Regulation of S-like ribonuclease levels in Arabidopsis. Antisense inhibition of RNS1 or RNS2 elevates anthocyanin accumulation

The S-like ribonucleases (RNases) RNS1 and RNS2 of Arabidopsis are members of the widespread T2 ribonuclease family, whose members also include the S-RNases, involved in gametophytic self-incompatibility in plants. Both RNS1 and RNS2 mRNAs have been shown previously to be induced by inorganic phosphate (Pi) starvation. In our study we examined this regulation at the protein level and determined the effects of diminishing RNS1 and RNS2 expression using antisense techniques. The Pi-starvation control of RNS1 and RNS2 was confirmed using antibodies specific for each protein. These specific antibodies also demonstrated that RNS1 is secreted, whereas RNS2 is intracellular. By introducing antisense constructs, mRNA accumulation was inhibited by up to 90% for RNS1 and up to 65% for RNS2. These plants contained abnormally high levels of anthocyanins, the production of which is often associated with several forms of stress, including Pi starvation. This effect demonstrates that diminishing the amounts of either RNS1 or RNS2 leads to effects that cannot be compensated for by the actions of other RNases, even though Arabidopsis contains a large number of different RNase activities. These results, together with the differential localization of the proteins, imply that RNS1 and RNS2 have distinct functions in the plant.

Stimulation of mitogenesis by a cell-permeable PI 3-kinase binding peptide

The binding of small phosphopeptides to the SH2 domains of the p85 regulatory subunit of PI 3-kinase can activate the enzyme in vitro. In the present study a cell-permeable peptide that binds specifically to the SH2 domains of p85 has been evaluated for its ability to stimulate a mitogenic response in the C2 muscle cell line. This peptide, in contrast to four other SH2-binding peptides, was as effective as serum, EGF, and FGF at stimulating entry into S-phase. The response to the p85 binding peptide, but not FGF, was inhibited by wortmannin and rapamycin, indicating that the peptide activates the PI 3-kinase/S6 kinase signalling pathway. The peptide response was not inhibited by the MEK inhibitor (PD098059) and did not stimulate Erk phosphorylation. Thus, there would appear to be no direct cross-talk between the pathway activated by the p85 binding peptide and the p42/p44 MAPK cascade.

Direct evidence for rapid degradation of Bacillus thuringiensis toxin mRNA as a cause of poor expression in plants

It is well established that the expression of Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) toxin genes in higher plants is severely limited at the mRNA level, but the cause remains controversial. Elucidating whether mRNA accumulation is limited transcriptionally or posttranscriptionally could contribute to effective gene design as well as provide insights about endogenous plant gene-expression mechanisms. To resolve this controversy, we compared the expression of an A/U-rich wild-type cryIA(c) gene and a G/C-rich synthetic cryIA(c) B.t.-toxin gene under the control of identical 5' and 3' flanking sequences. Transcriptional activities of the genes were equal as determined by nuclear run-on transcription assays. In contrast, mRNA half-life measurements demonstrated directly that the wild-type transcript was markedly less stable than that encoded by the synthetic gene. Sequences that limit mRNA accumulation were located at more than one site within the coding region, and some appeared to be recognized in Arabidopsis but not in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum). These results support previous observations that some A/U-rich sequences can contribute to mRNA instability in plants. Our studies further indicate that some of these sequences may be differentially recognized in tobacco cells and Arabidopsis.

Premature polyadenylation at multiple sites within a Bacillus thuringiensis toxin gene-coding region

Some foreign genes introduced into plants are poorly expressed, even when transcription is controlled by a strong promoter. Perhaps the best examples of this problem are the cry genes of Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.), which encode the insecticidal proteins commonly referred to as B.t. toxins. As a step toward overcoming such problems most effectively, we sought to elucidate the mechanisms limiting the expression of a typical B.t.-toxin gene, cryIA(c), which accumulates very little mRNA in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) cells. Most cell lines transformed with the cryIA(c) B.t.-toxin gene accumulate short, polyadenylated transcripts. The abundance of these transcripts can be increased by treating the cells with cycloheximide, a translation inhibitor that can stabilize many unstable transcripts. Using a series of hybridizations, reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reactions, and RNase-H-digestion experiments, poly(A+) addition sites were identified in the B.t.-toxin-coding region corresponding to the short transcripts. A fourth polyadenylation site was identified using a chimeric gene. These results demonstrate for the first time to our knowledge that premature polyadenylation can limit the expression of a foreign gene in plants. Moreover, this work emphasizes that further study of the fundamental principles governing polyadenylation in plants will have basic as well as applied significance.

