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SPL8, an SBP-box gene that affects pollen sac development in Arabidopsis.

SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-box genes (SBP-box genes) encode plant-specific proteins that share a highly conserved DNA binding domain, the SBP domain. Although likely to represent transcription factors, little is known about their role in development. In Arabidopsis, SBP-box genes constitute a structurally heterogeneous family of 16 members known as SPL genes. For one of these genes, SPL8, we isolated three independent transposon-tagged mutants, all of which exhibited a strong reduction in fertility. Microscopic analysis revealed that this reduced fertility is attributable primarily to abnormally developed microsporangia, which exhibit premeiotic abortion of the sporocytes. In addition to its role in microsporogenesis, the SPL8 knockout also seems to affect megasporogenesis, trichome formation on sepals, and stamen filament elongation. The SPL8 mutants described help to uncover the roles of SBP-box genes in plant development.

Alleles↗

Spotted leaf11, a negative regulator of plant cell death and defense, encodes a U-box/armadillo repeat protein endowed with E3 ubiquitin ligase activity.

The rice (Oryza sativa) spotted leaf11 (spl11) mutant was identified from an ethyl methanesulfonate-mutagenized indica cultivar IR68 population and was previously shown to display a spontaneous cell death phenotype and enhanced resistance to rice fungal and bacterial pathogens. Here, we have isolated Spl11 via a map-based cloning strategy. The isolation of the Spl11 gene was facilitated by the identification of three additional spl11 alleles from an IR64 mutant collection. The predicted SPL11 protein contains both a U-box domain and an armadillo (ARM) repeat domain, which were demonstrated in yeast and mammalian systems to be involved in ubiquitination and protein-protein interactions, respectively. Amino acid sequence comparison indicated that the similarity between SPL11 and other plant U-box-ARM proteins is mostly restricted to the U-box and ARM repeat regions. A single base substitution was detected in spl11, which results in a premature stop codon in the SPL11 protein. Expression analysis indicated that Spl11 is induced in both incompatible and compatible rice-blast interactions. In vitro ubiquitination assay indicated that the SPL11 protein possesses E3 ubiquitin ligase activity that is dependent on an intact U-box domain, suggesting a role of the ubiquitination system in the control of plant cell death and defense.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The Arabidopsis AGL8 MADS box gene is expressed in inflorescence meristems and is negatively regulated by APETALA1.

MADS box genes encode putative transcription factors that play important roles in plant and animal development. In plants, MADS box genes are involved in the early step of specifying floral meristem identity as well as the later step of determining the fate of floral organ primordia. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of a new MADS box gene from Arabidopsis, designated AGL8. Although AGL8 RNA does not accumulate during vegetative growth, it accumulates to high levels in the inflorescence apical meristem as well as in the inflorescence stem and cauline leaves. AGL8 RNA is excluded from the young flower primordia that arise on the flanks of the inflorescence meristem but later accumulates in the walls of the developing carpels. The lack of AGL8 RNA in floral meristems is due in part to the action of another MADS box gene, APETALA1, because AGL8 RNA does accumulate in apetala1 mutant flower primordia.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Overlap of Viviparous1 (VP1) and abscisic acid response elements in the Em promoter: G-box elements are sufficient but not necessary for VP1 transactivation.

The relationship between promoter sequences that mediate Viviparous1 (VP1) transactivation and regulation by abscisic acid (ABA) in the wheat Em promoter was investigated using deletion analysis and directed mutagenesis. The Em1a G-box is strongly coupled to VP1 transactivation as well as to ABA regulation; however, the Em promoter includes additional components that can support VP1 transactivation without ABA responsiveness or synergism. Oligonucleotide tetramers of several G-box sequences, including Em1a, Em1b, and the dyad G-box element from the UV light-regulated parsley chalcone synthase gene, were sufficient to confer VP1 transactivation and the synergistic interaction with ABA to the -45 cauliflower mosaic virus 35S core promoter. These data suggest that VP1 can activate transcription through at least two classes of cis-acting sequences, including the G-box elements and the Sph regulatory motif found in the C1 promoter. The contrasting roles of these motifs in the Em and C1 promoters suggest a basis for the differential regulation of the corresponding genes by VP1.

