SUMMARYAlthough an APETALA2 (AP2)-type transcription factor, WRINKLED1 (WRI1), has been shown to be required for accumulation of triacylglycerols (TAGs) in Arabidopsis seeds, its direct target genes have not been established. Overexpression of WRI1 up-regulated a set of genes involved in fatty acid (FA) synthesis in plastids, including genes for a subunit of pyruvate kinase (Pl-PKb1), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (BCCP2), acyl carrier protein (ACP1), and ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase (KAS1), while expression of these genes is reduced in mutants with reduced WRI1 expression. Transient expression of LUC reporter genes with the proximal sequences upstream from the ATG codon of Pl-PKb1, BCCP2, and KAS1 in protoplasts was activated by co-expression of WRI1, and recombinant WRI1 bound to these upstream sequences in vitro. The seven WRI1 binding sites shared a sequence [CnTnG](n) 7 [CG], where n is any nucleotide designated as the AW-box, and mutations in AW-boxes near the transcription start site and in the 5¢-untranslated region of Pl-PKb1 abolished activation by WRI1 in protoplasts and expression during seed maturation. Although expression of genes for the synthesis of TAGs and packaging into oil bodies in the endoplasmic reticulum in developing seeds required WRI1, their expression was not up-regulated by WRI1 overexpression. Thus, WRI1 promotes the flow of carbon to oil during seed maturation by directly activating genes involved in FA synthesis and controlling genes for assembly and storage of TAG.

Arabidopsis APETALA2 (AP2) encodes a member of the AP2͞EREBP (ethylene responsive element binding protein) class of transcription factors and is involved in the specification of floral organ identity, establishment of floral meristem identity, suppression of floral meristem indeterminancy, and development of the ovule and seed coat. Here, we show that loss-of-function ap2 mutations cause an increase in seed mass relative to that of wild-type seeds. Analysis of an allelic series of ap2 mutations showed that increases in seed mass corresponded with the severity of defects in flower structure, indicating that AP2 activity directly influences seed mass. Experiments with male-sterile plants and deflowered wild-type plants showed that reduced fertility of ap2 mutant plants due to abnormal flower structure accounted for only part of the increase in seed mass caused by strong ap2 mutant alleles. Reciprocal cross experiments showed that AP2 acts maternally to control seed mass. The maternal effect of AP2 on seed mass involves the regulation of both embryo cell number and cell size. We show further that ap2 mutations cause changes in the ratio of hexose to sucrose during seed development, opening the possibility that AP2 may control seed mass through its effects on sugar metabolism. Together, these results identify a role for AP2 in controlling seed mass.ap2 ͉ Arabidopsis ͉ seed size ͉ sugar metabolism S eeds of higher plants consist of three major components, each with a different genotype. The embryo that develops into the vegetative plant is diploid with a zygotic complement of genomes contributed by its parents. The endosperm, a tissue system that serves a nutritive role for the developing embryo and͞or germinating seedling, is triploid with two and one genome equivalents, respectively, contributed by the maternal and paternal parent. By contrast, the seed coat that surrounds the embryo and endosperm is strictly of maternal origin. Growth and development of the embryo, endosperm, and seed coat must be coordinated to produce the mature seed. Although seeds have been studied extensively, many aspects of seed development are not well understood, including the mechanisms that underlie seed size or mass.A critical factor in determining plant fitness is seed mass. Seed mass is negatively correlated with the number of seeds produced and positively correlated with seedling survival (1-5). Smallseeded plants are considered to be efficient colonizers because they produce large numbers of seeds, whereas seedlings of large-seeded plants are thought to more effectively withstand resource restrictions and abiotic stresses. Moreover, seed mass can vary intraspecifically in response to environmental cues, although little is known of the specific regulatory processes involved.Several factors that influence seed mass have been identified. For example, quantitative trait loci (QTL) that influence seed mass have been mapped in a number of crop plants (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)). An analysis of genetic factors affecting Arabidopsis seed mas...

