Arsenic is an element which belongs to metaloids. Contamination with arsenic is a problem all over the world. Basically it is a part of Earth's crust, but with anthropogenic activities it could overspread into soil, water and air in large scale a thus it could mean health hazard. Fytoremediation is kind of environment decontamination, which is quite effective and cheap as well. Publications about arsenic and its influence on plant metabolism are mostly focused on important crop plants like rice. Rice is mostly used for experiments and questions on anatomical and morphological changes are widely being solved by these experiments, but it has only insignificant relevance for fytoremediation. There are only few publications about arsenic influence on carbohydrate metabolism, thus little is known about this problem. That is why I have decided to study this topic more deeply and get more information about carbohydrate metabolic changes under influence of arsenic and partly also under influence of mercury, because information about influence of mercury are completely lacking. My experimental material includes tobacco plant, tobacco tissue cultures and horseradish hairy roots cultures. Accumulation of starch and soluble carbohydrate spectrum and content was determined by HPLC. Furthermore arsenic influence...

I analyzed the hairy experience of seven women participating or linked to MaYHAIR initiative, through the ex/in-corporation framework (Zeiler, 2013). MaYHAIR is a movement inviting to question the double standards on body hair by challenging people to keep their body hair for the whole month of May. Although previous studies mainly focus on hairlessness and body hair removal, I concentrate in this study case on the - feminine – experience of body hair and the excorporation feeling that realization of the hairless norm may create. I address the acceptance of one’s body hair leading to the acceptance of one’s body; the politization associated with hairiness; the importance of intersectional concern leading to challenging choice rhetoric; as well as the necessity for support and diversity of representations.

In most plant species artificial polyploidy generally enhances the vigor of determinate plant parts and may be favorable where vegetative organs and biomass constitute the economic product. Furthermore, artificial polyploidy has been considered a method of increasing production potential of plants secondary metabolites. However, despite considerable research on polyploid plants, very few cases of polyploid medicinal plants have been reported. Artemisia annua L. synthesizes artemisinin, an antimalarial sesquiterpene lactone. Artemisinin can be synthesized, but it is costly compared to the naturally derived product. Hairy root cultures of Artemisia annua L. (clone YUT16) show rapid growth and produce artemisinin. This culture offers a good model system for studying artemisinin production. Others have shown that tetraploid Artemisia annua L. plants produce more artemisinin/mg DW than diploids. These yields were offset, however, by decreases in biomass productivity. Little is known about how polyploidy may affect growth production of hairy roots. Using colchicine, we have produced four stable tetraploid clones of Artemisia annua L. from YUT16 hairy root clone. Compared to the diploid clone, these tetraploid clones showed major differences in growth and development. Nevertheless, artemisinin yields of these tetraploid clones were 2-5 times higher than the diploid and their production seemed to be by the age of the inoculum. This work will prove useful in furthering our understanding of the effects of artificial polyploidy on the growth and secondary metabolite production of hairy roots.

