11 research outputs found
The bHLH transcription factor SPATULA enables cytokinin signaling, and both activate auxin biosynthesis and transport genes at the medial domain of the gynoecium
[EN] Fruits and seeds are the major food source on earth. Both derive from the gynoecium and, therefore, it is crucial to understand the mechanisms that guide the development of this organ of angiosperm species. In Arabidopsis, the gynoecium is composed of two congenitally fused carpels, where two domains: medial and lateral, can be distinguished. The medial domain includes the carpel margin meristem (CMM) that is key for the production of the internal tissues involved in fertilization, such as septum, ovules, and transmitting tract. Interestingly, the medial domain shows a high cytokinin signaling output, in contrast to the lateral domain, where it is hardly detected. While it is known that cytokinin provides meristematic properties, understanding on the mechanisms that underlie the cytokinin signaling pattern in the young gynoecium is lacking. Moreover, in other tissues, the cytokinin pathway is often connected to the auxin pathway, but we also lack knowledge about these connections in the young gynoecium. Our results reveal that cytokinin signaling, that can provide meristematic properties required for CMM activity and growth, is enabled by the transcription factor SPATULA (SPT) in the medial domain. Meanwhile, cytokinin signaling is confined to the medial domain by the cytokinin response repressor ARABIDOPSIS HISTIDINE PHOSPHOTRANSFERASE 6 (AHP6), and perhaps by ARR16 (a type-A ARR) as well, both present in the lateral domains (presumptive valves) of the developing gynoecia. Moreover, SPT and cytokinin, probably together, promote the expression of the auxin biosynthetic gene TRYPTOPHAN AMINOTRANSFERASE OF ARABIDOPSIS 1 (TAA1) and the gene encoding the auxin efflux transporter PIN-FORMED 3 (PIN3), likely creating auxin drainage important for gynoecium growth. This study provides novel insights in the spatiotemporal determination of the cytokinin signaling pattern and its connection to the auxin pathway in the young gynoecium.IRO, VMZM, HHU and PLS were supported by the Mexican National Council of Science and Technology (CONACyT) with a PhD fellowship (210085, 210100, 243380 and 219883, respectively). Work in the SDF laboratory was financed by the CONACyT grants CB-2012-177739, FC-2015-2/1061, and INFR-2015-253504, and NMM by the CONACyT grant CB-2011-165986. SDF, CF and LC acknowledge the support of the European Union FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IRSES project EVOCODE (grant no. 247587) and H2020-MSCARISE-2015 project ExpoSEED (grant no. 691109). SDF also acknowledges the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole for a scholarship for the Gene Regulatory Networks for Development Course 2015 (GERN2015). IE acknowledges the International European Fellowship-METMADS project and the Universita degli Studi di Milano (RTD-A; 2016). Research in the laboratory of MFY was funded by NSF (grant IOS-1121055), NIH (grant 1R01GM112976-01A1) and the Paul D. Saltman Endowed Chair in Science Education (MFY). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Reyes Olalde, J.; Zuñiga, V.; Serwatowska, J.; Chávez Montes, R.; Lozano-Sotomayor, P.; Herrera-Ubaldo, H.; Gonzalez Aguilera, K.... (2017). The bHLH transcription factor SPATULA enables cytokinin signaling, and both activate auxin biosynthesis and transport genes at the medial domain of the gynoecium. PLoS Genetics. 13(4):1-31. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1006726S131134Reyes-Olalde, J. I., Zuñiga-Mayo, V. M., Chávez Montes, R. A., Marsch-Martínez, N., & de Folter, S. (2013). Inside the gynoecium: at the carpel margin. Trends in Plant Science, 18(11), 644-655. doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2013.08.002Alvarez-Buylla, E. 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Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2
The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality
Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries
Abstract
Background
Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres.
Methods
This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries.
Results
In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia.
Conclusion
This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries
Pediculosis: a health problem in the camps of the Iranian former prisoners of war in Iraq
BACKGROUND: Grafting procedures are an excellent tool to study long range signalling processes within a plant. In the last decade, suitable flat-surface grafting procedures for young Arabidopsis seedlings using a collar to support the graft have been developed, allowing the study of long-range signals from a molecular perspective. RESULTS: In the modification presented here, scion and stock are put together on the medium without supporting elements, while cotyledons are removed from the scion, resulting in increased grafting success that can reach up to 100%. At the same time, the protocol enables to process as many as 36 seedlings per hour, which combined with the high success percentage represents increased efficiency per time unit. CONCLUSIONS: Growing cotyledons usually push the scion and the rootstock away in the absence of a supporting element. Removing them at the grafting step greatly improved success rate and reduced post-grafting manipulations
The auxin transporter <i>PIN3</i> is coordinately activated by cytokinin and SPT.
