1954 Turf Conference

Attendance (I - XV) Grass Leaves at Work - S.N. Postlethwait (5) Seed Supply and Prices - Gager T. Vaughn (8) Hocus-Pocus in Grass Breeding - Glen W. Burton (11) Techniques and Turf Quality - Fred V. Grau Case Histories of Turf Improvement Programs - O.J. Noer (20) Fertilizer Facts and Fancies - A.J. Ohlrogge (38) Crabgrass Control in Turf - Ralph E. Engel (43) Athletic Field Reseeding - Fred V. Grau (44) Vegetative Grass Potential - W.H. Daniel (48) Who Plays Golf Today? - Herb Graffis (50) Poa Annua & Arsenic Toxicity - W.H. Daniel (53) Replanting Golf Greens - (58) Planting Stolons on Large Areas - A. Linkogel (59) Management, Weather & Disease - Ralph Engel (62) Practical Microscopic Disease Observations - Robert Williams (64

Quantitative effects of unsaturated fatty acids in microbial mutants : VII. Influence of the acetylenic bond location on the effectiveness of acyl chains

The ability of a series of 18 carbon acetylenic fatty acids to fulfill the unsaturated fatty acid requirements of Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated. Despite their high melting points (>40[deg]C), several isomers of the acetylenic fatty acids were as efficient or more efficient in supporting growth than the analogous fatty acid having a cis-double bond.The efficiencies of the different positional isomers in supporting cell proliferation varied from essentially 0 cells per fmol for the 2-5 and 13-17 isomers to high values when the acetylenic bond was near the center of the chain: e.g. 45 E. coli and 5.5 S. cerevisiae cells/fmol for the 10 isomer. A striking ineffectiveness of the 9 isomer was observed with E. coli. The 7, 8 and 10 isomers were at least 10-fold more efficient than any of the other positional isomers in supporting the growth of E. coli. In contrast, the 9 isomer was among the most effective acetylenic fatty acids tested with the yeast mutant.Chromatographic analysis of the extracted lipids indicated that each of the acetylenic isomers tested (except [Delta]2 and [Delta]3) could be esterified by the prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms. The content of unsaturated plus cyclopropane acids observed when growth ceased in E. coli cultures supplemented with growth-limiting concentrations of the acetylenic fatty acids ranged from approx. 15 mol% for the 8 isomer to approx. 35 mol% for the 14 and 17 isomers. The 8-11 isomers were observed to be esterified predominantly at the two position in phosphatidylethanolamine of E. coli and in phosphatidylcholine of S. cerevisiae.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/22954/1/0000521.pd

Tobacco seeds simultaneously over-expressing Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase display enhanced seed longevity and germination rates under stress conditions

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced during seed desiccation, germination, and ageing, leading to cellular damage and seed deterioration and, therefore, decreased seed longevity. The effects of simultaneous over-expression of two antioxidant enzymes on seed longevity and seed germination under stressful conditions were investigated. Transgenic tobacco simultaneously over-expressing the Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) genes in plastids showed normal growth and seed development. Furthermore, the transgenic seeds displayed increased CuZnSOD and APX enzymatic activities during seed development and maintained antioxidant enzymatic activity after two years of dried storage at room temperature. The two-year stored non-transgenic seeds (aged NT seeds) had higher levels of ion leakage than the two-year stored transgenic seeds (aged CA seeds), indicating membrane damage caused by ROS was more severe in the aged NT seeds than the aged CA seeds. The aged CA seeds decreased germination rates as compared to newly harvested transgenic and non-transgenic seeds. The aged CA seeds, however, significantly increased germination rates under various abiotic stress conditions as compared to aged NT seeds. These data strongly suggest that simultaneous over-expression of the CuZnSOD and APX genes in plastids improves seed longevity and germination under various environmental stress conditions by attenuating the effects of oxidative stress produced by elongated storage conditions and harsh environmental stresses