La leucémie à tricholeucocytes (ou HCL pour Hairy Cell Leukemia) est un syndrôme lymphoprolifératif B rare du sujet âgé, caractérisé par une infiltration médullaire et splénique de cellules présentant des protrusions cytoplasmiques. Des thérapies de première ligne efficaces existent contre ce cancer et l’intérêt de la recherche biomédicale dans ce domaine réside désormais dans le développement de nouvelles molécules actives contre les cellules leucémiques réfractaires aux traitements de référence. Parmi les voies de signalisation dérégulées dans l’HCL, celle des Rho-GTPases influe sur les phénomènes de croissance cellulaire et d’organisation du cytosquelette d’actine, perturbés dans les tricholeucocytes. Les travaux précédemment menés au laboratoire ont montré la sous-expression dans l’HCL d’une Rho-GTPase atypique, RhoH, dont l’expression ectopique dans un modèle cellulaire d’HCL atténue la progression tumorale. Afin de déterminer les cibles moléculaires de RhoH dans cette leucémie, une étude transcriptomique a été réalisée et a montré la sous-expression du marqueur de surface CD38 lorsque RhoH est surexprimée.Plus qu’un marqueur de différenciation lymphocytaire, CD38 est une molécule à effets pléïotropiques (à la fois récepteur, enzyme et protéine d’adhérence cellulaire), importante dans le développement des lymphocytes B. CD38 a également été décrit comme un marqueur délétère dans la leucémie lymphoïde chronique et représente une cible thérapeutique dans le myélome multiple. Bien qu’exprimé par un tiers des patients porteurs de l’HCL, son rôle dans cette leucémie restait jusqu’alors inconnu.Les travaux présentés dans cette thèse décrivent, d’une part, l’étude de la régulation du gène CD38 par RhoH dans l’HCL, et d’autre part, l’impact de la protéine CD38 dans la progression de cette leucémie. Des données préliminaires sur l’activité de fragments de promoteur du gène CD38 semblent indiquer un rôle du facteur de transcription Smad1 dans la régulation de ce gène par RhoH. Grâce à une technique de genome editing, nous avons produit deux lignées cellulaires HCL knock out pour le gène CD38. Ces modèles nous ont permis de déterminer que CD38 promeut la survie ainsi que l’adhésion à l’endothélium des cellules HCL, et modifie également leurs propriétés migratoires in vitro. Nous avons également observé que CD38 favorisait la progression tumorale dans un modèle murin de xénogreffe de ces lignées cellulaires. Enfin, des données produites par nos collaborateurs ont montré que CD38 est un marqueur de mauvais pronostic pour la rechute des patients atteints d’HCL et qu’il constitue une cible thérapeutique potentielle pour les 30% de patients qui l’expriment.Mimer l’effet de RhoH dans l’HCL à des fins thérapeutiques s’avèrerait délicat. Le ciblage de CD38 semble donc une alternative de choix. En effet, la sous-expression de RhoH dans l’HCL favorise l’expression de cette protéine, dont l’effet est délétère pour les patients puisqu’elle participe à la progression de la leucémie. Les anticorps monoclonaux thérapeutiques dirigés contre CD38 étant déjà utilisés en clinique pour traiter d’autres leucémies, ce travail ouvre la voie à l’extension de leur utilisation dans le traitement de l’HCL réfractaire, pour les patients qui l’expriment. / Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL) is a B-lymphoproliferative disorder of the elderly, which is characterized by medullar and splenic homing of “hairy” cells bearing cytoplasmic protrusions. Efficient first-line therapies against this cancer do exist and the real challenge in biomedical research is now to develop new molecules targeting leukemic cells which are resistant to these first-line treatments. Among some deregulated signaling pathways that have been described in HCL, Rho-GTPases are noteworthy, mediating proliferation and reorganization of actin cytoskeleton, being both disrupted in hairy cells. Former works from our laboratory have shown the underexpression in HCL cells of an atypical Rho-GTPase called RhoH, which reconstitution decreased malignant progression in both in vitro and in vivo models of HCL. In order to determine the molecular targets of RhoH, a microarray study was performed that showed underexpression of the cell surface marker CD38 while RhoH is overexpressed.Not only a differentiation marker of lymphocytes, CD38 is a pleiotropic molecule (being at the same time a receptor, an enzyme and an adhesion protein), which is important in B-cell development. It is also known as a bad prognosis marker in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and a therapeutic target in multiple myeloma. Its role in Hairy Cell Leukemia has not been studied yet, despite its expression in one third of HCL patients.The work presented in this thesis deals with, on the one hand, the study of the regulation of CD38 gene by RhoH in HCL, on the other hand, the impact of CD38 protein on HCL progression. Preliminary data seem to indicate a potential role of Smad1 transcription factor in this mechanism of regulation of CD38 by RhoH. Thanks to genome editing technology, we produced two HCL cell lines knock out for the CD38 gene. These models allowed us to prove that CD38 enhances hairy cells survival and adhesion to endothelium, and modulates their migratory features in vitro. We also showed that CD38 promotes disease progression in vivo in an HCL xenograft mouse model. Finally, data from our collaborators indicated that CD38 is a bad prognosis marker for HCL relapses and could be a potential therapeutic target.Mimicking RhoH effects for therapeutic purposes would be somewhat tricky. Targeting CD38 seems an interesting alternative, as RhoH underexpression favours CD38 expression, which is deleterious for patients by enhancing malignant progression. As therapeutic monoclonal antibodies targeting CD38 are already used in clinics to treat other leukemias, this work brings the evidence of their potential usefulness against refractory HCL cases expressing this marker.