Abscisic Acid↗

A fast identification algorithm for Box-Cox transformation based radial basis function neural network.

In this letter, a Box-Cox transformation-based radial basis function (RBF) neural network is introduced using the RBF neural network to represent the transformed system output. Initially a fixed and moderate sized RBF model base is derived based on a rank revealing orthogonal matrix triangularization (QR decomposition). Then a new fast identification algorithm is introduced using Gauss-Newton algorithm to derive the required Box-Cox transformation, based on a maximum likelihood estimator. The main contribution of this letter is to explore the special structure of the proposed RBF neural network for computational efficiency by utilizing the inverse of matrix block decomposition lemma. Finally, the Box-Cox transformation-based RBF neural network, with good generalization and sparsity, is identified based on the derived optimal Box-Cox transformation and a D-optimality-based orthogonal forward regression algorithm. The proposed algorithm and its efficacy are demonstrated with an illustrative example in comparison with support vector machine regression.

Algorithms↗

Sialidase-like Asp-boxes: sequence-similar structures within different protein folds.

Sequence similarity is the most common measure currently used to infer homology between proteins. Typically, homologous protein domains show sequence similarity over their entire lengths. Here we identify Asp box motifs, initially found as repeats in sialidases and neuraminidases, in new structural and sequence contexts. These motifs represent significantly similar sequences, localized to beta hairpins within proteins that are otherwise different in sequence and three-dimensional structure. By performing a combined sequence- and structure-based analysis we detect Asp boxes in more than nine protein families, including bacterial ribonucleases, sulfite oxidases, reelin, netrins, some lipoprotein receptors, and a variety of glycosyl hydrolases. Although the function common to each of these proteins, if any, remains unclear, we discuss possible functions of Asp boxes on the basis of previously determined experimental results and discuss different evolutionary scenarios for the origin of Asp-box containing proteins.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

The genetic basis of colony opacity in Streptococcus pneumoniae: evidence for the effect of box elements on the frequency of phenotypic variation.

Streptococcus pneumoniae undergoes spontaneous phase variation in colony morphology. Differences in colony opacity have previously been shown to correlate with differences in the ability of organisms to colonize the mucosal surface of the nasopharynx in an animal model. The genetic basis of opacity variation was identified in transformation experiments. A DNA library, from a strain that varies at high frequency, was screened to identify a single clone capable of transforming a transparent recipient strain which varies at low frequency to an opaque phenotype. Analysis of this opacity locus revealed two genes, glpD and glpF, with similarity to genes required for glycerol metabolism in other bacteria. Following the pneumococcal glpF, repetitive intergenic elements, boxes A and C, were identified. These stem-loop-forming elements were not present in the same locus of the recipient strain. Although not required for phase variation in colony opacity, the box element was necessary for expression of phase variation at high frequency. Introduction of the box elements during transformation affected colony morphology, possibly by altering expression of a putative regulatory gene downstream from the box element. Mutagenesis within this region confirmed the contribution of the putative regulatory gene to the expression of colony opacity. Growth characteristics of strains generated in this study provide additional evidence for an association of differences in cell wall autolysis and variation in colony opacity.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression of floral MADS-box genes in basal angiosperms: implications for the evolution of floral regulators.

The ABC model of floral organ identity is based on studies of Arabidopsis and Antirrhinum, both of which are highly derived eudicots. Most of the genes required for the ABC functions in Arabidopsis and Antirrhinum are members of the MADS-box gene family, and their orthologs are present in all major angiosperm lineages. Although the eudicots comprise 75% of all angiosperms, most of the diversity in arrangement and number of floral parts is actually found among basal angiosperm lineages, for which little is known about the genes that control floral development. To investigate the conservation and divergence of expression patterns of floral MADS-box genes in basal angiosperms relative to eudicot model systems, we isolated several floral MADS-box genes and examined their expression patterns in representative species, including Amborella (Amborellaceae), Nuphar (Nymphaeaceae) and Illicium (Austrobaileyales), the successive sister groups to all other extant angiosperms, plus Magnolia and Asimina, members of the large magnoliid clade. Our results from multiple methods (relative-quantitative RT-PCR, real-time PCR and RNA in situ hybridization) revealed that expression patterns of floral MADS-box genes in basal angiosperms are broader than those of their counterparts in eudicots and monocots. In particular, (i) AP1 homologs are generally expressed in all floral organs and leaves, (ii) AP3/PI homologs are generally expressed in all floral organs and (iii) AG homologs are expressed in stamens and carpels of most basal angiosperms, in agreement with the expectations of the ABC model; however, an AG homolog is also expressed in the tepals of Illicium. The broader range of strong expression of AP3/PI homologs is inferred to be the ancestral pattern for all angiosperms and is also consistent with the gradual morphological intergradations often observed between adjacent floral organs in basal angiosperms.

