Exogenous Hormone Treatment Research Articles

Effects of Different Stress Treatments on the Total Terpene Trilactone Content and Expression Levels of Key Genes in Ginkgo biloba Leaves

As unique secondary metabolites of Ginkgo biloba L. and relics of Ginkgoaceae, terpene trilactones (TTLs) possess great medicinal value. In this study, we investigated the effects of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, cold stress (4 °C), and exogenous hormone treatment on TTLs and key genes expression in ginkgo leaves in annual potted ginkgo seedlings subjected to different stress treatments. The processing conditions were as follows: UV treatment (1500 μJ/m2) for 0, 8, 16, 24, and 48 h; cold stress at 4 °C, 400 µmol photons m−2 s−1; 100 μM abscisic acid (ABA); 100 μM methyl jasmonate (MeJA); 10 mM salicylic acid (SA); and 10 mM ethephon (ETH) treatments for 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 days. Results of evaporative light-scattering detector–high-performance liquid chromatography showed that UV, cold stress, ABA, SA, MeJA, and ETH treatments increased the TTL content at various levels and up to 21.9%. The relationships among the expression levels of the key enzyme genes GbDXS, GbGGPPS, GbLPS, and GbMVD in the TTL biosynthesis pathway were also analyzed. Changes in the TTL content and expression levels of the key genes were significantly and positively correlated with TTL content. UV, cold stress, ABA, SA, MeJA, and ETH were found to increase the TTL content by upregulating the expression of the key genes. This study aimed to reveal the molecular mechanism through which TTLs are synthesized. The results can also provide theoretical guidance for the application of treatment methods to increase TTL content.

Insights into the SAM Synthetase Gene Family and Its Roles in Tomato Seedlings under Abiotic Stresses and Hormone Treatments.

S-Adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) is a key enzyme involved in many important biological processes, such as ethylene and polyamine biosynthesis, transmethylation, and transsulfuration. Here, the SAM synthetase (SAMS) gene family was studied in ten different plants (Arabidopsis, tomato, eggplant, sunflower, Medicago truncatula, soybean, rice, barley, Triticum urartu and sorghum) with respect to its physical structure, physicochemical characteristics, and post-transcriptional and post-translational modifications. Additionally, the expression patterns of SAMS genes in tomato were analyzed based on a real-time quantitative PCR assay and an analysis of a public expression dataset. SAMS genes of monocots were more conserved according to the results of a phylogenetic analysis and the prediction of phosphorylation and glycosylation patterns. SAMS genes showed differential expression in response to abiotic stresses and exogenous hormone treatments. Solyc01g101060 was especially expressed in fruit and root tissues, while Solyc09g008280 was expressed in leaves. Additionally, our results revealed that exogenous BR and ABA treatments strongly reduced the expression of tomato SAMS genes. Our research provides new insights and clues about the role of SAMS genes. In particular, these results can inform future functional analyses aimed at revealing the molecular mechanisms underlying the functions of SAMS genes in plants.

The grape ubiquitin ligase VpRH2 is a negative regulator in response to ABA treatment.

Ubiquitin ligase VpRH2 is a negative regulator in the grape ABA pathway by inhibiting ABL1, PYR1 and GRP2A expressions, and its promoter is inhibited by ABA treatment. In higher plants, ubiquitin ligases play key roles in various cellular processes. As in our previous study (Wang et al. in J Exp Bot 68:1669-1687, 2017), grape RING-H2-type ubiquitin ligase gene VpRH2 and its promoter was induced by powdery mildew and showed resistance to the disease. Diverse small-molecule hormones, like salicylic acid (SA), methyl jasmonate (MeJA) or abscisic acid (ABA), play pivotal roles in plant resistance. Here we found that VpRH2 expression could be induced by SA and MeJA treatment, but inhibited by ABA treatment. The promoter of VpRH2 revealed a similar variation trend under exogenous hormone treatments as the gene expression by GUS activity assay. By a series of deletion fragments, the promoter fragment of VpRH2-P656 to VpRH2-P513 was necessary in response to MeJA treatment, and the inhibition of ABA treatment to the VpRH2 promoter was independent of the ABRE motif. Over-expression of VpRH2 in Arabidopsis thaliana plants displayed ABA-insensitive phenotypes at the germination stage compared to wild type plants. In VpRH2 over-expressing Vitis vinifera cv. Thompson Seedless plants after ABA treatments, the expression of the ABA pathway related genes ABL1 and PYR1 showed a suppresive trend. Moreover, VpGRP2A (an VpRH2-interacting protein) also showed a suppresive trend in response to ABA treatment in VpRH2-overexpressing plants. Our results demonstrate that VpRH2 is a negative regulator in the grape ABA signal pathway by inhibiting ABL1, PYR1 and GRP2A expressions, and its promoter was also inhibited by ABA treatment.

