Transcriptional control of GABAergic neuron development in the dorsal spinal cord

GABAergic neurons are the major inhibitory interneurons that powerfully control the function of spinal neuronal networks.In recent years,tremendous progresses have been made in understanding the transcriptional control of GABAergic neuron development in the dorsal spinal cord.New experimental approaches provide a relatively high throughput way to study the molecular regulation of subgroup fate determination.Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms on GABAergic neuron development in the dorsal spinal cord is rapidly expanding.Recent studies have defined several transcription factors that play essential roles in GABAergic neuron development in the spinal dorsal horn.Here,we review results of very recent analyses of the mechanisms that specify the GABAergic neuron development in the dorsal spinal cord,especially the progresses in the homeodomain(HD) and basic-helix-loop-helix(bHLH) containing transcription factors.

Understanding the transcriptional control of gene expression using ChIP-chip technology

Gene expression profiling using cDNA or high-density oligonucleotide microarray contributes signifi cantly to our understanding on the transcriptome of a given biological condition. Using this technology, huge number of differentially-expressed genes of interest have been identified in a broad range of circumstances. Making sense biologically on these genes using the recently-improved functional annotation and data integration has leveraged our understanding in diseases and their biological mechanisms. However, understanding the codes encrypt- ed in the cis-aeting regulatory regions and gaining insights into the circuitry of functional regulatory networks on the genomic scale will require additional empirical data sets that are capable of revealing the cohorts or regulons of the transcription and the dynamic progression of molecular events responsible for certain biological function.

Cloning and Analysis of the Promoter Region of Rat uPA Gene

Objective To clone and analyze the promoter sequence of rat urokinase plasminogen activator protein gene. Methods The genomic DNA was extracted from rat testicular tissue. According to urokinase plasminogen activator, the gene sense primer and antisense primer of uPA gene were designed and synthesized, then Touch-Down PCR were performed. After proper purification, the PCR product was sequenced, analyzed with the promoter prediction software and compared with the DNA sequence of rattuas urokinase plasminogen activator. Results The cloned uPA gene was about 1 572 bp in length, which contained a full open-reading frame with 21 bp in length exons, and the upper region of transcriptional start was 1 551 bp in length which was eucaryon transcriptional control area. The 5＇ UTR had a promoter region including a non-responsive TATA-box. Not only the GC-box binding region was found in this gene, but also active protein I （AP1） and SP1 were seen in other regions. Conclusion A 1 572 bp uPA gene fragment （GenBank accession No.X65651） was obtained from rat genomic DNA library, containing eucaryon transcriptional control area with a promoter region, non-conspicuous TATA-box, GC-box and an extron. A non-responsive TATA-box is located at the upper -30 region.

Alternative Polyadenylation of the Sense Transcript Controls Antisense Transcription of DELAY OF GERMINATION 1 in Arabidopsis

Dear Editor,Seed dormancy is adopted by plants to optimize their reproductive strategy. The DOG 1 （DELAY OF GERMINATION 1） gene is the main QTL controlling this trait in Arabidopsis （Bentsink et al., 2006） and therefore is extensively regulated. This includes the alternative polyadenylation （APA） of DOG1 mRNA （Cyrek et al., 2016） and an antisense transcript, asDOGl, which in cis suppresses DOG1 expression during seed maturation （Fedak et al., 2016）. As with many antisense transcripts （Mellor et al., 2016; Rosa et al., 2016）, asDOG1 originates from close to the transcription termination site of the sense gene. This raises the question of how this proximity affects antisense promoter activity.

The Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factor MYC1 Is Involved in the Regulation of the Flavonoid Biosynthesis Pathway in Grapevine

Previous results indicated that in grapevine （Vitis vinifera）, regulation of the flavonoid pathway genes by MYB transcription factors depends on their interaction with basic helix-loop-helix proteins （bHLHs）. The present study describes the first functional characterization of a bHLH factor from grapevine named VvMYC1. This transcription factor is phylogenetically related to Arabidopsis bHLH proteins, which participate in the control of flavonoid biosynthesis and epidermal cell fate. Transient promoter and yeast two-hybrid assays demonstrated that VvMYC1 physically interacts with MYB5a, MYB5b, MYBA1/A2, and MYBPA1 to induce promoters of flavonoid pathway genes involved in anthocyanin and/ or proanthocyanidin （PA） synthesis. Additionally, transient promoter assays revealed that VvMYC1 is involved in feedback regulation of its own expression. Transcript levels of VvMYC1 during berry development correlate with the synthesis of anthocyanins and PAs in skins and seeds of berries, suggesting that VvMYC1 is involved in the regulation of anthocyanins and PA synthesis in these organs. Likewise, transient expression of VvMYC1 and VvMYBA1 induces anthocyanin synthesis in grapevine suspension cells. These results suggest that VvMYCl is part of the transcriptional cascade controlling antho- cyanin and PA biosynthesis in grapevine.

Phytochrome Signaling in Green Arabidopsis Seedlings： Impact Assessment of a Mutually Negative phyB-PIF Feedback Loop

The reversibly red （R）/far-red （FR）-Iight-responsive phytochrome （phy） photosensory system initiates both the deetiolation process in dark-germinated seedlings upon first exposure to light, and the shade-avoidance process in fully deetiolated seedlings upon exposure to vegetational shade. The intracellular signaling pathway from the light-activated photoreceptor conformer （Pfr） to the transcriptional network that drives these responses involves direct, physical inter- action of Pfr with a small subfamily of bHLH transcription factors, termed Phy-lnteracting Factors （PIFs）, which induces rapid PIF proteolytic degradation. In addition, there is evidence of further complexity in light-grown seedlings, whereby phyB-PIF interaction reciprocally induces phyB degradation, in a mutually-negative, feedback-loop configuration. Here, to assess the relative contributions of these antagonistic activities to the net phenotypic readout in light-grown seedlings, we have examined the magnitude of the light- and simulated-shade-induced responses of a pentuple phyBpiflpif3pif4pif5 （phyBpifq） mutant and various multiple pif-mutant combinations. The data （1） reaffirm that phyB is the predominant, if not exclusive, photoreceptor imposing the inhibition of hypocotyl elongation in deetiolating seedlings in response to pro- longed continuous R irradiation and （2） show that the PIF quartet （PIF1, PIF3, PIF4, and PIF5） retain and exert a dual capacity to modulate hypocotyl elongation under these conditions, by concomitantly promoting cell elongation through intrinsic transcriptional-regulatory activity, and reducing phyB-inhibitory capacity through feedback-loop-induced phyB degrada- tion. In shade-exposed seedlings, immunoblot analysis shows that the shade-imposed reduction in Pfr levels induces increases in the abundance of PIF3, and mutant analysis indicates that PIF3 acts, in conjunction with PIF4 and PIF5, to promote the known shade-induced acceleration of hypocotyl elongation. Conversely, although the quadruple pifq mutant displays clearly reduced hypocotyl elongation compared to wild-type in response to prolonged shade, immunoblot analysis detects no elevation in phyB levels in the mutant seedlings compared to the wild-type during the majority of the shade-induced growth period, and phyB levels are not robustly correlated with the growth phenotype across the pif-mutant combinations compared. These results suggest that PIF feedback modulation of phyB abundance does not play a dominant role in modulating the magnitude of the PIF-promoted, shade-responsive phenotype under these conditions. In seedlings grown under diurnal light-dark cycles, the data show that FR-pulse-induced removal of Pfr at the beginning of the dark period （End-of-Day-FR （EOD-FR） treatment） results in longer hypocotyls relative to no EOD-FR treatment and that this effect is attenuated in the pif-mutant combinations tested. This result similarly indicates that the PIF quartet members are capable of intrinsically promoting hypocotyl cell elongation in light-grown plants, independently of the effects of PIF feedback modulation of photoactivated-phyB abundance.

