Article
Cell Biology
Rong Hao, Wenkun Zhou, Jingrui Li, Manqing Luo, Ben Scheres, Yan Guo
Summary: This study uncovered the critical role of the SOS2-PLT1/2 protein module in root growth and meristem maintenance under salt stress.
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Margaret Anne Pelayo, Fumi Morishita, Haruka Sawada, Kasumi Matsushita, Hideaki Iimura, Zemiao He, Liang Sheng Looi, Naoya Katagiri, Asumi Nagamori, Takamasa Suzuki, Marek Sirl, Ales Soukup, Akiko Satake, Toshiro Ito, Nobutoshi Yamaguchi
Summary: Cell cycle-coupled H3K27me3 dilution regulates floral development by controlling the expression timing of various target genes. The transcription factor AG prevents maintenance of H3K27me3 along the KNU coding sequence, allowing activation of KNU transcription prior to floral meristem termination. AHL18, a downstream target of AG, is specifically expressed in stamens and involved in stamen growth. Our findings highlight the importance of cell cycle-coupled H3K27me3 dilution in floral development and provide insights into the regulatory mechanisms.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Antoine Nicolas, Aude Maugarny-Cales, Bernard Adroher, Liudmila Chelysheva, Yu Li, Jasmine Burguet, Anne-Maarit Bagman, Margot E. Smit, Siobhan M. Brady, Yunhai Li, Patrick Laufs
Summary: Stem cells play crucial roles in animal and plant biology. Two transcription factors are discovered to repress the expression of CUC gene, thus ensuring proper meristem establishment and de novo stem cell niche formation in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
T. Sanjana, M. Anantha Sunil, Habibuddin Shaik, K. Naveen Kumar
Summary: Oxygen flow rate significantly influences the properties and bandgap of cuprous oxide thin films during the preparation process. Various characterization tools were used to study the structure, morphology, elemental composition, and optical characteristics of the films. The bandgap of the deposited thin films falls within the range suitable for thin-film solar cell applications.
MATERIALS CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wei Xuan, Tom Beeckman
Summary: The study reveals the dual and opposing roles of BRs in auxin biosynthesis and signaling output in the Arabidopsis root epidermis, demonstrating the necessity of epidermis-derived BR signaling for root meristem maintenance through its effect on auxin signaling.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wu Liu, Gui Cai, Ning Zhai, Hua Wang, Tengfei Tang, Yuyun Zhang, Zhiyao Zhang, Lijun Sun, Yijing Zhang, Tom Beeckman, Lin Xu
Summary: The evolution of roots allowed vascular plants to adapt to land environments. This study examines the molecular mechanisms involved in root apical meristem (RAM) development in lycophytes and euphyllophytes, revealing partially similar molecular modules between the two lineages.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eliana Mor, Marketa Pernisova, Max Minne, Guillaume Cerutti, Dagmar Ripper, Jonah Nolf, Jennifer Andres, Laura Ragni, Matias D. Zurbriggen, Bert De Rybel, Teva Vernoux
Summary: The bHLH transcription factor heterodimers formed by TMO5 and LHW subclades are universal regulators of cell proliferation in all meristems. However, these transcription factors have specific functions in different meristems, possibly due to variations in their expression domains and the absence of some factors in certain meristems. Differences in transcriptional responses through heterodimer diversification may contribute to cell proliferation control in multiple meristems.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kristoffer Jonsson, Olivier Hamant, Rishikesh P. Bhalerao
Summary: The instructive role of mechanical cues in plant morphogenesis is crucial for directing growth asymmetries. The cell wall acts as a hub for mechanical feedback, integrating the three parameters of shape, growth, and external factors. Changes in cell-wall chemistry and mechanics play a significant role in transducing mechanical cues during morphogenesis.
Article
Developmental Biology
Ayaka Kinoshita, Makiko Naito, Zining Wang, Yasuhiro Inoue, Atsushi Mochizuki, Hirokazu Tsukaya
Summary: This study compared the cell proliferative zones in floral organs and leaf organs under different conditions and found that the shape of floral organs depends on the position of the meristem, while the shape of leaf organs depends on the cell division angles.
