Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Suman Wang, Ziyan Xu, Meili Li, Mengqi Lv, Siyuan Shen, Yunyu Shi, Fudong Li
Summary: Multiple proteins bind to telomeric DNA and are important for maintaining genome stability. This study focused on ZBTB10, a telomeric variant repeat-binding protein, and identified its specific recognition mechanisms for telomeric sequences. The crystal structures of ZBTB10 in complex with telomeric DNA demonstrated its vital residues and revealed how it differs from another telomeric DNA-binding protein TZAP. The study also discovered a mutant of ZBTB10 with a preference for a different telomeric DNA sequence, providing further insights into telomeric DNA recognition by C2H2 zinc finger proteins.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Libang Ma, Xu Li, Zhiwei Zhao, Yuhao Hao, Ruixin Shang, Desheng Zeng, Hongtao Liu
Summary: Cryptochromes (crys) are blue-light receptors found in plants, with cry2 protein abundance modulated by ambient temperature and degraded under low temperatures via the 26S proteasome. This degradation is blue-light-dependent and promotes interaction with LRB proteins, which modulate cry2 ubiquitination and protein stability in response to temperature changes.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Dongrong Li, Ding Sun, Yehan Zhu
Summary: The study revealed that the expression of Nrf2, Bach1, and gamma-GCS in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of COPD patients was dysregulated and related to lung function.
EXPERIMENTAL AND THERAPEUTIC MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Leila Rassizadeh, Raquel Cervero, Victor Flors, Jordi Gamir
Summary: The plant immune system has evolved to perceive damage similar to mammals. Damaged-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are signals generated in wounded or infected tissue, with extracellular DNA (eDNA) being a key signal. This study found that after eDNA applications, plants induce signaling defenses which enhance broad-range protection, providing insights into the mechanisms behind eDNA-induced resistance.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Arnab Ghosh, Mamta P. Sumi, Blair Tupta, Toshihiro Okamoto, Kulwant Aulak, Masato Tsutsui, Hiroaki Shimokawa, Serpil C. Erzurum, Dennis J. Stuehr
Summary: Low doses of NO have a dual effect on the maturation of key hemeproteins, acting both to promote and inhibit heme-insertion, while high NO doses inhibit heme-insertion. This phenomenon is observed in soluble guanylyl cyclase, globins, nitric oxide synthases, and Myeloperoxidase. The effects of low NO on hemeprotein maturation require the presence of the NO-sGC-cGMP signal pathway.
News Item
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emil Martin
Summary: The susceptibility of nitric oxide to scavenging and oxidation restricts its availability and signaling role. However, recent studies suggest that a NO-ferroheme adduct is resistant to these limitations and may function as an alternative signaling molecule derived from nitric oxide in vasculature.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elizabeth A. Sweeny, Andrew P. Hunt, Allison E. Batka, Simon Schlanger, Nicolai Lehnert, Dennis J. Stuehr
Summary: Nitric oxide (NO) serves as a ubiquitous cell signaling molecule, mediating various processes by activating or inactivating protein targets. Research shows that NO can increase NOX5 activity through heme-dependent effects, shedding light on NOX5 regulation and the impact of NO on hemeprotein activity.
FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cinzia Verde, Daniela Giordano, Stefano Bruno
Summary: Heme proteins exhibit dual reactivity towards nitric oxide (NO) and cysteine residues, resulting in heme-dependent nitrosylation and S-nitrosylation. This interplay between heme proteins and NO plays a crucial role in the production, scavenging, and transport of nitrogen compounds. Understanding the biological functions associated with heme nitrosylation and S-nitrosylation is important in elucidating signaling pathways.
