Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Arnaud Germain, Ludovic Giloteaux, Geoffrey E. Moore, Susan M. Levine, John K. Chia, Betsy A. Keller, Jared Stevens, Carl J. Franconi, Xiangling Mao, Dikoma C. Shungu, Andrew Grimson, Maureen R. Hanson
Summary: Post-exertional malaise (PEM) is a prominent symptom of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). By monitoring plasma metabolites, this study found significant differences in metabolic response and recovery pattern between ME/CFS patients and healthy control participants after two maximal exercise tests. Glutamate metabolism was identified as a crucial factor in the metabolic disruptions that lead to PEM.
Article
Plant Sciences
Naoki Kato, Kazuki Iwata, Taro Kadowaki, Kintake Sonoike, Yukako Hihara
Summary: This study investigated the redox regulation of the DNA-binding activity of RpaB in cyanobacteria. The results showed that the phosphorylation level of RpaB is influenced by the reduction of Q(A) and the increase in reducing equivalents at the acceptor side of photosystem I. The redox-state-dependent regulation by an unidentified thiol other than Cys59 plays a crucial role in the phosphorylation-dependent regulation of the DNA-binding activity.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sang-Hyeok Cho, Yujin Jeong, Seong-Joo Hong, Hookeun Lee, Hyung-Kyoon Choi, Dong-Myung Kim, Choul-Gyun Lee, Suhyung Cho, Byung-Kwan Cho
Summary: This study elucidated the inhibitory mechanisms of photosynthesis in cyanobacteria under high-light and low-temperature stress conditions, highlighting the differences in response mechanisms between the two stress conditions. Through multiomics data analysis and construction of genome-wide transcription unit architecture, factors affecting photosynthesis at transcription, posttranscription, and translation levels were identified, providing pivotal information for future cyanobacterial cell factories development.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Panutchaya Pichaiyotinkul, Nathanich Ruankaew, Aran Incharoensakdi, Tanakarn Monshupanee
Summary: This study determined the cellular polyglucan content in 27 cyanobacterial strains and found that the polyglucan contents were significantly enhanced under nitrogen and phosphate deprivation. The highest polyglucan accumulation was observed in Synechocystis under nitrogen deprivation, and it was likely mediated by the increased supply of glycogen synthesis substrates and metabolic inhibitions.
WORLD JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zuozhen Han, Yongjie Zhang, Yanyang Zhao, Xiao Gao, Maurice E. Tucker
Summary: In this study, the influence of Ca2+, Mg2+, and Sr2+ on the microbial mineralization behavior was investigated using the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. The results showed that high ionic strength inhibited the growth of Synechocystis, but did not affect the alkalinity and pH of the medium. Calcite and strontianite minerals were precipitated in mediums with low ionic strength.
GEOMICROBIOLOGY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Ian Sofian Yunus, Zhixuan Wang, Pachara Sattayawat, Jonathan Muller, Fessehaye W. Zemichael, Klaus Hellgardt, Patrik R. Jones
Summary: The study focused on improving the productivity of 1-octanol by enhancing enzyme efficiency and optimizing environmental conditions. By adjusting the inducer concentration and light intensity, the researchers were able to increase the 1-octanol productivity significantly, reaching a carbon partitioning rate of 35% and a titer of 526 mg/L within 12 days.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Lu Liu, Xingyu Zhu, Huike Ye, Yingying Wen, Biswarup Sen, Guangyi Wang
Summary: This study investigates the effects of dissolved oxygen (DO) supply on the fermentation process and accumulation of intracellular metabolites in Aurantiochytrium PKU#Mn16 strain. The results show that a constant supply of 10% DO can yield higher biomass and DHA content, and downregulate the expression of genes involved in central carbon, amino acid, and fatty acid metabolism. These findings are important for improving DHA production.
