The global apparel value chain, trade and the crisis : challenges and opportunities for developing countries

This paper examines the impact of two crises on the global apparel value chain: the World Trade Organization phase-out of the quota system for textiles and apparel in 2005, which provided access for many poor and small export-oriented economies to the markets of industrialized countries, and the current economic recession that has lowered demand for apparel exports and led to massive unemployment across the industry’s supply chain. An overarching trend has been the process of global consolidation, whereby leading apparel suppliers (countries and firms alike) have strengthened their positions in the industry. On the country side, China has been the big winner, although Bangladesh, India, and Vietnam have also continued to expand their roles in the industry. On the firm side, the quota phase-out and economic recession have accelerated the ongoing shift to more streamlined global supply chains, in which lead firms desire to work with fewer, larger, and more capable suppliers that are strategically located around the world. The paper concludes with recommendations for how developing countries as well as textile and apparel suppliers can adjust to the crisis.Markets and Market Access,Economic Theory&Research,Free Trade,Labor Policies,Access to Markets

Elucidation of the functional role of oligopeptide transporters in bacterial virulence

Abstract only availableThe oligopeptide transporter (OPT) family is a relatively poorly characterized family of peptide/modified peptide transporters found in archebacteria, bacteria, fungi and plants. Plant and yeast OPTs were shown to transport tetra- and pentapeptides as well as the modified peptide glutathione. Our database analysis of sequenced bacterial genomes indicated that OPT proteins are encoded in the genomes of important human pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. However, functional analysis of this family of peptide transporters, especially their possible function in bacterial pathogenesis, is lacking. We obtained three P. aeruginosa strains harboring transposon insertions in the PA3934 locus, the gene predicted to encode the putative orthologous OPT protein (OptA) in P. aeruginosa PA01. Two of the optA mutant strains have in-frame fusion between PaOptA and the PhoA protein encoded within the transposon. Expression of OptA-PhoA is induced by the addition of 20 mM arginine, whereas the expression of OptA-PhoA is not affected by iron availability. The lack of iron-regulated expression of optA would indicate that it is unlikely involved in iron nutrition in P. aeruginosa. We also found that 20 mM arginine and 0.4% peptone enhanced biofilm formation by wild type PA01 strain. However, enhanced biofilm formation by arginine was not observed in the optA mutant strains. Addition of 20 mM lysine had no effect on biofilm formation. We also determined the possible function of OptA in the ability of P. aeruginosa to produce pyocyanin. We found that the optA mutant strains produced higher amounts of pyocyanin than the wild type strain. The presence or absence of arginine in the growth medium had no effect on pyocyanin production. Taken together, these results indicate that OptA is important for biofilm formation by P. aeruginosa in response to arginine and peptides, but is unlikely involved in pyocyanin production.NSF grant to G. Stace

Analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana mutants defective in the oligopeptide transporter OPT3

Abstract only availableThe transport of peptides across membranes is a phenomenon found in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes as a method of obtaining amino acids, nitrogen, and carbon. Peptides can be transported by ATP-dependent transporters, as well as proton-coupled transporters. Among the latter are members of the oligopeptide transport (OPT) family, which transport tetra- and pentapeptides. Sequence comparisons led to the identification of nine OPT genes in Arabidopsis and our laboratory is investigating the role of these transporters in plant growth and development. Previous studies showed that mutations in the OPT3 gene resulted in embryo lethality. More recently, OPT3 expression was shown to increase under conditions of iron limitation, suggesting a possible role for OPT3 in transporting iron-chelates. The lethal nature of OPT3 T-DNA insertion mutation makes them difficult to study in a homozygous condition. Therefore, we sought non-lethal mutations within the OPT3 gene sequence, which can be maintained as homozygous plants. To create such mutations, we used the process of Targeted Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes (TILLING) to identify non-lethal, point mutations in the OPT3 gene. Eight mutant alleles, opt3-1 to opt3-8, were identified by TILLING. These mutants were sequenced and aligned with the other members of the OPT family to determine whether the mutations occurred within conserved regions of the protein. The mutations opt3-5 (P628S) and opt3-8 (P547L) were the first homozygous mutants identified which occurred within a highly conserved region and, therefore, were the likely candidates to disturb OPT3 function. These mutations were followed in segregating populations by CAPS (Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic Sequence) markers. Homozygous mutant lines and wild-type controls were grown on medium containing limited, moderate, or excess iron. The iron effects on the plant were determined by assaying the chlorophyll content in whole plants. These assays revealed no measurable effect of the OPT3 mutations on chlorophyll content under the conditions tested. We are now examining other opt3 alleles for a role in iron transport and other possible phenotypes displayed during plant growth and development.MU Monsanto Undergraduate Research Fellowshi

