PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Poa”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Susceptibilities of Different Test Systems from Maize (Zea mays), Poa annua, and Festuca rubra to Herbicides That Inhibit the Enzyme Acetyl-Coenzyme A Carboxylase

The susceptibilities of maize (Zea mays cv. Champ) and two graminicide-resistant grass species, Poa annua (annual meadow grass) and Festuca rubra (red fescue), to two aryloxyphenoxypropionates (quizalofop and fluazifop) and a cyclohexanedione (sethoxydim) graminicide were evaluated in leaf blades and isolated chloroplasts, and by assaying acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) in desalted leaf homogenates. The graminicide resistance of P. annua and F. rubra appeared to be at the level of ACCase. Festuca rubra ACCase was highly insensitive and P. annua ACCase was partially insensitive to the graminicides that were tested. Fatty acid synthesis in isolated maize chloroplasts was more susceptible to inhibition than was ACCase activity from whole leaves. There was a smaller difference in graminicide sensitivity between these two test systems in P. annua. The developmental pattern of ACCase specific activity and its inhibition by quizalofop was measured in maize and P. annua leaf blades. There was an age-dependent increase in the sensitivity of maize leaf ACCase activity to inhibition by quizalofop. Together with the greater susceptibility of chloroplasts compared with leaf homogenates this could imply that a graminicide-insensitive (extrachloroplastic) ACCase isoform is less highly expressed in older leaves. Poa annua ACCase did not significantly alter in sensitivity as leaves aged, consistent with the smaller difference in the level of inhibition between chloroplasts and leaf homogenates in this species. A small pyruvate carboxylase activity was detected in maize leaves after 9 days. By 38 days, when leaves were senescing, pyruvate carboxylase activity predominated over ACCase.

Journal Article↗

Plasma LH rises rapidly following mating in hypogonadal female mice with preoptic area (POA) brain grafts.

Hypogonadal female mice, genetically deficient in gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), respond to preoptic area (POA) grafts obtained from normal fetal or neonatal mice with increased gonadotropin levels, ovarian and uterine development and continual vaginal estrus rather than spontaneous ovulatory cyclicity. Previous studies showed that such mice became pregnant following one overnight pairing with a normal male, indicating reflex ovulation. The present study evaluated plasma LH concentrations in relation to mating. Plasma LH levels in the hpg females with POA grafts were significantly elevated 10 min following the male partner's ejaculation, but were no different than baseline at 30, 60 or 120 min following the male's ejaculation. The post-copulatory plasma LH levels of 3.0 +/- 0.6 ng/ml (mean +/- S.E.M.) were considerably lower than the proestrous LH surge seen in the normal females in the colony (16.8 +/- 4.8 ng/ml), but in at least 4 of 10 hpg mice the levels were sufficient to induce ovulation as proved by pregnancy following this single mating. Grafts contained GnRH-reactive cells and fibers that projected to the median eminence of the host brains.

Animals↗

Prenatal morphine exposure alters estrogen regulation of kappa receptors in the cortex and POA of adult female rats but has no effects on these receptors in adult male rats.

The binding characteristics of kappa receptors were assessed in the frontal cortex (CX), striatum, hypothalamus, preoptic area (POA), cerebellum, and ventral tegmental area of adult male and female rats exposed prenatally to morphine or saline. Prenatal morphine exposure altered estrogen regulation of kappa receptors in the CX and POA of females, but had no effects on kappa receptors in any of the examined brain regions in male rats.

Analgesics, Opioid↗

Nucleotide sequence analysis of three cDNAs coding for Poa p IX isoallergens of Kentucky bluegrass pollen.

Grass pollen allergens are one of the major causes of type I allergic reactions (allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, allergic bronchial asthma, and hayfever) in temperate climates afflicting 15-20% of a genetically predisposed population. Workers have found considerable physico- and immunochemical heterogeneity within the grass pollen allergens which has made them difficult to purify for both therapeutic uses and further biochemical study. We recently reported the construction of a cDNA library in lambda gt11 using mRNA extracted from dehydrated Kentucky bluegrass (KBG, Poa pratensis). Here, we present the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences for three KBG pollen allergen cDNA clones, KBG 41, 60, and 31, which were isolated from the above library using a pool of six sera from grass pollen allergic patients. These clones exhibit an exceptionally high degree of sequence similarity to one another, only minor similarity to other known allergens, and no homologies to other known proteins or genes. The predicted molecular mass for the cloned proteins range from 28.3 to 37.8 kDa with pI values of 9.6-10.2. All three clones appear to possess leader peptides and lack asparagine sequons required for N-glycosylation. Therefore, the molecular mass of the post-translationally modified proteins were calculated to be 28.4-34.9 kDa, which is consistent with the size of the polypeptides revealed in Western blots of pollen proteins using an antiserum to a recombinant peptide encoded by the partial cDNA clone KBG 8.3. Northern blotting analysis indicates that expression of the genes corresponding to these clones is confined to pollen tissue. The results suggest that the clones code for a group of proteins that represent a new and previously uncharacterized group of grass pollen isoallergens, which have been hereby designated as Poa p IX.