Genome, Functional Gene Annotation, and Nuclear Transformation of the Heterokont Oleaginous Alga \u3ci\u3eNannochloropsis oceanica\u3c/i\u3e CCMP1779

Unicellular marine algae have promise for providing sustainable and scalable biofuel feedstocks, although no single species has emerged as a preferred organism. Moreover, adequate molecular and genetic resources prerequisite for the rational engineering of marine algal feedstocks are lacking for most candidate species. Heterokonts of the genus Nannochloropsis naturally have high cellular oil content and are already in use for industrial production of high-value lipid products. First success in applying reverse genetics by targeted gene replacement makes Nannochloropsis oceanica an attractive model to investigate the cell and molecular biology and biochemistry of this fascinating organism group. Here we present the assembly of the 28.7 Mb genome of N. oceanica CCMP1779. RNA sequencing data from nitrogen-replete and nitrogendepleted growth conditions support a total of 11,973 genes, of which in addition to automatic annotation some were manually inspected to predict the biochemical repertoire for this organism. Among others, more than 100 genes putatively related to lipid metabolism, 114 predicted transcription factors, and 109 transcriptional regulators were annotated. Comparison of the N. oceanica CCMP1779 gene repertoire with the recently published N. gaditana genome identified 2,649 genes likely specific to N. oceanica CCMP1779. Many of these N. oceanica–specific genes have putative orthologs in other species or are supported by transcriptional evidence. However, because similarity-based annotations are limited, functions of most of these species-specific genes remain unknown. Aside from the genome sequence and its analysis, protocols for the transformation of N. oceanica CCMP1779 are provided. The availability of genomic and transcriptomic data for Nannochloropsis oceanica CCMP1779, along with efficient transformation protocols, provides a blueprint for future detailed gene functional analysis and genetic engineering of Nannochloropsis species by a growing academic community focused on this genus

CD38 promotes pristane-induced chronic inflammation and increases susceptibility to experimental lupus by an apoptosis-driven and TRPM2-dependent mechanism

In this study, we investigated the role of CD38 in a pristane-induced murine model of lupus. CD38-deficient (Cd38-/-) but not ART2-deficient (Art2-/-) mice developed less severe lupus compared to wild type (WT) mice, and their protective phenotype consisted of (i) decreased IFN-I-stimulated gene expression, (ii) decreased numbers of peritoneal CCR2hiLy6Chi inflammatory monocytes, TNF-α-producing Ly6G+ neutrophils and Ly6Clo monocytes/macrophages, (iii) decreased production of anti-single-stranded DNA and anti-nRNP autoantibodies, and (iv) ameliorated glomerulonephritis. Cd38-/- pristane-elicited peritoneal exudate cells had defective CCL2 and TNF-α secretion following TLR7 stimulation. However, Tnf-α and Cxcl12 gene expression in Cd38-/- bone marrow (BM) cells was intact, suggesting a CD38-independent TLR7/TNF-α/CXCL12 axis in the BM. Chemotactic responses of Cd38-/- Ly6Chi monocytes and Ly6G+ neutrophils were not impaired. However, Cd38-/- Ly6Chi monocytes and Ly6Clo monocytes/macrophages had defective apoptosis-mediated cell death. Importantly, mice lacking the cation channel TRPM2 (Trpm2-/-) exhibited very similar protection, with decreased numbers of PECs, and apoptotic Ly6Chi monocytes and Ly6Clo monocytes/macrophages compared to WT mice. These findings reveal a new role for CD38 in promoting aberrant inflammation and lupus-like autoimmunity via an apoptosis-driven mechanism. Furthermore, given the implications of CD38 in the activation of TRPM2, our data suggest that CD38 modulation of pristane-induced apoptosis is TRPM2-dependent.We would like to thank Dr. Yasuo Mori for providing the Tr pm 2−/− mice, Clara Sánchez for animal husbandry at the IPBLN-CSIC Animal Facility, and Thomas S. Simpler and Uma Mudunuru for animal husbandry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). We would also like to thank Laura Montosa from the Centro de Instrumentación Cientifica (CIC) at the Universidad de Granada (UGR) for technical support with microscopy, as well as Mohamed Tassi and Ana Santos at CIC, UGR, and Sandra García-Jiménez, Victoria Romero-del-Amo, Gemma Palencia-López, and Samuel Ruiz-Santiago at Campus Formación Granada for tissue preparations, H&E staining, and other staining procedures. Work performed in the Sancho lab was supported in part by the European Commission in collaboration with the following Funding Agencies: (i) Junta de Andalucía (J.A.), Consejería Innovación Ciencia y Empresa y Consejería Educación y Ciencia, Project: PC08-CTS-04046 to J.S. and M.Z., and (ii) Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO), Projects: SAF-2011-27261 to J.S. and M.Z. and SAF2014-55088-R to R.M. Work performed in the Lund lab was supported by funds provided by UAB.S

