A Suppressor/Avirulence Gene Combination in Hyaloperonospora Arabidopsidis Determines Race Specificity in Arabidopsis Thaliana

The pathosystem of Arabidopsis thaliana and diploid biotrophic oomycete Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis (Hpa) has been a model for investigating the molecular basis of Flor’s gene-for-gene hypothesis. The isolates Hpa-Noks1 and Hpa-Cala2 are virulent on Arabidopsis accession RMX-A02 whilst an F1 generated from a cross between these two isolates was avirulent. The F2 progeny segregated 3,1 (avirulent, virulent), indicating a single major effect AVR locus in this pathogen. SNP-based linkage mapping confirmed a single AVR locus within a 14 kb map interval containing two genes encoding putative effectors. The Hpa-Cala2 allele of one gene, designated H. arabidopsidis cryptic1 (HAC1), encodes a protein with a signal peptide and an RxLR/dEER motif, and triggers a defense response in RMX-A02. The second gene is heterozygous in Hpa-Cala2. One allele, designated Suppressor of HAC1Cala2 (S-HAC1Cala2) encodes a protein with a signal peptide and a dKEE motif with no RxLR motif; the other allele (s-hac1 Cala2) encodes a protein with a signal peptide, a dEEE motif and is divergent in sequence from the S-HAC1Cala2 allele. In selfed progeny from Hpa-Cala2, dominant S-HAC1Cala2 allele carrying progeny correlates with virulence in RMX-A02, whereas homozygous recessive s-hac1Cala2 carrying progeny were avirulent. Genetic investigations suggested other heterozygous suppressor loci might exist in the Hpa-Cala2 genome

Cytokinin acts through the auxin influx carrier AUX1 to regulate cell elongation in the root

Hormonal interactions are critical for plant development. In Arabidopsis, cytokinins inhibit root growth through effects on cell proliferation and cell elongation. Here we define key mechanistic elements in a regulatory network by which cytokinin inhibits root cell elongation in concert with the hormones auxin and ethylene. The auxin importer AUX1 functions as a positive regulator of cytokinin responses in the root, AUX1 mutants specifically affecting the ability of cytokinin to inhibit cell elongation but not cell proliferation. AUX1 is required for cytokinin-dependent changes of auxin activity in the lateral root cap associated with the control of cell elongation. Cytokinin regulates root cell elongation through ethylene-dependent and independent mechanisms, both hormonal signals converging on AUX1 as a regulatory hub. An autoregulatory circuit is identified involving the control of ARR10 and AUX1 expression by cytokinin and auxin, this circuit potentially functioning as an oscillator to integrate the effects of these two hormones. Taken together, our results uncover several regulatory circuits controlling interactions of cytokinin with auxin and ethylene, and support a model in which cytokinin regulates shootward auxin transport to control cell elongation and root growth

Adult-Generated Hippocampal Neurons Allow the Flexible Use of Spatially Precise Learning Strategies

Despite enormous progress in the past few years the specific contribution of newly born granule cells to the function of the adult hippocampus is still not clear. We hypothesized that in order to solve this question particular attention has to be paid to the specific design, the analysis, and the interpretation of the learning test to be used. We thus designed a behavioral experiment along hypotheses derived from a computational model predicting that new neurons might be particularly relevant for learning conditions, in which novel aspects arise in familiar situations, thus putting high demands on the qualitative aspects of (re-)learning

Structural Elucidation and Functional Characterization of the Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis Effector Protein ATR13