Artificial lactation by exogenous hormone treatment in non-pregnant sows.

This study aimed to determine if lactation can be induced by exogenous hormonal treatment in non-pregnant sows. In experiment 1, pseudopregnant animals were divided into four groups and given: 1) 5 mg of estradiol dipropionate (EDP) 5 days before (n = 4), 2) 5 mg of EDP 10 days before (n = 3), 3) 10 mg of EDP 5 days before (n = 3) or 4) 10 mg of EDP 10 days (n = 3) before PGF2α treatment. Artificial lactation was induced in seven pseudopregnant sows (53.8%) by exogenous hormonal treatment. There was no significant effect of either an increased EDP dosage or interval from the EDP treatment to PGF2α treatment on the induction rate of artificial lactation. In experiment 2, milk samples were collected from artificial lactating and natural lactating sows (n = 6). IgG and IgA levels in the milk collected from both groups were significantly associated with time during the experimental period. Milk IgG levels 24 h after PGF2α treatment in artificial lactating sows were higher than those in the colostrum of lactating sows. In experiment 3, hormonal profiles in pseudopregnant sows with (n = 3) or without (n = 3) EDP treatment were determined. There was a significant difference in estradiol-17β levels on days 8, 7 and 5 before PGF2α treatment between groups. Progesterone and prolactin concentrations did not differ between groups. The present study revealed for the first time that lactation could be induced by exogenous hormonal treatment in non-pregnant sows and that the milk collected from these sows contained high immunoglobulin levels.

ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 3 suppresses plant de novo root regeneration from leaf explants and mediates age-regulated regeneration decline.

Powerful regeneration ability enables plant survival when plants are wounded. For example, adventitious roots can regenerate from the cutting site in detached Arabidopsis thaliana leaf explants, even in the absence of any exogenous plant hormone treatment. This process is known as de novo root regeneration (DNRR). Although the developmental program underlying DNRR is known, the precise regulatory mechanisms underlying DNRR are not completely understood. Here, we show that ethylene treatment or genetic activation of transcription factor ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 3 (EIN3) strongly suppresses DNRR rates, while a mutant lacking EIN3 and its homolog EIL1 (ein3 eil1) displays a higher DNRR capacity. Previous reports have shown that the sequential induction of WUSCHEL RELATED HOMEOBOX11 (WOX11)/WOX12 and WOX5/WOX7 expression is required for the establishment of DNRR. We found that EIN3 directly targets WOX11 and WOX5 promoter regions to suppress their transcription. Furthermore, older plants show enhanced EIN3 activity, and repressed expression of WOX11 and WOX5 Taken together, these results illustrate that plant aging at least partially takes advantage of EIN3 as a negative regulator to suppress DNRR through inhibiting the activation of WOX genes.

