Article
Plant Sciences
Cheng-Hsun Li, Hsing-Jung Tien, Meng-Fang Wen, Hungchen Emilie Yen
Summary: Myo-inositol and its metabolic derivatives play important roles in plant growth, development, and stress adaptation. Supplying myo-inositol can alleviate the dehydration effects of salt-stressed ice plant seedlings by regulating Na/K ratios in roots and shoots. Furthermore, salt and myo-inositol can induce the expression of different INT genes in various organs of ice plant seedlings.
PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Yusaku Yariuchi, Takashi Okamoto, Yoshiteru Noutoshi, Taku Takahashi
Summary: Polyamine metabolism in plants is controlled by multiple genes which are differentially regulated under different physiological conditions. Our study in Arabidopsis thaliana revealed that most genes in polyamine metabolism are not responsive to exogenous polyamines, but there is a difference in response to polyamines between Arabidopsis and rice, as shown by the induction of OsPAO6 gene. These results provide a framework for further study of regulatory modules controlling the expression of each polyamine metabolic gene.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Nisreen Faizo, Chandrakala Aluganti Narasimhulu, Anna Forsman, Shibu Yooseph, Sampath Parthasarathy
Summary: The study utilized RNA sequencing to investigate the impact of exposure to peroxidized linoleic acid on cellular processes, uncovering alterations in lipid metabolic pathways, detoxification mechanisms, and suppression of oxidative phosphorylation. These findings provide insights into the effects of 13-HPODE on cellular processes and propose potential therapeutic strategies for LOOH-related pathologies.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Azka Yaqoob, Kanwal Rehman, Muhammad Sajid Hamid Akash, Maria Alvi, Syed Muhammad Shoaib
Summary: Exposure to Pb leads to oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and impairment of lipid and amino acid metabolism. However, quercetin shows ameliorative effects by reducing oxidative stress and restoring metabolic balance.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiaoshi Liu, Min Li, Yang Li, Zian Chen, Chun Zhuge, Youwei Ouyang, Yawen Zhao, Yuxin Lin, Qi Xie, Chengwei Yang, Jianbin Lai
Summary: This study characterized a group of putative protein de-S-acylation enzymes in Arabidopsis thaliana and established a robust system for screening these enzymes in plant cells. Using this system, ABAPTs were identified to play a physiological role in Arabidopsis.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhu Qiao, Que Kong, Wan Ting Tee, Audrey R. Q. Lim, Miao Xuan Teo, Vincent Olieric, Pui Man Low, Yuzhou Yang, Guoliang Qian, Wei Ma, Yong-Gui Gao
Summary: The study reveals the DNA-binding mechanism of WRI1, a crucial transcription factor involved in plant oil biosynthesis. The structure of Arabidopsis WRI1 with its cognate dsDNA was determined, showing a previously unidentified structural fold and DNA-binding mode. Mutations in key DNA-interacting residues of WRI1 affected its binding affinity and oil biosynthesis, while overexpression of an AtWRI1 variant enhanced seed oil content. These findings provide a structural basis for WRI1 recognition and binding of DNA and suggest a potential strategy for increasing oil yield in crops through WRI1 bioengineering.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jixing Xia, Zhaojiang Guo, Zezhong Yang, Haolin Han, Shaoli Wang, Haifeng Xu, Xin Yang, Fengshan Yang, Qingjun Wu, Wen Xie, Xuguo Zhou, Wannes Dermauw, Ted C. J. Turlings, Youjun Zhang
Summary: Plants produce toxic secondary metabolites to defend themselves, but many plants are still eaten by insects. The whitefly has acquired a gene through horizontal gene transfer that enables it to neutralize plant defenses, enhancing its resistance. This study reveals an evolutionary mechanism where herbivores use the genetic toolkit of host plants to develop resistance to plant defenses.
