Article
Cell Biology
Gregory M. Wright, Joshua C. Black
Summary: Metal homeostasis is crucial for cellular programs and becomes disrupted by exposure to carcinogenic heavy metals. The metal response is regulated by MTF-1, but its binding sites and changes in response to heavy metals like cadmium remain unknown.
Article
Biology
Xiao-Dong Fang, Qiang Gao, Ying Zang, Ji-Hui Qiao, Dong-Min Gao, Wen-Ya Xu, Ying Wang, Dawei Li, Xian-Bing Wang
Summary: Host factor casein kinase 1 (CK1) regulates liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of viral proteins during negative-sense RNA (NSR) virus infection.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Samir Uprety, Prakash Adhikari, Beatrix Feigl, Andrew J. Zele
Summary: By implementing a temporal phase summation paradigm and using photoreceptor-directed stimuli, we found that melanopsin stimulation interacts with both rod-mediated and cone-mediated vision, regardless of perceptual visibility. The interactions between melanopsin and rod-mediated vision can result in either inhibitory or facilitatory summation, depending on the temporal frequency and photoreceptor contrast sensitivity. In contrast, melanopsin always facilitates cone-mediated vision. These interactions potentially involve multiple intraretinal and visual cortical pathways and play a crucial role in setting human visual contrast sensitivity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ming Yang, Di Long, Longyuan Hu, Zhidan Zhao, Qianwen Li, Yunkai Guo, Zhenghao He, Ming Zhao, Liwei Lu, Fen Li, Hai Long, Haijing Wu, Qianjin Lu
Summary: It has been found that AIM2 is highly expressed in the B cells of lupus patients and promotes B-cell differentiation by modulating the Bcl-6-Blimp-1 axis, providing a novel target for SLE treatment.
SIGNAL TRANSDUCTION AND TARGETED THERAPY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Geunhye Hong, Cadi Davies, Zahra Omole, Janie Liaw, Anna D. D. Grabowska, Barbara Canonico, Nicolae Corcionivoschi, Brendan W. W. Wren, Nick Dorrell, Abdi Elmi, Ozan Gundogdu
Summary: Campylobacter jejuni is the main bacterial cause of worldwide foodborne gastroenteritis and its interaction with the defense mechanisms of human intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) is not well understood. This study shows that C. jejuni regulates intracellular and extracellular ROS production in IECs and downregulates the expression of key ROS-generating enzyme NADPH oxidase, as well as antioxidant defense genes CAT and SOD1. Inhibition of NADPH oxidase reduces C. jejuni's ability to interact and survive within IECs. These findings provide mechanistic insight into how C. jejuni modulates the defense machinery of IECs.
CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ke Li, Ximeng Zhou, Xueping Sun, Guanghui Li, Lei Hou, Shuzhen Zhao, Chuanzhi Zhao, Changle Ma, Pengcheng Li, Xingjun Wang
Summary: Ribosomes are essential for plant growth and development, and their dysfunction can affect auxin response. In mutants with ribosome biogenesis deficiency like mdn1-1, genes involved in auxin biosynthesis, transport, and signaling are altered, and the protein distribution of PIN2 in roots is affected. Additionally, MDN1 is an auxin-responsive gene targeted by ARFs, suggesting a coordination mechanism between auxin and ribosome biogenesis for regulating plant development.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Guowei Wu, Dekang Li, Wei Liang, Weimin Sun, Xingxing Xie, Yilun Tong, Bing Shan, Mengmeng Zhang, Xiaojuan Lu, Junying Yuan, Ying Li
Summary: Activation of TNFR1 by TNF alpha leads to the formation of complex I, which plays a crucial role in determining cell fate. This study identifies PP6 as a component of complex I and shows that it regulates cell death through its phosphatase activity and regulatory subunits. Mechanistic studies reveal that PP6 modulates LUBAC-mediated ubiquitination to promote RIPK1 activation and c-FLIPL degradation. Loss of PP6 due to melanoma-related mutations confers resistance to cell death and promotes cancer progression.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Huayuan Tang, Yali Li, Shijia Wang, Jing Ji, Xiangbin Zhu, Yutong Bao, Can Huang, Ye Luo, Lei Huang, Yan Gao, Chaoliang Wei, Jie Liu, Xi Fang, Lu Sun, Kunfu Ouyang
Summary: Emerging evidence suggests that metabolic regulation plays a critical role in B cell activation and function, and Ca2+ signaling and calcineurin may regulate B cell metabolism by activating metabolic reprogramming. Both IP3R-mediated Ca2+ signaling and calcineurin contribute to the regulation of oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis in stimulated B cells, affecting glucose uptake, glycolytic enzyme expression, and mitochondrial remodeling, which in turn influence cell cycle entry and survival. These findings have important implications for understanding the pathogenesis of immune-related disorders associated with genetic defects in IP3R.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ying Zhou, De-Mian Zhou, Wei-Wei Yu, Li-Li Shi, Yi Zhang, Yong-Xia Lai, Li-Ping Huang, Hua Qi, Qin-Fang Chen, Nan Yao, Jian-Feng Li, Li-Juan Xie, Shi Xiao
Summary: Phosphatidic acid modulates plant tolerance to submergence by affecting membrane integrity and MPK3/6-mediated hypoxia signaling.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Rui Sheng, Yuan Wang, Yunshu Wu, Jun Wang, Shiwen Zhang, Qiwen Li, Danting Zhang, Xingying Qi, Qingyue Xiao, Shuang Jiang, Quan Yuan
Summary: This study reveals the crucial role of m(6)A methyltransferase METTL3 in tooth root development by influencing NFIC translation efficiency, shedding light on a novel epigenetic mechanism in tooth root formation.
JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maria J. Gonzalez-Rellan, Marcos F. Fondevila, Uxia Fernandez, Amaia Rodriguez, Marta Varela-Rey, Christelle Veyrat-Durebex, Samuel Seoane, Ganeko Bernardo, Fernando Lopitz-Otsoa, David Fernandez-Ramos, Jon Bilbao, Cristina Iglesias, Eva Novoa, Cristina Ameneiro, Ana Senra, Daniel Beiroa, Juan Cunarro, Maria D. P. Chantada-Vazquez, Maria Garcia-Vence, Susana B. Bravo, Natalia Da Silva Lima, Begona Porteiro, Carmen Carneiro, Anxo Vidal, Sulay Tovar, Timo D. Muller, Johan Ferno, Diana Guallar, Miguel Fidalgo, Guadalupe Sabio, Stephan Herzig, Won Ho Yang, Jin Won Cho, Maria Luz Martinez-Chantar, Roman Perez-Fernandez, Miguel Lopez, Carlos Dieguez, Jose M. Mato, Oscar Millet, Roberto Coppari, Ashwin Woodhoo, Gema Fruhbeck, Ruben Nogueiras
Summary: The O-GlcNAcylation of p53 in the liver plays a crucial role in the physiological regulation of glucose homeostasis by controlling the expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sophia Groh, Anna Viktoria Milton, Lisa Marinelli, Cara Sickinger, Angela Russo, Heike Bollig, Gustavo Pereira de Almeida, Andreas Schmidt, Ignasi Forne, Axel Imhof, Gunnar Schotta
Summary: Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) make up a significant portion of mammalian genomes, and Morc3 has been identified as a key regulator of ERV silencing. Through interactions with the H3.3 chaperone Daxx, Morc3 plays a critical role in incorporating histone H3.3 into ERV regions.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Josephine Brown, Georges Abboud, Longhuan Ma, Seung-Chul Choi, Nathalie Kanda, Leilani Zeumer-Spataro, Jean Lee, Weidan Peng, Joy Cagmat, Tamas Faludi, Mansour Mohamadzadeh, Timothy Garrett, Laura Mandik-Nayak, Alexander Chervonsky, Andras Perl, Laurence Morel
Summary: A skewed tryptophan metabolism was found in lupus, and the study discovered that both microbial and T cell intrinsic factors contribute to the production of tryptophan metabolites that enhance inflammatory phenotypes in lupus T cells.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Corinna A. Kulicke, Erica De Zan, Zeynep Hein, Claudia Gonzalez-Lopez, Swapnil Ghanwat, Natacha Veerapen, Gurdyal S. Besra, Paul Klenerman, John C. Christianson, Sebastian Springer, Sebastian M. Nijman, Vincenzo Cerundolo, Mariolina Salio
Summary: The MR1-MAIT cell axis is involved in various diseases, and this study discovered that ATP13A1 in the endoplasmic reticulum is a key factor in MR1 surface expression.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kihyoun Park, Hyejin Lim, Jinyoung Kim, Yeseong Hwang, Yu Seol Lee, Soo Han Bae, Hyeongseok Kim, Hail Kim, Shin-Wook Kang, Joo Young Kim, Myung-Shik Lee
Summary: This study reveals the crucial role of lysosomal calcium release in promoting mitophagy and maintaining pancreatic beta-cell function. The activation of transcription factor EB (TFEB) through lysosomal calcium release leads to increased mitophagy, while the loss of beta-cell TFEB aggravates glucose intolerance during high-fat diet.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Deding Su, Wei Xiang, Qin Liang, Ling Wen, Yuan Shi, Bangqian Song, Yudong Liu, Zhiqiang Xian, Zhengguo Li
Summary: Leaf morphogenetic activity determines leaf shape diversity. In this study, a transcription factor called SlBES1.8 in tomato was found to promote leaf pattern simplification by regulating the gibberellin (GA) signaling pathway. Overexpression of SlBES1.8 in tomato plants reduced sensitivity to exogenous GA treatment and increased sensitivity to a GA biosynthesis inhibitor. Furthermore, SlBES1.8 directly regulated genes involved in GA metabolism and signaling, and its activity was inhibited by the interaction with a negative regulator called SlDELLA.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Deding Su, Ling Wen, Wei Xiang, Yuan Shi, Wang Lu, Yudong Liu, Zhiqiang Xian, Zhengguo Li
Summary: The transcriptional repressor SlBES1.8 was identified as a novel co-regulator of WUS in the development of plant shoot apical meristems. It interacts with WUS and inhibits WUS-DNA binding, resulting in an enlargement of SAM size, increased floral organ numbers, and changes in fruit shape.
Article
Plant Sciences
Chu Wang, Ying Wang, Jing Chen, Lang Liu, Mingxia Yang, Zhengguo Li, Chengyuan Wang, Eran Pichersky, Haiyang Xu
Summary: This study reveals that the side chain of pogostone is derived from 4-methylvaleric acid produced through the one-carbon alpha-ketoacid elongation pathway involving the key enzyme 2-isobutylmalate synthase (IBMS). The evolution of IBMS from IPMS and the importance of IPMS genes in the independent evolution of genes for specialized metabolism are highlighted.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ying-Ying Yang, Wei Shan, Tian-Wei Yang, Chao-Jie Wu, Xun-Cheng Liu, Jian-Ye Chen, Wang-Jin Lu, Zheng-Guo Li, Wei Deng, Jian-Fei Kuang
Summary: This study reveals that the transcription factor MaMYB4 negatively regulates fruit ripening in bananas by interacting with ethylene biosynthetic and cell wall modifying genes, and its protein abundance is regulated by protein ubiquitination.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Min Zhou, Zhengguo Li
Summary: Recent advances have been made in understanding the impact of cadmium toxicity on plants and humans, studying different parameters influencing cadmium uptake and accumulation, as well as phytoremediation technologies to reduce cadmium pollution in wheat. There is increasing recognition of the molecular mechanisms of wheat under cadmium stress.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ruirui Jia, Jiamei Lin, Jin You, Shi Li, Ge Shan, Chuan Huang
Summary: Stress-responsive genes are minimally transcribed under normal conditions but strongly induced in response to stress. The DEAD-box helicase Hlc plays a crucial role in the basal transcription of the stress-responsive gene MtnA by maintaining the accessibility of chromatin near the transcriptional start site. Knockdown of Hlc also affects the basal transcription of other stress-responsive genes.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wei Huang, Nan Hu, Zhina Xiao, Yuping Qiu, Yan Yang, Jie Yang, Xin Mao, Yichuan Wang, Zhengguo Li, Hongwei Guo
Summary: Ethylene plays a critical role in tomato fruit growth and ripening by modulating auxin biosynthesis/signaling and activating fruit development-related genes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Liang Chen, Yucong Wang, Jiamei Lin, Zhenxing Song, Qinwei Wang, Wenfang Zhao, Yan Wang, Xiaoyu Xiu, Yuqi Deng, Xiuzhi Li, Qiqi Li, Xiaolin Wang, Jingxin Li, Xu Liu, Kunpeng Liu, Jincong Zhou, Kuan Li, Yuchan Liu, Shanhui Liao, Qin Deng, Chao Xu, Qianwen Sun, Shengzhou Wu, Kaiming Zhang, Min-Xin Guan, Tianhua Zhou, Fei Sun, Xiujun Cai, Chuan Huang, Ge Shan
Summary: This study provides evidence for a connection between the conserved Exportin 4 (XPO4) and nuclear export of a subset of circRNAs in metazoans. Insufficiency of XPO4 leads to circRNA accumulation, ciR-loop formation, liR-loop buildup, and DNA damage. DDX39 and splicing factors are involved in the regulation of ciR-loop levels. Testis and brain, which have high abundance of circRNAs, are negatively affected by insufficient XPO4 levels.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Pingyu Wang, Huimin Jia, Ting Guo, Yuanyuan Zhang, Wanqing Wang, Hideki Nishimura, Zhengguo Li, Yoji Kawano
Summary: IRP1 plays a positive role in rice resistance to Pyricularia oryzaeand and acts as a phytocytokine that amplifies rice pattern-triggered immunity. It shares a similar signaling pathway with chitin and regulates MAPKs and OsWRKYs, providing new insights into how MAMPs and phytocytokines cooperatively regulate rice immunity.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhenxing Song, Jiamei Lin, Rui Su, Yu Ji, Ruirui Jia, Shi Li, Ge Shan, Chuan Huang
Summary: Increasing studies have shown that certain circRNAs have an open reading frame and can generate functional proteins that are associated with various physiological and disease processes. However, the regulation of circRNA translation initiation and the impact of different eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs) on circRNA translation are not well understood. In this study, the researchers investigated the role of eIFs in the translation of a specific circRNA in fruit flies and found conflicting functions of eIF3 subunits, with eIF3j being the most potent inhibitor. They also revealed the physiological relevance of eIF3j-mediated circRNA translation repression in response to heat shock, and identified other circRNAs that are similarly regulated in an eIF3j-dependent manner. This study provides important insights into cap-independent translational regulation and undiscovered functions of eIF3.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jing Chen, Jing Tan, Xinyu Duan, Ying Wang, Jing Wen, Wei Li, Zhengguo Li, Guodong Wang, Haiyang Xu
