Biomedical subjects

Karen S Osmont

Publications and source records attributed to Karen S Osmont.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Hidden branches: developments in root system architecture.

The root system is fundamentally important for plant growth and survival because of its role in water and nutrient uptake. Therefore, plants rely on modulation of root system architecture (RSA) to respond to a changing soil environment. Although RSA is a highly plastic trait and varies both between and among species, the basic root system morphology and its plasticity are controlled by inherent genetic factors. These mediate the modification of RSA, mostly at the level of root branching, in response to a suite of biotic and abiotic factors. Recent progress in the understanding of the molecular basis of these responses suggests that they largely feed through hormone homeostasis and signaling pathways. Novel factors implicated in the regulation of RSA in response to the myriad endogenous and exogenous signals are also increasingly isolated through alternative approaches such as quantitative trait locus analysis.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2006

BRX mediates feedback between brassinosteroid levels and auxin signalling in root growth.

Brassinosteroid and auxin decisively influence plant development, and overlapping transcriptional responses to these phytohormones suggest an interaction between the two pathways. However, whether this reflects direct feedback or merely parallel inputs on common targets is unclear. Here we show that in Arabidopsis roots, this interaction is mediated by BREVIS RADIX (BRX), which is required for optimal root growth. We demonstrate that the brx phenotype results from a root-specific deficiency of brassinosteroid and is due to reduced, BRX-dependent expression of a rate-limiting enzyme in brassinosteroid biosynthesis. Unexpectedly, this deficiency affects the root expression level of approximately 15% of all Arabidopsis genes, but the transcriptome profile can be restored to wild type by brassinosteroid treatment. Thus, proper brassinosteroid levels are required for the correct expression of many more genes than previously suspected. Moreover, embryonic or post-embryonic brassinosteroid application fully or partially, respectively, rescues the brx phenotype. Further, auxin-responsive gene expression is globally impaired in brx, demonstrating that brassinosteroid levels are rate-limiting for auxin-responsive transcription. BRX expression is strongly induced by auxin and mildly repressed by brassinolide, which means that BRX acts at the nexus of a feedback loop that maintains threshold brassinosteroid levels to permit optimal auxin action.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed2006

Unequal genetic redundancies in Arabidopsis--a neglected phenomenon?

Genetic redundancy is a common phenomenon in Arabidopsis and is thought to be responsible for the absence of phenotypes in the majority of single loss-of-function mutants. In this review, we highlight an increasing number of examples in which redundancy between homologous genes is limited or absent despite functional equivalence of the respective proteins. In particular, we focus on cases of unequal redundancy, where the absence of a mutant phenotype in loss-of-function mutants of one gene contrasts with a strong phenotype in mutants of its homolog. In the double mutants, this phenotype is strongly enhanced. Possible explanations for such scenarios are discussed. We propose that the study of unequally redundant gene pairs offers a unique opportunity to understand global patterns of functional genome evolution.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed2006

Mosaic analysis of extended auricle1 (eta1) suggests that a two-way signaling pathway is involved in positioning the blade/sheath boundary in Zea mays.

The maize leaf develops in a simple, stereotypical manner; therefore, it serves as a basic model to understand the processes involved in forming developmental boundaries. extended auricle1 (eta1) is a pleiotropic maize mutant that affects proximodistal leaf development. Mutant eta1 individuals display basipetal displacement of the blade/sheath boundary and the boundary between auricle and blade is not clearly delineated, leading to an undulating auricle. SEM analysis shows that eta1 is required for proper placement of the blade/sheath boundary on the adaxial leaf surface. Examination of vascular and cellular organization indicates that eta1 affects not only placement of the blade/sheath boundary, but also differentiation of cell types within the blade/sheath boundary. Genetic mosaic analysis was used to determine the effect of eta1 mutant tissue on wild-type leaf development and to resolve the site and timing of the Eta1+ gene product. Interestingly, sectors of eta1 tissue affect the placement of the blade/sheath boundary even in wild-type tissue. These results suggest that a two-way signaling pathway may be involved in the positioning of the blade/sheath boundary. Based on these data, we propose a model for Eta1+ function in the maize leaf.

Body Patterning↗

PubMed2005

A database analysis method identifies an endogenous trans-acting short-interfering RNA that targets the Arabidopsis ARF2, ARF3, and ARF4 genes.

Two classes of small RNAs, microRNAs and short-interfering RNA (siRNAs), have been extensively studied in plants and animals. In Arabidopsis, the capacity to uncover previously uncharacterized small RNAs by means of conventional strategies seems to be reaching its limits. To discover new plant small RNAs, we developed a protocol to mine an Arabidopsis nonannotated, noncoding EST database. Using this approach, we identified an endogenous small RNA, trans-acting short-interfering RNA-auxin response factor (tasiR-ARF), that shares a 21- and 22-nt region of sequence similarity with members of the ARF gene family. tasiR-ARF has characteristics of both short-interfering RNA and microRNA, recently defined as tasiRNA. Accumulation of trans-acting siRNA depends on DICER-LIKE1 and RNA-DEPENDENT RNA POLYMERASE6 but not RNA-DEPENDENT RNA POLYMERASE2. We demonstrate that tasiR-ARF targets three ARF genes, ARF2, ARF3/ETT, and ARF4, and that both the tasiR-ARF precursor and its target genes are evolutionarily conserved. The identification of tasiRNA-ARF as a low-abundance, previously uncharacterized small RNA species proves our method to be a useful tool to uncover additional small regulatory RNAs.

Arabidopsis↗

PubMed2003

Temporal aspects of onion-induced antiplatelet activity.

Organosulfur compounds in onion extracts are formed following the lysis of the S-alk(en)yl-L-cysteine sulfoxides by alliinase. These compounds inhibit the aggregation of human blood platelets and offer the potential for positive cardiovascular health benefits. An experiment was designed to examine temporal and temperature effects on onion-induced antiplatelet activity. Platelet aggregation is induced by various agonists, including ADP, collagen, and thrombin. Unexpectedly, all freshly-juiced onion extracts (ca. 5 minutes post-juicing) appeared to exhibit both an agonist-free aggregation peak (AFP) and a platelet inhibitory peak (PIP) characteristic of inhibition of platelet aggregation. The AFP was minimal by 30 minutes and dissipated in all treatments by 120 minutes, while the PIP increased as onion extracts aged and did not change after 30 minutes at 25 degrees C. This finding confirms the observation that the in vitro platelet inhibitory activity of onion organosulfur compounds is time dependent. Freshly-prepared onion extracts were incubated with the ADP scavenger enzyme apyrase (E.C. 3.6.1.5). AFPs were abolished in apyrase-treated extracts, suggesting that this response may have been due to free ADP in onion extracts, although an amount of ADP required to generate such a response would be unexpected in onion extracts. In addition, platelet aggregates were not observed in the AFP, suggesting this response may be associated with changes in light transmission through platelet rich plasma that are not associated with platelet aggregation. Artifacts of analysis are, therefore, possible when assessing onion-induced antiplatelet activity with freshly-juiced extracts. Temporal formation of platelet-inhibiting organosulfur compounds should be taken into account during both in vitro and in vivo assessment of onion-induced antiplatelet activity.

Humans↗

PubMed2003

The extended auricle1 (eta1) gene is essential for the genetic network controlling postinitiation maize leaf development.

The maize leaf is composed of distinct regions with clear morphological boundaries. The ligule and auricle mark the boundary between distal blade and proximal sheath and are amenable to genetic study due to the array of mutants that affect their formation without severely affecting viability. Herein, we describe the novel maize gene extended auricle1 (eta1), which is essential for proper formation of the blade/sheath boundary. Homozygous eta1 individuals have a wavy overgrowth of auricle tissue and the blade/sheath boundary is diffuse. Double-mutant combinations of eta1 with genes in the knox and liguleless pathways result in synergistic and, in some cases, dosage-dependent interactions. While the phenotype of eta1 mutant individuals resembles that of dominant knox overexpression phenotypes, eta1 mutant leaves do not ectopically express knox genes. In addition, eta1 interacts synergistically with lg1 and lg2, but does not directly affect the transcription of either gene in leaf primordia. We present evidence based on genetic and molecular analyses that eta1 provides a downstream link between the knox and liguleless pathways.

Base Sequence↗