Article
Plant Sciences
Robert D. Slocum, Carolina Mejia Pena, Zhongchi Liu
Summary: In Arabidopsis seedlings, pyrimidine limitation causes developmental arrest, but supplementation with exogenous uridine can restore normal growth and development. This study investigated the genome-wide responses to changes in pyrimidine availability using transcriptional profiling. The results showed that repression of de novo synthesis genes and induction of salvaging genes were early and sustained responses to pyrimidine limitation. Unexpectedly, pyrimidine catabolism genes were induced under pyrimidine starvation, which may be due to the diversion of uracil to catabolism. The study also identified pyrimidine-responsive transcription factors and provided insights into the transcriptional control of key enzymes and transporters involved in nucleotide homeostasis in plants.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Sarra Smati, Arnaud Polizzi, Anne Fougerat, Sandrine Ellero-Simatos, Yuna Blum, Yannick Lippi, Marion Regnier, Alexia Laroyenne, Marine Huillet, Muhammad Arif, Cheng Zhang, Frederic Lasserre, Alain Marrot, Talal Al Saati, JingHong Wan, Caroline Sommer, Claire Naylies, Aurelie Batut, Celine Lukowicz, Tiffany Fougeray, Blandine Tramunt, Patricia Dubot, Lorraine Smith, Justine Bertrand-Michel, Nathalie Hennuyer, Jean-Philippe Pradere, Bart Staels, Remy Burcelin, Francoise Lenfant, Jean-Francois Arnal, Thierry Levade, Laurence Gamet-Payrastre, Sandrine Lagarrigue, Nicolas Loiseau, Sophie Lotersztajn, Catherine Postic, Walter Wahli, Christophe Bureau, Maeva Guillaume, Adil Mardinoglu, Alexandra Montagner, Pierre Gourdy, Herve Guillou
Summary: The study found that different diets induced more severe NAFLD in male mice, characterized by lipid accumulation and inflammation/fibrosis. Sex-biased hepatic gene signatures showed different responses to various dietary challenges, with Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR alpha) playing a key role in gender-specific and NAFLD pathophysiology.
Article
Biology
Charlotte Seydel, Julia Biener, Vladimir Brodsky, Svenja Eberlein, Thomas Naegele
Summary: This study suggests that Fourier polynomials can be used to predict plant responses in varied environmental conditions and quantify and analyze metabolism and its reaction towards environmental fluctuations.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Maria Alvi, Kanwal Rehman, Muhammad Sajid Hamid Akash, Azka Yaqoob, Syed Muhammad Shoaib
Summary: This study investigated the toxic effects of bisphenol A (BPA) in an experimental animal model using a metabolomics approach, and examined the protective effects of resveratrol (RSV) against BPA-induced disturbances. The results showed that BPA impaired amino acid and lipid metabolism, induced oxidative stress and altered gene expression in mice. However, treatment with RSV alleviated the toxic effects of BPA.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yafei Duan, Shimin Zeng, Zijun Lu, Xueming Dan, Zequan Mo, Yifu Xing, Jiasong Zhang, Yanwei Li
Summary: In this study, the effects of Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) on lipid metabolism and lipidomic responses in Litopenaeus vannamei hepatopancreas were investigated. The results showed that MC-LR exposure caused tissue damage and decreased the activities of several lipase isoenzymes in the hepatopancreas. Additionally, the relative gene expression levels of key genes involved in lipolysis, lipogenesis, and fatty acid beta-oxidation were increased. Lipidomic analysis revealed that MC-LR exposure resulted in increased levels of glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, and cholesteryl ester, while the levels of phosphatidylinositol and triglyceride were decreased. These findings provide important insights into the effects of MC-LR on lipid metabolism and lipidomic homeostasis in shrimp hepatopancreas.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Erqin Li, Ronnie de Jonge, Chen Liu, Henan Jiang, Ville-Petri Friman, Corne M. J. Pieterse, Peter A. H. M. Bakker, Alexandre Jousset
Summary: Experimental evolution shows that initially plant-antagonistic bacteria, Pseudomonas protegens, can rapidly evolve into mutualists within a short timescale, increasing their fitness and benefitting plant growth.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Hua Wei, Xiaohong Lin, Liu Liu, Xichun Peng
Summary: Flaxseed polysaccharides (FPs) inhibit obesity by promoting lipid metabolism through altering the expression of key genes in colonic epithelial tissues (CETs).
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mary E. Byrne
Summary: The variation in leaf shapes is determined by an evolutionary genetic pathway that modifies shape through regulating regional growth in the developing leaf.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Adeleh Sahebnasagh, Fatemeh Saghafi, Sina Negintaji, Tingyan Hu, Mojtaba Shabani-Borujeni, Mohammadreza Safdari, Hassan Rezai Ghaleno, Lingchao Miao, Yaping Qi, Mingfu Wang, Pan Liao, Antoni Sureda, Jesus Simal-Gandara, Seyed Mohammad Nabavi, Jianbo Xiao
Summary: This review focuses on the immunomodulatory role of nitric oxide (NO) in cancer and recent advancements in the use of NO donors in immunotherapy. It is suggested that low/moderate levels of NO may promote tumorigenesis, while higher levels have anti-tumor effects. The use of NO donors in immunotherapy shows therapeutic potential, although clinical trials are lacking.
CURRENT MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Agronomy
Lars B. Scharff, Vandasue L. R. Saltenis, Poul Erik Jensen, Alexandra Baekelandt, Alexandra J. Burgess, Meike Burow, Aldo Ceriotti, Jean-Pierre Cohan, Fernando Geu-Flores, Barbara Ann Halkier, Richard P. Haslam, Dirk Inze, Rene Klein Lankhorst, Erik H. Murchie, Johnathan A. Napier, Philippe Nacry, Martin A. J. Parry, Angelo Santino, Aurelia Scarano, Francesca Sparvoli, Ralf Wilhelm, Mathias Pribil
Summary: Enhancing the nutritional quality of crops through increasing protein content, improving protein functionality, and optimizing the content of vitamins and minerals, while reducing antinutrients and toxins, could help address 'hidden hunger' caused by micronutrient deficiencies and support a shift towards healthier and more sustainable plant-based diets.
