Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Beatriz Santos, Daniele Priscila da Conceicao, Diego Oliveira Correa, Matheus Felipe Passos, Monique Paiva Campos, Douglas Adamoski, Lygia Vitoria Galli-Terasawa, Andre Bellin Mariano, Jose Viriato Coelho Vargas, Vanessa Merlo Kava
Summary: The study found that blue and red lights were able to over-regulate all genes, including the photosensitive gene phot, leading to an increase in astaxanthin synthesis. Growth under blue light resulted in higher astaxanthin content compared to red and white light growth. The biomass composition and productivity of H. pluvialis varied as a function of light color, with the highest protein and astaxanthin productivity observed under white and blue lights, respectively.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Siva Prasad Panda, Adarsh Kesharwani, Sarada Prasanna Mallick, D. S. N. B. K. Prasanth, Praveen Kumar Pasala, Vinay Bharadwaj Tatipamula
Summary: Neuronal necroptosis, a programmed necrosis, occurs naturally in the CNS and is especially relevant in neurodegenerative diseases and viral infections. Understanding the pathways and connections of necroptosis with other cell death pathways could lead to new treatment approaches.
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Vladimir Majerciak, Beatriz Alvarado-Hernandez, Alexei Lobanov, Maggie Cam, Zhi-Ming Zheng
Summary: In this report, the researchers investigated the role of RNA splicing in the regulation of KSHV gene expression. They found that approximately one-third of viral genes express spliced transcripts, many of which undergo RNA alternative splicing. They identified a subset of viral RNA splicing events that are regulated by the viral RNA-binding protein ORF57, leading to the discovery of its role in the splicing of the bicistronic ORF70-K3 RNA and production of viral thymidylate synthase ORF70 and viral E3-ubiquitin ligase K3. This regulation allows for the timely expression of these two viral proteins during the KSHV lytic cycle. The study provides new insights into KSHV biology and serves as a blueprint for studying RNA splicing in other pathogens.
Article
Horticulture
Cengiz Kaya, Ferhat Ugurlar
Summary: Horticultural crops play a crucial role in global food, nourishment, and economies, but they face challenges from both biotic and abiotic stressors, resulting in decreased productivity and quality. Melatonin (MT) shows great potential in regulating gene expression and stress responses in horticultural crops, particularly through its interactions with key phytohormones. Through its effects on gene expression and chromatin structure, MT enhances stress tolerance in plants and improves their ability to combat stressors.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2023)
Review
Virology
Praneet Kaur Sandhu, Blossom Damania
Summary: This article describes the characteristics of latent and lytic phases in KSHV infection, as well as the key proteins required for the switch between these phases. It also discusses the host proteins involved in RTA activation and viral lytic replication, and how the innate immune system influences viral reactivation.
CURRENT OPINION IN VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jin Xu, Zhixin Guo, Xiaochun Jiang, Golam Jalal Ahammed, Yanhong Zhou
Summary: Plants exhibit dynamic changes in molecular structures under fluctuating light conditions, with light playing a crucial role in plant growth and morphogenesis. Although there have been advances in understanding the mechanism of nutrient acquisition and assimilation, the impact of light on ion uptake remains a question. Studies on model plants indicate that light affects nutrient utilization in roots through a complex regulatory network, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of light on these processes in crop plants are still incomplete. In this review, the effects of light on nutrient uptake and utilization in horticultural crops are discussed for the purpose of optimizing crop productivity and increasing fertilizer efficiency.
HORTICULTURAL PLANT JOURNAL
(2021)
Review
Horticulture
Xuan Zhao, Noor Muhammad, Zixuan Zhao, Kuilin Yin, Zhiguo Liu, Lixin Wang, Zhi Luo, Lihu Wang, Mengjun Liu
Summary: Regulation of fruit size development involves multiple molecular mechanisms such as hormonal regulation, signaling pathways, and gene families, uncovering these regulatory pathways holds significant scientific and economic importance.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2021)
Review
Virology
Celia Chamontin, Guillaume Bossis, Sebastien Nisole, Nathalie J. Arhel, Ghizlane Maarifi
Summary: Intrinsic immunity is mediated by host cellular proteins called restriction factors which interfere with viral replication and are tightly regulated by interferons. Post-translational modifications play a crucial role in determining the antiviral activity of restriction factors, with viruses evolving mechanisms to counteract these modifications. Understanding the role of PTMs in restriction factors is essential for comprehending antiviral defense mechanisms and immune response regulations during infection.