\u3cem\u3eRhizobium japonicum\u3c/em\u3e Mutants Defective in Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation

Rhizobium japonicum strains 3I1b110 and 61A76 were mutagenized to obtain 25 independently derived mutants that produced soybean nodules defective in nitrogen fixation, as assayed by acetylene reduction. The proteins of both the bacterial and the plant portions of the nodules were analyzed by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. All of the mutants had lower-than-normal levels of the nitrogenase components, and all but four contained a prominent bacteroid protein not observed in wild-type bacteroids. Experiments with bacteria grown ex planta suggested that this protein was derepressed by the absence of ammonia. Nitrogenase component II of one mutant was altered in isoelectric point. The soluble plant fraction of the nodules of seven mutants had very low levels of heme, yet the nodules of five of these seven mutants contained the polypeptide of leghemoglobin. Thus, the synthesis of the globin may not be coupled to the content of available heme in soybean nodules. The nodules of the other two of these seven mutants lacked not only leghemoglobin but most of the other normal plant and bacteroid proteins. Ultrastructural examination of nodules formed by these two mutants indicated normal ramification of infection threads but suggested a problem in subsequent survival of the bacteria and their release from the infection threads

Distinct, crucial roles of flavonoids during legume nodulation

http://www.soyroothair.org/publications.phpRNA interference-mediated silencing of the key flavonoid and isoflavone biosynthesis enzyme, respectively, by two different research groups has provided direct genetic evidence for the essential roles that these compounds play in nodulation. Anton Wasson et al. have shown that flavonoids are essential for localized auxin transport inhibition during nodulation in the indeterminate legume Medicago truncatula. By contrast, Senthil Subramanian et al. have shown that isoflavones are essential for endogenous nod gene induction in the determinate legume soybean.Research in the Yu laboratory was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (MCB0519634), USDA (NRI2005-05190), and MSMC (Grant 02-242). The Stacey laboratory was supported by a grant (DBI-0421620) from the National Science Foundation, Plant Genome program

Observations of the rotational transitions of OH from the Orion molecular cloud

A summary of observed rotationally excited, far infrared OH line emissions from Orion-KL made using the Kuiper Airborne Observatory is given, together with a list of the resulting publications, talks, and lectures based on this data. In addition, a paper is appended, particularly addressing the (16)OH and (18)OH emission from Orion-KL. The first detections of the (16)OH (2)pi(1/2) to (2)pi(3/2) J = 3/2(-) to 3/2(+) rotational cross-ladder transition (53.351 micrometer) and the (18)OH (2)pi(3/2) J = 5/2(+) to 3/2(-) rotational ground-state transition (120.1719 micrometer). It is found that both of these lines exhibit a P-Cygni profile

Transcription factors leading the pathway to survival

Abstract only availableAsian Soybean Rust, a foliar disease, is caused by the fungal pathogen Phakospora pachyrhizi, which threatens soybean (Glycine max) production in many countries. In the absence of fungicide treatment, yield losses from ASR can be up to 80%. The use of fungicides significantly drives up production costs for farmers. Four resistant genes, Rpp1-4, have been identified for ASR but none of these provide sustained, field resistance due to adaptation by the pathogen. Soybean cultivar Williams 82 is susceptible to ASR, while cultivar DT2000 exhibits significant levels of tolerance to the pathogen. We utilized these two cultivars to examine the differential response in the expression of various transcription factor genes to ASR inoculation. Our goal is to identify transcription factors that contribute to soybean resistance to ASR and to identify the corresponding genes and pathways responsible for resistance. Due to the -relatively low abundance of TF gene mRNA, we utilized the qRT-PCR technique to accurately assay gene expression. We also examined the progress of ASR infection by staining infected leaves at different time points after inoculation. In this way, we hope to correlate the expression of specific genes with the stage of infection. After some trial and error, we were able to easily visualize ASR infection in soybean leaves by staining with Calcofluor White. This staining method allowed us to track ASR infection and document the various stages of fungal development. Our initial screens for TF gene expression identified a few TF genes that are clearly differentially expressed between the susceptible and resistance soybean cultivars. We hope in further experiments to understand the function of these TF genes in soybean resistance to ASR and, ultimately, contribute to the development of soybean cultivars that will benefit soybean farmers.NSF grant to G. Stace

