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Current Opinion in Plant Biology Feb 2017Plant development requires specific cells to be eliminated in a predictable and genetically regulated manner referred to as programmed cell death (PCD). However, the... (Review)
Review
Plant development requires specific cells to be eliminated in a predictable and genetically regulated manner referred to as programmed cell death (PCD). However, the target cells do not merely die but they also undergo autolysis to degrade their cellular corpses. Recent progress in understanding developmental cell elimination suggests that distinct proteins execute PCD sensu stricto and autolysis. In addition, cell death alone and cell dismantlement can fulfill different functions. Hence, it appears biologically meaningful to distinguish between the modules of PCD and autolysis during plant development.
Topics: Apoptosis; Autophagy; Plant Development
PubMed: 27936412
DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2016.11.017 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Jun 2022A presumptive postmortem diagnosis of oleander () poisoning is made based on the histological observation of cardiomyocyte degeneration and necrosis, which is considered...
A presumptive postmortem diagnosis of oleander () poisoning is made based on the histological observation of cardiomyocyte degeneration and necrosis, which is considered to be a reliable diagnostic marker, and can be confirmed via the detection of oleandrin in tissues or fluids. However, cardiac lesions may not be present in every case, and autolysis can often preclude the identification of subtle changes in the cardiomyocytes. Several studies of experimental oleander poisoning have noted the presence of renal lesions in multiple mammalian species, and case studies of accidental exposure have found similar, although more variably severe, renal abnormalities. Kidney pathology in horses with oleander poisoning has been only briefly mentioned. In this study, we reviewed 21 cases of spontaneous oleander poisoning in horses, evaluated the kidneys microscopically, and compared the renal microscopic lesions with those detected in 10 horses that died or were euthanized due to other causes to assess if histological renal changes could serve as an additional diagnostic marker for oleander poisoning in horses. We found that microscopic renal lesions, principally mild to moderate tubular changes such as hyaline cast formation, neutrophilic casts, epithelial attenuation and necrosis, as well as mineralization and congestion, occur in horses with oleander poisoning. Most of these changes match the descriptions of lesions previously noted in other species, although with less frequency and severity. Similar lesions were found in horses that died spontaneously due to different causes or were euthanized. We concluded that microscopic renal lesions may be detected in horses with oleander poisoning but they cannot be used as a diagnostic marker that allows differentiation from other disease processes or causes of death.
PubMed: 35681907
DOI: 10.3390/ani12111443 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2021Sparkling wine made by the traditional method (Méthode Traditionelle) develops a distinct and desirable flavour and aroma profile attributed to proteolytic processes...
Sparkling wine made by the traditional method (Méthode Traditionelle) develops a distinct and desirable flavour and aroma profile attributed to proteolytic processes during prolonged ageing on lees. Microwave, ultrasound and addition of β-glucanase enzymes were applied to accelerate the disruption of , and added to the tirage solution for secondary fermentation in traditional sparkling winemaking. Scanning electron microscopy and flow cytometry analyses were used to observe and describe yeast whole-cell anatomy, and cell integrity and structure via propidium iodide (PI) permeability after 6-, 12- and 18-months post-tirage. Treatments applied produced features on lees that were distinct from that of the untreated control yeast. Whilst control yeast displayed budding cells (growth features) with smooth, cavitated and flat external cell appearances; microwave treated yeast cells exhibited modifications like 'doughnut' shapes immediately after treatment (time 0). Similar 'doughnut'-shaped and 'pitted/porous' cell features were observed on progressively older lees from the control. Flow cytometry was used to discriminate yeast populations; features consistent with cell disruption were observed in the microwave, ultrasound and enzyme treatments, as evidenced by up to 4-fold increase in PI signal in the microwave treatment. Forward and side scatter signals reflected changes in size and structure of yeast cells, in all treatments applied. When flow cytometry was interpreted alongside the scanning electron microscopy images, bimodal populations of yeast cells with low and high PI intensities were revealed and distinctive 'doughnut'-shaped cell features observed in association with the microwave treatment only at tirage, that were not observed until 12 months wine ageing in older lees from the control. This work offers both a rapid approach to visualise alterations to yeast cell surfaces and a better understanding of the mechanisms of yeast lysis. Microwave, ultrasound or β-glucanase enzymes are tools that could potentially initiate the release of yeast cell compounds into wine. Further investigation into the impact of such treatments on the flavour and aroma profiles of the wines through sensory evaluation is warranted.
