Article
Plant Sciences
Alia Anwar, Ke Wang, Jing Wang, Lei Shi, Lipu Du, Xingguo Ye
Summary: The ectopic expression of Arabidopsis AtOAT gene in wheat enhanced its drought and salt tolerances by increasing proline content and peroxidase activity, showing partial tolerance to heat stress as well. The up-regulation of proline biosynthesis associated genes and down-regulation of proline catabolic gene in transgenic wheat plants under stress conditions contributed to the enhanced abiotic tolerance via modifying proline biosynthesis.
PLANT CELL REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nemanja Vuksanovic, Trevor R. Melkonian, Dante A. Serrano, Alan W. Schwabacher, Nicholas R. Silvaggi
Summary: In this study, the enzyme MppQ from Streptomyces hygroscopicus was characterized. The crystal structures of MppQ complexed with PLP and PMP were determined, showing its similarity to PLP-dependent aminotransferases. Functional analysis revealed that MppQ is the final enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of L-End. Additionally, MppQ was found to have a potential role in increasing the efficiency of L-End biosynthesis by converting 2-ketoarginine back to l-arginine.
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Yuxin Leng, Chao Jiang, Xiaofang Xing, Ming-Shian Tsai, Michael Snyder, Aixia Zhai, Gaiqi Yao
Summary: The study demonstrates that a 7-day pretreatment with single-species probiotics, L92, can prevent severe intestinal barrier dysfunction induced by IAH, potentially through microbial modulation. On the other hand, no significant protective effects were observed in the group pretreated with the multi-species probiotics VSL#3.
Article
Neurosciences
Jens Andersen, Kia H. Markussen, Emil Jakobsen, Arne Schousboe, Helle S. Waagepetersen, Paul A. Rosenberg, Blanca Aldana
Summary: Glutamate plays a crucial role in brain function, with its recycling dependent on metabolic collaboration between neurons and astrocytes. In addition to its involvement in brain energy metabolism, glutamate also serves as a hub connecting glucose and amino acid metabolism, disruptions in which can lead to neuronal excitotoxicity. Understanding the regulation of glutamate-dependent metabolic processes may provide new insights and targets for treating neurodegenerative diseases.
Article
Plant Sciences
Lei Kan, Qicong Liao, Zhipeng Chen, Shuyu Wang, Yifei Ma, Zhiyao Su, Lu Zhang
Summary: The study utilized second-generation sequencing and metabolomics analysis to investigate the changes in gene expression and metabolite accumulation in different post-germination stages of Madhuca pasquieri. The results highlighted the significant impact of flavonoid biosynthesis on the growth of seedlings in this rare and endangered species.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hong Lang, Yuting He, Faliang Zeng, Fan Xu, Minghui Zhao, Dianrong Ma
Summary: The study compared the sensitivity of weedy rice to abscisic acid (ABA) with cultivated rice, revealing that weedy rice showed higher ABA sensitivity and rapid promotion of antioxidant enzyme activity. Transcriptomic analysis showed that genes related to stress defense, hormone signal transduction, and metabolic pathways were highly expressed in weedy rice in response to ABA treatment. The findings provide new insight into the ABA response mechanisms between weedy and cultivated rice.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wuxian Zhou, Yuanyuan Duan, Xiaogang Jiang, Xuhui Tan, Qin Li, Hua Wang, Yajuan Zhang, Meide Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the potential molecular mechanisms underlying seed germination in Michelia chapensis Dandy under cold stratification through transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. The results revealed that the seed germination of M. chapensis was mainly regulated by the biological pathways of plant hormone signal transduction, energy supply, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, photosynthesis-related metabolism, and transcriptional regulation. This study provides a foundation for unraveling the molecular mechanisms regulating the seed germination of M. chapensis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Neha Sinha, Juergen Eirich, Iris Finkemeier, Bernhard Grimm
Summary: This study aimed to explore the role of glutamate-1-semialdehyde aminotransferase (GSAAT) in the control of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthesis and the formation of a protein complex with glutamyl-tRNA reductase (GluTR). It was found that GSAAT2 plays a major role in ALA synthesis and that GluTR accumulation is higher in gsa2 mutants. A modeled structure of the protein complex indicated that GluTR-binding protein (GBP) mediates the stable association of GluTR and GSAAT, ensuring adequate ALA synthesis.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Anping Su, Qijun Yu, Ying Luo, Jinshui Yang, Entao Wang, Hongli Yuan
Summary: GABA and ALA play important roles in agriculture, medicine, and other fields, with microbial synthesis becoming an inevitable trend for their production. The development of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology has accelerated, increasing the yield of GABA and ALA in microorganisms.
