Control of sulfate concentration by miR395-targeted APS genes in Arabidopsis thaliana

Sulfur nutrition is crucial for plant growth and development, as well as crop yield and quality. Inorganic sulfate in the soil is the major sulfur source for plants. After uptake, sulfate is activated by ATP sulfurylase, and then gets assimilated into sulfur-containing metabolites. However, the mechanism of regulation of sulfate levels by ATP sulfurylase is unclear. Here, we investigated the control of sulfate levels by miR395-mediated regulation of APS1/3/4. Sulfate was over-accumulated in the shoots of miR395 over-expression plants in which the expression of the APS1, APS3, and APS4 genes was suppressed. Accordingly, reduced expression of miR395 caused a decline of sulfate concentration. In agreement with these results, over-expression of the APS1, APS3, and APS4 genes led to the reduction of sulfate levels. Differential expression of these three APS genes in response to sulfate starvation implied that they have different functions. Further investigation revealed that the regulation of sulfate levels mediated by miR395 depends on the repression of its APS targets. Unlike the APS1, APS3, and APS4 genes, which encode plastid-localized ATP sulfurylases, the APS2 gene encodes a cytosolic version of ATP sulfurylase. Genetic analysis indicated that APS2 has no significant effect on sulfate levels. Our data suggest that miR395-targeted APS genes are key regulators of sulfate concentration in leaves.

Tetany due to hypoparathyroidism as the initial manifestation of autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type-2: A case report

Hypoparathyroidism is most commonly isolated and idiopathic. Hypoparathyroidism in autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type-2 (APS-2) is extremely rare with few isolated reports and usually presents late. We present perhaps for the first time, hypoparathyroidism being the initial manifestation of APS-2 which was diagnosed in a 32 year lady with tingling of the extremities along with hypocalcemic tetany for 15 years. She also had generalized acral and mucosal hyperpigmentation of 2 years duration. Investigations were significant for low calcium (7.1mg/dl), elevated phosphorus (4.8mg/dl), vitamin-D insufficiency (27.4ng/ml), low intact parathyroid hormone (2.3pg/ml), low basal (4.7mcg/dl) and stimulated serum cortisol (9.2mcg/dl at half hour, 11.4mcg/dl at 1 hour post synacthen), elevated triiodothyronine (2.1ng/ml) and free tetraiodothyronine (2.4ng/dl) along with suppressed TSH (<0.005 U/L). Imaging relevaled mild cerebellar calcification, normal adrenals with diffuse uptake of Tc(99)- pertechnate. A diagnosis of hypoparathyroidism with Addison's and Graves' disease as a part of APS-2 was made. This report intends to highlight the clinical heterogeneity and varied presentation of APS-2. Routine screening of other hormonal function (especially adrenal function, thyroid function and blood glucose) in a patient with diagnosed hypoparathyroidism is advisable to decrease the chances of missing APS-2.

[Follow-up of sisters, the enzygotic twins, with type 1 autoimmune polyglandular syndrome]

Autoimmune polyglandular syndromes (APS 1 and 2 types) are the primary defeat of the autoimmune process of two or more peripheral endocrine glands, usually leading to their functional failure and often combined with variousthe genogenic (Mendelian) nature of inheritance, when the autoimmune process in the endocrine and non-endocrine organs is caused by a mutation of a single AIRE gene (autoimmune regulator). Earlier, we published a case report of type 1 APS in a patient of 8 years old. Now she is 10 years. 1.5 years after the illness of this girl, a similar diagnosis was made to her twin sister. We believe that information about the characteristics of the disease in the twin sisters will make a certain contribution to the creatures.