Characterization of ROP GTPase-activated Arabidopsis receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases (RLCK class VI_A)

Plants have to respond and adapt to a variety of continuously changing environmental factors in order to establish an appropriate developmental strategy to ensure survival. There are ample data showing that protein phosphorylation/dephosphorylation plays a central role in cellular signal transduction in all organisms (Herrmann et al. 2006; Stone and Walker 1995). Interestingly, plants have a similar system as mammals to detect and transfer signals across the cell membrane into the nucleus where adaptations could be initiated. For the detection and transfer of an external signal, mammalian systems have receptor protein kinases. The proteins contain a single hydrophobic transmembrane domain, an extracellular domain and protein kinase domain. The majority of animal receptor kinases are phosphorylated on tyrosine residues within the kinase domain (receptor tyrosin kinases or RTKs; Ullrich and Schlessinger 1990), but a few were discovered which are phosphorylated on serine and threonine residues (Lin et al. 1992). In plants, two different types of transmembrane receptor kinases are known, including receptor-like serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) kinases (receptor-like kinases RLKs; Shiu and Bleecker 2001, 2003; Shiu et al. 2004; Walker 1994), structurally similar to mammalian RTKs, and receptor histidine (His) kinases (Grefen and Harter 2004; Mizuno 2005; Urao et al. 2000). Since the first RLK-encoding gene family was found in Zea mays (Walker and Zhang 1990), thousands of RLK genes have been identified from many different plant species. The Arabidopsis genome contains more than 600 members, representing nearly 2.5% of the annotated protein-coding genes; and more than 1000 members were annotated in the rice genome (Shiu et al. 2004). Approximately 25% of the Arabidopsis RLKs contain only a kinase domain with no apparent signal sequence or transmembrane region and thus were collectively named as receptor like cytoplasmic kinases (RLCKs). Arabidopsis RLCKs can be subdivided into 12 classes with 193 protein coding genes all together. Concerning the function of plant RLCKs, at the present only few members have been characterized and it is very likely that they play major role in the perception and 93 transmission of external signals perceived by RLKs (Zhou et al. 1995; Murase et al. 2004). Recently, our group as well as a group in Germany reported a direct interaction of plant ROP GTPases with receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases (RLCK class VI) from Arabidopsis (Molendijk et al. 2008) and alfalfa (Dorjgotov et al. 2009). Moreover, we provide evidences that kinases belonging to the RLCK Class VI family of Medicago truncatula and Arabidopsis thaliana can be specifically activated by GTP-bound ROP GTPases in vitro further supporting the view that plant Rho (ROP) G-proteins may directly regulate downstream kinase signaling. A further kinase designated as cysteine-rich receptor kinase (NCRK) belonging to a distinct kinase family has also been shown to interact with ROPs (Molendijk et al. 2008). None of these plant specific ROP-interacting kinases has any characteristic domain or motif that could be correlated with their ability to bind ROP GTPases. Plant specific ROP GTPases are versatile molecular switches in many processes during plant growth, development and responses to the environment and thus a possible implication of RLCKs in these ROP-dependent signal transduction pathways is in discussion. Our general aim was to characterize the members of the Arabidopsis thaliana RLCK Class VI family of protein kinases. Despite of their potential significance in ROP GTPase mediated signaling, hardly any functional information was available until now about the fourteen Arabidopsis RLCK Class VI members. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis revealed that gene duplication played a significant role in the formation of this kinase family and allowed the separation of the 14 RCLK VI kinases into two groups with seven members each (A1 to A7 and B1 to B7). The proteins are highly homologous to each other, especially in the kinase domain, but are divergent from the related kinase families. It was established that, several members have an N-terminal UspA (“universal stress protein”) domain (group B members) or an N-terminal serine-rich region (group A members). In order to formulate a possible biological role of AtRLCK_VI kinases, real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to determine relative transcript levels in the various organs (root, rosette leaves, cauline leaves, 94 inflorescence stem, flower buds, open flowers, siliques. exponentially dividing cultured cells) of the Arabidopsis plant as well as under a series of abiotic stress/hormone (osmotic, sugar, salt stress, oxidative stress, cold and hormone treatment) treatments in seedlings. AtRLCK VI genes exhibited diverse expression patterns in the various plant organs as well as in response to stress/hormone treatments..