An integrated bioinformatics analysis reveals divergent evolutionary pattern of oil biosynthesis in high- and low-oil plants

Seed oils provide a renewable source of food, biofuel and industrial raw materials that is important for humans. Although many genes and pathways for acyl-lipid metabolism have been identified, little is known about whether there is a specific mechanism for high-oil content in high-oil plants. Based on the distinct differences in seed oil content between four high-oil dicots (20~50%) and three low-oil grasses (<3%), comparative genome, transcriptome and differential expression analyses were used to investigate this mechanism. Among 4,051 dicot-specific soybean genes identified from 252,443 genes in the seven species, 54 genes were shown to directly participate in acyl-lipid metabolism, and 93 genes were found to be associated with acyl-lipid metabolism. Among the 93 dicot-specific genes, 42 and 27 genes, including CBM20-like SBDs and GPT2, participate in carbohydrate degradation and transport, respectively. 40 genes highly up-regulated during seed oil rapid accumulation period are mainly involved in initial fatty acid synthesis, triacylglyceride assembly and oil-body formation, for example, ACCase, PP, DGAT1, PDAT1, OLEs and STEROs, which were also found to be differentially expressed between high- and low-oil soybean accessions. Phylogenetic analysis revealed distinct differences of oleosin in patterns of gene duplication and loss between high-oil dicots and low-oil grasses. In addition, seed-specific GmGRF5, ABI5 and GmTZF4 were predicted to be candidate regulators in seed oil accumulation. This study facilitates future research on lipid biosynthesis and potential genetic improvement of seed oil content

Extracellular NAD and ATP: Partners in immune cell modulation

Extracellular NAD and ATP exert multiple, partially overlapping effects on immune cells. Catabolism of both nucleotides by extracellular enzymes keeps extracellular concentrations low under steady-state conditions and generates metabolites that are themselves signal transducers. ATP and its metabolites signal through purinergic P2 and P1 receptors, whereas extracellular NAD exerts its effects by serving as a substrate for ADP-ribosyltransferases (ARTs) and NAD glycohydrolases/ADPR cyclases like CD38 and CD157. Both nucleotides activate the P2X7 purinoceptor, although by different mechanisms and with different characteristics. While ATP activates P2X7 directly as a soluble ligand, activation via NAD occurs by ART-dependent ADP-ribosylation of cell surface proteins, providing an immobilised ligand. P2X7 activation by either route leads to phosphatidylserine exposure, shedding of CD62L, and ultimately to cell death. Activation by ATP requires high micromolar concentrations of nucleotide and is readily reversible, whereas NAD-dependent stimulation begins at low micromolar concentrations and is more stable. Under conditions of cell stress or inflammation, ATP and NAD are released into the extracellular space from intracellular stores by lytic and non-lytic mechanisms, and may serve as ‘danger signals–to alert the immune response to tissue damage. Since ART expression is limited to naïve/resting T cells, P2X7-mediated NAD-induced cell death (NICD) specifically targets this cell population. In inflamed tissue, NICD may inhibit bystander activation of unprimed T cells, reducing the risk of autoimmunity. In draining lymph nodes, NICD may eliminate regulatory T cells or provide space for the preferential expansion of primed cells, and thus help to augment an immune response

