PAP1 and PAP7 are required for association of plastid-encoded RNA polymerase with DNA.

Plastid-encoded RNA polymerase (PEP) is a bacterial-type multisubunit RNA polymerase responsible for the majority of transcription in chloroplasts. PEP consists of four core subunits, which are orthologs of their cyanobacterial counterparts. In Arabidopsis thaliana, PEP is expected to interact with 14 PEP-associated proteins (PAPs), which serve as peripheral subunits of the RNA polymerase.

Membrane association of active genes organizes the chloroplast nucleoid structure.

DNA is organized into chromatin-like structures that support the maintenance and regulation of genomes. A unique and poorly understood form of DNA organization exists in chloroplasts, which are organelles of endosymbiotic origin responsible for photosynthesis. Chloroplast genomes, together with associated proteins, form membrane-less structures known as nucleoids.

Rhamnogalacturonan lyase 1 (RGL1), as a suppressor of E3 ubiquitin ligase Arabidopsis thaliana ring zinc finger 1 (AtRZF1), is involved in dehydration response to mediate proline synthesis and pectin rhamnogalacturonan-I composition.

Proline metabolism plays a crucial role in both environmental stress responses and plant growth. However, the specific mechanism by which proline contributes to abiotic stress processes remains to be elucidated. In this study, we utilized atrzf1 (Arabidopsis thaliana ring zinc finger 1) as a parental line for T-DNA tagging mutagenesis and identified a suppressor mutant of atrzf1, designated proline content alterative 31 (pca31).

Telomere dynamics and oxidative stress in Arabidopsis grown in lunar regolith simulant.

NASA envisions a future where humans establish a thriving colony on the Moon by 2050. Plants will be essential for this endeavor, but little is known about their adaptation to extraterrestrial bodies. The capacity to grow plants in lunar regolith would represent a major step towards this goal by minimizing the reliance on resources transported from Earth.

Arabidopsis thaliana ubiquitin-associated protein 2 (AtUAP2) functions as an E4 ubiquitin factor and negatively modulates dehydration stress response.

E4, a ubiquitin (Ub) chain assembly factor and post-translational modification protein, plays a key role in the regulation of multiple cellular functions in plants during biotic or abiotic stress. We have more recently reported that E4 factor AtUAP1 is a negative regulator of the osmotic stress response and enhances the multi-Ub chain assembly of E3 ligase Arabidopsis thaliana RING Zinc Finger 1 (AtRZF1). To further investigate the function of other E4 Ub factors in osmotic stress, we isolated AtUAP2, an AtUAP1 homolog, which interacted with AtRZF1, using pull-down assay and bimolecular fluorescence complementation analysis.

Arabidopsis telomerase takes off by uncoupling enzyme activity from telomere length maintenance in space.

Spaceflight-induced changes in astronaut telomeres have garnered significant attention in recent years. While plants represent an essential component of future long-duration space travel, the impacts of spaceflight on plant telomeres and telomerase have not been examined. Here we report on the telomere dynamics of Arabidopsis thaliana grown aboard the International Space Station.

Prognostic value of resting heart rate in predicting undiagnosed diabetes in adults: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008-2018.

Background And Aim: Although resting heart rate (RHR) is associated with prevalence and incidence of diabetes, whether it is associated with undiagnosed diabetes is still unclear. We aimed to investigate whether the RHR is associated with the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes in a large Korean national dataset.

Methods And Results: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2008 to 2018 were used.

Isolation and Functional Characterization of Soybean BES1/BZR1 Homolog 3-Like 1 (GmBEH3L1) Associated with Dehydration Sensitivity and Brassinosteroid Signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Brassinosteroid (BR) is an important steroid hormone that regulates plant development, abscisic acid (ABA) signaling, and responses to abiotic stress. We previously demonstrated that BEH3 (BES1/BZR1 Homolog 3) of Arabidopsis thaliana regulates dehydration and ABA responses by mediating proline metabolism. Furthermore, BEH3 negatively regulates BR-mediated hypocotyl elongation in dark-grown seedlings.

The relationship between domain-specific physical activity and depressive symptoms in Korean adults: Analysis of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the associations of domain-specific physical activity (PA) with the prevalence of depressive symptoms.

Methods: We analyzed data from 11,679 (5,056 men and 6,623 women) participants aged ³19 years in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016 and 2018 waves). Depressive symptoms were measured using the Korean version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), with a cut-off score for depression of 11.

Physical activity levels, exercise preferences, and exercise barriers in Korean children and adolescents after cancer treatment.

Purpose: The purpose of the current study was to explore physical activity (PA) levels, exercise preferences, and perceived barriers to PA in childhood cancer survivors.

Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed 120 childhood cancer survivors aged 8-18 years from the pediatric oncology center in South Korea between March and August 2017. The modified Exercise & Quality of Life questionnaire, Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey, and Godin Leisure-Time Questionnaire were used to assess PA levels, preferences, and exercise barriers.

Arabidopsis thaliana Ubiquitin-Associated Protein 1 (AtUAP1) Interacts with redundant RING Zinc Finger 1 (AtRZF1) to Negatively Regulate Dehydration Response.

Ubiquitination, one of the most frequently occurring post-translational modifications, is essential for regulating diverse cellular processes in plants during abiotic stress. The E3 ubiquitin (Ub) ligase Arabidopsis thaliana really interesting new gene (RING) zinc finger 1 (AtRZF1) mutation is known to enhance drought tolerance in A. thaliana seedlings.

Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin for Predicting Intensive Care Unit Admission and Mortality in Patients with Pneumonia.