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Francisco Ortigosa, Cesar Lobato-Fernandez, Hitomi Shikano, Concepcion Avila, Shu Taira, Francisco M. Canovas, Rafael A. Canas
Summary: This study on maritime pine revealed that ammonium induces changes in root system architecture, promoting lateral root branching and principal root growth. The mechanism involves crosstalk between plant hormones and transcriptional regulation.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jorge El-Azaz, Francisco M. Canovas, Belen Barcelona, Concepcion Avila, Fernando de la Torre
Summary: The research revealed that a key step in the biosynthesis of Phenylalanine in plants experienced feedback de-regulation during evolution, leading to a relaxation of regulation in certain ADT enzymes and a significant accumulation of Phenylalanine in plant tissues, enabling the massive production of compounds like lignin.
Article
Plant Sciences
Daniel Marino, Rafael A. Canas, Marco Betti
Summary: Agriculture is challenged with adapting to climate change while reducing environmental impact and maintaining or increasing crop yields. The plastidic glutamine synthetase (GS2) enzyme is considered a key candidate for improving crop performance, but its absence in Arabidopsis confers tolerance towards ammonium stress, contradicting previous assumptions. This article opens the debate on whether more or less GS2 is a desirable trait for plant productivity.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jose Miguel Valderrama-Martin, Francisco Ortigosa, Concepcion Avila, Francisco M. Canovas, Bertrand Hirel, Francisco R. Canton, Rafael A. Canas
Summary: This study classifies and phylogenetically analyzes the glutamine synthetase (GS) genes in plants. The results show that there are three clusters of GS genes in plants: GS1a, GS1b, and GS2. GS2 genes are widely present in gymnosperms, and GS1a genes are found in gymnosperms and some magnoliidae species. Additionally, GS1a is absent in more recent angiosperm species, possibly due to redundant roles of GS1a and GS2 in photosynthetic cells.
Article
Plant Sciences
Concepcion avila, Maria Teresa Llebres, Vanessa Castro-Rodriguez, Cesar Lobato-Fernandez, Isabelle Reymond, Luc Harvengt, Jean-Francois Trontin, Francisco M. Canovas
Summary: This study compared the developmental processes of somatic and zygotic embryos in pines through genome-wide transcriptome analysis. The differences between the developmental stages and the effects on metabolic pathways were identified. Additionally, differentially expressed transcription factors in these two types of embryos were analyzed, and potential key regulatory genes were identified to provide insights into the regulation of this process.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francisco Ortigosa, Concepcion avila, Lourdes Rubio, Lucia Alvarez-Garrido, Jose A. Carreira, Rafael A. Canas, Francisco M. Canovas
Summary: By analyzing the transcriptome of Spanish fir, this study revealed the correlation between needle color variation and physiological and molecular characteristics, which can guide the conservation and management of this tree species.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jose Miguel Valderrama-Martin, Francisco Ortigosa, Juan Carlos Aledo, Concepcion Avila, Francisco M. Canovas, Rafael A. Canas
Summary: The pine (Pinus pinaster) GS1 (PpGS1b.2) gene was identified and shown to have a high sequence identity with the GS1b.1 gene in conifers. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that PpGS1b.2 is restricted to Pinus and Picea genera. Gene expression data suggested a putative role of PpGS1b.2 in plant development, similar to other GS1b genes from angiosperms. Structural and kinetic analysis showed differences between GS1b.1 and GS1b.2 despite their high sequence homology.
Article
Plant Sciences
Francisco Ortigosa, Cesar Lobato-Fernandez, Juan Antonio Perez-Claros, Francisco R. Canton, Concepcion Avila, Francisco M. Canovas, Rafael A. Canas
Summary: Epitranscriptome serves as a checkpoint for gene expression in all living organisms, and nitrogen nutrition influences gene expression through epitranscriptomic modifications. This study revealed that increased m(6)A deposition in response to ammonium is correlated with mRNA poly(A) lengths and protein abundance. It was also found that the epitranscriptome finely regulates protein translation by modulating mRNA poly(A) length, transcript abundance, and ribosome protein composition. Integration of multiomics data suggests that the epitranscriptome modulates responses to nutritional, developmental, and environmental changes by buffering, filtering, and focusing the final products of gene expression.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Forestry
Jose M. Valderrama-Martin, Francisco Ortigosa, Francisco R. Canton, Concepcion Avila, Rafael A. Canas, Francisco M. Canovas
Summary: This review summarizes the molecular regulation of nitrogen assimilation in gymnosperms and recent advances in this field. Despite the challenges in experimental research on extant gymnosperms, the development of high-throughput sequencing and refined multiomics technologies has allowed to explore the molecular basis of essential processes in this ancient lineage of plants. Nitrogen uptake, metabolism, storage and recycling are crucial processes for gymnosperm biology, as they determine vascular development and biomass production in woody plants.
TREES-STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Maria Teresa Llebres, Vanessa Castro-Rodriguez, Maria Belen Pascual, Concepcion Avila, Francisco M. Canovas
Summary: This study identified PpAAP1 as a high-affinity arginine transporter in maritime pine, which plays a crucial role in nitrogen nutrition in trees. The results demonstrate the importance of amino acid transport systems in understanding nutrient uptake mechanisms in forest trees.