Senescence-induced RNases in tomato

A main feature of leaf senescence is the hydrolysis of macromolecules by hydrolases of various types, and redistribution of released materials. We have initiated a study for the characterization of RNases involved in nucleic acid catabolism during senescence. Using a PCR-based cloning approach we isolated from tomato two senescence-induced RNase cDNA clones. Each of these cDNAs hybridized to a senescence-induced transcript in northern analysis. One RNase cDNA was identical to the tomato LX RNase while the second corresponded to the LE RNase. Both LX and LE RNase genes had originally been demonstrated to be induced after phosphate starvation of tomato cell culture but nothing was known about their expression or function in plants. We observed that the expression of the LX and LE genes is induced in leaves during an advanced stage of senescence with the LX transcript level being much more induced than that of LE. Low-level expression of the RNase genes was observed in flowers and artificially senescing detached leaves while no expression could be detected in stems, roots, or fruits at different ripening stages. Ethylene activated the LX gene expression in detached young leaves while LE gene expression, which could be transiently induced by wounding, appeared to be activated by abscisic acid. We suggest that the LX RNase has a role in RNA catabolism in the final stage of senescence, and LE may function during wounding as a plant defense protein.

Rare codons are not sufficient to destabilize a reporter gene transcript in tobacco

In plants, as in other eukaryotes, most synonymous codons of the genetic-code are not used with equal frequency, but instead some codons are preferred, whereas others are rare. Circumstantial evidence led to the suggestion that rare codons have a negative influence on mRNA stability. To address this question experimentally, rare codons encoded by a Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) toxin gene (cryIA(c)) or a synthetic sequence were introduced into a phytohemagglutinin (PHA) reporter gene. In neither case was the mRNA stability appreciably diminished in stably transformed tobacco cell cultures nor was the accumulation of mRNA in transgenic plants affected. Thus rare codons do not appear to be sufficient to cause rapid degradation of the PHA mRNA and potentially other mRNAs in plants.

Signal transduction mechanisms underlying axonal growth responses stimulated by cell adhesion molecules

The mechanisms underlying nerve growth have been extensively studied, and it has been found that the three cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) L1, NCAM and N-cadherin play a key role in this process. All three CAMs are able to stimulate axonal growth from a variety of neuronal cells, and a range of agents which either mimic or inhibit CAM stimulated neurite outgrowth have been identified and has provided a basis for understanding the nature of the response. Results from these studies suggested that activation of a tyrosine kinase-phospholipase C gamma (PLC gamma) cascade was required for the CAM response. Following the identification of a CAM-homology domain (CHD) within the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) and a putative CHD-binding motif within each of the CAMs, it was suggested that this might be the tyrosine kinase implicated in the CAM pathway. This has been tested experimentally in a number of ways, including the use of transgenic mice expressing a dominant-negative FGFR, and several results have now demonstrated that a functional FGFR is required for CAM stimulated neurite outgrowth. More recently, treatment of neurons with the CAMs has been shown to stimulate FGFR autophosphorylation and PLC gamma activity which in turn leads to activation of a second messenger cascade involving diacylglycerol and arachidonic acid and results in calcium influx into the neurons. Pharmacological studies have confirmed that this cascade is responsible for the neurite outgrowth response.

