Transposase-assisted target-site integration for efficient plant genome engineering.

The current technologies to place new DNA into specific locations in plant genomes are low frequency and error-prone, and this inefficiency hampers genome-editing approaches to develop improved crops. Often considered to be genome 'parasites', transposable elements (TEs) evolved to insert their DNA seamlessly into genomes. Eukaryotic TEs select their site of insertion based on preferences for chromatin contexts, which differ for each TE type.

Loss of linker histone H1 in the maternal genome influences DEMETER-mediated demethylation and affects the endosperm DNA methylation landscape.

The DEMETER (DME) DNA glycosylase demethylates the central cell genome prior to fertilization. This epigenetic reconfiguration of the female gamete companion cell establishes gene imprinting in the endosperm and is essential for seed viability. DME demethylates small and genic-flanking transposons as well as intergenic and heterochromatin sequences, but how DME is recruited to these loci remains unknown.

A plant tethering system for the functional study of protein-RNA interactions in vivo.

The sorting of RNA transcripts dictates their ultimate post-transcriptional fates, such as translation, decay or degradation by RNA interference (RNAi). This sorting of RNAs into distinct fates is mediated by their interaction with RNA-binding proteins. While hundreds of RNA binding proteins have been identified, which act to sort RNAs into different pathways is largely unknown.

The initiation of RNA interference (RNAi) in plants.

When an mRNA enters into the RNA degradation pathway called RNA interference (RNAi), it is cleaved into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that then target complementary mRNAs for destruction. The consequence of entry into RNAi is mRNA degradation, post-transcriptional silencing and in some cases transcriptional silencing. RNAi functions as a defense against transposable element and virus activity, and in plants, RNAi additionally plays a role in development by regulating some genes.

The catalytic core of DEMETER guides active DNA demethylation in .

The DEMETER (DME) DNA glycosylase demethylates the maternal genome in the central cell prior to fertilization and is essential for seed viability. DME preferentially targets small transposons that flank coding genes, influencing their expression and initiating plant gene imprinting. DME also targets intergenic and heterochromatic regions, but how it is recruited to these differing chromatin landscapes is unknown.

Rice OsPEX1, an extensin-like protein, affects lignin biosynthesis and plant growth.

Rice leucine-rich repeat extensin-like protein OsPEX1 mediates the intersection of lignin deposition and plant growth. Lignin, a major structural component of secondary cell wall, is essential for normal plant growth and development. However, the molecular and genetic regulation of lignin biosynthesis is not fully understood in rice.

Role of Salivary Immune Parameters in Patients With Primary Sjögren's Syndrome.

Background: Several factors, including clinical manifestations and laboratory data, have been used to evaluate the disease activity of Sjögren's syndrome (SS). We investigated saliva indicators of disease activity in primary SS patients.

Methods: We enrolled 138 Taiwanese patients with primary SS and 100 Taiwanese normal controls.

A naturally occurring conditional albino mutant in rice caused by defects in the plastid-localized OsABCI8 transporter.

A wide range of molecules are transported across membranes by the ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters. Plants possess a collection of ABC proteins bearing similarities to the components of prokaryotic multi subunit ABC transporters, designed as ABC group I. However the functions of most of them are not well understood.

Targeted methylation of CMV and E1A viral promoters.

DNA methylation is a gene-silencing and host defense system that can down-regulate viral gene expression in mammalian cells. An established targeted DNA methylation method was used to demonstrate that genome-integrated CMV and adenovirus type 5 E1A promoters were hypermethylated after MCF7 and HEK293 cells were transfected with in vitro methylated viral promoter fragments. In both cases, the targeted methylation-induced gene silencing could be reversed by addition of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, confirming that the CMV and E1A promoters are regulated by DNA methylation.

Inhibitor IkappaBalpha promoter functional polymorphisms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammation disease that may involve extra-articular organs in addition to joints. Many proinflammatory cytokines are involved in the inflammatory process of RA. IkappaBalpha conjugates with NF-kappaB and is a key player in regulation of the inflammatory process.

IkappaBalpha promoter polymorphisms in patients with Behçet's disease.

To investigate the role of IkappaBalpha promoter polymorphisms in the development of Behçet's disease, eighty-six patients with Behçet's disease and 120 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The IkappaBalpha -881A/G, -826C/T, -550A/T, -519C/T, and -297C/T polymorphisms were measured by the method of polymerase chain reaction/ restriction fragment length polymorphism. This study demonstrated that the genotype frequencies of IkappaBalpha -826C/T and -826T/T were significantly higher in the patients with Behçet's disease than in the controls.

IkBα promoter polymorphisms in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the association of IκBα with the development of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Taiwan. One hundred and fifty-four patients with AS and 112 unrelated healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The IκBα-881A/G, -826C/T, -550A/T, -519C/T, and -297C/T polymorphisms were determined by the polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism method.