OsNAC103, a NAC Transcription Factor, Positively Regulates Leaf Senescence and Plant Architecture in Rice.

Leaf senescence, the last stage of leaf development, is essential for crop yield by promoting nutrition relocation from senescence leaves to new leaves and seeds. NAC (NAM/ATAF1/ATAF2/CUC2) proteins, one of the plant-specific transcription factors, widely distribute in plants and play important roles in plant growth and development. Here, we identified a new NAC member OsNAC103 and found that it plays critical roles in leaf senescence and plant architecture in rice.

Drug discovery targeting p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4): a patent review.

: The Ser/Thr protein kinase PAK4 is a downstream regulator of Cdc42, mediating cytoskeleton remodeling, and cell motility, and inhibiting apoptosis and transcriptional regulation. Nowadays, efforts in PAK4 inhibitor development are focusing on improving inhibitory selectivity, cellular potency, and pharmacokinetic properties, and identifying the feasibility of immunotherapy combination in oncology therapy.: This review summarized the development of PAK4 inhibitors that reported on patents in the past two decades.