Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kai Bi, Loredana Scalschi, Namrata Jaiswal, Tesfaye Mengiste, Renana Fried, Ana Belen Sanz, Javier Arroyo, Wenjun Zhu, Gal Masrati, Amir Sharon
Summary: Crh proteins catalyze crosslinking of chitin and glucan polymers in fungal cell walls. Bi et al. showed that a Crh protein from the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea acts as a cytoplasmic effector and elicitor of plant defense, leading to reduced sensitivity to the pathogen in plants expressing this gene.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ye Tang, Zhennan Zhang, Zhiyuan Yang, Jiahe Wu
Summary: CRISPR/Cas9 and Agrobacterium tumefaciensvirulence proteins work together to achieve precise genome editing via homology directed repair.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Leon Otten
Summary: Analysis of 350 Agrobacterium whole genome sequences revealed a complex evolutionary history of T-DNA regions, identifying 92 different T-DNA regions and several new T-DNA genes. T-DNA regions were divided into three groups, with evidence suggesting slow, progressive evolution of gene sequences accompanied by rapid changes in overall structure. The study provides a basis for further research on T-DNA region diversity and evolution.
PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katherine A. Freitas, Julia A. Belk, Elena Sotillo, Patrick J. Quinn, Maria C. Ramello, Meena Malipatlolla, Bence Daniel, Katalin Sandor, Dorota Klysz, Jeremy Bjelajac, Peng Xu, Kylie A. Burdsall, Victor Tieu, Vandon T. Duong, Micah G. Donovan, Evan W. Weber, Howard Y. Chang, Robbie G. Majzner, Joaquin M. Espinosa, Ansuman T. Satpathy, Crystal L. Mackall
Summary: This research identified MED12 and CCNC as key genes controlling T cell function through CRISPR knockout screening. Knockout of MED12 gene enhances antitumor activity, prolongs the effector phenotype of CAR-T and TCR-T cells, and promotes the expansion of non-engineered T cells. The study reveals the importance of Mediator in T cell effector programming and provides a new target to enhance the potency of antitumor T cell responses.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Na Ning, Xin Xie, Haiyue Yu, Jie Mei, Qianqian Li, Shimin Zuo, Hanxiang Wu, Wende Liu, Zhiqiang Li
Summary: In this study, we identified MoPtep1 as an important pathogenic effector in rice blast. It localized in plant peroxisomes, and was induced in the early stage of M. oryzae infection, positively regulating pathogenicity of the fungus.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Niels Tol, Robin Schendel, Alex Bos, Maartje Kregten, Sylvia Pater, Paul J. J. Hooykaas, Marcel Tijsterman
Summary: Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation is the preferred tool for generating transgenic plants, but gene targeting (GT) events occur at low frequency and are often accompanied by random integration events. The functionality of polymerase theta (Pol theta) affects the biology of GT in plants, with its deficiency preventing T-DNA integration and ectopic GT events. Insights obtained from this study can be used for developing strategies to achieve high-quality GT events in crop plants.
Review
Plant Sciences
Geoffrey Thomson, Lauren Dickinson, Yannick Jacob
Summary: Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is a commonly used tool in agricultural biotechnology. However, the extent of genomic disruption associated with this method remains underappreciated. New technologies and previous research have shed light on the molecular mechanisms and consequences of DNA integration into plant genomes using Agrobacterium.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiaojing Chen, Shaojuan Lai, Chuxiong Zhuang, Jilei Huang, Yufei Hu
Summary: The study utilized SC-PCR to detect single-copy T-DNA plants and found that single-copy T-DNA integrations were more frequent in transgenic T-1 Arabidopsis without a vector backbone. By combining negative screening of the vector backbone and SC-PCR, they efficiently identified single-copy T-DNA plants. Additionally, the study highlighted the need to reevaluate PCR-based methods for detecting T-DNA copy number in plants containing inverted T-DNA repeats.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yanfei Wu, Lihong Xie, Yueming Jiang, Taotao Li
Summary: This review discusses the functional characterization and molecular mechanisms of fungal effector proteins in promoting pathogenesis and suppressing plant defense. It also explores the cell localization of effector proteins during fungal infection. The paper provides a comprehensive review of bioinformatic and experimental methods for identifying fungal effector proteins, as well as the secretion pathways and verification methods in plant host cells. Comparative genomic studies and functional analysis with a wider range of hosts are suggested for future research to enhance our understanding of fungal effectors.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Le Tang, Shuqi Dong, Nadia Rasheed, Hao Weng Wu, Ningkun Zhou, Huadong Li, Meilin Wang, Jun Zheng, Jun He, William Chong Hang Chao
Summary: The study reveals that Rhs proteins, an ancient giant protein fold, can act as polymorphic toxins in interbacterial competitions through the ABC complex or T6SS. The research on Vibrio parahaemolyticus shows that RhsP-dependent prey targeting requires T6SS2 and RhsP can self-cleave into fragments, with the toxic C-terminal fragment binding to VgrG2. The alternative conformation of VIR, encapsulated inside the Rhs b barrel structure, triggers RhsP dimerization and plays a significant role in prey targeting.
Review
Immunology
Maximilian Wiendl, Emily Becker, Tanja M. Mueller, Caroline J. Voskens, Markus F. Neurath, Sebastian Zundler
Summary: Inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are multifactorial diseases with an increasing prevalence and incidence worldwide. Targeting immune cell homing has become an important pillar of IBD therapy, with potential for further therapeutic interventions. Leukocyte trafficking and tissue-derived chemokines offer untapped resources for potential therapeutic interventions in IBD.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Xiao Man Wu, Hong Fang, Jie Zhang, Yong Hong Bi, Ming Xian Chang
Summary: The study demonstrates the role of piscine H2A in negative regulation of the RLR signaling pathway and host immune response against SVCV infection. SVCV infection alters the subcellular localization of H2A from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, which in turn impairs the expression of genes involved in the RLR signaling pathway.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Ye Zhao, Rong Liang, Jinlong Cheng, Jing Zhao, Jia Xue, Guozhong Zhanga
Summary: This study reveals the impact of a deletion in the accessory gene 5a on the replication and synthesis of gamma-coronavirus Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). The deletion leads to a decrease in protein synthesis, offspring virus assembly, and virion release. Additionally, the 5a protein interacts with host nuclear and cytoplasmic transport-related proteins, promoting the relocation of IBV N protein into the cell nucleus.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Brigette C. Duckworth, Raymond Z. Qin, Joanna R. Groom
Summary: Lymph nodes play a critical role in immune response and immunosurveillance. Intranodal migration is essential for T cell activation and differentiation. The spatial regulation of T cell fates and the potential for promoting T-SCM differentiation are areas of focus for future research.
IMMUNOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Denis Faure
Summary: This article is a commentary on the study conducted by Nishizawa-Yokoi et al. (2021), providing analysis and evaluation of the content.