Heat Shock Factors HsfB 1 and HsfB2b Are Involved in the Regulation of Pdf1.2 Expression and Pathogen Resistance in Arabidopsis

In order to assess the functional roles of heat stress-induced class B-heat shock factors in Arabidopsis, we investigated T-DNA knockout mutants of AtHsfB1 and AtHsfB2b. Micorarray analysis of double knockout hsfB1/hsfB2b plants revealed as strong an up-regulation of the basal mRNA-levels of the defensin genes Pdfl.2a/b in mutant plants. The Pdfexpression was further enhanced by jasmonic acid treatment or infection with the necrotrophic fungus Alternaria brassicicola. The single mutant hsfB2b and the double mutant hsfB 1/B2b were significantly improved in disease resistance after A. brassicicola infection. There was no indication for a direct interaction of Hsf with the promoter of Pdf1.2, which is devoid of perfect HSE consensus Hsf-binding sequences. However, changes in the formation of late HsfA2-dependent HSE binding were detected in hsfB1/B2b plants. This suggests that HsfB1/B2b may interact with class A-Hsf in regulating the shut-off of the heat shock response. The identification of Pdfgenes as targets of Hsf-dependent negative regulation is the first evidence for an interconnection of Hsf in the regulation of biotic and abiotic responses.

Energy Signaling in the Regulation of Gene Expression during Stress

Maintenance of homeostasis is pivotal to all forms of life. In the case of plants, homeostasis is constantly threatened by the inability to escape environmental fluctuations, and therefore sensitive mechanisms must have evolved to allow rapid perception of environmental cues and concomitant modification of growth and developmental patterns for adaptation and survival. Re-establishment of homeostasis in response to environmental perturbations requires reprog- ramming of metabolism and gene expression to shunt energy sources from growth-related biosynthetic processes to defense, acclimation, and, ultimately, adaptation. Failure to mount an initial ＇emergency＇ response may result in nutrient deprivation and irreversible senescence and cell death. Early signaling events largely determine the capacity of plants to orchestrate a successful adaptive response. Early events, on the other hand, are likely to be shared by different conditions through the generation of similar signals and before more specific responses are elaborated. Recent studies lend credence to this hypothesis, underpinning the importance of a shared energy signal in the transcriptional response to various types of stress. Energy deficiency is associated with most environmental perturbations due to their direct or indirect deleterious impact on photosynthesis and/or respiration. Several systems are known to have evolved for monitoring the available resources and triggering metabolic, growth, and developmental decisions accordingly. In doing so, energy-sensing systems regulate gene expression at multiple levels to allow flexibility in the diversity and the kinetics of the stress response.

Studies on Differential Nuclear Translocation Mechanism and Assembly of the Three Subunits of the Arabidopsis thaliana Transcription Factor NF-Y

The eukaryotic transcription factor NF-Y consists of three subunits （A, B, and C）, which are encoded in Ara- bidopsis thaliana in multigene families consisting of 10, 13, and 13 genes, respectively. In principle, all potential combi- nations of the subunits are possible for the assembly of the heterotrimeric complex. We aimed at assessing the probability of each subunit to participate in the assembly of NF-Y. The evaluation of physical interactions among all members of the NF-Y subunit families indicate a strong requirement for NF-YB/NF-YC heterodimerization before the entire complex can be accomplished. By means of a modified yeast two-hybrid system assembly of all three subunits to a heterotrimeric complex was demonstrated. Using GFP fusion constructs, NF-YA and NF-YC localization in the nucleus was demonstrated, while NF- YB is solely imported into the nucleus as a NF-YC-associated heterodimer NF-YC. This piggyback transport of the two Arabidopsis subunits differs from the import of the NF-Y heterotrimer of heterotrophic organisms. Based on a peptide structure model of the histone-fold-motifs, disulfide bonding among intramolecular conserved cysteine residues of NF-YB, which is responsible for the redox-regulated assembly of NF-YB and NF-YC in human and Aspergillus nidulans, can be excluded for Arabidopsis NF-YB.