Hormonal induction of spermiation in a Eurasian bufonid (Epidalea calamita)

BackgroundAmphibian diversity is declining at an alarming rate due to habitat loss, invasive species, climate change and diseases. Captive assurance colonies have been established for some species at risk; however, many species do not breed well in captivity and the development of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) is critical to help sustain genetic diversity. To date, the majority of the work has been accomplished in species from the American continent and Australia, and there is a need to address similar breeding challenges in Eurasian and African species of amphibians.MethodsThe aim of this study was to develop a hormone protocol for stimulation of spermiation in Epidalea calamita as a model for Eurasian bufonids. Hence, the effect on sperm production and quality of three doses of chorionic gonadotropin hormone (5, 10 and 15 IU hCG/g) over time (1 to 24 h) was evaluated. In addition, cold storage (at 5 °C) of sperm for 24 and 48 h and three frequencies for hormonal treatment (weekly, biweekly and monthly) were examined.ResultsHormone concentrations of 10 or 15 IU of hCG induced spermiation in 100% of males and produced sperm of comparable quality, while 5 IU hCG stimulated spermiation in only 40% of males. Total motility peaked between 1 to 4 h post-treatment with 10 IU hCG, whereas treatment with 15 IU hCG peaked between 2 to 6 h. After 24 h of cold storage total motility dropped by 20% and forward motility dropped by 10% for both the 10 and 15 IU treatments. Weekly hormone administration resulted in higher variation between trials in all motility parameters and a lower overall Total Motility and Forward Movement. Furthermore, the effect of exogenous hormone treatment overlapped between the last two trials in the weekly frequency. Sperm concentration was higher in the first trial for all frequencies but showed no differences among other trials.ConclusionsOverall, these results show that hormone concentration, time after treatment, frequency of hormone treatment and cold storage should be borne in mind when developing a hormone stimulation protocol for Eurasian amphibian species.

Characterization and Mapping of a Novel Premature Leaf Senescence Mutant in Common Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.).

As the last stage of plant development, leaf senescence has a great impact on plant’s life cycle. Genetic manipulation of leaf senescence has been used as an efficient approach in improving the yield and quality of crop plants. Here we describe an ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis induced premature leaf senescence mutant yellow leaf 1 (yl1) in common tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.). The yl1 plants displayed early leaf yellowing. Physiological parameters and marker genes expression indicated that the yl1 phenotype was caused by premature leaf senescence. Genetic analyses indicated that the yl1 phenotype was controlled by a single recessive gene that was subsequently mapped to a specific interval of tobacco linkage group 11 using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Exogenous plant hormone treatments of leaves showed that the yl1 mutant was more sensitive to ethylene and jasmonic acid than the wild type. No similar tobacco premature leaf senescence mutants have been reported. This study laid a foundation for finding the gene controlling the mutation phenotype and revealing the molecular regulation mechanism of tobacco leaf senescence in the next stage.

Genome-Wide Analysis of Dynamin Gene Family in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and Transcriptional Regulation of Family Members ARC5 in Hormonal Treatments.

The Dynamin gene family play a significance role in many physiological processes, especially ARC5 (Accumulation and replication of chloroplasts 5) in the process of plastid division. We performed a genome-wide analysis of the cassava Dynamin family based on the published cassava genome sequence and identified ARC5. 23 cassava Dynamins (MeDynamins) were identified and renamed. 23 MeDynamins were further divided into five major groups based on their structural and phylogenetic characteristics. The segmental duplication events have a significant impact on the expansion of MeDynamins. ARC5 expression analysis showed that there were differences between leaves and roots of cassava at different developmental stages. The tissue-specific expression analysis of the MeDynamins showed that most of MeDynamins were expressed in stem apical meristem and embryogenesis, whereas ARC5 was mainly expressed in leaves. The processing of IAA (Indole-3-acetic Acid) and MeJA (Methyl Jasmonate) verified the prediction results of cis-elements, and ACR5 was closely related to plant growth and positively correlated. It also indicated that high concentrations of MeJA treatment caused the cassava defense mechanism to function in advance. In conclusion, these findings provide basic insights for functional validation of the ARC5 genes in exogenous hormonal treatments.