The distribution of epidermal hairs (trichomes) is an important taxonomic character in the genus Antirrhinum. Most species in subsection Antirrhinum produce trichomes from lower internodes and leaves, then have bald stems and leaf blades after the third node and resume trichomes production again in the inflorescence (the "bald" phenotype). All species in subsection Kickxiella produce trichomes throughout development (the "hairy" phenotype). Populations of some species are polymorphic for trichome distribution-both bald and hairy individuals were observed in A. australe, A. graniticum, A. latifolium and A. meonanthum. Antirrhinum species also varied in trichome morphology. Five types were recognized according to length and the presence or absence of a secretory gland. Some types were present in all species and had similar distributions-for example short glandular trichomes were found on the adaxial midribs of all leaves in all species, and the lower leaves and internodes of all species shared longer glandular and long eglandular trichomes. However, the trichomes on leaf blades and stems at higher vegetative nodes of hairy species and in the inflorescences differed in morphology between species, suggesting that they are regulated differently from trichomes at more basal positions. Other species in the tribe Antirrhineae showed similar variation in trichome morphology and distribution to Antirrhinum, suggesting that the control of trichome development might be conserved within the tribe. To understand the genetic basis for variation in trichome distribution, a near-isogenic line (NIL) was generated by introducing regions of the genome of A. charidemi (hairy, subsection Kickxiella) into the genetic background of A. majus subsp. majus (bald, subsection Antirrhinum). One NIL segregated bald and hairy progeny, with the same trichome distributions as the parent species, in a ratio that suggested a single locus is responsible for the differences and baldness is dominant. The locus was named as Hairy and assumed to act as a suppressor of trichome formation. Progeny of the NIL were used in genome resequencing of bulked phenotype pools (Pool-seq) to map Hairy. No recombination between Hairy and a candidate gene (GRX1) from the Glutaredoxin gene family, was detected in the mapping population. In addition, RNA-seq revealed that GRX1 was expressed in bald parts of bald progeny, but not in the same parts of hairy progeny, and in situ hybridisation showed GRX1 RNA was restricted to epidermal cells, which form trichomes in the absence of Hairy activity. A virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) method was also developed to test GRX1 function further. Reducing GRX1 activity allowed ectopic trichome formation in the bald NIL. Together, this evidence strongly supported Hairy being GRX1. To investigate evolution of Hairy and its relationship to variation in trichome distribution, the NIL was crossed to other Antirrhinum species. These allelism tests suggested that Hairy underlies variation in trichome distribution throughout the genus, with the exception of A. siculum, which has a bald phenotype but might lack activity of hairy and a gene needed for trichome formation. Hairy sequences were obtained from representative of 24 Antirrhinum species and two related species in the tribe Antirrhineae. The conserved trichome-suppressing function of the sequence from one of these species (Misopates orontium, bald phenotype) was confirmed by VIGS. Gene phylogenies combined with RNA expression analysis suggested that the ancestral Antirrhinum had a bald phenotype, that a single mutation could have given rise to the hairy alleles in the majority of Kickxiella species, that these alleles were also present in polymorphic populations in the other subsections, consistent with transfer from Kickxiella by hybridisation, and that multiple, independent mutations had been involved in parallel evolution of the hairy phenotype in a minority of Kickxiella species. Phylogenetic analysis of GRX proteins suggested that Hairy gained its trichome-repressing function relatively late in the evolutionary history of eudicots, after the Antirrhineae-Phrymoideae split, but before divergence of the lineages leading to Antirrhinum and Misopates. A yeast two-hybrid screen identified members of the TGA and HD-Zip IV transcription factors as potential substrates of the Hairy GRX.

Drosophila HP1 and Insulator Partner Protein 1 (HIPP1) is the homologue of the human co-repressor Chromodomain Y family of proteins that repress neuronal gene expression in mammals. HIPP1 was identified by its extensive co-localization with Heterochromatin Protein 1a (HP1a) in heterochromatic regions of the genome and insulator binding proteins in euchromatic regions. The majority of HIPP1 binding to euchromatin is at binding sites for Drosophila Suppressor of Hairy-wing [Su(Hw)]. Su(Hw) is a zinc finger DNA binding protein that functions as an insulator, activator, and repressor. Transcriptional regulation by Su(Hw) is essential in the ovary and testis, where Su(Hw) functions primarily as a repressor of neuronal genes. However, the mechanism of Su(Hw) dependent repression is not clear. The focus of my thesis work has been defining the role of HIPP1 in development and its contribution to Su(Hw) function and heterochromatin formation. As part of this work, CRISPR was used to generate multiple Hipp1 null alleles and a tagged derivative of the endogenous gene (Hipp1GFP). Hipp1 null flies were found to be viable. Study of HIPP1 expression revealed it is present in most tissues and restricted to the nucleus. HIPP1 showed limited colocalization with HP1a, and tests of repression of transgenes in heterochromatin suggested that HIPP1 is not required for heterochromatin formation. Investigations of HIPP1 binding revealed that Su(Hw) is responsible for the majority of HIPP1 recruitment to euchromatin. Despite this, HIPP1 was found to be dispensable for the transcriptional and insulator functions of Su(Hw) as well as for female and male fertility. These data indicate that HIPP1 is not a critical Su(Hw) cofactor. Further studies are needed to clarify the role of HIPP1 in Drosophila development.