FOOD AND ENERGY SECURITY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Lihua Han, Susana Silvestre, Olga Sayanova, Richard P. Haslam, Johnathan A. Napier
Summary: Camelina sativa, a member of the Brassicaceae family, is used as a transgenic host crop to accumulate omega-3 fatty acids normally found in marine organisms. Field trials have demonstrated the stability of this trait in Camelina.
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pan Liao, Tamara Lechon, Trevor Romsdahl, Helen Woodfield, Stepan Fenyk, Tony Fawcett, Emma Wallington, Ruth E. Bates, Mee-Len Chye, Kent D. Chapman, John L. Harwood, Simon Scofield
Summary: This study evaluated the changes in lipid composition and gene expression in transgenic oilseed rape lines that overexpressed GPAT, LPAT, or PDAT. The results showed that up-regulation of these key enzymes differentially affected lipid composition and distribution, as well as lipid-associated gene expression, providing important information for improving crop properties through metabolic engineering.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Ricardo A. Azevedo, Richard P. Haslam
ANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Lihua Han, Richard P. Haslam, Susana Silvestre, Chaofu Lu, Johnathan A. Napier
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2022)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Wei Zhou, Milen Georgiev, Pan Liao
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Johnathan A. Napier, Monica B. Betancor
Summary: The challenges of ensuring good nutrition while protecting the environment have been recognized. Aquaculture, in particular, relies heavily on marine extraction for key feed ingredients, but also provides important nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids. This review discusses the progress in transitioning to using transgenic plant sources for these fatty acids as a substitute for fish oils. The validation phase and real-world potential of these plant-based omega-3 sources are considered, showcasing the power of GM agriculture to contribute to food security and sustainability.
CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pan Liao, Itay Maoz, Meng-Ling Shih, Ji Hee Lee, Xing-Qi Huang, John A. Morgan, Natalia Dudareva
Summary: The authors find that cell-wall localized non-specific lipid transfer proteins facilitate the diffusion of volatiles across the hydrophilic cell wall, allowing them to be released from the plant cell into the atmosphere.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Saritha Panthapulakkal Narayanan, Aruni Y. Alahakoon, Candace E. Elliott, Derek Russell, Paul W. J. Taylor, Clive Lo, Mee-Len Chye
Summary: This study successfully introduced the rice OsACBP5 gene into canola and rapid-cycling Brassica napus, enhancing their resistance against various pathogens. It demonstrates the effectiveness of canola as a transgenic platform and highlights the potential of OsACBP5 in enhancing plant resistance against pathogens.
CROP & PASTURE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Maiara Piovesana, Ana K. M. Wood, Daniel P. Smith, Michael J. Deery, Richard Bayliss, Esther Carrera, Nikolaus Wellner, Ondrej Kosik, Johnathan A. Napier, Smita Kurup, Michaela C. Matthes
Summary: The crk10-A397T mutant of Arabidopsis, characterized by the replacement of alanine 397 with threonine in the kinase domain of CRK10, exhibits a dwarf phenotype with collapsed xylem vessels in the root and hypocotyl. Transcriptomic analysis reveals constitutive upregulation of stress-responsive genes in the mutant, and a root-infection assay demonstrates enhanced resistance to the pathogen Fusarium oxysporum. The mutant is identified as a gain-of-function allele of CRK10 in Arabidopsis.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Jiayao Geng, Pan Liao, Giin Yu Amy Tan, Fu-Yuan Zhu, Nirakar Pradhan
Summary: This review critically examines the opportunities and challenges in alkane and alkene biosynthesis, discusses the limitations of current metabolic pathways, and explores potential methods to enhance product titers. It also provides valuable insights into the economic and environmental aspects of alkane and alkene biosynthesis while presenting perspectives for future research directions.
BIOFUEL RESEARCH JOURNAL-BRJ
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Monica B. Betancor, Matthew Sprague, Daniel Gonzalez-Silvera, Aurelio Ortega, Fernando de la Gandara, Xu Gong, Johnathan A. Napier, Douglas R. Tocher, Gabriel Mourente
Summary: Recently, genetically modified Camelina sativa has been used to produce oils rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can potentially replace fish oil in the feeds for juvenile Atlantic Bluefin tuna. The study found that the oils showed positive effects on the growth, survival, and feed utilization of the tuna. Furthermore, the oils upregulated the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism.