RNA interference identifies a calcium-dependent protein kinase involved in Medicago truncatula root development.

Changes in cellular or subcellular Ca2+ concentrations play essential roles in plant development and in the responses of plants to their environment. However, the mechanisms through which Ca2+ acts, the downstream signaling components, as well as the relationships among the various Ca2+-dependent processes remain largely unknown. Using an RNA interference-based screen for gene function in Medicago truncatula, we identified a gene that is involved in root development.

Sequencing and analysis of common bean ESTs. Building a foundation for functional genomics.

Although common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is the most important grain legume in the developing world for human consumption, few genomic resources exist for this species. The objectives of this research were to develop expressed sequence tag (EST) resources for common bean and assess nodule gene expression through high-density macroarrays. We sequenced a total of 21,026 ESTs derived from 5 different cDNA libraries, including nitrogen-fixing root nodules, phosphorus-deficient roots, developing pods, and leaves of the Mesoamerican genotype, Negro Jamapa 81.

Comparative studies of mitogen- and antigen-induced lymphocyte proliferation in four captive rhinoceros species.

Cellular immune function in four rhinoceros species was evaluated by way of in vitro lymphocyte proliferation responses to mitogenic and antigenic stimuli to establish normative data on white blood cell activity for each species and to identify species-specific differences that might help explain the predisposition of black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis) to disease. A cross section of the U.S.

Review of the toxicology, human exposure and safety assessment for bisphenol A diglycidylether (BADGE).

BADGE (whose chemical names are bisphenol A diglycidylether and 2,2-bis(4-(2,3-epoxypropyl)phenyl)propane) is the lowest molecular weight oligomer in commercial epoxy resins and the major component in commercial liquid epoxy resins. The major application areas for epoxy resins are protective coatings and civil engineering. Additional applications include printed circuit boards, composites, adhesives and tooling, while a relatively small amount of epoxy resins (< 10%) finds use in protective coatings inside food and drink cans.

Signaling of phosphorus deficiency-induced gene expression in white lupin requires sugar and phloem transport.

Roots of phosphorus (P)-deficient white lupin exhibit striking changes in morphology and gene expression. In this report we provide further insight into genetic elements affecting transcription of P-deficiency-induced genes. Moreover, we also show that sugars and photosynthates are integrally related to P-deficiency-induced gene expression.

No association of the SOD1 locus and disease susceptibility or phenotype in sporadic ALS.

Mutations in the copper zinc superoxide dismutase gene (SOD1) are found in 20% of familial and 3% of sporadic ALS patients. SOD1 protein aggregation can be detected in motor neurons of mutation-negative sporadic cases but a pathogenic role for wild-type SOD1 in ALS has not been demonstrated. In this study of 233 ALS cases and 248 controls the authors found no significant association between four individual single nucleotide polymorphisms and a deletion spanning the SOD1 locus (or their combined haplotypes), and disease susceptibility, or phenotype.

Localization of superoxide dismutases and hydrogen peroxide in legume root nodules.

Superoxide dismutases (SODs) catalyze the dismutation of superoxide radicals to O2 and H2O2 and thus represent a primary line of antioxidant defense in all aerobic organisms. H2O2 is a signal molecule involved in the plant's response to pathogen attack and other stress conditions as well as in nodulation. In this work, we have tested the hypothesis that SODs are a source of H2O2 in indeterminate alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and pea (Pisum sativum) nodules.

Does an isolated history of loss of consciousness or amnesia predict brain injuries in children after blunt head trauma?

Background: A history of loss of consciousness (LOC) is frequently used as an indication for cranial computed tomography (CT) in the emergency department (ED) evaluation of children with blunt head trauma.

Objective: We sought to determine whether an isolated LOC and/or amnesia is predictive of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children with blunt head trauma.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled children <18 years old presenting to a level I trauma center ED between July 1998 and September 2001 with blunt head trauma.

Granule localization of glutaminase in human neutrophils and the consequence of glutamine utilization for neutrophil activity.

The provision of glutamine in vivo has been observed to reduce to normal levels the neutrophilia observed after exhaustive exercise and to decrease the neutrophil chemoattractant, interleukin-8. Thus, the role for glutamine in the regulation of inflammatory mediators of human neutrophil activation was investigated. The study sought to establish whether glutamine supplementation in vitro affects neutrophil function at rest and whether glutaminase, the major enzyme that metabolizes glutamine, is present in human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN).

A decision rule for identifying children at low risk for brain injuries after blunt head trauma.

