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Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2022The transition element molybdenum (Mo) is an essential micronutrient for plants, animals, and microorganisms, where it forms part of the active center of Mo enzymes. To... (Review)
Review
The transition element molybdenum (Mo) is an essential micronutrient for plants, animals, and microorganisms, where it forms part of the active center of Mo enzymes. To gain biological activity in the cell, Mo has to be complexed by a pterin scaffold to form the molybdenum cofactor (Moco). Mo enzymes and Moco are found in all kingdoms of life, where they perform vital transformations in the metabolism of nitrogen, sulfur, and carbon compounds. In this review, I recall the history of Moco in a personal view, starting with the genetics of Moco in the 1960s and 1970s, followed by Moco biochemistry and the description of its chemical structure in the 1980s. When I review the elucidation of Moco biosynthesis in the 1990s and the early 2000s, I do it mainly for eukaryotes, as I worked with plants, human cells, and filamentous fungi. Finally, I briefly touch upon human Moco deficiency and whether there is life without Moco.
Topics: Animals; Coenzymes; Eukaryota; Humans; Metalloproteins; Molybdenum; Molybdenum Cofactors; Plants; Pterins
PubMed: 35956883
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27154934 -
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal... May 2022Linnaeus's very first opus, written when he was 22 years old, dealt with the analogy that exists between plants and animals in how they 'propagate their species', and a...
Linnaeus's very first opus, written when he was 22 years old, dealt with the analogy that exists between plants and animals in how they 'propagate their species', and a revised version with a plate depicting the union of male and female plants became a foundational text on the sexuality of plants. The question how systems with separate males and females have evolved in sedentary organisms that appear ancestrally bisexual has fascinated biologists ever since. The phenomenon, termed dioecy, has important consequences for plant reproductive success and is of commercial interest since it affects seed quality and fruit production. This theme issue presents a series of articles that synthesize and challenge the current understanding of how plants achieve dioecy. The articles deal with a broad set of taxa, including , , , , and , as well as overarching topics, such as the field's terminology, analogies with animal sex determination systems, evolutionary pathways to dioecy, dosage compensation, and the longevity of the two sexes. In this introduction, we focus on four topics, each addressed by several articles from different angles and with different conclusions. Our highlighting of unclear or controversial issues may help future studies to build on the current understanding and to ask new questions that will expand our knowledge of plant sexual systems. This article is part of the theme issue 'Sex determination and sex chromosome evolution in land plants'.
Topics: Animals; Embryophyta; Plants; Reproduction; Sex Chromosomes
PubMed: 35306895
DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0210 -
International Journal of Biological... Aug 2022Antimicrobial peptides, also known as AMPs, are cationic and amphipathic molecules found in all living organisms, composing part of the defense mechanisms against... (Review)
Review
Antimicrobial peptides, also known as AMPs, are cationic and amphipathic molecules found in all living organisms, composing part of the defense mechanisms against various pathogens, including fungi, viruses, bacteria, and nematodes. AMPs derived from plants are the focus of this review because they have gained attention as alternative molecules to overcome pathogen resistance as well as new drugs to combat cancer. Plant AMPs are generally classified based on their sequences and structures, as thionins, defensins, hevein-like peptides, knottins, stable-like peptides, lipid transfer proteins, snakins, and cyclotides. Although there are studies reporting the toxicity of plant AMPs to nontarget cells or limitations of oral administration, synthetic AMPs with reduced toxicity or allergenicity, or greater resistance to peptidases can be designed by using different bioinformatics tools. Thus, this review provides information about the classification of plant AMPs, their characteristics, mechanisms of action, hemolytic and cytotoxic potential, possible applications in the medical field, and finally, the use of bioinformatics to help design synthetic AMPs with improved features.
Topics: Antimicrobial Peptides; Computational Biology; Fungi; Plants
PubMed: 35700843
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.06.043 -
Microbiological Research Oct 2022Crop plants are affected by a series of inhibitory environmental and biotic factors that decrease their growth and production. To counteract these adverse effects,... (Review)
Review
Crop plants are affected by a series of inhibitory environmental and biotic factors that decrease their growth and production. To counteract these adverse effects, plants work together with the microorganisms that inhabit their rhizosphere, which is part of the soil influenced by root exudates. The rhizosphere is a microecosystem where a series of complex interactions takes place between the resident microorganisms (rhizobiome) and plant roots. Therefore, this study analyzes the dynamics of plant-rhizobiome communication, the role of exudates (diffusible and volatile) as a factor in stimulating a diverse rhizobiome, and the differences between rhizobiomes of domesticated crops and wild plants. The study also analyzes different strategies to decipher the rhizobiome through both classical cultivation techniques and the so-called "omics" sciences. In addition, the rhizosphere engineering concept and the two general strategies to manipulate the rhizobiome, i.e., top down and bottom up engineering have been revisited. In addition, recent studies on the effects on the indigenous rhizobiome of inoculating plants with foreign strains, the impact on the endobiome, and the collateral effects on plant crops are discussed. Finally, understanding of the complex rhizosphere interactions and the biological repercussions of rhizobiome engineering as essential steps for improving plant growth and health is proposed, including under adverse conditions.
Topics: Crops, Agricultural; Plant Development; Plant Roots; Rhizosphere; Soil Microbiology
PubMed: 35905581
DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2022.127137 -
The ISME Journal Apr 2021Plant microbiomes are shaped by forces working at different spatial scales. Environmental factors determine a pool of potential symbionts while host physiochemical...
Plant microbiomes are shaped by forces working at different spatial scales. Environmental factors determine a pool of potential symbionts while host physiochemical factors influence how those microbes associate with distinct plant tissues. These scales are seldom considered simultaneously, despite their potential to interact. Here, we analyze epiphytic microbes from nine Hibiscus tiliaceus trees across a steep, but short, environmental gradient within a single Hawaiian watershed. At each location, we sampled eight microhabitats: leaves, petioles, axils, stems, roots, and litter from the plant, as well as surrounding air and soil. The composition of bacterial communities is better explained by microhabitat, while location better predicted compositional variance for fungi. Fungal community compositional dissimilarity increased more rapidly along the gradient than did bacterial composition. Additionally, the rates of fungal community compositional dissimilarity along the gradient differed among plant parts, and these differences influenced the distribution patterns and range size of individual taxa. Within plants, microbes were compositionally nested such that aboveground communities contained a subset of the diversity found belowground. Our findings indicate that both environmental context and microhabitat contribute to microbial compositional variance in our study, but that these contributions are influenced by the domain of microbe and the specific microhabitat in question, suggesting a complicated and potentially interacting dynamic.
Topics: Bacteria; Fungi; Hawaii; Plant Roots; Plants; Soil Microbiology
PubMed: 33188299
DOI: 10.1038/s41396-020-00826-5 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jan 2023Plants are constantly exposed to environmental stresses. Local stimuli sensed by one part of a plant are translated into long-distance signals that can influence the... (Review)
Review
Plants are constantly exposed to environmental stresses. Local stimuli sensed by one part of a plant are translated into long-distance signals that can influence the activities in distant tissues. Changes in levels of phytohormones in distant parts of the plant occur in response to various local stimuli. The regulation of hormone levels can be mediated by long-distance electrical signals, which are also induced by local stimulation. We consider the crosstalk between electrical signals and phytohormones and identify interaction points, as well as provide insights into the integration nodes that involve changes in pH, Ca and ROS levels. This review also provides an overview of our current knowledge of how electrical signals and hormones work together to induce a systemic response.
Topics: Plant Growth Regulators; Plants; Signal Transduction; Electricity; Stress, Physiological
PubMed: 36614284
DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010847 -
The Science of the Total Environment Sep 2022Soil metal contamination is a major concern due to the ever-rising number of areas afflicted worldwide and the detrimental effects of metals to the environment and human... (Review)
Review
Soil metal contamination is a major concern due to the ever-rising number of areas afflicted worldwide and the detrimental effects of metals to the environment and human health. Due to their non-biodegradability and toxicity, it is paramount to prevent further metal contamination and remediate the thousands of contaminated sites across the planet. Yet, conventional reclamation based on physical and chemical methods is often expensive, impractical, and triggers secondary pollution issues. Hence, microbe-aided phytoremediation has been gaining significant traction due to its environment-friendly character, cost-effectiveness, and the breakthroughs achieved during the past few decades. Microorganisms are an essential part of natural ecosystems and play a crucial role in their restoration. Indeed, plant-microbe associations in metal-polluted soils are pivotal for plants to tolerate metal toxicity and thrive in these harsh environments. Therefore, improving the understanding of this intricate relationship is invaluable for boosting phytoremediation. In this review, we focus on the potential of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) for enhancing phytoremediation of metal-polluted soils. We discuss the mechanisms employed by microbes to promote plant growth and assist the removal or immobilization of metals in soil, thereby enhancing phytoextraction and phytostabilization, respectively. Microbe-mediated metal removal and detoxification through processes entailing adsorption, chelation, transformation, and precipitation, to list but a few, are also critically examined. Moreover, this work covers the direct and indirect mechanisms used by PGPB to facilitate plant acquisition of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, supply and regulate phytohormones, and exert control over antagonistic microorganisms. Lastly, we provide an outlook on the future directions of microbe-aided phytoremediation and phytomining. Clearly, to fully validate and comprehend the potential of PGPB-aided phytoremediation, a considerable shift from bench-scale to field research is necessary. What's more, it is envisaged that recent advancements in genetic engineering may soon help furthering the efficiency of microbe-assisted phytoremediation.
