Review
Plant Sciences
Bo Yu, Nian Liu, Siqi Tang, Tian Qin, Junli Huang
Summary: Plant GLRs, homologues of ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) in mammals, play crucial roles in various physiological processes of plants through their involvement in Ca2+ signaling. Understanding the roles of GLRs can enhance abiotic stress tolerance.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Khoa Nguyen Tran, Nhi Phuc Khanh Nguyen, Ly Thi Huong Nguyen, Heung-Mook Shin, In-Jun Yang
Summary: This study sought to identify essential oils with potential for rapid-acting antidepressant development. Nineteen essential oils significantly reduced cell death and leakage of lactate dehydrogenase induced by corticosterone, while 13 oils decreased tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 induced by lipopolysaccharide. Six essential oils reduced immobility time in mice and two oils increased time and entries into the open arms of the elevated plus maze. Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC and Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. essential oils showed promise as fast-acting antidepressants through interactions with glutamate receptors, with specific compounds potentially responsible for the effect.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chinmay Vijay Tikhe, Victor Cardoso-Jaime, Shengzhang Dong, Natalie Rutkowski, George Dimopoulos
Summary: In this study, the biology of a cysteine-rich trypsin inhibitor-like domain (TIL) protein in the arbovirus vector Aedes aegypti was explored. The protein, known as cysteine-rich venom protein 379 (CRVP379), was found to be highly expressed in pupal stages, male testes, and female ovaries. Gene editing experiments showed that mutations in the TIL domain of CRVP379 affected the reproductive capability of female mosquitoes but did not significantly impact dengue virus infection. Considering its importance in reproductive biology, CRVP379 could be a promising target for the development of population control methods for Aedes aegypti.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xin Zhang, Weijie Xue, Changbo Zhang, Changrong Wang, Yongchun Huang, Yanting Wang, Liangcai Peng, Zhongqi Liu
Summary: The study found that the increase in soil cadmium levels led to a significant increase in the ratios between cadmium and 7 essential elements in plant cells. Cadmium accumulation resulted in an increase in calcium, manganese, iron, and zinc content, as well as the expression levels of calcium channel genes and a decrease in glutamate content and expression levels of glutamate receptor channels in rice. The mutant fc8 exhibited higher calcium, iron, zinc content, and expression levels of glutamate receptor channels compared to its wild type, while the ratios between cadmium and essential elements were lower in fc8 than in the wild type.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Johannes Broichhagen, Joshua Levitz
Summary: This article introduces the core concept and recent advances in tethered photopharmacology, as well as its applications in various fields. Tethered photopharmacology leverages the use of light to provide high spatiotemporal control over drug action on specific protein subtypes, offering a new approach for drug research.
CURRENT OPINION IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Francisco Jacome-Blasquez, Minsung Kim
Summary: Several Kalanchoe species reproduce asexually by forming plantlets in the leaf crenulations. Shoot meristemless (STM) gene, which mediates shoot apical meristem (SAM) functions, is involved in Kalanchoe plantlet formation. The genetic regulatory network for establishing and maintaining plantlet primordia in Kalanchoe remains elusive.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yang Liu, Hugo Bisio, Chelsea Marie Toner, Sandra Jeudy, Nadege Philippe, Keda Zhou, Samuel Bowerman, Alison White, Garrett Edwards, Chantal Abergel, Karolin Luger
Summary: Recent studies have challenged the traditional view of nucleosome organization in eukaryotes by identifying minimalist histones in archaea and discovering genes encoding remote homologs of eukaryotic histones in giant viruses. The presence of viral doublet histones, essential for viral infectivity, suggests a specialized function of histones in the biology of these unusual viruses. Cryo-EM structures of viral nucleosome-like particles show similarities to eukaryotic nucleosomes despite limited sequence identity, further expanding the range of organisms that require nucleosomes.