Evolutionary genomics of LysM genes in land plants

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The ubiquitous LysM motif recognizes peptidoglycan, chitooligosaccharides (chitin) and, presumably, other structurally-related oligosaccharides. LysM-containing proteins were first shown to be involved in bacterial cell wall degradation and, more recently, were implicated in perceiving chitin (one of the established pathogen-associated molecular patterns) and lipo-chitin (nodulation factors) in flowering plants. However, the majority of <it>LysM </it>genes in plants remain functionally uncharacterized and the evolutionary history of complex <it>LysM </it>genes remains elusive.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We show that LysM-containing proteins display a wide range of complex domain architectures. However, only a simple core architecture is conserved across kingdoms. Each individual kingdom appears to have evolved a distinct array of domain architectures. We show that early plant lineages acquired four characteristic architectures and progressively lost several primitive architectures. We report plant <it>LysM </it>phylogenies and associated gene, protein and genomic features, and infer the relative timing of duplications of <it>LYK </it>genes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We report a domain architecture catalogue of LysM proteins across all kingdoms. The unique pattern of LysM protein domain architectures indicates the presence of distinctive evolutionary paths in individual kingdoms. We describe a comparative and evolutionary genomics study of <it>LysM </it>genes in plant kingdom. One of the two groups of tandemly arrayed plant <it>LYK </it>genes likely resulted from an ancient genome duplication followed by local genomic rearrangement, while the origin of the other groups of tandemly arrayed <it>LYK </it>genes remains obscure. Given the fact that no animal <it>LysM </it>motif-containing genes have been functionally characterized, this study provides clues to functional characterization of plant <it>LysM </it>genes and is also informative with regard to evolutionary and functional studies of animal <it>LysM </it>genes.</p

The University of Missouri Center for Sustainable Energy

Track II: Transportation and BiofuelsIncludes audio file (17 min.)The University of Missouri Center for Sustainable Energy was formed as a collaboration between the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and the College of Engineering. Over 70 faculty members, from a wide variety of disciplines, are associated with the center. The Center focuses on five primary areas: energy policy and management, research, education and training, service, and commercialization. The Center utilizes a number of excellent programs already established on the MU campus (e.g., the Food and Agricultural Policy Institute) to support activities in the area of energy policy and management. We are very excited about our education and training programs where we are partnering with Missouri two-year institutions to develop curriculum to support the growth of jobs in energy industries. In the area of transportation fuels, the Center has a variety of on-going projects. For example, work is underway to utilize novel, nanotechnology composites to enhance methane and hydrogen storage. A number of research projects are also focusing on the utilization of biomass for fuel production. Specific projects are focused on enhancing biomass production but also on understanding and reducing any harmful environmental impacts that might arise. The MU Center for Sustainable Energy serves as a single, central portal for access to the full resources of the University of Missouri the goal of addressing the energy challenges that face our state and nation

OPT3 is a component of the iron-signaling network between leaves and roots and misregulation of OPT3 leads to an over-accumulation of cadmium in seeds.

Plants and seeds are the main dietary sources of zinc, iron, manganese, and copper, but are also the main entry point for toxic elements such as cadmium into the food chain. We report here that an Arabidopsis oligopeptide transporter mutant, opt3-2, over-accumulates cadmium (Cd) in seeds and roots but, unexpectedly, under-accumulates Cd in leaves. The cadmium distribution in opt3-2 differs from iron, zinc, and manganese, suggesting a metal-specific mechanism for metal partitioning within the plant. The opt3-2 mutant constitutively up-regulates the Fe/Zn/Cd transporter IRT1 and FRO2 in roots, indicative of an iron-deficiency response. No genetic mutants that impair the shoot-to-root signaling of iron status in leaves have been identified. Interestingly, shoot-specific expression of OPT3 rescues the Cd sensitivity and complements the aberrant expression of IRT1 in opt3-2 roots, suggesting that OPT3 is required to relay the iron status from leaves to roots. OPT3 expression was found in the vasculature with preferential expression in the phloem at the plasma membrane. Using radioisotope experiments, we found that mobilization of Fe from leaves is severely affected in opt3-2, suggesting that Fe mobilization out of leaves is required for proper trace-metal homeostasis. When expressed in yeast, OPT3 does not localize to the plasma membrane, precluding the identification of the OPT3 substrate. Our in planta results show that OPT3 is important for leaf phloem-loading of iron and plays a key role regulating Fe, Zn, and Cd distribution within the plant. Furthermore, ferric chelate reductase activity analyses provide evidence that iron is not the sole signal transferred from leaves to roots in leaf iron status signaling