Expression of POU, Sox, and Pax genes in the brain ganglia of the tropical abalone Haliotis asinina

In gastropod mollusks, neuroendocrine cells in the anterior ganglia have been shown to regulate growth and reproduction. As a first step toward understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of these physiological processes in the tropical abalone Haliotis asinina, ive have identified sets of POU, Sox, and Pax transcription factor genes that are expressed in these ganglia. Using highly degenerate oligonucleotide primers designed to anneal to conserved codons in each of these gene families, we have amplified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction 2 POU genes (HasPOU-III and HasPOU-IV), 2 Sox genes (HasSox-B and HasSox-C), and two Pax genes (HasPax-258 and HaxPax-6). Analyses with gene-specific primers indicated that the 6 genes are expressed in the cerebral and pleuropedal ganglia of both reproductively active and spent adults, in a number of sensory structures, and in a subset of other adult tissues.

Matching SOX: partner proteins and co-factors of the SOX family of transcriptional regulators

SOX transcription factors perform a remarkable variety of important roles in vertebrate development, either activating or repressing specific target genes through interaction with different partner proteins. Surprisingly, these interactions are often mediated by the conserved, DNA-binding HMG domain, raising questions as to how each factor's specificity is generated. We propose a model whereby non-HMG domains may influence partner protein selection and/or binding stability.

Sox genes in C. elegans: sox-2 role in postembryonic development

Report for the scientific sojourn carried out at the Columbia University, United States, from 2010 to 2012. Expression of SoxB genes correlates with the commitment of cells to a neural fate; however, the relevance of SoxB proteins in early vertebrate neurogenesis has been difficult to prove genetically due to embryonic lethality and presumed redundant functions. The nematode C. Elegants has only 5 sox genes: sox-2 and sox-3 form the SoxB group while sem-2, sox-4 and egl-13 belong to other Sox groups. Our results show that sox-2 and sem-2 are the sox genes expressed earliest and in a broader manner during embryogenesis, being expressed in several neuronal progenitors. sox-3, sox-4 and egl-13 are expressed in few cells during late embryogenesis, when most neurons are already born. Both sox-2 and sem-2 null mutants are early larval lethal but do not show neuronal specification defects during embryonic development as indicated by quantification of a panneuronal reporter. Potential redundancy or compensatory mechanisms between different sox genes have been ruled out, strongly suggesting that sox genes are not required for specification of embryonically-derived neurons. However, at the first larval stage there are still several blast cells that will give rise to different postembryonic lineages, which generate several neurons amongst other cell types. nterestingly, sox-2 is expressed in many of these progenitor cells. Using mosaic analysis we have so far identified neurons derived from two different postembryonic lineages which fail to be generated in C. elegans sox-2 mutants. These results support the idea that postembryonic progenitor competence is compromised in the absence of sox-2.

High expression of the HMG box factor sox-13 in arterial walls during embryonic development.

Members of the Sox gene family of transcription factors are defined by the presence of an 80 amino acid homology domain, the High Mobility Group (HMG) box. Here we report the cloning and initial analysis of murine Sox-13 . The 984 amino acids Sox-13 protein contains a single HMG box, a leucine zipper motif and a glutamine-rich stretch. These characteristics are shared with another member of the Sox gene family, Sox-6. High level embryonic expression of Sox-13 occurs uniquely in the arterial walls of 13.5 days post coitum (dpc) mice and later. Low level expression was observed in the inner ear of 13.5 dpc mice and in a limited number of cells in the thymus of 16.5 dpc mice, from which Sox-13 was originally cloned. At 18.5 dpc, Sox-13 is expressed in the tracheal epithelium below the vocal cord and in the hair follicles. The Sox-13 protein binds to the consensus HMG box motif, AACAAAG, but does not transactivate transcription through a concatamer of this motif. Sox-13, like other members of the Sox family likely plays an important role in development.

THE CARBON EMISSIONS OF THE BOSTON RED SOX

http://digitalcommons.colby.edu/atlasofmaine2008/1016/thumbnail.jpg

The Carbon Emissions of the Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox emit a great deal of carbon throughout the regular baseball season because of flights to the home fields of their opponents. Knowing that air travel is one of the biggest transportation-based contributors to global climate change, the Boston Red Sox (and all major league teams) should be encouraged to offset their carbon emissions from regular season travel. Using ArcGIS to map the flight paths along great circle routes, the distance of flights to opponents’ cities was calculated to total the number of miles traveled in the 2008 season. The price of offsetting this carbon was estimated using the calculators of carbon offset retailers, such as Native Energy, a Vermont-based retailer. This project provides the potential costs of offsetting the carbon emitted from Red Sox air travel. To take the lead in the future of the Northeast, the Red Sox should begin to consider their contribution to climate change.

