Article
Plant Sciences
Jacinta L. Watkins, Qiushi Li, Sam Yeaman, Peter J. Facchini
Summary: This study elucidates a near-complete biosynthetic pathway from l-tyrosine to mescaline using transcriptomics and homology-guided gene discovery strategy. It identifies a cytochrome P450 that catalyzes the 3-hydroxylation of l-tyrosine to l-DOPA, a tyrosine/DOPA decarboxylase yielding dopamine, and four substrate-specific and regiospecific substituted phenethylamine O-methyltransferases. It also discovers an N-methyltransferase that displays broad substrate specificity and leads to the production of N-methylated phenethylamine derivatives.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Rongfei Zhang, Yuanyuan Miao, Lingyun Chen, Shanyong Yi, Ninghua Tan
Summary: This study unveiled the genes involved in anthraquinone biosynthesis and their regulation in R. yunnanensis using high-throughput sequencing technology. Treatment with Methyl Jasmonate significantly increased the expression of specific genes and anthraquinone contents.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sheetal Bhat, Arti Sharma, Priyanka Sharma, Kanwaljeet Singh, Maridul Kundan, Mohd Fayaz, Mir Abdul Wajid, Sumeet Gairola, Prashant Misra
Summary: This study provides insights into the genes and metabolic routes involved in the biosynthesis of aromatic monoterpenes in the genus Cymbopogon. The analysis reveals genotype-specific orthogroups and suggests the involvement of multiple enzymatic routes in the biosynthesis of aromatic monoterpenes. This research is of great importance for the genetic improvement of aromatic grasses.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Hanwen Yu, Mengli Liu, Minzhen Yin, Tingyu Shan, Huasheng Peng, Jutao Wang, Xiangwei Chang, Daiyin Peng, Liangping Zha, Shuangying Gui
Summary: Through comprehensive transcriptome analysis using different sequencing technologies, genes related to triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis were identified in various tissues of Platycodon grandiflorus. The study also validated the association of certain genes with triterpenoid saponin biosynthesis.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shengzhi Liu, Zhuoheng Zhong, Zijian Sun, Jingkui Tian, Kaisa Sulaiman, Eman Shawky, Hongwei Fu, Wei Zhu
Summary: This study elucidated the biosynthetic pathway of moracins in Moraceae through transcriptome sequencing and experimental validation, laying the foundation for further research on the biological characteristics and gene regulation of this compound in mulberry.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Tingyu Shan, Minzhen Yin, Junxian Wu, Hanwen Yu, Mengli Liu, Rui Xu, Jutao Wang, Huasheng Peng, Liangping Zha, Shuangying Gui
Summary: The Orchidaceae family, famous for its beautiful flowers, is diverse and widespread globally with high ornamental and medicinal value. Gastrodia elata Blume, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, is a rootless and leafless achlorophyllous orchid known for its phenolic compounds with various bioactive properties. This study identified candidate genes involved in phenolic biosynthesis in G. elata through transcriptomic analysis and differential gene expression profiling. The results contribute to a better understanding of the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in G. elata.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jimei Lu, Jinchen Yao, Jingzhe Pu, Duomei Wang, Junling Liu, Yazhong Zhang, Liangping Zha
Summary: This study investigated the key enzyme genes involved in the synthesis pathways of polysaccharides and saponins in three species of Polygonatum using transcriptome sequencing. The findings provide a foundation for improving the content of active components in Polygonati Rhizoma at the molecular level.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jie Pan, Chaokang Huang, Weilin Yao, Tengfei Niu, Xiaolin Yang, Rufeng Wang
Summary: This study discovered the types and contents of triterpenoid saponins in Dipsacus asperoides and identified key genes involved in their biosynthesis through transcriptome and proteomics analysis. The findings provide important insights into the biosynthesis pathway of saponins in D. asperoides and support for the future biosynthesis of natural active ingredients.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yi-Guo Li, Feng-Juan Mou, Kun-Zhi Li
Summary: In this study, putative genes involved in diterpenoid alkaloids biosynthesis in A. vilmorinianum roots were revealed through transcriptome sequencing. Key metabolic pathways and candidate genes were identified, shedding light on the synthesis mechanisms of diterpenoid alkaloids.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dou Ye, Fang Du, Qingxiu Hu, Yajie Zou, Xue Bai
Summary: This study compared the primordium expression profiles of Pleurotus eryngii under blue-light stimulation, red-light stimulation, and darkness using high-throughput sequencing. A large number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to light stimulation and amino acid biosynthesis were identified. The MAPK signaling pathway, oxidative phosphorylation pathway, and RNA transport were shown to be most active during primordium differentiation. The blue-light photoreceptor WC-1 and Deoxyribodipyrimidine photolyase PHR were predicted to play important roles in the primordium differentiation of P. eryngii. The results of this study provide a speculative mechanism for light-induced primordium differentiation and a foundation for further research on fruiting body development in P. eryngii.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Yupeng Cui, Xinqiang Gao, Jianshe Wang, Zengzhen Shang, Zhibin Zhang, Zhenxing Zhou, Kunpeng Zhang
