bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Moderate Alcohol Consumption on Plasma Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate, Testosterone, and Estradiol Levels in Middle‐Aged Men and Postmenopausal Women: A Diet‐Controlled Intervention Study
Authors: Sierksma Aafje , Sarkola Taisto , Eriksson C. J. Peter , van der Gaag Martijn S. , Grobbee Diederick E. , Hendriks Henk F. J. 
Published: May 2004

Abstract: Background: Moderate alcohol consumption is inversely associated with cardiovascular diseases. Changes in hormone levels might in part help explain the positive health effect. This study was performed to examine the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on plasma dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), testosterone, and estradiol levels.Methods: In a randomized, diet‐controlled, crossover study, 10 middle‐aged men and 9 postmenopausal women, all apparently healthy, nonsmoking, and moderate alcohol drinkers, consumed beer or no‐alcohol beer with dinner during two successive periods of 3 weeks. During the beer period, alcohol intake equaled 40 and 30 g per day for men and women, respectively. The total diet was supplied and had essentially the same composition during these 6 weeks. Before each treatment there was a 1 week washout period, in which the subjects were not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages. At the end of each of the two experimental periods, fasting blood samples were collected in the morning.Results: Moderate alcohol consumption increased plasma DHEAS level by 16.5% (95% confidence interval, 8.0–24.9), with similar changes for men and women. Plasma testosterone level decreased in men by 6.8% (95% confidence interval, −1.0–−12.5), but no effect was found in women. Plasma estradiol level was not affected. Serum high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol level increased by 11.7% (95% confidence interval, 7.3–16.0), with similar changes for men and women. The overall alcohol‐induced relative changes in DHEAS, testosterone, and estradiol correlated positively with the relative increase in high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (adjusted for the relative change in body weight); however, findings were only borderline significant for DHEAS and estradiol (r= 0.44, p= 0.08; r= 0.32, p= 0.21; and r= 0.46, p= 0.06, respectively).Conclusions: A protective effect of moderate alcohol consumption for cardiovascular disease risk may in part be explained by increased plasma DHEAS level.
Acute Alcohol Consumption Inhibits Accessory Cell Function of Monocytes and Dendritic Cells
Authors: Szabo Gyongyi , Catalano Donna , White Bernadette , Mandrekar Pranoti 
Published: May 2004

Abstract: Background: Alcohol affects both innate and acquired immune responses. Chronic alcoholics have reduced delayed‐type hypersensitivity response and increased susceptibility to infections. In contrast, recent studies suggest that acute, moderate alcohol consumption has protective effects on mortality. Monocytes and dendritic cells (DC) play a central role in coordination of innate and adaptive immune responses and are pivotal in activation of T lymphocytes in an antigen‐specific manner. In this study, we investigated the effects of acute, moderate alcohol consumption on antigen presenting cell function of blood monocytes and monocyte‐derived myeloid dendritic cells.Methods: Accessory cell function of human blood monocytes was tested before and after acute alcohol intake (2 ml vodka/kg body weight) by measuring T cell activation with alloantigen (mixed lymphocyte reaction, MLR), superantigen (staphylococcal enterotoxin B) and recall antigen (tetanus toxoid). Myeloid DCs were generated in vitro from monocytes obtained from these individuals using IL‐4 and GM‐CSF and their allostimulatory function was tested in an MLR.Results: We found significantly reduced T cell proliferation in the presence of monocytes obtained 2 or 18 hr after alcohol consumption whether alloantigen, superantigen, or recall antigen was the stimuli (p < 0.01). The reduced T cell proliferation was due to the effects of acute alcohol on monocytes rather than on T cells as we found decreased proliferation only in the presence of alcohol‐exposed accessory cells but not when T cells were exposed to alcohol. In addition, monocyte‐derived dendritic cells showed significantly reduced allostimulatory capacity after alcohol consumption (p < 0.005).Conclusion: Acute alcohol consumption inhibits accessory cell function of both monocytes and myeloid dendritic cells. Impaired function of these key antigen‐presenting cells may contribute to reduced adaptive immune responses and increased susceptibility to infections when acute alcohol intake coincides with exposure to pathogens.
Overexpression of Selenocysteine Methyltransferase in Arabidopsis and Indian Mustard Increases Selenium Tolerance and Accumulation
Authors: LeDuc Danika L. , Tarun Alice S. , Montes-Bayon Maria , Meija Juris , Malit Michele F. , Wu Carol P. , AbdelSamie Manal , Chiang Chih-Yuan , Tagmount Abderrhamane , deSouza Mark , Neuhierl Bernhard , Böck August , Caruso Joseph , Terry Norman 
Published: May 2004

