Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dongdong Lu, Li Feng, Jixian Zhai, Bosheng Li, Mengli Xi
Summary: The study reveals that DCL1 and DCL4 play a protective role in gene silencing in plants, preventing the production of disruptive 22nt genic siRNAs by DCL2.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Yang Liu, Jian Rao, Yingjie Mi, Lan Chen, Lijuan Feng, Qi Li, Jianing Geng, Xianguang Yang, Xiangjiang Zhan, Lili Ren, Jinfeng Chen, Xiaoming Zhang
Summary: The role of RNA interference (RNAi) in mammalian resistance to SARS-CoV-2 infection has been studied. It has been found that host microRNAs (miRNAs) are dysregulated upon infection, with downregulation of antiviral microRNAs and upregulation of microRNAs promoting viral proliferation. Moreover, virus-derived small RNAs (vsRNAs) show specific characteristics in IFN-deficient cells, indicating the deployment of RNAi pathway in combating the infection.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Bill Hendrix, Wei Zheng, Matthew J. Bauer, Ericka R. Havecker, Jennifer T. Mai, Paul H. Hoffer, Rick A. Sanders, Brian D. Eads, Amy Caruano-Yzermans, Danielle N. Taylor, Chelly Hresko, Janette Oakes, Alberto B. Iandolino, Michael J. Bennett, Jill Deikman
Summary: 22 nt siRNAs applied to leaves induce production of transitive sRNAs for targeted genes and enhance local silencing, with systemic silencing observed in particular cases. Levels of transitive siRNAs increase with the length of siRNAs. These findings suggest a functional role for transitive siRNAs in amplifying the RNAi response.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Canran Feng, Kyosuke Torimaru, Mandy Yu Theng Lim, Li-Ling Chak, Masami Shiimori, Kosuke Tsuji, Tetsuya Tanaka, Junko Iida, Katsutomo Okamura
Summary: The study focuses on sRNAs in tick cells and finds that RdRP1-dependent sRNAs are mainly derived from RNA polymerase III-transcribed genes and repetitive elements. Knockdown of RdRP homologs misregulates genes and the regulator of immune response Dsor1. The study suggests that tick sRNA pathways control multiple aspects of immune response through RNAi and regulation of signaling pathways.
Article
Plant Sciences
Lihui Wang, Hui Chen, Guoyu Chen, Guangbao Luo, Xinyan Shen, Bo Ouyang, Zhilong Bie
Summary: Tomato plants are commonly exposed to low temperatures, but the mechanisms underlying their response to cold stress are not well understood. This study identified the transcription factor SlWRKY50 as a key regulator of jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis in tomato. SlWRKY50 enhances the cold tolerance of tomato plants by directly binding to the promoter of the JA biosynthesis gene SlAOS. The JA signaling pathway, controlled by the regulator SlMYC2, mediates the expression of SlWRKY50. This research improves our understanding of the genetic basis for developing cold-resistant tomato varieties.
Article
Plant Sciences
Xing-Hai Zhang, Paveena Vichyavichien, Nicholas Nifakos, Noah Kaplan, Xiao-Lu Jin, Annalise Wellman, Alexander Spanoudis, Marcos Klingler
Summary: The wounding-responsive KED gene in tomato is rapidly and transiently elevated by wounding or ethylene treatment. The KED-lacking plants showed higher binding of Evans blue dye on wounded leaves, suggesting a possible role for KED in healing damaged tissues.
PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Sayantan Panda, Yana Kazachkova, Asaph Aharoni
Summary: Plants are capable of synthesizing a wide range of specialized metabolites to defend against pests and pathogens, but this defense mechanism can lead to a reduction in growth due to high metabolic costs. Plants have developed strategies such as regulating metabolite production, utilizing a recycling system for carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur, and spatial separation of biosynthetic enzymes to reduce the cost of chemical defense and mitigate self-toxicity.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria L. Vigh, Simon Bressendorff, Axel Thieffry, Laura Arribas-Hernandez, Peter Brodersen
Summary: Amplification of short interfering RNA (siRNAs) through RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RdRPs) is crucial in RNA silencing. In plants, microRNA (miRNA) action usually does not involve RdRPs, partly due to the activity of the cytoplasmic exosome adaptor SKI2. This study shows that inactivation of the exosome subunit RRP45B and SKI2, as well as loss of the nuclear exosome adaptor HEN2, lead to similar patterns of miRNA-induced siRNA production. Additionally, mutation of the Release Factor paralogue PELOTA1 causes siRNA production from miRNA targets that overlap with but are distinct from those affected in ski2 and rrp45b mutants. It is proposed that stalled RNA-Induced Silencing Complex (RISC) and ribosomes, rather than mRNA cleavage fragments released from RISC, trigger siRNA production, with the exosome and PELOTA1 regulating this process.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eric C. Holmes, Yun-Chu Chen, Mary Beth Mudgett, Elizabeth S. Sattely
Summary: Systemic acquired resistance (SAR) in plants is modulated by the glycosylation of N-hydroxy-pipecolic acid (NHP) and salicylic acid by UGT76B1, enhancing defense responses to bacterial pathogens. The presence of UGT76B1 increases plant resistance to pathogens.
Article
Agronomy
Rui Li, Yujing Li, Yuelin Zhang, Jiping Sheng, Hongliang Zhu, Lin Shen
Summary: The study demonstrates that knockout of SlNPR1 in tomato fruit results in increased activities of defense enzymes, changes in ROS homeostasis, and activation of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, which collectively contribute to resistance against B. cinerea.
POSTHARVEST BIOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Elizabeth M. Frick, Manoj Sapkota, Lara Pereira, Yanbing Wang, Anna Hermanns, James J. Giovannoni, Esther van der Knaap, Denise M. Tieman, Harry J. Klee
Summary: A family of methyl esterase enzymes, SlMES, in tomato fruit converts salicylic acid into the unpleasant compound, methyl salicylate, during ripening.
Article
Psychiatry
Lea Sarrar, Kirstin Goth
Summary: With the upcoming ICD-11, the diagnostic guidelines for personality disorders will shift to a dimensional severity concept, allowing for early diagnosis even in adolescence. The DSQ-22-A questionnaire for adolescents has been assessed, yielding three defense categories - adaptive, neurotic, and maladaptive - with potential applications in research, diagnostics, and therapy.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Pei Huang, Huan Huang, Xueqiang Lin, Pan Liu, Lun Zhao, Wen-Feng Nie, Jian-Kang Zhu, Zhaobo Lang
Summary: Research indicates that FVE plays a key role in DNA methylation at thousands of RdDM target regions and reduces the accumulation of 24-nucleotide siRNA. By physically interacting, FVE may function together with the downstream factor RDM15 in the RdDM pathway.
Article
Plant Sciences
Genzhong Liu, Huiyang Yu, Lei Yuan, Changxing Li, Jie Ye, Weifang Chen, Ying Wang, Pingfei Ge, Junhong Zhang, Zhibiao Ye, Yuyang Zhang
Summary: The study identified a chlorophyll-deficient mutant rcm1 in tomato fruits, which displayed yellowish fruits and altered chloroplast development. The causal gene Solyc08g005010 encoding SlRCM1 was discovered, providing new insights into the regulation of chloroplast development in tomato fruits. Knockout of SlRCM1 by the CRISPR/Cas9 system resulted in yellowish fruits, similar to the lutescent1 mutant phenotype.
HORTICULTURE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ines Modesto, Vera Inacio, Yves Van de Peer, Celia M. Miguel
Summary: This study investigated the role of small RNAs (sRNAs) in regulating the interaction between Pinus pinaster and pinewood nematodes (PWN). Several microRNAs (miRNAs) responsive to PWN were identified, and some of these miRNAs were associated with pathways related to jasmonate-response, ROS detoxification, and terpenoid biosynthesis. Furthermore, several miRNAs with putative functions in plant defense and resistance to PWN were identified by comparing resistant and susceptible plants. The study also explored the possibility of bidirectional trans-kingdom RNA silencing between P. pinaster and PWN.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Sida Zhou, Xiuying Liu, Wanyu Sun, Mengyu Zhang, Yue Yin, Song Pan, Dan He, Mi Shen, Jun Yang, Qi Zheng, Weixiang Wang
Summary: The study found that the COMPASS-like complex in Magnaporthe oryzae can promote fungal development and pathogenicity by regulating H3K4me3-targeted genes.
MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Tian Wang, Chunjiao Zhang, Hongyan Zhang, Hongliang Zhu
Summary: Horticultural food crops are vital sources of nutrients for humans, and improving their nutritional content has become a new challenge with the growing global population. Gene editing systems, like CRISPR/Cas, have been instrumental in accelerating crop improvement by precisely modifying targeted genomes. The development and comparison of various gene editors, especially the newly emerging CRISPR/Cas systems, have shown promising applications in enhancing crop traits such as yield and nutritional quality.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Liqun Ma, Ke Cheng, Jinyan Li, Zhiqi Deng, Chunjiao Zhang, Hongliang Zhu
Summary: In recent years, significant progress has been made in understanding the functional roles of plant glycine-rich RNA-binding proteins (GR-RBPs) in development and stress responses. However, many aspects of their function, RNA targeting, interaction with proteins, and consequences of RNA processes are still not well understood. Recent findings have shed light on new roles and actions of GR-RBPs in target RNA metabolism.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Zongyan Sun, Yudi Zang, Leilei Zhou, Yanping Song, Di Chen, Qiaoli Zhang, Chengxia Liu, Yuetong Yi, Benzhong Zhu, Daqi Fu, Hongliang Zhu, Guiqin Qu
Summary: This study identified a novel wound-induced RLCK-XII-2 subfamily member, SIZRK1, in tomato, which plays a significant role in regulating gene expression related to jasmonic acid biosynthesis, salicylic acid biosynthesis, and ethylene response. This new component in the wound signal transduction pathway enhances early wound-induced gene transcription and JA accumulation, ultimately increasing plant resistance to herbivorous insects.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2021)
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
Ying Gao, Zhong-Qi Fan, Qiang Zhang, Hong-Li Li, Gang-Shuai Liu, Yuan Jing, Yi-Ping Zhang, Ben-Zhong Zhu, Hong-Liang Zhu, Jian-Ye Chen, Donald Grierson, Yun-Bo Luo, Xiao-Dan Zhao, Da-Qi Fu
Summary: The study characterized SlNAM1, a NAC TF family member in tomato, which positively regulates fruit ripening initiation through the regulation of ethylene biosynthesis. Results showed that SlNAM1 directly binds to the promoters of key ethylene biosynthesis genes and activates their expression, accelerating the process of fruit ripening. This research provides insights into the mechanisms of ethylene production in the tomato fruit ripening regulatory network.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Liqun Ma, Yongfang Yang, Yuqiu Wang, Ke Cheng, Xiwen Zhou, Jinyan Li, Jingyu Zhang, Ran Li, Lingling Zhang, Keru Wang, Ni Zeng, Yanyan Gong, Danmeng Zhu, Zhiping Deng, Guiqin Qu, Benzhong Zhu, Daqi Fu, Yunbo Luo, Hongliang Zhu
Summary: The glycine-rich RNA-binding protein SlRBP1 regulates the translation of key transcripts associated with chloroplast function, maintaining chloroplast functions. Knockdown mutants of SlRBP1 showed reduced chlorophyll accumulation and impaired chloroplast ultrastructure, accompanied by deregulation of key transcripts. SlRBP1 interacts with SleIF4A2 and promotes the translation of its target RNAs, thereby regulating chloroplast functions.