Topics: Autolysis; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Wine
PubMed: 33450966
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26020387 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2022is a clinically important conditioned pathogen that can cause a troublesome chronic implant-related infection once a biofilm is formed. The nitric oxide synthase ()...
is a clinically important conditioned pathogen that can cause a troublesome chronic implant-related infection once a biofilm is formed. The nitric oxide synthase () gene, which is responsible for endogenous nitric oxide synthesis, has already been found in the genome of ; however, the specific mechanisms associated with the effects of on pathogenicity are still unknown. The purpose of the current study was to investigate whether the gene has an impact on biofilm formation in . Bioinformatics analysis of the gene was performed, and homologous recombination was subsequently employed to delete this gene. The effects of the gene on biofilm formation of and its underlying mechanisms were analyzed by bacterial growth assays, biofilm semiquantitative determination, Triton X-100-induced autolysis assays, and bacterial biofilm dispersal assays. Additionally, the transcription levels of , , , and , which are related to biofilm formation, were further investigated by qRT-PCR following deletion. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the gene was conserved between bacterial species originating from different genera. The deletion strain of 1457 and its counterpart were successfully constructed. Disruption of the gene resulted in significantly enhanced biofilm formation, slightly retarded bacterial growth, a markedly decreased autolysis rate, and drastically weakened bacterial biofilm dispersal. Our data showed that the , and genes were significantly upregulated, while the and genes were significantly downregulated, compared with the wild strain. Therefore, these data strongly suggested that the gene can negatively regulate biofilm formation in by affecting biofilm aggregation and dispersal.
Topics: Staphylococcus epidermidis; Phylogeny; Iron-Dextran Complex; Biofilms; Nitric Oxide Synthase
PubMed: 36405963
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1015859 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) May 2021A key obstacle to the successful delivery of a probiotic to the consumer is maintaining viability of the live cells during storage, a challenge for the beneficial ....
A key obstacle to the successful delivery of a probiotic to the consumer is maintaining viability of the live cells during storage, a challenge for the beneficial . Three processes play a role in the reduction of viability: autolysis, cell death, and cell weakening. Using a phosphate induction model of autolysis, the initial aim of this project was to discover novel molecular determinants of autolysis in , with the long -term goal of elucidating new strategies for increasing viability. We employed a 2D Native/SDS-Page method to monitor changes in protein expression over time; however, the result was that excess phosphate did not induce noticeable changes in expression patterns. On the other hand, we found that pH affects both the rate of total viability and autolysis, as seen with other species of LAB. In addition, we found that the phosphate model of autolysis may not be sufficient to explain how autolysis is triggered in . Two parameters appear to modulate the pH in media containing cells: overall buffering capacity and the presence of a carbon source. Ultimately, phosphate sources appear to facilitate autolysis by maintaining pH in the media via a higher buffering capacity. In addition, the alkaline sugar free almond drink appears to be a promising possible preservative for .
