Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Simon B. Kelly, Simon Hansen, Henriette Rubsam, Pia Saake, Emil Pedersen, Kira Gysel, Eva T. Madland, Shunliang Wu, Stephan Wawra, Dugald Reid, John Sullivan, Zuzana B. Blahovska, Maria L. Vinther, Artur W. Muszynski, Parastoo Azadi, Mikkel R. Thygesen, Finn Aachmann, Clive Ronson, Alga Zuccaro, Kasper Andersen, Simona Radutoiu, Jens Stougaard
Summary: This study identifies and characterizes a glycan receptor kinase, EPR3a, closely related to the exopolysaccharide receptor EPR3. Epr3a is up-regulated in roots colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and can bind glucans with a branching pattern characteristic of fungal glucans. In vitro assays show that EPR3a binds cell wall glucans and rhizobial exopolysaccharides with affinities comparable to EPR3, suggesting a conserved function of these receptor kinases in glycan perception.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mitsutaka Fukudome, Yuta Shimokawa, Shun Hashimoto, Yusuke Maesako, Nahoko Uchi-Fukudome, Kota Niihara, Ken-Ichi Osuki, Toshiki Uchiumi
Summary: The hmp gene from Sinorhizobium meliloti introduced into Mesorhizobium loti reduces NO levels in symbiosis with Lotus japonicus, leading to delayed infection and increased nitrogenase activity without affecting nodule senescence, contrasting with the effects of class 1 phytoglobin in L. japonicus.
MICROBES AND ENVIRONMENTS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mitsutaka Fukudome, Haruka Ishizaki, Yuta Shimokawa, Tomoko Mori, Nahoko Uchi-fukudome, Kamolchanok Umnajkitikorn, Ei-ichi Murakami, Toshiki Uchiumi, Masayoshi Kawaguchi
Summary: This study investigates the role of reactive sulfur species (RSS) produced by cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE) in root nodule symbiosis. The CSE mutation in Mesorhizobium loti leads to decreased production of hydrogen sulfide and other RSS. The CSE mutation does not affect early stages of symbiosis but reduces nitrogenase activity and induces early senescence of nodules.
MICROBES AND ENVIRONMENTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jieshun Lin, Yuda Purwana Roswanjaya, Wouter Kohlen, Jens Stougaard, Dugald Reid
Summary: Legumes balance nitrate signaling and symbiotic nitrogen fixation through cytokinin biosynthesis, with low nitrate conditions promoting cytokinin induction and high nitrate inhibiting it. This differential response is further seen in mutants, which show hypersensitivity to nitrate inhibition but can be rescued by cytokinin application. Nitrate's inhibitory effect on symbiosis occurs in a Nlp1 and Nlp4 dependent manner, contrasting with its positive influence on non-legumes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alessandra Rogato, Vladimir Totev Valkov, Marcin Nadzieja, Jens Stougaard, Maurizio Chiurazzi
Summary: The LjAFB6 gene is preferentially expressed in the aerial portion of L. japonicus plants and is induced in response to nitrate supply in roots. It plays a specialized role in regulating primary and lateral root elongation processes in response to auxin, but is not involved in the nodulation process.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yong Feng, Ping Wu, Chao Liu, Liwei Peng, Tao Wang, Chao Wang, Qian Tan, Bixuan Li, Yajuan Ou, Hui Zhu, Songli Yuan, Renliang Huang, Gary Stacey, Zhongming Zhang, Yangrong Cao
Summary: The study found that in Lotus japonicus, SymRK is required for rhizobial suppression of plant innate immunity, while LjBAK1 plays a negative role in rhizobial infection. The protein complex formed by SymRK and LjBAK1 serves as an intersection point between rhizobial symbiotic signaling pathways and innate immunity pathways.