<p><b>(A-C)</b> PIN3 expression in stage 9 <i>PIN3</i>::<i>PIN3-GFP</i> gynoecia that either received mock (<b>A,</b> transverse section) or BAP treatment for 48 hours (<b>B</b>, transverse section and <b>C</b>, longitudinal view). The inset in <b>(C)</b> shows a magnified view of the proliferating tissue. Arrows indicate the possible auxin flow. <b>(D-F)</b> PIN3 expression in transverse sections of stage 9 <i>PIN3</i>::<i>PIN3-GFP</i> gynoecia in <i>spt-2</i> <b>(D)</b>, <i>35S</i>::<i>SPT</i> <b>(E)</b>, and in <i>spt-2</i> treated for 48 hours with BAP <b>(F)</b>. <b>(G-J)</b> Transverse sections of stage 12 gynoecia of wild-type <b>(G, H)</b> and <i>pin3-4</i> <b>(I, J)</b>. Gynoecia phenotypes after three to four weeks of mock <b>(G, I)</b> or BAP treatment for five days <b>(H, J)</b>. Insets show a scanning electron microscopy image of the gynoecium. <b>(K)</b> Luciferase reporter assay in <i>N</i>. <i>benthamiana</i> leaves co-transformed with <i>35S</i>::<i>ARR1</i> and <i>pPIN3</i>::<i>LUC</i>. Ratio of LUC/REN activity. <b>(L)</b> ChIP experiments against the <i>PIN3</i> promoter regions (indicated by “a” and “b” in the scheme above) using an inducible <i>35S</i>::<i>ARR1ΔDDK</i>:<i>GR</i> line treated with dexamethasone or mock. <i>ACT2/7</i> served as a negative control. <b>(M)</b> Luciferase reporter assay in <i>N</i>. <i>benthamiana</i> leaves co-transformed with <i>35S</i>::<i>SPT</i> and <i>pPIN3</i>::<i>LUC</i>. Ratio of LUC/REN activity. <b>(N)</b> ChIP experiments against the <i>PIN3</i> promoter regions (indicated by “a” and “b” in the scheme above) using a <i>35S</i>::<i>SPT-HA</i> line and wild-type. <i>ACT2/7</i> served as a negative control. Error bars represent the SD for the LUC assays based on three biological replicates. ChIP results of one representative experiment is shown and the error bars represent the SD of the technical replicates. *<i>P</i> < 0.05 (LUC: Student-t test; qPCR: ANOVA). Scale bars: 10 μm (A-F), 100 μm (G-J, G-J insets). Ovule primordium (op).</p
The cytokinin signaling repressors <i>AHP6</i> and <i>ARR16</i> likely block cytokinin responses in lateral tissues.
<p><b>(A-D)</b> Expression of the transcriptional reporter <i>AHP6</i>::<i>GFP</i> in transverse sections of stage 7, 8, 9, and 12 gynoecia. <b>(E, F)</b> Expression of the cytokinin response reporter <i>TCS</i>::<i>GFP</i> in transverse sections of stage 9 and 12 gynoecia in an <i>ahp6-1</i> mutant background. Arrowheads indicate the absence of GFP signal in the epidermis of the valves. <b>(G, H)</b> Phenotypes of wild-type (G) and <i>ahp6-1</i> (H) gynoecia one week after receiving BAP treatment for two weeks. <b>(I-L)</b> Expression of the transcriptional reporter <i>ARR16</i>::<i>GUS</i> (type-A <i>ARR</i>) in transverse sections of stage 7, 8, 9, and 12 gynoecia. Scale bars: 10 μm (A-C, E), 20 μm (D, F), 1 mm (G, H), 100 μm (I-L).</p
SPT enables cytokinin responses during early gynoecium development and regulates type-B <i>ARR</i> gene expression.
<p><b>(A)</b> Phenotypes of wild-type, <i>arr1</i>, <i>arr10</i>, <i>arr12</i>, <i>arr1 arr10</i>, <i>arr10 arr12</i>, <i>arr1 arr12</i>, <i>arr1 arr10 arr12</i>, and <i>spt-2</i> gynoecia three to four weeks after receiving BAP treatment for five to ten days. (<b>B-E)</b> Scanning electron microscopy image of wild-type and <i>spt-2</i> stage 12 gynoecia one day after either receiving mock <b>(B, C)</b> or BAP treatment for only 48 hours <b>(D, E)</b>. Insets show a transverse section of the ovary. (<b>F</b>) Expression analysis by qRT-PCR of <i>ARR1</i>, <i>ARR10</i>, and <i>ARR12</i> in wild-type and <i>spt-12</i> dissected gynoecia. (<b>G-J</b>) <i>In situ</i> hybridization of type-B <i>ARR1</i> mRNA in wild-type <b>(G, H)</b> and <i>spt-2</i> <b>(I, J)</b> floral buds at stages 9 and 12. Arrowheads indicate the detected expression in wild-type and the absence in <i>spt-2</i>. <b>(K</b>) Luciferase reporter assay in <i>N</i>. <i>benthamiana</i> leaves co-transformed with <i>35S</i>::<i>SPT</i> and <i>pARR1</i>::<i>LUC</i>. Ratio of firefly luciferase (LUC) to Renilla luciferase (REN) activity. <b>(L)</b> ChIP experiments against the <i>ARR1</i> promoter region (indicated by “a” in the scheme above) using a <i>35S</i>::<i>SPT-HA</i> line and wild-type. <i>ACT2/7</i> served as a negative control. For the LUC assays and qRT-PCR experiments error bars represent the SD based on three biological replicates. ChIP results of one representative experiment are shown; error bars represent the SD of the technical replicates. *<i>P</i> < 0.05 (LUC: Student-t test; qRT-PCR and qPCR: ANOVA). Scale bars: 500 μm (A), 100 μm (B-E, H, J), 50 μm (insets in B-E, G, I).</p
Overview of the gynoecium and SPT is necessary for cytokinin signaling in the young gynoecium.
<p></p><p><b>(</b></p><b>A)</b> Schematic overview and false-coloured transverse section of a stage 8 and of a stage 12 <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> gynoecium (pistil). The medial (M) and lateral (L) domains of the gynoecium are indicated. The CMM in the medial domain (stage 8 gynoecium; left side) is indicated and its derived structures can be seen in a stage 12 gynoecium (right side). L, lateral domain; M, medial domain. Orange, abaxial valve (abv); blue, adaxial valve (adv); white, abaxial replum (abr); pink, adaxial replum (adr); green, ovule primordium (op); red, septum primordium (sp); CMM, carpel margin meristem; septum (S); replum (R); transmitting tract (TT); ovule (O); funiculus (F). <b>(B-M)</b> Expression of the cytokinin response reporter <i>TCS</i>::<i>GFP</i> in transverse sections of gynoecia at stage 7, 8, 9, and 12 of wild-type <b>(B-E)</b>, <i>spt-2</i> <b>(F-I)</b>, and <i>35S</i>::<i>SPT</i> <b>(J-M)</b>.<b>(N-U)</b> Expression of the reporter <i>TCS</i>::<i>GFP</i> in transverse sections of gynoecia at stage 7, 8, 9, and 12, after 48 hours of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP; a synthetic cytokinin) treatment in wild-type <b>(N-Q)</b> and <i>spt-2</i> <b>(R-U)</b>. Scale bars: 20 μm (E, I, M, Q, U), 10 μm (B-D, F-H, J-L, N-P, R-T).<p></p
Phenotypes of the type-B <i>arr</i> mutants and of the <i>spt</i> mutant.
<p><b>(A)</b> Mature gynoecium size of wild-type, <i>arr1</i>, <i>arr10</i>, <i>arr12</i>, <i>arr1 arr10</i>, <i>arr10 arr12</i>, <i>arr1 arr12</i>, and <i>arr1 arr10 arr12</i>. <b>(B)</b> Mature fruit size of wild-type, <i>arr1</i>, <i>arr10</i>, <i>arr12</i>, <i>arr1 arr10</i>, <i>arr10 arr12</i>, <i>arr1 arr12</i>, and <i>arr1 arr10 arr12</i>. <b>(C-F)</b> Phenotypes of the type-B <i>arr1 arr10 arr12</i> triple mutant compared to wild-type (WT): fruit length <b>(C)</b>, ovule number <b>(D)</b>, replum width <b>(E)</b>, and replum cell number <b>(F)</b>. <b>(G-I)</b> Transverse sections of stage 12 gynoecia of wild-type <b>(G)</b>, <i>arr1 arr10 arr12</i> (with transmitting tract and septum fusion defects) <b>(H)</b>, and <i>spt-2</i> <b>(I)</b>. Scale bars: 1 mm (A), 5 mm (B), 50 μm (G-I). Error bars represent SD. *<i>P</i> < 0.05 (Student-t test). Sample numbers: (C, D) WT, n = 14 and <i>arr1 arr10 arr12</i>, n = 19; (E, F) WT, n = 20 and <i>arr1 arr10 arr12</i>, n = 19.</p
Model of the regulatory network in early gynoecium development integrating SPT, cytokinin signaling, auxin biosynthesis, and auxin transport.
<p>Model of the regulatory network in early gynoecium development. This regulatory network integrates the results that SPT, an important player of gynoecium development, enables cytokinin signaling in the medial domain of the young gynoecium by activating the transcription of type-B <i>ARR</i> genes (at least <i>ARR1</i> and <i>ARR12;</i> likely <i>ARR1</i> directly and <i>ARR12</i> indirectly), which proteins become active upon phosphorylation because of a phosphorelay cascade initiated when cytokinin is present, and then together activate auxin biosynthesis (<i>TAA1</i>) and transport important (<i>PIN</i>) for growth. It is likely that SPT also affects other components of the cytokinin signaling pathway (indicated by gray arrows). Solid black arrows indicate a positive regulation and a T-bar indicates a repression function, a broken black arrow indicates possible positive regulation by auxin, a double arrowhead indicates phosphorylation, purple arrows indicate possible auxin flow; CK, cytokinin; P, phosphate group.</p