Article
Biology
Astrid S. Jorgensen, Viktorija Daugvilaite, Katia De Filippo, Christian Berg, Masa Mavri, Tau Benned-Jensen, Goda Juzenaite, Gertrud Hjorto, Sara Rankin, Jon Vabeno, Mette M. Rosenkilde
Summary: Plerixafor exhibits biased action by reversing the CXCL12 gradient across the bone marrow endothelium and showing superior therapeutic effect in HSC mobilization. In contrast, AMD11070, despite having superior antagonism, does not perform as effectively in HSC mobilization in vivo.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Qian Wu, Stephanie Stolz, Archana Kumari, Edward E. Farmer
Summary: This study reveals the importance of the carboxy-terminal tails (C-tails) in the function of Arabidopsis Clade 3 GLUTAMATE RECEPTOR-LIKEs (GLRs) in wound-induced systemic signaling. The authors identify ISI1 as an interactor of GLR3.3 and demonstrate that a triresidue motif in the GLR3.3 C-tail binds to ISI1. The findings provide new insights into the regulation of GLRs and may have implications for future applications in engineering GLRs.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jierui Si, Yong Pei, Danyu Shen, Peiyun Ji, Ruofei Xu, Xue Xue, Hao Peng, Xiangxiu Liang, Daolong Dou
Summary: The study reveals that PsRLKs play critical roles in stress responses, zoospore chemotaxis, pathogenicity, and interaction with soybean in Phytophthora sojae. Specifically, PsRLK21 interacts with PsRLK10 or PsRLK17 to regulate virulence.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alisher M. Kariev, Michael E. Green
Summary: Quantum calculations are necessary for studying ion channels due to the complexities of charge transfer and hydrogen bond switching, as well as the presence of quantum mechanical effects like exchange, correlation energies, and tunneling that have no classical analogues. These quantum phenomena play critical roles in understanding the behavior of ion channels and cannot be approximated classically.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Li-Sha Zheng, Xiao-Qiang Liu, Ge-Ge Liu, Qian-Qiao Huang, Jin-Jun Wang, Hong-Bo Jiang
Summary: The study cloned a beta-adrenergic-like octopamine receptor cDNA and demonstrated its functional role in regulating behavior and physiology in the red flour beetle. RNAi assay showed that TcOct beta 2R affects beetle locomotion, mating duration, and fertility.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Xiao Liu, Su-Su Tang, Si-Ming Liu, Jie Zeng, Zhi-Gang Chen, Cai-Hong Liu, Rong-Hao Mu, Dan-Hua Yuan, Jia-Jia Zhao, Hao Hong, Hao Wang
Summary: Astrocyte CysLT(1)R regulates depression through modulating glutamate synaptic transmission. This finding is of significant importance for developing novel drugs for depression treatment.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alba Sanchez, Graciano Garcia-Pardo, Frederic Gomez-Bertomeu, Miguel Lopez-Dupla, Elisabet Foguet-Romero, Maria Jose Buzon, Benito Almirante, Montserra Olona, Sonia Fernandez-Veledo, Francesc Vidal, Silvia Chafino, Anna Rull, COVIDOMICS Study Group
Summary: A multiomics study on patients with different degrees of COVID-19 severity revealed that metabolic alterations were associated with disease progression. Specifically, severe and critical patients with high HRG and ChoE (20:3) levels and low alpha-ketoglutaric acid levels had a higher chance of unfavorable disease evolution. These findings provide insights into the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on metabolic pathways and contribute to the identification of potential therapeutic targets for COVID-19.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chong Wang, Hao Cheng, Wenjing Xu, Jingshi Xue, Xinguo Hua, Guimin Tong, Xujun Ma, Chuanping Yang, Xingguo Lan, Shi-Yi Shen, Zhongnan Yang, Jirong Huang, Yuxiang Cheng
Summary: This study reveals the roles of pollen-specific GDPD-LIKE genes in pollen tube tip growth. The GDPD-LIKE genes mediate pollen tube tip growth by modulating cellulose deposition in pollen tube walls. These findings are important for understanding the mechanism of pollen tube growth and seed formation.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
Armin Horn, Arnaud Pascal, Isidora Loncarevic, Raissa Volpatto Marques, Yi Lu, Sissi Miguel, Frederic Bourgaud, Margret Thorsteinsdottir, Nils Cronberg, Joerg D. Becker, Ralf Reski, Henrik T. Simonsen
Summary: Research on plant-derived natural products, particularly from bryophytes, has been gaining attention due to the discovery of interesting bioactive compounds with potential biotechnological applications. Bryophytes, as the second largest group of plants in terms of species number, offer a high degree of biochemical complexity and genetic diversity, allowing them to thrive in various harsh habitats. The study of bryophytes has opened doors to functional genomics approaches and the disentanglement of biosynthetic pathways, as well as the potential for biotechnological exploitation of novel chemicals from these plants.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN PLANT SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sonia Gomes Pereira, Ana Laura Sousa, Catarina Nabais, Tiago Paixao, Alexander J. Holmes, Martin Schorb, Gohta Goshima, Erin M. Tranfield, Jorg D. Becker, Monica Bettencourt-Dias
Summary: Centrioles in the spermatogenesis of the bryophyte Physcomitrium patens are born through an uncharacterized de novo pathway, showing twisted and asymmetric morphology. This phenomenon reveals that centriole biogenesis is more diverse than previously thought.
Article
Cell Biology
Marcela Hernandez-Coronado, Poliana Coqueiro Dias Araujo, Pui-Leng Ip, Custodio O. Nunes, Ramin Rahni, Michael M. Wudick, Michael A. Lizzio, Jose A. Feijo, Kenneth D. Birnbaum
Summary: This study reveals that plant GLRs play a role in both defense responses and regeneration through dynamic changes in chromatin and transcription. Inhibition of GLR activity increases regeneration efficiency in multiple organ repair systems. This finding provides insights into the trade-off between defense and regeneration in plants.
