The homeobox gene family plays a crucial role during the development of multicellular organisms. The KNOTTED-like genes from Arabidopsis thaliana (KNAT6 and KNAT2) are close relatives of the meristematic genes SHOOT MERISTEMLESS (STM) and BREVIPEDICELLUS, but their function is not currently known. To investigate their role, we identified null alleles of KNAT6 and KNAT2. We demonstrate that KNAT6 contributes redundantly with STM to the maintenance of the shoot apical meristem (SAM) and organ separation. Consistent with this role, the expression domain of KNAT6 in the SAM marks the boundaries between the SAM and cotyledons. The lack of meristematic activity in the knat6 stm-2 double mutant and the fusion of cotyledons were linked to the modulation of CUP-SHAPED COTYLEDON (CUC) activity. During embryogenesis, KNAT6 is expressed later than STM and CUC. In agreement with this fact, CUC1 and CUC2 were redundantly required for KNAT6 expression. These data provide the basis for a model in which KNAT6 contributes to SAM maintenance and boundary establishment in the embryo via the STM/CUC pathway. KNAT2, although the closest related member of the family to KNAT6, did not have such a function.

Introduction Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph nodes and lymphatic system. The two main types are Hodgkin and non‐Hodgkin. Non‐Hodgkin lymphoma is the most common. The lymphomas can be effectively treated with chemotherapy; however, the treatments have severe side effects that can be permanent. Studies have shown a relationship between a high intake of vegetables/fruits and reduced risk of cancer development, including lymphomas. Hypothesis We hypothesize that Annona fruit, which is rich in fibers and phytochemicals, can be very effective in inhibiting lymphoma cancer growth. Experimental The skin, pulp and seeds fractions of Annona fruits were extracted into water, methanol or chloroform and then assayed for their total phenolic contents and anti‐oxidation activities and then tested for cell proliferation inhibitory activity using Ramos‐1 lymphoma cell line. Results The highest concentration of total phenols was present in the skin fraction; however, the pulp has the highest total amounts. The methanol fractions of skin and pulp and water extract of seeds contained the highest anti‐oxidation activity. The methanol extracts of skin, pulp and seeds have moderate whereas chloroform extracts of pulp and seeds have strong inhibition of Ramos‐1 lymphoma cell proliferation. Conclusions The edible pulp of Annona fruits can provide phenolic anti‐oxidants which can also be effective in preventing/treating lymphoma. The skin and seeds are non‐edible but can be used to isolate potent compounds with potential anti‐cancer activity. Future Directions Studies are required to isolate and identify the active compounds from Annona fruit and to test them in an animal model. This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

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Aim Oxidative stress in intestine which arises from digestion and metabolism of various foods has been linked to initiation and progression of colon cancer. Fruits and vegetables contain phenolic anti-oxidants, which are non-toxic and can have significant impact on Colorectal Cancer (CRC). The objective of the present research was to investigate plum effects on colon cancer cells proliferation. We hypothesized that plum can inhibit cancer growth by preventing oxidative stress due in part to its high concentration of polyphenols. Methods We compared a commercial preparation of Plum Extract (PE60) with a laboratory-prepared extract of plum for their polyphenols, flavonoids, and anti-oxidation activity using established assay protocols. We then tested their anticancer effects on using colon-26 adenocarcinoma cells using a MTT cell proliferation assay. Results We found that PE60, a commercial plum extract, was rich in phenolic/flavonoids contents and significantly inhibited colon cancer cell growth. The laboratory preparation of methanol extract of plum skin when adjusted for polyphenolic contents showed similar effects to that of PE60. Conclusion Our data suggest that regular consumption of plum fruits in the form of concentrated "whole fruit juice" may be a potential strategy for preventing or treating colon cancer.