Allergens↗

Multiparametric tumor marker (CA 19-9, CEA, AFP, POA) analyses of pancreatic juices and sera in pancreatic diseases.

With respect to their diagnostic utility CA 19-9, CEA, AFP and POA were determined in pancreatic secretions and serum of patients suffering from pancreatic cancer (n = 76/55) or chronic pancreatitis (n = 79/45) and of controls (n = 81/42), respectively. While the determination of AFP and POA both in pancreatic secretions and serum does not permit a differential diagnosis, serum CEA (greater than 10 ng/ml) and CA 19-9 (greater than 50 U/ml) levels were indicative of pancreatic cancer in 30% and 83%, respectively, with a rate of false positive results of 5% and 8.5% confined to the chronic pancreatitis patients. A combination of tumor marker analyses, that is, serum CA 19-9 (greater than 50 U/ml) and pancreatic secretion CEA (greater than 70 ng/ml), proved to be positive in 92.9% of tumor patients with a maximum of 10.5% false positives. Likewise, values of serum CA 19-9 (greater than 50 U/ml) and serum CEA (greater than 10 ng/ml) were found in 85.8% of the pancreatic cancer patients with only 8.8% false positives, which were confined to the chronic pancreatitis patients. These results indicate the superiority of multiparametric tumor marker analyses for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, especially when including new monoclonal antibody defined tumor markers.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

[Diagnostic usefulness of serum levels of pancreatic oncofetal antigen (POA) and CA 19-9 in pancreatic cancers: monitoring of postoperative recurrences].

Serum levels of POA (EIA; less than 11.0 U/ml) and CA 19-9 (RIA; less than or equal to 37 U/ml) were measured in 54 patients with pancreatic cancer and 19 patients with benign diseases of the pancreas. Although serum CA 19-9 and POA were elevated in 72.7% and 69.4% of patients with pancreatic cancer, respectively, patients in relatively early stage showed low percent of elevation. Therefore, these markers are unsuitable for early diagnosis of pancreatic cancers. However, these markers seem promising in differentiating preoperatively between pancreatic cancer and benign disease of the pancreas. These markers are also useful for monitoring the recurrence of pancreatic cancers. Of particular, patients with preoperatively high level seem good candidates for postoperative monitoring.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

[Pancreatic oncofetal antigen (POA)].

Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the diagnostic and prognostic usefulness of tumor-associated antigen of embryonic and fetal origin. Many approaches have been attempted to make an early diagnosis of the pancreatic cancer, where a specific screening blood test for the pancreatic cancer is required. By using antiserum to fetal pancreas, Banwo et al, discovered an oncofetal antigen that was present in human fetal pancreas, pancreatic tumor tissue, and sera from patients with the pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic oncofetal antigen (POA) was considered to be an oncofetal antigen for human pancreas, and its measurement seemed to be useful in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. But elevated levels of POA were also observed in the serum of some patients with cancer of the stomach, lung, colon, or liver as well as in the serum of some pregnant women and others with certain benign conditions. In summary, combined assay with various tumor markers was considered to be useful for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

Generation of large numbers of transgenic Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) plants following biolistic gene transfer.

A very efficient transformation system, using biolistic bombardment, has been developed for the production of transgenic plants of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.). Embryogenic calli, initiated from immature embryos, were transformed either with pAct1IHPT-4 containing the hygromycin phosphotransferase (hpt) gene or with pDM803 containing the phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (bar) gene and the beta-glucuronidase (uidA) gene. In total 119 independent transgenic plants were recovered from 153 hygromycin-resistant lines. Bialaphos selection yielded a total of 99 bialaphos-resistant lines and from these 34 independent transgenic plants were recovered. Southern blot analysis demonstrated the independent nature of the transgenic plants and also revealed a complex transgene integration pattern with multiple insertions.

Biolistics↗

Isolation of candidate genes for apomixis in Poa pratensis L.