Article
Cell Biology
Mamta P. Sumi, Blair Tupta, Arnab Ghosh
Summary: NO acts as a vasodilator and triggers heme insertion into hemoglobin and myoglobin. This process is dose-dependent, with better efficiency at lower doses. It involves both transcriptional and translational events.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jia Wang, Xiaoyi Li, Jing-Wen Chang, Tong Ye, Ying Mao, Xiao Wang, Lin Liu
Summary: This study characterized the binding and degradation of heme by Arabidopsis thaliana heme oxygenase-1 (AtHO-1) and found that ferredoxin is not essential in its enzymatic activity. The crystal structure of heme-bound AtHO-1 was reported, revealing both conserved and previously undescribed features of plant heme oxygenases. Furthermore, a possible electron transfer pathway from ferredoxin-NADP(+) reductase (FNR) to AtHO-1 was suggested based on structural information.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rui Liu, Yunlu Kang, Lei Chen
Summary: The authors present structures of human sGC in complex with NO and sGC stimulators or activator, shedding light on the mechanism of sGC activation by pharmacological compounds.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giovanna De Simone, Alessandra di Masi, Paolo Ascenzi
Summary: Nitric oxide is a crucial signaling molecule involved in various biological processes. Pathogens have developed mechanisms to evade host NO and protect themselves from stress.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Kikumi D. Ono-Moore, I. Mark Olfert, Jennifer M. Rutkowsky, Sree Chintapalli, Brandon J. Willis, Michael L. Blackburn, D. Keith Williams, Juliana O'Reilly, Todd Tolentino, K. C. Kent Lloyd, Sean H. Adams
Summary: Comprehensive metabolic studies showed that the loss of myoglobin does not significantly impact glucose homeostasis, EE, RER, or response to cold challenge in mice, indicating that myoglobin is not necessary for maintaining oxidative metabolism. However, there is a sex-specific effect of myoglobin knockout on fat storage and feed efficiency, as evident from the increased adiposity in female Mb-/- mice.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yue Gan, Hassan R. S. Abdellatif, Jing Zhang, Yanshan Wan, Qimiao Zeng, Jingwen Chen, Jiupai Ni, Yang Zhang, Shengzhe E, Chengsheng Ni
Summary: Gaseous nitrogen oxides produced by biological reactions in the soil impact air quality and global warming. Red soil exhibits significant photocatalytic oxidation effect on NO in the air, playing an important role in NO2 emissions.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Yoon Kyung Choi, Young-Myeong Kim
Summary: The interaction between CO and NO plays a crucial role in maintaining vascular homeostasis and regeneration by improving endothelial function and promoting cell-cell communication, thus sustaining the health of cardiovascular and neurovascular systems.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Letter
Plant Sciences
Juan C. Moreno, Salim Al-Babili
Review
Plant Sciences
Alice Stra, Lamyaa O. Almarwaey, Yagiz Alagoz, Juan C. Moreno, Salim Al-Babili
Summary: Carotenoids are natural pigments produced by plants, algae, bacteria, and microorganisms, playing essential roles in light-harvesting and protecting the photosynthetic apparatus. They are also precursors of important metabolites like vitamin A and phytohormones. Genetic engineering and metabolic engineering have been used to enhance carotenoid content and production, with recent advances including CRISPR technologies and viral vectors. Manipulating carotenoid biosynthesis can improve crop yield and growth, making it an important target for crop improvements. This article provides an overview of carotenoid biosynthesis and discusses the latest advances in synthetic carotenoid metabolism in plants and microorganisms.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiongjie Zheng, Yasha Zhang, Aparna Balakrishna, Kit Xi Liew, Hendrik N. J. Kuijer, Ting Ting Xiao, Ikram Blilou, Salim Al-Babili
Summary: Vitamin A deficiency is a global health issue that can be addressed by biofortifying crops with pro-vitamin A carotenoids. This study explores the engineering of carotenoid formation and storage in the cytosol of plant cells using a fungal carotenoid pathway. The engineered carotenoids accumulate in cytosolic lipid droplets and exhibit higher light stability compared to plastidial carotenoids. This research opens up opportunities for enhancing carotenoid biofortification in crops.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Katya M. Aguliar M. Perez, Yagiz Alagoz, Batoul Maatouk, Jian You Wang, Lamis Berqdar, Somayah Qutub, Muhammad Jamil, Sara AlNasser, Nouf BinSaleh, Peiyu Lin, Lamyaa Almarwaey, Tadao Asami, Salim Al-Babili, Niveen M. Khashab
Summary: Sustainable and precise fortification practices are necessary for ensuring food security. This study demonstrates that biomimetic mineralization can effectively encapsulate and control the release of plant biostimulants to improve crop quality and yield in field experiments.
Article
Plant Sciences
Imran Haider, Yunmeng Zhang, Fred White, Changsheng Li, Roberto Incitti, Intikhab Alam, Takashi Gojobori, Carolien Ruyter-Spira, Salim Al-Babili, Harro J. Bouwmeester
Summary: Phosphorus (P) is essential for plant growth and development. Plants respond to P shortage by increasing the production and exudation of strigolactones (SLs), although their exact role in mitigating P deficiency is not well understood.
Article
Agronomy
Muhammad Jamil, Jian You Wang, Lamis Berqdar, Yagiz Alagoz, Ahmed Behisi, Salim Al-Babili
Summary: The root-parasitic plant Striga hermonthica poses a significant threat to cereal production in Sub-Saharan Africa. Inducing suicidal germination of Striga seeds is a promising strategy to deplete the seed bank in infested soils. This study explores the potential of cytokinins as germination agents and demonstrates the efficacy of thidiazuron in inducing Striga seed germination.