Abstract
A major goal of phytoremediation is to transform fast-growing plants with genes from plant species that hyperaccumulate toxic trace elements. We overexpressed the gene encoding selenocysteine methyltransferase (SMT) from the selenium (Se) hyperaccumulator Astragalus bisulcatus in Arabidopsis and Indian mustard (Brassica juncea). SMT detoxifies selenocysteine by methylating it to methylselenocysteine, a nonprotein amino acid, thereby diminishing the toxic misincorporation of Se into protein. Our Indian mustard transgenic plants accumulated more Se in the form of methylselenocysteine than the wild type. SMT transgenic seedlings tolerated Se, particularly selenite, significantly better than the wild type, producing 3- to 7-fold greater biomass and 3-fold longer root lengths. Moreover, SMT plants had significantly increased Se accumulation and volatilization. This is the first study, to our knowledge, in which a fast-growing plant was genetically engineered to overexpress a gene from a hyperaccumulator in order to increase phytoremediation potential.
A Comparison of Rice Chloroplast Genomes
Authors: Tang Jiabin , Xia Hong'ai , Cao Mengliang , Zhang Xiuqing , Zeng Wanyong , Hu Songnian , Tong Wei , Wang Jun , Wang Jian , Yu Jun , Yang Huanming , Zhu Lihuang 
Published: May 2004

Abstract
Using high quality sequence reads extracted from our whole genome shotgun repository, we assembled two chloroplast genome sequences from two rice (Oryza sativa) varieties, one from 93-11 (a typical indica variety) and the other from PA64S (an indica-like variety with maternal origin of japonica), which are both parental varieties of the super-hybrid rice, LYP9. Based on the patterns of high sequence coverage, we partitioned chloroplast sequence variations into two classes, intravarietal and intersubspecific polymorphisms. Intravarietal polymorphisms refer to variations within 93-11 or PA64S. Intersubspecific polymorphisms were identified by comparing the major genotypes of the two subspecies represented by 93-11 and PA64S, respectively. Some of the minor genotypes occurring as intravarietal polymorphisms in one variety existed as major genotypes in the other subspecific variety, thus giving rise to intersubspecific polymorphisms. In our study, we found that the intersubspecific variations of 93-11 (indica) and PA64S (japonica) chloroplast genomes consisted of 72 single nucleotide polymorphisms and 27 insertions or deletions. The intersubspecific polymorphism rates between 93-11 and PA64S were 0.05% for single nucleotide polymorphisms and 0.02% for insertions or deletions, nearly 8 and 10 times lower than their respective nuclear genomes. Based on the total number of nucleotide substitutions between the two chloroplast genomes, we dated the divergence of indica and japonica chloroplast genomes as occurring approximately 86,000 to 200,000 years ago.
Coordinate Expression and Independent Subcellular Targeting of Multiple Proteins from a Single Transgene
Authors: El Amrani Abdelhak , Barakate Abdellah , Askari Barak M. , Li Xuejun , Roberts Alison G. , Ryan Martin D. , Halpin Claire 
Published: May 2004

Abstract
A variety of conventional methods allow the expression of multiple foreign proteins in plants by transgene stacking or pyramiding. However, most of these approaches have significant drawbacks. We describe a novel alternative, using a single transgene to coordinate expression of multiple proteins that are encoded as a polyprotein capable of dissociating into component proteins on translation. We demonstrate that this polyprotein system is compatible with the need to target proteins to a variety of subcellular locations, either cotranslationally or posttranslationally. It can also be used to coordinate the expression of selectable marker genes and effect genes or to link genes that are difficult to assay to reporter genes that are easily monitored. The unique features of this polyprotein system are based on the novel activity of the 2A peptide of Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) that acts cotranslationally to effect a dissociation of the polyprotein while allowing translation to continue. This polyprotein system has many applications both as a research tool and for metabolic engineering and protein factory applications of plant biotechnology.
Optospectroscopic Detection of Primary Reactions Associated with the Graviperception of Phycomyces. Effects of Micro- and Hypergravity
Authors: Schmidt Werner , Galland Paul 
Published: May 2004