We isolated a cDNA encoding a DNA-binding protein, SPF1, of sweet potato that binds to the SP8a (ACTGTGTA) and SP8b (TACTATT) sequences present in the 5' upstream regions of three different genes coding for sporamin and beta-amylase of tuberous roots. SPF1 comprises 549 amino acids and is enriched in both basic and acidic residues. The amino acid sequence of SPF1 shows no significant homology to any known protein sequences, suggesting that it may represent a new class of DNA-binding protein. Binding studies with 35S-labeled SPF1, synthesized in vitro, and synthetic DNA fragments indicated that, although SPF1 binds to both the SP8a and SP8b sequences, it binds much more strongly to SP8a than to SP8b. SPF1 bound to the SP8a sequence as a monomer. The DNA-binding domain of SPF1 was localized within the C-terminal half of this protein, and a 162-amino acid fragment of SPF1 (Met310-Arg472) showed DNA-binding activity with no change in target sequence specificity. This fragment contains a region enriched in basic amino acids adjacent to a highly acidic stretch. A sequence which is highly homologous to a 40-amino acid sequence in the basic region of the DNA-binding domain is duplicated in the N-terminal part of SPF1. The gene coding for SPF1 is present in one or a few copies per haploid genome and the SPF1 mRNA was detected in leaves, stems and tuberous roots of the sweet potato, in addition to petioles. The level of SPF1 mRNA in the petioles decreased when leaf-petiole cuttings were treated with sucrose to induce accumulation of sporamin and beta-amylase mRNAs.

In feline coronavirus (FCoV) pathogenesis, the ability to infect macrophages is an essential virulence factor. Whereas the low-virulence feline enteric coronavirus (FECV) isolates primarily replicate in the epithelial cells of the enteric tract, highly virulent feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) isolates have acquired the ability to replicate efficiently in macrophages, which allows rapid dissemination of the virulent virus throughout the body.

Abstract. Vacuolar matrix proteins in plant cells are sorted from the secretory pathway to the vacuoles at the Golgi apparatus. Previously, we reported that the NHz-terminal propeptide (NTPP) of the sporamin precursor and the COOH-terminal propeptide (CTPP) of the barley lectin precursor contain information for vacuolar sorting. To analyze whether these propeptides are interchangeable, we expressed constructs consisting of wild-type or mutated NTPP with the mature part of barley lectin and sporamin with CTPP and mutated NTPP in tobacco BY-2 cells. The vacuolar localization of these constructs indicated that the signals were interchangeable. We next analyzed the effect of wortmannin, a specific inhibitor of mammalian phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase on vacuolar delivery by NTPP and CTPP in tobacco cells. Pulse-chase analysis indicated that 33 txM wortmannin caused almost complete inhibition of CTPP-mediated transport to the vacuoles, while NTPP-mediated transport displayed almost no sensitivity to wortmannin at this concentration. This indicates that there are at least two different mechanisms for vacuolar sorting in tobacco cells, and the CTPPmediated pathway is sensitive to wortmannin. We compared the dose dependencies of wortmannin on the inhibition of CTPP-mediated vacuolar delivery of proteins and on the inhibition of the synthesis of phospholipids in tobacco cells. Wortmannin inhibited PI 3-and PI 4-kinase activities and phospholipid synthesis. Missorting caused by wortmannin displays a dose dependency that is similar to the dose dependency for the inhibition of synthesis of PI 4-phosphate and major phospholipids. This is different, however, than the inhibition of synthesis of PI 3-phosphate. Thus, the synthesis of phospholipids could be involved in CTPP-mediated vacuolar transport.

Serological, sequence, and in vitro host range analyses of feline parvovirus (FPV) isolates in Vietnam and Taiwan revealed that more than 80% of the isolates were of the canine parvovirus (CPV) type, rather than feline panleukopenia virus (FPLV). Although parvovirus isolates from three Vietnamese leopard cats were genetically related to CPV type 2a or 2b, they had a natural mutation of VP2 residue 300 Gly to an Asp, resulting in remarkable changes in their antigenic properties. These results indicated the possibility that CPV-2a/2b-type viruses can spread in cats more efficiently than conventional FPLV under natural conditions and that CPV-2a/2b viruses are further evolving in cats.

