Se Translocation Research Articles

SET-mediated Promoter Hypoacetylation Is a Prerequisite for Coactivation of the Estrogen-responsive pS2 Gene by PRMT1

Induction of transcription requires an ordered recruitment of coregulators and specific combinations of histone modifications at the promoter. Occurrence of histone H4 arginine (Arg) 3 methylation by protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) represents an early promoter event in ER (estrogen receptor)-regulated gene activation. However, its in vivo significance in ER signaling and the prerequisites for PRMT1 recruitment to promoters have not been established yet. We show here that endogenous PRMT1 is a crucial and non-redundant coactivator of ER-mediated pS2 gene induction in MCF7 cells. By investigating promoter requirements for PRMT1 recruitment we find that the patient SE translocation (SET) protein, which was reported to protect histone tails from acetylation, associates with the uninduced pS2 gene promoter and dissociates early upon estrogen treatment. Knockdown of SET or trichostatin A (TSA) treatment causes premature acetylation of H4 and abrogation of H4 Arg3 methylation at the pS2 gene promoter resulting in diminished transcriptional induction. Thus, SET prevents promoter acetylation and is a prerequisite for the initial acetylation-sensitive steps of pS2 gene activation, namely PRMT1 function. Similar to pS2 we identify lactoferrin as a PRMT1-dependent and TSA-sensitive ER target gene. In contrast, we find that the C3 gene, another ER target, is activated in a PRMT1-independent manner and that SET is involved in C3 gene repression. These findings establish the existence of PRMT1-dependent and -independent ER target genes and show that proteins guarding promoter hypoacetylation, like SET, execute a key function in the coactivation process by PRMT1.

Uptake and distribution of selenium in tomato plants as affected by genotype and sulphate supply

Aim of this work was to investigate if the variation among tomato genotypes in selenium (Se) uptake and accumulation observed in short term experiments are maintained over longer growth periods and if there is a positive correlation in shoot between sulphur (S) accumulation and Se accumulation across different genotypes or if higher tissue S results in greater feedback inhibition of Se uptake. Two experiments were carried out under greenhouse conditions and different genotypes of Lycopersicon lycopersicum (UC82B and LA2711), Lycopersicon pennellii (LA716) and Lycopersicon peruvianum (LA2157) were grown until fruit ripening. The results obtained in the two experiments confirmed that sulphate in the growth solution reduced selenate uptake by plants and increased the S content of the leaves. Under low sulphate treatment there was a clear correlation (R2=0.82) between leaf S content and shoot Se content across genotypes in both experiments, indicating that the overall activity of the S transport systems also determines Se transport. Selenium was translocated from shoot to fruit, but the edible portion of the plant contained much less total Se than the inedible plant parts. The difference in Se content between the low and the high sulphate treatments was significantly higher in shoot than in root, confirming that the Se translocation from root to shoot is probably more affected by high sulphate supply than Se uptake by root. In the first experiment the genotype LA716 showed ah higher Se, accumulation together with higher S content in leaves, indicating a marked ability of this genotype to absorb ions from substrate. In the second experiment UC82B appeared to be more capable to accumulate Se and S rather than LA2711 and LA2157. In both experiments Lycopersicon peruvianum appeared to be less affected by the high concentration of ions in the growth solution and to be able to reduce ion uptake than Lycopersicon lycopersicum and Lycopersicon pennellii.

Effects of Elevated Selenium and Salinity Concentrations in Root Zone on Selenium and Salt Secretion in Saltgrass ( Distichlis spicataL.)

The effects of elevated selenium (Se) and salinity concentrations in the root zone on Se and salt secretion and accumulation were studied for an inland (Kesterson) and a coastal (Bodega Bay) saltgrass in sand culture and under greenhouse conditions. The results of this study indicate that the secretory mechanism of the saltgrass exhibits high ion specificity. Plants of both ecotypes were more efficient at Cl −and Na +secretion than at SO 4 2−and Se secretion, suggesting that the saltgrass secretion mechanism is adapted primarily to saline environments high in NaCl. The saltgrass plants of the Kesterson ecotype secreted more Se than the Bodega Bay plants when treated with Se alone. However, the Bodega Bay plants secreted more Se than the Kesterson plants when the plants were treated with Se + NaCl. These differences reflect a ecotypical difference in which the Kesterson plants are more adaptive to the seleniferous soil, and the Bodega Bay plants are more adaptive to a coastal saline soil high in NaCl. Sulfate availability inhibited both Se accumulation and Se secretion in the plants of both ecotypes by approximately 98%. Ion secretion molar ratios of Na:Cl were calculated and the results suggest that Na +secretion is dependent on the availability of Cl −. Selenium was taken up by plants with little discrimination, and thus it may be regarded as a master of chemical mimicry sharing similar physical and chemical properties with sulfur (S). Selenium and salt accumulation indices and secretion efficiency indices were calculated and found that the accumulation indices were higher for Se than for S, suggesting that Se uptake may be more passive and less regulated by active transport than S. Secretion efficiency was much higher for Na +and Cl −than for Se and SO 4 2−, but the efficiency indices between ecotypes were comparable, suggesting that the secretion mechanism in this species is designed mainly for adaptation of high NaCl concentrations. About 85% of the secreted Se was found in selenate form. This finding suggests that the mechanism of Se translocation and Se secretion in the saltgrass resembles the movement of selenate in xylem found in nonhalophytic plants. Less than 15% of organic Se was detected in the secretions and only trace amount of selenite was detected. Overall, the Se secretion mechanism in saltgrass does not seem to contribute substantial Se speciation in the plant soil system.

Homicide investigative techniques : by Daniel J. Hughes Charles C. Thomas (301–327 East Lawrence Avenue, Springfield, Illinois 62703), 1974, 362 pp., hardcover—$16.75

The objective of the present study was to elucidate the effects of sulfur (S) application on selenium (Se) uptake and seed Se speciation in high-protein soybean (Glycine max L.) grown in different soil types.Pot experiments were conducted with soybean plants grown in yellow-brown soil (pH 5.68) and in calcareous alluvial soil (pH 7.87). Sodium selenate (Na2SeO4, 2 mg kg−1) was applied to soil with or without S fertilizer (S, 100 mg kg−1).Soybean grain yield and total biomass in calcareous alluvial soil were both approximately 1.3-fold the levels in yellow-brown soil. Following Se application, seed Se concentration in calcareous alluvial soil was 3.2-fold the concentration in yellow-brown soil, although additional S application reduced the corresponding seed Se concentrations by 55.6% and 38.6%, respectively. Generally, Se application facilitated Se translocation and enrichment in soybean seeds. Organic Se accounted for 92% of seed total Se and Se-methionine (>90%) was always the major Se species. Available Se (soluble and exchangeable fractions) accounted for 50.7% (yellow-brown soil) and 70.1% (calcareous alluvial soil) of soil total Se under Se treatment, while additional S application decreased the corresponding proportion of soluble Se by 12.6% and 14.4%.The bioavailability of selenate in calcareous alluvial soil was higher than the bioavailability in yellow-brown soil and was more negatively affected by S application. Although S application inhibited Se uptake in soybean plants in both soil types, it did not influence seed Se speciation and Se-methionine was the major Se species.