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Transgenic alfalfa plants harboring a gene fusion between the soybean leghemoglobin ( lbc3) promoter region and the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase ( cat) gene were used to determine the influence of rhizobial mutants on lb gene expression in nodules. The promoter region of the Sesbania rostrata g lb3 ( Srglb3) leghemoglobin gene was examined for the presence of conserved motifs homologous to binding site 1 and 2 of the soybean lbc3 promoter region, found to interact with a trans-acting factor present in soybean nodule nuclear extracts (Jensen EO, Marcker KA, Schell J, de Bruijn FJ, EMBO J 7: 1265-1271, 1988). Subfragments of the S. rostrata g lb3 ( Srg lb3) promoter region were examined for binding to trans-acting factors from nodule nuclear extracts. In addition to the binding sites previously identified (Metz BA, Welters P, Hoffmann HJ, Jensen EO, Schell J, de Bruijn FJ, Mol Gen Genet 214: 181-191), several other sites were found to interact with trans-acting factors. In most cases the same trans-acting factor(s) were shown to be involved. One fragment (202) was found to bind specifically to a different factor (protein) which was extremely heat-resistant (100°C). The appearance of this factor was shown to be developmentally regulated since the expected protein-DNA complexes were first observed around 12 days after infection, concomitant with the production of leghemoglobin proteins. Fragments of the Srg lb3 5′ upstream region were fused to the β-glucuronidase reporter gene with its own CAAT and TATA box region or those of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S and nopaline synthase ( nos) promoters. These constructs were used to generate transgenic Lotus corniculatus plants and their expression was measured in different plant tissues. The Srg lb3 CAAT and TATA box region was found to be required for nodule-specific expression and several upstream enhancer-type regions were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Irritant contact dermatitis of the hands is very common in dental laboratory technicians due to frequent contact with various irritants. Barrier creams (HS) are often avoided because a tight grip of tools and small objects is necessary; furthermore dental objects must not be contaminated by HS. In this study the efficacy of HS applied during working hours was compared to skin care products (HP) applied only after work., Method: 2 popular commercial HS (HS-1, HS-2) and 2 moisturizers containing urea and beeswax respectively (HP-1, HP-2) were evaluated in 5 laboratories by a total of 192 technicians. Every technician used one HS (several applications during working hours) and one HP applied at home at least once daily for 4 weeks each with a wash-out period of 2 weeks in between. The sequence HS-HP, HP-HS was randomized for every laboratory in two single blind cross over designs for both combinations (HS-1 with HP-1, HS-2 with HP-2). The technicians scored the products on a scale of efficacy (worse, none, good, very good). The skin condition was evaluated by a dermatologist at the beginning of the study, after 4, 6 and 10 weeks on a scale for erythema, infiltration, vesicles, fissures and scaling to produce a sum score. Furthermore, transepidermal water loss (TEWL) was measured on the back of the hand and on the ventral aspect of the forearm at the beginnung and the end of the 4 weeks application period. The quotient of these two parameters was used for statistical evaluation (covariance analysis)., Results: The assessment of either "good" or "very good" was as follows: HS-1 58%; HS-2 67%; HP-1 77%; HP-2 98%. Both HP, particularly HP-2, were judged superior to either HS. This was confirmed by the improvement of the skin condition (HS-1 35%; HS-2 44%; HP-1 55%; HP-2 56%). Statistical significance of the differences in TEWL data was clearly demonstrated: HP-1 better than HS-1 (p = 0.007); HP-2 better than HS-2 (p = 0.03). The acceptance of the products was high. The majority was willing to continue its usage after the study (68 %-89 %)., Conclusions: The results demonstrate that the use of after work moisturizers is highly beneficial and under the chosen study conditions even superior to barrier creams applied at work. This approach is more practical for many professions and may effectively reduce the frequency of irritant contact dermatitis.

A protocol for establishment and high-frequency Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of morphogenic Arabidopsis cell suspensions was developed to facilitate saturation mutagenesis and identification of plant genes by sequenced T-DNA tags. Thirty-two self-circularized T-DNA tagged chromosomal loci were isolated from 21 transgenic plants by plasmid rescue and long-range inverse polymerase chain reaction (LR-iPCR). By bidirectional sequencing of the ends of T-DNA-linked plant DNA segments, nine T-DNA inserts were thus localized in genes coding for the Arabidopsis ASK1 kinase, cyclin 3b, J-domain protein, farnesyl diphosphate synthase, ORF02, an unknown EST, and homologues of a copper amine oxidase, a peripheral Golgi protein and a maize pollen-specific transcript. In addition, 16 genes were identified in the vicinity of sequenced T-DNA tags illustrating the efficiency of genome analysis by insertional mutagenesis.