A preliminary experiment regarding the natural induction of gonadal development in female Japanese eels without hormone treatment

To test whether gonadal development of female eels could be promoted without any exogenous hormone treatments, we observed the effect of water temperature manipulation. After 3–5 months of water temperature treatments, three silver eels showed higher gonadosomatic indices (GSI). In particular, one eel in the 5–15°C fluctuating temperature treatment group (5°C daytime and 15°C night‐time) had the highest GSI of 8.5 with secondary yolk globule stage oocytes of large diameter (OD; 412 μm) after 3 months, which indicated definite gonadal development compared with those in the initial states (mean GSI, 2.4; OD, 226.7 μm). The 5–15°C fluctuating temperature and constant 5°C groups had low oocyte breakdown (atretic) rates. Because daily temperature fluctuations and cold daytime water are experienced by vertically migrating silver eels in the ocean, these temperature conditions may be key maturation process components that could be useful for hormone‐free artificial maturation.

Evaluation of suitable reference genes in Brassica juncea and its wild relative Camelina sativa for qRT-PCR analysis under various stress conditions

Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) is an efficient method to estimate the gene expression levels but the accuracy of its result largely depends on the stability of the reference gene. Many studies have reported considerable variation in the expression of reference genes (RGs) in different tissue and conditions. Therefore, screening for appropriate RGs with stable expression is crucial for functional analysis of the target gene. Two closely related crucifers Brassica juncea (cultivated) and Camelina sativa (wild) respond differently towards various abiotic and biotic stress where C. sativa exhibits higher tolerance to various stress. Comparative gene expression analysis of the target genes between two such species is the key approach to understand the mechanism of a plant’s response to stress. However, using an unsuitable RG can lead to misinterpretation of expression levels of the target gene in such studies. In this investigation, the stability of seven candidate RGs including traditional housekeeping genes (HKGs) and novel candidate RGs were identified across diverse sample sets of B. juncea and C. sativa representing- hormone treated, wounded, Alternaria brassicae inoculated and combination treated samples (exogenous hormone treatment followed by A. brassicae inoculation). In this investigation, we identified stable RGs in both the species and the most suitable RGs to perform an unbiased comparative gene expression analysis between B. juncea and C. sativa. Results revealed that TIPS41 and PP2A were identified as the overall best performing RGs in both the species. However, the most suitable RG for each sample subset representing different condition must be individually selected. In Hormone treated and wounded samples TIPS41 expressed stably in both the species and in A. brassicae inoculated and combination treatment performance of PP2A was the best. In this study, for the first time, we have identified and validated stable reference gene in C. sativa for accurate normalization of gene expression data.

Risk factors of neurovascular ageing in women.

Biological sex and changes in sex hormones throughout life influence all aspects of health and disease. In women, changes in sex hormonal status reflect ovarian function, pregnancy and the use of exogenous hormonal treatments. Longitudinal data from defined cohorts of women will help to identify mechanisms by which the hormonal milieu contributes to cerebrovascular ageing, brain structure and ultimately cognition. This review summarises the phenotypes of three cohorts of women identified through the medical records‐linkage system of the Rochester Epidemiology Project and the Mayo Clinic Specialized Center of Research Excellence (SCORE) on Sex Differences: (i) menopausal women with histories of normotensive or hypertensive pregnancies; (ii) women who had bilateral oophorectomy ≤45 years of age; and (iii) women who experienced natural menopause and used menopausal hormone treatments for 4 years. Data from these cohorts will influence the design of follow‐up studies concerning how sex hormonal status affects neurovascular ageing in women.

Evaluation of cutting diameter and hormones for clonal propagation of Bambusa balcooa Roxb.

ABSTRACTThe effects of cutting diameter and exogenous hormone treatments on rooting were studied in this experiment to improve the efficiency of cutting propagation in Bambusa balcooa. The cuttings of different diameter class and hormone types significantly affected rooting percent. The cuttings of 12–14 cm diameter class treated with 200 ppm indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) recorded with optimum rooting success of 88.4% followed by 10–12 cm and 8–10 cm diameter class. Similarly, the cuttings of 12–14 cm diameter class also recorded with maximum shoot length of 204 cm treated with IBA followed by 10–12 cm and 8–10 cm diameter class produced shoot of 132.2 cm and 93.75 cm length, respectively. However, the cuttings of 8–10 cm diameter class with IBA treatment ranked next to 12–14 cm diameter class and recorded with 20.91 and 35.62 cm for root number and root length, respectively. In the present paper, the effect of cutting diameter on rooting efficiency is discussed and an optimal cutting diameter is suggested, which provide valuable information for propagating Bambusa balcooa.

