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Although recent research progress on the abundant C-to-U RNA editing events in plant chloroplasts and mitochondria has uncovered many recognition factors and their molecular mechanisms, the intrinsic regulation of RNA editing within plants remains largely unknown. This study aimed to establish a regulatory relationship in Arabidopsis between the plant hormone auxin and chloroplast RNA editing. We first analyzed auxin response elements (AuxREs) present within promoters of chloroplast editing factors reported to date. We found that each has more than one AuxRE, suggesting a potential regulatory role of auxin in their expression. Further investigation unveiled that the depletion of auxin synthesis gene YUC2 reduces the expression of several editing factors. However, in yuc2 mutants, only the expression of CRR4, DYW1, ISE2, and ECD1 editing factors and the editing efficiency of their corresponding editing sites, ndhD-2 and rps14-149, were simultaneously suppressed. In addition, exogenous IAA and the overexpression of YUC2 enhanced the expression of these editing factors and the editing efficiency at the ndhD-2 and rps14-149 sites. These results suggested a direct effect of auxin upon the editing of the ndhD-2 and rps14-149 sites through the modulation of the expression of the editing factors. We further demonstrated that ARF1, a downstream transcription factor in the auxin-signaling pathway, could directly bind to and inactivate the promoters of CRR4, DYW1, and ISE2 in a dual-luciferase reporter system, thereby inhibiting their expression. Moreover, the overexpression of ARF1 in Arabidopsis significantly reduced the expression of the three editing factors and the editing efficiency at the ndhD-2 and rps14-149 sites. These data suggest that YUC2-mediated auxin biosynthesis governs the RNA-editing process through the ARF1-dependent signal transduction pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adenovirus C5 E1B-55K protein is crucial for viral replication and is expressed early during infection. It can interact with E4orf6 to form a complex that functions as a ubiquitin E3 ligase. This complex targets specific cellular proteins and marks them for ubiquitination and, predominantly, subsequent proteasomal degradation. E1B-55K interacts with various proteins, with p53 being the most extensively studied, although identifying binding sites has been challenging. To explain the diverse range of proteins associated with E1B-55K, we hypothesized that other binding partners might recognize the simple p53 binding motif (xWxxxPx). In silico analyses showed that many known E1B-55K binding proteins possess this amino acid sequence; therefore, we investigated whether other xWxxxPx-containing proteins also bind to E1B-55K. Our findings revealed that many cellular proteins, including ATR, CHK1, USP9, and USP34, co-immunoprecipitate with E1B-55K. During adenovirus infection, several well-characterized E1B-55K binding proteins and newly identified interactors, including CSB, CHK1, and USP9, are degraded in a cullin-dependent manner. Notably, certain binding proteins, such as ATR and USP34, remain undegraded during infection. Structural predictions indicate no conservation of structure around the proposed binding motif, suggesting that the interaction relies on the correct arrangement of tryptophan and proline residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines feasibility and effectiveness of implementing a directive education program called "Let Me Decide" to veterans living in Ontario. Discusses two methods used to evaluate implementation of the program. Reports that 97% of the veterans found the education process beneficial whether or not they completed the directives. (Author/JDM)