MICROBIAL CELL FACTORIES
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Nannaphat Sukkasam, Jidapa Leksingto, Aran Incharoensakdi, Tanakarn Monshupanee
Summary: This study examined the effects of various compounds on glycogen production in cyanobacteria and found that methyl viologen can stimulate glycogen accumulation, allowing for a one-stage cultivation method. Methyl viologen treatment reduced protein levels but increased transcript levels of glycogen synthetic genes and levels of metabolite substrates for glycogen synthesis. Metabolomic analysis suggested that proteins degraded to amino acids, which could serve as a carbon source for glycogen synthesis.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Clemence Rives, Celine Marie Pauline Martin, Lauris Evariste, Arnaud Polizzi, Marine Huillet, Frederic Lasserre, Valerie Alquier-Bacquie, Prunelle Perrier, Jelskey Gomez, Yannick Lippi, Claire Naylies, Thierry Levade, Frederique Sabourdy, Herve Remignon, Pierre Fafournoux, Benoit Chassaing, Nicolas Loiseau, Herve Guillou, Sandrine Ellero-Simatos, Laurence Gamet-Payrastre, Anne Fougerat
Summary: This study found that dietary intake of free amino acids can prevent the unhealthy metabolic outcomes of a Western diet in male mice. Replacing casein with a free amino acid mixture that mimics its composition prevents weight gain in both male and female mice. Free amino acids in the diet can prevent liver damage and associated changes in liver gene expression only in males. These results indicate that dietary intake of free amino acids can prevent the negative metabolic effects of a Western diet in a sex-specific manner, possibly involving the gut microbiota.
MOLECULAR NUTRITION & FOOD RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Victoire Blanc-Garin, Theo Veaudor, Pierre Setif, Brigitte Gontero, Stephane D. Lemaire, Franck Chauvat, Corinne Cassier-Chauvat
Summary: This study conducted the first in vivo analysis of the canonical CP12 regulatory protein in the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803 and found that CP12 is essential for the catabolism of exogenously added glucose in the absence of photosynthesis. Additionally, CP12 was found to regulate the redox equilibrium of NADPH, enhancing the production of terpenes.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
D. N. Coleman, P. Totakul, N. Onjai-uea, A. Aboragah, Q. Jiang, M. Vailati-Riboni, R. T. Pate, D. Luchini, P. Paengkoum, M. Wanapat, F. C. Cardoso, J. J. Loor
Summary: This study investigates the effects of rumen-protected Methionine during a heat stress challenge on hepatic abundance of mTOR, insulin, and antioxidant signaling proteins, as well as enzymes in 1-carbon metabolism and innate immunity in dairy cows. The results suggest that feeding rumen-protected Methionine may help cows maintain homeostasis in mTOR, insulin signaling, and 1-carbon metabolism, as well as whole-blood antioxidant response during heat stress, which is crucial for innate immune function.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Paul Bolay, Susan Schluter, Samuel Grimm, Matthias Riediger, Wolfgang R. Hess, Stephan Klaehn
Summary: Cyanobacteria evolved a CO2 concentrating mechanism to mitigate the ineffective fixation of CO2 by RuBisCO, however, the regulation of these carbon assimilatory systems is still not fully understood. By studying a model cyanobacterium, an essential transcriptional regulator Sll0998 was identified, which controls the activity of RuBisCO, crucial for engineering cyanobacterial cell factories.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mi-Jin Kang, Seong-Joo Hong, Danbi Yoo, Byung-Kwan Cho, Hookeun Lee, Hyung-Kyoon Choi, Dong-Myung Kim, Choul-Gyun Lee
Summary: This study successfully demonstrated the conversion of fatty acids into FAME in microalgae through the introduction of the FAMT gene, providing a new approach to reduce the cost of biodiesel production. The results showed that FAMT transformants have the potential to be further optimized and applied for commercial biodiesel production.
