HIGH PLOIDY2-mediated SUMOylation of transcription factor ARR1 controls two-component signaling in Arabidopsis.

Cytokinins regulate plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stresses such as cold via phosphorelay from cytokinin receptors to the ARABIDOPSIS RESPONSE REGULATORs (ARRs). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the activation of type-B ARR transcriptional activity in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) remain unclear. Here, we show that the E3 SUMO ligase HIGH PLOIDY2 SUMOylates ARR1, a type-B ARR, at K236, triggering its activation.

Paper-based colorimetric sensor for easy and simple detection of polygalacturonase activity aiming for diagnosis of Allium white rot disease.

Polygalacturonase (PG) activity in plants can serve as an important index for plant disease. However, the conventional method to detect PG activity is a complex process and requires a skilled technician and expensive analytical equipment. In this study, a paper-based colorimetric sensor was developed based on the principle of the ruthenium red (RR) dye method for easy and simple measurement of PG activity.

Highly sensitive enclosed multilayer paper-based microfluidic sensor for quantifying proline in plants.

Free proline, termed proline, is a biomarker used for diagnosing drought stress in plants. A previously developed proline-ninhydrin reaction-based paper sensor could quickly and easily detect proline, but it was limited by low sensitivity. In this study, we developed an enclosed multilayer paper-based microfluidic sensor with high sensitivity for the quantitative detection of proline in plants.

Detection of proline using a novel paper-based analytical device for on-site diagnosis of drought stress in plants.

We developed and characterized a paper-based microfluidic sensor for the on-site diagnosis of drought stress in plants. Proline was used as a biomarker for analyzing drought stress, which was extracted by a colorimetric method using the proline-ninhydrin reaction. Paper was used as the main sensor material for the on-site detection of proline as it is easily transportable and cost-effective.

Optimization of the ninhydrin reaction and development of a multiwell plate-based high-throughput proline detection assay.

We developed a high-throughput technique for highly sensitive measurement of trace amounts of proline, an indicator of drought stress in plants, using an optimized proline-ninhydrin reaction. In order to do this, proline detection time was minimized by omitting phosphoric acid from the ninhydrin reagent. Chromophore extraction using toluene was also omitted, thus lowering the risks to environment and human health, and allowing the use of readily available polystyrene plates.

HOXC6 regulates the antitumor effects of pheophorbide a-based photodynamic therapy in multidrug-resistant oral cancer cells.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been considered to be a possible candidate approach for the treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) cancer. To investigate the photocytotoxicity of pheophorbide a-based PDT on MDR cells, the intracellular pathways were studied using the human oral cancer FaDu cell line and its paclitaxel-selected subline FaDu-PTX. Pheophorbide a (Pa)-PDT induced significant photocytotoxicity in both FaDu and FaDu-PTX cell lines with cell apoptosis greater in FaDu cells compared to FaDu-PTX cells.

CYTOKININ RESPONSE FACTOR2 (CRF2) and CRF3 Regulate Lateral Root Development in Response to Cold Stress in Arabidopsis.

Lateral roots (LRs) are a major determinant of the root system architecture in plants, and developmental plasticity of LR formation is critical for the survival of plants in changing environmental conditions. In Arabidopsis thaliana, genetic pathways have been identified that regulate LR branching in response to numerous environmental cues, including some nutrients, salt, and gravity. However, it is not known how genetic components are involved in the LR adaptation response to cold.

LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN (LBD)10 interacts with SIDECAR POLLEN/LBD27 to control pollen development in Arabidopsis.

During male gametophyte development in Arabidopsis thaliana, the microspores undergo an asymmetric division to produce a vegetative cell and a generative cell, which undergoes a second division to give rise to two sperm cells. SIDECAR POLLEN/LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN (LBD) 27 plays a key role in the asymmetric division of microspores. Here we provide molecular genetic evidence that a combinatorial role of LBD10 with LBD27 is crucial for male gametophyte development in Arabidopsis.

A novel protein, MUDENG, induces cell death in cytotoxic T cells.

A screening system comprised of a randomized hybrid-ribozyme library has previously been used to identify pro-death genes in Fas-mediated apoptosis, and short sequence information of candidate genes from this system was previously reported by Kawasaki and Taira [H. Kawasaki, K. Taira, A functional gene discovery in the Fas-mediated pathway to apoptosis by analysis of transiently expressed randomized hybrid-ribozyme libraries, Nucleic Acids Res.

Transcription factors NF-YA regulate the induction of human OGG1 following DNA-alkylating agent methylmethane sulfonate (MMS) treatment.

A human 8-oxoguanine-DNA glycosylase (hOGG1) is the main enzyme that repairs 8-oxoG, which is a critical mutagenic lesion. There is a great deal of interest in the up- or down-regulation of OGG1 expression after DNA damage. In this study, we investigated the effect of a DNA-alkylating agent, methylmethane sulfonate (MMS), on hOGG1 expression level and found that MMS treatment resulted in an increase in the functional hOGG1 expression in HCT116 cells.