Summary: The study on transcriptome sequencing of Artemisia argyi reveals the potential molecular mechanisms underlying its medicinal value, particularly in terpenoid biosynthesis. Differential expression transcripts in the leaves of A. argyi are enriched in various biosynthesis and metabolism processes, with significant genes related to diterpenoid biosynthesis showing high expression levels. The study provides valuable transcriptome information and a functional genomic foundation for further research on the medicinal use of A. argyi leaves.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jose Carlos Montanes, Marta Huertas, Xavier Messeguer, M. Mar Alba
Summary: The formation of new genes can occur through gene duplication or de novo formation from noncoding sequences. Both mechanisms show similarities in terms of low sequence constraints in the initial evolutionary stages, high turnover rates at the species level, and comparable persistence rates in deeper branches. Additionally, de novo proteins tend to have an excess of substitutions between charged amino acids, leading to rapid loss of their initial highly basic character.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Bonthala Venkata Suresh, Pooja Choudhary, Pooja Rani Aggarwal, Sumi Rana, Roshan Kumar Singh, Rajasekaran Ravikesavan, Manoj Prasad, Mehanathan Muthamilarasan
Summary: This study sequenced the transcriptome of kodo millet cultivar 'CO3' under dehydration stress and identified differentially expressed genes associated with important pathways such as hormone metabolism, antioxidant scavenging, photosynthesis, and cellular metabolism. The results provide insights into the transcriptomic response of kodo millet during dehydration stress.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Junxian Wu, Jianpeng Hu, Hanwen Yu, Jimei Lu, Lu Jiang, Weiwei Liu, Fengya Guan, Jinchen Yao, Jin Xie, Yujiao Zhao, Shanshan Chu, Qingying Fang, Huasheng Peng, Liangping Zha
Summary: Chinese medicinal plant Atractylodes lancea has significant effects on various diseases, including COVID-19, due to its rich volatile oils. The plant is divided into two chemotypes based on volatile oil constituents: Dabieshan and Maoshan. Through advanced sequencing technologies, the molecular mechanisms of sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis in A. lancea were investigated, resulting in the identification of differentially expressed genes and terpene synthase genes. The study provides insights into the differences in terpenoid accumulation and lays a foundation for further understanding of sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Wenjun Shi, Defang Zhang, Zhong Ma
Summary: In this study, we monitored the walnut fruit development and identified candidate genes and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to oil accumulation. The results showed a dramatic increase in oil content in walnut seed kernels in late July, with linoleic acid being the predominant unsaturated fatty acid accumulated in mature seed. The weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed key transcription factors (TFs) co-expressed with other genes. Our transcriptome data will enrich public databases and provide new insights into functional genes related to lipid metabolism and oil accumulation in walnut seed kernels.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ricardo A. Chavez A. Montes, Mauricio Ulloa, Tammy Biniashvili, Arik Zackay, Nir Kfir, Damar Lopez-Arredondo, Luis Herrera-Estrella
Summary: This study reports a high-quality genome assembly and annotation of Pima-S6 cotton and compares it with other Gossypium genome assemblies at the chromosome and protein level. The results reveal important differences in chromosome structure and annotated protein content between Pima-S6 and other G. barbadense assemblies, as well as across Gossypium assemblies in general. Detailed synteny analyses demonstrate chromosomal rearrangements between Pima-S6 and other Pima genomes, raising questions about the true chromosome structure of Gossypium barbadense genomes.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ingrid Gonzalez-Lemes, Alexis Acosta-Maspons, Jose E. Cetz-Chel, Jose A. Polania, Jorge A. Acosta-Gallegos, Alfredo Herrera-Estrella, Alejandra A. Covarrubias
Summary: The resistant cultivar of common bean promotes carbon recycling and respiration in pods and seeds, which are key processes for resistance to terminal drought.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Feifei Yi, Aosong Song, Kai Cheng, Jinlei Liu, Chenxiao Wang, Lili Shao, Shuang Wu, Ping Wang, Jiaxuan Zhu, Zhilin Liang, Ying Chang, Zongyan Chu, Chaowei Cai, Xuebin Zhang, Pei Wang, Aimin Chen, Jin Xu, David J. Burritt, Luis Herrera-Estrella, Lam-Son Phan Tran, Weiqiang Li, Yingfan Cai
Summary: Strigolactones enhance cotton resistance to Verticillium wilt by interacting with other hormone signaling pathways and regulating hormone homeostasis through a negative feedback loop. Strigolactone is involved in Verticillium wilt resistance in cotton. The analog rac-GR24 enhances cotton resistance to Verticillium wilt, while the biosynthesis inhibitor TIS108 decreases resistance.
