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I'm Canadian Grad Student researching miRNAs in plants down under. G'day eh?
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- June 4, 2012
- 02:05 AM
- 265 views
Plant Genetic Material (miRNAs) can Alter Animal Gene Expression
by Linda in Oz Blog No. 159
Eat your greens & grains! It's not just the macromolecular nutrients in them that are good for you (the natural carbs & proteins), but the genes too. Yup, plant genes can change the expression of our genes, and we just have to eat them.
Relatively recently, Zhang et. al. suggested that rice miR168 can regulate fat metabolism in animals and humans after eating rice. They were able to detect the plant miR168 in the sera/blood of multiple animals. It was also found in multiple organs. If you fol........ Read more »
Vaucheret, H., & Chupeau, Y. (2011) Ingested plant miRNAs regulate gene expression in animals. Cell Research, 22(1), 3-5. DOI: 10.1038/cr.2011.164
Zhang L, Hou D, Chen X, Li D, Zhu L, Zhang Y, Li J, Bian Z, Liang X, Cai X.... (2012) Exogenous plant MIR168a specifically targets mammalian LDLRAP1: evidence of cross-kingdom regulation by microRNA. Cell research, 22(1), 107-26. PMID: 21931358
- May 3, 2011
- 12:00 PM
- 1,524 views
An After Thought to Evolution: Exceptional ways of Controlling Gene “Expression”
Unusual control of miR166/65 expression by AGO10 is required for meristem development in Arabidopsis... Read more »
Zhu H, Hu F, Wang R, Zhou X, Sze SH, Liou LW, Barefoot A, Dickman M, & Zhang X. (2011) Arabidopsis Argonaute10 Specifically Sequesters miR166/165 to Regulate Shoot Apical Meristem Development. Cell, 145(2), 242-56. PMID: 21496644
- April 12, 2011
- 12:00 PM
- 446 views
miRNA Elevation
by Linda in Oz Blog 159
How over-expression of certain miRNA can lead to profound changes in plant development.... Read more »
Jones-Rhoades, M., Bartel, D., & Bartel, B. (2006) MicroRNAs AND THEIR REGULATORY ROLES IN PLANTS. Annual Review of Plant Biology, 57(1), 19-53. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.arplant.57.032905.105218
Millar, A. (2005) The Arabidopsis GAMYB-Like Genes, MYB33 and MYB65, Are MicroRNA-Regulated Genes That Redundantly Facilitate Anther Development. THE PLANT CELL ONLINE, 17(3), 705-721. DOI: 10.1105/tpc.104.027920
Achard, P. (2004) Modulation of floral development by a gibberellin-regulated microRNA. Development, 131(14), 3357-3365. DOI: 10.1242/dev.01206
- February 17, 2011
- 08:04 PM
- 1,438 views
A Lab Murder Mystery
“A researcher is found dead hunched over her lab bench, and seven suspects are in custody. Now it’s up to 30 high school students to determine who killed her.” To quote from the UBC Science newsletter. Don’t be alarmed, this isn’t tabloid fodder. It’s actually part of a high school out-reach program, organized by UBC’s grad student [...]... Read more »
Caylib Durand and Santiago Ramón-García. (2010) The Use of Popular Fiction to Present a Professional Scientific Career to High School Students. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY , 166-167. info:/10.1128/jmbe.v11i2.19
- January 18, 2011
- 01:09 PM
- 1,108 views
RNAi in the Nucleus ~ It’s no longer limited to the cytoplasm
Hot off the press from the holidays is an article from PNAS that’s worth a gander if you’re into RNAi. We know RNAi associated with epigenetics is possible in the nucleus (Somehow, siRNAs could trigger the methylation and silencing of genes in the nucleus.) However, one soy bean group was able to provide evidence for [...]... Read more »
Hoffer, P., Ivashuta, S., Pontes, O., Vitins, A., Pikaard, C., Mroczka, A., Wagner, N., & Voelker, T. (2010) Posttranscriptional gene silencing in nuclei. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(1), 409-414. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1009805108
Guang, S., Bochner, A., Pavelec, D., Burkhart, K., Harding, S., Lachowiec, J., & Kennedy, S. (2008) An Argonaute Transports siRNAs from the Cytoplasm to the Nucleus. Science, 321(5888), 537-541. DOI: 10.1126/science.1157647
Heinrichs, A. (2008) Gene expression: Argonaute on the move. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 9(9), 666-666. DOI: 10.1038/nrm2473
Hwang, H., Wentzel, E., & Mendell, J. (2007) A Hexanucleotide Element Directs MicroRNA Nuclear Import. Science, 315(5808), 97-100. DOI: 10.1126/science.1136235
- January 11, 2011
- 09:26 AM
- 1,413 views
Arrested Development in miRNA Mutants