The oomycete Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis (Hpa) is the causal agent of downy mildew on the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and has been adapted as a model system to investigate pathogen virulence strategies and plant disease resistance mechanisms. Recognition of Hpa infection occurs when plant resistance proteins (R-genes) detect the presence or activity of pathogen-derived protein effectors delivered to the plant host. This study examines the Hpa effector ATR13 Emco5 and its recognition by RPP13-Nd, the cognate R-gene that triggers programmed cell death (HR) in the presence of recognized ATR13 variants. Herein, we use NMR to solve the backbone structure of ATR13 Emco5, revealing both a helical domain and a disordered internal loop. Additionally, we use site-directed and random mutagenesis to identify several amino acid residues involved in the recognition response conferred by RPP13-Nd. Using our structure as a scaffold, we map these residues to one of two surface-exposed patches of residues under diversifying selection. Exploring possible roles of the disordered region within the ATR13 structure, we perform domain swapping experiments and identify a peptide sequence involved in nucleolar localization. We conclude that ATR13 is a highly dynamic protein with no clear structural homologues that contains two surface-exposed patches of polymorphism, only one of which is involved in RPP13-Nd recognition specificity

Adaptive Value of Phenological Traits in Stressful Environments: Predictions Based on Seed Production and Laboratory Natural Selection

Phenological traits often show variation within and among natural populations of annual plants. Nevertheless, the adaptive value of post-anthesis traits is seldom tested. In this study, we estimated the adaptive values of pre- and post-anthesis traits in two stressful environments (water stress and interspecific competition), using the selfing annual species Arabidopsis thaliana. By estimating seed production and by performing laboratory natural selection (LNS), we assessed the strength and nature (directional, disruptive and stabilizing) of selection acting on phenological traits in A. thaliana under the two tested stress conditions, each with four intensities. Both the type of stress and its intensity affected the strength and nature of selection, as did genetic constraints among phenological traits. Under water stress, both experimental approaches demonstrated directional selection for a shorter life cycle, although bolting time imposes a genetic constraint on the length of the interval between bolting and anthesis. Under interspecific competition, results from the two experimental approaches showed discrepancies. Estimation of seed production predicted directional selection toward early pre-anthesis traits and long post-anthesis periods. In contrast, the LNS approach suggested neutrality for all phenological traits. This study opens questions on adaptation in complex natural environment where many selective pressures act simultaneously

Current Status of a Model System: The Gene Gp-9 and Its Association with Social Organization in Fire Ants

The Gp-9 gene in fire ants represents an important model system for studying the evolution of social organization in insects as well as a rich source of information relevant to other major evolutionary topics. An important feature of this system is that polymorphism in social organization is completely associated with allelic variation at Gp-9, such that single-queen colonies (monogyne form) include only inhabitants bearing B-like alleles while multiple-queen colonies (polygyne form) additionally include inhabitants bearing b-like alleles. A recent study of this system by Leal and Ishida (2008) made two major claims, the validity and significance of which we examine here. After reviewing existing literature, analyzing the methods and results of Leal and Ishida (2008), and generating new data from one of their study sites, we conclude that their claim that polygyny can occur in Solenopsis invicta in the U.S.A. in the absence of expression of the b-like allele Gp-9b is unfounded. Moreover, we argue that available information on insect OBPs (the family of proteins to which GP-9 belongs), on the evolutionary/population genetics of Gp-9, and on pheromonal/behavioral control of fire ant colony queen number fails to support their view that GP-9 plays no role in the chemosensory-mediated communication that underpins regulation of social organization. Our analyses lead us to conclude that there are no new reasons to question the existing consensus view of the Gp-9 system outlined in Gotzek and Ross (2007)