Article
Economics
Di Cui, Mingfa Ding, Yikai Han, Sandy Suardi
Summary: Previous studies have shown that tighter environmental standards in developed economies may stimulate firm innovations, but in China, firms with higher CO2 emissions are associated with lower corporate innovation. High carbon-emitting firms face financial constraints when confronted with excessive pollution-related expenses and therefore mitigate environmental pollution by acquiring firms with green assets and purchasing low-polluting target assets. This result is particularly pronounced in firms with poor corporate governance, resource-constrained non-SOEs, and highly polluting firms.
Article
Horticulture
Golam Jalal Ahammed, Xin Li
Summary: Dopamine, a natural amine compound, has strong antioxidant capacity and can enhance plant tolerance to abiotic stressors. It promotes photosynthetic pigment concentrations, CO2 assimilation, and plant growth. Additionally, dopamine alleviates oxidative stress and aids nutrient acquisition by regulating ion transporters. It also activates xenobiotic detoxification pathways under organic pollutant stress.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Silvia Galvan, Oliver Madderson, Shuai Xue, Ana P. Teixeira, Martin Fussenegger
Summary: Next-generation gene and engineered-cell therapies benefit from incorporating synthetic gene networks that can precisely regulate therapeutic output. A mammalian gene switch, responsive to xylose, has been designed and successfully tested in mice. The switch consists of a fusion protein that activates transgene expression in a dose-dependent manner in the presence of xylose. By implanting SWEET-engineered cells, increased levels of cargo protein were observed in mice when consuming xylose-sweetened water or coffee, indicating the potential of this therapy to integrate into patients' lifestyles and dietary habits. In a proof-of-concept study, diabetic mice with insulin-expressing SWEET showed improved glycemia and increased insulin levels when administered this diabetic-compliant sweetener.
Review
Microbiology
Wen Shi, Mengyun Jin, Hao Chen, Zongxue Wu, Liuyang Yuan, Si Liang, Xiaohan Wang, Fareed Uddin Memon, Fatma Eldemery, Hongbin Si, Changbo Ou
Summary: Viral diseases are common threats to human health and livestock and poultry industries globally. During viral infection, inflammasomes play crucial roles in host defense mechanisms. Inflammasomes are polymeric protein complexes and are considered important components of the innate immune system.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Shubo Wen, Yang Song, Chang Li, Ningyi Jin, Jingbo Zhai, Huijun Lu
Summary: This study reviews the antiviral mechanism of IFITM3 and the regulation of its subcellular localization, stability, and function through S-palmitoylation modification. The study also discusses the enzymes that mediate the S-palmitoylation modification of IFITM3, which can help elucidate the mechanism by which IFITM3 restricts virus replication and aid in the design of therapeutics targeted at pathogenic viruses.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Meiying He, Xiangjin Kong, Yueming Jiang, Hongxia Qu, Hong Zhu
Summary: MiRNAs, as a major class of endogenous small RNAs in plants, play critical roles in regulating the development and growth of horticultural crops.
TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yimei Xi, Fantao Kong, Zhanyou Chi
Summary: This study investigated the regulatory mechanism of beta-carotene accumulation in Dunaliella salina under stress conditions, revealing a positive correlation between cellular ROS level and beta-carotene content, and a negative correlation between F-v/F-m of PSII and beta-carotene content. Transcriptional analysis showed that ROS induce beta-carotene accumulation by modulating genes involved in photosynthesis and beta-carotene biosynthesis.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Kay Anantanawat, Alexie Papanicolaou, Kelly Hill, Wei Xu
Summary: Invasive Tephritid fruit flies pose a global threat to agriculture and horticulture industries. Biosecurity has been crucial in reducing their damage, but with the ban of key chemical pesticides, non-chemical approaches such as heat and cold treatments are being utilized more. A recent study found that the molecular response of fruit flies to cold treatment differs from their response to heat, shedding light on potential new strategies for fruit fly management.
BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Richard A. Hill, Johanna Wong-Bajracharya, Sidra Anwar, Donovin Coles, Mei Wang, Anna Lipzen, Vivian Ng, Igor Grigoriev, Francis Martin, Ian C. Anderson, Christopher Cazzonelli, Thomas Jeffries, Krista L. Plett, Jonathan M. Plett
Summary: The pathways regulated in ectomycorrhizal plant hosts during the establishment of symbiosis are not as well understood, but a study on Eucalyptus grandis using RNA sequencing and metabolomics revealed specific and core responses to symbiosis. Despite being mutualistic, a large number of disease signaling genes were induced, with a dynamic transcriptional regulation observed in E. grandis across colonization stages, including genes associated with the carotenoid/ABA pathway.