Selective inhibition of growth factor-stimulated mitogenesis by a cell-permeable Grb2-binding peptide

The activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade by a variety of growth factors and other agents is central to a mitogenic response. In the case of polypeptide growth factors such as the epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), the steps leading to activation of MAPK require the function of the adaptor protein Grb2 (growth factor receptor binding protein 2), which can bind either directly or indirectly via its Src homology 2 domain to activated receptor tyrosine kinases. A cell-permeable mimetic of the EGF receptor Grb2 binding site has been investigated for its ability to inhibit biological responses stimulated by a variety of growth factors. Pretreatment of cells with this peptide results in the accumulation of the peptide in cells and its association with Grb2. This is associated with a complete inhibition of the mitogenic response stimulated by EGF and PDGF. In contrast, the peptide has no effect on the mitogenic response stimulated by fibroblast growth factor. The peptide could also inhibit the phosphorylation of MAPK stimulated with EGF and PDGF in the absence of an effect on the fibroblast growth factor response. These data demonstrate that cell-permeable mimetics of Src homology 2 binding sites can selectively inhibit growth factor-stimulated mitogenesis, and also directly demonstrate specificity in the coupling of activated receptor tyrosine kinases to the MAPK cascade.

Differential roles of neuroticism, extraversion, and event desirability for mood in daily life: an integrative model of top-down and bottom-up influences

Top-down and bottom-up approaches were combined to assess the relative impact of extraversion, neuroticism, and daily events on daily mood. Ninety-six community-residing men completed diaries for 8 consecutive nights. Extraversion predicted positive mood, whereas neuroticism predicted positive and negative mood. Undesirable events predicted negative mood and, more modestly, positive mood. Desirable events predicted positive mood. Negative dispositional and situational factors play a larger role in daily positive affect than positive factors do in daily negative affect.

Regulatory activity exerted by the SAUR-AC1 promoter region in transgenic plants

SAUR-AC1 is a small-auxin-up-RNA (SAUR) gene of Arabidopsis. Here we demonstrate that the SAUR-AC1 promoter region induces accumulation of a reporter transcript upon treatment with auxin and is preferentially active in elongating hypocotyls and certain other organs and tissues of transgenic Arabidopsis and tobacco plants. This study extends the utility of the SAUR-AC1 gene by providing a foundation for comparative analyses of SAUR promoter activity in auxin-responsive mutants of Arabidopsis.

Differential roles of neuroticism, extraversion, and event desirability for mood in daily life: an integrative model of top-down and bottom-up influences

Top-down and bottom-up approaches were combined to assess the relative impact of extraversion, neuroticism, and daily events on daily mood. Ninety-six community-residing men completed diaries for 8 consecutive nights. Extraversion predicted positive mood, whereas neuroticism predicted positive and negative mood. Undesirable events predicted negative mood and, more modestly, positive mood. Desirable events predicted positive mood. Negative dispositional and situational factors play a larger role in daily positive affect than positive factors do in daily negative affect.

Control of mRNA stability in higher plants

The degradation rates of different mRNAs in higher plants can vary over a broad range and are regulated by a variety of endogenous and exogenous stimuli. During the past several years, efforts to better understand the control of mRNA stability in plants have increased considerably and this has led to improved methodologies and important mechanistic insights. In this review, we highlight some of the most interesting examples of plant transcripts that are controlled at the level of mRNA decay and discuss what has been learned from their study. Experiments that implicate or demonstrate the involvement of particular cis- and trans-acting factors in mRNA decay pathways are a major focus, as are those experiments that have led to mechanistic models. Emphasis is also placed on studies that address the relationship between translation and mRNA stability. Our current knowledge indicates that some of the determinants and pathways for mRNA decay may differ in plants compared to other eukaryotes, whereas others appear to be similar. This knowledge, coupled with the availability of biochemical, molecular and genetic approaches to elucidate plant mRNA decay mechanisms, should continue to lead to findings of novel and general significance.