The essential feature of apomixis is that an embryo is formed autonomously by parthenogenesis from an unreduced egg of an embryo sac generated through apomeiosis. The genetic constitution of the offspring is, therefore, usually identical to the maternal parent, a trait of great interest to plant breeders. If apomixis were well understood and harnessed, it could be exploited to indefinitely propagate superior hybrids or specific genotypes bearing complex gene sets. A fundamental contribution to the understanding of the genetic control of the apomictic pathway could be provided by a deep knowledge of molecular mechanisms that regulate the reproductive events. In Poa pratensis the cDNA-AFLP method of mRNA profiling allowed us to visualize a total of 2248 transcript-derived fragments and to isolate 179 sequences that differed qualitatively or quantitatively between apomictic and sexual genotypes at the time of flowering when the primary stages of apomixis occur. Three ESTs were chosen for further molecular characterization because of their cDNA-AFLP expression pattern and BLAST information retrieval. The full-lengths of the newly isolated genes were recovered by RACE and their temporal expression patterns were assessed by RT-PCR. Their putative role in cell signaling transduction cascades and trafficking events required during sporogenesis, gametogenesis and embryogenesis in plants is reported and discussed.

Cell Cycle Proteins↗

Growth and nutritive quality of Poa pratensis as influenced by ozone and competition.

Interspecific plant competition has been hypothesized to alter effects of early-season ozone (O3) stress. A phytometer-based approach was utilized to investigate O3 effects on growth and nutritive quality of Poa pratensis grown in monoculture and in mixed cultures with four competitor-plant species (Anthoxanthum odoratum, Achillea millefolium, Rumex acetosa and Veronica chamaedrys). Mesocosms were exposed during April/May 2000-2002 to charcoal-filtered air+25 ppb O3 (control) or non-filtered air+50 ppb O3 (elevated O3). Biomass production was not affected by O3, but foliar injury symptoms were observed in May 2002. Early-season O3 exposure decreased relative food value of P. pratensis by an average of 8%, which is sufficient to have nutritional implications for its utilization by herbivores. However, forage quality response to O3 was not changed by interspecific competition. Lack of injury and nutritive quality response in P. pratensis harvested in September may reflect recovery from early-season O3 exposure.

Air Pollutants↗

Variation in onset of summer dormancy and flowering capacity along an aridity gradient in Poa bulbosa L., a geophytic perennial grass.

Variation in the onset of summer dormancy and flowering capacity of 16 populations of Poa bulbosa, collected along a steep north-south aridity gradient in Israel (810-110 mm rain year(-1)), was studied under controlled conditions in a phytotron (16 h daylength, 22/16 degrees C day/night) and under natural conditions in a garden experiment in a net-house. Plant age at the onset of dormancy varied markedly amongst populations (7-16 weeks under controlled conditions) and was positively correlated with mean annual precipitation at the site of origin of the population, i.e. dormancy was earlier as aridity increased. Flowering capacity in the different populations was negatively correlated with rainfall in the original habitat and, consequently, also with the age at onset of dormancy, i.e. the lower the mean annual precipitation, the earlier the onset of dormancy and the higher the proportion of flowering plants and panicles per plant. Differences in xeromorphic leaf traits were also observed among populations from locations differing in aridity. Plants from the more arid sites (110-310 mm year(-1)) generally had greyish and curved leaves, whereas plants from more humid sites (500-810 mm year(-1)) tended to have green and straight leaves. Thus, plants with curved and/or greyish leaves generally had a higher flowering capacity and entered dormancy earlier than plants with straight and/or green leaves. The significance of the association among these traits for the adaptation of P. bulbosa to increasing aridity is discussed.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Pseudoviviparous reproduction of Poa alpina var. vivipara L. (Poaceae) during long-term exposure to elevated atmospheric CO2.

