Exploring Plant Meiosis: Insights from the Kinetochore Perspective.

The central player for chromosome segregation in both mitosis and meiosis is the macromolecular kinetochore structure, which is assembled by >100 structural and regulatory proteins on centromere DNA. Kinetochores play a crucial role in cell division by connecting chromosomal DNA and microtubule polymers. This connection helps in the proper segregation and alignment of chromosomes. Additionally, kinetochores can act as a signaling hub, regulating the start of anaphase through the spindle assembly checkpoint, and controlling the movement of chromosomes during anaphase. However, the role of various kinetochore proteins in plant meiosis has only been recently elucidated, and these proteins differ in their functionality from those found in animals. In this review, our current knowledge of the functioning of plant kinetochore proteins in meiosis will be summarized. In addition, the functional similarities and differences of core kinetochore proteins in meiosis between plants and other species are discussed, and the potential applications of manipulating certain kinetochore genes in meiosis for breeding purposes are explored.

[Dynamic level observation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with first-episode generalized anxiety disorder].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the changing pattern of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the patients with first-episode generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). METHODS: The levels of plasma BDNF and the Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) and Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) scores were measured in 34 patients with first-episode GAD recruited from our hospital between January and December 2007. At baseline and Week 6, they were treated by paroxetine and compared with 31 healthy participants in the control group. RESULTS: The baseline level of BDNF [(80 ± 51) ng/L] in the patients with first-episode GAD was higher than that in the control group and had no significant correlation with HAMA and HAMD scores. But at Week 6, the level of BDNF [(70 ± 49) ng/L] had significant correlations with HAMA and HAMD scores (r = 0.4, P = 0 and r = 0.4, P = 0 respectively). At Week 6, the levels of BDNF in the response group (including remission group) and ineffective group were (60 ± 42) ng/L and (83 ± 55) ng/L respectively. And there was significant difference in the levels of BDNF between the ineffective and control groups. The levels of BDNF in the remission and non-remission groups were (59 ± 52) ng/L and (73 ± 49) ng/L respectively. And there was significant difference in the levels of BDNF between the non-remission and control groups. CONCLUSION: The pre-treatment levels of plasma BDNF in the patients with first-episode GAD are higher than those of healthy counterparts. But normal levels may be restored if the patients are cured.