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Interphase chromosomes and the Rabl configuration: does genome size matter?

Summary It is now well established that the cereals share a common gene order or gene synteny. However, the cereal species encompass an enormous range of genome size, with wheat being one of the largest and rice one of the smallest. Here we describe the current state of knowledge of interphase chromosome structure within the cereal species. In wheat and its close relatives, the interphase chromosomes adopt a highly regular Rabl configuration, with the two chromosome arms lying next to each other and the centromeres and telomeres located at opposite poles of the nuclei. By contrast, the chromosomes in most rice nuclei clearly do not show a Rabl configuration. Surprisingly, the chromosomes in the endoreduplicated xylem vessel cells of rice do adopt a Rabl configuration. To explain this observation, we propose that endoreduplication may occur immediately after chromosome segregation in these cells, and that the new chromatin interactions, particularly at the centromeres, in the endoreduplicated chromosomes may stabilize the anaphase chromosome configuration.

Chromosome Pairing↗

Herbicidal potential of catechol as an allelochemical.

Catechol is an allelochemical which belongs to phenolic compounds synthesized in plants. Its herbicidal effects on weed species; field poppy (Papaver rhoeas), creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense), henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) and wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis) were investigated using wheat (Triticum vulgare) and barley (Hordeum vulgare) species as control plants. In comparison to 2,4-D (a common synthetic herbicide), 13.64 mM of catechol have been found to have a strong herbicidal effect, as effective as 2,4-D on field poppy weed by killing it, and a suppressive herbicidal effect on the other weeds by inhibiting their growth significantly. Concerning all the weeds, in general, elongation of the shoot was affected more negatively than that of the root. Fresh weights of the weeds were decreased by catechol significantly only in field poppy but not in other weeds. The study reveals that catechol is a potent inhibitor of growth of the weeds and therefore it can be evaluated as a herbicide for future weed management strategies.

2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗

Staple Ethiopian diet and cancer of the oesophagus.

BACKGROUND: Previous reports from Ethiopia suggest that oesophageal cancers are due to thermal injury of hot food and beverages. However, in most other countries diet plays an important role. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association of diet and incidence of carcinoma of oesophagus in Ethiopia. DESIGN: A prospective study. SETTING: All adult patients, who were either referred or self referred from other health institutions, were investigated in Mexico Higher Clinic, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. SUBJECTS: All patients who presented for endoscopy for the duration of one year, February 1st to January 2002, were included in the study. RESULTS: There were 902 adult patients of whom 596 (66%) were male and 306 (34%) were female. The age range was 16 to 81 with a mean of 37 and the male to female ratio was 1.95:1. Christians out-numbered Muslims. There were more merchants than office workers or peasants. Those who came from Addis Ababa were 600 (66%) and the rural patients were 302 (34%). The ethnic groupings indicated Amhara, Gurage and Oromo to be the predominant ones. Six hundred sixty two patients ate tef, 140 ate wheat and 100 ate kocho (Qocho). There were 27 specimens, which had malignant cells. Thirteen specimens failed to show malignant cells. Thirteen (13%) Qocho eaters had cancer of oesophagus, nine (6.5%) wheat eaters had cancer and only five of tef eaters (0.70%) were affected. Dysphagia was the single most common symptom with which patients presented in cases of cancer of oesophagus. Cancer of oesophagus was located in upper, middle and EG junctional area in 5, 12 and 10 patients respectively. There were 16 cases of squamous cells and 11 cases of adenocarcinoma of a total of 40 specimen taken. Thirteen specimens failed to show malignant cells. CONCLUSION: Kocho (Qocho) eating appearsto be associated with developing cancer of the oesophagus.

Adolescent↗

Reactivation of creatine kinase by dithiothreitol prior to use in an in vitro translation extract.