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Nidhi Kandhol, Vijay Pratap Singh, Luis Herrera-Estrella, Lam-Son Phan Tran, Durgesh Kumar Tripathi
Summary: Genetic modification enables the alteration of important traits in crops, but it involves costly and laborious procedures to modify the genetic background. Thagun et al. recently introduced a nanocarrier-based foliar spray technique that allows the translocation of bioactive molecules into plant cells without the need for introducing transgenes, thus enabling the engineering of important traits.
TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Virology
Selene Zarate, Blanca Taboada, Mauricio Rosales-Rivera, Rodrigo Garcia-Lopez, Jose Esteban Munoz-Medina, Alejandro Sanchez-Flores, Alfredo Herrera-Estrella, Bruno Gomez-Gil, Nelly Selem Mojica, Angel Gustavo Salas-Lais, Joel Armando Vazquez-Perez, David Alejandro Cabrera-Gaytan, Larissa Fernandes-Matano, Luis Antonio Uribe-Noguez, Juan Bautista Chale-Dzul, Brenda Irasema Maldonado Meza, Fidencio Mejia-Nepomuceno, Rogelio Perez-Padilla, Rosa Maria Gutierrez-Rios, Antonio Loza, Benjamin Roche, Susana Lopez, Carlos F. Arias
Summary: This study presents the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 subvariant in Mexico, which quickly replaced the Delta variant and caused the fourth COVID-19 surge in the country. The spread of BA.1 began in early December 2021 and became dominant within three weeks. Unlike previous variants, BA.1 did not exhibit a geographically distinct circulation pattern, but there were regional differences in the speed of replacing the Delta variant.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Antonio Loza, Rosa Maria Wong-Chew, Maria-Eugenia Jimenez-Corona, Selene Zarate, Susana Lopez, Ricardo Ciria, Diego Palomares, Rodrigo Garcia-Lopez, Pavel Isa, Blanca Taboada, Mauricio Rosales, Celia Boukadida, Alfredo Herrera-Estrella, Nelly Selem Mojica, Xaira Rivera-Gutierrez, Jose Esteba Munoz-Medina, Angel Gustavo Salas-Lais, Alejandro Sanchez-Flores, Joel Armando Vazquez-Perez, Carlos F. Arias, Rosa Maria Gutierrez-Rios
Summary: This paper describes the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico. It found that Mexico experienced four epidemic waves with a total of 5,702,143 confirmed cases, 680,063 hospitalizations (11.9%), and 324,436 deaths (5.7%). Males had a higher risk of death and hospital admission, and severity increased with age. Comorbidities, particularly hypertension-diabetes, doubled the risk of severe illness. The health policy implemented by the Mexican government reduced hospitalizations and deaths.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Rodrigo Garcia-Lopez, Xaira Rivera-Gutierrez, Mauricio Rosales-Rivera, Selene Zarate, Jose Esteban Munoz-Medina, Benjamin Roche, Alfredo Herrera-Estrella, Bruno Gomez-Gil, Alejandro Sanchez-Flores, Blanca Taboada, Carlos F. Arias
Summary: The BW.1 and its descendant BW.1.1 variants emerged in Southeast Mexico and likely originated during the fifth wave of COVID-19 in July 2022. These variants share similar immune escape mutations with the BQ.1 variant, which may contribute to their rapid spread.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Long Wang, Xianqing Jia, Lei Xu, Jiahong Yu, Suna Ren, Yujie Yang, Kaibin Wang, Damar Lopez-Arredondo, Luis Herrera-Estrella, Hans Lambers, Keke Yi
Summary: As a finite and non-renewable resource, phosphorus is crucial for crop growth and food production. However, agricultural use and associated loss of phosphorus to the aquatic environment are causing environmental pollution and threatening global food security. Microalgae-based biological phosphorus recovery is considered a promising solution, but the low accumulation capacity of algae restricts its application. By manipulating genes involved in cellular phosphorus accumulation and signaling, researchers have tripled the phosphorus storage capacity of algae and significantly improved its phosphorus recovery efficiency from wastewater. This genetic engineering approach has the potential to enhance phosphorus uptake and accumulation in microalgae, and accelerate the application of algae for phosphorus recovery and closing the phosphorus cycle.
