Cyanobacteria Respond to Low Levels of Ethylene.

Ethylene is a gas that has long been known to act as a plant hormone. We recently showed that a cyanobacterium, sp. PCC 6803 (Synechocystis) contains an ethylene receptor (SynEtr1) that regulates cell surface and extracellular components leading to altered phototaxis and biofilm formation.

Ethylene causes transcriptomic changes in during phototaxis.

Ethylene is well known as a plant hormone, but its role in bacteria is poorly studied. We recently showed that sp. Strain PCC 6803 has a functional receptor for ethylene, ethylene response 1 (Etr1), that is involved in various processes such as phototaxis in response to directional light and biofilm formation.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor is constitutively active in advanced prostate cancer cells.

Background: Distant prostate cancers are commonly hormone refractory and exhibit increased growth no longer inhibited by androgen deprivation therapy. Understanding all molecular mechanisms contributing to uncontrolled growth is important to obtain effective treatment strategies for hormone refractory prostate cancers (HRPC). The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) affects a number of biological processes including cell growth and differentiation.