BACKGROUND: In vitro protein synthesis on exogenous messenger ribonucleic acids can be performed in various systems including cytoplasmic extract from eukaryotic cells, rabbit reticulocyte lysate and wheat germ extract. For optimal translation, an energy regeneration system based on creatine phosphate and creatine kinase is commonly employed for the regeneration of the endogenous adenosine triphosphate pools. Creatine kinase purchased from various commercial suppliers can be partially oxidised. Oxidised creatine kinase is not biologically active and might not allow the efficient initiation of translation of exogenous mRNAs in eukaryotic cell extracts in vitro. RESULTS: We successfully used dithiothreitol to reduce and therefore reactivate commercially available creatine kinase. When employed in cytoplasmic extracts obtained from eukaryotic cells grown in monolayers, the reactivated creatine kinase restored translation of the exogenous mRNAs. CONCLUSION: Lyophilised creatine kinase obtained from commercial suppliers can be purchased as an oxidised monomer. The reactivation of creatine kinase using a reducing agent such as dithiothreitol restores the biological activity of this enzyme. This procedure might therefore be extended to various other in vitro conditions and biological systems in which the maintenance of an efficient ATP-regenerating system is critical.

Animals↗

Immunological identification of a common precursor to arginine vasopressin and neurophysin II synthesized by in vitro translation of bovine hypothalamic mRNA.

mRNA from membrane-bound polysomes of bovine hypothalamus was translated in an mRNA-dependent cell-free system from reticulocyte lysate or wheat germ. The translation products were identified by immunoprecipitation with antibodies to either neurophysin II or arginine vasopressin followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. An immunoreactive polypeptide was obtained with an apparent Mr of 21,000. Sequential immunoprecipitation studies indicated that the Mr 21,000 product is a common precursor to neurophysin II and arginine vasopressin. The specificity of the immunoprecipitation was demonstrated by competition with excess amounts of unlabeled neurophysin II or arginine vasopressin; little or no competition was observed with unlabeled neurophysin II or arginine vasopressin; little or no competition was observed with unlabeled neurophysin I or oxytocin. Processing experiments with microsomal membranes from dog pancreas or tunicamycin-treated ascites tumor cells showed that the Mr 21,000 polypeptide is the prepro form. It was converted to a pro form with Mr 19,000 suggesting a pre sequence of approximately 15 amino acids. The Mr 19,000 polypeptide was coreglycosylated to an apparent Mr of 23,000, indicating that the neurophysin II-arginine vasopressin precursor is a glycopolypeptide.

Animals↗

Iron absorption from Southeast Asian diets. II. Role of various factors that might explain low absorption.

Previously reported levels of iron absorption from common Southeast Asian meals composed of rice, vegetables, and spices were too low to be consistent with the known prevalence of iron deficiency. In the present paper the cause of the low absorption was systematically sought. Variables investigated comprised methodological errors, factors in the diet such as certain foodstuffs, or contaminants inhibiting the absorption and characteristics of the subjects accompanied by malabsorption of dietary iron. The latter was excluded by comparing the absorption from both wheat rolls and a composit rice meal in Thai and Swedish women using the absorption of a small dose of ferrous ascorbate as a common basis of comparison. Two main factors were identified as causing the low absorption in the previous studies: the homogenization of the labeled meals before serving and the use of rice flour instead of rice. Iron absorption from nonhomogenized meals of identical composition as studied previously was many times higher (on an average 0.16 mg) and was consistent with the actual prevalence of iron deficiency in lower socioeconomic groups of Thais mainly consuming the simple meals studied. Recent modifications of the method to measure nonheme iron absorption from composite meals have thus not only made the determination simpler but also more accurate.

Adult↗

Interaction of wheat high-mobility-group proteins with four-way-junction DNA and characterization of the structure and expression of HMGA gene.

Plant high-mobility-group (HMG) chromosomal proteins are the most abundant and ubiquitous nonhistone proteins found in the nuclei of higher eukaryotes. There are only two families of HMG proteins, namely, HMGA and HMGB in plants. The cDNA encoding wheat HMGa protein was isolated and characterized. Wheat HMGA cDNA encodes a protein of 189 amino acid residues. At its N terminus, there is a histone H1-like structure, which is a common feature of plant HMGA proteins, followed by four AT-hook motifs. Polymerase chain reaction results show that the gene contains a single intron of 134 bp. All four AT-hook motifs are encoded by the second exon. Northern blot results show that the expression of HMGA gene is much higher in organs undergoing active cell proliferation. Gel retardation analysis show that wheat HMGa, b, c and histone H1 bind to four-way-junction DNA with high binding affinity, but affinity is dramatically reduced with increasing Mg(2+) and Na(+) ion concentration. Competition binding studies show that proteins share overlapping binding sites on four-way-junction DNA. HMGd does not bind to four-way-junction DNA.