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
(2022)
Article
Biology
Jose Lourenco, Silvia C. Barros, Libia Ze-ze, Daniel S. C. Damineli, Marta Giovanetti, Hugo C. Osorio, Fatima Amaro, Ana M. Henriques, Fernanda Ramos, Tiago Luis, Margarida D. Duarte, Teresa Fagulha, Maria J. Alves, Uri Obolski
Summary: Lourenco et al. reviewed historical data and quantified the transmission potential of West Nile virus in Portugal. Their study found a North-South divide in infection patterns, with higher ecological capacity in the south, and an increasing positive effect of climate change over the past 40 years. Despite the suitable climate for transmission, Portugal has only reported four human cases of West Nile virus so far.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Daniel S. C. Damineli, Maria Teresa Portes, Jose A. Feijo
Summary: This review article discusses recent advances in understanding ultradian oscillations in plant cells, with a focus on single-cell oscillations. It highlights the importance of quantitative approaches in measuring oscillations and the potential of optogenetics techniques to further research membrane potential oscillations across different cell types.
CURRENT OPINION IN CELL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Bozena Klodova, David Potesil, Lenka Steinbachova, Christos Michailidis, Ann-Cathrin Lindner, Dieter Hackenberg, Jorg D. Becker, Zbynek Zdrahal, David Twell, David Honys
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive investigation into the gene expression dynamics in developing Arabidopsis pollen by integrating RNA and proteomic data. The findings identify potential regulatory factors, changes in alternative splicing, and provide insights into mRNA translation rate and storage, laying the foundation for further studies on the role of alternative splicing in this model.
PLANT REPRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Chandra Shekhar Misra, Antonio G. G. Sousa, Pedro M. Barros, Anton Kermanov, Joerg D. Becker
Summary: Transcriptome analysis of sperm cells and vegetative nuclei reveals the alternative splicing landscape in the male gametophyte of Arabidopsis thaliana. The study identifies many genes involved in mRNA splicing, chromatin modification, and protein localization in both sperm cells and vegetative nuclei.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Flores-Tornero, Helena Sapeta, Jorg D. Becker
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bruno Guillotin, Ramin Rahni, Michael Passalacqua, Mohammed Ateequr Mohammed, Xiaosa Xu, Sunil Kenchanmane Raju, Carlos Ortiz Ramirez, David Jackson, Simon C. Groen, Jesse Gillis, Kenneth D. Birnbaum
Summary: Comparative analysis of root cell transcriptomes in three grass species reveals that some cell types diverged more rapidly, driven by recruitment of gene modules from other cell types. The recent whole-genome duplication provides new, highly localized gene expression domains that favour fast-evolving cell types. Cell-by-cell comparative analysis can extract conserved modules and provide insight on the evolution of cells mediating key functions in crops.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kunkun Li, Juan Prada, Thomas Dandekar, Daniel S. C. Damineli, Kai R. R. Konrad
Summary: The polar growth and guidance of pollen tubes are regulated by chemical and electrical signaling cues. The functional relationship between membrane voltage (V-m), Ca2+, and H+ dynamics in pollen tubes is largely unclear. In this study, live-cell imaging and cross-correlation analysis revealed distinct relationships between these signals along pollen tubes, with Ca2+ and H+ correlating with V-m dynamics at the tip, while only H+ correlated with V-m at the shank. These findings suggest spatially confined chemo-electric coupling supports the propagation of voltage and pH waves along non-growing pollen tubes, preceded by short-lasting but high amplitude tip Ca2+ spikes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Custodio de Oliveira Nunes, Jose A. Feijo
Summary: Bioelectricity has been studied extensively in all branches of life since the 18th century. It plays a crucial role in cell growth, proliferation, and behavior, resulting in significant tissue rearrangements during embryology and somatic development. In this study, the focus is on the pollen tube as a biological model, which has unique properties such as rapid apical growth and sensitivity to external cues. The study reviews the latest progress in understanding apical growth from the perspective of bioelectricity-driven morphogenesis.
Meeting Abstract
Biophysics
Carlos Navarro, Holger Gohlke, Jose A. Feijo, Erwan Michard
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Irene Julca, Camilla Ferrari, Maria Flores-Tornero, Sebastian Proost, Ann-Cathrin Lindner, Dieter Hackenberg, Lenka Steinbachova, Christos Michaelidis, Sonia Gomes Pereira, Chandra Shekhar Misra, Tomokazu Kawashima, Michael Borg, Frederic Berger, Jacob Goldberg, Mark Johnson, David Honys, David Twell, Stefanie Sprunck, Thomas Dresselhaus, Joerg D. Becker, Marek Mutwil
Summary: The study found that organ-specific gene families predate the origins of the organs themselves, and the appearance of plant organs drove the rapid evolution of land plants. The evolution of new organs mainly involves the co-option of existing genes. Male gametes have a high number and conservation of specific genes, indicating a high degree of specialization.
