Rapid estrogen receptor-α signaling mediated by ERK activation regulates vascular tone in male and ovary-intact female mice.

Estrogen has been shown to affect vascular reactivity. Here, we assessed the estrogen receptor-α (ERα) dependency of estrogenic effects on vasorelaxation via a rapid nongenomic pathway in both male and ovary-intact female mice. We compared the effect of a primary estrogen, 17β-estradiol (E) or 4,4',4″-(4-propyl-[1H]pyrazole-1,3,5-triyl)tris-phenol (PPT; selective ERα agonist).

A Strategic Plan for Integrating ICD-10 in Your Practice and Workflow.

The adoption of the International Classification of Disease (ICD) 10th Revision (ICD-10) diagnosis code set in the United States has been legislatively delayed several times with the most recent date for implementation set for October 1, 2015. The transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 will be a major undertaking that will require a substantial amount of planning. In the following article, we outline the steps to develop and implement a strategic plan for the transition to the new code set, identify training needs throughout the practice, and review the challenges and opportunities associated with the transition to ICD-10.

Empathic exchanges in online cancer support groups: distinguishing message expression and reception effects.

Past studies on the efficacy of participation in online cancer support groups have primarily focused on the role of expression in the accrual of health benefits for participants. Unfortunately, few steps have been taken to determine whether this observed effect arises solely from the internal mental processes underlying the act of expressing or, perhaps, owes something to a nuanced, multidimensional understanding of expression that includes reception of responses to what is expressed. To test for the multilayered effect, we attend to one of the key concepts in the online support community scholarship: empathy.

A genome-wide screen for beta-catenin binding sites identifies a downstream enhancer element that controls c-Myc gene expression.

Mutations in components of the Wnt signaling pathway initiate colorectal carcinogenesis by deregulating the beta-catenin transcriptional coactivator. beta-Catenin activation of one target in particular, the c-Myc proto-oncogene, is required for colon cancer pathogenesis. beta-Catenin is known to regulate c-Myc expression via sequences upstream of the transcription start site.

Localization of TFIIB binding regions using serial analysis of chromatin occupancy.

Background: RNA Polymerase II (RNAP II) is recruited to core promoters by the pre-initiation complex (PIC) of general transcription factors. Within the PIC, transcription factor for RNA polymerase IIB (TFIIB) determines the start site of transcription. TFIIB binding has not been localized, genome-wide, in metazoans.

Serial analysis of chromatin occupancy identifies beta-catenin target genes in colorectal carcinoma cells.

Most instances of colorectal cancer are due to abnormalities in the Wnt signaling pathway, resulting in nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin. beta-Catenin activates transcription of target genes primarily by associating with the T cell factor/lymphoid enhancer-binding factor (TCF/Lef) family of transcription factors. In this report, we use serial analysis of chromatin occupancy (SACO) to identify 412 high-confidence beta-catenin targets in HCT116 colorectal carcinoma cells.

An antisense transcript induced by Wnt/beta-catenin signaling decreases E2F4.

Wnt signaling induces the nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin and transcription of specific target genes via the DNA-binding proteins TCF/Lef. Although all known beta-catenin target genes encode proteins, genome-wide RNA profiling studies indicate that many transcripts do not have this capability. Transcription factor-binding sites associated with these noncoding transcripts can be identified using unbiased techniques such as serial analysis of chromatin occupancy (SACO).

Shade-Induced Action Potentials in Helianthus annuus L. Originate Primarily from the Epicotyl.

Repeated observations that shading (a drastic reduction in illumination rate) increased the generation of spikes (rapidly reversed depolarizations) in leaves and stems of many cucumber and sunflower plants suggests a phenomenon widespread among plant organs and species. Although shaded leaves occasionally generate spikes and have been suggested to trigger systemic action potentials (APs) in sunflower stems, we never found leaf-generated spikes to propagate out of the leaf and into the stem. On the contrary, our data consistently implicate the epicotyl as the location where most spikes and APs (propagating spikes) originate.

Two callose synthases, GSL1 and GSL5, play an essential and redundant role in plant and pollen development and in fertility.

Callose, a beta-1,3-glucan that is widespread in plants, is synthesized by callose synthase. Arabidopsis thaliana contains a family of 12 putative callose synthase genes (GSL1-12). The role of callose and of the individual genes in plant development is still largely uncertain.

Decrement and amplification of slow wave potentials during their propagation in Helianthus annuus L. shoots.