Molecular identification and expression of sesquiterpene pathway genes responsible for patchoulol biosynthesis and regulation in Pogostemon cablin

BackgroundMany commercially important drug and flavor compounds are secondary metabolites of terpenoid origin. Pogostemon cablin, a commercially important industrial and medicinal crop, accumulates abundant patchouli oil comprised of more than 24 unique sesquiterpene compounds, with the most abundant being patchouli alcohol.ResultsIn this study, we analyzed the P. cablin transcriptome library, obtaining 74 terpenoid biosynthesis-related genes, and identified their expression patterns in leaves, stems, and flowers. These genes are members of 15 different families, and we detected all the enzymes involved in the sesquiterpenes pathway that are responsible for patchoulol biosynthesis. Sequence structure, homology, conserved domain properties, and phylogeny of certain identified genes were systematically investigated. Color complementation assay was used to verify the functional activity of the MEP pathway proteins. Exogenous hormone treatment revealed that patchoulol synthesis is induced by methyl jasmonate (MeJA). Quantitative reverse-transcription PCR analysis indicated that the MVA pathway genes (acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, mevalonate diphosphate decarboxylase, and farnesyl diphosphate synthase) participate in patchoulol biosynthesis and are mediated by MeJA.ConclusionsTaken together, this is the first report of integrated analysis of P. cablin MVA and MEP pathway related genes, providing a better understanding of terpenoid and/or patchoulol biosynthesis in P. cablin, and the basis for improving patchoulol production through genetic engineering.

Transcriptome and hormone analyses provide insights into hormonal regulation in strawberry ripening.

The possible molecular mechanisms regulating strawberry fruit ripening were revealed by plant hormone quantification, exogenous hormone application, and RNA-sequencing. Fruit ripening involves a complex interplay among plant hormones. Strawberry is a model for studies on non-climacteric fruit ripening. However, the knowledge on how plant hormones are involved in strawberry ripening is still limited. To understand hormonal actions in the ripening process, we performed genome-wide transcriptome and hormonal analysis for the five major hormones (abscisic acid and catabolites, auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, and ethylene) in achenes and receptacles (flesh) at different ripening stages of the woodland strawberry Fragaria vesca. Our results demonstrate that the pre-turning stage (a stage with white flesh and red achenes defined in this study) is the transition stage from immature to ripe fruits. The combinatorial analyses of hormone content, transcriptome data, and exogenous hormone treatment indicate that auxin is synthesized predominantly in achenes, while abscisic acid (ABA), bioactive free base cytokinins, gibberellins, and ethylene are mainly produced in receptacles. Furthermore, gibberellin may delay ripening, while ethylene and cytokinin are likely involved at later stages of the ripening process. Our results also provide additional evidence that ABA promotes ripening, while auxin delays it. Although our hormone analysis demonstrates that the total auxin in receptacles remains relatively low and unchanged during ripening, our experimental evidence further indicates that ABA likely enhances expression of the endoplasmic reticulum-localized auxin efflux carrier PIN-LIKES, which may subsequently reduce the auxin level in nucleus. This study provides a global picture for hormonal regulation of non-climacteric strawberry fruit ripening and also evidence for a possible mechanism of ABA and auxin interaction in the ripening process.

Overexpression of a Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase SlMAPK3 Positively Regulates Tomato Tolerance to Cadmium and Drought Stress.