Article
Plant Sciences
Hafijur Ruman, Yasuyuki Kawaharada
Summary: This study aimed to explore and update LysM-RLKs in Lotus japonicus and propose a new classification to indicate their evolution and characteristics, as well as to predict new functions. We also found a strong correlation between the types of receptors in plant species and their symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
K. Trush, A. Eliasova, M. D. Monje-Rueda, V. Kolarcik, M. Betti, P. Pal'ove-Balang
Summary: Leaves of Lotus japonicus infected by powdery mildew accumulate isoflavonoids, especially vestitol and sativan as protective compounds. The application of methyl jasmonate showed a moderate effect on the accumulation of vestitol, while chitosan application led to a strong increase in vestitol content. Furthermore, chitosan also induced the expression of key enzymes involved in vestitol and sativan biosynthesis.
BIOLOGIA PLANTARUM
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Xiaolin Li, Miaoxia Liu, Min Cai, David Chiasson, Martin Groth, Anne B. Heckmann, Trevor L. L. Wang, Martin Parniske, J. Allan Downie, Fang Xie
Summary: In this study, the authors found that RPG and CERBERUS co-localize and interact near the nucleus in root hairs after rhizobial inoculation. They are both essential for normal IT growth, co-localize in the TGN/EE compartment, and are required for endomembrane dynamics during IT formation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Piao Wei, Yun Lv, Qiao Guang, Jie Han, Yifan Wang, Xuewen Wang, Li Song
Summary: This study investigates the molecular mechanism of adventitious root (AR) differentiation in Lotus japonicus L. (L. japonicus) mediated by the transformed chicken interferon alpha gene (ChIFN alpha) encoding cytokine. The results show that ChIFN alpha promotes AR development, especially with the treatment of the auxin precursor IBA. Transcriptome analysis identifies 48 differentially expressed auxin-related genes, and further analysis reveals that ChIFN alpha enhances auxin synthesis and signaling. These findings provide insights into the role of ChIFN alpha cytokines and expand animal gene sources for molecular breeding of forage plants.
PLANT SIGNALING & BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ryohei Nishida, Yuki Kawaguchi, Junpei Matsubayashi, Rie Ishikawa, Satoshi Kida, Kohtaro Takei
Summary: Research has shown that LOTUS plays a crucial role in synapse formation and memory function. Knockout mice exhibited decreased synaptic density and impaired memory formation, indicating the importance of LOTUS in these processes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ivette Garcia-Soto, Raphael Boussageon, Yareni Marlene Cruz-Farfan, Jesus Daniel Castro-Chilpa, Liz Xochiquetzal Hernandez-Cerezo, Victor Bustos-Zagal, Alfonso Leija-Salas, Georgina Hernandez, Martha Torres, Damien Formey, Pierre-Emmanuel Courty, Daniel Wipf, Mario Serrano, Alexandre Tromas
Summary: ROP3 has been identified as a positive regulator of infection thread and nodule formation in Lotus japonicus, while not affecting AMF root colonization. The expression of CSSP genes was not impacted by ROP3 in the NFS and AMS conditions, but some rhizobial-specific pathway genes showed decreased expression in the NFS.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Yan Wang, Feng Yang, Peng-Fei Zhu, Asaf Khan, Zhi-Ping Xie, Christian Staehelin
Summary: Efforts were made to quantify and improve the transformation efficiency of Lotus japonicus using Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated hairy root transformation. Expression of the effector gene nopP significantly increased the transformation efficiency, while other effector genes did not show the same effect. The use of A. rhizogenes LBA9402 carrying a binary vector containing DsRed1 and nopP allowed efficient formation and identification of transgenic roots.
Article
Plant Sciences
Yu Zhou, Longlong Wang, Maria Carmen Rubio, Carmen Perez-Rontome, Yumiao Zhou, Yongmei Qi, Tao Tian, Weiqing Zhang, Qiuling Fan, Manuel Becana, Deqiang Duanmu
Summary: Legume nodules produce large amounts of heme for the synthesis of leghemoglobin and other hemoproteins. However, the mechanisms of heme homeostasis in nodules are still unknown.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Masayuki Shimamura, Takashi Kumaki, Shun Hashimoto, Kazuhiko Saeki, Shin-ichi Ayabe, Atsushi Higashitani, Tomoyoshi Akashi, Shusei Sato, Toshio Aoki
Summary: In legume-rhizobia symbiosis, the mutual exchange of chemical signals is required for partner recognition and initiation of symbiosis processes. This study developed an LCO detection method to identify novel nod gene inducers in Lotus japonicus-Mesorhizobium symbiosis. Five phenolic acids were found to have LCO-inducing activities, leading to root hair deformation and increased nodule numbers in L. japonicus. Phenolic acids induced the expression of nod genes and were detected in the root exudates of L. japonicus.
