Dissecting the mechanisms of posttranscriptional gene silencing: divide and conquer

Article Abstract:

Two studies were able to dissect the mechanism of posttranscriptional gene silencing (PTGS) in transgenic plants into three phases; initiation, spread and maintenance. The study by Palauqui and Balzergue in 1999 was about the PTGS of a tobacco nitrate reductase cDNA, while the study by Voinnet et al. in 1998 examined PTGS through expression of the green fluorescent protein from the 35S promoter in Nicotiana benthamiana. Both studies confirmed the correctness of the ectopic pairing model by isolating the initiation of PTGS from is maintenance and spread.

author: Grant, Sarah R.
Genetic aspects, Genetically modified plants

User Contributions:

Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:

CAPTCHA

Splitting hairs: dissecting roles of signaling systems in epidermal development

Article Abstract:

Developments in the understanding of hair follicle spacing and growth, including data on the effects of beta-catenin, are reviewed. Various experiments have shown that the mesoderm causes the epidermis to produce an evolutionary conserved signal that in turn induces the condensation of mesoderm cells to form the placode. After placode formation, one or more species-specific additional epithelial and mesoderm signals are believed to organize the specific skin structure.

author: Scott, Matthew P., Oro, Anthony E.
Hair, Epidermis, Hair follicles

User Contributions:

Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:

CAPTCHA

A counterdefensive strategy of plant viruses: suppression of posttranscriptional gene silencing

Article Abstract:

Tobacco etch viruses encode P1/HC-Pro polyprotein that suppresses posttranscriptional gene silencing (PTGS). The PTGS, in turn, produces a number of aberrant RNAs in sequence-specific process in the cytoplasm. Experiments on Nicotiana tabacum plants show that transgenic lines loci with a highly expressed beta-glucuronidase contains PTGS. The results of genetic crosses, segregation analyses and nuclear transcriptional assays conducted on these plants are discussed.

author: Carrington, James C., Kasschau, Kristin D.
United States, Analysis, Plant viruses

User Contributions:

Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:

CAPTCHA


subjects list: Research, Tobacco
This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.