Species of Orobanchaceae parasitize the roots of nearby host plants to rob them of water and other nutrients. Parasitism can be debilitating to the host plant, and some of the world's most pernicious agricultural pests are parasitic weeds. We demonstrate here that interfering hairpin constructs transformed into host plants can silence expression of the targeted genes in the parasite. Transgenic roots of the hemi-parasitic plant Triphysaria versicolor expressing the GUS reporter gene were allowed to parasitize transgenic lettuce roots expressing a hairpin RNA containing a fragment of the GUS gene (hpGUS). When stained for GUS activity, Triphysaria roots attached to non-transgenic lettuce showed full GUS activity, but those parasitizing transgenic hpGUS lettuce lacked activity in root tissues distal to the haustorium. Transcript quantification indicated a reduction in the steady-state level of GUS mRNA in Triphysaria when they were attached to hpGUS lettuce. These results demonstrate that the GUS silencing signal generated by the host roots was translocated across the haustorium interface and was functional in the parasite. Movement across the haustorium was bi-directional, as demonstrated in double-junction experiments in which non-transgenic Triphysaria concomitantly parasitized two hosts, one transgenic for hpGUS and the other transgenic for a functional GUS gene. Observation of GUS silencing in the second host demonstrated that the silencing trigger could be moved from one host to another using the parasite as a physiological bridge. Silencing of parasite genes by generating siRNAs in the host provides a novel strategy for controlling parasitic weeds.

The Src homology 2 domain-containing protein-tyrosine phosphatase Src homology phosphatase 2 (Shp2) is a negative regulator of hepatic insulin action in mice fed regular chow. To investigate the role of hepatic Shp2 in lipid metabolism and energy balance, we determined the metabolic effects of its deletion in mice challenged with a high-fat diet (HFD). We analyzed body mass, lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and glucose tolerance in liver-specific Shp2-deficient mice (referred to herein as LSHKO) and control mice fed HFD. Hepatic Shp2 protein expression is regulated by nutritional status, increasing in mice fed HFD and decreasing during fasting. LSHKO mice gained less weight and exhibited increased energy expenditure compared with control mice. In addition, hepatic Shp2 deficiency led to decreased liver steatosis, enhanced insulin-induced suppression of hepatic glucose production, and impeded the development of insulin resistance after high-fat feeding. At the molecular level, LSHKO exhibited decreased hepatic endoplasmic reticulum stress and inflammation compared with control mice. In addition, tyrosine and serine phosphorylation of total and mitochondrial signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 were enhanced in LSHKO compared with control mice. In line with this observation and the increased energy expenditure of LSHKO, oxygen consumption rate was higher in liver mitochondria of LSHKO compared with controls. Collectively, these studies identify hepatic Shp2 as a novel regulator of systemic energy balance under conditions of high-fat feeding.

Perhaps the most obvious phenotypes associated with chemical signaling between plants are manifested by parasitic species of Orobanchaceae. The development of haustoria, invasive root structures that allow hemiparasitic plants to transition from autotrophic to heterotrophic growth, is rapid, highly synchronous, and readily observed in vitro. Haustorium development is initiated in aseptic roots of the facultative parasite Triphysaria versicolor when exposed to phenolic molecules associated with host root exudates and rhizosphere bioactivity. Morphological features of early haustorium ontogeny include rapid cessation of root elongation, expansion, and differentiation of epidermal cells into haustorial hairs, and cortical cell expansion. These developmental processes were stimulated in aseptic T. versicolor seedlings by the application of exogenous phytohormones and inhibited by the application of hormone antagonists. Surgically dissected root tips formed haustoria if the root was exposed to haustorial-inducing factors prior to dissection. In contrast, root tips that were dissected prior to inducing-factor treatment were unable to form haustoria unless supplemented with indole-3-acetic acid. A transient transformation assay demonstrated that auxin and ethylene-responsive promoters were up-regulated when T. versicolor was exposed to either exogenous hormones or purified haustoria-inducing factors. These experiments demonstrate that localized auxin and ethylene accumulation are early events in haustorium development and that parasitic plants recruit established plant developmental mechanisms to realize parasite-specific functions.It has been estimated that over 4,000 species of angiosperms are able to directly invade and parasitize other plants (Nickrent, 2003). Parasitic plant species have widely different hosts and habits, ranging from mistletoes that grow on the tops of conifer trees to root parasites that live most of their lives underground (Press and Graves, 1995). A single feature common to all parasitic plants is the ability to develop invasive structures called haustoria (Riopel and Timko, 1995). After invasion, parasitic plant haustoria function as physiological bridges through which the parasite robs host plants of water and nutrients. The competence to form haustoria is the defining characteristic of parasitic plants, distinguishing them from epiphytic and mycoheterotrophic plants that either use host plants for physical support or associate via mycorrhizal intermediates (Kuijt, 1969;Leake, 1994).It is clear from several lines of evidence that parasitic plants evolved from nonparasitic autotrophs (Kuijt, 1969). There are two general models for the evolutionary origins of the haustoria that define plant parasitism. One model proposes that genes encoding haustorium development are foreign to plants and were introduced into parasitic species via an endosymbiotic or horizontal gene transfer event, perhaps from a haustorial-producing fungus or bacteria (Atsatt, 1973). An alterative hypothesis proposes that gen...

