Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kalpesh Nath Yajnik, Shradheya R. R. Gupta, Mansi Taneja, Indrakant K. Singh, Archana Singh
Summary: Plant yields are affected by biotic and abiotic stresses, with insect attack being a major concern. The use of pesticides to overcome the harmful effects of herbivory is not sustainable in the long run. This study aims to identify and understand the MAPK pathway involved in plant defense against herbivory and suggests potential interactions for further validation.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Elisabeth Adam, Bill S. Hansson, Markus Knaden
Summary: Insect pollinators like the tobacco hawkmoth have olfactory sensilla not just on their antennae but also at the tip of their proboscis. While moths can easily learn odors with their antennae, solely perceiving odors with the proboscis is not enough for odor learning. There appears to be no communication between the antennae and proboscis, and information learned by the antennae cannot be recalled by the proboscis.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Simon Snoeck, Natalia Guayazan-Palacios, Adam D. Steinbrenner
Summary: This review discusses the mechanisms by which plants perceive and respond to chewing and piercing-sucking herbivores. It examines the recognition of herbivore-associated molecular patterns (HAMPs) and effectors by plant immune systems, and emphasizes the importance of these initial molecular interactions in resistance. The review also explores the potential evolution of immune receptor functions and the integration of sensing functions in plant-herbivore interactions.
Article
Ecology
Julia Bing, Xiang Li, Alexander Haverkamp, Ian T. Baldwin, Bill S. Hansson, Markus Knaden, Felipe Yon
Summary: The study investigated natural variation in floral traits, volatile emissions, and phenology in different accessions of self-compatible wild tobacco to assess their compatibility with a known pollinator, the hawkmoth Manduca sexta. Accessions varied significantly in flower morphologies, volatile emissions, flower opening, and phenology, influencing the perception and pollination efficiency of the pollinator. The research revealed intraspecific variation in pollination syndromes, highlighting the potential of plants to adapt to local pollinator communities and changing environments.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ran Li, Jingjing Jin, Jie Xu, Lanlan Wang, Jiancai Li, Yonggen Lou, Ian T. Baldwin
Summary: This study identified a large number of lncRNAs that play important roles in the defense processes against herbivores in wild tobacco, especially early responder lincRNAs related to the activation of bioactive jasmonates (JAs) and regulator genes in the JA signaling pathway.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Maitree Pradhan, Catarina Rocha, Rayko Halitschke, Ian T. Baldwin, Shree P. Pandey
Summary: miR390 is a highly conserved miRNA in plant lineages known to function in growth and development processes, such as lateral root development, and in responses to salt and metal stress. However, its biological function in the ecological model species, Nicotiana attenuata, remains unknown. Overexpression of Na-miR390 in N. attenuata plants has been shown to regulate the plant's tolerance of herbivory by affecting the accumulation of auxin and other phytohormones.
Article
Plant Sciences
Min Yin, Na Song, Suiyun Chen, Jinsong Wu
Summary: In addition to NaPI, NaKTI2, a pathogen- and herbivore-induced Kunitz trypsin inhibitor gene, is required for herbivore resistance and mainly regulated by NaWRKY3 and NaWRKY6, rather than Jasmonate signaling. The results showed that NaKTI2 plays a crucial role in plant defense mechanisms against herbivores, controlled by specific transcription factors.
PLANT CELL REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Deidra J. Jacobsen, Robert A. Raguso
Summary: The study reveals that plants use volatiles to attract pollinators while deterring herbivores, showing that vegetative and floral traits may interact to affect insect behavior. Pollinator behavior is likely influenced by leaf traits, and plant induction status plays a role in adult moth foraging and oviposition preferences.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Lan Lu, Mingxing Li, Guojuan Yi, Li Liao, Qiang Cheng, Jie Zhu, Bin Zhang, Yingying Wang, Yong Chen, Ming Zeng
Summary: Interference with quorum sensing is an important strategy for the treatment of bacterial infections and restoring antibiotic tolerance. The discovery of quorum sensing inhibitors has a significant impact on the development of anti-infective drugs. Various approaches exist for the discovery of quorum sensing inhibitors.
JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL ANALYSIS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Qiaoqiang Li, Shen Mao, Hong Wang, Xinyi Ye
Summary: The survival pressure caused by antibiotics prompts bacteria to develop drug resistance. Quorum sensing is an intercellular communication system that regulates bacterial virulence and biofilm formation. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the formation and diffusion of biofilm is closely related to the quorum sensing system. Quorum-sensing inhibitors can reduce bacterial toxicity and enhance sensitivity to antibiotics, making them a popular topic for research and development in anti-infection. This review provides an overview of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum-sensing system and quorum-sensing inhibitors research, which will aid in the future development of novel inhibitors.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Lujun Yin, Yingjie Wang, Shiliang Xiang, Kaizhong Xu, Bo Wang, Ai-Qun Jia
Summary: In this study, it was found that tyramine could inhibit the production of virulence factors in Burkholderia cenocepacia by blocking the quorum sensing systems. It was also shown to have low toxicity and potential as a combination therapy with traditional antibiotics.
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Javed A. Mulla, Vaijayanti A. Tamhane
Summary: Plant defensin CanDef-20 has antibiotic effects on Helicoverpa armigera larvae, impacting insect metabolism and growth development through interactions with cell membrane, enzymes, cytoplasmic proteins, and triggering transposon mobilization.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Chaoyi Hu, Chunyu Wei, Qiaomei Ma, Han Dong, Kai Shi, Yanhong Zhou, Christine H. Foyer, Jingquan Yu
Summary: Jasmonates (JAs) are crucial phytohormones in plant defense, induced by herbivory. Ethylene (ET) and JA production in response to herbivory in tomato leaves are regulated by ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR 15 (ERF15) and ERF16, acting as transcriptional activators of key genes in JA biosynthesis. The results suggest that ET signaling plays a role in the rapid induction of the JA burst in plants under herbivore attack.
Review
Biology
Bingqian Xue, Yamin Shen, Jing Zuo, Dong Song, Qingying Fan, Xiaoling Zhang, Li Yi, Yang Wang
Summary: Streptococcus suis relies on quorum sensing to adapt to its surroundings, and inhibiting AI-2 production, targeting LuxS protein, and blocking luxs gene expression can control its system. Quorum sensing inhibitors offer hope for the development of new antibacterial drugs in the face of antibiotic resistance.
Article
Microbiology
Giulia Bernabe, Matteo Dal Pra, Vittoria Ronca, Anthony Pauletto, Giovanni Marzaro, Francesca Saluzzo, Annalisa Stefani, Ilaria Artusi, Vincenzo De Filippis, Maria Grazia Ferlin, Paola Brun, Ignazio Castagliuolo
Summary: The anti-inflammatory drug Diflunisal reduces MRSA virulence factors, prompting the design of new molecules like Azan-7 to inhibit MRSA virulence genes and enhance susceptibility to antibiotics like clindamycin.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Florent Figon, Ian T. Baldwin, Emmanuel Gaquerel
Summary: Plants can rapidly reconfigure phytohormone signaling networks to adapt to changing ecological conditions, with jasmonate (JA) and ethylene (ET) playing key roles in regulating leaf metabolites. Ethylene has been identified as a local modulator of phenolamide accumulation, while not affecting free polyamine levels.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ran Li, Jingjing Jin, Jie Xu, Lanlan Wang, Jiancai Li, Yonggen Lou, Ian T. Baldwin
Summary: This study identified a large number of lncRNAs that play important roles in the defense processes against herbivores in wild tobacco, especially early responder lincRNAs related to the activation of bioactive jasmonates (JAs) and regulator genes in the JA signaling pathway.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jiancai Li, Rayko Halitschke, Dapeng Li, Christian Paetz, Haichao Su, Sven Heiling, Shuqing Xu, Ian T. Baldwin
Summary: Many plant specialized metabolites play a role in herbivore defense, but interrupting their biosynthetic pathways can lead to autotoxicity. Research has shown that tobacco plants avoid autotoxicity by regulating metabolic modifications, while achieving herbivore defense through inhibition of herbivore sphingolipid biosynthesis.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jie Xu, Xinjue Wang, Hongyue Zu, Xuan Zeng, Ian T. Baldwin, Yonggen Lou, Ran Li
Summary: The phytohormone JA plays a crucial role in rice defense against the brown planthopper, while SA does not have a significant impact. Infestation by brown planthopper activates the JA signaling pathway and leads to accumulation of defensive secondary metabolites. JA-deficient lines are more susceptible to brown planthoppers, and MYC2 mutants are more vulnerable to brown planthopper infestation in nature.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jun He, Rayko Halitschke, Ian T. Baldwin, Meredith C. Schuman
Summary: The production of (S)-(+)-linalool in plants is associated with slower growth of a generalist herbivore, with a large fraction present as nonvolatile derivatives. The variation in volatile linalool and its nonvolatile glycosides mapped to the same genetic locus harboring the biosynthetic gene, NaLIS. Free linalool showed more variability in environmental responses compared to its conjugates.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuechen Bai, Caiqiong Yang, Rayko Halitschke, Christian Paetz, Danny Kessler, Konrad Burkard, Emmanuel Gaquerel, Ian T. Baldwin, Dapeng Li
Summary: This study reveals a nonhost resistance mechanism of plants against herbivores through genomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic analysis. The results show that a module triggered by Empoasca leafhoppers induces the synthesis of a specific compound in crop plants, which confers resistance to leafhoppers.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sven Heiling, Jiancai Li, Rayko Halitschke, Christian Paetz, Ian T. Baldwin
Summary: This study reveals that caterpillars are able to rearrange key constituents of plant defense pathways and disable their defensive properties. This discovery was made through comparative metabolomics of tobacco leaves and caterpillar frass. Further analysis showed that plants have evolved mechanisms to counter this defensive rearrangement.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Caiqiong Yang, Yuechen Bai, Rayko Halitschke, Klaus Gase, Gundega Baldwin, Ian T. T. Baldwin
Summary: Plants use limited resources to produce toxic defenses in response to challenges from herbivores and competitors. Jasmonate signaling, mediated by MYC2 transcription factors, helps reconfigure metabolism to minimize defense costs and optimize fitness in complex environments. In this study, NaMYC2a/b genes were silenced in Nicotiana attenuata, resulting in higher growth and fitness in environments with reduced herbivores but lower fitness in high herbivore-load environments. The presence of competitors and mobile herbivores led to lower fitness in single-genotype setups but increased fitness in mixed-genotype setups. MYC2 TFs play a crucial role in the reconfiguration of primary and specialized metabolism for plants to optimize their fitness in complex environments.
Article
Plant Sciences
Yanrong You, Rishav Ray, Rayko Halitschke, Gundega Baldwin, Ian T. Baldwin
Summary: Hydroxy- and carboxyblumenol C-glucosides specifically accumulate in roots and leaves of plants harboring arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Silencing the key gene CCD1 in blumenol biosynthesis resulted in changes in blumenol and AMF-specific lipid accumulations, and the relationship between them. Blumenol accumulations reflect plant fitness when grown in isolation, but predict fitness outcomes when grown with competitors.
Article
Plant Sciences
Xinjue Wang, Yumeng Chen, Shuting Liu, Wenjie Fu, Yunqi Zhuang, Jie Xu, Yonggen Lou, Ian T. Baldwin, Ran Li
Summary: Phytohormones called jasmonates (JAs) play important roles in plant development and response to environmental stresses, but the JA receptors in rice remain unstudied. In this study, the researchers investigated the functionality and regulatory mechanisms of three rice COI receptors, OsCOI1a, OsCOI1b, and OsCOI2. The results showed that all three OsCOIs are JA receptors and are involved in regulating different downstream responses.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mengyu Liu, Gaojie Hong, Huijing Li, Xiaoli Bing, Yumeng Chen, Xiangfeng Jing, Jonathan Gershenzon, Yonggen Lou, Ian T. Baldwin, Ran Li
Summary: Plants produce chemical defenses to poison or deter insect herbivores, but these defenses may also affect the beneficial endosymbionts of the herbivores. This study found that rice produces an antifungal flavonoid phytoalexin in response to attack by a pest, which inhibits the pest's beneficial endosymbionts.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Maitree Pradhan, Ian T. Baldwin, Shree P. Pandey
Summary: Plants interact with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and alter the expression of miRNAs and their targets. The role of an Argonaute protein in regulating this interaction remains unknown. In this study, the silencing of NaAGO7 reduced the competitive ability of plants under low-P conditions without affecting their development. The roots of NaAGO7-silenced plants were over-colonized with AMF but accumulated less phosphate, and the expression of AMF-specific transporters was deregulated. Overexpression of certain miRNAs decreased plant fitness and downregulated targets in GA, ethylene, and fatty acid metabolism pathways.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gaochen Jin, Jinfeng Qi, Hongyue Zu, Shuting Liu, Jonathan Gershenzon, Yonggen Lou, Ian T. Baldwin, Ran Li
Summary: Plant defense against herbivores is costly and often leads to growth repression. The phytohormone jasmonate (JA) plays a key role in prioritizing defense over growth during herbivore attack, but the mechanisms are not well understood. This study demonstrates that JA signaling enhances gibberellin (GA) catabolism mediated by GA2ox enzymes, resulting in growth inhibition in rice plants attacked by brown planthoppers (BPH). JA signaling activates defense responses and GA catabolism concurrently, optimizing resource allocation in attacked plants and providing a mechanism for phytohormone crosstalk.
Article
Plant Sciences
Suhua Li, Gundega Baldwin, Caiqiong Yang, Ruirui Lu, Shuaishuai Meng, Jianbei Huang, Ming Wang, Ian T. Baldwin
Summary: The study reveals the impact of factors such as day length, UV radiation, and light intensity on plant growth and adaptation through the investigation of differentially expressed gene irMAX2. The research also emphasizes the importance of studying gene function in natural environments.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jiancai Li, Ian T. Baldwin, Dapeng Li
Summary: Recent advancements in the understanding of biosynthetic pathways for plant-derived natural products have surpassed our knowledge of their function in plants and their influence on plant fitness in nature. Plant specialized metabolites (PSMs) undergo post-ingestive modifications essential for their function. Comparisons of plant natural product biosynthesis and insect metabolism of the same plant tissues can help identify molecular targets of effective chemical defenses and understand post-ingestive metabolite interactions in insects. These parallel investigations, conducted at the metabolome level, can contribute to rapid evolutions of insecticide resistance inspired by PSMs. Additionally, the concept of frass metabolite QTL analysis integrates genetic approaches with frassomics to advance our understanding of PSM biosynthesis and function.
NATURAL PRODUCT REPORTS
(2022)