The central role of the VERNALIZATION1 gene in the vernalization response of cereals

Many varieties of wheat (Triticum spp.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) require prolonged exposure to cold during winter in order to flower (vernalization). In these cereals, vernalization-induced flowering is controlled by the VERNALIZATION1 (VRN1) gene. VRN1 is a promoter of flowering that is activated by low temperatures. VRN1 transcript levels increase gradually during vernalization, with longer cold treatments inducing higher expression levels. Elevated VRN1 expression is maintained in the shoot apex and leaves after vernalization, and the level of VRN1 expression in these organs determines how rapidly vernalized plants flower. Some alleles of VRN1 are expressed without vernalization due to deletions or insertions within the promoter or first intron of the VRN1 gene. Varieties of wheat and barley with these alleles flower without vernalization and are grown where vernalization does not occur. The first intron of the VRN1 locus has histone modifications typically associated with the maintenance of an inactive chromatin state, suggesting this region is targeted by epigenetic mechanisms that contribute to repression of VRN1 before winter. Other mechanisms are likely to act elsewhere in the VRN1 gene to mediate low-temperature induction. This review examines how understanding the mechanisms that regulate VRN1 provides insights into the biology of vernalization-induced flowering in cereals and how this will contribute to future cereal breeding strategies.

Download Full-text

Skeletal Muscle Adaptations to Prolonged Exposure to Extreme Altitude: A Role of Physical Activity?

High Altitude Medicine & Biology ◽

10.1089/ham.2008.1009 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 311-317 ◽

Cited By ~ 50

Author(s):

Masao Mizuno ◽

Gabrielle K Savard ◽

Nils-Holger Areskog ◽

Carsten Lundby ◽

Bengt Saltin

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Prolonged Exposure ◽

Muscle Adaptations ◽

Extreme Altitude ◽

Skeletal Muscle Adaptations

Download Full-text

Role of Somaclonal Variation in Cereal Breeding for Aluminum Resistance

Temperate Crop Science and Breeding ◽

10.1201/b19861-11 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 75-96

Keyword(s):

Somaclonal Variation ◽

Aluminum Resistance ◽

Cereal Breeding

Download Full-text

Understanding The Role Of Oxidative Stress In The Incidence Of Metabolic Syndrome And Obstructive Sleep Apnea

10.21203/rs.3.rs-279301/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Behnam KARGAR ◽

Zahra ZAMANIAN ◽

Majid Bagheri HOSSEINABADI ◽

Vahid Gharibi ◽

Mohammad Sanyar MORADI ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Sleep Apnea ◽

Prolonged Exposure ◽

International Diabetes Federation ◽

Stress Index ◽

Obstructive Sleep

Abstract Background: Understanding the causes and risk factors of metabolic syndrome is important for promoting population health. Oxidative stress has been associated with metabolic syndrome, and also obstructive sleep apnea. These are two diseases which have common prognostic characteristics for heart disease. The aim of this study was to examine the role of oxidative stress in the concurrent presence of metabolic syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea in a working population. Methods: Participants were 163 artisan bakers in Shahroud, Iran, routinely exposed to oxidative stress indicators on a daily basis as part of their work. Using a cross-sectional design, data relevant to determining metabolic syndrome status according to International Diabetes Federation criteria, and the presence of obstructive sleep apnea according to the STOP-Bang score, was collected. Analyses included hierarchical binary logistic regression to yield predictors of the two diseases. Results: Logistic regression showed that oxidative stress – alongside obesity, no regular exercise, and smoking – was an independent predictor of metabolic syndrome, but not obstructive sleep apnea. Participants who were obese were 28 times more likely to have metabolic syndrome (OR 28.59, 95% CI 4.91-63.02) and 44 times more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea (OR 44.48, 95% CI 4.91-403.28). Participants meeting metabolic syndrome criteria had significantly higher levels of malondialdehyde (p < 0.05) than those who did not. No difference in oxidative stress index levels were found according to obstructive sleep apnea status. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that oxidative stress contributes to the onset of metabolic syndrome, and that obstructive sleep apnea is involved in oxidative stress. Whilst obesity, exercise, and smoking remain important targets for reducing the incidence of metabolic syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea, policies to control risks of prolonged exposure to oxidative stress are also relevant in occupations where such environmental conditions exist.

Download Full-text

The Role of Transcription Factor PU.I in the Activity of the Intronic Enhancer of the Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin (RNS2) Gene

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v91.6.2126.2126_2126_2132 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 91 (6) ◽

pp. 2126-2132 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Thamar B. van Dijk ◽

Eric Caldenhoven ◽

Jan A.M. Raaijmakers ◽

Jan-Willem J. Lammers ◽

Leo Koenderman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transcription Factor ◽

Point Mutations ◽

Proximal Promoter ◽

Multiple Forms ◽

Enhancer Activity ◽

Promoter Sequences ◽

Intronic Enhancer ◽

First Intron ◽

Shift Analysis

Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) found in the granules of human eosinophils is a cationic ribonuclease toxin. Expression of the EDN gene (RNS2) in eosinophils is dependent on proximal promoter sequences in combination with an enhancer located in the first intron. We further define here the active region of the intron using transfections in differentiated eosinophilic HL60 cells. We show that a region containing a tandem PU.I binding site is important for intronic enhancer activity. This region binds multiple forms of transcription factor PU.I as judged by gel-shift analysis and DNA affinity precipitation. Importantly, introducing point mutations in the PU.I site drastically reduces the intronic enhancer activity, showing the importance of PU.I for expression of EDN in cells of the eosinophilic lineage.