The Ins and Outs of the Rice AGAMOUS Subfamily

Genes of the AGAMOUS subfamily have been shown to play crucial roles in reproductive organ identity determination, fruit, and seed development. They have been deeply studied in eudicot species and especially in Arabidopsis. Recently, the AGAMOUS subfamily of rice has been studied for their role in flower development and an enormous amount of data has been generated. In this review, we provide an overview of these data and discuss the conservation of gene functions between rice and Arabidopsis.

Characterization of Three Homoeologous cDNAs Encoding Chloroplast-targeted Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase in Common Wheat

In the tetrapyrrole biosynthetic pathway of higher plants, 5-aminolevulinic acid （ALA） is metabolized by ALA dehydratase （ALAD）. Here, we isolated ALAD1 cDNA from common wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） and its diploid progenitors, and produced transgenic tobacco plants expressing the wheat ALAD1 gene. The ALAD1 genes were highly conserved among wheat relatives, and three homoeologous loci of wheat ALAD1 （TaALAD1） were equally transcribed in common wheat. A transient expression assay of a TaALAD1-GFP （green fluorescent protein） fusion protein suggested that TaALAD1 is localized in chloroplasts. Overexpression of TaALAD1 in transgenic tobacco resulted in a significant increase in ALAD activity in leaves. Moreover, the transgenic tobacco showed vigorous growth and increased survival rate on medium containing ALA at herbicidal concentrations. These results indicate that wheat ALAD1 has catalytic activity in metabolizing ALA in plastids, and that ectopic expression of TaALAD1 in transgenic plants increases their tolerance to ALA application at high concentrations.

Prediction and Validation of Promoters Involved in the Abscisic Acid Response in Physcomitrella patens

Detection of cis-regulatory elements, such as transcription factor binding sites （TFBS）, through utilization of ortholog conservation is possible only if genomic data from closely related organisms are available. An alternative approach is the detection of TFBS based on their overrepresentation in promoters of co-regulated genes. However, this approach usually suffers from a high rate of false-positive prediction. Here, we have conducted a case study using promoters of genes known to be strongly induced by the phytohormone abscisic acid （ABA） in the model plant Physcomitrella patens, a moss. Putative TFBS were detected using three de novo motif detection tools in a strict consensus approach. The resulting motifs were validated using data from microarray expression profiling and were able to predict ABA-induced genes with high specificity （90.48%） at mediocre sensitivity （33.33%）. In addition, 27 genes predicted to contain ABA-responsive TFBS were validated using real-time PCR. Here, a total of 37% of the genes could be shown to be induced upon ABA treatment, while 70% were found to be regulated by ABA. We conclude that the consensus approach for motif detection using coregulation information can be used to identify genes that are regulated under a given stimulus. In terms of evolution, we find that the ABA response has apparently been conserved since the first land plants on the level of families involved in transcriptional regulation.

Phototropism in land plants： Molecules and mechanism from light perception to response

BACKGROUND： Phototropism is the response a plant exhibits when it is faced with a directional blue light stimulus. Though a seemingly simple differential cell elongation response within a responding tissue that results in organ curvature, phototropism is regulated through a complex set of signal perception and transduction events that move from the plasma membrane to the nucleus. In nature phototropism is one of several plant responses that have evolved to optimize photosynthesis and growth. OBJECTIVE： In the present work we will review the state of the field with respect to the molecules and mechanisms associated with phototropism in land plants. METHODS： A systematic literature search was done to identify relevant advances in the field. Though we tried to focus on literature within the past decade （1998-present）, we have discussed and cited older literature where appropriate because of context or its significant impact to the present field. Several previous review articles are also cited where appropriate and readers should seek those out. RESULTS： A total of 199 articles are cited that fulfill the criteria listed above. CONCLUSIONS： Though important numerous and significant advances have been made in our understanding of the molecular, biochemical, cell biological and physiologic mechanisms underlying phototropism in land plants over the past decade, there are many remaining unanswered questions. The future is indeed bright for researchers in the field and we look forward to the next decade worth of discoveries.