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. R., Benítez, M., Corvera-Poiré, A., Chaos Cador, Á., de Folter, S., Gamboa de Buen, A., … Sánchez-Corrales, Y. E. (2010). Flower Development. The Arabidopsis Book, 8, e0127. doi:10.1199/tab.0127Bowman, J. L., Baum, S. F., Eshed, Y., Putterill, J., & Alvarez, J. (1999). 4 Molecular Genetics of Gynoecium Development in Arabidopsis. Current Topics in Developmental Biology Volume 45, 155-205. doi:10.1016/s0070-2153(08)60316-6Chávez Montes, R. A., Herrera-Ubaldo, H., Serwatowska, J., & de Folter, S. (2015). Towards a comprehensive and dynamic gynoecium gene regulatory network. Current Plant Biology, 3-4, 3-12. doi:10.1016/j.cpb.2015.08.002Marsch-Martínez, N., & de Folter, S. (2016). Hormonal control of the development of the gynoecium. Current Opinion in Plant Biology, 29, 104-114. doi:10.1016/j.pbi.2015.12.006Marsch-Martínez, N., Ramos-Cruz, D., Irepan Reyes-Olalde, J., Lozano-Sotomayor, P., Zúñiga-Mayo, V. M., & de Folter, S. (2012). The role of cytokinin during Arabidopsis gynoecia and fruit morphogenesis and patterning. The Plant Journal, 72(2), 222-234. doi:10.1111/j.1365-313x.2012.05062.xZhao, Z., Andersen, S. U., Ljung, K., Dolezal, K., Miotk, A., Schultheiss, S. J., & Lohmann, J. U. (2010). Hormonal control of the shoot stem-cell niche. Nature, 465(7301), 1089-1092. doi:10.1038/nature09126Ashikari, M. (2005). Cytokinin Oxidase Regulates Rice Grain Production. Science, 309(5735), 741-745. doi:10.1126/science.1113373Bartrina, I., Otto, E., Strnad, M., Werner, T., & Schmülling, T. (2011). Cytokinin Regulates the Activity of Reproductive Meristems, Flower Organ Size, Ovule Formation, and Thus Seed Yield in Arabidopsis thaliana. The Plant Cell, 23(1), 69-80. doi:10.1105/tpc.110.079079Hwang, I., Sheen, J., & Müller, B. (2012). Cytokinin Signaling Networks. Annual Review of Plant Biology, 63(1), 353-380. doi:10.1146/annurev-arplant-042811-105503Schaller, G. E., Bishopp, A., & Kieber, J. J. (2015). The Yin-Yang of Hormones: Cytokinin and Auxin Interactions in Plant Development. The Plant Cell, 27(1), 44-63. doi:10.1105/tpc.114.133595Kieber, J. J., & Schaller, G. E. (2010). The Perception of Cytokinin: A Story 50 Years in the Making: Figure 1. Plant Physiology, 154(2), 487-492. doi:10.1104/pp.110.161596Long, J. A., Moan, E. I., Medford, J. I., & Barton, M. K. (1996). A member of the KNOTTED class of homeodomain proteins encoded by the STM gene of Arabidopsis. Nature, 379(6560), 66-69. doi:10.1038/379066a0Jasinski, S., Piazza, P., Craft, J., Hay, A., Woolley, L., Rieu, I., … Tsiantis, M. (2005). KNOX Action in Arabidopsis Is Mediated by Coordinate Regulation of Cytokinin and Gibberellin Activities. Current Biology, 15(17), 1560-1565. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2005.07.023Yanai, O., Shani, E., Dolezal, K., Tarkowski, P., Sablowski, R., Sandberg, G., … Ori, N. (2005). Arabidopsis KNOXI Proteins Activate Cytokinin Biosynthesis. Current Biology, 15(17), 1566-1571. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2005.07.060Scofield, S., Dewitte, W., Nieuwland, J., & Murray, J. A. H. (2013). The Arabidopsis homeobox gene SHOOT MERISTEMLESS has cellular and meristem-organisational roles with differential requirements for cytokinin and CYCD3 activity. The Plant Journal, 75(1), 53-66. doi:10.1111/tpj.12198Gordon, S. P., Chickarmane, V. S., Ohno, C., & Meyerowitz, E. M. (2009). Multiple feedback loops through cytokinin signaling control stem cell number within the Arabidopsis shoot meristem. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(38), 16529-16534. doi:10.1073/pnas.0908122106Chickarmane, V. S., Gordon, S. P., Tarr, P. T., Heisler, M. G., & Meyerowitz, E. M. (2012). Cytokinin signaling as a positional cue for patterning the apical-basal axis of the growing Arabidopsis shoot meristem. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(10), 4002-4007. doi:10.1073/pnas.1200636109Leibfried, A., To, J. P. C., Busch, W., Stehling, S., Kehle, A., Demar, M., … Lohmann, J. U. (2005). WUSCHEL controls meristem function by direct regulation of cytokinin-inducible response regulators. Nature, 438(7071), 1172-1175. doi:10.1038/nature04270Werner, T., Motyka, V., Laucou, V., Smets, R., Van Onckelen, H., & Schmülling, T. (2003). Cytokinin-Deficient Transgenic Arabidopsis Plants Show Multiple Developmental Alterations Indicating Opposite Functions of Cytokinins in the Regulation of Shoot and Root Meristem Activity. The Plant Cell, 15(11), 2532-2550. doi:10.1105/tpc.014928Larsson, E., Franks, R. G., & Sundberg, E. (2013). Auxin and the Arabidopsis thaliana gynoecium. Journal of Experimental Botany, 64(9), 2619-2627. doi:10.1093/jxb/ert099Weijers, D., & Wagner, D. (2016). Transcriptional Responses to the Auxin Hormone. Annual Review of Plant Biology, 67(1), 539-574. doi:10.1146/annurev-arplant-043015-112122Robert, H. S., Crhak Khaitova, L., Mroue, S., & Benková, E. (2015). The importance of localized auxin production for morphogenesis of reproductive organs and embryos inArabidopsis. Journal of Experimental Botany, 66(16), 5029-5042. doi:10.1093/jxb/erv256Kuusk, S., Sohlberg, J. J., Magnus Eklund, D., & Sundberg, E. (2006). Functionally redundantSHIfamily genes regulate Arabidopsis gynoecium development in a dose-dependent manner. The Plant Journal, 47(1), 99-111. doi:10.1111/j.1365-313x.2006.02774.xSohlberg, J. J., Myrenås, M., Kuusk, S., Lagercrantz, U., Kowalczyk, M., Sandberg, G., & Sundberg, E. (2006). STY1regulates auxin homeostasis and affects apical-basal patterning of the Arabidopsis gynoecium. The Plant Journal, 47(1), 112-123. doi:10.1111/j.1365-313x.2006.02775.xStåldal, V., Sohlberg, J. J., Eklund, D. M., Ljung, K., & Sundberg, E. (2008). Auxin can act independently ofCRC,LUG,SEU,SPTandSTY1in style development but not apical-basal patterning of theArabidopsisgynoecium. New Phytologist, 180(4), 798-808. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.2008.02625.xVan Gelderen, K., van Rongen, M., Liu, A., Otten, A., & Offringa, R. (2016). An INDEHISCENT-Controlled Auxin Response Specifies the Separation Layer in Early Arabidopsis Fruit. Molecular Plant, 9(6), 857-869. doi:10.1016/j.molp.2016.03.005José Ripoll, J., Bailey, L. J., Mai, Q.-A., Wu, S. L., Hon, C. T., Chapman, E. J., … Yanofsky, M. F. (2015). microRNA regulation of fruit growth. Nature Plants, 1(4). doi:10.1038/nplants.2015.36Larsson, E., Roberts, C. J., Claes, A. R., Franks, R. G., & Sundberg, E. (2014). Polar Auxin Transport Is Essential for Medial versus Lateral Tissue Specification and Vascular-Mediated Valve Outgrowth in Arabidopsis Gynoecia. Plant Physiology, 166(4), 1998-2012. doi:10.1104/pp.114.245951Nole-Wilson, S., Azhakanandam, S., & Franks, R. G. (2010). Polar auxin transport together with AINTEGUMENTA and REVOLUTA coordinate early Arabidopsis gynoecium development. Developmental Biology, 346(2), 181-195. doi:10.1016/j.ydbio.2010.07.016De Folter, S. (2016). Auxin Is Required for Valve Margin Patterning in Arabidopsis After All. Molecular Plant, 9(6), 768-770. doi:10.1016/j.molp.2016.05.005Moubayidin, L., & Østergaard, L. (2014). Dynamic Control of Auxin Distribution Imposes a Bilateral-to-Radial Symmetry Switch during Gynoecium Development. Current Biology, 24(22), 2743-2748. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2014.09.080Girin, T., Paicu, T., Stephenson, P., Fuentes, S., Körner, E., O’Brien, M., … Østergaard, L. (2011). INDEHISCENT and SPATULA Interact to Specify Carpel and Valve Margin Tissue and Thus Promote Seed Dispersal in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell, 23(10), 3641-3653. doi:10.1105/tpc.111.090944Ioio, R. D., Nakamura, K., Moubayidin, L., Perilli, S., Taniguchi, M., Morita, M. T., … Sabatini, S. (2008). A Genetic Framework for the Control of Cell Division and Differentiation in the Root Meristem. Science, 322(5906), 1380-1384. doi:10.1126/science.1164147Bishopp, A., Help, H., El-Showk, S., Weijers, D., Scheres, B., Friml, J., … Helariutta, Y. (2011). A Mutually Inhibitory Interaction between Auxin and Cytokinin Specifies Vascular Pattern in Roots. Current Biology, 21(11), 917-926. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2011.04.017De Rybel, B., Adibi, M., Breda, A. S., Wendrich, J. R., Smit, M. E., Novák, O., … Weijers, D. (2014). Integration of growth and patterning during vascular tissue formation in Arabidopsis. Science, 345(6197), 1255215. doi:10.1126/science.1255215Pernisova, M., Klima, P., Horak, J., Valkova, M., Malbeck, J., Soucek, P., … Hejatko, J. (2009). Cytokinins modulate auxin-induced organogenesis in plants via regulation of the auxin efflux. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106(9), 3609-3614. doi:10.1073/pnas.0811539106Cheng, Z. J., Wang, L., Sun, W., Zhang, Y., Zhou, C., Su, Y. H., … Zhang, X. S. (2012). Pattern of Auxin and Cytokinin Responses for Shoot Meristem Induction Results from the Regulation of Cytokinin Biosynthesis by AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR3. Plant Physiology, 161(1), 240-251. doi:10.1104/pp.112.203166Alvarez, J., & Smyth, D. R. (2002). CRABS CLAWandSPATULAGenes Regulate Growth and Pattern Formation during Gynoecium Development inArabidopsis thaliana. International Journal of Plant Sciences, 163(1), 17-41. doi:10.1086/324178Groszmann, M., Bylstra, Y., Lampugnani, E. R., & Smyth, D. R. (2010). Regulation of tissue-specific expression of SPATULA, a bHLH gene involved in carpel development, seedling germination, and lateral organ growth in Arabidopsis. Journal of Experimental Botany, 61(5), 1495-1508. doi:10.1093/jxb/erq015Smyth, D. R., Bowman, J. L., & Meyerowitz, E. M. (1990). Early flower development in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell, 2(8), 755-767. doi:10.1105/tpc.2.8.755Müller, B., & Sheen, J. (2008). Cytokinin and auxin interaction in root stem-cell specification during early embryogenesis. Nature, 453(7198), 1094-1097. doi:10.1038/nature06943Argyros, R. D., Mathews, D. E., Chiang, Y.-H., Palmer, C. M., Thibault, D. M., Etheridge, N., … Schaller, G. E. (2008). Type B Response Regulators of Arabidopsis Play Key Roles in Cytokinin Signaling and Plant Development. The Plant Cell, 20(8), 2102-2116. doi:10.1105/tpc.108.059584Mason, M. G., Mathews, D. E., Argyros, D. A., Maxwell, B. B., Kieber, J. J., Alonso, J. M., … Schaller, G. E. (2005). Multiple Type-B Response Regulators Mediate Cytokinin Signal Transduction in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell, 17(11), 3007-3018. doi:10.1105/tpc.105.035451Ishida, K., Yamashino, T., Yokoyama, A., & Mizuno, T. (2008). Three Type-B Response Regulators, ARR1, ARR10 and ARR12, Play Essential but Redundant Roles in Cytokinin Signal Transduction Throughout the Life Cycle of Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant and Cell Physiology, 49(1), 47-57. doi:10.1093/pcp/pcm165Yokoyama, A., Yamashino, T., Amano, Y.