Download Full-text

The Possible Role of Bifidobacterium longum BB536 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 on Locomotor Activity and Oxidative Stress in a Rotenone-Induced Zebrafish Model of Parkinson’s Disease

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity ◽

10.1155/2021/9629102 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Ovidiu-Dumitru Ilie ◽

Emanuela Paduraru ◽

Madalina-Andreea Robea ◽

Ioana-Miruna Balmus ◽

Roxana Jijie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Locomotor Activity ◽

Prolonged Exposure ◽

Bifidobacterium Longum ◽

The Body ◽

The Other ◽

Control Group

Background. As every organ within the body, the brain is also extremely susceptible to a plethora of noxious agents that change its chemistry. One component frequently found in current products against harmful species to crops is rotenone whose effect under prolonged exposure has been demonstrated to cause neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. The latest reports have indeed revealed that rotenone promotes Parkinson’s in humans, but studies aiming to show congruent effects in zebrafish (Danio rerio) are lacking. Material and Methods. In this context, the aim of the present study was to demonstrate how chronic administration of rotenone for 3 weeks impairs the locomotor activity and sociability and induces oxidative stress in zebrafish. Results. There were no statistically significant differences following the analysis of their social interaction and locomotor tests ( p > 0.05 ). However, several exceptions have been noted in the control, rotenone, and probiotics groups when we compared their locomotor activity during the pretreatment and treatment interval ( p < 0.05 ). We further assessed the role of rotenone in disturbing the detoxifying system as represented by three enzymes known as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and malondialdehyde (MDA). Despite the fact that there were no statistically significant changes within SOD and GPx levels between the control group and rotenone, probiotics, and rotenone + probiotics ( p > 0.05 ), relevant changes have been observed between the analyzed groups ( p < 0.05 and p < 0.005 , respectively). On the other hand, significant differences ( p < 0.05 ) have been observed for MDA when we analyzed the data between the control group and the other three groups. Conclusions. Our results suggest that rotenone can be successfully used to trigger Parkinson’s disease-related symptomatology in zebrafish.

Download Full-text

Genome-Wide Expression of MicroRNAs Is Regulated by DNA Methylation in Hepatocarcinogenesis

Gastroenterology Research and Practice ◽

10.1155/2015/230642 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Jing Shen ◽

Shuang Wang ◽

Abby B. Siegel ◽

Helen Remotti ◽

Qiao Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dna Methylation ◽

Potential Role ◽

Dna Hypermethylation ◽

Two Phase ◽

Genome Wide ◽

Phase Study ◽

A Genome ◽

Genome Wide Expression ◽

Inactive Chromatin

Background.Previous studies, including ours, have examined the regulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) by DNA methylation, but whether this regulation occurs at a genome-wide level in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear.Subjects/Methods.Using a two-phase study design, we conducted genome-wide screening for DNA methylation and miRNA expression to explore the potential role of methylation alterations in miRNAs regulation.Results.We found that expressions of 25 miRNAs were statistically significantly different between tumor and nontumor tissues and perfectly differentiated HCC tumor from nontumor. Six miRNAs were overexpressed, and 19 were repressed in tumors. Among 133 miRNAs with inverse correlations between methylation and expression, 8 miRNAs (6%) showed statistically significant differences in expression between tumor and nontumor tissues. Six miRNAs were validated in 56 additional paired HCC tissues, and significant inverse correlations were observed for miR-125b and miR-199a, which is consistent with the inactive chromatin pattern found in HepG2 cells.Conclusion.These data suggest that the expressions of miR-125b and miR-199a are dramatically regulated by DNA hypermethylation that plays a key role in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Download Full-text

Analysis of Role Stress in the Indian IT Industry

Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Human Capital and Information Technology Professionals - Advances in Information Security, Privacy, and Ethics ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-5297-0.ch001 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 1-23

Author(s):

Shubhangini Rathore

Keyword(s):

Prolonged Exposure ◽

Service Industry ◽

Demographic Factors ◽

Role Stress ◽

It Industry ◽

Work Related ◽

Mind And Body ◽

Related Stress ◽

The Mind

Contemporary industries face new competition requiring employees to work for longer hours under competitive time-bound deadlines. Prolonged exposure to such stressful situations leads to a depletion and exhaustion of resources in the mind and body with dysfunctional effects on job performance and overall organizational effectiveness. The Indian IT industry is a fast-paced service industry that is characterized by such stressful work situations and related outcomes. This chapter analyses the various factors that contribute to organizational stress and the role of demographic factors on role stress among the professionals of the Indian IT industry. A sample of 250 employees has been collected from the Delhi NCR region. Role stress has been measured by using the ORS scale which comprises of 10 dimensions of the role of stress that are measured by 50 items. The results show that there is a considerable amount of work related stress along with a significant impact of demographic factors on the role of stress amongst the IT professionals.

Download Full-text