Animals and Plants have hundreds of miRNAs with diverse roles in gene regulation. In humans, each miRNA family can control up to several hundred genes (or 500 to be exact, in humans). A loss of function in one, can lead to array of developmental defects. Similarly in plants, an miRNA mutant can have a variety of phenotypes. However, interestingly, many miRNAs only have one target, which is frequently a transcription factor that in turn, controls many genes itself. It's really like a house of car........ Read more »
Garzon, R., Marcucci, G., & Croce, C. (2010) Targeting microRNAs in cancer: rationale, strategies and challenges. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 9(10), 775-789. DOI: 10.1038/nrd3179
Allen, R., Li, J., Stahle, M., Dubroue, A., Gubler, F., & Millar, A. (2007) From the Cover: Genetic analysis reveals functional redundancy and the major target genes of the Arabidopsis miR159 family. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 104(41), 16371-16376. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0707653104
Schwab, R., & Voinnet, O. (2009) miRNA processing turned upside down. The EMBO Journal, 28(23), 3633-3634. DOI: 10.1038/emboj.2009.334
SCHAUER, S., JACOBSEN, S., MEINKE, D., & RAY, A. (2002) : blind men and elephants in development. Trends in Plant Science, 7(11), 487-491. DOI: 10.1016/S1360-1385(02)02355-5
Laufs, P. (2004) MicroRNA regulation of the CUC genes is required for boundary size control in Arabidopsis meristems. Development, 131(17), 4311-4322. DOI: 10.1242/dev.01320
- January 2, 2011
- 05:00 AM
- 119 views
Light the Way ~ Rnai Diagnostics
by Linda in Oz Blog No. 159
ResearchBlogging.org To warm up the mind:
It's possible to actually see the brain light up. In 2007, Harvard researchers stuck fluorescent proteins in neurons. Check out the palette of the 90 different "colours" and how the brain naturally paints itself with them. ... Read more »
Livet J, Weissman TA, Kang H, Draft RW, Lu J, Bennis RA, Sanes JR, & Lichtman JW. (2007) Transgenic strategies for combinatorial expression of fluorescent proteins in the nervous system. Nature, 450(7166), 56-62. PMID: 17972876
McCaffrey, A., Meuse, L., Pham, T., Conklin, D., Hannon, G., & Kay, M. (2002) Gene expression: RNA interference in adult mice. Nature, 418(6893), 38-39. DOI: 10.1038/418038a
Dunoyer, P., Himber, C., & Voinnet, O. (2006) Induction, suppression and requirement of RNA silencing pathways in virulent Agrobacterium tumefaciens infections. Nature Genetics, 38(2), 258-263. DOI: 10.1038/ng1722
Saleh, M., van Rij, R., Hekele, A., Gillis, A., Foley, E., O'Farrell, P., & Andino, R. (2006) The endocytic pathway mediates cell entry of dsRNA to induce RNAi silencing. Nature Cell Biology, 8(8), 793-802. DOI: 10.1038/ncb1439
Kittler R, Putz G, Pelletier L, Poser I, Heninger AK, Drechsel D, Fischer S, Konstantinova I, Habermann B, Grabner H.... (2004) An endoribonuclease-prepared siRNA screen in human cells identifies genes essential for cell division. Nature, 432(7020), 1036-40. PMID: 15616564
- December 14, 2010
- 05:00 AM
- 120 views
Charting the depths of RNAi
by Linda in Oz Blog No. 159
If you haven't heard of RNA interference yet, rest assured. You will the next 5-10 years to come. The Pharmaceutical industry is already hailing it as the next big thing in medicine since the advent of antibiotics. However, with all it's promise, there's still heaps we don't know about it. It's like exploring the "new world" looking for resources. ... Read more »
Lee, R. (1993) The C. elegans heterochronic gene lin-4 encodes small RNAs with antisense complementarity to lin-14. Cell, 75(5), 843-854. DOI: 10.1016/0092-8674(93)90529-Y
Fire A, Xu S, Montgomery MK, Kostas SA, Driver SE, & Mello CC. (1998) Potent and specific genetic interference by double-stranded RNA in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nature, 391(6669), 806-11. PMID: 9486653
Napoli, C. (1990) Introduction of a Chimeric Chalcone Synthase Gene into Petunia Results in Reversible Co-Suppression of Homologous Genes in trans. THE PLANT CELL ONLINE, 2(4), 279-289. DOI: 10.1105/tpc.2.4.279
Siomi, H., & Siomi, M. (2009) On the road to reading the RNA-interference code. Nature, 457(7228), 396-404. DOI: 10.1038/nature07754
Baulcombe, D. (2004) RNA silencing in plants. Nature, 431(7006), 356-363. DOI: 10.1038/nature02874
Mattick, J. (2003) Challenging the dogma: the hidden layer of non-protein-coding RNAs in complex organisms. BioEssays, 25(10), 930-939. DOI: 10.1002/bies.10332
- December 9, 2010
- 05:00 AM
- 109 views
Obstacles to RNAi drug therapies
by Linda in Oz Blog No. 159