Evolution, Molecular↗

A brassinolide-suppressed rice MADS-box transcription factor, OsMDP1, has a negative regulatory role in BR signaling.

The MADS-box transcription factor-encoding genes are expressed mainly during plant reproductive development, where they play important roles in controlling floral organ initiation and identity. Few previous reports have investigated the functions of MADS-box transcription factors expressed in vegetative tissues. Here we describe the functional characterization of a rice AG-like MADS-box protein, OsMDP1 (Oryza sativa MADS-domain-containing protein 1). A partial cDNA encoding a MADS-box domain was identified via high-throughput screening of rice brassinolide-regulated genes, and the full-length cDNA was subsequently isolated via screening of a cDNA library constructed from rice materials at tillering stage. Expression pattern analyses indicated that OsMDP1 is transcribed mainly in vegetative tissues, including the mature leaf, coleoptile, root-elongation zone, culm internode, and especially the joint region between the leaf blade and sheath. Further studies revealed that transcription of OsMDP1 is stimulated by darkness and suppressed by brassinolide treatment. OsMDP1 deficiency resulted in shortened primary roots, elongated coleoptiles and enhanced lamina joint inclinations. Moreover, transgenic plants showed hypersensitivities to exogenous brassinolide in terms of lamina joint inclination and coleoptile elongation. OsMDP1 deficiency resulted in enhanced expression of OsXTR1, which encodes xyloglucan endotransglycosylase, the cell-wall loosening enzyme necessary for cell elongation, and modulated expressions of multiple genes involved in cell signalling and gene transcription, indicating the key negative regulatory role of OsMDP1 in BR signalling.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Early-onset pauciarticular juvenile chronic arthritis is associated with a mutation in the Y-box of the HLA-DQA1 promoter.

Early-onset pauciarticular juvenile chronic arthritis (EOPA-JCA) has associations with different alleles of the MHC region (HLA-A2, DR5, 6, 8, DQA1*0401, *0501, *0601 and DPB1*0201). All susceptible DQA1 alleles carry an exclusive sequence motif. MHC-class II gene expression is controlled by 5' flanking upstream regulatory regions (URR). A hypervariable region in the promoter region of the HLA-DQA1 gene (-240 and -200 base pairs upstream) defines ten different QAP (DQA1-Promoter) alleles, which are associated with certain DQA1-alleles. The Y-Box in the DQA1 promoter (YC-Box -125 to -115 upstream from the ATG) differs from the consensus sequence (-123 A for G) of all other MHC class II Y-Boxes, resulting in a lower affinity to the NF-Y transcription factor and in a reduced expression of DQA1. A second substitution in the Y-Box of QAP 4.1 and 4.2 (-119 A for G) is found in the promoter alleles of the DQA1-alleles (DQA1*0401, *0501, *0601) and is strongly associated with susceptibility to EOPA-JCA.

Age of Onset↗

Molecular basis of the 'box effect', A maturase deficiency leading to the absence of splicing of two introns located in two split genes of yeast mitochondrial DNA.

In the mitochondrial DNA of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the genes cob-box and oxi3, coding for apocytochrome b and cytochrome oxidase subunit I respectively, are split. Several mutations located in the introns of the cob-box gene prevent the synthesis of cytochrome b and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (this is known as the 'box effect').-We have elucidated the molecular basis of this phenomenon: these mutants are unable to excise the fourth intron of oxi3 from the cytochrome oxidase subunit I pre-mRNA; the absence of a functional bI4 mRNA maturase, a trans-acting factor encoded by the fourth intron of the cob-box gene explains this phenomenon. This maturase was already known to control the excision of the bI4 intron; consequently we have demonstrated that it is necessary for the processing of two introns located in two different genes. Mutations altering this maturase can be corrected, but only partially, by extragenic suppressors located in the mitochondrial (mim2) or in the nuclear (NAM2) genome. The gene product of these two suppressors should, therefore, control (directly or indirectly) the excision of the two introns as the bI4 mRNA maturase normally does.