THE FORMS OF UNCONVENTIONAL ADVERTISING – A THEORETICAL APPROACH

The large number of advertisements that the consumers are bombarded with every day has made them virtually immune to commercial messages. This is why advertisers are trying to find new, alternative ways to reach the customers, which are comprised by economic literature in the concept of unconventional advertising. Based on a thorough documentary research, this study identifies the existing forms of unconventional advertising by presenting them in the order of their frequency of use and it tries to group the ones with similar characteristics into somewhat larger categories. A better understanding and knowledge of these new forms of advertising can provide marketing and advertising specialists with new strategies to convey the brand message that can grab the attention of any prospect customer.advertising; unconventional advertising; unconventional media; ambient advertising; stealth marketing

Macro Stress Testing of the Slovak Banking Sector

In this paper we estimate the impact of a simulated slowdown in the Slovak economy on the Slovak banking sector. Using a vector error correction model, the impact of the slowdown on interest rates and exchange rates is assessed. This allows us to estimate the aggregated impact of the credit risk, interest rate risk and exchange rate risk. The significance of indirect impact of interest rate risk and foreign exchange risk via possible worsening of financial situation of debtors has also been considered. The results suggest that even significant slowdown of the GDP growth would not substantially threaten the Slovak banking sector provided that the response of the monetary policy would be adequate. Given the current portfolio of the Slovak banking sector, this monetary policy would have positive impact on Slovak banking sector also by direct increase of real value of this portfolio, mainly through the interest rate channel. The shocks in GDP growth that would be left without relevant response in other factors might represent more noticeable threat.Macro stress testing, Credit risk, Slovakia

Aaron Hughes, Oral History Interview, 2022

In October and November of 2022, You Li\u27s Journalism 313 students conducted oral history interviews with one another to document the student experience of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this interview, EMU undergraduate Aaron Hughes talks about switching careers in the pandemic.https://commons.emich.edu/covidoralhist/1019/thumbnail.jp

What\u27s in a Name?: Geographical Indicators, Legal Protection, and the Vulnerability of Zinfandel

This note explores the issues countries face when one party allegedly takes unfair economic advantage of foreign competitors in an increasingly global market by broadly interpreting international product labeling laws in its favor. The United States\u27 widespread use of the term champagne in its domestic sparkling wine industry is just one example of how genericide -the process by which a popular brand name becomes so commonly used that the term is no longer protected by intellectual property law-negatively affects trade relations and hampers economic growth. This note focuses on the dangers of genericide in the marketplace, most specifically, the international wine trade, and looks to other industries and previous remedies that have successfully been used, for guidance on what steps can be taken to minimize trade conflicts. Throughout the note, it is shown that it will be economic factors, local advocacy, and long-term incentives that will create the impetus necessary for change in this otherwise stagnant area of international law

Design of a Low‐Cost Permanent Synchronous Machine for Isolated Wind Conversion Systems

The chapter deals with the theoretical analysis of two configurations of low‐cost permanent synchronous generator (PMSG), suitable for small rating, direct driven applications, such as small‐ and microscale wind power plants. The first structure is a permanent magnet claw‐pole synchronous generator (PMCPSG) to be used in an isolated microwind power plants with installed power around few hundred Watts. A permanent magnet synchronous machine with outer rotor (PMSMOR) is the second presented structure, suitable for small wind system with installed power between 2 and 5 kW. In order to obtain the optimal value of the main geometric dimensions of the generators, an optimization procedure, based on Hooke‐Jeeves method, was implemented for all the considered structures

Performance Analysis of an Integrated Starter-Alternator- Booster for Hybrid Electric Vehicles

The chapter aims to investigate the reduction of the fuel consumption of conventional vehicles using mild-hybridization and considering the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), using two topologies of electrical machines dedicated to integrated starter-alternator-booster (ISAB) applications: directly connected to the crankshaft (called ‘normal ISAB’) and indirectly through the belt system (called BSAB), respectively. The behaviour of ISAB and BSAB of a hybrid electric vehicle has been investigated with a multi-domain simulation software developed in Advanced Modelling Environment for performing Simulation (AMESim)