Summary: By overexpressing the fusion gene DXS-FPPS in tomato fruit, the accumulation of the fusion protein of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DXS) and farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS) in plastids was enhanced under the control of fruit-ripening specific polygalacturonase (PG) promoter, leading to the production of large amounts of FPP-derived squalene and a reduction in lycopene content. This provides a basic foundation for high-yield sesquiterpene production in tomato fruit by harnessing the supply of precursors achieved through the expression of the fusion gene.
METABOLIC ENGINEERING
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pingyu Wang, Ting Wu, Chen Jiang, Baowen Huang, Zhengguo Li
Summary: As signal molecules, plant peptides play crucial roles in intercellular communication and stress responses. The IDA peptide, consisting of 14 amino acids, is essential for floral organ abscission in Arabidopsis. IDA/IDLs genes have been found in several angiosperms and are highly conserved in land plants, functioning not only in organ abscission but also in various biological processes, including biotic and abiotic stress responses. This review summarizes the post-translational modification, evolutionary conservation, potential regulatory function, and future perspectives of the IDA/IDLs signaling pathway, aiming to enhance our understanding of plant peptide signaling on a molecular level.
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Xiaolan Chen, Chuan Huang
Summary: RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are essential regulators involved in the fate determination of diverse RNA species. Some RBPs have been found to physically interact with chromatin and function at the transcriptional level. This article highlights the recently discovered mechanisms of chromatin-interacting RBPs (ChRBPs) in the regulation of chromatin/transcriptional activities.
TRENDS IN CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yudong Liu, Ning Tang, Dongbo Lin, Wei Deng, Zhengguo Li
Summary: Inappropriate low temperature storage can lead to quality deterioration of harvested tomato fruits. This study comprehensively investigated the effects of low temperature on metabolic changes in tomato fruit by analyzing the metabolome, transcriptome, and proteome. The results showed an increase in secondary metabolites, particularly flavonoids and phenolic acids, after low temperature treatment. The differentially accumulated metabolites in the comparative groups were mainly flavonoid metabolites, and the differentially expressed genes and proteins were enriched in metabolic pathways and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. The expression of key genes involved in phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthesis, as well as MYB transcription factors related to flavonoid biosynthesis, were strongly correlated with changes in flavonoid metabolites. Additionally, low temperature affected genes related to fruit ripening and quality. The findings of this study provide insights into the transcriptional regulatory network of secondary metabolism associated with low-temperature storage.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Qi Yin, Wenqi Qin, Zibin Zhou, Ai-Min Wu, Wei Deng, Zhengguo Li, Wei Shan, Jian-ye Chen, Jian-fei Kuang, Wang-jin Lu
Summary: Chilling stress leads to cellulose accumulation in the cell wall, which is caused by the activation of MaCESA proteins. MaNAC1, a cold-inducible NAC transcription factor, plays a vital role in cellulose biosynthesis and enhances cellulose content during low-temperature stress. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding cell wall architecture in biomass production and stress adaptation.
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2023)