A small RNA (siRNA or miRNA) is the "magic bullet" in biotechnology. It's easy to manufacture, it's on target and has high "kill" rates. According to an Industry rep, it currently takes 2 billion USD to launch a new chemical product and the revenue comes back in negative. So companies actually wind up in a deficit when they put out a newly developed drug. However, the "magic bullet" is going to change all of that around. One company alone invested 1.2 bill........ Read more »
Fire A, Xu S, Montgomery MK, Kostas SA, Driver SE, & Mello CC. (1998) Potent and specific genetic interference by double-stranded RNA in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nature, 391(6669), 806-11. PMID: 9486653
Grimm, D., Streetz, K., Jopling, C., Storm, T., Pandey, K., Davis, C., Marion, P., Salazar, F., & Kay, M. (2006) Fatality in mice due to oversaturation of cellular microRNA/short hairpin RNA pathways. Nature, 441(7092), 537-541. DOI: 10.1038/nature04791
Castanotto, D., & Rossi, J. (2009) The promises and pitfalls of RNA-interference-based therapeutics. Nature, 457(7228), 426-433. DOI: 10.1038/nature07758
- January 24, 2010
- 05:00 AM
- 129 views
What Love and Attraction Smells Of
by Linda in Oz Blog No. 159
I'd read (somewhere) that bouquets of chemicals you release when you meet 'that someone' become a concoction for hell that loving feeling. (Somewhat reminds me of that wacky Sandra Bullock film Love Potion No. 9). For the first 6 months-year you release endorphins, adrenaline, oxytocin. Subsequently, you might get 'butterflies', the sweats, sleepless nights, loss of appetite etc. etc. What causes that initial attraction anyways? i find it so random. If it was just person........ Read more »
Wedekind C, Seebeck T, Bettens F, & Paepke AJ. (1995) MHC-dependent mate preferences in humans. Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society, 260(1359), 245-9. PMID: 7630893
Bernatchez L, & Landry C. (2003) MHC studies in nonmodel vertebrates: what have we learned about natural selection in 15 years?. Journal of evolutionary biology, 16(3), 363-77. PMID: 14635837
SANDROCARVALHOSANTOS, P., AUGUSTOSCHINEMANN, J., GABARDO, J., & DAGRACABICALHO, M. (2005) New evidence that the MHC influences odor perception in humans: a study with 58 Southern Brazilian students. Hormones and Behavior, 47(4), 384-388. DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2004.11.005
Lie, H., Simmons, L., & Rhodes, G. (2010) Genetic dissimilarity, genetic diversity, and mate preferences in humans. Evolution and Human Behavior, 31(1), 48-58. DOI: 10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2009.07.001
- March 1, 2009
- 05:00 AM
- 136 views
Purple Petunias ~ Chance Discovery of RNAi in Plants
by Linda in Oz Blog No. 159
"It fell straight down, why was that?"
- Issac Newton
RNAi started off as a series of accidental discoveries, that started with some plant geneticists trying to mutate their purple petunias in the 1990s. ... Read more »
Napoli, C. (1990) Introduction of a Chimeric Chalcone Synthase Gene into Petunia Results in Reversible Co-Suppression of Homologous Genes in trans. THE PLANT CELL ONLINE, 2(4), 279-289. DOI: 10.1105/tpc.2.4.279
- February 20, 2009
- 05:00 AM
- 133 views
Sexual Deception by Orchids
by Linda in Oz Blog No. 159
You might think they're lovely, but their researchers might disagree. Actually, plant biochemists and ecologists would argue that orchid flowers are meant to resemble female bee behinds. The evolutionary benefit to this mimcry is attracting pollinators, like flying insects. In the case of the orchid, during mating season the male bee would be attracted and deceived by the flower, and while trying to mate with it, he might fall into it and get pollen on himself. Then, after finishing his bus........ Read more »
Adler, L., & Irwin, R. (2005) ECOLOGICAL COSTS AND BENEFITS OF DEFENSES IN NECTAR. Ecology, 86(11), 2968-2978. DOI: 10.1890/05-0118
Kessler, D., & Baldwin, I. (2007) Making sense of nectar scents: the effects of nectar secondary metabolites on floral visitors of Nicotiana attenuata. The Plant Journal, 49(5), 840-854. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-313X.2006.02995.x
Schiestl, F. (2005) On the success of a swindle: pollination by deception in orchids. Naturwissenschaften, 92(6), 255-264. DOI: 10.1007/s00114-005-0636-y
Schiestl, F. (2003) The Chemistry of Sexual Deception in an Orchid-Wasp Pollination System. Science, 302(5644), 437-438. DOI: 10.1126/science.1087835
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