Review
Plant Sciences
Eric Brenya, Mahfuza Pervin, Zhong-Hua Chen, David T. Tissue, Scott Johnson, Janet Braam, Christopher Cazzonelli
Summary: Mechanical stimulation can regulate gene expression and hormone pathways to induce thigmomorphogenesis and mechanical stress acclimation. Prolonged mechanical stimulation can modify the baseline level of gene expression, enhance disease resistance, and maintain the phenotypes of thigmomorphogenesis throughout growth without continuous stimulation.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
N. Dhami, B. J. Pogson, D. T. Tissue, C. Cazzonelli
Summary: The study established a foliar pigment-based bioassay using Arabidopsis rosette leaves and found that environmental treatments and chemical inhibition of carotenoid biosynthesis reduce chlorophyll levels in young leaves. Disruption of CAROTENOID ISOMERASE (CRTISO) activity, but not ZETA-CAROTENE ISOMERASE (Z-ISO) activity, also reduces chlorophyll levels in young leaves. These findings suggest that carotenoid isomerase activity and NFZ-induced inhibition of PDS activity elicit different signaling pathways to control chlorophyll homeostasis in young leaves of Arabidopsis.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yan Zhang, Haylie Andrews, Judith Eglitis-Sexton, Ian Godwin, Milos Tanurdzic, Peter A. Crisp
Summary: Epigenomics is a broad field of study that investigates the impact of chromatin states, chromatin modifications, and epigenetic inheritance on gene regulation. It plays a crucial role in improving crop performance by enhancing our understanding of complex crop genomes and identifying heritable epialleles that control crop traits independent of genotype.
EMERGING TOPICS IN LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sam El-Kamand, Martina Steiner, Carl Ramirez, Catriona Halliday, Sharon C. -A. Chen, Alexie Papanicolaou, Charles Oliver Morton
Summary: The study found that the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus poses a serious risk to transplant patients and those with respiratory diseases. The virulence of A. fumigatus isolates from patients with invasive aspergillosis (IA) or colonization was tested, and no obvious differences in virulence were observed. However, genomic analysis revealed variations in three genes associated with azole exposure. Further research into the response to oxidative stress and azole exposure is required to understand the development of IA.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Rong Guo, Alexie Papanicolaou, Megan L. Fritz
Summary: This paper reports the genome assembly of Chloridea subflexa and Chloridea virescens, two closely related noctuid species, and examines the feasibility of reference-assisted assembly. The results show that reference-assisted assembly has the potential to improve the contiguity and completeness of insect genomic resources with low additional costs.
Article
Plant Sciences
Da Cao, Tinashe Chabikwa, Francois Barbier, Elizabeth A. Dun, Franziska Fichtner, Lili Dong, Stephanie C. Kerr, Christine A. Beveridge
Summary: Apical dominance, the inhibition of shoot branching by the growing shoot tip of plants, was originally believed to be mediated by auxin. Recent studies have shown the importance of shoot tip sink strength and the role of sugars in promoting branching. This study explores the relative roles of auxin and sugars in apical dominance, suggesting a model that integrates auxin, sucrose, strigolactones, cytokinins, and gibberellins in regulating bud growth.
Article
Plant Sciences
Xin Hou, Yagiz Alagoz, Ralf Welsch, Matthew D. Mortimer, Barry J. Pogson, Christopher Cazzonelli
Summary: PHYTOENE SYNTHASE (PSY) is an important enzyme in carotenoid biosynthesis, and changes in its gene expression and activity can affect carotenoid composition and plastid differentiation in plants. In this study, four genetic variants of PSY were identified, and they were found to regulate leaf virescence phenotypes and plastid abnormalities in mutant plants. These variants influenced alternative splicing, enzyme-substrate interactions, and protein binding, thereby fine-tuning the levels and activity of PSY. Additionally, they also affected the accumulation of specific substances and the regulation of plastid development.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Sidra Anwar, Jwalit J. Nayak, Yagiz Alagoz, Dominika Wojtalewicz, Christopher I. Cazzonelli
Summary: This article describes a method using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to purify and develop individual carotenoid standards for absolute quantification. The article provides detailed analytical techniques for extraction, purification, separation, and identification of individual carotenoids. It also outlines the preparation of standard calibration curves and different approaches for reporting carotenoid abundance.
CAROTENOIDS: Carotenoid and Apocarotenoid Analysis
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Franziska Fichtner, Francois F. Barbier, Stephanie C. Kerr, Caitlin Dudley, Pilar Cubas, Colin Turnbull, Philip B. Brewer, Christine A. Beveridge
Summary: Detailed analysis of branching in Arabidopsis under different genetic and environmental conditions reveals varying plasticity of branching at cauline and rosette nodes. The initiation of buds in leaf axils and the availability of resources, nutrients, and plant hormones regulate the plasticity of shoot branching. Our study shows that there is no tradeoff between cauline and rosette bud outgrowth, and the number of cauline branches is closely related to flowering time. Furthermore, rosette branch number exhibits high plasticity and is influenced by genetic background, flowering time, light intensity, and temperature.