BIOPROCESS AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sho Hosokawa, Tatsuya Morinishi, Kazuaki Ohara, Kentaro Yamaguchi, Satoshi Tada, Yasunori Tokuhara
Summary: This study improved the color reaction method for tryptophan and established a simple colorimetric method for its determination. It can be performed using safe materials and quantified by simple spectrophotometry in just 10 minutes.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Lele Shao, Yi Liu, Yijie Zhao, Bo Zou, Xingmin Li, Ruitong Dai
Summary: Ohmic heating is an alternative thermal processing method widely used for food pasteurization. Transcriptomic and metabolomic changes of Staphylococcus aureus treated with Ohmic heating and water bath heating were characterized, revealing that Ohmic heating led to cell membrane damage, energy metabolism disorder, and inhibition of replication, transcription, and translation.
INNOVATIVE FOOD SCIENCE & EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shin Nishiumi, Yoshihiro Izumi, Akiyoshi Hirayama, Masatomo Takahashi, Motonao Nakao, Kosuke Hata, Daisuke Saigusa, Eiji Hishinuma, Naomi Matsukawa, Suzumi M. Tokuoka, Yoshihiro Kita, Fumie Hamano, Nobuyuki Okahashi, Kazutaka Ikeda, Hiroki Nakanishi, Kosuke Saito, Masami Yokota Hirai, Masaru Yoshida, Yoshiya Oda, Fumio Matsuda, Takeshi Bamba
Summary: In mass spectrometry-based metabolomics, the differences in analytical results from different laboratories/machines are a concern. This study evaluates inter-laboratory differences in metabolomic analysis and finds that the variations are primarily due to measurement and data analysis rather than sample preparation. These findings are important for understanding the challenges in metabolomics studies involving multiple laboratories.
Article
Plant Sciences
Mai Uzaki, Kotaro Yamamoto, Akio Murakami, Yushiro Fuji, Miwa Ohnishi, Kimitsune Ishizaki, Hidehiro Fukaki, Masami Yokota Hirai, Tetsuro Mimura
Summary: This study compared the changes in idioblast cells and laticifer cells during Catharanthus roseus seedling growth, and found that the accumulation of fluorescent metabolites in these cells was differentially regulated. Analysis revealed that the fluorescence observed in these cells was emitted from the compound serpentine. The serpentine content in leaves also increased with leaf growth. These findings suggest that idioblast cells and laticifer cells have different biological roles in MIA biosynthesis and regulation.
JOURNAL OF PLANT RESEARCH
(2022)
Letter
Plant Sciences
Emiko Okubo-Kurihara, Ahmed Ali, Mika Hiramoto, Yukio Kurihara, Yasmine Abouleila, Eman Muhammad Abdelazem, Takayuki Kawai, Yuko Makita, Mika Kawashima, Tsuyoshi Esaki, Hiroaki Shimada, Tetsuya Mori, Masami Yokota Hirai, Takumi Higaki, Seiichiro Hasezawa, Yoshihiro Shimizu, Tsutomu Masujima, Minami Matsui
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ratklao Siriwach, Jun Matsuzaki, Takeshi Saito, Hiroshi Nishimura, Masahide Isozaki, Yosuke Isoyama, Muneo Sato, Masanori Arita, Shotaro Akaho, Tadahisa Higashide, Kentaro Yano, Masami Yokota Hirai
Summary: In this study, a predictive model of the anthesis rate of greenhouse tomatoes was constructed using metabolome data. Machine learning was applied to identify metabolites indicative of the anthesis rate. The study demonstrates the potential of using machine learning on metabolome data for predicting agricultural traits.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Takehiro Ito, Taisuke Kitaiwa, Kosuke Nishizono, Minori Umahashi, Shunsuke Miyaji, Shin-Ichiro Agake, Kana Kuwahara, Tadashi Yokoyama, Shinya Fushinobu, Akiko Maruyama-Nakashita, Ryosuke Sugiyama, Muneo Sato, Jun Inaba, Masami Yokota Hirai, Naoko Ohkama-Ohtsu
Summary: The study reveals the important roles of GGP1 and possibly GGP3 in the degradation of GSH and primary and secondary sulfur metabolism. The GGP-mediated pathway may be more efficient in the degradation of GSH compared to the GGCT-mediated pathway.