Base Sequence↗

The role of the CANNTG promoter element (E box) and the myocyte-enhancer-binding-factor-2 (MEF-2) site in the transcriptional regulation of the chick myogenin gene.

We have carried out an analysis of 833 bp of the chick myogenin gene 5' flanking sequence. A 131-bp segment of this upstream region, which contains a CANNTG promoter element (E box) and a myocyte-enhancer-binding-factor-2 (MEF-2) site, acts as a full promoter. It resembles the human and the mouse myogenin promoters in the structure and disposition of regulatory elements, including a TATA box and the transcription start site. Examination of eight myogenic factor/E protein combinations cotransfected with several myogenin promoter constructs into HeLa cells, reveals that the chick myogenin/E2-5 combination maximally activates the myogenin promoter. This activation is mediated through the E box motif; the MEF-2 site limits the factor combinations that can activate the myogenin promoter and enhances activation by myogenin/E2-5. We have found previously that activation of protein kinase C inactivates the transcription of the chick myogenin gene [Huang, C.-F., Neville, C. M. & Schmidt, J. (1993) Control of myogenic factor genes by the membrane depolarization/protein kinase C cascade in chick skeletal muscle, FEBS Lett. 319, 21-25]. In this study, we show that the activation of protein kinase C inhibits the factor bound to the E box, which thereupon negatively regulates the activity of the MEF-2 binding protein.

Animals↗

DnaA-dependent assembly of the ABC primosome at the A site, a single-stranded DNA hairpin containing a dnaA box.

The ABC primosome is assembled from DnaA, DnaB and DnaC proteins at a stem-and-loop structure containing a dnaA box within its stem (A site), and catalyses primer RNA synthesis for DNA chain elongation. The DnaA protein can bind to the A site and the A-site-DnaA-protein complex can be isolated by gel-filtration chromatography in the absence of nucleotides. Mutations within the dnaA box completely abolish the binding of DnaA protein. Point mutations within the stem region outside the dnaA box also severely reduce the affinity of DnaA protein for the A site. These results indicate that not only the dnaA box but also other nucleotides and/or secondary structure features of the stem are important for proper recognition of the A site by DnaA protein. The preprimosome, which is able to synthesize RNA primers upon addition of primase, can be isolated by gel-filtration chromatography in the presence of ATP or adenosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate, a non-hydrolyzable analogue of ATP. The preprimosome can translocate along Escherichia coli single-stranded-DNA-binding protein-coated single-stranded DNA, utilizing the energy released by hydrolysis of ATP, as indicated by its helicase activity. dATP, as well as dCTP, can support the helicase activity of the preprimosome to some extent, while they are inert in helicase assays with DnaB protein in the absence of E. coli single-stranded DNA-binding protein. In keeping with this result, the isolated preprimosome, which appears to contain DnaA and DnaB proteins, is capable of hydrolyzing dATP as well as ATP and GTP. In a reconstituted replication assay, addition of excess dATP restores replication activities which have been inhibited by addition of adenosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate. The ability of dATP to support helicase and replicative activities of the ABC primosome indicates that the formation of the complex somehow modulates the structures of its component(s) so that they can utilize otherwise inert nucleotides. On the basis of these results, a scheme for the assembly of the ABC primosome at the A site is presented.

Bacterial Proteins↗

CpG methylation of the CENP-B box reduces human CENP-B binding.

In eukaryotes, CpG methylation is an epigenetic DNA modification that is important for heterochromatin formation. Centromere protein B (CENP-B) specifically binds to the centromeric 17 base-pair CENP-B box DNA, which contains two CpG dinucleotides. In this study, we tested complex formation by the DNA-binding domain of CENP-B with methylated and unmethylated CENP-B box DNAs, and found that CENP-B preferentially binds to the unmethylated CENP-B box DNA. Competition analyses revealed that the affinity of CENP-B for the CENP-B box DNA is reduced nearly to the level of nonspecific DNA binding by CpG methylation.