Background: Alzheimer disease (AD) patients experience progressive neurological and cognitive decline attributed to neurodegeneration. Cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF) has been identified to protect and rescue neurons in various preclinical neurodegeneration models. The expression of this protein occurs in both the central nervous system and peripheral blood. Blood platelets exhibit several biochemical impairments similar to the brain tissues of patients with neurological disorders. This study examines CDNF mRNA expression in human blood platelets in healthy subjects and Alzheimer-probable patients.Methods: Platelets were extracted from whole blood from patients. mRNA was extracted to synthesize cDNA and quantify CDNF gene expression from 21 Alzheimer-probable patients and 73 healthy age-matched control subjects using real-time qPCR. Grouping analysis of the data with regard to sex was conducted.Results: CDNF mRNA expression was significantly decreased in Alzheimer-probable patients relative to the control subjects (P<0.05). Further analysis demonstrated reduced CDNF expression in male Alzheimer-probable patients compared with their age and sex-matched controls (P<0.05). However, no change in female subjects was observed. Interestingly, there is a lower level of CDNF expression in the female control group relative to the control male group (P<0.05).Conclusion: Alzheimer-probable male patients demonstrated significant reductions in CDNF expression, suggesting that CDNF plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of AD. In addition, it may assist in diagnosing male Alzheimer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cutoff values of cognitive screen tests vary according to age and educational levels.Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the accuracy and determine cutoffs for 3 short cognitive screening instruments: the Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Quick Mild Cognitive Impairment Screen-Turkish version (Qmci-TR), in older adults with low literacy in Turkey.Methods: In all 321 patients, 133 with subjective cognitive complaints (SCC), 88 amnestic-type mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and 100 with probable Alzheimer disease (AD) with a median of 5 years education were included. Education and age-specific cutoffs were determined.Results: For the overall population, the Qmci-TR was more accurate than the MoCA in distinguishing between aMCI and AD (area under the curve=0.83 vs. 0.76, P=0.004) and the Qmci-TR and Mini-Mental State Examination were superior to the MoCA in discriminating SCC from aMCI and AD. All instruments had similar accuracy among those with low literacy (primary school and lower educational level or illiterate).Conclusions: To distinguish between SCC, aMCI, and AD in a sample of older Turkish adults, the Qmci-TR may be preferable. In very low literacy, the choice of the instrument appears less important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I B In Reply: b i We thank Isik and colleagues for their response and feedback on our article. In our study, as with others, the GDS-15 was performed only for screening and not for the diagnosis of depression.[1] After screening with the GDS-15, a comprehensive geriatric assessment was conducted. Isik and colleagues refer to our use of the GDS-15 to identify patients with depression and our application of a cut-off score of >=7 for the diagnosis of depression. [Extracted from the article]

Presents insights on deaf counselors and counseling service, based on personal experience. Work experience as a deaf counselor in New Zealand; Challenges as a counselor; Limitations on counseling service for the deaf in provincial cities.

An analogue of elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) from Escherichia coil was prepared by biosynthetic incorporation of 3-fluorotyrosine. The 19F-NMR spectra of the binary complexes of this protein with GDP, GTP and elongation factor Ts (EF-Ts) and the ternary complexes EF-Tu · GDP · aurodox and EF-Tu · GDP · EF-Ts were measured. EF-Tu contains ten tyrosine residues and all of the complexes studied gave complex 19F spectra with overlapping resonances. EF-Tu · GDP gave a spectrum in which two signals were markedly different from those shown by the other complexes, the two resonances being shifted downfield by at least 3.4 ppm and 0.9 ppm relative to their shifts in the other complexes. Such large downfield shifts can be explained by second-order electric field shielding effects resulting from these two tyrosine residues being in a sterically constrained environment in EF-Tu · GDP and with the steric restraints being released in all of the other complexes. The X-ray diffraction structure of EF-Tu · GDP shows that Tyr87 in the N-terminal domain (domain I) and Tyr309 in the C-terminal domain (domain III) are both buried within the protein and are close to each other: these residues are in regions of EF-Tu previously implicated in the structural changes between EF-Tu. GDP and EF-Tu · GTP by other workers. If these tyrosine residues correspond to the two downfield resonances of the spectra of EF-Tu · GDP, the results from the 19F-NMR would be consistent with these earlier indications that domain I interacts closely with domain III in EF-Tu · GDP and that the amino acids between Gly83 and Gly 100 are an important part of this interaction. For all the other complexes studied, these tyrosines are in a less sterically crowded environment consistent with a weaker interaction between the two domains. The 19F-NMR spectrum of the trypsin-cleaved product of EF-Tu · GDP, from which the X-ray diffraction structural data have been obtained, shows no signifcant differences from the native protein so that trypsin cleavage causes no large changes in the proteinߣs structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the issue of oocyte freezing in human reproduction in Australia. Cryopreservation of unfertilized oocytes for later use is considered a viable technology in inducing pregnancy. Oocyte cryopreservation is utilized as a form of insurance against age-related infertility. Two pregnancies using frozen oocytes for social reasons are described. The disadvantages of oocyte freezing for social infertility reasons are also discussed.