Article
Plant Sciences
Shizuka Gunji, Kensuke Kawade, Hiromitsu Tabeta, Gorou Horiguchi, Akira Oikawa, Mariko Asaoka, Masami Yokota Hirai, Hirokazu Tsukaya, Ali Ferjani
Summary: This study provides a conceptual framework to unveil metabolic fluctuations within leaf tissues with high spatio-temporal resolution, demonstrating that excess PPi exerts its inhibitory effect in planta in the early stages of seedling establishment in a tissue- and cell-autonomous manner. The findings suggest specific yet broad inhibitory effects of PPi on leaf morphogenesis, with alterations in cell division, cell enlargement, PC shape, stomatal patterning, and functioning. The rescue of developmental defects by expression of yeast soluble pyrophosphatase IPP1 and the differential impacts of spatial and temporal removal of PPi on plant growth and phenotype highlight the importance of PPi regulation in cellular functions.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Khurram Bashir, Daisuke Todaka, Sultana Rasheed, Akihiro Matsui, Zarnab Ahmad, Kaori Sako, Yoshinori Utsumi, Anh Thu Vu, Maho Tanaka, Satoshi Takahashi, Junko Ishida, Yuuri Tsuboi, Shunsuke Watanabe, Yuri Kanno, Eigo Ando, Kwang-Chul Shin, Makoto Seito, Hinata Motegi, Muneo Sato, Rui Li, Saya Kikuchi, Miki Fujita, Miyako Kusano, Makoto Kobayashi, Yoshiki Habu, Atsushi J. Nagano, Kanako Kawaura, Jun Kikuchi, Kazuki Saito, Masami Yokota Hirai, Mitsunori Seo, Kazuo Shinozaki, Toshinori Kinoshita, Motoaki Seki
Summary: This study demonstrates that exogenous application of ethanol can significantly enhance drought tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana, rice, and wheat. Ethanol treatment leads to the upregulation of genes related to sugar and phenylpropanoid metabolism, as well as the accumulation of sugars and drought-tolerance-related amino acids. Ethanol treatment induces stomatal closure and decreases transpiration rate, resulting in enhanced drought tolerance. ABA signaling and acetic acid biosynthesis are involved in ethanol-mediated drought tolerance.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Lirong Guo, Wei Zhao, Yan Wang, Yu Yang, Cuimei Wei, Jian Guo, Jianye Dai, Masami Yokota Hirai, Aike Bao, Zhigang Yang, Haijuan Chen, Yimeng Li
Summary: In this study, a heterologous biosynthesis pathway of Isobavachalcone (IBC) was successfully constructed in tobacco. Several prenyltransferases were screened and two of them, SfFPT and HlPT1, were found to convert isoliquiritigenin to IBC. Transgenic tobacco lines were generated with a multigene vector carrying GmCHS8, GmCHR5, and SfFPT, resulting in de novo biosynthesis of IBC. This research provides a prospect for producing valuable prenylflavonoids using plant-based metabolic engineering.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Kiminori Toyooka, Yumi Goto, Kei Hashimoto, Mayumi Wakazaki, Mayuko Sato, Masami Yokota Hirai
Summary: In this study, the ultrastructure of lateral root cap (LRC) cells in Arabidopsis was investigated using advanced microscopy techniques. The researchers discovered sausage-shaped structures in the ER that were identified as ER bodies using fluorescence markers. The fusion of ER bodies with vacuoles and subsequent vacuolar collapse were observed, suggesting a direct transport of beta-glucosidases and release of protective substances in LRC cells.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Hiroshi Tojo, Hiromitsu Tabeta, Shizuka Gunji, Masami Y. Hirai, Pascale David, Helene Javot, Ali Ferjani