Pseudovivipary is an asexual reproductive strategy exhibited by some arctic/alpine grasses in which leafy plantlets are produced in place of seeds, with genetic conservation an advantage for stress tolerators in these nutrient-poor habitats. Photosynthetic metabolism and the development of this reproductive system were investigated under varying nutrient availability and predicted future CO(2) partial pressure (pCO(2)). Poa alpina var. vivipara L., grown at present ambient pCO(2) or ambient plus 340 micro mol mol(-1) CO(2) (elevated pCO(2)), was supplied with either 0.05 mol m(-3) phosphorus and 0.2 mol m(-3) nitrogen, or 0.2 mol m(-3) phosphorus and 1.0 mol m(-3) nitrogen. Gas exchange measurements and determination of total non-structural carbohydrate (TNC), nitrogen and phosphorus contents revealed that parent plant leaf blade tissues experienced acclimatory loss of photosynthetic capacity after long-term growth at elevated pCO(2) (particularly so when nutrient availability was low); there were associated reductions in photosynthetic nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiencies (PNUE and PPUE). In addition, decreased PNUE and PPUE were exhibited by plantlets grown at elevated pCO(2) with low nutrient availability. Decreased reproductive dry matter in this treatment also resulted from a lack of reproductive initiation in daughter tillers, and altered phenology. Pseudoviviparous P. alpina is likely to be at a disadvantage in both vegetative and reproductive phases at predicted future elevated atmospheric CO(2) concentrations, particularly where nutrients are scarce and when in competition with species experiencing less acclimatory loss of photosynthetic capacity.

Acclimatization↗

Opposite effects of daylength and temperature on flowering and summer dormancy of Poa bulbosa.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The timing of flowering and summer dormancy induction plays a central role in the adaptation of Mediterranean geophytes to changes in the length of the growth season along rainfall gradients. Our aim was to analyse the role of the variation in the responses of flowering and summer dormancy to vernalization, daylength and growth temperature for the adaptation of Poa bulbosa, a perennial geophytic grass, to increasing aridity. METHODS: Flowering and dormancy were studied under controlled daylengths [9 h short day (SD) vs. 16 h long day (LD)] and temperatures (16/10, 22/16 and 28/22 degrees C day/night) in four ecotypes originating in arid, semi-arid and mesic habitats (110, 276 and 810 mm rain year(-1), respectively) and differing in flowering capacity under natural conditions: arid-flowering, semi-arid-flowering, semi-arid-non-flowering and mesic-non-flowering. KEY RESULTS: Flowering and dormancy were affected in opposite ways by daylength and growth temperature. Flowering occurred almost exclusively under SD. In contrast, plants became dormant much earlier under LD than under SD. In both daylengths, high temperature and pre-chilling (6 weeks at 5 degrees C) enhanced dormancy imposition, but inhibited or postponed flowering, respectively. Induction of flowering and dormancy in the different ecotypes showed differential responsiveness to daylength and temperature. Arid and semi-arid ecotypes had a higher proportion of flowering plants and flowering tillers as well as more panicles per plant than mesic ecotypes. 'Flowering' ecotypes entered dormancy earlier than 'non-flowering' ecotypes, while the more arid the site of ecotype origin, the earlier the ecotype entered dormancy. CONCLUSIONS: Variation in the flowering capacity of ecotypes differing in drought tolerance was interpreted as the result of balanced opposite effects of daylength and temperature on the flowering and dormancy processes.

Climate↗

Regulation of summer dormancy by water deficit and ABA in Poa bulbosa ecotypes.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Survival of many herbaceous species in Mediterranean habitats during the dry, hot summer depends on the induction of summer dormancy by changes in environmental conditions during the transition between the winter (growth) season to the summer (resting) season, i.e. longer days, increasing temperature and drought. In Poa bulbosa, a perennial geophytic grass, summer dormancy is induced by long days, and the induction is enhanced by high temperature. Here the induction of summer dormancy in a Mediterranean perennial grass by water deficit under non-inductive photoperiodic conditions is reported for the first time. METHODS: Plants grown under 22/16 degrees C and non-inductive short-day (9 h, SD) were subjected to water deficit (WD), applied as cycles of reduced irrigation, or sprayed with ABA solutions. They were compared with plants in which dormancy was induced by transfer from SD to inductive long-day (16 h, LD). Responses of two contrasting ecotypes, from arid and mesic habitats were compared. Dormancy relaxation in bulbs from these ecotypes and treatments was studied by comparing sprouting capacity in a wet substrate at 10 degrees C of freshly harvested bulbs to that of dry-stored bulbs at 40 degrees C. Endogenous ABA in the bulbs was determined by monoclonal immunoassay analysis. KEY RESULTS: Dormancy was induced by WD and by ABA application in plants growing under non-inductive SD. Dormancy induction by WD was associated with increased levels of ABA. Bulbs were initially deeply dormant and their sprouting capacity was very low, as in plants in which dormancy was induced by LD. Dormancy was released after 2 months dry storage at 40 degrees C in all treatments. ABA levels were not affected by dormancy relaxation. CONCLUSIONS: Summer dormancy in P. bulbosa can be induced by two alternative and probably additive pathways: (1) photoperiodic induction by long-days, and (2) water deficit. Increased levels of endogenous ABA are involved in both pathways.