Article
Plant Sciences
Maike Breiden, Vilde Olsson, Patrick Bluemke, Jenia Schlegel, Karine Gustavo-Pinto, Petra Dietrich, Melinka A. Butenko, Ruediger Simon
Summary: Communication between plant cells and their biotic environment heavily relies on receptor-like kinases located on the plasma membrane. Different receptors in root meristems respond to the peptide CLE40 in various ways, influencing cell differentiation and growth inhibition. CLE40 signaling also involves changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration, potentially playing a key role in coordinating root growth with stem cell fate decisions.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Developmental Biology
Nathalie Boure, Alexis Peaucelle, Magali Goussot, Bernard Adroher, Ludivine Soubigou-Taconnat, Nero Borrega, Eric Biot, Zakia Tariq, Marie-Laure Martin-Magniette, Veronique Pautot, Patrick Laufs, Nicolas Arnaud
Summary: Boundary domains play critical roles in plant development by regulating organ growth and morphogenesis through cell growth repression and modulation of cell wall properties. This study reveals the involvement of SPY and CUC2 in leaf boundary domain development, as they repress a common set of genes involved in cell wall loosening. Atomic force microscopy confirms that boundary domain cells have stiffer cell walls compared to marginal outgrowth.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yanhua Ge, Yi Gao, Yuling Jiao, Ying Wang
Summary: This study reveals the regulation of midrib formation in moss by the orthologs of Arabidopsis LATERAL SUPPRESSOR gene, which is a key regulator of axillary meristem initiation in seed plants. The PpLAS/AtLAS genes have conserved functions in promoting cell division in both lineages, highlighting the importance of the conserved regulatory module in different developmental programs.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Kari Martinez, Alexey Minenkov, Johannes Aberl, Dan Buca, Moritz Brehm, Heiko Groiss
Summary: The thermal stability of GeSn epitaxial thin films was investigated by in situ TEM. The decomposition mode during annealing experiments was found to be different for samples grown by molecular beam epitaxy and chemical vapor deposition. The structurally stable sample exhibited solid-state precipitation at high temperatures, while the sample with high defect density showed low-temperature liquid phase separation facilitated by Ga contamination.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hongcheng Zhao, Nan Sun, Lin Huang, Ruyi Qian, Xianyong Lin, Chengliang Sun, Yongguan Zhu
Summary: The molecular mechanism of root development mediated by the beneficial bacterium Azospirillum brasilense is not fully understood. A. brasilense induces extensive transcriptional changes but inhibits primary root elongation in Arabidopsis. Through analysis of root cell type-specific markers, it was found that A. brasilense does not alter the overall organization or cell division of the primary root meristem. The inhibition of root elongation is primarily due to the reduction of cell elongation, which is caused by bacterially activated peroxidase leading to cell wall cross-linking. The activation of peroxidase, in combination with the downregulation of cell wall loosening enzymes, results in an increase in cell wall thickness.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jia Feng, Laichao Cheng, Zhenying Zhu, Feiqi Yu, Cheng Dai, Zhongchi Liu, Wen-Wu Guo, Xiao-Meng Wu, Chunying Kang
Summary: Axillary bud development plays a crucial role in plant architecture, and the genetic control of runner production in strawberry remains largely unknown. This study identified a mutant lam lacking axillary meristems, which was found to be associated with a gene encoding a GRAS transcription factor. Furthermore, functional studies revealed the sequential role of LAM with gibberellic acid in stamen and runner formation, providing insights into the molecular regulation of these structures in strawberry.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marina Liso, Annamaria Sila, Giulio Verna, Aurelia Scarano, Rossella Donghia, Fabio Castellana, Elisabetta Cavalcanti, Pasqua Letizia Pesole, Eduardo Maria Sommella, Antonio Lippolis, Raffaele Armentano, Anna Maria Giudetti, Daniele Vergara, Pietro Campiglia, Rodolfo Sardone, Margherita Curlo, Mauro Mastronardi, Katia Petroni, Chiara Tonelli, Angelo Santino, Marcello Chieppa
Summary: Antioxidants can be used as adjuvants to improve the effectiveness of pharmacological therapies, especially for chronic inflammatory syndromes. A study found that taking an antioxidant-enriched purple corn supplement can improve the response to medication in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, although the effect may vary between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mirella Trinei, Andrea Carpi, Roberta Menabo', Mariangela Storto, Monica Fornari, Alessandra Marinelli, Simone Minardi, Mirko Riboni, Francesca Casciaro, Fabio DiLisa, Katia Petroni, Chiara Tonelli, Marco Giorgio
Summary: A diet rich in anthocyanin can continue to reduce myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury even after a month of cessation. The anti-inflammatory activity of C3G was not involved in the observed cardioprotection in immune-deficient mice. Furthermore, the cardioprotective effect was transferred from mice fed a C3G-enriched diet to mice fed a standard diet through the transplantation of fecal microbiota, indicating the role of gut microbiota in determining long lasting cardioprotection.
JOURNAL OF NUTRITIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Fabio Simeoni, Laura Simoni, Michela Zottini, Lucio Conti, Chiara Tonelli, Giulia Castorina, Luca Espen, Massimo Galbiati
Summary: This study investigated the cellular specificity of transcription factor VvMYB60 expression in grape leaves and found that it is specifically expressed in guard cells and tightly correlates with stomatal conductance levels.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laura Bassolino, Katia Petroni, Angela Polito, Alessandra Marinelli, Elena Azzini, Marika Ferrari, Donatella B. M. Ficco, Elisabetta Mazzucotelli, Alessandro Tondelli, Agostino Fricano, Roberta Paris, Inmaculada Garcia-Robles, Carolina Rausell, Maria Dolores Real, Carlo Massimo Pozzi, Giuseppe Mandolino, Ephrem Habyarimana, Luigi Cattivelli
Summary: This review focuses on the impact of antioxidants-rich cereal and Solanaceae derived foods on human health. It discusses strategies for increasing the antioxidant level of grains and fruits and examines the influence of agronomic practices and food processing on antioxidant properties. Despite supporting evidence from in vitro and animal studies, further clinical research is needed to confirm the effects of antioxidant-rich foods on human health.