An integrated omics analysis reveals molecular mechanisms that are associated with differences in seed oil content between Glycine max and Brassica napus

Abstract Background: Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) seeds are rich in both protein and oil, which are major sources of biofuels and nutrition. Although the difference in seed oil content between soybean (~ 20%) and rapeseed (~ 40%) exists, little is known about its underlying molecular mechanism. Results: An integrated omics analysis was performed in soybean, rapeseed, Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana L. Heynh), and sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), based on Arabidopsis acyl-lipid metabolism- and carbon metabolism-related genes. As a result, candidate genes and their transcription factors and microRNAs, along with phylogenetic analysis and co-expression network analysis of the PEPC gene family, were found to be largely associated with the difference between the two species. First, three soybean genes (Glyma.13G148600, Glyma.13G207900 and Glyma.12G122900) co-expressed with GmPEPC1 are specifically enriched during seed storage protein accumulation stages, while the expression of BnPEPC1 is putatively inhibited by bna-miR169, and two genes BnSTKA and BnCKII are co-expressed with BnPEPC1 and are specifically associated with plant circadian rhythm, which are related to seed oil biosynthesis. Then, in de novo fatty acid synthesis there are rapeseed-specific genes encoding subunits β-CT (BnaC05g37990D) and BCCP1 (BnaA03g06000D) of heterogeneous ACCase, which could interfere with synthesis rate, and β-CT is positively regulated by four transcription factors (BnaA01g37250D, BnaA02g26190D, BnaC01g01040D and BnaC07g21470D). In triglyceride synthesis, GmLPAAT2 is putatively inhibited by three miRNAs (gma-miR171, gma-miR1516 and gma-miR5775). Finally, in rapeseed there was evidence for the expansion of gene families, CALO, OBO and STERO, related to lipid storage, and the contraction of gene families, LOX, LAH and HSI2, related to oil degradation. Conclusions: The molecular mechanisms associated with differences in seed oil content provide the basis for future breeding efforts to improve seed oil content

Gene coexpression clusters and putative regulatory elements underlying seed storage reserve accumulation in Arabidopsis

Abstract Background In Arabidopsis, a large number of genes involved in the accumulation of seed storage reserves during seed development have been characterized, but the relationship of gene expression and regulation underlying this physiological process remains poorly understood. A more holistic view of this molecular interplay will help in the further study of the regulatory mechanisms controlling seed storage compound accumulation. Results We identified gene coexpression networks in the transcriptome of developing Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) seeds from the globular to mature embryo stages by analyzing publicly accessible microarray datasets. Genes encoding the known enzymes in the fatty acid biosynthesis pathway were found in one coexpression subnetwork (or cluster), while genes encoding oleosins and seed storage proteins were identified in another subnetwork with a distinct expression profile. In the triacylglycerol assembly pathway, only the genes encoding diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) and a putative cytosolic "type 3" DGAT exhibited a similar expression pattern with genes encoding oleosins. We also detected a large number of putative cis-acting regulatory elements in the promoter regions of these genes, and promoter motifs for LEC1 (LEAFY COTYLEDON 1), DOF (DNA-binding-with-One-Finger), GATA, and MYB transcription factors (TF), as well as SORLIP5 (Sequences Over-Represented in Light-Induced Promoters 5), are overrepresented in the promoter regions of fatty acid biosynthetic genes. The conserved CCAAT motifs for B3-domain TFs and binding sites for bZIP (basic-leucine zipper) TFs are enriched in the promoters of genes encoding oleosins and seed storage proteins. Conclusions Genes involved in the accumulation of seed storage reserves are expressed in distinct patterns and regulated by different TFs. The gene coexpression clusters and putative regulatory elements presented here provide a useful resource for further experimental characterization of protein interactions and regulatory networks in this process.</p