Summary: The regulation of intracellular pyrophosphate (PPi) level is important for proper morphogenesis. Loss of the vacuolar H+-PPase/FUGU5 in Arabidopsis results in delayed growth and developmental defects, indicating the importance of PPi homeostasis. However, the contribution of other PPases to PPi homeostasis is negligible in comparison to FUGU5.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kanako Matsuse, Mostafa Abdelrahman, Nur Aeni Ariyanti, Fumitada Tsuji, Sho Hirata, Tetsuya Nakajima, Muneo Sato, Masami Yokota Hirai, Benya Manochai, Masayoshi Shigyo
Summary: This study applied targeted metabolome analysis to identify discriminative metabolites between Indonesian shallot landraces, Japanese long-day onion (LDO) varieties, and Japanese short-day onion (SDO) varieties. The results showed that shallot and LDO genotypes have a distinct metabolite profile compared to SDO varieties, with amino acids and organosulfur compounds being the key characteristic metabolites. The analysis also revealed that shallots have higher accumulation of S-alk(en)yl-L-cysteine sulfoxide (ACSO) compounds, explaining their stronger pungency and odor. Additionally, LDO varieties exhibited higher ACSO content compared to SDO varieties, indicating that long-day cultivation enhances sulfur assimilation in Japanese onions. The findings suggest that LDO varieties and shallot landraces with higher ACSO content can be used for Allium breeding to improve onion flavor and stress tolerance.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jun Katahira, Tatsuya Ohmae, Mayo Yasugi, Ryosuke Sasaki, Yumi Itoh, Tomoko Kohda, Miki Hieda, Masami Yokota Hirai, Toru Okamoto, Yoichi Miyamoto
Summary: To facilitate replication, viruses can block host gene expression by targeting processes such as mRNA nuclear export. In this study, it was found that Nsp14, a viral replicase subunit, inhibits mRNA nuclear export, leading to accumulation of RNA in the cell nucleus and disruption of nuclear speckles. Dysregulation of splicing and mRNA processing was observed in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells. The inhibitory activities of Nsp14 were diminished by a mutation in its guanine-N7-methyltransferase active site. The compromise of the nuclear cap-binding complex (NCBC) function by N7-methyl-GTP, produced in Nsp14-expressing cells, leads to defects in mRNA processing and export, representing a novel viral strategy to block host gene expression.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yushiro Fuji, Kai Uchida, Tomoyoshi Akashi, Takashi Ohtsuki, Hiroshi Matsufuji, Masami Yokota Hirai
Summary: Through transcriptome analysis, we identified enzyme genes responsible for acteoside biosynthesis in sesame. Enzyme assays confirmed that UGT85AF10 and UGT85AF11 are key enzymes in acteoside synthesis.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Kensuke Kawade, Hiromitsu Tabeta, Ali Ferjani, Masami Yokota Hirai
Summary: Plants incorporate acquired carbon and nitrogen into amino acid metabolism, which produces the building blocks of proteins and the precursors of various metabolites. There is increasing evidence that amino acid metabolism undergoes plastic alteration to coordinate specific growth and developmental events. This research progress offers an opportunity to explore how amino acid metabolism can be modulated to serve special cellular needs and regulate specific growth and developmental pathways.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Saki Tsuno, Kazuki Harada, Mina Horikoshi, Marie Mita, Tetsuya Kitaguchi, Masami Yokota Hirai, Mitsuharu Matsumoto, Takashi Tsuboi
Summary: This study visualized the dynamics of metabolites in hepatocytes during recovery from glucose-deprivation. The results suggest that a decrease in mitochondrial ATP concentration is associated with increased protein synthesis rather than glycogen synthesis, activation of urea cycle, and production of reactive oxygen species.