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Jian You Wang, Valentina Fiorilli, Luisa Lanfranco, Tadao Asami, Salim Al-Babili
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Abdugaffor Ablazov, Abrar Felemban, Justine Braguy, Hendrik N. J. Kuijer, Salim Al-Babili
Summary: With increasing throughput in both the generation and phenotyping of mutant lines in plants, it is important to have an efficient and reliable genotyping method. We propose an alternative workflow using Phire polymerase and ExoProStar treatment for genotyping mutant plants, which is faster, cheaper, and reduces the risk of contamination and mistakes. The automated sequence analysis systems used in this workflow are accurate and suitable for bulk analysis.
Review
Plant Sciences
Gwendolyn K. Kirschner, Ting Ting Xiao, Muhammad Jamil, Salim Al-Babili, Vinicius Lube, Ikram Blilou
Summary: Parasitic plants invade their host through the formation of haustoria, which is facilitated by the plant hormones auxin and cytokinin.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jian You Wang, Guan-Ting Erica Chen, Justine Braguy, Muhammad Jamil, Lamis Berqdar, Salim Al-Babili
Summary: Strigolactones (SLs) are secreted by plant roots to inhibit shoot branching/tillering and attract symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi, but can also be used by parasitic weeds to induce seed germination. The OsMAX1-1900 gene in rice does not affect SL metabolism or rice architecture, indicating functional redundancy among rice MAX1 homologs.
JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Muhammad Jamil, Pei-Yu Lin, Lamis Berqdar, Jian You Wang, Ikuo Takahashi, Tsuyoshi Ota, Noor Alhammad, Guan-Ting Erica Chen, Tadao Asami, Salim Al-Babili
Summary: The newly discovered apocarotenoid zaxinone plays a crucial role in regulating rice growth and development. It has been shown that zaxinone and its mimics (MiZax3 and MiZax5) can promote crop growth and reduce infestation by root parasitic plant Striga through the inhibition of strigolactone production, suggesting their potential in agriculture and horticulture. In this study, a series of new MiZax mimics were developed via structural modification of MiZax3 and MiZax5, and their effects on plant growth and Striga infestation were evaluated. The modified mimics did not show significant improvement in overall performance, but certain activities were enhanced. It was concluded that MiZax5 and especially MiZax3 remain the most efficient mimics for controlling Striga infestation.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sylvia Mutinda, Muhammad Jamil, Jian You Wang, Lamis Berqdar, Elijah Ateka, Emily S. Bellis, Salim Al-Babili, Steven Runo
Summary: Striga, a parasitic plant, greatly limits the production of staple cereals in Africa. This article discusses the importance of resistance to Striga in sorghum genotypes and their potential role in alleviating food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa. By leveraging genomics, researchers have identified new Striga-resistant sorghum genotypes, which could significantly reduce crop losses caused by Striga infestation.
PLANTS PEOPLE PLANET
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Kaijie Zhu, Yimei Feng, Yufeng Huang, Dongmei Zhang, Muhammad Ateeq, Xiongjie Zheng, Salim Al-Babili, Guohuai Li, Junwei Liu
Summary: β-CCA enhances drought tolerance in peach seedlings by improving photosynthesis and reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, indicating its potential for drought control in peach and other fruit crops.
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Dimitrios Tsiachris, Christos-Konstantinos Antoniou, Ioannis Doundoulakis, Panagiota Manolakou, Demetrios Sougiannis, Athanasios Kordalis, Konstantinos A. Gatzoulis, Gian-Battista Chierchia, Carlo de Asmundis, Christodoulos Stefanadis, Konstantinos Tsioufis
Summary: Nowadays, cryoballoon (CB) has become an established alternative to radio frequency (RF) ablation for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), with the ability to isolate PVs in a single application. In a study on over 1000 consecutive patients, our center optimized the CB PVI procedure. It is expected that future guidelines will recommend CB as the first-line PVI for patients with paroxysmal AF and a class I indication. In a long-term follow-up of the EARLY-AF trial, CB showed a lower incidence of persistent atrial fibrillation compared to anti-arrhythmic drugs.
JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR DEVELOPMENT AND DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jian You Wang, Justine Braguy, Salim Al-Babili
Summary: The cleavage of plant carotenoids produces apocarotenoids, a group of metabolites including precursors of strigolactones (SLs) and abscisic acid, which are regulatory and signaling molecules. Zaxinone, a recently discovered apocarotenoid, acts as a growth regulator and suppresses SL biosynthesis in rice. Co-supplying zaxinone and synthetic SL analog rac-GR24 to the SL-deficient rice mutant revealed that zaxinone and GR24 act independently to regulate root and shoot growth and development in rice.
PLANT SIGNALING & BEHAVIOR
(2023)