PubMed: 34065120
DOI: 10.3390/foods10051026 -
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2022The identification of a reliable and accurate post-mortem interval (PMI) is a major challenge in the field of forensic sciences and criminal investigation. Several... (Review)
Review
The identification of a reliable and accurate post-mortem interval (PMI) is a major challenge in the field of forensic sciences and criminal investigation. Several laboratory techniques have recently been developed that offer a better contribution to the estimation of PMI, in addition to the traditional physical or physico-chemical (body cooling, lividity, radiocarbon dating, rigor mortis), chemical (autolysis), microbiological (putrefaction), entomological, as well as botanical parameters. Molecular biology (degradation pattern of macromolecules such as proteins, DNA, RNA), biochemical analysis of biological fluids (such as blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and vitreous humor), and immunohistochemistry are some of the most recent technological innovations. A systematic review of the literature was performed with the aim of presenting an up-to-date overview on the correlation between the immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of specific antigenic markers at different PMIs. The systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. Scopus and PubMed were used as search engines from January 1, 1998 to March 1, 2022 to evaluate the effectiveness of immunohistochemistry in estimating PMI. The following keywords were used: (immunohistochemical) OR (immunohistochemistry) AND (time since death) OR (post-mortem interval) OR (PMI). A total of 6571 articles were collected. Ultimately, 16 studies were included in this review. The results of this systematic review highlighted that IHC techniques, in association with traditional methods, add, in Bayesian terms, additional information to define a more accurate time of death and PMI. However, current IHC results are numerically limited and more data and studies are desirable in the near future.
PubMed: 36140515
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12092114 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Jun 2022The application of whole-body post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) in veterinary and wildlife post-mortem research programs is advancing. A high incidence of pulmonary...
The application of whole-body post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) in veterinary and wildlife post-mortem research programs is advancing. A high incidence of pulmonary pathology is reported in the harbor porpoise (). In this study, the value of PMCT focused on pulmonary assessment is evaluated. The objectives of this study were to describe pulmonary changes as well as autolytic features detected by PMCT examination and to compare those findings with conventional necropsy. Retrospective evaluation of whole-body PMCT images of 46 relatively fresh harbor porpoises and corresponding conventional necropsy reports was carried out, with a special focus on the respiratory tract. Common pulmonary PMCT findings included: moderate (24/46) to severe (19/46) increased pulmonary soft tissue attenuation, severe parasite burden (17/46), bronchial wall thickening (30/46), and mild autolysis (26/46). Compared to conventional necropsy, PMCT more frequently identified pneumothorax (5/46 vs. none), tracheal content (26/46 vs. 7/46), and macroscopic pulmonary mineralization (23/46 vs. 11/46), and provided more information of the distribution of pulmonary changes. These results indicate that PMCT adds information on pulmonary assessment and is a promising complementary technique for necropsy, despite the frequent presence of mild autolytic features.
PubMed: 35681918
DOI: 10.3390/ani12111454 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2018This work is a short review of the interactions between oenological yeasts and lactic acid bacteria (LAB), especially , the main species carrying out the malolactic... (Review)
Review
This work is a short review of the interactions between oenological yeasts and lactic acid bacteria (LAB), especially , the main species carrying out the malolactic fermentation (MLF). The emphasis has been placed on non- effects due to their recent increased interest in winemaking. Those interactions are variable, ranging from inhibitory, to neutral and stimulatory and are mediated by some known compounds, which will be discussed. One phenomena responsible of inhibitory interactions is the media exhaustion by yeasts, and particularly a decrease in L-malic acid by some non-. Clearly ethanol is the main inhibitory compound of LAB produced by , but non- can be used to decrease it. Sulfur dioxide and medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) produced by yeasts can exhibit inhibitory effect upon LAB or even result lethal. Interestingly mixed fermentations with non- present less MCFA concentration. Among organic acids derived as result of yeast metabolism, succinic acid seems to be the most related with MLF inhibition. Several protein factors produced by inhibiting have been described, but they have not been studied in non-. According to the stimulatory effects, the use of non- can increase the concentration of favorable mediators such as citric acid, pyruvic acid, or other compounds derived of yeast autolysis such as peptides, glucans, or mannoproteins. The emergence of non- in winemaking present a new scenario in which MLF has to take place. For this reason, new tools and approaches should be explored to better understand this new winemaking context.
