Characterization of a novel developmentally retarded mutant (drm1) associated with the autonomous flowering pathway in Arabidopsis

A developmentally retarded mutant (drm1) was identified from ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)-mutagenized M2 seedsin Columbia (Col-0) genetic background. The drm1 flowers 109 d after sowing, with a whole life cycle of about 160 d.It also shows a pleiotropic phenotype, e.g., slow germination and lower germination rate, lower growth rate, curlingleaves and abnormal floral organs. The drm1 mutation was a single recessive nuclear mutation, which was mapped tothe bottom of chromosome 5 and located within a region of 20-30 kb around MXK3.1. There have been no mutantswith similar phenotypes reported in the literature, suggesting that DRM1 is a novel flowering promoting locus. Thefindings that the drm1 flowered lately under all photoperiod conditions and its late flowering phenotype was significantlyrestored by vernalization treatment suggest that the drm1 is a typical late flowering mutant and most likely associatedwith the autonomous flowering pathway. The conclusion was further confirmed by the revelation that the transcriptlevel of FLC was constantly upregulated in the drm1 at all the developmental phases examined, except for a very earlystage. Moreover, the transcript levels of two other important repressors, EMF and TFL1, were also upregulated in thedrm1, implying that the two repressors, along with FLC, seems to act in parallel pathways in the drm1 to regulateflowering as well as other aspects of floral development in a negatively additive way. This helps to explain why the drm1exhibits a much more severe late-flowering phenotype than most late-flowering mutants reported. It also implies that theDRM1 might act upstream of these repressors.

DELAYED FLOWERING, an Arabidopsis Gene That Acts in the Autonomous Flowering Promotion Pathway and Is Required for Normal Development

The control of flowering time in higher plants is one of the most important physiological processes and is critical for their reproductive success. To investigate the mechanisms controlling flowering time, we screened for Arabidopsis mutants with late-flowering phenotypes. One mutant, designated delayed flowering （dfr） in the Landsberg erecta （Ler） ecotype, was identified with delayed flowering time. Genetic analysis revealed that dfr is a single gene recessive nuclear mutant and the mutation was mapped to a locus tightly linked to UFO on chromosome 1. To our knowledge, no gene regulating flowering time has been reported yet in this region. The dfrmutant plant showed a delayed flowering time under the different growth conditions examined, including long- and short-day photoperiods and gibberellic acid GA3 treatments, suggesting that DFR is a gene involved in the autonomous flowering promotion pathway. The Arabidopsis gene FLOWERING LOCUS C （FLC） plays a central role in repressing flowering and its transcripts are undetectable in wild-type Ler. However, FLCexpression was upregulated in the dfrmutant, suggesting that DFR is a negative regulator of FLC. In addition, the dfr mutant plant displayed altered valve shapes of the silique and the number of trichomes and branches of each trichome were both reduced, indicating that the DRFgene is also required for normal plant development. Moreover, dfr leafy-5 （Ify-5） double mutant plants showed a much later flowering time than either dfr or Ify-5 single mutants, indicating that DFR and LFY act synergistically to promote flowering in Arabidopsis.

Electrophysiological monitoring and identification of neural roots during somatic-autonomic reflex pathway procedure for neurogenic bladder

OBJECTIVE: To identify and separate the ventral root from dorsal root, which is the key for success of the artificial somatic-autonomic reflex pathway procedure for neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury (SCI). Here we report the results of intra-operating room monitoring with 10 paralyzed patients. METHODS: Ten male volunteers with complete suprasacral SCI underwent the artificial somatic-autonomic procedure under general anesthesia. Vastus medialis, tibialis anticus and gastrocnemius medialis of the left lower limb were monitored for electromyogram (EMG) activities resulted from L4, L5, and S1 stimulation respectively to differentiate the ventral root from dorsal root. A Laborie Urodynamics system was connected with a three channel urodynamic catheter inserted into the bladder. The L2 and L3 roots were stimulated separately while the intravesical pressure was monitored to evaluate the function of each root. RESULTS: The thresholds of stimulation on ventral root were 0.02 ms duration, 0.2-0.4 mA, (mean 0.3 mA+/-0.07 mA), compared with 0.2-0.4 ms duration, 1.5-3 mA (mean 2.3 mA+/-0.5 mA) for dorsal root (P