Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ricardo Castro, Ana Gonzalez-Feliu, Marcelo Munoz-Vera, Felipe Valenzuela-Riffo, Carolina Parra-Palma, Luis Morales-Quintana
Summary: In this study, the role of auxin in the fruit-ripening process of commercial strawberry fruits was investigated. The results showed that exogenous auxin treatment delayed the cell wall disassembly process in strawberries, leading to less degradation of cell wall polymers in the fruits.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Ricardo I. Castro, Marcelo Munoz-Vera, Luis Morales-Quintana
Summary: A comparative study of the changes in the physicochemical properties of the cell wall-associated polysaccharide contents of two strawberry fruit cultivars, Cristal and Portola, revealed that Cristal sample exhibited higher thermal stability than Portola sample.
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Ricardo I. Castro, Marcelo Munoz-Vera, Carolina Parra-Palma, Felipe Valenzuela-Riffo, Carlos R. Figueroa, Luis Morales-Quintana
Summary: The fruit of Fragaria chiloensis, known as Chilean strawberry, is praised for its exceptional taste and aroma. However, it is prone to softening at a high rate. A study on the changes in cell wall-associated polysaccharide contents of Chilean strawberry fruit revealed lower thermal stability in ripe samples and a higher cumulative depolymerization rate. This relationship between cell wall polymer degradation and solid soluble concentration/firmness ratio can help understand fruit development.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Laura Bacete, Julia Schulz, Timo Engelsdorf, Zdenka Bartosova, Lauri Vaahtera, Guqi Yan, Joachim Matthias Gerhold, Tereza Ticha, Camilla Ovstebo, Nora Gigli-Bisceglia, Svanhild Johannessen-Starheim, Jeremie Margueritat, Hannes Kollist, Thomas Dehoux, Scott A. M. McAdam, Thorsten Hamann
Summary: Plant cells have a mechanism to maintain the integrity of their cell walls, which involves adaptive responses to wall damage. The cell wall integrity sensor THESEUS1 plays a key role in regulating mechanical properties, abscisic acid production, and jasmonic acid production in response to wall damage. This mechanism coordinates changes in cell wall stiffness and turgor pressure.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Horticulture
Qian Zhou, Fan Zhang, Shujuan Ji, Hongyu Dai, Xin Zhou, Baodong Wei, Shunchang Cheng, Aide Wang
Summary: Abscisic acid plays a promoting role in postharvest blueberry softening by regulating cell wall metabolism and phytohormone accumulation, while the ABA inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid delays the softening process.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sirvan Mansouri, Mahmoud Koushesh Saba, Hassan Sarikhani
Summary: Exogenous melatonin can delay the ripening process of strawberry fruit, reduce anthocyanin content and fruit color, and increase titratable acidity and softening. In addition, exogenous melatonin can increase total phenol content and levels of various acids in the fruit, while reducing H2O2 levels and endogenous ABA accumulation.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jinxi Wang, Jie Gao, Lanjie Zheng, Yihan Fu, Li Ji, Changyu Wang, Shasha Yuan, Jingyu Yang, Jin Liu, Gezi Li, Pengfei Wang, Yonghua Wang, Xu Zheng, Guozhang Kang
Summary: Exogenous ABA can alleviate the growth inhibition of wheat seedlings caused by mercury by promoting cell wall formation and suppressing the translocation of mercury from roots to shoots.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Renchi Chen, Yingyin Wu, Xiaobo Wei, Zhihai Huang, Linchun Mao
Summary: This study investigated the interaction between ethylene and abscisic acid (ABA) in the ripening of strawberry fruit. It was found that ethylene promoted ABA biosynthesis by repressing miR161 expression. Furthermore, miR161 was shown to negatively regulate ABA biosynthesis by suppressing FaNCED1 expression. These findings suggest a potential molecular mechanism of collaboration between ethylene and ABA through miR161 in postharvest strawberry fruit.
POSTHARVEST BIOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Felix Juan Martinez-Rivas, Rosario Blanco-Portales, Francisco Javier Molina-Hidalgo, Jose Luis Caballero, Leonardo Perez de Souza, Saleh Alseekh, Alisdair R. Fernie, Juan Munoz-Blanco, Antonio Rodriguez-Franco
Summary: This study found that the process of strawberry ripening can be inhibited by altering hormone balance and gene expression through injection of the hypomethylating compound AZA. These findings contradict previous studies on other fruits and suggest that strawberry ripening is governed by methylation marks.
Article
Agronomy
Lei Wang, Zisheng Luo, Mingyi Yang, Ze Liang, Ming Qi, Yingying Dong, Yanqun Xu, Xingyu Lin, Li Li
Summary: In this study, it was found that red-light irradiation can promote the red coloration and increase the pelargonidin-based anthocyanins in postharvest strawberries. It was also discovered that red light can regulate the accumulation of pelargonidin-based anthocyanins through the ABA-related pathway.