Article
Plant Sciences
Beata Siemiatkowska, Matteo Chiara, Bhaskara G. Badiger, Matteo Riboni, Francesca D'Avila, Daniele Braga, Mohamed Abd Allah Salem, Damiano Martignago, Sara Colanero, Massimo Galbiati, Patrick Giavalisco, Chiara Tonelli, Thomas E. Juenger, Lucio Conti
Summary: Transcriptional reprogramming prior to morphological and physiological acclimation is crucial in drought stress responses, with the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) being the key signal regulating gene expression. GIGANTEA (GI) is identified as a key regulator of ABA-regulated transcriptional and physiological responses, controlling oscillations in ABA signals through DNA binding or function of different classes of transcription factors (TFs). GI plays a role in establishing a phase of reduced ABA sensitivity and related physiological responses by interacting with TFs at target regions.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Giulia Magni, Benedetta Riboldi, Katia Petroni, Stefania Ceruti
Summary: Flavonoids have shown therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative diseases, but their low bioavailability limits clinical use. Recent research indicates that the metabolism of flavonoids in the gut is closely related to the regulation of gut microbiota, impacting the composition and metabolism capabilities of the microbiota.
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Silvia Salvatori, Irene Marafini, Federica Laudisi, Giovanni Monteleone, Carmine Stolfi
Summary: H. pylori infection contributes to the onset and development of gastric cancer through the mechanisms of chronic inflammation and DNA damage to gastric epithelial cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Giovanni Monteleone, Eleonora Franze, Claudia Maresca, Marco Colella, Teresa Pacifico, Carmine Stolfi
Summary: The identification of factors/mechanisms leading to cancer development has advanced the way clinicians combat this pathology. The presence of a tumor microenvironment that restrains the anti-tumor immunity has been linked to resistance against chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and interleukin-34 has been found to play a role in modulating immune cell function and generating a tumor microenvironment that enhances resistance against these therapies.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Giovanni Monteleone, Carmine Stolfi
Summary: In Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, the tissue-damaging inflammatory response involves elevated levels of Smad7, an inhibitor of TGF-beta 1. Previous studies showed that knocking down Smad7 with an antisense oligonucleotide reduced inflammation, leading to the development of mongersen as a potential treatment. Initial studies demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of mongersen in inducing remission in active CD patients. However, a phase 3 trial was prematurely discontinued due to no observed effect of mongersen on CD activity. Recent data suggests that the chemical composition of mongersen batches used in the phase 3 study differed from previous trials, highlighting the need for consistent manufacturing requirements and quality control.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carmine Stolfi, Teresa Pacifico, Anderson Luiz-Ferreira, Giovanni Monteleone, Federica Laudisi
Summary: Despite recent advances in treatment approaches, cancer remains a major cause of death worldwide. The restoration of tumor immune surveillance has shown promising results in overcoming resistance to conventional therapies and improving the clinical management of advanced disease. However, only a fraction of patients benefits from cancer immunotherapy, due to mechanisms that allow tumors to escape immune surveillance. Research on drug repositioning has suggested that anthelmintic drugs, in addition to their antineoplastic effects, have significant immunomodulatory actions on specific subsets of immune cells and pathways. This review examines the impact of anthelmintic drugs on host immunity and their potential implications in cancer immunotherapy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Federica Laudisi, Carmine Stolfi
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Davide Di Fusco, Antonio Di Grazia, Giulia Di Maggio, Maria Teresa Segreto, Andrea Iannucci, Claudia Maresca, Alessandro De Stefano, Giuseppe Sica, Carmine Stolfi, Giovanni Monteleone, Ivan Monteleone
Summary: IMP3 is highly expressed in colorectal cancer (CRC) and is associated with poor prognosis. Inhibition of IMP3 enhances caspase-independent cell death in CRC. IMP3 acts as a regulator of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway in CRC through surveillance of anti-apoptotic Bcl mRNA metabolism.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Davide Di Fusco, Maria Teresa Segreto, Giulia Di Maggio, Andrea Iannucci, Claudia Maresca, Antonio Di Grazia, Marco Colella, Carmine Stolfi, Giovanni Monteleone, Ivan Monteleone
Summary: The study reveals the important role of IMP1 in PDAC, and its high expression is associated with poor prognosis in patients. Inhibiting IMP1 expression reduces cell growth and controls cell cycle progression in PDAC. Furthermore, blocking IMP1 can impede the growth of PDAC cells in an animal model, suggesting IMP1 as a potential novel strategy to overcome PDAC cell proliferation.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carmine Stolfi, Teresa Pacifico, Giovanni Monteleone, Federica Laudisi
Summary: The intestinal epithelial barrier is crucial for nutrient absorption, immune regulation, and defense against pathogens. The mucus layer, secreted and matured by goblet cells, also plays a vital role in maintaining intestinal homeostasis. However, a Western diet and ultra-processed food can disrupt this balance and negatively impact intestinal health. This review discusses the impact of a Western diet, particularly ultra-processed food, on the mucus barrier and goblet cell function, as well as potential therapeutic approaches to restore the mucus layer.