Proteolytic cleavage of the hemagglutinin (HA) protein is essential for influenza A virus (IAV) to acquire infectivity. This process is mediated by a host cell protease(s) in vivo. The type II transmembrane serine protease TMPRSS2 is expressed in the respiratory tract and is capable of activating a variety of respiratory viruses, including low-pathogenic (LP) IAVs possessing a single arginine residue at the cleavage site. Here we show that TMPRSS2 plays an essential role in the proteolytic activation of LP IAVs, including a recently emerged H7N9 subtype, in vivo. We generated TMPRSS2 knockout (KO) mice. The TMPRSS2 KO mice showed normal reproduction, development, and growth phenotypes. In TMPRSS2 KO mice infected with LP IAVs, cleavage of HA was severely impaired, and consequently, the majority of LP IAV progeny particles failed to gain infectivity, while the viruses were fully activated proteolytically in TMPRSS2 ؉/؉ wild-type (WT) mice. Accordingly, in contrast to WT mice, TMPRSS2 KO mice were highly tolerant of challenge infection by LP IAVs (H1N1, H3N2, and H7N9) with >1,000 50% lethal doses (LD 50 ) for WT mice. On the other hand, a high-pathogenic H5N1 subtype IAV possessing a multibasic cleavage site was successfully activated in the lungs of TMPRSS2 KO mice and killed these mice, as observed for WT mice. Our results demonstrate that recently emerged H7N9 as well as seasonal IAVs mainly use the specific protease TMPRSS2 for HA cleavage in vivo and, thus, that TMPRSS2 expression is essential for IAV replication in vivo. IMPORTANCEInfluenza A virus (IAV) is a leading pathogen that infects and kills many humans every year. We clarified that the infectivity and pathogenicity of IAVs, including a recently emerged H7N9 subtype, are determined primarily by a host protease, TMPRSS2. Our data showed that TMPRSS2 is the key host protease that activates IAVs in vivo through proteolytic cleavage of their HA proteins. Hence, TMPRSS2 is a good target for the development of anti-IAV drugs. Such drugs could also be effective for many other respiratory viruses, including the recently emerged Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus, because they are also activated by TMPRSS2 in vitro. Consequently, the present paper could have a large impact on the battle against respiratory virus infections and contribute greatly to human health. Influenza A virus (IAV) is classified in the Orthomyxoviridae family and is a leading agent that affects and kills humans worldwide. IAV enters target cells via endocytosis, and virus-cell membrane fusion occurs at the late endosomes, thus releasing the viral genome to start virus replication. Membrane fusion is mediated by the hemagglutinin (HA) protein, which is synthesized as the inactive precursor HA 0 and cleaved by a host cell protease(s) to gain fusion activity. Proteolytic cleavage of HA 0 into the HA 1 and HA 2 subunits is essential for HA to express membrane fusion activity and, consequently, for IAV to acquire infectivity.The HA of low-pathogenic (LP) IAVs, for whic...

Sporamin is a protein without glycans that accumulates in large quanffties in the vacuoles of the tuberous root of the sweet potato. It is synthesized as a prepro precursor with an N-terminal extension composed of a 21-amino-acid signal peptide and a 16-amino-acid propeptide. A total of48 base pairs, corresponding to the nucleotide sequence that encodes the propeptide, was deleted from a cDNA clone for sporamin. This Apro mutant sequence, as well as the sequence of the wild-type sporamin cDNA, was placed downstream from the promoter of the 35S transcript from cauliflower mosaic virus and introduced into the genome of suspension-cultured tobacco cells by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. In contrast to the vacuolar localization of sporamin in cells that expressed the wild-type precursor, sporamin was secreted into the culture medium from cells in which the Apro precursor was expressed. The secreted form of sporamin was shorter by two amino acids at its N terminus than authentic sporamin; it migrated anomalously during electrophoresis on SDS/polyacrylamide gel as a result of the presence of intramdecular disulfide bridges, as does authentic sporamin. The kinetics of secretion ofsporamin from the cell were similar to those of proteins normally secreted by the host tobacco cells. These results indicate that the propeptide of the precursor to sporamin is required for correct targeting of sporamin to the vacuole and that proteins can be secreted from plant cells by a bulk-flow default pathway in the absence of a functional sorting signal.