Article
Plant Sciences
Yiyang Chu, Jiachen Gong, Peiwen Wu, Ye Liu, Yinglin Du, Lili Ma, Daqi Fu, Hongliang Zhu, Guiqin Qu, Benzhong Zhu
Summary: This study proposes a new INTACT method (gwINTACT) for nuclear purification in different tissues of tomato. Compared to traditional INTACT, gwINTACT increases nucleus yield and effectively removes chloroplast contamination. Gene expression analysis using gwINTACT provides more accurate results and opens up possibilities for further research on the role of nuclear gene transcription regulation in fruit ripening.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Guoning Zhu, Hongliang Zhu
Summary: This article reviews the modifications made to gene-editing systems in recent years and their applications. Modified gene-editing systems such as base editors and prime editors have been developed to enhance the precision of genome engineering. The targeting of mitochondrial genomes and RNA using CRISPR systems has also been explored. Future directions and challenges of modified gene-editing systems are discussed.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mengyang Xing, Hongli Li, Gangshuai Liu, Benzhong Zhu, Hongliang Zhu, Donald Grierson, Yunbo Luo, Daqi Fu
Summary: In this study, the researchers found that SlMADS1 plays an important role in sepals development and can directly interact with SlMC. Manipulating SlMADS1 expression not only affects sepal size, but also alters the development of other parts of tomato plants.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Lingling Zhang, Peiyu Zhang, Modi Gao, Yi Zhao, Chunjiao Zhang, Hongliang Zhu
Summary: In this study, the effects of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on apple fruit quality during long-term cold storage were investigated using integrative metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses. The results showed that 1-MCP treatment could maintain the apparent quality of fruits, inhibit rot rate and increase of soluble solids content/titratable acidity ratio, decrease ethylene release and respiratory intensity, and extend shelf life. Furthermore, 1-MCP had long-term effects on the accumulation of qualities related to metabolite and gene expression in fruits.
FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Yan Mei, Xiumei Wang, Ji Zhang, Dan Liu, Junjie He, Chunliu Huang, Jing Liao, Yingzhao Wang, Yongyi Feng, Hongyu Li, Xiuying Liu, Lingdan Chen, Wei Yi, Xi Chen, Hong-Min Bai, Xinyu Wang, Yiyi Li, Lixiang Wang, Zhigang Liang, Xianwen Ren, Li Qiu, Yuan Hui, Qingling Zhang, Qibin Leng, Jun Chen, Guangshuai Jia
Summary: By analyzing the single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics of patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) treated with neoadjuvant anti-PD-1 therapy, researchers identified a subpopulation of monocyte-derived tumor-associated macrophages that highly express the immunosuppressive SIGLEC9 gene and are resistant to anti-PD-1 treatment. Deletion of Siglece (murine homolog) resulted in suppressed tumor growth and improved survival in mouse models by activating CD4(+) T cells and CD8(+) T cells. Furthermore, Siglece deletion synergized with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment to enhance antitumor efficacy.
Article
Plant Sciences
Xindi Li, Yongfang Yang, Ni Zeng, Guiqin Qu, Daqi Fu, Benzhong Zhu, Yunbo Luo, Oren Ostersetzer-Biran, Hongliang Zhu
Summary: Research has found that the glycine-rich RNA-binding protein RZ1AL plays a crucial role in tomato ripening, particularly in fruit coloring. Knocking out RZ1AL results in reduced lycopene content and fruit weight, possibly by affecting key enzymes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis and metabolism.
HORTICULTURE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Liqun Ma, Ni Zeng, Ke Cheng, Jinyan Li, Keru Wang, Chunjiao Zhang, Hongliang Zhu
Summary: The mutant tomato fruit with green-flesh (gt) shows a muddy brown color when ripe, indicating a loss-of-function mutation. Knocking out SlSGR1 expression results in a similar color change with higher chlorophyll and carotenoid content. Transcriptome analysis reveals the involvement of SlSGR1 in fruit color change through regulation of chlorophyll degradation and carotenoid biosynthesis.
FOOD QUALITY AND SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ying Ju Li, Yang Yu, Xiuying Liu, Xian Sheng Zhang, Ying Hua Su
Summary: The study identified the function of the MEE45 gene and its mechanism for regulating seed size, revealing specific ways to regulate seed size by controlling cell proliferation and auxin biosynthesis.