In a study on the correlation between tryptamine levels and sakuranetin accumulation in the Sekiguchi lesion mutant (SLM) of rice, accumulation was found to be light dependent after inoculation with Magnaporthe oryzae. It was also induced by treatment with tryptamine under white light, but not in the dark. Light-dependent sakuranetin accumulation induced by tryptamine treatment or by infection with M. oryzae was significantly inhibited in the leaves pretreated with metalaxyl, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor.

The draft genome of Tibetan hulless barley provides a robust framework to better understand Poaceae evolution and a substantial basis for functional genomics of crop species with a large genome. The expansion of stress-related gene families in Tibetan hulless barley implies that it could be considered as an invaluable gene resource aiding stress tolerance improvement in Triticeae crops.

A key factor regulating the air−sea balance of carbon dioxide (CO₂) is the sinking of particles containing organic carbon from the surface to the deep ocean. The depth at which this carbon is released back into the water (remineralization) has a strong influence on atmospheric CO₂ concentration. Here we show a significant relationship between the remineralization depth of sinking organic carbon flux in the upper ocean and water temperature

NAC proteins are plant-specific transcription factors (TFs). Although they play a pivotal role in regulating distinct biological processes, TFs in maize are yet to be investigated comprehensively. Within the maize genome, we identified 152 putative NAC domain-encoding genes (ZmNACs), including eight membrane-bound members, by systematic sequence analysis and physically mapped them onto ten chromosomes of maize

Brassinosteroid (BR) differentially regulates the number of stem cell daughters in the root meristem. How its activity coordinates and maintains the meristem size remains unknown. We show that BR signal coordinates root growth by evoking distinct and often opposing responses in specific tissues. Whereas epidermal BR signal promotes stem cell daughter proliferation, the stele-derived BR signal induces their differentiation

Gene targeting (GT) refers to the designed modification of genomic sequence(s) through homologous recombination (HR). GT is a powerful tool both for the study of gene function and for molecular breeding. However, in transformation of higher plants, non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) occurs overwhelmingly in somatic cells, masking HR-mediated GT. Positive-negative selection (PNS) is an approach for finding HR-mediated GT events because it can eliminate NHEJ effectively by expression of a negative-selection marker gene

The development of superbugs becomes an issue due to its threats to human health. This is due to the increased antibiotic resistance of certain infectious organisms such as bacteria affecting the safety of animal and the quality of its products. With this, Colorado State University researchers, Dr. Paul Morey and Dr. Keith Belk are leading the study of the process and mechanism involved in the development of superbugs in beef and dairy cattle industry.

Using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in wild-type and mutant Arabidopsis, we characterize a novel mechanism associated with the de novo establishment of heritable epigenetic marks in plants. Once established by this novel mechanism, the epigenetic mark is then reinforced by the previously characterized PolIV pathway of RNA-directed DNA methylation. A similar transition from the novel mechanism to the PolIV pathway is likely to explain many epigenetic phenomena in which RNA-directed DNA methylation is established de novo, including transposon silencing and paramutation.

DNA methylation, a chemical mark on chromatin, while not affecting DNA's primary sequence, plays important roles in silencing “bad DNA” that would become deleterious to cells if abnormally expressed. This DNA methylation-mediated silencing system against bad DNA is tightly regulated to prevent the misplacement of methylation on “good DNA.” In Arabidopsis thaliana,

Daily rhythms of gene expression ensure that biological processes occur at the optimal time of day. In plants, temporally regulated processes include traits of ecological and agricultural importance, and understanding how changes in daily rhythms of expression modify such traits has broad implications