Comparative gene expression profile analysis of ovules provides insights into Jatropha curcas L. ovule development.

Jatropha curcas, an economically important biofuel feedstock with oil-rich seeds, has attracted considerable attention among researchers in recent years. Nevertheless, valuable information on the yield component of this plant, particularly regarding ovule development, remains scarce. In this study, transcriptome profiles of anther and ovule development were established to investigate the ovule development mechanism of J.

The phosphate transporters LjPT4 and MtPT4 mediate early root responses to phosphate status in non mycorrhizal roots.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis improves host plant phosphorous (P) status and elicits the expression of AM-inducible phosphate transporters (PTs) in arbuscule-containing cells, where they control arbuscule morphogenesis and P release. We confirmed such functions for LjPT4 in mycorrhizal Lotus japonicus. Promoter-GUS experiments showed LjPT4 transcription not only in arbusculated cells but also in root tips, in the absence of the fungus: here LjPT4 transcription profile depended on the phosphate level.

Effect of volatiles versus exudates released by germinating spores of Gigaspora margarita on lateral root formation.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi influence the root system architecture of their hosts; however, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Ectomycorrhizal fungi influence root architecture via volatiles. To determine whether volatiles also play a role in root system changes in response to AM fungi, spores of the AM fungus Gigaspora margarita were inoculated on the same plate as either wild type (WT) Lotus japonicus, the L.

MRTF-A and STAT3 synergistically promote breast cancer cell migration.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide which is closely related to metastasis. But the exact molecular mechanism on metastasis is still not fully understood; we now report that both MRTF-A and STAT3 play important role in breast cancer migration of MDA-MB-231 cells. Moreover, MRTF-A and STAT3 synergistically increased MDA-MB-231 cell migration by promoting the expression of migration markers Myl-9 and Cyr-61.

Re-expression and epigenetic modification of maspin induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells mediated by myocardin.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. It is well known that oncogene activation and anti-oncogene inactivation affect the development and progression of breast cancer, but the role of oncogene activation and anti-oncogene inactivation in breast cancer is still not fully understood. We now report that maspin acts as a tumor suppressor gene to induce MCF-7 cell apoptosis.

Estrogen receptor α mediates proliferation of breast cancer MCF-7 cells via a p21/PCNA/E2F1-dependent pathway.

High expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα) is associated with a poor prognosis that correlates closely with cellular proliferation in breast cancer. However, the exact molecular mechanism by which ERα controls breast cancer cell proliferation is not clear. Here we report that ERα regulates the cell cycle by suppressing p53/p21 and up-regulating proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and proliferation-related Ki-67 antigen (Ki-67) to promote proliferation of MCF-7 cells.

[Screening and identification of proteins interacting with p38 MAP kinase via T7 phage-display screening system].

Objective: To screen and identify proteins that interact with p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases by means of T7 phage-display screening system.

Method: His-tagged fusion protein of p38 MAP kinase was used to coat a 96-well ELISA plate and Ni-NTA resin, which served as the media for screening human lung and liver T7 phage cDNA libraries.

Results: After 4 rounds of biopanning, 86 independent plaques were selected and processed by EDTA.