Contents
lnvited Reviews
Omics databases in plant science: key to systems biology
Keita Suwabe, Kentaro Yano. . . . . . . 413 [PDF]
The wealth of comprehensive online ‘omics data’ and web databases allow us to extract essential new biological information beyond a dataset obtained from an individual study. Here, we summarize the current state of web databases and bioinformatics tools for plant biosciences and systems biology.
RNA silencing manifested as visibly altered phenotypes in plants
Akira Kanazawa. . . . . . . 423 [PDF]
Since the discovery of co-suppression in petunia, RNA silencing manifested as visibly altered phenotypes has significantly contributed to our understanding of the phenomenon. The elucidative potency of endogenous reporter genes is reviewed in terms of application of RNA silencing in plant biotechnology.
Original Papers
Isolation and characterization of a cDNA coding cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) calcineurin B-like protein-interacting protein kinase, VuCIPK1
Masakazu Imamura, Takashi Yuasa, Tomoko Takahashi, Nagisa Nakamura, Nang Myin Phyu Sin Htwe, Shao-Hui Zheng, Ken-ichiro Shimazaki, Mari Iwaya-Inoue. . . . . . . 437 [PDF]
A cDNA coding a calcineurin B-like protein (CBL)-interacting protein kinase (EC 2.7.11.1) homolog (VuCIPK1) was isolated from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.). VuCIPK1 mRNA levels were not altered under various environmental stresses. The endogenous VuCIPK1 was autophosphorylated on the threonine residues in response to salt stress, suggesting that VuCIPK1 is involved in osmotic stress responses.
Arabidopsis VIP6/ELF8, the homolog of CTR9 component of the transcriptional complex PAF1, is essential for plant development
Takeshi Shiraya, Shusei Sato, Tomohiko Kato, Satoshi Tabata, Toshisuke Iwasaki. . . . . . . 447 [PDF]
It has been reported that the loss of function of Arabidopsis VERNALIZATION INDEPENDENCE 6 (VIP6)/EARLY FLOWERING 8 (ELF8) gene leads to the early flowering phenotype. However, here we show that the VIP6/ELF8 gene is essential for plant development because homozygous mutant seeds were rarely obtained in three independent alleles.
Optical isomers of abscisic acid in carrot somatic embryos have the same effect on induction of dormancy and desiccation tolerance
Hajime Shiota, Hiroshi Kamada. . . . . . . 457 [PDF]
In carrot somatic embryos, (+)-abscisic acid (ABA), (?)-ABA, or racemic ABA caused the same amount of activity in dormancy and desiccation tolerance. The commercially available racemic ABA is as effective as the natural isomer (+)-ABA in acquisition of desiccation tolerance in carrot somatic embryos.
Suppressive expression of the glutelin A1-collagen peptide fusion gene in hybrid rice lines with the mutant line, Low Glutelin Content-1 (LGC-1)
Fujio Hashizume, Shingo Hino, Tetsuya Okajima, Daita Nadano, Naohito Aoki, Tsukasa Matsuda. . . . . . . 465 [PDF]
Hybrid rice lines between LGC-1 and a transgenic line with the glutelin A1-collagen peptide fusion gene (gluA1-coll) were produced. The expression of gluA1-coll in F2 lines with lgc1 was far lower than that of F2 lines without lgc1, suggesting that lgc1 affects the exogenous gluA1-coll in the hybrid lines.
Role of miniature inverted repeat transposable elements inserted into the promoter region of a carrot phenylalanine ammonia-lyase gene and its gene expression
Soichi Kimura, Mikiko Oyanagi, Takashi Fukuda, Yoshiyasu Ohno, Chizuru Hongo, Yoshio Itoh, Takatoshi Koda, Yoshihiro Ozeki. . . . . . . 473 [PDF]
The insertion of two miniature inverted repeat transposable elements (MITEs) was found into the proximal promoter region of DcPAL3. The MITEs identified here enhances the expression of adjacent transgenes introduced into stable transformants and possibly into the endogenous DcPAL3 gene.
Short Communications
Du3, a mRNA cap-binding protein gene, regulates amylose content in Japonica rice seeds
Masayuki Isshiki, Yasuyuki Matsuda, Aya Takasaki, Hann Ling Wong, Hikaru Satoh, Ko Shimamoto. . . . . . . 483 [PDF]
Rice dull3 mutants were isolated as low amylose mutants. Map-based cloning revealed that Du3 encodes the rice homolog of a cap-binding protein 20kD subunit that is a component of the heterodimeric nuclear cap-binding complex.
Growth acceleration of plants and mushroom by erythritol
Kouichi Kuroda, Shuji Hirakawa, Masayuki Suzuki, Kazunori Shinji, Kazuo Ogasa, Tatsuya Uraji, Teruo Amachi, Mitsuyoshi Ueda. . . . . . . 489 [PDF]
The effects of erythritol on plants and mushroom were investigated. The supplementation of erythritol to white radish, garlic, arabidopsis and mushroom enhanced the growth. These results would suggest that erythritol has the attractive potential as a safe and useful growth accelerator for plants and mushroom.
Notes
Technical Note
Rapid and simple DNA extraction method from rice using a glass-fiber filter inserted pipette tip
Masanobu Fukami, Yasunori Muramoto, Kazuo Ohkoshi. . . . . . . 493 [PDF]
We developed a novel and simple DNA extraction method which used glass fiber filters inserted within micropipette tips. This method is suitable for rapid DNA extractions from a large number of samples for PCR reactions with simple manipulations and at a low cost.
Gene Notes
Isolation of a drought-responsive alkaline a-galactosidase gene from New Zealand spinach
Masakazu Hara, Kozo Tokunaga, Toru Kuboi. . . . . . . 497 [PDF]
New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides) is a common seashore plant in Japan. A cDNA clone encoding a New Zealand spinach alkaline α-galactosidase (TtAGA1) was isolated. Drought stress enhanced the TtAGA1 transcripts accumulation.
A stress-responsive multifunctional protein involved in β -oxidation in tobacco plants
Hitoshi Ohya, Ayako Ogata, Kimiyo Nakamura, Kwi-Mi Chung, Hiroshi Sano. . . . . . . 503 [PDF]
Screening wound-responsive genes in tobacco plants identified a clone encoding a multfunctional protein, and designated as NtMFP. The bacterially expressed protein exhibited a β-oxidation activity. Fusion proteins with GFP were observed in cytosol in onion epidermal cell layers. NtMFP transcripts were induced by mechanical wounding, tobacco mosaic virus infection and jasmonic acid. The NtMFP -RNAi transgenic tobacco showed dwarfism, early senescence and reduced expresstion of jasmonic acid-responsive genes. The present results suggest the possibility that NtMFP commonly functions not only in fatty acid catabolism but also in jasmonic acid biosynthesis pathway.