-I., Tajima, Y., Imamura, A., Sakakibara, H., & Mizuno, T. (2006). Type-B ARR Transcription Factors, ARR10 and ARR12, are Implicated in Cytokinin-Mediated Regulation of Protoxylem Differentiation in Roots of Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant and Cell Physiology, 48(1), 84-96. doi:10.1093/pcp/pcl040Schuster, C., Gaillochet, C., & Lohmann, J. U. (2015). Arabidopsis HECATE genes function in phytohormone control during gynoecium development. Development, 142(19), 3343-3350. doi:10.1242/dev.120444Toledo-Ortiz, G., Huq, E., & Quail, P. H. (2003). The Arabidopsis Basic/Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factor Family. The Plant Cell, 15(8), 1749-1770. doi:10.1105/tpc.013839Reymond, M. C., Brunoud, G., Chauvet, A., Martínez-Garcia, J. F., Martin-Magniette, M.-L., Monéger, F., & Scutt, C. P. (2012). A Light-Regulated Genetic Module Was Recruited to Carpel Development in Arabidopsis following a Structural Change to SPATULA. The Plant Cell, 24(7), 2812-2825. doi:10.1105/tpc.112.097915Ballester, P., Navarrete-Gómez, M., Carbonero, P., Oñate-Sánchez, L., & Ferrándiz, C. (2015). Leaf expansion in Arabidopsis is controlled by a TCP-NGA regulatory module likely conserved in distantly related species. Physiologia Plantarum, 155(1), 21-32. doi:10.1111/ppl.12327Hellens, R., Allan, A., Friel, E., Bolitho, K., Grafton, K., Templeton, M., … Laing, W. (2005). Plant Methods, 1(1), 13. doi:10.1186/1746-4811-1-13Makkena, S., & Lamb, R. S. (2013). The bHLH transcription factor SPATULA regulates root growth by controlling the size of the root meristem. BMC Plant Biology, 13(1), 1. doi:10.1186/1471-2229-13-1Stepanova, A. N., Robertson-Hoyt, J., Yun, J., Benavente, L. M., Xie, D.-Y., Doležal, K., … Alonso, J. M. (2008). TAA1-Mediated Auxin Biosynthesis Is Essential for Hormone Crosstalk and Plant Development. Cell, 133(1), 177-191. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2008.01.047Bhargava, A., Clabaugh, I., To, J. P., Maxwell, B. B., Chiang, Y.-H., Schaller, G. E., … Kieber, J. J. (2013). Identification of Cytokinin-Responsive Genes Using Microarray Meta-Analysis and RNA-Seq in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology, 162(1), 272-294. doi:10.1104/pp.113.217026Sakai, H., Aoyama, T., & Oka, A. (2000). Arabidopsis ARR1 and ARR2 response regulators operate as transcriptional activators. The Plant Journal, 24(6), 703-711. doi:10.1046/j.1365-313x.2000.00909.xSakai, H. (2001). ARR1, a Transcription Factor for Genes Immediately Responsive to Cytokinins. Science, 294(5546), 1519-1521. doi:10.1126/science.1065201Moubayidin, L., Di Mambro, R., Sozzani, R., Pacifici, E., Salvi, E., Terpstra, I., … Sabatini, S. (2013). Spatial Coordination between Stem Cell Activity and Cell Differentiation in the Root Meristem. Developmental Cell, 26(4), 405-415. doi:10.1016/j.devcel.2013.06.025Benková, E., Michniewicz, M., Sauer, M., Teichmann, T., Seifertová, D., Jürgens, G., & Friml, J. (2003). Local, Efflux-Dependent Auxin Gradients as a Common Module for Plant Organ Formation. Cell, 115(5), 591-602. doi:10.1016/s0092-8674(03)00924-3Okada, K., Ueda, J., Komaki, M. K., Bell, C. J., & Shimura, Y. (1991). Requirement of the Auxin Polar Transport System in Early Stages of Arabidopsis Floral Bud Formation. The Plant Cell, 677-684. doi:10.1105/tpc.3.7.677Blilou, I., Xu, J., Wildwater, M., Willemsen, V., Paponov, I., Friml, J., … Scheres, B. (2005). The PIN auxin efflux facilitator network controls growth and patterning in Arabidopsis roots. Nature, 433(7021), 39-44. doi:10.1038/nature03184Mahonen, A. P. (2006). Cytokinin Signaling and Its Inhibitor AHP6 Regulate Cell Fate During Vascular Development. Science, 311(5757), 94-98. doi:10.1126/science.1118875Besnard, F., Refahi, Y., Morin, V., Marteaux, B., Brunoud, G., Chambrier, P., … Vernoux, T. (2013). Cytokinin signalling inhibitory fields provide robustness to phyllotaxis. Nature, 505(7483), 417-421. doi:10.1038/nature12791Longabaugh, W. J. R., Davidson, E. H., & Bolouri, H. (2005). Computational representation of developmental genetic regulatory networks. Developmental Biology, 283(1), 1-16. doi:10.1016/j.ydbio.2005.04.023Faure, E., Peter, I. S., & Davidson, E. H. (2013). A New Software Package for Predictive Gene Regulatory Network Modeling and Redesign. Journal of Computational Biology, 20(6), 419-423. doi:10.1089/cmb.2012.0297Mangan, S., & Alon, U. (2003). Structure and function of the feed-forward loop network motif. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 100(21), 11980-11985. doi:10.1073/pnas.2133841100Chen, Q., Liu, Y., Maere, S., Lee, E., Van Isterdael, G., Xie, Z., … Vanneste, S. (2015). A coherent transcriptional feed-forward motif model for mediating auxin-sensitive PIN3 expression during lateral root development. Nature Communications, 6(1). doi:10.1038/ncomms9821Qiu, K., Li, Z., Yang, Z., Chen, J., Wu, S., Zhu, X., … Zhou, X. (2015). EIN3 and ORE1 Accelerate Degreening during Ethylene-Mediated Leaf Senescence by Directly Activating Chlorophyll Catabolic Genes in Arabidopsis. PLOS Genetics, 11(7), e1005399. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1005399Seaton, D. D., Smith, R. W., Song, Y. H., MacGregor, D. R., Stewart, K., Steel, G., … Halliday, K. J. (2015). Linked circadian outputs control elongation growth and flowering in response to photoperiod and temperature. Molecular Systems Biology, 11(1), 776. doi:10.15252/msb.20145766Roeder, A. H. K., & Yanofsky, M. F. (2006). Fruit Development in Arabidopsis. The Arabidopsis Book, 4, e0075. doi:10.1199/tab.0075Marsch-Martínez, N., Reyes-Olalde, J. I., Ramos-Cruz, D., Lozano-Sotomayor, P., Zúñiga-Mayo, V. M., & de Folter, S. (2012). Hormones talking. Plant Signaling & Behavior, 7(12), 1698-1701. doi:10.4161/psb.22422Balanza, V., Navarrete, M., Trigueros, M., & Ferrandiz, C. (2006). Patterning the female side of Arabidopsis: the importance of hormones. Journal of Experimental Botany, 57(13), 3457-3469. doi:10.1093/jxb/erl188Kamiuchi, Y., Yamamoto, K., Furutani, M., Tasaka, M., & Aida, M. (2014). The CUC1 and CUC2 genes promote carpel margin meristem formation during Arabidopsis gynoecium development. Frontiers in Plant Science, 5. doi:10.3389/fpls.2014.00165Scofield, S., Dewitte, W., & Murray, J. A. H. (2007). The KNOX gene SHOOT MERISTEMLESS is required for the development of reproductive meristematic tissues in Arabidopsis. The Plant Journal, 50(5), 767-781. doi:10.1111/j.1365-313x.2007.03095.xLi, K., Yu, R., Fan, L.-M., Wei, N., Chen, H., & Deng, X. W. (2016). DELLA-mediated PIF degradation contributes to coordination of light and gibberellin signalling in Arabidopsis. Nature Communications, 7(1). doi:10.1038/ncomms11868Oh, E., Zhu, J.-Y., & Wang, Z.-Y. (2012). Interaction between BZR1 and PIF4 integrates brassinosteroid and environmental responses. Nature Cell Biology, 14(8), 802-809. doi:10.1038/ncb2545Sharma, N., Xin, R., Kim, D.-H., Sung, S., Lange, T., & Huq, E. (2016). NO FLOWERING IN SHORT DAY (NFL) is a bHLH transcription factor that promotes flowering specifically under short-day conditions inArabidopsis. Development, 143(4), 682-690. doi:10.1242/dev.128595Varaud, E., Brioudes, F., Szécsi, J., Leroux, J., Brown, S., Perrot-Rechenmann, C., & Bendahmane, M. (2011). AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR8 Regulates Arabidopsis Petal Growth by Interacting with the bHLH Transcription Factor BIGPETALp. The Plant Cell, 23(3), 973-983. doi:10.1105/tpc.110.081653Savaldi-Goldstein, S., & Chory, J. (2008). Growth coordination and the shoot epidermis. Current Opinion in Plant Biology, 11(1), 42-48. doi:10.1016/j.pbi.2007.10.009Schuster, C., Gaillochet, C., Medzihradszky, A., Busch, W., Daum, G., Krebs, M., … Lohmann, J. U. (2014). A Regulatory Framework for Shoot Stem Cell Co