Abstract
The graviperception of sporangiophores of the fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus involves gravity-induced absorbance changes (GIACs) that represent primary responses of gravitropism (Schmidt and Galland, 2000). GIACs (ΔA460–665) of sporangiophores were measured in vivo with a micro-dual wavelength spectrometer at 460 and 665 nm. Sporangiophores that were placed horizontally displayed an instant increase of the GIACs while the return to the vertical position elicited an instant decrease. The GIACs are specific for graviperception, because they were absent in a gravitropism mutant with a defective madJ gene. During parabola flights hypergravity (1.8g) elicited a decrease of the GIACs, while microgravity (0 ± 3 × 10−2 g) elicited an instant increase. Hypergravity that was generated in a centrifuge (1.5–6.5g) elicited also a decrease of the GIACs that saturated at about 5g. The GIACs have a latency of about 20 ms or shorter and are thus the fastest graviresponses ever measured for fungi, protists, and plants. The threshold for eliciting the GIACs is near 3 × 10−2 g, which coincides numerically with the threshold for gravitropic bending. In contrast to gravitropic bending, which requires long-term stimulation, GIACs can be elicited by stimuli as short as 20 to 100 ms, leading to an extremely low threshold dose (acceleration × time) of about 3 × 10−3 g s, a value, which is four orders of magnitude below the ones described for other organisms and which makes the GIACs of Phycomyces blakesleeanus the most sensitive gravi-response in literature.
Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Drought Tolerance at Reproductive Stage in Rice
Authors: Lanceras Jonaliza C. , Pantuwan Grienggrai , Jongdee Boonrat , Toojinda Theerayut 
Published: May 2004

Abstract
Drought is a major constraint to rice (Oryza sativa) yield and its stability in rainfed and poorly irrigated environments. Identifying genomic regions influencing the response of yield and its components to water deficits will aid in our understanding of the genetics of drought tolerance and development of more drought tolerant cultivars. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for grain yield and its components and other agronomic traits were identified using a subset of 154 doubled haploid lines derived from a cross between two rice cultivars, CT9993-510 to 1-M and IR62266-42 to 6-2. Drought stress treatments were managed by use of a line source sprinkler irrigation system, which provided a linearly decreasing level of irrigation coinciding with the sensitive reproductive growth stages. The research was conducted at the Ubon Rice Research Center, Ubon, Thailand. A total of 77 QTL were identified for grain yield and its components under varying levels of water stress. Out of the total of 77 QTL, the number of QTL per trait were: 7-grain yield (GY); 8-biological yield (BY); 6-harvest index (HI); 5-d to flowering after initiation of irrigation gradient (DFAIG); 10-total spikelet number (TSN); 7-percent spikelet sterility (PSS); 23-panicle number (PN); and 11-plant height (PH). The phenotypic variation explained by individual QTL ranged from 7.5% to 55.7%. Under well-watered conditions, we observed a high genetic association for BY, HI, DFAIG, PSS, TSN, PH, and GY. However, only BY and HI were found to be significantly associated with GY under drought treatments. QTL flanked by markers RG104 to RM231, EMP2_2 to RM127, and G2132 to RZ598 on chromosomes 3, 4, and 8 were associated with GY, HI, DFAIG, BY, PSS, and PN under drought treatments. The aggregate effects of these QTL on chromosomes 3, 4, and 8 resulted in higher grain yield. These QTL will be useful for rainfed rice improvement, and will also contribute to our understanding of the genetic control of GY under drought conditions at the sensitive reproductive stage. Close linkage or pleiotropy may be responsible for the coincidence of QTL detected in this experiment. Digenic interactions between QTL main effects for GY, BY, HI, and PSS were observed under irrigation treatments. Most (but not all) DH lines have the same response in measure of productivity when the intensity of water deficit was increased, but no QTL by irrigation treatment interaction was detected. The identification of genomic regions associated with GY and its components under drought stress will be useful for marker-based approaches to improve GY and its stability for farmers in drought-prone rice environments.
Developmental Physiology of Cluster-Root Carboxylate Synthesis and Exudation in Harsh Hakea. Expression of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase and the Alternative Oxidase
Authors: Shane Michael W. , Cramer Michael D. , Funayama-Noguchi Sachiko , Cawthray Gregory R. , Millar A. Harvey , Day David A. , Lambers Hans 
Published: May 2004

Abstract
Harsh hakea (Hakea prostrata R.Br.) is a member of the Proteaceae family, which is highly represented on the extremely nutrient-impoverished soils in southwest Australia. When phosphorus is limiting, harsh hakea develops proteoid or cluster roots that release carboxylates that mobilize sparingly soluble phosphate in the rhizosphere. To investigate the physiology underlying the synthesis and exudation of carboxylates from cluster roots in Proteaceae, we measured O2 consumption, CO2 release, internal carboxylate concentrations and carboxylate exudation, and the abundance of the enzymes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and alternative oxidase (AOX) over a 3-week time course of cluster-root development. Peak rates of citrate and malate exudation were observed from 12- to 13-d-old cluster roots, preceded by a reduction in cluster-root total protein levels and a reduced rate of O2 consumption. In harsh hakea, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase expression was relatively constant in cluster roots, regardless of developmental stage. During cluster-root maturation, however, the expression of AOX protein increased prior to the time when citrate and malate exudation peaked. This increase in AOX protein levels is presumably needed to allow a greater flow of electrons through the mitochondrial electron transport chain in the absence of rapid ATP turnover. Citrate and isocitrate synthesis and accumulation contributed in a major way to the subsequent burst of citrate and malate exudation. Phosphorus accumulated by harsh hakea cluster roots was remobilized during senescence as part of their efficient P cycling strategy for growth on nutrient impoverished soils.
Two New Alleles of the abscisic aldehyde oxidase 3 Gene Reveal Its Role in Abscisic Acid Biosynthesis in Seeds
Authors: González-Guzmán Miguel , Abia David , Salinas Julio , Serrano Ramón , Rodríguez Pedro L. 
Published: May 2004

Abstract
The abscisic aldehyde oxidase 3 (AAO3) gene product of Arabidopsis catalyzes the final step in abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis. An aao3-1 mutant in a Landsberg erecta genetic background exhibited a wilty phenotype in rosette leaves, whereas seed dormancy was not affected (Seo et al., 2000a). Therefore, it was speculated that a different aldehyde oxidase would be the major contributor to ABA biosynthesis in seeds (Seo et al., 2000a). Through a screening based on germination under high-salt concentration, we isolated two mutants in a Columbia genetic background, initially named sre2-1 and sre2-2 (for salt resistant). Complementation tests with different ABA-deficient mutants indicated that sre2-1 and sre2-2 mutants were allelic to aao3-1, and therefore they were renamed as aao3-2 and aao3-3, respectively. Indeed, molecular characterization of the aao3-2 mutant revealed a T-DNA insertional mutation that abolished the transcription of AAO3 gene, while sequence analysis of AAO3 in aao3-3 mutant revealed a deletion of three nucleotides and several missense mutations. Physiological characterization of aao3-2 and aao3-3 mutants revealed a wilty phenotype and osmotolerance in germination assays. In contrast to aao3-1, both aao3-2 and aao3-3 mutants showed a reduced dormancy. Accordingly, ABA levels were reduced in dry seeds and rosette leaves of both aao3-2 and aao3-3. Taken together, these results indicate that AAO3 gene product plays a major role in seed ABA biosynthesis.
Heterogeneous Pollen in Chlorophytum comosum, a Species with a Unique Mode of Plastid Inheritance Intermediate between the Maternal and Biparental Modes
Authors: Liu Yang , Zhang Quan , Hu Yufei , Sodmergen  
Published: May 2004

Abstract
The majority of angiosperms display maternal plastid inheritance. The cytological mechanisms of this mode of inheritance have been well studied, but little is known about its genetic relationship to biparental inheritance. The angiosperm Chlorophytum comosum is unusual in that different pollen grains show traits of different modes of plastid inheritance. About 50% of these pollen grains exhibit the potential for biparental plastid inheritance, whereas the rest exhibit maternal plastid inheritance. There is no morphological difference between these two types of pollen. Pollen grains from different individuals of C. comosum all exhibited this variability. Closer examination revealed that plastid polarization occurs, with plastids being excluded from the generative cell during the first pollen mitosis. However, the exclusion is incomplete in 50% of the pollen grains, and the few plastids distributed to the generative cells divide actively after mitosis. Immunoelectron microscopy using an anti-DNA antibody demonstrated that the plastids contain a large amount of DNA. As there is a considerable discrepancy between the exclusion and duplication of plastids, resulting in plastids with opposite fates occurring simultaneously in C. comosum, we propose that the species is a transitional type with a mode of plastid inheritance that is genetically intermediate between the maternal and biparental modes.
Analysis of Natural Allelic Variation of Arabidopsis Seed Germination and Seed Longevity Traits between the Accessions Landsberg erecta and Shakdara, Using a New Recombinant Inbred Line Population
Authors: Clerkx Emile J.M. , El-Lithy Mohamed E. , Vierling Elizabeth , Ruys Gerda J. , Blankestijn-De Vries Hetty , Groot Steven P.C. , Vreugdenhil Dick , Koornneef Maarten 
Published: May 2004

Abstract
Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping was used to identify loci controlling various aspects of seed longevity during storage and germination. Similar locations for QTLs controlling different traits might be an indication for a common genetic control of such traits. For this analysis we used a new recombinant inbred line population derived from a cross between the accessions Landsberg erecta (Ler) and Shakdara (Sha). A set of 114 F9 recombinant inbred lines was genotyped with 65 polymerase chain reaction-based markers and the phenotypic marker erecta. The traits analyzed were dormancy, speed of germination, seed sugar content, seed germination after a controlled deterioration test, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treatment, and on abscisic acid. Furthermore, the effects of heat stress, salt (NaCl) stress, osmotic (mannitol) stress, and natural aging were analyzed. For all traits one or more QTLs were identified, with some QTLs for different traits colocating. The relevance of colocation for mechanisms underlying the various traits is discussed.
Quantitative Trait Locus Analysis of Growth-Related Traits in a New Arabidopsis Recombinant Inbred Population
Authors: El-Lithy Mohamed E. , Clerkx Emile J.M. , Ruys Gerda J. , Koornneef Maarten , Vreugdenhil Dick 
Published: May 2004

Abstract
Arabidopsis natural variation was used to analyze the genetics of plant growth rate. Screening of 22 accessions revealed a large variation for seed weight, plant dry weight and relative growth rate but not for water content. A positive correlation was observed between seed weight and plant area 10 d after planting, suggesting that seed weight affects plant growth during early phases of development. During later stages of plant growth this correlation was not significant, indicating that other factors determine growth rate during this phase. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis, using 114 (F9 generation) recombinant inbred lines derived from the cross between Landsberg erecta (Ler, from Poland) and Shakdara (Sha, from Tadjikistan), revealed QTLs for seed weight, plant area, dry weight, relative growth rate, chlorophyll fluorescence, flowering time, and flowering-related traits. Growth traits (plant area, dry weight, and relative growth rate) colocated at five genomic regions. At the bottom of chromosome 5, colocation was found of QTLs for leaf area, leaf initiation speed, specific leaf area, and chlorophyll fluorescence but not for dry weight, indicating that this locus might be involved in leaf development. No consistent relation between growth traits and flowering time was observed despite some colocations. Some of the QTLs detected for flowering time overlapped with loci detected in other recombinant inbred line populations, but also new loci were identified. This study shows that Arabidopsis can successfully be used to study the genetic basis of complex traits like plant growth rate.