Article
Cell Biology
Christian Barbato, Paola Frisone, Laura Braccini, Simona D'Aguanno, Luisa Pieroni, Maria Teresa Ciotti, Caterina Catalanotto, Carlo Cogoni, Francesca Ruberti
Summary: RNA-binding proteins play important roles in miRNA-mediated gene silencing. This study discovered that SERBP1 is a partner protein of Argonaute2, and it participates in miR-92-mediated gene silencing by regulating the 3' UTR of KCC2. These findings advance our understanding of KCC2 translational regulation in neuronal cells and highlight the key role of SERBP1 in this gene regulation.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhiqi Deng, Liqun Ma, Peiyu Zhang, Hongliang Zhu
Summary: Small RNAs play significant roles in plant development, stress response, and antiviral immunity. This paper reviews the mechanisms by which small RNAs regulate viral defense in plants and the strategies employed by viruses to overcome host immune responses. Additionally, the current development status of new virus defense applications based on small RNA silencing is discussed.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jiahui Zhang, Huiyuan Li, Xue Zhong, Jinfu Tian, Arnaud Segers, Lanqin Xia, Frederic Francis
Summary: Grain aphid (Sitobion miscanthi) is a dominant and devastating insect pest in wheat, causing significant losses to wheat production. This study identified and characterized a potential RNAi target gene (SmDSR33) encoding a salivary protein in grain aphids. Transgenic wheat lines expressing dsRNA for targeted silencing of SmDSR33 were generated, and the feeding experiments showed attenuated expression levels of SmDSR33 in aphids and reduced fecundity, survival, and reproduction. Altered feeding behaviors were observed in electroneurography assays. The results suggest that SmDSR33 can be an effective RNAi target for wheat aphid control.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Miryam Perez-Canamas, Michael Taliansky, Carmen Hernandez
Summary: In order for productive infections to occur, viruses interact with host cell proteins, such as fibrillarin and coilin in the nucleolus/Cajal bodies, to subdue host metabolism. This study finds that the protein p37 of Pelargonium line pattern virus is able to associate with fibrillarin and coilin, suggesting that fibrillarin may play a role in an unknown antiviral pathway targeted by p37.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pavan Kumar Kakumani, Tanit Guitart, Francois Houle, Louis-Mathieu Harvey, Benjamin Goyer, Lucie Germain, Fatima Gebauer, Martin J. Simard
Summary: The study reveals that CSDE1 interacts with miRNA-induced silencing complex miRISC in melanoma, affecting the expression of PMEPA1 gene by binding with AGO2. Additionally, miRNA miR-129-5p also represses PMEPA1 expression in melanoma, collectively regulating the impact of PMEPA1 on the progression of melanoma.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhiwen Wang, Yu Li, Borui Zhang, Xiang Gao, Mengru Shi, Sicong Zhang, Shan Zhong, Yang Zheng, Xili Liu
Summary: Spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS) is an attractive method for plant protection, but the limited uptake efficiency of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) has hindered its application against Phytophthora pathogens. In this study, functionalized carbon dots (CDs) were used to enhance the control efficacy of dsRNA against Phytophthora infestans, Phytophthora sojae, and P. capsici. The synergistic effect is attributed to improved dsRNA stability and internalization. Additionally, this is the first report of utilizing a nano-delivery system to improve the effect of SIGS against Phytophthora pathogens.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jiaqi Dong, Zhousan Zheng, Mi Zhou, Yunfei Wang, Jiajie Chen, Junjie Cen, Tiefeng Cao, Taowei Yang, Yi Xu, Guannan Shu, Xuanxuan Lu, Yanping Liang
Summary: Aberrant expression of circRNAs has been found to play a crucial role in regulating cell proliferation and metastasis in gastric cancer. A new approach for cancer treatment using nanocarriers to deliver siRNA has been proposed. In this study, it was discovered that circMAP2K2 (hsa_circRNA_102415) is abundantly expressed in gastric cancer cells and regulates the PCBP1/GPX1 axis, thereby activating the AKT/GSK3β/epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signaling pathway and enhancing the proliferation and metastatic ability of gastric cancer cells. Synthesized EGCG-LYS fibrils showed higher siRNA delivery efficiency compared to Lipofectamine 2000 (lipo2000) and effectively silenced the expression of circMAP2K2. Furthermore, the EGCG-LYS carrying siRNA successfully escaped the lysosome and achieved post-transcriptional gene silencing in the cytoplasm. The EGCG-LYS nanocarrier system carrying si-circMAP2K2 exhibited good circulating stability, excellent biosafety, and antitumor efficacy in vivo, providing a new tool and approach for the treatment of gastric cancer.
