A Point Mutation in Alters the Circadian Clock and Photoperiodic Flowering of .

Plants use seasonal cues to initiate flowering at an appropriate time of year to ensure optimal reproductive success. The circadian clock integrates these daily and seasonal cues with internal cues to initiate flowering. The molecular pathways that control the sensitivity of flowering to photoperiods (daylengths) are well described in the model plant .

MtNPF6.5 mediates chloride uptake and nitrate preference in Medicago roots.

The preference for nitrate over chloride through regulation of transporters is a fundamental feature of plant ion homeostasis. We show that Medicago truncatula MtNPF6.5, an ortholog of Arabidopsis thaliana AtNPF6.

Nucleic Acid-Based Technologies Targeting Coronaviruses.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is currently creating a global health emergency. This crisis is driving a worldwide effort to develop effective vaccines, prophylactics, and therapeutics. Nucleic acid (NA)-based treatments hold great potential to combat outbreaks of coronaviruses (CoVs) due to their rapid development, high target specificity, and the capacity to increase druggability.

Coronavirus RNA Proofreading: Molecular Basis and Therapeutic Targeting.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that is wreaking havoc on worldwide public health and economies has heightened awareness about the lack of effective antiviral treatments for human coronaviruses (CoVs). Many current antivirals, notably nucleoside analogs (NAs), exert their effect by incorporation into viral genomes and subsequent disruption of viral replication and fidelity. The development of anti-CoV drugs has long been hindered by the capacity of CoVs to proofread and remove mismatched nucleotides during genome replication and transcription.

NIN Acts as a Network Hub Controlling a Growth Module Required for Rhizobial Infection.

The symbiotic infection of root cells by nitrogen-fixing rhizobia during nodulation requires the transcription factor Nodule Inception (NIN). Our root hair transcriptomic study extends NIN's regulon to include and genes involved in cell wall modification, gibberellin biosynthesis, and a comprehensive group of nutrient (N, P, and S) uptake and assimilation genes, suggesting that NIN's recruitment to nodulation was based on its role as a growth module, a role shared with other NIN-Like Proteins. The expression of jasmonic acid genes in suggests the involvement of NIN in the resolution of growth versus defense outcomes.

MtLAX2, a Functional Homologue of the Arabidopsis Auxin Influx Transporter AUX1, Is Required for Nodule Organogenesis.

Most legume plants can form nodules, specialized lateral organs that form on roots, and house nitrogen-fixing bacteria collectively called rhizobia. The uptake of the phytohormone auxin into cells is known to be crucial for development of lateral roots. To test the role of auxin influx in nodulation we used the auxin influx inhibitors 1-naphthoxyacetic acid (1-NOA) and 2-NOA, which we found reduced nodulation of This suggested the possible involvement of the AUX/LAX family of auxin influx transporters in nodulation.

Investigation of nurses' intention to leave: a study of a sample of UK nurses.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide an evaluation of the key antecedents of leave intention demonstrated by nurses employed in UK National Health Service (NHS).

Design/methodology/approach: Survey assessment of a sample of 433 nurses employed within the NHS was undertaken, potential relationships relating to both affective commitment and leave intention and work-place experiences assessed through leader-member exchange (LMX) and perceived organisational support (POS) have been evaluated quantitatively, using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equations modelling (SEM).

Findings: The study indicates that both LMX and POS act as direct antecedents to nurses' leave intention.

Do nurses wish to continue working for the UK National Health Service? A comparative study of three generations of nurses.

Aim: To identify the combination of variables that explain nurses' continuation intention in the UK National Health Service. This alternative arena has permitted the replication of a private sector Australian study.

Background: This study provides understanding about the issues that affect nurse retention in a sector where employee attrition is a key challenge, further exacerbated by an ageing workforce.

TILLING in extremis.

Targeting induced local lesions in genomes (TILLING), initially a functional genomics tool in model plants, has been extended to many plant species and become of paramount importance to reverse genetics in crops species. Because it is readily applicable to most plants, it remains a dominant non-transgenic method for obtaining mutations in known genes. The process has seen many technological changes over the last 10 years; a major recent change has been the application of next-generation sequencing (NGS) to the process, which permits multiplexing of gene targets and genomes.

Jasmonate and phytochrome A signaling in Arabidopsis wound and shade responses are integrated through JAZ1 stability.

Jasmonate (JA) activates plant defense, promotes pollen maturation, and suppresses plant growth. An emerging theme in JA biology is its involvement in light responses; here, we examine the interdependence of the JA- and light-signaling pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana. We demonstrate that mutants deficient in JA biosynthesis and signaling are deficient in a subset of high irradiance responses in far-red (FR) light.

Increased brain microvascular MMP-9 and incidence of haemorrhagic transformation in obese mice after experimental stroke.

