Rat TAC1 blocking peptide

Azole resistance in Candida albicans is frequently caused by the overexpression of multi-drug efflux pump genes MDR1, CDR1, and CDR2 due to gain-of-function mutations in the zinc cluster transcription factors Mrr1p and Tac1p. In this study, we performed a comparative proteomic analysis to identify proteins whose expression level is influenced by these transcription factors. Both 2-DE and PMF were used to examine the expression profiles of six pairs of matched C. albicans isolates carrying gain-of-function mutations in either MRR1 or TACT resulting in the overexpression of either MDR1 or CDR1 and CDR2. Using this approach, 17 differentially expressed proteins were identified in the MDR1-overexpressing isolates, while 14 were identified in the isolates that overexpress CDR1 and CDR2. Furthermore, we found that the expression of many of these proteins was increased in a wildtype strain of C. albicans after the introduction of a gain-of-function allele of MRR1 or TACT. Moreover, disruption of MRR1 and TAC1 in isolates carrying gain-of-function mutations resulted in decreased expression of these proteins, confirming their regulation by Mrr1p or Tac1p. Several proteins involved in heat shock and carbohydrate metabolism were differentially expressed in all clinical isolate sets, but these proteins were not dependent upon either Tac1p or Mrr1p.

Rice tiller angle is an important agronomic trait that contributes to crop production and plays a vital role in high yield breeding. In this study, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from the cross of a glabrous tropical japonica rice D50 and an indica rice HB277, was used to investigate quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling rice tiller angle. Two major QTLs, qTAC8 and qTAC9, were detected. While qTAC9 mapped with a previously identified gene (TAC1), using a BC2F2 population qTAC8 was mapped to a 16.5 cM region between markers RM7049 and RM23175. Position of qTAC8 was narrowed to a 92 kb DNA region by two genetic segregating populations. Finally, one opening reading frame (ORF) was regarded as a candidate gene according to genomic sequencing and qRT-PCR analysis. In addition, a set of four near isogenic lines (NILs) were created to investigate the genetic relationship between those two QTLs, and one line carrying qTAC8 and qTAC9 presented additive effect of tiller angle, suggesting that these QTLs are involved in different genetic pathways. Our results provide a foundation for the cloning of qTAC8 and genetic improvement of the rice plant architecture.