MICROBES AND ENVIRONMENTS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Li Tan, Liang Zhang, Ian Black, John Glushka, Breeanna Urbanowicz, Christian Heiss, Parastoo Azadi
Summary: This study confirmed the covalent linkage between RG-I and AGP in purified RG-I material. It also identified RG-I-AGP as the major component of traditionally prepared RG-I.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hoda Al. Ahmed, Bernadeth F. Ticar, Ian Black, Fakhri Mahdi, Anter A. Shami, Sandeep K. Misra, Christian Heiss, Jason J. Paris, Joshua S. Sharp, Parastoo Azadi, Vitor H. Pomin
Summary: Recent research has shown that edible clams, such as Marcia hiantina, contain polysaccharides with antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and antitumor activities. In this study, an alpha-glucan was isolated from M. hiantina and characterized. It was found to be a branched polysaccharide composed mainly of glucose, with the molecular weight of approximately 570 kDa. Cell-based assays demonstrated that the alpha-glucan had no cytotoxicity, exhibited potent antioxidant activity, and stimulated cell proliferation.
GLYCOCONJUGATE JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Raquel O. Rocha, Richard S. Hussey, Lauren E. Pepi, Parastoo Azadi, Melissa G. Mitchum
Summary: Root-knot nematodes secrete effector proteins to manipulate host cells. A study identified 83 candidate effector genes that are upregulated in adult females. These findings provide insights into the parasitic role of root-knot nematodes.
MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
William J. Jowsey, Calum R. P. Morris, Drew A. Hall, John T. Sullivan, Robert D. Fagerlund, Karina Y. Eto, Paul D. Solomon, Joel P. Mackay, Charles S. Bond, Joshua P. Ramsay, Clive W. Ronson
Summary: Horizontal gene transfer in bacteria is tightly regulated by the DUF2285 domain, which is involved in both transcriptional activation and antiactivation. The DUF2285 domain interacts with other domains to control the initiation of gene transfer.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Ian M. M. Black, Ikenna E. E. Ndukwe, Jiri Vlach, Jason Backe, Breeanna R. R. Urbanowicz, Christian Heiss, Parastoo Azadi
Summary: Glycosyl composition and linkage analyses are crucial steps in understanding the structure and biological importance of polysaccharides. Failure to fully solubilize samples before analysis can lead to incomplete and poor-quality data. Ionic liquids can improve the solubility of polysaccharides, facilitating their analysis. Preacetylation in an ionic liquid greatly enhances the composition and linkage analysis of insoluble polysaccharides, providing more accurate results compared to traditional methods.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Li Tan, Mayumi Ishihara, Ian Black, John Glushka, Christian Heiss, Parastoo Azadi
Summary: A material rich in pectin and arabinogalactan-protein (AGP) was extracted and purified from Spirodela alcohol insoluble residues. Analysis and spectroscopy studies revealed that the material consists of apiogalacturonan and rhamnogalacturonan-I covalently attached to AGPs. The formation of borate crosslinks was observed when reacting pectic-AGPs at high pH or with monomeric rhamnogalacturonan-II in the presence of Pb2+ ion, indicating a potential role of borate-crosslinks in Spirodela's response to high-pH condition.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Sankar Rathinam, Martha A. Hjalmarscotti, Mikkel B. Thygesen, Mar Masson
Summary: Partially substituted chitosan derivatives were reacted with Imidazole-1-sulfonyl azide to convert the amino groups to azides. The resulting mixed chitotriazolans showed varying levels of antimicrobial activity. Chitotriazolans derived from cationic chitosan derivatives were active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, while chitotriazolans derived from anionic chitosan derivative were inactive.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Hayden Schaff, Protyusha Dey, Christian Heiss, Griffin Keiser, Tatiana Rojo Moro, Parastoo Azadi, Pavan Patel, Stephen J. Free
Summary: Galactofuranose is a component of fungi cell walls and can be found in various oligosaccharides. Loss of galactofuranose affects the morphology, growth rate, and reproductive stages of fungi. The Neurospora genome contains genes related to galactofuranose synthesis and translocation, but the absence of certain galactofuranosyltransferase genes does not affect the morphology of the fungi.
