Effects of Post-Anthesis High-Temperature Stress on Carbon Partitioning and Starch Biosynthesis in a Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Adapted to Moderate Growth Temperatures.

This study investigates carbon partitioning in the developing endosperm of a European variety of spring wheat subjected to moderately elevated daytime temperatures (27°C/16°C d/night) from anthesis to grain maturity. Elevated daytime temperatures caused significant reductions in both fresh and dry weights and reduced the starch content of harvested grains compared to plants grown under a 20°C/16°C d/night regimen. Accelerated grain development caused by elevated temperatures was accounted for by representing plant development as thermal time (°C DPA).

CRISPR-Cas9-mediated editing of starch branching enzymes results in altered starch structure in Brassica napus.

Starch branching enzymes (SBEs) are one of the major classes of enzymes that catalyze starch biosynthesis in plants. Here, we utilized the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9)-mediated gene editing system to investigate the effects of SBE mutation on starch structure and turnover in the oilseed crop Brassica napus. Multiple single-guide RNA (sgRNA) expression cassettes were assembled into a binary vector and two rounds of transformation were employed to edit all six BnaSBE genes.

Protein phosphorylation regulates maize endosperm starch synthase IIa activity and protein-protein interactions.

Starch synthesis is an elaborate process employing several isoforms of starch synthases (SSs), starch branching enzymes (SBEs) and debranching enzymes (DBEs). In cereals, some starch biosynthetic enzymes can form heteromeric complexes whose assembly is controlled by protein phosphorylation. Previous studies suggested that SSIIa forms a trimeric complex with SBEIIb, SSI, in which SBEIIb is phosphorylated.

AKINβ1, a subunit of SnRK1, regulates organic acid metabolism and acts as a global modulator of genes involved in carbon, lipid, and nitrogen metabolism.

The sucrose non-fermenting-1-related protein kinase 1 (SnRK1) is a highly conserved heterotrimeric protein kinase in plants. It possesses a catalytic subunit (α) and two regulatory subunits (β and γ). The effects of altered expression of AKINβ1 on carbohydrate metabolism and gene expression in leaves were investigated in an Arabidopsis T-DNA insertion mutant.

Improving the patient discharge process: implementing actions derived from a soft systems methodology study.

In the period from January 2013 to July 2014, three process change initiatives were undertaken at a major UK hospital to improve the patient discharge process. These initiatives were inspired by the findings of a study of the discharge process using Soft Systems Methodology. The first initiative simplified time-consuming paperwork and the second introduced more regular reviews of patient progress through daily multi-disciplinary "Situation Reports".