Review
Plant Sciences
Inyoung Kim, Hyun Uk Kim
Summary: This review comprehensively summarizes the functions and regulation of fibrillins in plants, and proposes directions for future research.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yunjia Song, Jiaru Song, Zhigang Zhu, Hanlin Peng, Xiang Ding, Fuquan Yang, Kun Li, Xiaoqi Yu, Guosheng Yang, Yinghong Tao, Dingfang Bu, Chaoshu Tang, Yaqian Huang, Junbao Du, Hongfang Jin
Summary: This study revealed the compensatory role of endogenous SO2 in the development of hypertension due to NO deficiency, using a mouse model and cell culture system. The findings shed new light on understanding the communicational pattern between vascular endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells.
Article
Immunology
Zeming Liu, Di Hu, Jinpeng Li, Qing Xia, Yan Gong, Zhengwei Li, Qian Wu, Meilin Yi, Yihui Huang, Meng Wu, Liang Guo, Xiaohui Wu
Summary: Elevated levels of AST and AST/ALT are correlated with severity and mortality of COVID-19. Liver function tests may aid clinicians in determining prognosis for patients undergoing treatment.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hiroki Koyama, Yui Takahashi, San Matori, Hisato Kuniyoshi, Kouichi Kurose
Summary: In this study, a novel gene encoding aspartate racemase (AspRase) was successfully identified from the optic ganglion of the Japanese common squid. The squid AspRase is structurally and phylogenetically related to aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and possesses both AspRase and AST activities. This finding challenges the prevailing assumption about AspRases across different animals and provides valuable insights into the evolutionary pathway of D-Asp biosynthesis.
ARCHIVES OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Daisuke Yamashita, Joshua D. Bernstock, Galal Elsayed, Hirokazu Sadahiro, Ahmed Mohyeldin, Gustavo Chagoya, Adeel Ilyas, James Mooney, Dagoberto Estevez-Ordonez, Shinobu Yamaguchi, Victoria L. Flanary, James R. Hackney, Krishna P. Bhat, Harley I. Kornblum, Nicola Zamboni, Sung-Hak Kim, E. Antonio Chiocca, Ichiro Nakano
Summary: Despite aggressive multimodal therapy, glioblastoma (GBM) still has a poor prognosis due to tumor heterogeneity at the molecular and cellular levels. This study aimed to identify metabolic differences between GBM tumor core cells and edge cells, potentially revealing new therapeutic targets related to tumor metabolism. Comprehensive metabolic analyses on high-grade glioma tissues and glioma-initiating cell culture models showed metabolic heterogeneity, with implications for targeting tyrosine metabolism in GBM, especially in the tumor core region. Activation of the enzyme tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) within this pathway influenced therapeutic resistance in the GBM core, suggesting selective inhibition of tyrosine metabolism as a promising adjuvant therapy for GBM.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY
(2021)
Article
Medical Laboratory Technology
Gjin Ndrepepa, Stefan Holdenrieder, Adnan Kastrati
Summary: It is unclear whether the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio (De Ritis ratio) with AST and ALT activities within the reference range has prognostic value in stable coronary artery disease patients. This study found that an elevated De Ritis ratio within the reference range was associated with an increased risk of mortality.
CLINICA CHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Neha Mishra, Komal Raina, Rajesh Agarwal
Summary: Studying the role of microRNAs in sulfur mustard-induced toxicity helps fill knowledge gaps in this area and serves as diagnostic markers. Further research will aid in devising preventive strategies, diagnostic tools, and therapeutic interventions.
ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mei Han, Xianglei Xu, Xue Li, Mingyue Xu, Mei Hu, Yuan Xiong, Junhu Feng, Hao Wu, Hui Zhu, Tao Su
Summary: Integrating amino acid metabolic pathways into plant defense and immune systems plays a fundamental role in stress acclimation and host-pathogen interactions. This study investigates the isoenzyme families involved in aspartate metabolic pathways in Populus trichocarpa, revealing their importance in plant growth and defense regulation. The research also demonstrates the significant induction of specific isoenzyme genes in response to pathogen infection, leading to perturbations in Asp-related metabolites. The integration of multi-omics data sheds light on the role of Asp as a mediator in metabolite biosynthesis and defense regulation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Gjin Ndrepepa, Salvatore Cassese, Maria Scalamogna, Shqipdona Lahu, Alp Aytekin, Erion Xhepa, Heribert Schunkert, Adnan Kastrati
Summary: The De Ritis ratio obtained from AST and ALT activity in the healthy range was not independently associated with higher risk of mortality. However, the De Ritis ratio obtained from aminotransferase activity outside the healthy range (but still in the reference range) was independently associated with the risk of mortality.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Dimple Patel, Sanu Thankachan, P. P. Abu Fawaz, Thejaswini Venkatesh, Shama Prasada Kabekkodu, Padmanaban S. Suresh
Summary: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs that regulate metabolic and signal transduction pathways. Recently, miRNAs were found to localize in the mitochondria, known as mitomiRs, and play a role in gene expression and cancer progression. This review explores the mechanisms by which mitomiRs alter mitochondrial metabolism, influence cancer initiation and progression, and discusses the functions of specific mitomiRs in mitochondrial metabolism and oncogenic signaling pathways.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Xiaoqing Wang, He Li, Lin Ji, Jing Cang, Hang Zhao
Summary: The study found that the AST/ALT ratio is associated with the incidence of diabetes. A higher AST/ALT ratio is associated with a lower risk of progressing into diabetes from prediabetes. This finding is important for the prevention and treatment of diabetes.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Fengling Zhou, Wei She, Lin He, Jiuqun Zhu, Lu Gu
Summary: The study did not find any significant changes in liver enzyme levels in metabolic disorder patients who received anthocyanin supplementation. The dose and duration of supplementation may contribute to the heterogeneity in results. Further high-quality studies are needed to confirm these findings.
PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Angelica Silva, Henrique Noronha, Dorotea Ricci, Sarah Frusciante, Gianfranco Diretto, Carlos Conde, Antonio Granell, Hernani Geros
Summary: This study investigated the role of plastidal VviPPT1 in grapevine secondary metabolism using pigmented cultured cells from cv Gamay freaux grapes. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of VviPPT1 resulted in a cell line with low anthocyanin content and significant changes in the metabolome. Key enzymes of the shikimate and phenylpropanoid pathways were inhibited at the protein activity and/or gene expression level.
JOURNAL OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATION
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Fangying Li, Xiaozhe Fu, Xia Luo, Qiang Lin, Hongru Liang, Yinjie Niu, Lihui Liu, Ningqiu Li
Summary: Viruses rely on host cellular metabolism to complete their life cycle, and Siniperca chuatsi rhabdovirus (SCRV) has caused significant economic losses to the Chinese perch industry. This study investigated the role of asparagine metabolism in SCRV proliferation and found that key enzymes in the aspartate metabolic pathway were upregulated during SCRV infection. Addition of asparagine and glutamine restored SCRV replication, while inhibition of the aspartate-malate shuttle pathway and knockdown of key enzymes in the asparagine biosynthesis pathway reduced SCRV production. These findings provide insights into the pathogenic mechanism of SCRV through regulation of aspartate metabolism.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jingwen Tiong, Niharika Sharma, Ramya Sampath, Nenah MacKenzie, Sayuri Watanabe, Claire Metot, Zhongjin Lu, Wayne Skinner, Yingzhi Lu, Jean Kridl, Ute Baumann, Sigrid Heuer, Brent Kaiser, Mamoru Okamoto
Summary: Nitrogen is essential for plants, but crop plants are inefficient in using applied nitrogen, leading to overuse of nitrogen fertilizers. Transgenic rice over-expressing HvAlaAT showed increased above-ground biomass with little change in nitrogen uptake rates. The study revealed that higher metabolic turnover, upregulation of glycolysis and TCA cycle genes, and involvement of phytohormonal responses may contribute to the nitrogen-use efficient phenotype. Additionally, the transgenic crop plants increased seed production under controlled environmental conditions, indicating the potential of HvAlaAT in improving nitrogen utilization efficiency.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(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
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.
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.