST47 isolates also possessed unique substitutions in the transpeptidase domain. Plasmid-mediated expression of pbp2 from an ST25 or ST1 isolate in S. aureus RN6390 increased its oxacillin MIC from 0.25 to 4 μg ml−1, while pbp2 from a susceptible strain, ATCC 25923, had no effect. Therefore, different amino acid substitutions in PBP2 of diverse BORSA lineages contribute to borderline resistance. The predominant ST25 lineage was not related to any of the five clonal complexes that contain meticillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), suggesting that ST25 cannot readily acquire mecA-mediated resistance.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Dulin ◽  
David L. V. Bauer ◽  
Anssi M. Malinen ◽  
Jacob J. W. Bakermans ◽  
Martin Kaller ◽  
...  

AbstractTranscription in bacteria is controlled by multiple molecular mechanisms that precisely regulate gene expression. Recently, initial RNA synthesis by the bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) has been shown to be interrupted by pauses; however, the pausing determinants and the relationship of pausing with productive and abortive RNA synthesis remain poorly understood. Here, we employed single-molecule FRET and biochemical analysis to disentangle the pausing-related pathways of bacterial initial transcription. We present further evidence that region σ3.2 constitutes a barrier after the initial transcribing complex synthesizes a 6-nt RNA (ITC6), halting transcription. We also show that the paused ITC6 state acts as a checkpoint that directs RNAP, in an NTP-dependent manner, to one of three competing pathways: productive transcription, abortive RNA release, or a new unscrunching/scrunching pathway that blocks transcription initiation. Our results show that abortive RNA release and DNA unscrunching are not as tightly coupled as previously thought.


2018 ◽  
Vol 156 (7) ◽  
pp. 888-899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiachun Zhou ◽  
Qiao Chen ◽  
Yang Zhang ◽  
Liqiang Fan ◽  
Zhen Qin ◽  
...  

AbstractChitooligosaccharides (COS) are multi-functional foods and nutrients and environmentally friendly biological abiotic-resistance inducing agents for plants. In the current study, the effects and possible mechanisms of COS on improving the cold resistance of rice (II YOU 1259) seedlings were investigated. Compared with the control, a COS pre-soaking treatment enhanced photosynthesis, reduced oxidation damage and led to accumulation of more osmotic regulation substances under chilling treatment. In addition, a novel Deg/HtrA family serine endopeptidase (DegQ) gene, related to COS enhanced rice cold resistance, was identified. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis revealed that transcription of DegQ and psbA (D1 protein encoding gene) were up-regulated in a time-dependent manner by COS treatment under cold stress. With increasing expression of the D1 protein, chlorophyll b content was enhanced correspondingly. The current results suggest that COS could enhance cold stress tolerance of rice by repairing the photodamaged photosystem II, altering osmotic regulation and reducing oxidation damage.


2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 251-255
Author(s):  
Yang Xiao-Hui ◽  
Liu Yuan ◽  
Tang Hui ◽  
Zhang Ning-Bo ◽  
Wu Ying ◽  
...  

AbstractMelanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is a member of the superfamily of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which affects body weight, energy homeostasis and food intake in humans and mice. In this study, the Asp298Asn polymorphism of the MC4R gene was investigated in Laiwu, Yorkshire×Laiwu and commercial cross-bred pig populations using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), and the relationship of this mutation with backfat thickness was analysed. The results indicated that only genotype 11 exists in 33 individuals of Laiwu pigs, and three genotypes (11, 12 and 22) were detected in Yorkshire×Laiwu and commercial cross-bred populations. The distributions of allele and genotype frequencies in Yorkshire×Laiwu and commercial cross-bred populations were similar, with the frequency of allele 1 being higher than that of allele 2. In commercial cross-bred pigs, the mean backfat thickness of individuals with genotype 22 was significantly higher than that of individuals with genotypes 12 (P<0.01) and 11 (P<0.05). This study provides evidence that the Asp298Asn polymorphism of the MC4R gene is associated with backfat thickness in commercial cross-bred pigs with Western pigs as parental lines and, therefore, can be used as a DNA marker for breeding in such populations of pigs.


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