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) activation is a common defense response of plants to a range of abiotic stressors. SlMPK3, a serine-threonine protein kinase, has been reported as an important member of protein kinase cascade that also functions on plant stress tolerance. In this study, we cloned SlMPK3 from tomato and studied its role in cadmium (Cd2+) and drought tolerance. The results showed that transcripts of SlMAPK3 differentially accumulated in various plant tissues and were remarkably induced by different abiotic stressors and exogenous hormone treatments. Overexpression of SlMAPK3 increased tolerance to Cd2+ and drought as reflected by an increased germination rate and improved seedling growth. Furthermore, transgenic plants overexpressing SlMAPK3 showed an increased leaf chlorophyll content, root biomass accumulation and root activity under Cd2+ stress. Chlorophyll fluorescence analysis revealed that transgenic plants demonstrated an increased photosynthetic activity as well as contents of chlorophyll, proline, and sugar under drought stress. Notably, cadmium- and drought-induced oxidative stress was substantially attenuated in SlMAPK3 overexpressing plants as evidenced by lower malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide accumulation, and increased activity and transcript abundance of enzymatic antioxidants under stress conditions compared to that of wild-type. Our findings provide solid evidence that overexpression of SlMAPK3 gene in tomato positively regulates tolerance to Cd2+ and drought stress, which may have strengthen the molecular understanding of SlMAPK3 gene to improve abiotic stress tolerance.

GhCyP3 improves the resistance of cotton to Verticillium dahliae by inhibiting the E3 ubiquitin ligase activity of GhPUB17

A U-box E3 ubiquitin ligase GhPUB17 is inhibited by GhCyP3 with antifungal activity and acts as a negative regulator involved in cotton resistance to Verticillium dahliae. E3 ubiquitin ligases, the key component enzymes of the ubiquitin-proteasome system, which contains the most diverse structural and functional members involved in the determination of target specificity and the regulation of metabolism, have been well documented in previous studies. Here, we identify GhPUB17, a U-box E3 ligase in cotton that has ubiquitination activity and is involved in the cotton immune response to Verticillium dahliae. The expression level of GhPUB17 is downregulated in the ssn mutant with a constitutively activated immune response (Sun et al., Nat Commun 5:5372, 2014). Infection with V. dahliae or exogenous hormone treatment, including jasmonic acid and salicylic acid, significantly upregulated GhPUB17 in cotton roots, which suggested a possible role for this E3 ligase in the plant immune response to pathogens. Moreover, GhPUB17-knockdown cotton plants are more resistant to V. dahliae, whereas GhPUB17-overexpressing plants are more susceptible to the pathogen, which indicated that GhPUB17 is a negative regulator of cotton resistance to V. dahliae. A yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) assay identified GhCyP3 as a protein that interacts with GhPUB17, and this finding was confirmed by further protein interaction assays. The downregulation of GhCyP3 in cotton seedlings attenuated the plants' resistance to V. dahliae. In addition, GhCyP3 showed antifungal activity against V. dahliae, and the E3 ligase activity of GhPUB17 was repressed by GhCyP3 in vitro. These results suggest that GhPUB17 negatively regulates cotton immunity to V. dahliae and that the antifungal protein GhCyP3 likely interacts with and inhibits the ligase activity of GhPUB17 and plays an important role in the cotton-Verticillium interaction.

Marsupials: Progress and Prospects.

The chapter provides a review of the application of reproductive science to technologies for marsupial conservation and population management and discusses prospects for the future. This includes the status of technologies such as sperm freezing, artificial insemination, and exogenous hormone treatments to stimulate ovarian activity and cycling in the female. Fertility-based population management for introduced pest species and over-abundant native marsupials remain an elusive goal. Immune-contraceptive approaches, despite demonstration of basic effectiveness, have not progressed to field deliverable agents. Emerging genetic technologies such as gene drives offer great promise, but gene modifications face major challenges to be broadly accepted both socially and politically. A main theme is the potential advantages, both genetic and economic, of integrating frozen stored genomic material, such as sperm, into the captive breeding component of threatened species strategies. However, the sperm of many marsupial species display no or very poor recovery of motility on thawing. For this reason, it is proposed that the traditional assisted breeding paradigm for conservation-cervical artificial insemination with thawed frozen sperm, based on cattle breeding-is not a viable default strategy. Rather, techniques such as sperm injection and emerging stem cell technologies that utilize stored frozen cells, and in the case of sperm, immotile cells, are better candidates for the development of a more generic approach. In addition, this change in focus encourages wide scale proactive genome storage when genetic diversity is greatest, without the need to demonstrate success in traditional sperm cryopreservation and thawing. However, the promise of the potential of reproductive science to conservation and non-lethal population management is problematic without far greater recognition of, and investment in, the needs of wildlife by society.