FUNGAL GENETICS AND BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alexandre Poulhazan, Alexander Baer, Gagan Daliaho, Frederic Mentink-Vigier, Alexandre A. Arnold, Darren C. Browne, Lars Hering, Stephanie Archer-Hartmann, Lauren E. Pepi, Parastoo Azadi, Stephan Schmidt, Georg Mayer, Isabelle Marcotte, Matthew J. Harrington
Summary: There are highly specialized biological materials in nature, and the phosphonate modification in velvet worm slime may play an essential functional role, providing biological inspiration for the design of recyclable materials.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jesus Montiel, Ivette Garcia-Soto, Euan K. James, Dugald Reid, Luis Cardenas, Selene Napsucialy-Mendivil, Shaun Ferguson, Joseph G. Dubrovsky, Jens Stougaard
Summary: This study demonstrates the crucial role of the regulation of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis in sustaining root hair growth and establishing symbiotic relationships in the legume Lotus japonicus. The enzyme DAHPS1 is found to be critical for root hair development and for the symbioses with both rhizobial and mycorrhizal microbes. Mutants lacking DAHPS1 show altered root hair morphology, reduced symbiotic interactions, and downregulation of cell wall-related genes.
Article
Microbiology
Claudia Castro, Ikenna Ndukwe, Christian Heiss, Ian Black, Brian M. Ingel, Matthew Guevara, Yuling Sun, Parastoo Azadi, Qiang Sun, M. Caroline Roper
Summary: Xylella fastidiosa is a bacterium that causes diseases in economically important crops. It acts as a pathogen in some hosts, while behaving as a benign commensal in most hosts. It attenuates its virulence by enzymatically pruning its self-produced exopolysaccharide, which forms biofilms and slows disease progression.
Article
Microbiology
Jannatul F. Shoma, Ben Ernan, Griffin Keiser, Christian Heiss, Parastoo Azadi, Stephen J. Free
Summary: Through mutant phenotypic study, it was found that the acidic glycosphingolipid (GSL) biosynthetic pathway is essential for the viability of Neurospora crassa, while the neutral GSL biosynthetic pathway is essential for the normal growth and development of N. crassa.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ikenna E. Ndukwe, Ian Black, Claudia A. Castro, Jiri Vlach, Christian Heiss, Caroline Roper, Parastoo Azadi
Summary: Current practices for structural analysis of extremely large-molecular-weight polysaccharides often involve partial depolymerization protocols. However, non-specific depolymerization techniques may generate structural fragments, complicating accurate characterization. Alternatively, using appropriate enzymes for depolymerization requires prior structural knowledge and optimal conditions, which may not be available for novel or unknown compounds. This study presents a permethylation strategy that allows complete dissolution of intact polysaccharides for NMR structural characterization.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Stephanie Archer-Hartmann, Christian Heiss, Artur Muszynski, Ian Black, Jiri Vlach, Li Tan, Lauren Pepi, Varughese Mulamoottil, Nathan Murray, Griffin Keiser, Bhoj Kumar, Xu Yang, Yony Roman Ochoa, Lei Huang, Jie Lun Cheng, Sergei Shalygin, Mehrnoush Taherzadeh Ghahfarrokhi, Ambrish Kumar, Tatiana Rojo Moro, Parastoo Azadi