AT-Hook Motifs↗

Natural radioactivity intake into wheat grown on fertilized farms in two districts of Pakistan.

The use of phosphate fertilizers on agricultural farms enhances gamma-ray activity concentration in the farms and therefore absorbed dose rates to the public. The most common natural radionuclides in fertilizer and soil are (40)K, (226)Ra and (232)Th. Agricultural farms at four locations in two districts in Pakistan consisting of saline and normal soils had been under fertilizer treatment for the past 30, 20, 10 and 0 y, therefore, natural radioactivity has been measured in soil samples from these sites to investigate the effect of fertilizers in soil and wheat grown in these sites. Radioactivity measured in soil of the sites under investigation was 550-644, 20-35 and 42-58 Bq kg(-1) for (40)K, (226)Ra and (232)Th, respectively. Wheat was grown in the farms and radioactivity transferred from soil to roots, shoots and grains was also measured. Relatively high natural radioactivity has been observed in the fertilized agricultural farms and in the wheat plants grown in these farms. From the total amount of an element uptaken in a plant, distribution of the element in different parts of the plant has been studied. The distribution of potassium was almost uniform in roots, shoots and grains of wheat; that of radium was different in the three parts of wheat; and that of thorium was almost equal in shoots and grains but quite large in the roots. Soils to grain transfer factors of the natural radionuclides have been determined as 3-4 x 10(-2) for (226)Ra, 2-3 x 10(-2) for (232)Th and 17-20 x 10(-2) for (40)K. Annual doses of (40)K and (226)Ra received by intake of grain products have been estimated to lie within range while the dose received from intake of (232)Th is larger than the range specified in UNSCEAR report 2000.

Environmental Exposure↗

Antigenic and allergenic properties of the storage mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae.

The antigens and allergens in the storage mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae, commonly found in grain and hay and sometimes in house dust, were characterized by crossed immunoelectrophoresis and crossed radioimmunoelectrophoresis. Three mite extracts, T. putrescentiae (TP) mite bodies, feces, and a combination of mites, feces, and culture medium (TP + CM) were studied. TP and TP + CM (primarily feces) extracts exhibited 20 and 18 antigens, respectively. By use of serum from two skin test-positive patients, autoradiograms demonstrated TP contained two allergens and TP + CM contained five allergens, three of which probably originated from feces. CM (whole wheat flour) did not stimulate antibody production in rabbits. TP feces shared 10 antigenic determinants with TP and 14 with TP + CM. Two antigens common to TP feces and TP were also shared allergens.

Allergens↗

Moniliformin in Norwegian grain.

Norwegian grain samples (73 oats, 75 barley, 83 wheat) from the 2000-02 growing seasons were examined for contamination with moniliformin, and the association between the fungal metabolite and the number of kernels infected with common Fusaria was investigated. Before quantification of moniliformin using ion pairing reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array ultraviolet light detection, all samples were extracted using acetonitrile/water (84/16) and disposable strong anion exchange columns used for clean up. The limit of detection was 40 microg kg(-1). Moniliformin was found in 25, 32 and 76% of the barley, oats and wheat samples, respectively. The maximum concentrations of moniliformin in barley, oats and wheat were 380, 210 and 950 microg kg(-1), respectively. At the same time, the prevalence and infection level of the moniliformin-producing F. avenaceum/arthrosporioides was as high as 100 and >53% on average, respectively. Moniliformin concentrations were significantly correlated to the variables grain species, growing season and infection with F. avenaceum/arthrosporioides and F. culmorum. The survey indicates that the prevalence of moniliformin in Norwegian grain is high, especially in wheat. On the other hand, field conditions in Norway do not seem to favour contamination of grain with high levels of moniliformin.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Some minerals' content of Egyptian feedstuffs.

