During Water Stress, Fertility Modulated by ROS Scavengers Abundant in Arabidopsis Pistils.

Hours after watering plants with 75 mM NaCl, the water potential of reproductive structures precipitously decreases. In flowers with mature gametes, this change in water potential did not alter the rate of fertilization but caused 37% of the fertilized ovules to abort. We hypothesize that the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in ovules is an early physiological manifestation associated with seed failure.

The nucleolar protein SAHY1 is involved in pre-rRNA processing and normal plant growth.

Although the nucleolus is involved in ribosome biogenesis, the functions of numerous nucleolus-localized proteins remain unclear. In this study, we genetically isolated Arabidopsis thaliana salt hypersensitive mutant 1 (sahy1), which exhibits slow growth, short roots, pointed leaves, and sterility. SAHY1 encodes an uncharacterized protein that is predominantly expressed in root tips, early developing seeds, and mature pollen grains and is mainly restricted to the nucleolus.

Genotyping of Soybean Cultivars With Medium-Density Array Reveals the Population Structure and QTNs Underlying Maturity and Seed Traits.

Soybean was domesticated about 5,000 to 6,000 years ago in China. Although genotyping technologies such as genotyping by sequencing (GBS) and high-density array are available, it is convenient and economical to genotype cultivars or populations using medium-density SNP array in genetic study as well as in molecular breeding. In this study, 235 cultivars, collected from China, Japan, USA, Canada and some other countries, were genotyped using SoySNP8k iSelect BeadChip with 7,189 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

Composition and Bioactivity of Essential Oil from Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck 'Mato Peiyu' Leaf.

'Mato Peiyu' pomelo ( (L.) Osbeck 'Mato Peiyu') leaves from pruning are currently an agricultural waste. The aim of this study was to isolate essential oils from these leaves through steam distillation (SD) and solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME) and to evaluate their applicability to skin care by analyzing their antimicrobial, antioxidant (diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging assay, β-carotene/linoleic acid assay, and nitric oxide scavenging assay), anti-inflammatory (5-lipoxygenase inhibition assay), and antityrosinase activities.

The APX4 locus regulates seed vigor and seedling growth in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The amino acid sequence of APX4 is similar to other ascorbate peroxidases (APXs), a group of proteins that protect plants from oxidative damage by transferring electrons from ascorbate to detoxify peroxides. In this study, we characterized two apx4 mutant alleles. Translational fusions with GFP indicated APX4 localizes to chloroplasts.

The defective proteasome but not substrate recognition function is responsible for the null phenotypes of the Arabidopsis proteasome subunit RPN10.

Ubiquitylated substrate recognition during ubiquitin/proteasome-mediated proteolysis (UPP) is mediated directly by the proteasome subunits RPN10 and RPN13 and indirectly by ubiquitin-like (UBL) and ubiquitin-associated (UBA) domain-containing factors. To dissect the complexity and functional roles of UPP substrate recognition in Arabidopsis thaliana, potential UPP substrate receptors were characterized. RPN10 and members of the UBL-UBA-containing RAD23 and DSK2 families displayed strong affinities for Lys-48-linked ubiquitin chains (the major UPP signals), indicating that they are involved in ubiquitylated substrate recognition.

[Isolation of the alternative oxidase from Arum maculatum].

There is plenty of alternate oxidase (AOX) in the inflorescences of thermogenic A rum maculatum. The isolated mitochondria exhibited a high activity, consuming oxygen on average 32 micromoles/min. The concentration of the isolated protein from mitochondria was 14.

[Isolation of egg cells from Brugmansia aurea Lagerh "Goildens Kornett"].

Viable egg cells of Brugmansia aurea Lagerh "Goildens Kornett" were isolated using mechanical dissection and enzymic digestion. The ovules were cut from middle part and pushed its micropylar position using a dissection needle. Generally the three cells of egg apparatus were released from cut end of ovule.

[Isolation of zygotes and apical and basal cells of bicelluare proembryo from Torenia fournieri].

Torenia fournieri is a special plant with embryo sac partly protruding through the micropyle of ovule, and the cells of egg apparatus can be clearly observed using light microscope. Zygotes and the cells of bicellular proembryo could be isolated using enzymatic digestion. In the solution containing 0.

[Introduction of hexaploid of Chinese narcissus and analysis of its chromosome change].

Anthers of Chinese narcissus (Narcissus tazetta L. var chinesis Roem) were used as explants for callus induction and plant regeneration. About 80% anthers produced callus and 28% of the callus differentiated out bulbs, making a good experiment system of tissue culture of Chinese narcissus for further cellular and gene engineering.

[The distribution of ATPase in developmental anther of rice].

The distribution of ATPase was studied using lead precipitation technique during anther development in rice. The ATPase reactive precipitates (ppts) were located mostly in the nucleus of microspore mother cells (MMC) and only a few in the cytoplasm (Plate I-1). Anther wall had differentiated into four layers of cells and a few precipitates were located in the cells except the nucleus of tapetal cells where there were many ATPase reactive precipitates (Plate I-2).

Immunohistochemical analysis of lung carcinomas with pure or partial bronchioloalveolar differentiation.

Context: In 1999, the World Health Organization redefined bronchioloalveolar carcinomas (BACs) as those neoplasms with only a pure lepidic growth pattern and no invasion.

Objectives: The present study examined 45 lung cancers with a BAC component (1) to determine whether these tumors would be classified as BACs by current World Health Organization standards, (2) to quantitate the BAC component within these tumors, and (3) to see if phenotypic differences exist between the so-called invasive and noninvasive regions of these tumors.

Design: Retrospective review of hematoxylin-eosin-stained slides and classification of histologic grade, tumor subtype, and percentage of pure BAC pattern, with further characterization by immunohistochemical staining for thyroid transcription factor 1, cytokeratin 7, cytokeratin 20, and Ki-67 antibodies.

Single-blind, randomized trial of pelvic floor muscle training, biofeedback-assisted pelvic floor muscle training, and electrical stimulation in the management of overactive bladder.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), biofeedback-assisted PFMT (BAPFMT), and electrical stimulation (ES) in the management of overactive bladder (OAB).

Methods: The interventions for the 12-week treatment period, conducted by the physiotherapist who was unaware of the progress and outcome, included (a) a PFMT program tailored to the subject's PERFECT (power, endurance, repetitions, and fast [1-second] contractions, with every contraction timed) scheme, used for training at home; (b) an electromyography BAPFMT program and home program tailored to the subject's PERFECT scheme; and (c) an ES program using biphasic symmetric probe current with 10-Hz frequency, 400-micros pulse width, 10/5 duty cycle, and varying intensity. Identical preintervention and postintervention assessment included King's Health Questionnaire, as well as outcomes of urge incontinence and other urinary symptoms.