Article
Agronomy
Cheng Gong, Zezhong Yang, Yuan Hu, Qingjun Wu, Shaoli Wang, Zhaojiang Guo, Youjun Zhang
Summary: The trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) genes play a crucial role in whitefly growth and development. RNA interference (RNAi) of TPS genes in Bemisia tabaci has been shown to significantly impact metabolism and chitin biosynthesis, resulting in decreased fecundity and mortality in whiteflies. Transgenic tobacco plants with silenced TPS genes were effective in controlling whiteflies, with combinatorial RNAi showing better results compared to individual gene silencing.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Matteo Galli, Engie Martiny, Jafargholi Imani, Neelendra Kumar, Aline Koch, Jens Steinbrenner, Karl-Heinz Kogel
Summary: This study elucidates the role of HvMORC6a and its potential interactors in regulating plant immunity, showing that HvMORC6a plays a key role in resistance to biotrophic and necrotrophic plant pathogenic fungi.
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2022)
Review
Biology
Tongtong Zhu, Guangyi Niu, Yuansheng Zhang, Ming Chen, Chuan-Yun Li, Lili Hao, Zhang Zhang
Summary: Viruses rely on hosts for life and reproduction, causing various symptoms and public health threats. RNA editing plays a crucial role in virus replication, protein synthesis, infectivity, and toxicity. Host-mediated RNA editing sites have been identified in different viruses, but there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms and effects in different virus classes. This study synthesizes current knowledge of host-mediated RNA editing in viruses, presenting diverse editing mechanisms and effects between viruses and hosts.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Courtney F. Jungers, Sergej Djuranovic
Summary: This review summarizes our current knowledge on gene expression regulation through interactions of miRNAs and RBPs.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anastasia K. Atabekova, Anna D. Solovieva, Denis A. Chergintsev, Andrey G. Solovyev, Sergey Y. Morozov
Summary: One strategy that plants use to defend against viral infection is RNA silencing, or RNA interference (RNAi). This process involves small RNAs derived from viral genomic RNAs and/or mRNAs guiding an Argonaute nuclease (AGO) to target virus-specific RNAs. Viruses, in turn, have developed viral silencing suppressors (VSRs) to counteract this defense mechanism. VSRs are multifunctional proteins that not only inhibit silencing but also perform other functions in the virus infection cycle.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Arnaud Segers, Joachim Carpentier, Frederic Francis, Rudy Caparros Megido
Summary: This study investigated the potential use of RNA interference (RNAi) as a biotechnological tool for controlling the bruchid pest Callosobruchus maculatus. The researchers identified key proteins and genes involved in the RNAi mechanism and successfully reduced the expression of laccase 1 in C. maculatus using dsRNA injections. While no significant mortalities were observed, this study supports RNAi as a potential method for controlling bruchid pests.
Article
Virology
Zi-Xin Huang, Shu-Ting Zhou, Zhi-Biao Yang, Zhe Wang
Summary: Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a highly infectious and variable swine coronavirus. Traditional PEDV strain-derived vaccines provide limited protection against PEDV-variant strains due to their complex sequence diversity. Therefore, alternative antiviral strategies are urgently needed. Molnupiravir, a nucleotide analogue, can effectively inhibit PEDV replication, viral RNA and protein production, and induce mutations in the PEDV genome. Our study also showed that molnupiravir can reverse transcriptomic changes caused by viral infection, suggesting its potential as an effective treatment for PEDV infection.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yajie Gao, Yuanxiang Zhu, Hailong Wang, Ying Cheng, Dongbo Zhao, Qinmiao Sun, Dahua Chen
Summary: This study reveals that AGO proteins undergo lipid-mediated phase separation on the ER membrane to control protein synthesis. The phase separation is driven by electrostatic interactions between AGOs and lipids. Additionally, the AGO condensates recruit other proteins to catalyze and coordinate protein degradation.
Article
Microbiology
Robert Pertermann, Selvaraj Tamilarasan, Torsten Gursinsky, Giorgio Gambino, Jana Schuck, Claus Weinholdt, Hauke Lilie, Ivo Grosse, Ralph Peter Golbik, Vitantonio Pantaleo, Sven-Erik Behrens
Article
Plant Sciences
Ahmed Amer, Gehad Mohamed, Vitantonio Pantaleo, Paola Leonetti, Moemen S. Hanafy
Article
Plant Sciences
Anna Medzihradszky, Peter Gyula, Anita Sos-Hegedus, Gyoergy Szittya, Jozsef Burgyan
MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Selma Gago-Zachert, Jana Schuck, Claus Weinholdt, Marie Knoblich, Vitantonio Pantaleo, Ivo Grosse, Torsten Gursinsky, Sven-Erik Behrens
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2019)
Article
Plant Sciences
Paola Leonetti, Aysan Ghasemzadeh, Arianna Consiglio, Torsten Gursinsky, Sven-Erik Behrens, Vitantonio Pantaleo
Summary: The study reveals that plants infected with viruses produce a large amount of va siRNAs to suppress host gene expression, with some genes closely related to photosynthesis and stress response. The 22 nt long va siRNAs play a crucial role in plant's endogenous RNA silencing response to virus infections.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paola Leonetti, Vitantonio Pantaleo
Article
Virology
Aderito Tomas Pais da Cunha, Michela Chiumenti, Laurindo Chambula Ladeira, Raied Abou Kubaa, Giuliana Loconsole, Vitantonio Pantaleo, Angelantonio Minafra
Summary: Controlling CTV in nurseries is crucial, early detection and characterization of virus strains can help prevent outbreaks. High-throughput sequencing revealed a wide array of CTV strains in citrus-growing spots in Angola, with similarities to severe strains in other regions.