Slow wave potentials (SWPs) are transitory depolarizations occurring in response to treatments that result in a pressure increase in the xylem conduits (P(x)). Here SWPs are induced by excision of the root under water in 40- to 50-cm-tall light-grown sunflower plants in order to determine the effective signal range to a naturally sized pressure signal. The induced slow wave depolarization appears to move up the stem while it is progressively decremented (i.

Long-distance signaling within Coleus x hybridus leaves; mediated by changes in intra-leaf CO2?

Rapid long-distance signaling in plants can occur via several mechanisms, including symplastic electric coupling and pressure waves. We show here in variegated Coleus leaves a rapid propagation of electrical signals that appears to be caused by changes in intra-leaf CO2 concentrations. Green leaf cells, when illuminated, undergo a rapid depolarization of their membrane potential (Vm) and an increase in their apoplastic pH (pHa) by a process that requires photosynthesis.

Chlorophyll is not the primary photoreceptor for the stimulation of P-type H+ pump and growth in variegated leaves of Coleus x hybridus.

There has been persisting controversy over the role of photosynthesis in the stimulation of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase and growth of dicotyledonous leaves by light. To investigate this, we compared the effects of light on growth, H+ net efflux and membrane potential (Vm) of strips which contained either only chlorophyll-free (white) mesophyll cells or chlorophyll-containing (green) cells cut from variegated Coleus leaves. White mesophyll cells responded to white, blue and red light with a hyperpolarization of Vm, an acidification of the apoplast and a promotion of growth, all of which began after a lag of 2-7 min.

Voltammetric detection of superoxide production by photosystem II.

Oxygen radicals play both pathological and physiological roles in biological systems. The detection of such radicals is difficult due to their transient nature and the presence of highly efficient antioxidant mechanisms. In plants the physiological role of oxygen is twofold, oxygen is produced by the oxidation of water and consumed as an electron acceptor.

Characteristics and implications of prolonged fusicoccin-induced growth of Avena coleoptile sections.

A study has been made of the prolonged growth of Avena coleoptile sections in response to fusicoccin (FC), a phytotoxin that promotes apoplastic acidification. The final amount of FC-induced growth is a function of the FC concentration. Removal of the epidermis speeds up the initial rate of elongation and shortens the duration of the response, without affecting the total amount of extension.

Temperature and salt optimization of kappa-carrageenan fractionation by DEAE-cellulose.

Carrageenans play an important role in many medical and food technology applications. However, the study of their properties has been hampered by a lack of well-defined samples (fractions). In this paper, a new principle is presented by which well-defined fractions can be obtained.

Modulation of Fusicoccin-Binding Protein Activity in Mung Bean (Vigna radiata L.) Hypocotyls by Tissue Maturation and by Fusicoccin.

The phytotoxin fusicoccin (FC), after binding to a plasma membrane-localized receptor, causes higher plant cells to excrete protons. Ligand-binding analysis has been used to show that the plasma membrane of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) hypocotyls contains both high-affinity (HA) and low-affinity (LA) binding sites for FC.

Plasmodesmal-mediated cell-to-cell transport in wheat roots is modulated by anaerobic stress.

Cell-to-cell transport of small molecules and ions occurs in plants through plasmodesmata. Plant roots are frequently subjected to localized anaerobic stress, with a resultant decrease in ATP. In order to determine the effect of this stress on plasmodesmal transport, fluorescent dyes of increasing molecular weight (0.

Photosystem I cyclic electron transport: Measurement of ferredoxin-plastoquinone reductase activity.

Absorbance changes of ferredoxin measured at 463 nm in isolated thylakoids were shown to arise from the activity of the enzyme ferredoxin-plastoquinone reductase (FQR) in cyclic electron transport. Under anaerobic conditions in the presence of DCMU and an appropriate concentration of reduced ferredoxin, a light-induced absorbance decrease due to further reduction of Fd was assigned to the oxidation of the other components in the cyclic pathway, primarily plastoquinone. When the light was turned off, Fd was reoxidised and this gave a direct quantitative measurement of the rate of cyclic electron transport due to the activity of FQR.

Auxin-induced growth of Avena coleoptiles involves two mechanisms with different pH optima.

Although rapid auxin-induced growth of coleoptile sections can persist for at least 18 hours, acid-induced growth lasts for a much shorter period of time. Three theories have been proposed to explain this difference in persistence. To distinguish between these theories, the pH dependence for auxin-induced growth of oat (Avena sativa L.

Comparison of developmental gradients for growth, ATPase, and fusicoccin-binding activity in mung bean hypocotyls.

A comparison has been made of the developmental gradients along a mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) hypocotyl of the growth rate, plasma membrane ATPase, and fusicoccin-binding protein (FCBP) activity to determine whether they are interrelated. The hook and four sequential 7.