Obesity is an independent risk factor for stroke and is associated with poorer outcome after stroke. We investigated whether this poorer outcome is related to brain microvascular disruption. Focal cerebral ischaemia was induced in lean or obese (ob/ob) mice by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion.

Prevalence and determining factors of traumatic injuries to primary teeth in preschool children.

The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of dental injuries and the influence of determining factors in preschool children from Belo Horizonte, Brazil. A cross-sectional survey was carried out through clinical examinations and the application of a questionnaire to the parents of 419 children aged 0 to 5 years attending preschool. The sample was stratified by region, type of institution and age.

Providing a transcultural genetic counseling service in the UK.

This paper uses a broad definition of culture to explore the practice of transcultural genetic counseling through three case studies. The first case involves a White genetic counselor seeing an Asian family, the second, an Asian genetic counselor seeing an Asian family and the third, a hearing genetic counselor seeing a culturally Deaf client. Boundaries, transference and countertransference reactions are considered within each transcultural encounter and the author of each case reflects in detail on their role in the client interaction and their impact on the transcultural dynamic.

'Yes!--a chance to tell my side of the story': a case study of a male partner of a woman undergoing termination of pregnancy for foetal abnormality.

Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to analyse data from one man whose partner underwent a third-trimester termination of pregnancy for foetal abnormality. This case study examines the data from the participant and aspects of grief are examined qualitatively from a male perspective. The importance of the male role, management of his own particular needs and coping mechanisms are discussed in the context of society's expectations and current thinking on grief counselling.

Functional importance of conserved domains in the flowering-time gene CONSTANS demonstrated by analysis of mutant alleles and transgenic plants.

CONSTANS promotes flowering of Arabidopsis in response to long-day conditions. We show that CONSTANS is a member of an Arabidopsis gene family that comprises 16 other members. The CO-Like proteins encoded by these genes contain two segments of homology: a zinc finger containing region near their amino terminus and a CCT (CO, CO-Like, TOC1) domain near their carboxy terminus.

Characterization of the ethanol-inducible alc gene-expression system in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Controlled expression of transgenes in plants is key to the characterization of gene function and the regulated manipulation of growth and development. The alc gene-expression system, derived from the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans, has previously been used successfully in both tobacco and potato, and has potential for use in agriculture. Its value to fundamental research is largely dependent on its utility in Arabidopsis thaliana.

CONSTANS mediates between the circadian clock and the control of flowering in Arabidopsis.

Flowering is often triggered by exposing plants to appropriate day lengths. This response requires an endogenous timer called the circadian clock to measure the duration of the day or night. This timer also controls daily rhythms in gene expression and behavioural patterns such as leaf movements.

The regulation of flowering time by daylength in Arabidopsis.

We are studying several Arabidopsis mutants that show altered regulation of flowering time in response to daylength. One of the mutations we are studying, constans, delays flowering under long days but has no effect under short days. Analysis of the expression of the CONSTANS gene, and modification of its expression in transgenic plants, suggests that this gene promotes flowering in response to long days and that the delay in flowering that occurs in wild-type plants under short days is at least in part due to regulation of CONSTANS gene transcription.

Conserved structure and function of the Arabidopsis flowering time gene CONSTANS in Brassica napus.

The Arabidopsis thaliana CONSTANS (CO) gene which promotes flowering in long days was recently isolated by chromosome walking. The mapping of QTLs controlling flowering time in Brassica species has identified genomic regions that contain homologues of the CO gene. Four genes homologous to the Arabidopsis CO gene were isolated from a pair of homoeologous loci in each of two doubled-haploid Brassica napus lines displaying different flowering times, N-o-1 and N-o-9.

The CONSTANS gene of Arabidopsis promotes flowering and encodes a protein showing similarities to zinc finger transcription factors.

The vegetative and reproductive (flowering) phases of Arabidopsis development are clearly separated. The onset of flowering is promoted by long photoperiods, but the constans (co) mutant flowers later than wild type under these conditions. The CO gene was isolated, and two zinc fingers that show a similar spacing of cysteines, but little direct homology, to members of the GATA1 family were identified in the amino acid sequence.

Analysis of clones carrying repeated DNA sequences in two YAC libraries of Arabidopsis thaliana DNA.

YAC clones carrying repeated DNA sequences from the Arabidopsis thaliana genome have been characterized in two widely used Arabidopsis YAC libraries, the EG library and the EW library. Ribosomal, chloroplast and the paracentromeric repeat sequences are differentially represented in the two libraries. The coordinates of YAC clones hybridizing to these sequences are given.

Chromosome walking with YAC clones in Arabidopsis: isolation of 1700 kb of contiguous DNA on chromosome 5, including a 300 kb region containing the flowering-time gene CO.

The co mutation of Arabidopsis thaliana causes a late-flowering phenotype that is insensitive to day-length. The mutation was mapped previously to the upper arm of chromosome 5, approximately 1.6 cM from the chalcone synthase gene (CHS).