Premature nonsense codons decrease the stability of phytohemagglutinin mRNA in a position-dependent manner

Premature termination of translation has often been associated with decreased mRNA accumulation in plants, but the affected step in gene expression has not been identified. To investigate this problem, the expression of wild-type and mutant alleles of the bean phytohemagglutinin (PHA) gene has been examined in tobacco cells and transgenic plants. Measurement of mRNA decay rates in stably transformed cell lines demonstrated that premature nonsense codons markedly destabilized the mRNA. This decreased stability was also reflected by decreased accumulation of transcripts containing premature nonsense codons in transgenic plants. The positional dependence of the nonsense codon effect was evaluated by introducing premature nonsense codons at different distances from the PHA AUG start codon. Transcripts with nonsense codons about 20, 40 or 60% of the way through the normal PHA coding region yielded highly unstable mRNAs, whereas a transcript with a nonsense codon at 80% was as stable as wild-type. The ability to recognize and rapidly degrade certain transcripts with early nonsense codons could provide plant cells with a means to minimize the production of wasteful and possible deleterious truncated proteins.

Promiscuity of fibroblast growth factor receptors

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) have been implicated in many developmental and regenerative events, including axial organisation, mesodermal patterning, keratinocyte organisation and brain development. The consensus view that this reflects a role for one or other of the nine known members of the fibroblast growth factor family in these processes has recently been challenged by the suggestion that FGFRs might be directly activated by a much wider range of ligands, including heparan sulphate proteoglycans and neural cell adhesion molecules. In addition, two novel soluble ligands for FGFRs have been identified using yeast two-hybrid technology. Overall, the new findings suggest that in terms of ligand binding the FGFRs might be an even more promiscuous family of receptor tyrosine kinases than was already appreciated.

Mutational analysis of the DST element in tobacco cells and transgenic plants: identification of residues critical for mRNA instability

DST (downstream element), an approximately 40-base sequence derived from the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of SAUR (small auxin up RNA) genes, represents one of only a few sequence elements that have been demonstrated directly to target transcripts for rapid decay in plant cells. Substitution mutations were made in conserved regions of the DST element containing the sequences ATAGAT and GTA, which are invariant among several SAUR genes. The mutant DST elements were inserted into the 3' UTR of a beta-globin reporter gene and then assessed for their ability to destabilize the reporter transcript in stably transformed BY-2 tobacco cells. Their effect on reporter mRNA accumulation in both intact transgenic tobacco plants and stably transformed BY-2 cells was also measured. Five- and six-base substitutions in the ATAGAT and GTA regions of DST, respectively, resulted in inactivation of the element as an instability determinant in all systems tested. Smaller, two-base substitution mutations within the ATAGAT and GTA regions had varying effects on DST function in BY-2 cells, ranging from little or no effect to significant increases in reporter mRNA half-life and accumulation. In contrast, all two-base substitution mutations tested resulted in inactivation of DST in intact tobacco leaves. Together, these results indicate that bases within both the ATAGAT and GTA regions of DST are required for its function as an mRNA instability determinant in both BY-2 cells and leaves of transgenic plants, and that the sequence requirements for DST to function in leaves are more stringent.

Multiple regions of the Arabidopsis SAUR-AC1 gene control transcript abundance: the 3' untranslated region functions as an mRNA instability determinant

The small-auxin-up-RNA (SAUR) transcripts are rapidly induced by auxin and are among the most short-lived mRNAs in higher plants. In this study, we investigate the regulation of SAUR-AC1, a well characterized SAUR gene of Arabidopsis. Be examining the expression of chimeric genes in transgenic tobacco, we demonstrate that the promoter region of SAUR-AC1 mediates auxin induction. Sequences downstream of the promoter region were found to limit mRNA accumulation in a manner that was independent of auxin treatment. Both the coding region and the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of SAUR-AC1 independently contribute to this limitation. Effects on mRNA stability were assayed using chimeric genes under the control of the tetracycline-repressible Top10 promoter. mRNA half-life analysis following tetracycline treatment showed that the SAUR-AC1 coding region does not contain elements that decrease mRNA stability. In contrast, the 3' UTR was found to act as a potent mRNA instability determinant. This finding and the general utility of the Top10 system should provide the means to elucidate mRNA decay pathways that are potentially novel and specific for certain unstable transcripts.

