Hybrid-Cut: An Improved Sectioning Method for Recalcitrant Plant Tissue Samples.

Maintaining plant section integrity is essential for studying detailed anatomical structures at the cellular, tissue, or even organ level. However, some plant cells have rigid cell walls, tough fibers and crystals (calcium oxalate, silica, etc.), and high water content that often disrupt tissue integrity during plant tissue sectioning.

The bHLH142 Transcription Factor Coordinates with TDR1 to Modulate the Expression of EAT1 and Regulate Pollen Development in Rice.

Male sterility plays an important role in F1 hybrid seed production. We identified a male-sterile rice (Oryza sativa) mutant with impaired pollen development and a single T-DNA insertion in the transcription factor gene bHLH142. Knockout mutants of bHLH142 exhibited retarded meiosis and defects in tapetal programmed cell death.

Genome-wide annotation, expression profiling, and protein interaction studies of the core cell-cycle genes in Phalaenopsis aphrodite.

Orchidaceae is one of the most abundant and diverse families in the plant kingdom and its unique developmental patterns have drawn the attention of many evolutionary biologists. Particular areas of interest have included the co-evolution of pollinators and distinct floral structures, and symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal flora. However, comprehensive studies to decipher the molecular basis of growth and development in orchids remain scarce.

Involvement of endoplasmic reticulum stress and activation of MAP kinases in beta-lapachone-induced human prostate cancer cell apoptosis.

Beta-lapachone, an o-naphthoquinone, induces various carcinoma cells to undergo apoptosis, but the mechanism is poorly understood. In the present study, we found that the beta-lapachone-induced apoptosis of DU145 human prostate carcinoma cells was associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, as shown by increased intracellular calcium levels and induction of GRP-78 and GADD-153 proteins, suggesting that the endoplasmic reticulum is a target of beta-lapachone. Beta-Lapachone-induced DU145 cell apoptosis was dose-dependent and accompanied by cleavage of procaspase-12 and phosphorylation of p38, ERK, and JNK, followed by activation of the executioner caspases, caspase-7 and calpain.