POSTHARVEST BIOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yiru Wang, Junli Zhang, Minghao Sun, Cheng He, Ke Yu, Bing Zhao, Rui Li, Jian Li, Zongying Yang, Xiao Wang, Haiyang Duan, Junjie Fu, Sanzhen Liu, Xuebin Zhang, Jun Zheng
Summary: The study revealed that many transporters and transcription factors were upregulated in maize vivipary mutants, playing important roles in seed germination. Genes related to abscisic acid and gibberellin biosynthesis and signaling showed a uniform expression pattern. Metabolomics analysis identified unique metabolites, pathways, and gene networks affected by each individual mutation.
Article
Agronomy
Renchi Chen, Linchun Mao, Weiliang Guan, Xiaobo Wei, Zhihai Huang, Yingyin Wu
Summary: This study revealed the functional cross-regulation of miR5290 and FaMADS1 in ABA-mediated ripening of strawberry fruit. ABA could promote the expression of miR5290 and inhibit the expression of FaMADS1, thus accelerating anthocyanin biosynthesis and fruit ripening.
POSTHARVEST BIOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Bai-Jun Li, Yan-Na Shi, Hao-Ran Jia, Xiao-Fang Yang, Yun-Fan Sun, Jiao Lu, James J. J. Giovannoni, Gui-Hua Jiang, Jocelyn K. C. Rose, Kun-Song Chen
Summary: We constructed a coexpression network involving ABA and other phytohormone signalings in strawberry ripening and fruit quality formation. This network includes 18,998 transcripts and predicts the involvement of eight phytohormone signaling pathways in ABA-mediated ripening and fruit quality attributes. We also identified 43 hub transcripts in this network, providing valuable resources for studying non-climacteric fruit ripening and quality formation.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carmen Martin-Pizarro, Jose G. Vallarino, Sonia Osorio, Victoriano Meco, Maria Urrutia, Jeremy Pillet, Ana Casanal, Catharina Merchante, Iraida Amaya, Lothar Willmitzer, Alisdair R. Fernie, James J. Giovannoni, Miguel A. Botella, Victoriano Valpuesta, David Pose
Summary: This study identified and characterized the ripening inducing factor FaRIF in strawberry, which plays a crucial role in controlling key ripening-related processes such as fruit softening, pigment and sugar accumulation. Functional analyses through stable transgenic lines showed that FaRIF is a key regulator of strawberry fruit ripening from early developmental stages, controlling various metabolic pathways and the balance of aerobic/anaerobic metabolism. This research suggests that FaRIF is a potential target for genetic modifications to enhance the quality of strawberry fruits.
Article
Horticulture
Ayhan Kocaman
Summary: The exogenous use of abscisic acid (ABA), as a plant hormone, limited the translocation of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Hg, and Sn) into strawberry leaves, resulting in a reduction of negative effects on chlorophyll content and yield. On the other hand, phytohormones (JA, SA, zeatin, CK, GA) played a role in attenuating membrane lipid peroxidation responsible for cellular damage caused by heavy metal stress. This study suggests that exogenous ABA can be considered as a good indicator for safer food production on contaminated farmland.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ricardo I. Castro, Patricio Ramos, Carolina Parra-Palma, Luis Morales-Quintana
Summary: The review highlights Ugni molinae as a plant rich in molecules with strong antioxidant capacity, making it a potential ingredient for new functional food products.
BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Ricardo H. R. Castro
Summary: This paper presents the role of interfacial energies in understanding and controlling nanocrystalline complex oxides, and the intentional modification of interfacial energies through ionic doping. It introduces a new perspective on systematically understanding the role of interfacial energies in microstructural control, especially in nanocrystalline processing.
CURRENT OPINION IN SOLID STATE & MATERIALS SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ricardo Castro, Ana Gonzalez-Feliu, Marcelo Munoz-Vera, Felipe Valenzuela-Riffo, Carolina Parra-Palma, Luis Morales-Quintana
Summary: In this study, the role of auxin in the fruit-ripening process of commercial strawberry fruits was investigated. The results showed that exogenous auxin treatment delayed the cell wall disassembly process in strawberries, leading to less degradation of cell wall polymers in the fruits.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ana Claudia Paiva-Santos, Ana Luisa Silva, Catarina Guerra, Diana Peixoto, Miguel Pereira-Silva, Mahdi Zeinali, Filipa Mascarenhas-Melo, Ricardo Castro, Francisco Veiga
Summary: The use of nanotechnology in developing efficient drug delivery systems, such as ethosomes, which contain a high concentration of ethanol, has unique advantages in enhancing drug permeation across the skin. Ethosomes show promise as an alternative to traditional liposomes for delivering therapeutic agents for various skin pathologies, with potential applications in acne, psoriasis, alopecia, skin infections, hormonal deficiencies, among others. Further research is needed to fully explore the potential of ethosomal-based formulations in skin delivery of active ingredients.
PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Ricardo I. Castro, Luis Morales-Quintana, Nancy Alvarado, Luis Guzman, Oscar Forero-Doria, Felipe Valenzuela-Riffo, V. Felipe Laurie
Summary: The study aimed to characterize and optimize the formation of molecular complexes using calcium alginate and reduced glutathione, with varying concentrations of calcium and GSH analyzed for their influence on microcapsule production. The optimal conditions proposed by response surface methodology were found to result in a theoretical concentration of 0.043 mg GSH per mg of CAG complex.
Article
Environmental Sciences
L. Morales-Quintana, D. Bustos, J. Gallego, O. Valdes, L. Guzman, F. M. Nachtigall, A. Marican, E. W. Hernandez-Rodriguez, F. Avila-Salas, W. Bueno-Silva, L. S. Santos, R. Castro
Summary: The study shows that melamine resin derivatives can effectively remove glyphosate from water as adsorbents, with adsorption efficiency comparable to activated carbon.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luis Morales-Quintana, Daisy Tapia-Valdebenito, Ricardo Castro, Claudia Rabert, Giovanni Larama, Ana Gutierrez, Patricio Ramos
Summary: A comparative study of the changes in the physiological properties of the cell-wall-associated polysaccharide contents of Deschampsia antarctica was performed. The study found that aerial tissues had lower thermal stability compared to root tissues. Depolymerization of carbohydrate polymers was observed in the cell wall, with cellulose and hemicellulose fragments being the main components. The study also identified a differentially expressed sequence encoding for an expansin-like protein, DaEXLA2, which is involved in cell wall remodeling. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that DaEXLA2 can interact with cellulose and XXXGXXXG polymers. This research provides a basis for understanding the changes in cell wall polymers in response to extreme environmental conditions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Daniel Bustos, Erix W. Hernandez-Rodriguez, Ricardo I. Castro, Luis Morales-Quintana
Summary: This study characterized and optimized the formation of a molecular complex of calcium alginate with GSH using a computational approach. The results showed that complex stabilization depends on pH and the amount of calcium cations, with lower pH and lower calcium amount leading to greater GSH release. These findings have important implications for developing better methodological frameworks and understanding compound release or capture in alginate nanoparticles.
BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Oscar Forero-Doria, Cristobal Parra-Cid, Whitney Venturini, Carolina Espinoza, Ramiro Araya-Maturana, Felipe Valenzuela-Riffo, Cesar Saldias, Angel Leiva, Yorley Duarte, Javier Echeverria, Luis Guzman
Summary: This study reports the synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activity of three novel series of ionic liquids derived from benzoic and hydroxybenzoic acids. The minimum inhibitory concentration and antibiofilm activity were tested in various bacterial strains, showing promising results. The cell viability in HaCaT cells was also determined, indicating the potential of these ionic liquids as alternative treatments for SSTIs.
BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Romina N. Ramos, Ning Zhang, Diana B. Lauff, Felipe Valenzuela-Riffo, Carlos R. Figueroa, Gregory B. Martin, Marina A. Pombo, Hernan G. Rosli
Summary: Plants use a two-layered immune system to defend themselves against pathogens. The first response, pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), is activated by recognizing microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs). Some plants have resistance (R) proteins that recognize specific effectors, leading to the activation of effector-triggered immunity (ETI). Our study shows that WRKY22 and WRKY25 are positive regulators of plant immunity in tomato.
PLANT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Daniel Bustos, Luis Guzman, Oscar Valdes, Marcelo Munoz-Vera, Luis Morales-Quintana, Ricardo I. Castro
Summary: This study developed an alginate-chitosan-abscisic acid (ALG-CS-ABA) blend as a coating material, which enhances the stability, controlled release, and protection of ABA. It offers potential applications in agriculture and the development of plant-based products.
Article
Polymer Science
Osvaldo Yanez, Melissa Alegria-Arcos, Reynier Suardiaz, Luis Morales-Quintana, Ricardo I. I. Castro, Jonathan Palma-Olate, Christian Galarza, Angel Catagua-Gonzalez, Victor Rojas-Perez, Gabriela Urra, Erix W. W. Hernandez-Rodriguez, Daniel Bustos
Summary: Pesticides have a negative impact on the environment, non-target organisms, and human health. Biotechnology offers solutions, such as encapsulating and removing pesticides using polyelectrolyte complexes. Computational methodology can evaluate the capture capabilities of Calcium-Alginate-Chitosan (CAC) nanoparticles for various pesticides.
Review
Horticulture
Luis Morales-Quintana, Patricio Ramos, Angela Mendez-Yanez
Summary: Fruit ripening is a complex process that involves changes in pectins, and the enzyme rhamnogalacturonan endolyase (RGL) plays an important role in this process by cleaving the pectin backbone to promote fruit softening and cell wall relaxation.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luis Morales-Quintana, Patricio Ramos
Summary: Plants adjust the growth of affected organs in response to the loss of gravity vector. Studies on trees have highlighted the importance of hormonal and environmental factors in wood formation and quality, as well as the role of flavonoids in hormonal regulation and vertical growth correction.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Jan Bakker, James M. Horowitz, Jackie Hagedorn, Sam Kozloff, David Kaufman, Ricardo Castro