The effects of caffeine on ambulatory blood pressure, heart rate, and mood in coffee drinkers

The present study examined the effects of caffeine, as typically ingested through coffee, on ambulatory systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), heart rate, and mood. Normotensive coffee drinkers wore a BP monitor for two 24-hr periods, consuming decaffeinated coffee. Each cup was supplemented with 125 mg caffeine or cornstarch. Systolic and diastolic BPs were elevated on the day caffeine was consumed (maximum, 3.6 and 5.6 mm Hg, respectively), most notably shortly after ingestion. Heart rate was higher overnight following caffeine consumption. Negative Affectivity was also increased by caffeine, but Positive Affectivity and tiredness were unaffected.

The role of yan in mediating the choice between cell division and differentiation

An allele of the yan locus was isolated as an enhancer of the Ellipse mutation of the Drosophila epidermal growth factor receptor (Egfr) gene. This yan allele is an embryonic lethal and also fails to complement the lethality of anterior open (aop) mutations. Phenotypic and complementation analysis revealed that aop is allelic to yan and genetically the lethal alleles act as null mutations for the yan gene. Analysis of the lethal alleles in the embryo and in mitotic clones showed that loss of yan function causes cells to overproliferate in the dorsal neuroectoderm of the embryo and in the developing eye disc. Our studies suggest that the role of yan is defined by the developmental context of the cells in which it functions. An important role of this gene is in allowing a cell to choose between cell division and differentiation. The relationship of the Egfr and Notch pathways to this developmental role of yan is discussed.

The cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate receptor binds to soluble GPI-linked proteins via mannose-6-phosphate

The cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor II receptor has been observed to bind to soluble forms of glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-linked molecules, one of mammalian origin (rat Thy-1) and two of protozoan origins. Of the two phosphate groups found on the soluble forms of the protozoan glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-linked molecules: (i) the internal mannose-6-phosphate diester (which forms a part of the ethanolamine bridge) and (ii) the inositol-1,2 cyclic phosphate group (which arises after cleavage of the membrane associated form with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C), only the former appears to be recognized by the mannose-6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor II receptor, as mild acid hydrolysis which destroys the latter has been observed not to affect the receptor binding site.

Identification and characterization of genes with unstable transcripts (GUTs) in tobacco

Plants and other higher eukaryotes have the ability to recognize and target specific transcripts for rapid decay from among the majority of relatively stable mRNAs present within cells. However, little is known about the nature of unstable transcripts in plants, or the mechanisms that facilitate their rapid degradation. As a first step toward understanding how plants distinguish between unstable and stable transcripts, a novel differential screen was used to identify cDNAs for genes with unstable transcripts (GUTs), solely on the basis of the instability of their mRNAs. cDNA probes were prepared from tobacco cells that had been depleted of highly unstable mRNAs by treatment for 90 min with a transcriptional inhibitor, and from control, untreated cells. GUT clones were selected on the basis of weak hybridization to the former probe relative to the latter probe. Half-life measurements performed on the mRNAs hybridizing to eight GUT clones indicated that each was unstable, with a half-life on the order of about an hour or less. All eight of the cDNAs corresponded to new tobacco genes, and four showed sequence similarity with genes from other species, including the eukaryotic family of DNAJ homologs, a tomato wound-inducible protein, and histone H3. In addition to providing information about the types of transcripts that are inherently unstable in plants, the GUT clones should provide excellent tools for the identification of cis- and trans-acting determinants of mRNA instability.

The cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate receptor binds to soluble GPI-linked proteins via mannose-6-phosphate

The cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor II receptor has been observed to bind to soluble forms of glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-linked molecules, one of mammalian origin (rat Thy-1) and two of protozoan origins. Of the two phosphate groups found on the soluble forms of the protozoan glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-linked molecules: (i) the internal mannose-6-phosphate diester (which forms a part of the ethanolamine bridge) and (ii) the inositol-1,2 cyclic phosphate group (which arises after cleavage of the membrane associated form with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C), only the former appears to be recognized by the mannose-6-phosphate/insulin-like growth factor II receptor, as mild acid hydrolysis which destroys the latter has been observed not to affect the receptor binding site.