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Isaac Vega-Munoz, Alfredo Herrera-Estrella, Octavio Martinez-de la Vega, Martin Heil
Summary: The plant immune response to DNA is highly self/nonself-specific. The activation of the DNA-damage response (DDR) is required for the complete immune response, while an unknown mechanism allows for the differential activation of the wound response.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Zaida Ochoa-Cruz, Jorge Molina-Torres, Maria V. Angoa-Perez, Jeanette G. Cardenas-Valdovinos, Ignacio Garcia-Ruiz, Jose A. Ceja-Diaz, Jose O. Bernal-Gallardo, Hortencia G. Mena-Violante
Summary: This study evaluated the phytochemical profile and biological activities of Psittacanthus calyculatus fruits hosted by Prosopis laevigata and Quercus deserticola. The fruits from P. laevigata had the highest content of total phenols, while those from Q. deserticola had the highest content of flavonoids and anthocyanins. The fruit extracts from P. laevigata showed the highest antioxidant activity and antihypertensive activity. Additionally, the fruit extracts from both hosts exhibited antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Salmonella choleraesuis, and Shigella flexneri. These findings suggest potential therapeutic applications of P. calyculatus fruits, but further confirmation experiments are needed.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Monica A. Zarate-Lopez, Elizabeth Quintana-Rodriguez, Domancar Orona-Tamayo, Victor Aguilar-Hernandez, Jesus A. Araujo-Leon, Ligia Brito-Argaez, Jorge Molina-Torres, Jose Luis Hernandez-Flores, Victor M. Loyola-Vargas, Nancy E. Lozoya-Perez, Edmundo Lozoya-Gloria
Summary: Stressed organisms can recognize intracellular molecules released from damaged cells as components of the innate immune response. In this study, we investigated the stress responses of the oilseed microalgae Neochloris oleoabundans to self-exDNA and other elicitors, revealing a specific response to self-exDNA.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Nidhi Kandhol, Sangeeta Pandey, Vijay Pratap Singh, Luis Herrera-Estrella, Jose Lopez Bucio, Lam-Son Phan Tran, Durgesh Kumar Tripathi
TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Valeria Flores Tinoco, Luis Herrera-Estrella, Damar Lopez-Arredondo
Summary: Only two primary photosynthetic endosymbiosis are known to have occurred throughout evolution, resulting in the formation of Archaeplastida and Paulinella spp. The fundamental questions surrounding primary endosymbiosis remain unanswered, but recent advancements in chimeric photosynthetic life-forms offer new opportunities for studying them. Cournoyer et al. have successfully established artificial photosynthetic endosymbiosis between yeast and cyanobacteria.
TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biology
Gerardo Alejo-Jacuinde, Hector-Rogelio Najera-Gonzalez, Ricardo A. Chavez A. Montes, Cristian D. Gutierrez D. Reyes, Alfonso Carlos Barragan-Rosillo, Benjamin Perez Sanchez, Yehia Mechref, Damar Lopez-Arredondo, Lenin Yong-Villalobos, Luis Herrera-Estrella
Summary: This study presents a chromosome-level reference genome for chia and analyzes the transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome to uncover the molecular basis of the unique characteristics of chia seeds. Chia is an emerging crop with functional food properties, but the genetic basis for traits like seed mucilage and polyphenol content remains unclear.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Martin O. Camargo-Escalante, Edgar Balcazar-Lopez, Exsal M. Albores Mendez, Robert Winkler, Alfredo Herrera-Estrella
Summary: Fungi use oxylipins as signaling molecules to induce asexual development, but the physiological and molecular mechanisms triggered by oxylipins are not well understood. This study reveals the functional role of a patatin-like phospholipase and a unique lipoxygenase in the response to injury in the model fungus Trichoderma atroviride. These genes are essential for the production of specific oxylipins and the transcriptional reprogramming required for asexual development.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)