The Transcription Factor ABI4 Is a Regulator of Mitochondrial Retrograde Expression of ALTERNATIVE OXIDASE1a1[C][W][OA]

Plant cells integrate signals from external sources and from organelles to regulate gene expression, referred to as anterograde and retrograde signaling, respectively. Functional characterization of the promoter of ALTERNATIVE OXIDASE1a (AOX1a) from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), a marker for mitochondrial retrograde response, was carried out by testing the ability of the AOX1a promoter to drive expression of the reporter gene GUS. This approach identified a strong repressor element, designated the B element, that was necessary for an increased promoter activity in response to the mitochondrial complex I inhibitor rotenone. This element overlaps with a previously identified potential binding site for the transcription factor ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE4 (ABI4). AOX1a promoter activity was fully derepressed in abi4 mutants and was unresponsive to rotenone. Furthermore, deletion of the B element of the AOX1a promoter resulted in increased GUS staining activity compared to the wild-type promoter in transgenic plants. Binding of the ABI4 transcription factor to this region of the AOX1a promoter was demonstrated by electromobility shift and yeast one-hybrid assays. Analysis of transcript abundance for AOX1a in abi4 mutant lines revealed significantly increased levels of AOX1a mRNA that could not be further induced by rotenone, consistent with the role of ABI4 as a repressor that is derepressed in response to rotenone. These results show that ABI4 plays a central role in mediating mitochondrial retrograde signals to induce the expression of AOX1a. Furthermore, they provide a molecular link between mitochondrial and chloroplast retrograde signaling, as ABI4 has been previously shown to act downstream of at least two chloroplast retrograde signaling pathways

A method of data structuring for the study of diffusion processes of raw materials and manufactured objects

International audienc

Theoretical space-time modelling of the diffusion of raw materials and manufactured objects

International audienceWorkgroup 3 of ArchaeDyn II programme focuses its study on the diffusion systems of ancient products. In order to be able to structure data in GIS in an appropriate way, we propose a general theoretical modelling integrating the different components of the diffusion systems, and identifying their interactions and the factors affecting the location of products and their transfers. Three dimensions are considered: the Time, the Space and the Function of places. A product's pathway can be apprehended efficiently by distinguishing spatial entities as well as functional entities. This modelling highlights the fact that the approach through the simple notion of "site" is not sufficient to study the products' diffusion without taking into account the nature and the role of the places. On the basis of this model, we propose a conceptual data model (created with the help of the HBDS method) that will finally lead to the creation of a "three-dimensional" geodatabase

First determination of the incidence of the unique TOR1A gene mutation, c.907delGAG, in a Mediterranean population.

The c.907delGAG mutation in the TOR1A gene (also named DYT1) is the most common cause of early-onset primary dystonia. The mutation frequency and prevalence have so far been only estimated from rare clinical epidemiological reports in some populations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence at birth of the c.907delGAG mutation in a French-representative mixed population of newborn from South-Eastern France. We applied an automated high-throughput genotyping method to dried blood spot samples from 12,000 newborns registered in H?ult between 2004 and 2005. Only one allele was found to carry the mutation, which allows to determine its incidence at birth as 1/12,000 per year in this area. (c) 2007 Movement Disorder Society