Objective ShcKO mice have low body fat and resist weight gain on a high fat diet, indicating that Shc proteins may influence enzymes involved in β-oxidation. To investigate this idea, the activities of β-oxidation and ketone body metabolism enzymes were measured. Methods The activities of β-oxidation enzymes (acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase and ketoacyl-CoA thiolase) in liver and hindlimb skeletal muscle, ketolytic enzymes (acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase, β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase and 3-oxoacid-CoA transferase) in skeletal muscle, and ketogenic enzymes (acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase and β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase) in liver were measured from wild-type and ShcKO mice. Results The activities of β-oxidation enzymes were increased (P < 0.05) in the ShcKO compared to wild-type mice in the fasted but not the fed state. In contrast, no uniform increases in the ketolytic enzyme activities were observed between ShcKO and wild-type mice. In liver, the activities of ketogenic enzymes were increased (P < 0.05) in ShcKO compared to wild-type mice in both the fed and fasted states. Levels of phosphorylated hormone sensitive lipase from adipocytes were also increased (P < 0.05) in fasted ShcKO mice. Conclusions These studies indicate that the low Shc levels in ShcKO mice result in increased liver and muscle β-oxidation enzyme activities in response to fasting and induce chronic increases in the activity of liver ketogenic enzymes. Decreases in the level of Shc proteins should be considered as possible contributors to the increase in activity of fatty acid oxidation enzymes in response to physiological conditions which increase reliance on fatty acids as a source of energy.

Although the p46Shc isoform has been known to be mitochondrially localized for 11 years, its function in mitochondria has been a mystery. We confirmed p46Shc to be mitochondrially localized and showed that the major mitochondrial partner of p46Shc is the lipid oxidation enzyme 3-ketoacylCoA thiolase ACAA2, to which p46Shc binds directly and with a strong affinity. Increasing p46Shc expression inhibits, and decreasing p46Shc stimulates enzymatic activity of thiolase in vitro. Thus, we suggest p46Shc to be a negative mitochondrial thiolase activity regulator, and reduction of p46Shc expression activates thiolase. This is the first demonstration of a protein that directly binds and controls thiolase activity. Thiolase was thought previously only to be regulated by metabolite balance and steadystate flux control. Thiolase is the last enzyme of the mitochondrial fatty acid beta-oxidation spiral, and thus is important for energy metabolism. Mice with reduction of p46Shc are lean, resist obesity, have higher lipid oxidation capacity, and increased thiolase activity. The thiolase-p46Shc connection shown here in vitro and in organello may be an important underlying mechanism explaining the metabolic phenotype of Shcdepleted mice in vivo.Shc proteins have three isoforms: p46, p52, and p66, and have major effects on metabolism (1-4). p52Shc contacts the insulin receptor and regulates the signaling between the IRS1 and Ras pathway (5). In 2004, it was demonstrated that the major mitochondrial Shc isoform is p46Shc (6), but since that time the mitochondrial partner and physiological function of p46Shc has been a mystery. Here we show the mitochondrial partner and function of p46Shc, and suggest how this could contribute to the obesity-resistance observed in ShcKO mice.There are three isoforms at the mammalian Shc locus, the highly expressed isoforms p46Shc and p52Shc, and the minor p66Shc. All three Shc isoforms are derived from a single DNA locus. First, two mRNA are produced: p66Shc and p52/46Shc by means of trans-splicing. The p66Shc mRNA has start codons for all three Shc isoforms. The p52/46Shc-mRNA does not have a start codon for p66Shc and only produces p52Shc and p46Shc (7). For this reason, knockdowns of either p66Shc, or all three Shc isoforms together have been achieved to date. There are two mouse models of Shc depletion produced to date: ShcL, also known as p66ShcKO developed by the Tom Prolla group (ShcProlla, Ref. 4), and Shc mice developed by the Pelicci group (ShcP or ShcPelicci, also known as p66Shc (Ϫ/Ϫ, Refs. 3,4,8,9). Names in literature for these two models can be described by these definitions: ShcL, ShcProlla; ShcKO, ShcP ϭ ShcPelicci ϭ p66Shc(Ϫ/Ϫ).Briefly, ShcL or ShcProlla mice have a deletion of only the minor p66Shc isoform and have no health benefits: ShcL mice are not lean, do not resist weight gain on high fat diets (HFD), 2 and are not longer-lived on HFD, and do not have improved insulin sensitivity (4). Thus p66Shc deletion by itself does not result in health benefits.By contrast, ShcKO have...