Functional characterization and expression of GASCL1 and GASCL2, two anther-specific chalcone synthase like enzymes from Gerbera hybrida.

The chalcone synthase superfamily consists of type III polyketidesynthases (PKSs), enzymes responsible for producing plant secondary metabolites with various biological and pharmacological activities. Anther-specific chalcone synthase-like enzymes (ASCLs) represent an ancient group of type III PKSs involved in the biosynthesis of sporopollenin, the main component of the exine layer of moss spores and mature pollen grains of seed plants. In the latter, ASCL proteins are localized in the tapetal cells of the anther where they participate in sporopollenin biosynthesis and exine formation within the locule.

Within leaf variation is the largest source of variation in agroinfiltration of Nicotiana benthamiana.

Background: Transient gene expression utilizing syringe agroinfiltration offers a simple and efficient technique for different transgenic applications. Leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana show reliable and high transformation efficiency, but in quantitative assays also a certain degree of variation. We used a nested design in our agroinfiltration experiments to dissect the sources of this variation.

Anthocyanin biosynthesis in gerbera cultivar 'Estelle' and its acyanic sport 'Ivory'.

Identification of distinct allelic versions for dihydroflavonol 4-reductase in gerbera cultivars reveals that gerbera DFR enzymes have strong substrate preference in vivo that is not reflected to the activity in vitro. Flavonoids in the model ornamental plant Gerbera hybrida consist of flavones, flavonols and anthocyanins. Anthocyanins accumulate in the adaxial epidermis of petals and give the different cultivars their characteristic red and violet colour.

Functional diversification of duplicated chalcone synthase genes in anthocyanin biosynthesis of Gerbera hybrida.

• Chalcone synthase (CHS) is the key enzyme in the first committed step of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway and catalyzes the stepwise condensation of 4-coumaroyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA to naringenin chalcone. In plants, CHS is often encoded by a small family of genes that are temporally and spatially regulated. Our earlier studies have shown that GCHS4 is highly activated by ectopic expression of an MYB-type regulator GMYB10 in gerbera (Gerbera hybrida).

Upper gastrointestinal symptoms and associated disorders in morbidly obese patients: a prospective study.

Objective: To prospectively evaluate the frequency of upper gastrointestinal symptoms and associated disorders in morbidly obese patients with endoscopy and histology prior to their gastric bypass surgery in comparison with age- and sex-matched nonobese control subjects.

Methods: All patients who were scheduled to undergo laparoscopic gastric bypass for treatment of morbid obesity (body mass index, BMI > 40 kg/m(2)) during a 1-year period (n = 101) were included in the study. Age- and sex-matched nonobese patients who were seen in the medical clinics during the study period were enrolled as control subjects.

A case of early onset normotensive scleroderma renal crisis in a patient with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis.

Scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) has classically been defined as a new onset of accelerated arterial hypertension associated with a rapid increase in serum creatinine concentration and/or microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. SRC occurs in approximately 20% of patients with systemic sclerosis who have diffuse cutaneous manifestations. In addition, 10% of reported cases of SRC with diffuse cutaneous involvement have normal blood pressures; in the majority of these cases, SRC occurs after treatment with corticosteroids.