Autoantigens↗

DEAD-box RNA helicases in Arabidopsis thaliana: establishing a link between quantitative expression, gene structure and evolution of a family of genes.

The model genome of Arabidopsis thaliana contains a DEAD-box RNA helicase family (RH) of 58 members, i.e. almost twice as many as in the animal or yeast genomes. Transcript profiling using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been obtained for 20 AtRHs from nine different organs. Two AtRHs exhibited plant-specific profiles associated with photosynthetic and sink organs. The other 18 AtRHs had the same transcript profile, and the levels of transcription of these 'housekeeping'AtRHs were under strict quantitative control over a large range of values. Transcript levels may be very different between the most recently duplicated genes. The master regulatory element in the definition of the transcript level is the simultaneous presence of a TATA-box and an intron in the 5' untranslated region (UTR). There is a positive and highly significant correlation between the size of the 5' UTR intron and the transcription level, as long as a characteristic TATA-box is present. Our work on the housekeeping AtRHs suggests a scenario for the evolution of duplicated genes, leading to both highly and poorly transcribed genes in the same terminal branch of the phylogenetic tree. The general evolutionary drive of the AtRH family, after duplication of a highly transcribed ancestral AtRH, was towards an alteration of the transcriptional activity of the divergent duplicates through successive events of suppression of the TATA-box and/or the 5' UTR intron.

Journal Article↗

The Rhizobium meliloti region located downstream of the nod box n6 is involved in the specific nodulation of Medicago lupulina.

Six nod box regulatory sequences are present in the Rhizobium meliloti genome. We have analysed the DNA region located downstream of nod box n6, and identified three open reading frames, designated nolQa, nolQb and nolS. LacZ fusions in these ORFs are not induced by classical nod gene inducers, which indicates that their expression either is not under the control of the nod box, or involves another regulatory mechanism acting in conjunction with the NodD/nod box regulatory circuit. Mutations in this n6 locus result in a delay in nodule formation on a particular host, Medicago lupulina. As this region is not strictly conserved among different R. meliloti strains, nolQa, nolQb and nolS may constitute auxiliary nodulation genes, for which the selection pressure is limited to particular host plants.

Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial↗

Genetic relationships of Bacillus anthracis and closely related species based on variable-number tandem repeat analysis and BOX-PCR genomic fingerprinting.

Variable-number tandem repeats (VNTR) analysis and BOX-repeat-based PCR (BOX-PCR) genomic fingerprinting were performed on 25 Bacillus strains to investigate the genetic relatedness of Bacillus anthracis to the closely related species. Based on VNTR analysis, all B. anthracis strains could be assigned to (VNTR)(4), which is the most commonly found type in the world. Interestingly, a (VNTR)(2) was also observed in Bacillus cereus KCTC 1661 and with an exact match to the tandem repeats found in B. anthracis. This finding has never been reported before in the closely related species. According to the BOX-PCR, B. anthracis strains clustered together and separated reliably from the closely related species. However, B. cereus KCTC 1661 was linked to the B. anthracis cluster and showed close relationships with B. anthracis strains. These results indicated that there was a strong correlation between VNTR analysis and BOX-PCR genomic fingerprinting.

Bacillus↗

Optimized bounding boxes for three-dimensional treatment planning in brachytherapy.

It is sometimes necessary to determine the optimal value for a direction dependent quantity. Using a search technique based on Powell's quadratic convergent method such an optimal direction can be approximated. The necessary geometric transformations in n-dimensional space are introduced. As an example we consider the approximation of the minimum bounding box of a set of three-dimensional points. Minimum bounding boxes can significantly improve accuracy and efficiency of the calculations in modern brachytherapy treatment planning of the volumes of objects or the dose distribution inside an object. A covariance matrix based approximation method for the minimum bounding box is compared with the results of the search method. The benefits of the use of optimal oriented bounding boxes in brachytherapy treatment planning systems are demonstrated and discussed.

Algorithms↗