PubMed: 29628914
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00534 -
Insect Biochemistry and Molecular... Nov 2020Food digestion is vital for the survival and prosperity of insects. Research on insect digestive enzymes yields knowledge of their structure and function, and potential...
Food digestion is vital for the survival and prosperity of insects. Research on insect digestive enzymes yields knowledge of their structure and function, and potential targets of antifeedants to control agricultural pests. While such enzymes from pest species are more relevant for inhibitor screening, a systematic analysis of their counterparts in a model insect has broader impacts. In this context, we identified a set of 122 digestive enzyme genes from the genome of Manduca sexta, a lepidopteran model related to some major agricultural pests. These genes encode hydrolases of proteins (85), lipids (20), carbohydrates (16), and nucleic acids (1). Gut serine proteases (62) and their noncatalytic homologs (11) in the S1A subfamily are encoded by abundant transcripts whose levels correlate well with larval feeding stages. Aminopeptidases (10), carboxypeptidases (10), and other proteases (3) also participate in dietary protein digestion. A large group of 11 lipases as well as 9 esterases are probably responsible for digesting lipids in diets. The repertoire of carbohydrate hydrolases (16) is relatively small, including two amylases, three maltases, two sucrases, two α-glucosidases, and others. Lysozymes, peptidoglycan amidases, and β-1,3-glucanase may hydrolyze peptidoglycans and glucans to harvest energy and defend the host from microbes on plant leaves. One alkaline nuclease is associated with larval feeding, which is likely responsible for hydrolyzing denatured DNA and RNA undergoing autolysis at a high pH of midgut. Proteomic analysis of the ectoperitrophic fluid from feeding larvae validated at least 131 or 89% of the digestive enzymes and their homologs. In summary, this study provides for the first time a holistic view of the digestion-related proteins in a lepidopteran model insect and clues for comparative research in lepidopteran pests and beyond.
Topics: Animals; Digestion; Digestive System; Esterases; Genes, Insect; Hydrolases; Insect Proteins; Larva; Lipase; Manduca; Peptide Hydrolases; Phylogeny; Proteolysis; Proteomics; Serine Proteases; Transcriptome
PubMed: 32860882
DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2020.103457 -
Molecules and Cells Nov 2023Autophagy dysfunction is associated with human diseases and conditions including neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic issues, and chronic infections. Additionally, the... (Review)
Review
Autophagy dysfunction is associated with human diseases and conditions including neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic issues, and chronic infections. Additionally, the decline in autophagic activity contributes to tissue and organ dysfunction and aging-related diseases. Several factors, such as down-regulation of autophagy components and activators, oxidative damage, microinflammation, and impaired autophagy flux, are linked to autophagy decline. An autophagy flux impairment (AFI) has been implicated in neurological disorders and in certain other pathological conditions. Here, to enhance our understanding of AFI, we conducted a comprehensive literature review of findings derived from two well-studied cellular stress models: glucose deprivation and replicative senescence. Glucose deprivation is a condition in which cells heavily rely on oxidative phosphorylation for ATP generation. Autophagy is activated, but its flux is hindered at the autolysis step, primarily due to an impairment of lysosomal acidity. Cells undergoing replicative senescence also experience AFI, which is also known to be caused by lysosomal acidity failure. Both glucose deprivation and replicative senescence elevate levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), affecting lysosomal acidification. Mitochondrial alterations play a crucial role in elevating ROS generation and reducing lysosomal acidity, highlighting their association with autophagy dysfunction and disease conditions. This paper delves into the underlying molecular and cellular pathways of AFI in glucose-deprived cells, providing insights into potential strategies for managing AFI that is driven by lysosomal acidity failure. Furthermore, the investigation on the roles of mitochondrial dysfunction sheds light on the potential effectiveness of modulating mitochondrial function to overcome AFI, offering new possibilities for therapeutic interventions.
Topics: Humans; Mitophagy; Reactive Oxygen Species; Glucose; Autophagy; Lysosomes; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
PubMed: 37867391
DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2023.0121