Determination of five minerals for the more common Egyptian feedstuffs was conducted. Bone and fish meals contained the highest amounts of calcium, 33.43 and 0.25%, while wheat and corn grains contained the lowest amounts, 0.04 and 0.02%, respectively. Bone and meat meals contained the highest amounts of phosphorus, 12.31 and 5.06%, while corn grains and wheat straw contained the lowest amounts, 0.26 and 0.23%, respectively. Meat and fish meals contained the highest amounts of sulfur, 0.89 and 0.68%, while wheat straw and bone meal contained the amounts of sulfur, 0.89 and 0.68%, while wheat straw and bone meal contained the lowest amounts, 0.20 and 0.18%, respectively. Rice and wheat brans contained the highest amounts of manganese, 395.3 and 99.8 mg/kg, while corn grains and dried skim milk contained the lowest amounts, 7.2 and 3.1 mg/kg. Bone and meat meals contained the highest amounts of iron, 0.127 and 0.084%, while barley and dried skim milk contained the lowest amounts, 0.004 for each feed material, respectively.

Animal Feed↗

Soil-based phytotoxicity of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) to terrestrial higher plants

Seed germination and early stage seedling growth tests were conducted to determine the ecotoxicological threshold of 2,4, 6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in two soils of different properties. Soils were amended up to 1,600 mg TNT kg-1 soil and four representative species of higher plants, two dicotyledons (Lepidium sativum L., common name: cress; and Brassica rapa Metzg., turnip) and two monocotyledons (Acena sativa L., oat; and Triticum aestivum L., wheat), were assessed. Cumulative seed germination and fresh shoot biomass were measured as evaluation endpoints. Phytotoxicity of TNT was observed to be affected by soil properties and varied between plant species. Cress and turnip showed higher sensitivity to TNT than did oat and wheat. The lowest observable adverse effect concentration (LOAEC) of TNT derived from this study was 50 mg kg-1 soil. In contrast to high TNT concentrations, low levels of TNT, i.e. , 5-25 mg kg-1 soil for cress and turnip and 25-50 mg kg-1 for oat and wheat, stimulated seedling growth. Oat was capable of tolerating as much as 1,600 mg TNT kg-1 and demonstrated a potential ability of TNT detoxification in one of the soils tested, suggesting that this plant might be useful in the bioremediation of TNT contaminated soils.

Journal Article↗

Underutilized sources of dietary fiber: a review.

Interest in the fiber content of foods has decreased in recent years as concerns about fat intake have increased. Fiber, however, remains an important component of the diet. Soluble dietary fiber, including pectic substances and hydrocolloids, is found naturally in foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes and oat bran. Insoluble fiber, including cellulose and hemicellulose, is found in foods such as whole grains. Fiber supplementation has been used to enhance the fiber content of a variety of foods ranging from cereal-based products to meats, imitation cheeses and sauces. Products used to enhance fiber content of foods have traditionally come from cereals such as wheat, corn and oats. There are a variety of other products, however, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes and less commonly used cereals such as barley, which are potential sources of dietary fiber supplements. This article reviews research on some of these underutilized sources of dietary fiber.

Dietary Fiber↗

Generalized structures of the 5S ribosomal RNAs.

The sequences of 5S ribosomal RNAs from a wide-range of organisms have been compared. All sequences fit a generalized 5S RNA secondary structural model. Twenty-three nucleotide positions are found universally, i.e., in 5S RNAs of eukaryotes, prokaryotes, archaebacteria, chloroplasts and mitochondria. One major distinguishing feature between the prokaryotic and eukaryotic 5S RNAs is the number of nucleotide positions between certain universal positions, e.g., prokaryotic 5S RNAs have three positions between the universal positions PuU40 and G44 (using the E. coli numbering system) and eukaryotic 5S RNAs have two. The archaebacterial 5S RNAs appear to resemble the eukaryotic 5S RNAs to varying degrees depending on the species of archaebacteria although all the RNAs conform with the prokaryotic "rule" of chain length between PuU40 and G44. The green plant chloroplast and wheat mitochondrial 5S RNAs appear prokaryotic-like when comparing the number of positions between universal nucleotides. Nucleotide positions common to eukaryotic 5S RNAs have been mapped; in addition, nucleotide sequences, helix lengths and looped-out residues specific to phyla are proposed. Several of the common nucleotides found in the 5S RNAs of metazoan somatic tissue differ in the 5S RNAs of oocytes. These changes may indicate an important functional role of the 5S RNA during oocyte maturation.

Animals↗

The nature of the interaction of nucleosomes with a eukaryotic RNA polymerase II.