The impact of surgical delay on resectability of colorectal cancer: An international prospective cohort study

AIM: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has provided a unique opportunity to explore the impact of surgical delays on cancer resectability. This study aimed to compare resectability for colorectal cancer patients undergoing delayed versus non-delayed surgery. METHODS: This was an international prospective cohort study of consecutive colorectal cancer patients with a decision for curative surgery (January-April 2020). Surgical delay was defined as an operation taking place more than 4 weeks after treatment decision, in a patient who did not receive neoadjuvant therapy. A subgroup analysis explored the effects of delay in elective patients only. The impact of longer delays was explored in a sensitivity analysis. The primary outcome was complete resection, defined as curative resection with an R0 margin. RESULTS: Overall, 5453 patients from 304 hospitals in 47 countries were included, of whom 6.6% (358/5453) did not receive their planned operation. Of the 4304 operated patients without neoadjuvant therapy, 40.5% (1744/4304) were delayed beyond 4 weeks. Delayed patients were more likely to be older, men, more comorbid, have higher body mass index and have rectal cancer and early stage disease. Delayed patients had higher unadjusted rates of complete resection (93.7% vs. 91.9%, P = 0.032) and lower rates of emergency surgery (4.5% vs. 22.5%, P < 0.001). After adjustment, delay was not associated with a lower rate of complete resection (OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.90-1.55, P = 0.224), which was consistent in elective patients only (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.69-1.27, P = 0.672). Longer delays were not associated with poorer outcomes. CONCLUSION: One in 15 colorectal cancer patients did not receive their planned operation during the first wave of COVID-19. Surgical delay did not appear to compromise resectability, raising the hypothesis that any reduction in long-term survival attributable to delays is likely to be due to micro-metastatic disease

Outcomes from elective colorectal cancer surgery during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

This study aimed to describe the change in surgical practice and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mortality after surgical resection of colorectal cancer during the initial phases of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks