Biometeorological conditions during cold spells in south-east Poland and west Ukraine.

The aim of this research is to analyze the biometeorological conditions, based on the Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) thermal index, during cold spells (CSs) in south-east Poland and west Ukraine during the years 1966-2021. The research shows a high variability of the occurrence of CSs in the study period and a clear increase in the frequency and total duration of CSs in the east of the study area. The number of CSs in the analyzed years varies from 6 cases in the west (in Katowice) to 34 in the east of the study area (in Shepetivka). The total duration of CSs varied from 26 days (in Raciborz and Katowice) to 166 days (in Rivne). At the majority of stations, CSs occurred most frequently in the first two decades (1966/1967-1975/1976, 1976/1977-1985/986) and in the last full decade (2006/2007-2015/2016). The average PET values at 12:00 UTC during CSs decreased eastwards throughout the study domain and were generally lower than -20.0 °C in the west of Ukraine, while in south-east Poland varied between -18.1 and -20.0 °C. At 40% of stations across the study domain, the lowest average PET values were recorded during a cold spell in January 1987, with PET values varying from -28.0 °C in Chernivtsi to -12.7 °C in Yaremche. The longest or one of the longest spells in most stations (in 77% of stations across the study domain) was the cold spell of 2012 and characterized by mean PET values ranging from -25.4 °C in Rivne to -19.5 °C in Zakopane.

Plant 24-nt reproductive phasiRNAs from intramolecular duplex mRNAs in diverse monocots.

In grasses, two pathways that generate diverse and numerous 21-nt (premeiotic) and 24-nt (meiotic) phased siRNAs are highly enriched in anthers, the male reproductive organs. These "phasiRNAs" are analogous to mammalian piRNAs, yet their functions and evolutionary origins remain largely unknown. The 24-nt meiotic phasiRNAs have only been described in grasses, wherein their biogenesis is dependent on a specialized Dicer (DCL5). To assess how evolution gave rise to this pathway, we examined reproductive phasiRNA pathways in nongrass monocots: garden asparagus, daylily, and lily. The common ancestors of these species diverged approximately 115-117 million years ago (MYA). We found that premeiotic 21-nt and meiotic 24-nt phasiRNAs were abundant in all three species and displayed spatial localization and temporal dynamics similar to grasses. The miR2275-triggered pathway was also present, yielding 24-nt reproductive phasiRNAs, and thus originated more than 117 MYA. In asparagus, unlike in grasses, these siRNAs are largely derived from inverted repeats (IRs); analyses in lily identified thousands of precursor loci, and many were also predicted to form foldback substrates for Dicer processing. Additionally, reproductive phasiRNAs were present in female reproductive organs and thus may function in both male and female germinal development. These data describe several distinct mechanisms of production for 24-nt meiotic phasiRNAs and provide new insights into the evolution of reproductive phasiRNA pathways in monocots.

MiR-339 and galectin-3: diagnostic value in patients with airway obstruction after lung transplantation.

Respiratory complications can be the cause of graft dysfunction after lung transplantation (LTx). MicroRNAs are small regulatory molecules-potential biomarkers of respiratory diseases and post-transplant complications. Galectin-3 is highly expressed in fibrosis of transplanted solid organs. The aim was to evaluate the expression of plasma miR-339 and galectin-3 concentrations in lung recipients including with airway obstruction after LTx. The study included 57 lung recipients (34 men and 23 women aged 10 to 74 years) were followed up to 5 years after LTx. The plasma microRNAs were detected by real-time PCR; galectin-3 levels were measured by ELISA. During follow-up in 30 recipients, post-transplant complications were detected: 12 (40.0%) cases of airway obstruction. The levels of miR-339 and galectin-3 were significantly higher in recipients with airway obstruction compare with 27 (47.3%) recipients without any complications (P = 0.036 and P = 0.014, resp.). Increasing miR-339 (above the 0.02 fold change) and galectin-3 (above the 11.7 ng/ml) threshold plasma levels in lung recipients is associated with high risk (RR = 7.14 ± 0.97 [95% CI 1.05-48.60], P = 0.045) of airway obstruction after LTx. A measurement of miR-339 expression in combination with galectin-3 level might be perspective to identify recipients at risk of airway obstruction after LTx.

HUMAN-BETA-DEFENSIN-1: PROGNOSTIC MARKER OF TUBERCULOSIS SEVERITY AND TREATMENT EFFECTIVENESS IN PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: Was to investigate human-beta-defensin-1 level in blood serum depending on tuberculosis severity and treatment ef f ectiveness. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: 100 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 20 healthy persons were included to the study. HBD-1 level was measured by ELISA in all the healthy persons and in all the patients at the treatment onset and at the end of initial phase of treatment. Additionally, the patients were examined with chest X-ray, sputum microscopy and culture, blood test and blood biochemistry. RESULTS: Results: HBD-1 level was higher in patients with tuberculosis (21.5 ± 2.9 µmol/L) compared with healthy individuals (8.9 ± 2.5 µmol/L). A positive correlation of middle strength was found between the size of lung lesion and the level of HBD-1 and between the level of HBD-1 and the massiveness of bacterial excretion. We found weakly negative correlations between the level of HBD-1 at the beginning of treatment and parameters of life quality rated on sf-36 scale. Patients with initially high level of HBD-1 had preservation of bacterial excretion, as well as signs of inf l ammatory activity. In patients with an ef f ective intensive phase of treatment, the initial level of HBD-1. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The larger pulmonary tuberculosis lesion, as well as the more pronounced clinical manifestations lead to the higher level of HBD-1. The possibility of using human-beta-defensin-1 as a prognostic marker of treatment ef f ectiveness is conf i rmed by the fact that human-beta-defensin-1 level prevails at the beginning of treatment in patients with subsequently non-ef f ective intensive phase of treatment.

Transforming growth factor beta 1 levels in the blood of pediatric liver recipients: Clinical and biochemical correlations.

TGF-ß1 is a cytokine with profibrogenic and immunosuppressive activities, which suggest the clinical significance of TGF-ß1 for the assessment of graft function after LT. We analyzed the dynamics of TGF-ß1 levels in the blood after LDLT in 135 pediatric liver recipients and examined the relationship between the cytokine levels and the laboratory and clinical variables. We found that TGF-ß1 levels in the blood of patients with ESLD were lower than that in healthy children of the same age, P = .001. Moreover, blood levels of TGF-ß1 were associated with liver disease etiology (r = .23) and hepatic fibrosis severity (r = .33). Before LDLT, TGF-ß1 levels were significantly higher in children with good outcomes than in recipients who developed graft dysfunction early in the post-transplant period, P = .047. One month after LDLT, TGF-ß1 levels in blood plasma increased in pediatric recipients, P = .002. Cytokine levels were significantly correlated with gender (r = .21) and HLA (r = -.24) mismatches, as well as with TAC dosage (r = -.32) later in the post-transplant period. One year after LDLT, TGF-ß1 plasma levels were higher (P = .01) than those before LDLT and did not correlate with most of the investigated biochemical and clinical variables. Conclusion: Blood levels of TGF-ß1 are associated with hepatic fibrosis severity, graft dysfunction development, and TAC dosage and can be regarded as a potential prognostic biomarker for the assessment of graft function and the optimization of immunosuppressant dosage in pediatric recipients after LDLT.

Carbohydrate and lipid metabolic profiles of tuberculosis patients with bilateral pulmonary lesions and mycobacteria excretion.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To assess carbohydrate and lipid metabolic profiles of tuberculosis patients with bilateral injuries of the lungs and mycobacteria excretion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: Seventy two newly diagnosed pulmonary TB patients were examined. Group I - 17 newly diagnosed TB patients who had unilateral pulmonary lesions and had no mycobacteria excretion. Group II - 55 newly diagnosed TB patients who had bilateral pulmonary lesions and mycobacteria excretion. The control group included 20 healthy persons. Fasting insulin level, indices of lipidogram were measured, oral glucose tolerance test was performed. Statistical processing of the obtained results was carried out by analyzing the contingency tables using the StatisticaBasicAcademic 13 for Windows software package. RESULTS: Results: Tuberculosis patients develop insulin resistance - condition that is a precursor to developing type 2 diabetes and metabolic disorder of lipid exchange - dyslipidemia. Patients with bilateral pulmonary lesions and mycobacteria excretion have the most pronounced disorders of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism compared to patients with limited lesions of the lungs. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: We suppose that mycobacteria excretion and bilateral lesions of lungs may be the markers of the degree of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism disorders in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Light Modulates the Physiology of Nonphototrophic Actinobacteria.

Light is a source of energy and an environmental cue that is available in excess in most surface environments. In prokaryotic systems, conversion of light to energy by photoautotrophs and photoheterotrophs is well understood, but the conversion of light to information and the cellular response to that information have been characterized in only a few species. Our goal was to explore the response of freshwater Actinobacteria, which are ubiquitous in illuminated aquatic environments, to light. We found that Actinobacteria without functional photosystems grow faster in the light, likely because sugar transport and metabolism are upregulated in the light. Based on the action spectrum of the growth effect and comparisons of the genomes of three Actinobacteria with this growth rate phenotype, we propose that the photosensor in these strains is a putative CryB-type cryptochrome. The ability to sense light and upregulate carbohydrate transport during the day could allow these cells to coordinate their time of maximum organic carbon uptake with the time of maximum organic carbon release by primary producers.IMPORTANCE Sunlight provides information about both place and time. In sunlit aquatic environments, primary producers release organic carbon and nitrogen along with other growth factors during the day. The ability of Actinobacteria to coordinate organic carbon uptake and utilization with production of photosynthate enables them to grow more efficiently in the daytime, and it potentially gives them a competitive advantage over heterotrophs that constitutively produce carbohydrate transporters, which is energetically costly, or produce transporters only after detection of the substrate(s), which delays their response. Understanding how light cues the transport of organic carbon and its conversion to biomass is key to understanding biochemical mechanisms within the carbon cycle, the fluxes through it, and the variety of mechanisms by which light enhances growth.

Model of Random Field with Piece-Constant Values and Sampling-Restoration Algorithm of Its Realizations.

We propose a description of the model of a random piecewise constant field formed by the sum of realizations of two Markov processes with an arbitrary number of states and defined along mutually perpendicular axes. The number of field quantization levels can be arbitrary. Realizations of a random field model of the desired shape are created by appropriate selection of parameters for formative realization of Markov processes. For the proposed field model, we investigated the sampling and restoration algorithm of any selected realizations. As a result, we determined the optimal sampling and recovery algorithms. The resulting sampling is fundamentally non-periodic. Recovery errors are calculated. Two examples are considered.

The hematopoietic stem cell number in the peripheral blood of pediatric recipients correlates with the outcome after living donor liver transplantation.

It has been proposed that circulating HSCs play a role in graft survival after liver transplantation. The aim was to analyze the relationship between the number of HSCs before and after LDLT and liver function, immune biomarkers, and clinical outcomes in pediatric patients. We studied 15 pairs of adult healthy liver donors and pediatric recipients with ESLD. The CD34/CD45+ cell number was measured in the blood via flow cytometry, and plasma levels of immune biomarkers - via ELISA. CD34/CD45+ cell number in the recipients decreased within the first week after LDLT. The cell number before LDLT was negatively correlated with the plasma levels of CRP and the development of graft dysfunction in the early post-transplant period. After LDLT, the CD34/CD45+ cell number was positively correlated with the pretransplant plasma level of sCD40L, a T-cell activation marker. In adult liver donors, the cell number did not change within the first week after liver resection and was lower than in pediatric recipients. The results suggest that in pediatric recipients, the HSC number may be associated with graft function and could be regarded as a potential predictor of the clinical outcome after LDLT.

Genome sequence of Methylobacterium fujisawaense strain C14, isolated from concrete.

Methylobacterium fujisawaense strain C14 was isolated from a weathered concrete cylinder. Using PacBio sequencing, we generated a complete genome for strain C14, which includes one circular chromosome (6,656,731 bp) and six putative plasmids (35,452 to 85,428 bp).

Antifungal Plant Defensins as an Alternative Tool to Combat Candidiasis.

Currently, the spread of fungal infections is becoming an urgent problem. Fungi of the Candida genus are opportunistic microorganisms that cause superficial and life-threatening systemic candidiasis in immunocompromised patients. The list of antifungal drugs for the treatment of candidiasis is very limited, while the prevalence of resistant strains is growing rapidly. Therefore, the search for new antimycotics, including those exhibiting immunomodulatory properties, is of great importance. Plenty of natural compounds with antifungal activities may be extremely useful in solving this problem. This review evaluates the features of natural antimicrobial peptides, namely plant defensins as possible prototypes of new anticandidal agents. Plant defensins are important components of the innate immune system, which provides the first line of defense against pathogens. The introduction presents a brief summary regarding pathogenic Candida species, the pathogenesis of candidiasis, and the mechanisms of antimycotic resistance. Then, the structural features of plant defensins, their anticandidal activities, their mechanisms of action on yeast-like fungi, their ability to prevent adhesion and biofilm formation, and their combined action with conventional antimycotics are described. The possible mechanisms of fungal resistance to plant defensins, their cytotoxic activity, and their effectiveness in in vivo experiments are also discussed. In addition, for the first time for plant defensins, knowledge about their immunomodulatory effects is also presented.

Genome divergence and reproductive incompatibility among populations of Ganaspis near brasiliensis.

During the last decade, the spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii, has spread from eastern Asia to the Americas, Europe, and Africa. This fly attacks many species of cultivated and wild fruits with soft, thin skins, where its serrated ovipositor allows it to lay eggs in undamaged fruit. Parasitoids from the native range of D. suzukii may provide sustainable management of this polyphagous pest. Among these parasitoids, host-specificity testing has revealed a lineage of Ganaspis near brasiliensis, referred to in this paper as G1, that appears to be a cryptic species more host-specific to D. suzukii than other parasitoids. Differentiation among cryptic species is critical for introduction and subsequent evaluation of their impact on D. suzukii. Here, we present results on divergence in genomic sequences and architecture and reproductive isolation between lineages of Ganaspis near brasiliensis that appear to be cryptic species. We studied five populations, two from China, two from Japan, and one from Canada, identified as the G1 vs G3 lineages based on differences in cytochrome oxidase l sequences. We assembled and annotated the genomes of these populations and analyzed divergences in sequence and genome architecture between them. We also report results from crosses to test reproductive compatibility between the G3 lineage from China and the G1 lineage from Japan. The combined results on sequence divergence, differences in genome architectures, ortholog divergence, reproductive incompatibility, differences in host ranges and microhabitat preferences, and differences in morphology show that these lineages are different species. Thus, the decision to evaluate the lineages separately and only import and introduce the more host-specific lineage to North America and Europe was appropriate.

Poplars with a PtDDM1-RNAi transgene have reduced DNA methylation and show aberrant post-dormancy morphology.

The Arabidopsis thaliana DDM1 (Decreased DNA Methylation) gene is necessary for the maintenance of DNA methylation and heterochromatin assembly. In Arabidopsis, ddm1 mutants exhibit strong but delayed morphological phenotypes. We used RNA interference (RNAi) to suppress transcripts of two orthologous DDM1 paralogs in Populus trichocarpa and examined effects on whole plant phenotypes during perennial growth and seasonal dormancy. The RNAi-PtDDM1 transgenic poplars showed a wide range of DDM1 transcript suppression; the most strongly suppressed line had 37.5 % of the expression of the non-transgenic control. Genomic cytosine methylation (mC %) was 11.1 % in the non-transgenic control, compared with 9.1 % for the transgenic event with lowest mC %, a reduction of 18.1 %. An evaluation of greenhouse growth directly after acclimation of in vitro grown plants showed no developmental or growth rate abnormalities associated with the decrease in PtDDM1 expression. However, after a dormancy cycle and growth outdoors, a mottled leaf phenotype appeared in some of the transgenic insertion events that had strongly reduced PtDDM1 expression and DNA methylation. The phenotypic consequences of reduced DDM1 activity and DNA methylation appears to increase with cumulative plant propagation and growth.

Green revolution trees: semidwarfism transgenes modify gibberellins, promote root growth, enhance morphological diversity, and reduce competitiveness in hybrid poplar.

Semidwarfism has been used extensively in row crops and horticulture to promote yield, reduce lodging, and improve harvest index, and it might have similar benefits for trees for short-rotation forestry or energy plantations, reclamation, phytoremediation, or other applications. We studied the effects of the dominant semidwarfism transgenes GA Insensitive (GAI) and Repressor of GAI-Like, which affect gibberellin (GA) action, and the GA catabolic gene, GA 2-oxidase, in nursery beds and in 2-year-old high-density stands of hybrid poplar (Populus tremula × Populus alba). Twenty-nine traits were analyzed, including measures of growth, morphology, and physiology. Endogenous GA levels were modified in most transgenic events; GA(20) and GA(8), in particular, had strong inverse associations with tree height. Nearly all measured traits varied significantly among genotypes, and several traits interacted with planting density, including aboveground biomass, root-shoot ratio, root fraction, branch angle, and crown depth. Semidwarfism promoted biomass allocation to roots over shoots and substantially increased rooting efficiency with most genes tested. The increased root proportion and increased leaf chlorophyll levels were associated with changes in leaf carbon isotope discrimination, indicating altered water use efficiency. Semidwarf trees had dramatically reduced growth when in direct competition with wild-type trees, supporting the hypothesis that semidwarfism genes could be effective tools to mitigate the spread of exotic, hybrid, and transgenic plants in wild and feral populations.

Development of Novel Tetrapyrrole Structure Photosensitizers for Cancer Photodynamic Therapy.

The effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) is based on the triad effects of photosensitizer (PS), molecular oxygen and visible light on malignant tumors. Such complex induces a multifactorial manner including reactive-oxygen-species-mediated damage and the killing of cells, vasculature damage of the tumor, and activation of the organism immunity. The effectiveness of PDT depends on the properties of photosensitizing drugs, their selectivity, enhanced photoproduction of reactive particles, absorption in the near infrared spectrum, and drug delivery strategies. Photosensitizers of the tetrapyrrole structure (porphyrins) are widely used in PDT because of their unique diagnostic and therapeutic functions. Nevertheless, the clinical use of the first-generation PS (sodium porfimer and hematoporphyrins) revealed difficulties, such as long-term skin photosensitivity, insufficient penetration into deep-seated tumors and incorrect localization to it. The second generation is based on different approaches of the synthesis and conjugation of porphyrin PS with biomolecules, which made it possible to approach the targeted PDT of tumors. Despite the fact that the development of the second-generation PS started about 30 years ago, these technologies are still in demand and are in intensive development, especially in the direction of improving the process of optimization split linkers responsive to input. Bioconjugation and encapsulation by targeting molecules are among the main strategies for developing of the PS synthesis. A targeted drug delivery system with the effect of increased permeability and retention by tumor cells is one of the ultimate goals of the synthesis of second-generation PS. This review presents porphyrin PS of various generations, discusses factors affecting cellular biodistribution and uptake, and indicates their role as diagnostic and therapeutic (theranostic) agents. New complexes based on porphyrin PS for photoimmunotherapy are presented, where specific antibodies are used that are chemically bound to PS, absorbing light from the near infrared part of the spectrum. Additionally, a two-photon photodynamic approach using third-generation photosensitizers for the treatment of tumors is discussed, which indicates the prospects for the further development of a promising method antitumor PDT.

Upregulated circulating mir-424 and its' diagnostic value for gram-negative bacteremia after thoracic transplantation.

Aims: Early post-transplant complications such as acute graft rejection and infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality of heart and lung transplant recipients who are in vital need of immunosuppressive therapy. MiR-424 is a member of the miR-16 family, which plays an important physiological role in the development of cardiovascular and respiratory pathology, is involved in the regulation of monocyte and macrophage differentiation, and has an immunosuppressive potential. The aim of the study was to determine the diagnostic value of circulating miR-424 as a potential biomarker of post-transplant complications in heart and lung transplant recipients. Methods: The study enrolled 83 heart transplant recipients, aged 18 to 70 (48 ± 13) years; 26 lung transplant recipients, aged 10 to 74 (36 ± 16) years. The miR-424 plasma expression was detected by real-time PCR (Qiagen, USA). Significance of miR-424 level was assessed through the ΔCt method. Acute graft rejection was verified by the results of endomyocardial or transbronchial biopsy. Post-transplant infectious complications were verified through microbiological identification of bacteremia from blood cultures. Results: Our study shows miR-424 upregulation in plasma of patients with chronic heart or respiratory failure in comparison with healthy individuals (p = 0.003 and p = 0.04 resp.). There was a direct correlation of miR-424 expression with red blood cells and hemoglobin levels in patients before heart transplantation (p = 0.01 and p = 0.03 resp.). After transplantation the expression of plasma miR-424 correlated with the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) both in heart (r = 0.75; p = 0.02) and lung (r = 0.50; p = 0.04) transplant recipients. The expression of plasma miR-424 correlated with tacrolimus blood concentration after heart transplantation (r = 0.38; p = 0.04). The miR-424 level didn't differ in heart or lung transplant recipients with and without acute graft rejection (p = 0.47 and p = 0.78 resp.), but was significantly higher in heart and lung transplant recipients with gram-negative bacteremia (p = 0.002). When the miR-424 level is above a threshold value (-5.72 fold change), the relative risk of bacteremia is RR = 3.84 [95% CI 1.94-7.61]; Se = 60.0%; Sp = 89.2%. CRP concentration above 7 mg/L in duplex test with miR-424 improves the diagnostic characteristics of miR-424 for post-transplant gram-negative bacteremia in heart and lung transplant recipients up to RR = 9.17 [95% CI 1.37-61.46]; Se = 83.3% and Sp = 90.1%. Conclusion: MiR-424 plasma expression was upregulated in patients with chronic heart and respiratory failure and in heart and lung transplant recipients in the early post-transplant period. The duplex test, including miR-424 and CRP, has a diagnostic value for detecting the high risk of post-transplant gram-negative bacteremia in heart and lung transplant recipients.

Long-read isoform sequencing reveals tissue-specific isoform expression between active and hibernating brown bears (Ursus arctos).

Understanding hibernation in brown bears (Ursus arctos) can provide insight into some human diseases. During hibernation, brown bears experience periods of insulin resistance, physical inactivity, extreme bradycardia, obesity, and the absence of urine production. These states closely mimic aspects of human diseases such as type 2 diabetes, muscle atrophy, as well as renal and heart failure. The reversibility of these states from hibernation to active season enables the identification of mediators with possible therapeutic value for humans. Recent studies have identified genes and pathways that are differentially expressed between active and hibernation seasons in bears. However, little is known about the role of differential expression of gene isoforms on hibernation physiology. To identify both distinct and novel mRNA isoforms, full-length RNA-sequencing (Iso-Seq) was performed on adipose, skeletal muscle, and liver from three individual bears sampled during both active and hibernation seasons. The existing reference genome annotation was improved by combining it with the Iso-Seq data. Short-read RNA-sequencing data from six individuals were mapped to the new reference annotation to quantify differential isoform usage (DIU) between tissues and seasons. We identified differentially expressed isoforms in all three tissues, to varying degrees. Adipose had a high level of DIU with isoform switching, regardless of whether the genes were differentially expressed. Our analyses revealed that DIU, even in the absence of differential gene expression, is an important mechanism for modulating genes during hibernation. These findings demonstrate the value of isoform expression studies and will serve as the basis for deeper exploration into hibernation biology.

Populus CEN/TFL1 regulates first onset of flowering, axillary meristem identity and dormancy release in Populus.

Members of the CENTRORADIALIS (CEN)/TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (TFL1) subfamily control shoot meristem identity, and loss-of-function mutations in both monopodial and sympodial herbaceous plants result in dramatic changes in plant architecture. We studied the degree of conservation between herbaceous and woody perennial plants in shoot system regulation by overexpression and RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated suppression of poplar orthologs of CEN, and the related gene MOTHER OF FT AND TFL 1 (MFT). Field study of transgenic poplars (Populus spp.) for over 6 years showed that downregulation of PopCEN1 and its close paralog, PopCEN2, accelerated the onset of mature tree characteristics, including age of first flowering, number of inflorescences and proportion of short shoots. Surprisingly, terminal vegetative meristems remained indeterminate in PopCEN1-RNAi trees, suggesting the possibility that florigen signals are transported to axillary mersitems rather than the shoot apex. However, the axillary inflorescences (catkins) of PopCEN1-RNAi trees contained fewer flowers than did wild-type catkins, suggesting a possible role in maintaining the indeterminacy of the inflorescence apex. Expression of PopCEN1 was significantly correlated with delayed spring bud flush in multiple years, and in controlled environment experiments, 35S::PopCEN1 and RNAi transgenics required different chilling times to release dormancy. Considered together, these results indicate that PopCEN1/PopCEN2 help to integrate shoot developmental transitions that recur during each seasonal cycle with the age-related changes that occur over years of growth.

Antisense down-regulation of 4CL expression alters lignification, tree growth, and saccharification potential of field-grown poplar.

Transgenic down-regulation of the Pt4CL1 gene family encoding 4-coumarate:coenzyme A ligase (4CL) has been reported as a means for reducing lignin content in cell walls and increasing overall growth rates, thereby improving feedstock quality for paper and bioethanol production. Using hybrid poplar (Populus tremula × Populus alba), we applied this strategy and examined field-grown transformants for both effects on wood biochemistry and tree productivity. The reductions in lignin contents obtained correlated well with 4CL RNA expression, with a sharp decrease in lignin amount being observed for RNA expression below approximately 50% of the nontransgenic control. Relatively small lignin reductions of approximately 10% were associated with reduced productivity, decreased wood syringyl/guaiacyl lignin monomer ratios, and a small increase in the level of incorporation of H-monomers (p-hydroxyphenyl) into cell walls. Transgenic events with less than approximately 50% 4CL RNA expression were characterized by patches of reddish-brown discolored wood that had approximately twice the extractive content of controls (largely complex polyphenolics). There was no evidence that substantially reduced lignin contents increased growth rates or saccharification potential. Our results suggest that the capacity for lignin reduction is limited; below a threshold, large changes in wood chemistry and plant metabolism were observed that adversely affected productivity and potential ethanol yield. They also underline the importance of field studies to obtain physiologically meaningful results and to support technology development with transgenic trees.

Complete Genome Sequence of Rhodococcus qingshengii Strain CL-05, Isolated from Concrete.

Here, we report the complete genome sequence of Rhodococcus qingshengii strain CL-05, which was isolated from pavement concrete in Newark, Delaware. The genome consists of a 6.29-Mbp chromosome and one plasmid (123,183 bp), encodes a total of 5,859 predicted proteins, and has a GC content of 62.5%.