Article
Plant Sciences
Erzsebet Kenesi, Juan-Jose Lopez-Moya, Laszlo Orosz, Jozsef Burgyan, Lorant Lakatos
Summary: AGO2 plays a crucial role in antiviral defense in plants, attenuating symptoms of viral infection by loading with viral small RNAs and miRNAs, taking over the role of AGO1 in executing antiviral silencing mechanisms.
Review
Virology
Paola Leonetti, Johannes Stuttmann, Vitantonio Pantaleo
Summary: Viruses interact with plants through RNA-silencing mechanisms and the innate immune system. The activation of pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) by viruses in plant cells can be counteracted by viral suppression. Intracellular immune receptors may detect viral Avirulence proteins to trigger effector-triggered immunity (ETI).
Review
Microbiology
Franciska Tothne Bogdanyi, Krisztina Bozine Pullai, Pratik Doshi, Eszter Erdos, Lilla Diana Gilian, Karoly Lajos, Paola Leonetti, Peter Istvan Nagy, Vitantonio Pantaleo, Renata Petrikovszki, Bozena Sera, Aniko Seres, Barbara Simon, Ferenc Toth
Summary: The paper discusses the emergence of alternative measures to control plant parasitic nematodes in recent years, emphasizing the potential role of compost and soil-dwelling organisms in combating PPNs. It highlights key factors of suppressivity and underscores the importance of municipal green waste in this aspect, calling for more research on MGWC.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Robert Pertermann, Ralph Peter Golbik, Selvaraj Tamilarasan, Torsten Gursinsky, Selma Gago-Zachert, Vitantonio Pantaleo, Iris Thondorf, Sven-Erik Behrens
Summary: Plant viruses can produce suppressor proteins that inhibit RNA silencing, a mechanism of antiviral plant immunity. These proteins can bind to virus-derived siRNAs and miRNAs, influencing cellular gene expression. The study found that a specific viral suppressor protein, p19, can bind to different miRNAs with varying affinities due to specific features in the RNA and protein molecules. These findings provide important insights into the efficiency and adaptability of the plant antiviral immune response.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Alessandra Lucioli, Raffaela Tavazza, Simona Baima, Karoly Fatyol, Jozsef Burgyan, Mario Tavazza
Summary: This study demonstrates that CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockout of the eIF4E1 gene can be used to broaden the resistance spectrum of potato to Potato virus Y (PVY) strains. The knockout is specific to eIF4E1 and does not affect its paralog, eIF4E2.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Silvia Rotunno, Claudia Cocozza, Vitantonio Pantaleo, Paola Leonetti, Loris Bertoldi, Giorgio Valle, Gian Paolo Accotto, Francesco Loreto, Gabriella Stefania Scippa, Laura Miozzi
Summary: In this study, conserved and novel miRNAs and their targets in Arundo donax are identified and described for the first time through the analysis of high-throughput sequencing data. This extends our knowledge about miRNAs in Poaceae and other bioenergy crops.
Article
Optics
Giorgio Saverio Senesi, Olga De Pascale, Bruno Spolon Marangoni, Anderson Rodrigues Lima Caires, Gustavo Nicolodelli, Vitantonio Pantaleo, Paola Leonetti
Summary: Recent studies have emphasized the crucial role of photosynthetic mechanisms in the defense response of plants to abiotic and biotic stresses. Innovative technologies such as photo-sensing and photo-activation have been applied for the early detection of plant pathogens to prevent their significant impact on plants. The research demonstrates that Chlorophyll Fluorescence Imaging (CFI) and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) techniques can be successfully used for early detection of pathogen attacks on tomato roots and virus-infected tobacco plants. These techniques can distinguish between control and infected plants and provide insights into the mechanisms of plant defenses against nematodes and viruses.
Letter
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paola Leonetti, Arianna Consiglio, Dennis Arendt, Ralph Peter Golbik, Luisa Rubino, Torsten Gursinsky, Sven-Erik Behrens, Vitantonio Pantaleo
Summary: In this study, plant DCL4 was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to investigate its functionality in processing dsRNA-like molecules. It was found that DCL4 is functional and can process these molecules into sRNAs. However, it showed limited efficiency in processing viral RNAs. These findings provide insights into the antiviral role of DCL4 in the host system.
CELLULAR & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LETTERS
(2023)