Abscisic Acid↗

Nitrogen dynamics in the intact grasses Poa trivialis and Panicum maximum receiving contrasting supplies of nitrogen.

The C(3) grass Poa trivialis and the C(4) grass Panicum maximum were grown in sand culture and received a complete nutrient solution with nitrogen supplied as 1.5 mol m(-3) NH(4)NO(3). (15)N tracer techniques were used to quantify the relative use of root uptake and mobilization in supplying nitrogen to growing leaves in intact plants which either continued to receive nitrogen or which received the complete nutrient solution without nitrogen. The allocation of both (15)N-labelled nitrogen uptake and unlabelled mobilized nitrogen indicated that, under their conditions of growth, the sink strength of growing leaves was relatively greater in P. maximum than P. trivialis. The supply of nitrogen by mobilization to side tillers of P. trivialis was completely stopped as the external nitrogen supply was reduced, whilst in P. maximum some allocation of mobilized nitrogen to side tillers, roots and growing leaves was maintained. In both plant species receiving an uninterrupted supply of nitrogen the allocation pattern of mobilized nitrogen differed from that of nitrogen derived from root uptake. Differences exist in the degree to which P. trivialis and P. maximum utilized uptake and mobilization to supply nitrogen to the growing leaves. In P. trivialis roots were always a net sink of mobilized nitrogen, irrespective of the external nitrogen supply. In P. maximum, roots were a net sink of mobilized nitrogen when external nitrogen was withdrawn, but exhibited both source and sink behaviour when nitrogen supply was continued.

Biological Transport↗

Short-term exposure to elevated atmospheric CO2 benefits the growth of a facultative annual root hemiparasite, Rhinanthus minor (L.), more than that of its host, Poa pratensis (L.).

The effects of elevated CO2 (650 ppm) on interactions between a chlorophyllous parasitic angiosperm, Rhinanthus minor (L.) and a host, Poa pratensis (L.) were investigated. R. minor benefited from elevated CO2, with both photosynthesis and biomass increasing, and transpiration and tissue N concentration remaining unaffected. However, this did not alleviate the negative effect of the parasite on the host; R. minor reduced host photosynthesis, transpiration, leaf area and biomass, irrespective of CO2 concentration. Elevated CO2 resulted in increased host photosynthesis, but there was no concomitant increase in biomass and foliar N decreased. It appears that the parasite may reduce host growth more by competition for nitrogen than for carbon. Contrary to expectation, R. minor did not reduce the productivity of the host-parasite association, and it actually contributed to the stimulation of productivity of the association by elevated CO2.

Atmosphere↗

The introgression of a functional nuclear gene from Poa to Festuca ovina.

In sheep's fescue, Festuca ovina, genes coding for the cytosolic enzyme phosphoglucose isomerase, PGIC, are not only found at the standard locus, PgiC1, but also at a segregating second locus, PgiC2. We have used PCR-based sequencing to characterize the molecular structure and evolution of five PgiC1 and three PgiC2 alleles in F. ovina. The three PgiC2 alleles were complex in that they carried two gene copies: either two active genes or one active and one pseudogene. All the PgiC2 sequences were very similar to each other but highly diverged from the five PgiC1 sequences. We also sequenced PgiC genes from several other grass species. Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences indicates that PgiC2 has introgressed into F. ovina from the distant genus Poa. Such an introgression may, for example, follow from a non-standard fertilization with more than one pollen grain, or a direct horizontal gene transfer mediated by a plant virus.

Alleles↗

Localization of Poa semilatent virus cysteine-rich protein in peroxisomes is dispensable for its ability to suppress RNA silencing.

Subcellular localization of the Poa semilatent virus cysteine-rich gammab protein was studied by using different approaches. In infected tissue, gammab was detected mainly in the P30 fraction as monomers, dimers and oligomers. Green fluorescent protein-fused gammab was found to localize in punctate bodies in the cytoplasm. Colocalization with marker proteins demonstrated that these bodies represent peroxisomes. Immunoelectron microscopy revealed that gammab was localized in the peroxisomal matrix and that localization of gammab in peroxisomes required the C-terminal signal tripeptide SKL. An SKL-deletion mutant exhibited a diffuse localization, but retained the protein's ability to suppress RNA silencing, determine infection phenotype and support virus systemic spread. These data indicate that gammab functions are not associated with the protein's localization to peroxisomes.

Cysteine↗