Transdifferentiation of stem cells: from the cell to the body

The phases of embryo development, starting with the formation of gametes and germlines, are considered. This study described the differences in the selection of germ and somatic cells. The formation of true germ cells is associated with the induction of bone morphogenetic protein. The zinc-finger transcription factor is the marker of the formation of true germ cells in primates. True germ cells have two types: germ cells that form endoderm and those that form an epiblast. Their differentiation is provided by the growth factor of fibroblasts due to the signaling protein FGF4, which interacts with the FGFR2 receptor in the primary endoderm. The migration of germ cells is controlled by the factors of stromal cells. The implantation of a fertilized egg is associated with the peculiarities of the differentiation of the trophectoderm and the influence of transcription factors. Since stem cell lines are isolated from non-brain tissues, their origin and development remain not fully established. In mice, the chorion is formed from a small area of trophectoderm covered with an out-of-the-mouth mesoderm on the proximal end of the egg lumen. In humans, the chorion, together with its basisnon-embryonic mesodermis the earliest appearance of tissue emanating from the primary endoderm. Modern research has confirmed the possibility of obtaining clones from the nuclei of early blastomere embryos. However, the use of cell nuclei at later stages yielded unsatisfactory results. The use of embryonic stem nuclei has produced much better results than the use of cells in the later stages of development. Therefore, whatever the source of the cores, they should be in the G0 or G1 phase, but not in G2.

Targeting the B1 Gene and Analysis of Its Polymorphism Associated with Awned/Awnless Trait in Russian Germplasm Collections of Common Wheat

The presence of awns on the ear is associated with a number of important plant properties, such as drought resistance, quality of the grain mass during processing, etc. The main manifestations of this trait are controlled by the B1 gene, which has recently been identified and encodes the C2H2 zinc finger transcription factor. Based on the previously identified SNPs in the promoter region of this gene, we constructed markers for dominant and recessive alleles which determine awnless and awned phenotypes, respectively. The markers were successful for use in targeting the respective alleles of the B1 gene in 176 varieties of common wheat, accessions of T. spelta L., as well as on F2/F3 hybrids from crosses between awned and awnless forms of T. aestivum. We first identified a new allele, b1mite, which has both an insert of a miniature Stowaway-like transposon, 261 bp in length, and 33 novel SNPs in the promoter region. Despite these changes, this allele had no effect on the awned phenotype. The possible mechanisms of the influence of the analyzed gene on phenotype are discussed.

SALL4 and microRNA: The Role of Let-7

SALL4 is a zinc finger transcription factor that belongs to the spalt-like (SALL) gene fam-ily. It plays important roles in the maintenance of self-renewal and pluripotency of embryonic stem cells, and its expression is repressed in most adult organs. SALL4 re-expression has been observed in different types of human cancers, and dysregulation of SALL4 contributes to the pathogenesis, metastasis, and even drug resistance of multiple cancer types. Surprisingly, little is known regard-ing how SALL4 expression is controlled, but recently microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as im-portant regulators of SALL4. Due to the ability of regulating targets differentially in specific tissues, and recent advances in systemic and organ specific miRNA delivery mechanisms, miRNAs have emerged as promising therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. In this review, we summarize cur-rent knowledge of the interaction between SALL4 and miRNAs in mammalian development and cancer, paying particular attention to the emerging roles of the Let-7/Lin28 axis. In addition, we discuss the therapeutic prospects of targeting SALL4 using miRNA-based strategies, with a focus on the Let-7/LIN28 axis.

The THO/TREX Complex Component RAE2/TEX1 Is Involved in the Regulation of Aluminum Resistance and Low Phosphate Response in Arabidopsis

The C2H2-type zinc finger transcription factor SENSITIVE TO PROTON RHIZOTOXICITY 1 (STOP1) plays a critical role in aluminum (Al) resistance and low phosphate (Pi) response mainly through promoting the expression of the malate transporter-encoding gene ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA ALUMINUM ACTIVATED MALATE TRANSPORTER 1 (AtALMT1). We previously showed that REGULATION OF ATALMT1 EXPRESSION 3 (RAE3/HPR1), a core component of the THO/TREX complex, is involved in the regulation of nucleocytoplasmic STOP1 mRNA export to modulate Al resistance and low Pi response. Here, we report that RAE2/TEX1, another core component of the THO complex, is also involved in the regulation of Al resistance and low Pi response. Mutation of RAE2 reduced the expression of STOP1-downstream genes, including AtALMT1. rae2 was less sensitive to Al than rae3, which was consistent with less amount of malate secreted from rae3 roots than from rae2 roots. Nevertheless, low Pi response was impaired more in rae2 than in rae3, suggesting that RAE2 also regulates AtALMT1-independent pathway to modulate low Pi response. Furthermore, unlike RAE3 that regulates STOP1 mRNA export, mutating RAE2 did not affect STOP1 mRNA accumulation in the nucleus, although STOP1 protein level was reduced in rae2. Introduction of rae1 mutation into rae2 mutant background could partially recover the deficient phenotypes of rae2. Together, our results demonstrate that RAE2 and RAE3 play overlapping but distinct roles in the modulation of Al resistance and low Pi response.

Signatures of Transcription Factor Evolution and the Secondary Gain of Red Algae Complexity

Red algae (Rhodophyta) belong to the superphylum Archaeplastida, and are a species-rich group exhibiting diverse morphologies. Theory has it that the unicellular red algal ancestor went through a phase of genome contraction caused by adaptation to extreme environments. More recently, the classes Porphyridiophyceae, Bangiophyceae, and Florideophyceae experienced genome expansions, coinciding with an increase in morphological complexity. Transcription-associated proteins (TAPs) regulate transcription, show lineage-specific patterns, and are related to organismal complexity. To better understand red algal TAP complexity and evolution, we investigated the TAP family complement of uni- and multi-cellular red algae. We found that the TAP family complement correlates with gain of morphological complexity in the multicellular Bangiophyceae and Florideophyceae, and that abundance of the C2H2 zinc finger transcription factor family may be associated with the acquisition of morphological complexity. An expansion of heat shock transcription factors (HSF) occurred within the unicellular Cyanidiales, potentially as an adaption to extreme environmental conditions.

The apple C2H2-type zinc finger transcription factor MdZAT10 positively regulates JA-induced leaf senescence by interacting with MdBT2

Jasmonic acid (JA) plays an important role in regulating leaf senescence. However, the molecular mechanisms of leaf senescence in apple (Malus domestica) remain elusive. In this study, we found that MdZAT10, a C2H2-type zinc finger transcription factor (TF) in apple, markedly accelerates leaf senescence and increases the expression of senescence-related genes. To explore how MdZAT10 promotes leaf senescence, we carried out liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry screening. We found that MdABI5 physically interacts with MdZAT10. MdABI5, an important positive regulator of leaf senescence, significantly accelerated leaf senescence in apple. MdZAT10 was found to enhance the transcriptional activity of MdABI5 for MdNYC1 and MdNYE1, thus accelerating leaf senescence. In addition, we found that MdZAT10 expression was induced by methyl jasmonate (MeJA), which accelerated JA-induced leaf senescence. We also found that the JA-responsive protein MdBT2 directly interacts with MdZAT10 and reduces its protein stability through ubiquitination and degradation, thereby delaying MdZAT10-mediated leaf senescence. Taken together, our results provide new insight into the mechanisms by which MdZAT10 positively regulates JA-induced leaf senescence in apple.