Study Objective: Computed tomography (CT) is frequently used in evaluating children with blunt head trauma. Routine use of CT, however, has disadvantages. Therefore, we sought to derive a decision rule for identifying children at low risk for traumatic brain injuries.

Two families with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are linked to a novel locus on chromosome 16q.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal adult-onset disease in which motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord degenerate by largely unknown mechanisms. ALS is familial (FALS) in 10% of cases, and the inheritance is usually dominant, with variable penetrance. Mutations in copper/zinc super oxide dismutase (SOD1) are found in 20% of familial and 3% of sporadic ALS cases.

Leader as mentor.

A key component of leadership development for nursing students is mentorship. Leaders are called to be developers of others and to grow the next generation of leaders. Through the teaching-learning role and through serving as active mentors with students, leader-teachers can promote leadership skill development and leadership succession in the profession.

Nylon filter arrays reveal differential gene expression in proteoid roots of white lupin in response to phosphorus deficiency.

White lupin (Lupinus albus) adapts to phosphorus deficiency (-P) by the development of short, densely clustered lateral roots called proteoid (or cluster) roots. In an effort to better understand the molecular events mediating these adaptive responses, we have isolated and sequenced 2,102 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from cDNA libraries prepared with RNA isolated at different stages of proteoid root development. Determination of overlapping regions revealed 322 contigs (redundant copy transcripts) and 1,126 singletons (single-copy transcripts) that compile to a total of 1,448 unique genes (unigenes).

Antisense inhibition of NADH glutamate synthase impairs carbon/nitrogen assimilation in nodules of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.).

Legumes acquire significant amounts of nitrogen for growth from symbiotic nitrogen fixation. The glutamine synthetase (GS)/NADH-dependent glutamate synthase (NADH-GOGAT) cycle catalyzes initial nitrogen assimilation. This report describes the impact of specifically reducing nodule NADH-GOGAT activity on symbiotic performance of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.

Phosphorus acquisition and use: critical adaptations by plants for securing a nonrenewable resource.

Phosphorus (P) is limiting for crop yield on > 30% of the world's arable land and, by some estimates, world resources of inexpensive P may be depleted by 2050. Improvement of P acquisition and use by plants is critical for economic, humanitarian and environmental reasons. Plants have evolved a diverse array of strategies to obtain adequate P under limiting conditions, including modifications to root architecture, carbon metabolism and membrane structure, exudation of low molecular weight organic acids, protons and enzymes, and enhanced expression of the numerous genes involved in low-P adaptation.

Structural and functional aspects of Bufo americanus spermatozoa: effects of inactivation and reactivation.

Very little is known about the effects of manipulating toad sperm activity in vitro, and such information is important in the development of a genetic resource bank for bufonid species. The specific objectives of this study were to: 1). identify the optimal inactivation and reactivation solutions for toad spermatozoa collected in urine; 2).

Proton-coupled electron transfer in Fe-superoxide dismutase and Mn-superoxide dismutase.

Fe-containing superoxide dismutase (FeSOD) and MnSOD are widely assumed to employ the same catalytic mechanism. However this has not been completely tested. In 1985, Bull and Fee showed that FeSOD took up a proton upon reduction [J.

Comparison and contrasts between the active site PKs of Mn-superoxide dismutase and those of Fe-superoxide dismutase.

The Fe- and Mn-containing superoxide dismutases catalize the same reaction and have almost superimposable active sites. Therefore, the details of their mechanisms have been assumed to be similar. However, we now show that the pH dependence of Escherichia coli MnSOD activity reflects a different active site proton equilibrium in (oxidized) Mn(3+)SOD than the event that affects the active site pK of oxidized FeSOD.

Genome-wide identification of nodule-specific transcripts in the model legume Medicago truncatula.

The Medicago truncatula expressed sequence tag (EST) database (Gene Index) contains over 140,000 sequences from 30 cDNA libraries. This resource offers the possibility of identifying previously uncharacterized genes and assessing the frequency and tissue specificity of their expression in silico. Because M.

In vitro and in vivo effects of repifermin (keratinocyte growth factor-2, KGF-2) on human carcinoma cells.

Purpose: Repifermin (keratinocyte growth factor-2, KGF-2) is a growth factor that selectively induces epithelial cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of repifermin on in vitro tumor cell proliferation and in vivo tumor growth using a variety of human carcinoma cell lines with differing growth rates and levels of KGF receptor (KGFR) expression.

Methods: Potential effects of repifermin on in vitro cell proliferation were evaluated by alamarBlue and/or [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation assays under a range of serum conditions.