Publications by authors named "Siriwardana C"

Gene expansion is a common phenomenon in plant transcription factor families; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Examples of gene expansion in transcription factors are found in all eukaryotes. One example is plant nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) transcription factors.

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Gene duplication is an evolutionary mechanism that provides new genetic material. Since gene duplication is a major driver for molecular evolution, examining the fate of duplicated genes is an area of active research. The fate of duplicated genes can include loss, subfunctionalization, and neofunctionalization.

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Synergized impacts of simultaneous hazards amidst COVID-19 have called for the need for highly collaborative multi-sectoral approaches for disaster preparedness planning. In such a context, this study aims at evaluating the network of stakeholders in the National Early Warning System of Sri Lanka during preparedness planning. Social Network Analysis was used to visualise the network of stakeholders for selected hazard scenarios.

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As powerful computational tools and 'big data' transform the biological sciences, bioinformatics training is becoming necessary to prepare the next generation of life scientists. Furthermore, because the tools and resources employed in bioinformatics are constantly evolving, bioinformatics learning materials must be continuously improved. In addition, these learning materials need to move beyond today's typical step-by-step guides to promote deeper conceptual understanding by students.

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Nuclear Factor Y (NF-Y) is a heterotrimeric transcription factor that binds elements. The NF-Y trimer is composed of a Histone Fold Domain (HFD) dimer (NF-YB/NF-YC) and NF-YA, which confers DNA sequence specificity. NF-YA shares a conserved domain with the CONSTANS, CONSTANS-LIKE, TOC1 (CCT) proteins.

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NUCLEAR FACTOR-Y (NF-Y) is a heterotrimeric transcription factor (TF) consisting of evolutionarily distinct NF-YA, NF-YB and NF-YC subunits. The functional NF-Y heterotrimer binds to CCAAT elements in eukaryotic gene promoters and influences their expression. The genome of the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana encodes 10 distinct NF-YA, NF-YB, and NF-YC proteins, allowing for enormous combinatorial and functional diversity.

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Photoperiod dependent flowering is one of several mechanisms used by plants to initiate the developmental transition from vegetative growth to reproductive growth. The NUCLEAR FACTOR Y (NF-Y) transcription factors are heterotrimeric complexes composed of NF-YA and histone-fold domain (HFD) containing NF-YB/NF-YC, that initiate photoperiod-dependent flowering by cooperatively interacting with CONSTANS (CO) to drive the expression of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT). This involves NF-Y and CO binding at distal CCAAT and proximal "CORE" elements, respectively, in the FT promoter.

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Recent reports suggest that NF-Y transcription factors are positive regulators of skotomorphogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana. Three NF-YC genes (NF-YC3, NF-YC4, and NF-YC9) are known to have overlapping functions in photoperiod dependent flowering and previous studies demonstrated that they interact with basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors. This included ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 (HY5), which has well-demonstrated roles in photomorphogenesis.

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In the plant kingdom, each of the () transcription factor families, , , and , has undergone a great expansion compared to the animal kingdom. For example, has 10 members of each gene family compared to only one in humans. Progress towards understanding the significance of this expansion is limited due to a lack of studies looking at the complete gene family during plant development.

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The INDOLE-3-BUTYRIC ACID RESPONSE5 (IBR5) gene encodes a dual specificity phosphatase that regulates plant auxin responses. IBR5 has been predicted to generate two transcripts through alternative splicing, but alternative splicing of IBR5 has not been confirmed experimentally. The previously characterized ibr5-1 null mutant exhibits many auxin related defects such as auxin insensitive primary root growth, defective vascular development, short stature and reduced lateral root development.

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In the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana the heterotrimeric transcription factor NUCLEAR FACTOR Y (NF-Y) has been shown to play multiple roles in facilitating plant growth and development. Although NF-Y itself represents a multi-protein transcriptional complex, recent studies have shown important interactions with other transcription factors, especially those in the bZIP family. Here we add to the growing evidence that NF-Y and bZIP form common complexes to affect many processes.

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Background: Nuclear Factor Y (NF-Y) is a heterotrimeric transcription factor composed of NF-YA, NF-YB and NF-YC proteins. Using the dicot plant model system Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), NF-Y were previously shown to control a variety of agronomically important traits, including drought tolerance, flowering time, and seed development. The aim of the current research was to identify and characterize NF-Y families in the emerging monocot model plant Brachypodium distachyon (Brachypodium) with the long term goal of assisting in the translation of known dicot NF-Y functions to the grasses.

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Background: Monocots, especially the temperate grasses, represent some of the most agriculturally important crops for both current food needs and future biofuel development. Because most of the agriculturally important grass species are difficult to study (e.g.

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General Practitioners (GPs) provide first contact care of children and pregnant mothers in the community. This study ascertained the prescribing pattern of anthelmintics to children and pregnant women by a sample of GPs from the district of Colombo. Two hundred medical practitioners engaged in full-time General Practice (100 urban and 100 rural), were selected randomly.

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