Induction of TOC and TIC genes during photomorphogenesis is mediated primarily by cryptochrome 1 in Arabidopsis.

The majority of genes encoding photosynthesis-associated proteins in the nucleus are induced by light during photomorphogenesis, allowing plants to establish photoautotrophic growth. Therefore, optimizing the protein import apparatus of plastids, designated as the translocon at the outer and inner envelope membranes of chloroplast (TOC-TIC) complex, upon light exposure is a prerequisite to the import of abundant nuclear-encoded photosynthesis-associated proteins. However, the mechanism that coordinates the optimization of the TOC-TIC complex with the expression of nuclear-encoded photosynthesis-associated genes remains to be characterized in detail.

Development and validation of chemical and biological analyses to determine the antiestrogenic potency of resin acids in paper mill effluents.

This study combined chemical analysis and bioassays of paper mill effluents and their components in order to determine their antiestrogenic activity. The bioassay comprised a yeast two-hybrid assay incorporating the estrogen receptor alpha (hERalpha) and an hERalpha competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Samples were fractionated by solid phase extraction (SPE) with a C18 disk and a Florisil cartridge to obtain four fractions.

Occurrence and estrogenicity of phenolics in paper-recycling process water: pollutants originating from thermal paper in waste paper.

Eight phenolics were detected in samples collected from areas where paper-recycling process water is discharged. The detected concentration levels were up to 270 microg/L and 230 microg/g in water samples and sediment samples, respectively, obtained from both the outfall of the paper-recycling process water and its downstream areas. In particular, totarol (compound 4), 2,4-bis(1-phenylethyl)phenol (compound 6), 4,4'-butylidenebis(6-t-butyl-m-cresol) (compound 7), 2,4-bis(1-phenylethyl)-6-chlorophenol (compound 8), and 4-hydroxy-4'-isopropoxydiphenyl sulfone (compound 9) were identified for the first time as environmental pollutants.

Organic pollutants in paper-recycling process water discharge areas: first detection and emission in aquatic environment.

In this study, eight compounds have been identified and quantified from the samples collected from paper-recycling process water discharge areas. In particular, five aryl hydrocarbons, including a novel chlorinated aryl ether, were identified for the first time as environmental pollutants. In the effluent stream, concentration levels of up to 1600 microg L(-1) and 190 microg g(-1) were detected in the surface water and surface sediment, respectively.

In vitro and in vivo analysis of the thyroid system-disrupting activities of brominated phenolic and phenol compounds in Xenopus laevis.

We investigated the effects of the brominated phenolic and phenol compounds, some of which are brominated flame retardants, on the binding of (125)I-3,3',5-L-triiodothyronine ((125)I-T(3)) to purified Xenopus laevis transthyretin (xTTR) and to the ligand-binding domain of X. laevis thyroid hormone receptor beta (xTR LBD), on the induction of a T(3)-responsive reporter gene in a recombinant X. laevis cell line (XL58-TRE-Luc) and on T(3)-induced or spontaneous metamorphosis in X.

Competitive interactions of chlorinated phenol compounds with 3,3',5-triiodothyronine binding to transthyretin: detection of possible thyroid-disrupting chemicals in environmental waste water.

Chlorinated phenol compounds, such as the chlorinated derivatives of bisphenol A, have been detected in effluents from paper manufacturing plants. We investigated the effects of bisphenol A, nonylphenol, and their seven chlorinated derivatives on 3,3',5-[(125)I]triiodothyronine ([(125)I]T(3)) binding to purified chicken and bullfrog transthyretin (cTTR and bTTR) and to the ligand-binding domains of chicken and bullfrog thyroid hormone receptor beta (cTR LBD and bTR LBD). The concentrations at which the chlorinated derivatives displaced [(125)I]T(3) from TTR were 10-10(3) times less than those of their parent molecules.