The integrity and stability of nucleosomes under transcription assay conditions has been found to depend on concentration and ionic environment. Rifamycin AF/013, a commonly used inhibitor of initiation, is particularly effective in destabilisation of nucleosomes. Intact nucleosomes are refractory to transcription by wheat RNA polymerase II, the histone core preventing initiation. Template titration suggests that the polymerase can, however, bind to nucleosomes, and a 15--16S complex has been observed on sucrose gradients. DNase I digestion of polymerase-nucleosome incubations indicates that whilst histone is still present in the complex, the nucleosome conformation is altered resulting in enhanced nucleolysis at sites near the DNA centre but reduced overall kinetics of digestion.

Animals↗

Measurement of Phloem transport rates by an indicator-dilution technique.

An indicator-dilution technique for the measurement of flow rates, commonly used by animal physiologists for circulation measurements, was adapted to the measurement of phloem translocation rates in the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) peduncle. The approach is based on the observation that, during the transport of a given amount of solute, its mean concentration will be inversely proportional to flow rate. For phloem transport in the wheat peduncle, the necessary measurements are (a) the time course of tracer kinetics in the peduncle phloem, (b) the volume of sieve tubes and companion cells in the monitored segment of the peduncle, and (c) the amount of tracer transported past that point. The method was evaluated by in situ monitoring of (32)PO(4) transport in pulse-labeling experiments. Specific activities (i.e.(32)P concentrations) of phloem exudate were in good agreement with those calculated from in situ count rates and measured phloem areas. Mass transport rates, calculated from volume flow rates and phloem exudate dry matter content, also agreed well with expected mass transport rates based on measurements of grain growth rate and net CO(2) exchange by the ear. The indicator-dilution technique appears to offer good precision and accuracy for short-term measurements of phloem transport rates in the wheast peduncle and should be useful for other systems as well. In contrast to velocities based on time-delay measurements, it is more precise, more accurate, and produces an estimate of mean, rather than maximum, velocity. Also, since only a single detector is required, it can be applied to very short transport paths.

Journal Article↗

Narrative review: celiac disease: understanding a complex autoimmune disorder.

Celiac disease is a common autoimmune disorder that has genetic, environmental, and immunologic components. It is characterized by an immune response to ingested wheat gluten and related proteins of rye and barley that leads to inflammation, villous atrophy, and crypt hyperplasia in the intestine. The disease is closely associated with genes that code for human leukocyte antigens DQ2 and DQ8. Transglutaminase 2 appears to be an important component of the disease, both as a deamidating enzyme that can enhance the immunostimulatory effect of gluten and as a target autoantigen in the immune response. Sensitive and specific serologic tests, including those for anti-transglutaminase antibody, are facilitating fast and noninvasive screening for celiac disease. Thus, they are contributing to a more accurate estimate of the prevalence of the disease and its association with other disorders. Celiac disease is associated with increased rates of anemia, osteoporosis, cancer, neurologic deficits, and additional autoimmune disorders. A gluten-free diet is the mainstay of safe and effective treatment of celiac disease, although its effect on some of the extraintestinal manifestations of the disease remains to be determined.

Autoantibodies↗

[Sympathetic postganglionic innervation of external carotid artery, internal carotid artery, common carotid artery and aorta in the dog--experimental study using HRP and WGA-HRP].

The sympathetic postganglionic innervation of the external carotid artery, internal carotid artery, common carotid artery (CCA) and aorta was studied by using retrograde axonal transport of the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and wheat germ agglutinin-HRP conjugates (WGA-HRP). When the powder of HRP was applied to the sheaths of internal and external carotid arteries, labeled cells were found only in the ipsilateral superior cervical ganglion (SCG). After injection of WGA-HRP into the walls of the (1) distal, (2) middle, and (3) proximal parts of the CCA, labeled cells were observed in the following ganglia, respectively; (1) the SCG and middle cervical ganglion (MCG), (2) the SCG, MCG and stellate ganglion (SG), and (3) the MCG and SG. These labeled cells were seen in these ganglia of both sides, but they were more marked ipsilaterally. Following injections of WGA-HRP into the walls of ascending and descending aortae, labeled cells were found in the bilateral MCG and SG. These results suggest that the vasodilation of the head and neck after stellate ganglion block using local anesthetic agents is caused by neuronal block of preganglionic sympathetic fibers passing through the stellate ganglion and terminating in the superior cervical ganglion.

Animals↗