Chromatin insulators play a role in gene transcription regulation by defining chromatinboundaries. Genome-wide studies in Drosophila have shown that a large proportion of insulator sites are found in intergenic DNA sequences, supporting a role for these elements as boundaries. However, approximately 40% of insulator sites are also found in intragenic sequences, where they can potentially perform as yet unidentified functions. Here we show that multiple Su(Hw) insulator sites map within the 110 kb sequence of the muscleblind gene (mbl), which also forms a highly condensed chromatin structure in polytene chromosomes. Chromosome Conformation Capture assays indicate that Su(Hw) insulators mediate the organization of higher-order chromatin structures at the mbl locus, resulting in a barrier for the progression of RNA polymeraseII (PolII ), and producing a repressive effect on basal and active transcription. The interference of intragenic insulators in PolII progression suggests a role for insulators in the elongation process. Supporting this interpretation, we found that mutations in su(Hw) and mod(mdg4) also result in changes in the relative abundance of the mblD isoform, by promoting early transcription termination. These results provide experimental evidence for a new role ofintragenic Su(Hw) insulators in higher-order chromatin organization, repression of transcription, and RNA processing.

Hairy prairie-clover (Dalea villosa Nutt. (Spreng) var. villosa), a rare plant species, grows in the Canadian Prairies. Populations of Dalea in Canada are threatened by the loss of sand dune habitat because of changes in land use and altered ecological processes such as grazing and fire. Local populations of Dalea are further threatened by one or more specific threats, including herbivory from native and domestic ungulates and invasion of habitats by exotic plants. The overall objective of this thesis was to gain more knowledge about Dalea and to determine the impact of threats and management practices to the Saskatchewan populations and their habitats. Observational studies were conducted at each of two sites in Saskatchewan supporting Dalea. First, at the Dundurn Sandhills site, structural equation modeling was used to examine landscape, ecological, and management factors associated with high rates of herbivory on Dalea and with reductions in the long-term survival and productivity of Dalea. The conditions which deer (Odocoileus hemionus and Odocoileus virginianus) or cattle (Bos taurus) were responsible for the most intense rates of herbivory to Dalea plants and patches were determined. Generally, deer appeared responsible for the most herbivory, whereas cattle grazing on Dalea increased with stocking densities. At the same time, new hypotheses about ecological processes affecting Dalea productivity in the Dundurn Sandhills were explored. In particular, it appeared that deer may be responding to cattle grazing in Dalea habitat by avoiding those areas, and that mid-season germination and recruitment of many Dalea plants may occur following precipitation events. Second, at the Mortlach site, the costs and benefits of using grazing management to control leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L. var. esula) were assessed, especially in consideration of the potential negative effects of intense herbivory on Dalea productivity. Aspects of the grazing regime including stocking density and the livestock species influenced herbivory on Dalea and its reproductive output, but there were no apparent links between the abundance of leafy spurge abundance and the reproductive output of Dalea. The findings of these two studies are relevant for the conservation and management of Dalea in Saskatchewan.

Abstract Fishpond area of Sihcao, Tainan City, approximate 488 hectors, is a part of coastal wetlands of Taiwan. Fishponds can be found almost everywhere in the wetlands, readily forming a fragmented ecosystem. Previous studies on populations of small mammals in coastal wetlands of Taiwan are scarce. Disturbance types found in the study area include straying dogs, working farmers, tillaging of the fishponds, and typhoons, etc, which would probably reduce the abundance of small mammals. The resources such as shelter, vegetation coverage, insects and seeds would increase the abundance of small mammals. The seasonal changes of these environmental factors may in turn affect the population dynamics of small mammals. I monitored the monthly population fluctuation of small mammals and invertebrates in the fishpond habitats, 2008. Six species of small mammals and 106 species of invertebrates were found. The small mammal populations in the Hairy Beggar Ticks region were compared with those within the non-Hairy Beggar Ticks region. More small mammals were found in the Hairy Beggar Ticks region in the sampling period. The vegetation coverage of the former was higher than that of the latter. There was positive correlation between evenness of small mammals and temperature. No differences of the biodiversity of invertebrates were found between the regions in the year. Significant correlation existed between the sunshine duration and the richness of invertebrates. The correlation may be due to the change of photoperiod. There was no significant correlation between the richness of small mammals and that of invertebrates.

Thesis (M.S.)--Marshall University, 2002. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 50 p. with illustrations and maps. Includes bibliographical references (p. 22-26).