Pneumonia is one of the most common causes of hospital admissions and mortality, and it is responsible for significant socioeconomic burden worldwide. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a 25-kDa protein, which is involved in iron trafficking and has chemostatic and bacteriostatic effects. NGAL is also known as an early marker of many inflammatory diseases.

Adherence to nine-month isoniazid for latent tuberculosis infection in healthcare workers: a prospective study in a tertiary hospital.

Poor adherence to medication can lead to treatment failure in healthcare workers (HWCs) with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) who are at high risk of developing active tuberculosis. However, the factors associated with non-completion of nine-month LTBI treatment with isoniazid (9 H) have not been well studied. We investigated the completion rate and factors affecting adherence to LTBI treatment with 9 H among HCWs.

A basic helix-loop-helix 104 (bHLH104) protein functions as a transcriptional repressor for glucose and abscisic acid signaling in Arabidopsis.

Transduction of glucose (Glc) signaling is critical for plant development, metabolism, and stress responses. However, identifying initial Glc sensing and response stimulating mechanisms in plants has been difficult due to dual functions of glucose as energy sources and signaling component. A basic Helix-Loop-Helix 104 (bHLH104) protein is a homolog of bHLH34 previously isolated from Arabidopsis that functions as a transcriptional activator of Glc and abscisic acid (ABA) responses.

Factors associated with non-initiation of latent tuberculosis treatment among healthcare workers with a positive interferon-gamma releasing assay.

Despite widespread use of the interferon-gamma release assay for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), the initiation rate of and factors associated with LTBI treatment among healthcare workers (HCWs) have not been studied in depth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the initiation rate of LTBI treatment and also to identify any factors associated with non-initiation of LTBI treatment among HCWs. A retrospective cohort study of 293 HCWs with LTBI was performed at a teaching hospital in Korea.

Effects of a 12-week home-based exercise program on quality of life, psychological health, and the level of physical activity in colorectal cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: To examine the effects of a home-based exercise program on quality of life (QOL), psychological health, and the level of physical activity (PA) in colorectal cancer survivors.

Methods: Seventy-one colorectal cancer survivors were randomized into either a home-based exercise group (N = 37) or control group (N = 34). The home-based exercise program included unsupervised walking, stationary bike, or swimming for aerobic exercise, as well as resistance exercise DVDs, a pedometer, and an exercise log.

Basic Helix-Loop-Helix 34 (bHLH34) Is Involved in Glucose Signaling through Binding to a GAGA -Element.

The modulation of glucose (Glc) homeostasis and signaling is crucial for plant growth and development. Nevertheless, the molecular signaling mechanism by which a plant senses a cellular Glc level and coordinates the expression of Glc-responsive genes is still incompletely understood. Previous studies have shown that plasma membrane Glc-responsive regulator (AtPGR) is a component of the Glc-responsive pathway.

PCA22 acts as a suppressor of atrzf1 to mediate proline accumulation in response to abiotic stress in Arabidopsis.

Proline metabolism is important for environmental responses, plant growth, and development. However, its precise roles in plant abiotic stress tolerance are not well understood. Mutants are valuable for the identification of new genes and for elucidating their roles in physiological mechanisms.

Repeated Panniculitis Induced by Pegylated Interferon Alpha 2a in a Patient with Chronic Hepatitis C.

Pegylated interferon alpha (PEG-IFN-α) is widely used to treat chronic hepatitis C in combination with ribavirin. Many adverse effects of PEG-IFN-α, such as hematologic, psychologic, dermatologic, immunologic, and other abnormalities, have been reported, and some serious adverse events lead to PEG-IFN-α treatment discontinuation. For very rare adverse events such as panniculitis, there are no established guidelines on whether to continue PEG-IFN-α treatment.

Regulation of Arabidopsis thaliana plasma membrane glucose-responsive regulator (AtPGR) expression by A. thaliana storekeeper-like transcription factor, AtSTKL, modulates glucose response in Arabidopsis.

Biochemical, genetic, physiological, and molecular research in plants has demonstrated a central role of glucose (Glc) in the control of plant growth, metabolism, and development, and has revealed networks that integrate light, stresses, nutrients, and hormone signaling. Previous studies have reported that AtPGR protein as potential candidates for Glc signaling protein. In the present study, we characterized transcription factors that bind to the upstream region of the AtPGR gene isolated using the yeast one-hybrid screening with an Arabidopsis cDNA library.

The CONSTANS-like 4 transcription factor, AtCOL4, positively regulates abiotic stress tolerance through an abscisic acid-dependent manner in Arabidopsis.

The precise roles of the B-box zinc finger family of transcription factors in plant stress are poorly understood. Functional analysis was performed on AtCOL4, an Arabidopsis thaliana L. CONSTANS-like 4 protein that is a putative novel transcription factor, and which contains a predicted transcriptional activation domain.

Heterologous expression of the gourd E3 ubiquitin ligase gene LsRZF1 compromises the drought stress tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Protein ubiquitination is one of the major regulatory processes used by eukaryotic cells. The ubiquitin E3 ligase acts as a main determinant of substrate specificity. However, the precise roles of E3 ligase in plants to drought stress are poorly understood.

AtSKIP functions as a mediator between cytokinin and light signaling pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Key Message: AtSKIP participated in cytokinin-regulated leaf initiation. Putative phosphorylated AtSKIP (AtSKIP (DD) ) displayed the opposite function in the leaf development from AtSKIP transgenic seedlings.

Abstract: AtSKIP, as a multiple protein, is involved in many physiological processes, such as flowering, cell cycle regulator, photomorphogenesis and stress tolerance.