Wheat TaMs1 is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored lipid transfer protein necessary for pollen development

BackgroundIn flowering plants, lipid biosynthesis and transport within anthers is essential for male reproductive success. TaMs1, a dominant wheat fertility gene located on chromosome 4BS, has been previously fine mapped and identified to encode a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored non-specific lipid transfer protein (nsLTP). Although this gene is critical for pollen exine development, details of its function remains poorly understood.ResultsIn this study, we report that TaMs1 is only expressed from the B sub-genome, with highest transcript abundance detected in anthers containing microspores undergoing pre-meiosis through to meiosis. β-glucuronidase transcriptional fusions further revealed that TaMs1 is expressed throughout all anther cell-types. TaMs1 was identified to be expressed at an earlier stage of anther development relative to genes reported to be necessary for sporopollenin precursor biosynthesis. In anthers missing a functional TaMs1 (ms1c deletion mutant), these same genes were not observed to be mis-regulated, indicating an independent function for TaMs1 in pollen development. Exogenous hormone treatments on GUS reporter lines suggest that TaMs1 expression is increased by both indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA). Translational fusion constructs showed that TaMs1 is targeted to the plasma membrane.ConclusionsIn summary, TaMs1 is a wheat fertility gene, expressed early in anther development and encodes a GPI-LTP targeted to the plasma membrane. The work presented provides a new insight into the process of wheat pollen development.

Prospective Study of Endogenous Hormones and Incidence of Venous Thromboembolism: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

Exogenous hormone treatments in women (oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy [HRT]) are established risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE), but less is known about associations between plasma levels of endogenous hormones and VTE risk. We examined the association of baseline dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) with risk of future VTE in men and post-menopausal women in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. Testosterone, DHEAS and SHBG were measured in plasma samples collected in 1996 to 1998. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios for incident VTE adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, body mass index, height, smoking, estimated glomerular filtration rate and C-reactive protein. All analyses were stratified by sex and by current HRT use in women. Among 3,051 non-HRT-using women, 1,414 HRT-using women and 3,925 men at risk at baseline, 184, 62 and 206 experienced incident VTE after a median follow-up of 17.6 years. Plasma hormones were not associated with incidence of VTE among men and non-HRT-using women, although lower plasma DHEAS, when modelled using quartiles or restricted cubic splines, was associated with higher risk of VTE among HRT-using women. This study does not support the existence of an important association between plasma concentrations of endogenous testosterone, DHEAS or SHBG with risk of VTE in middle-aged to older men or post-menopausal women not using HRT.

Genome-wide identification, phylogeny analysis, expression profiling, and determination of protein-protein interactions of the LEUNIG gene family members in tomato

Members of the LEUNIG gene family have recently emerged as key players in gene repression, affecting several developmental mechanisms in plants, especially flower development. LEUNIG proteins function via recruiting adaptor SEUSS proteins. Nevertheless, no systematic studies on the LEUNIG and SEUSS gene families have been undertaken in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum, a fleshy fruit-bearing model plant, belonging to the Solanaceae family). Here, we present the results of a genome-wide analysis of tomato LEUNIG and SEUSS genes. In our study, we identified three SlLUG and four SlSEU genes. All three SlLUG full-length proteins contained the LEUNIG canonical domains (LUFS and two WD40 repeats), and the four full-length SlSEU genes contained the Lim-binding domain. All the members of the SlLUG and SlSEU family proteins were localized to the nucleus. All the SlSEU and SlLUG genes were detected in the tomato tissues tested. Expression analysis showed that the SlLUGs and SlSEUs exhibited tissue-specific expression, and that they responded to exogenous plant hormone and stress treatment. Protein-protein interaction analysis showed that only SlLUGs, but not SlSEUs, interacted with SlYABBY. Only a weak interaction between SlLUG1 and SlSEU3 was observed among all the SlLUG and SlSEU proteins. Taken together, these findings may help elucidate the roles played by SlLUG and SlSEU family members in plant growth and development.