Political economy of low sulfurization and air pollution control policy in Japan : SOx emission reduction by fuel conversion

In the early stages of the development of Japan’s environmental policy, sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions, which seriously damage health, was the most important air pollution problem. In the second half of the 1960s and the first half of the 1970s, the measures against SOx emissions progressed quickly, and these emissions were reduced drastically. The most important factor of the reduction was the conversion to a low-sulfur fuel for large-scale fuel users, such as the electric power industry. However, industries started conversion to low-sulfur fuel not due to environmental concerns, but simply to reduce costs. Furthermore, the interaction among the various interests of the electric power industry, oil refineries, the central government, local governments, and citizens over the energy and environmental policies led to the measures against SOx emissions by fuel conversion.

Investigation of the current management agreement between the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority and the Chicago White Sox : report.

"November 1989."

Pete Appleton (Jablonowski) UM Baseball, 1924-1926, major league card with Chicago White Sox

[Brian Williams, Play Ball baseball card, 1940]

Sox genes and cancer

Sox genes encode transcription factors belonging to the HMG ( High Mobility Group) superfamily. They are conserved across species and involved in a number of developmental processes. In vitro studies have shown at least one Sox gene to be capable of inducing oncogenic transformation of fibroblast cells. In addition, overexpression and/or amplification of Sox genes are associated with a large number of tumour types in vivo. We review here the available evidence linking Sox gene expression and cancer, and show that this link is supported by extensive EST database analysis. This work provides a basis for further studies aimed at investigating the possible role of Sox genes in the oncogenic process. Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Origin and diversity of the Sox transcription factor gene family: genome-wide analysis in Fugu rubripes

The SOX family of transcription factors are found throughout the animal kingdom and are important in a variety of developmental contexts. Genome analysis has identified 20 Sox genes in human and mouse, which can be subdivided into 8 groups, based on sequence comparison and intron-exon structure. Most of the SOX groups identified in mammals are represented by a single SOX sequence in invertebrate model organisms, suggesting a duplication and divergence mechanism has operated during vertebrate evolution. We have now analysed the Sox gene complement in the pufferfish, Fugu rubripes, in order to shed further light on the diversity and origins of the Sox gene family. Major differences were found between the Sox family in Fugu and those in humans and mice. In particular, Fugu does not have orthologues of Sry, Sox,15 and Sox30, which appear to be specific to mammals, while Sox19, found in Fugu and zebrafish but absent in mammals, seems to be specific to fishes. Six mammalian Sox genes are represented by two copies each in Fugu, indicating a large-scale gene duplication in the fish lineage. These findings point to recent Sox gene loss, duplication and divergence occurring during the evolution of tetrapod and teleost lineages, and provide further evidence for large-scale segmental or a whole-genome duplication occurring early in the radiation of teleosts. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sex determination: a tale of two Sox genes

Vertebrates use many different strategies to determine sex, but the Sox9 gene is a common thread, probably acting as the pivotal gene that controls the male-determining pathway. It now appears that Sox9 is not alone in this role, and that a closely related gene, Sox8, can partly substitute for Sox9. But is this a clever backup strategy to safeguard male development, or a relic of the past?

Regulation of Amh during sex determination in chickens: Sox gene expression in male and female gonads

During mammalian sexual development, the SOX9 transcription factor up-regulates expression of the gene encoding anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), but in chickens, Sox9 gene expression reportedly occurs after the onset of Amh expression. Here, we examined expression of the related gene Sox8 in chicken embryonic gonads during the sex-determining period. We found that cSox8 is expressed at similar levels in both sexes at embryonic day 6 and 7, and only at the anterior tip of the gonad, suggesting that SOX8 is not responsible for the sex-specific increase in cAmh gene expression at these stages. We also found that several other chicken Sox genes (cSox3, cSox4 and cSox11) are expressed in embryonic gonads, but at similar levels in both sexes. Our data suggest that the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of Amh genes of mouse and chicken are not conserved, despite similar patterns of Amh expression in both species.

Associations between SOX 404 opinions and auditors, audit committees, and executives

This dissertation examined three issues associated with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) that are of current interest to regulators and the accounting profession. For the first essay, I examined auditor changes from 2003 to 2005 for 2,454 non-financial firms that filed their initial SOX 404 opinions prior to July 1, 2005. My results showed that there is a significant association between the receipt of an adverse SOX 404 opinion and auditor resignations - both before and after the issuance of the SOX 404 opinion. The data related to auditor dismissals show that clients are not successful in opinion shopping, since clients dismissing the auditor before the SOX 404 report also are more likely to receive an adverse SOX 404 opinion than clients not changing auditors. My second essay examined the relation between audit committee characteristics and changes in material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting under the new SOX regime. My results showed that improvements in internal control in the second year of SOX are associated with: (1) the number of audit committee members and (2) financial expertise of audit committee members. My third essay examined the relation between the appointment of the new executives and the subsequent receipt of initial section 404 of SOX opinions. My results showed that adverse SOX 404 reports will be more likely at firms that recently hired a new chief financial officer (CFO).