Topics: Bacteria; Biodegradation, Environmental; Ecosystem; Humans; Metals, Heavy; Plants; Soil; Soil Pollutants
PubMed: 35660615
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156435 -
Bioscience Reports Oct 2020Plants integrate a variety of biotic and abiotic factors for optimal growth in their given environment. While some of these responses are local, others occur distally.... (Review)
Review
Plants integrate a variety of biotic and abiotic factors for optimal growth in their given environment. While some of these responses are local, others occur distally. Hence, communication of signals perceived in one organ to a second, distal part of the plant and the coordinated developmental response require an intricate signaling system. To do so, plants developed a bipartite vascular system that mediates the uptake of water, minerals, and nutrients from the soil; transports high-energy compounds and building blocks; and traffics essential developmental and stress signals. One component of the plant vasculature is the phloem. The development of highly sensitive mass spectrometry and molecular methods in the last decades has enabled us to explore the full complexity of the phloem content. As a result, our view of the phloem has evolved from a simple transport path of photoassimilates to a major highway for pathogens, hormones and developmental signals. Understanding phloem transport is essential to comprehend the coordination of environmental inputs with plant development and, thus, ensure food security. This review discusses recent developments in its role in long-distance signaling and highlights the role of some of the signaling molecules. What emerges is an image of signaling paths that do not just involve single molecules but rather, quite frequently an interplay of several distinct molecular classes, many of which appear to be transported and acting in concert.
Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; Phloem; Plant Development; Plants; Signal Transduction; Stress, Physiological
PubMed: 32955092
DOI: 10.1042/BSR20193329 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2022In plants, methylation is a common step in specialized metabolic pathways, leading to a vast diversity of natural products. The methylation of these small molecules is... (Review)
Review
In plants, methylation is a common step in specialized metabolic pathways, leading to a vast diversity of natural products. The methylation of these small molecules is catalyzed by -adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM)-dependent methyltransferases, which are categorized based on the methyl-accepting atom (, , , or ). These methyltransferases are responsible for the transformation of metabolites involved in plant defense response, pigments, and cell signaling. Plant natural product methyltransferases are part of the Class I methyltransferase-superfamily containing the canonical Rossmann fold. Recent advances in genomics have accelerated the functional characterization of plant natural product methyltransferases, allowing for the determination of substrate specificities and regioselectivity and further realizing the potential for enzyme engineering. This review compiles known biochemically characterized plant natural product methyltransferases that have contributed to our knowledge in the diversification of small molecules mediated by methylation steps.
Topics: Methyltransferases; Biological Products; Methylation; Plants; S-Adenosylmethionine; Substrate Specificity
PubMed: 36615239
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28010043 -
Database : the Journal of Biological... Jan 2023Medicinal herbs databases have become a crucial part of organizing new scientific literature generated in medicinal herbs field, as well as new drug discoveries in the... (Review)
Review
Medicinal herbs databases have become a crucial part of organizing new scientific literature generated in medicinal herbs field, as well as new drug discoveries in the information era. The aim of this review was to track the current status of medicinal herbs databases. Search for finding medicinal herbs databases was carried out via Google and PubMed. PubMed was searched for papers introducing medicinal herbs databases by the recruited search strategy. Papers with an active database on the web were included in the review. Google was also searched for medicinal herbs databases. Both retrieved papers and databases were reviewed by the authors. In this review, the current status of 25 medicinal herbs databases was reviewed, and the important characteristics of databases were mentioned. The reviewed databases had a great variety in terms of characteristics and functions. Finally, some recommendations for the efficient development of medicinal herbs databases were suggested. Although contemporary medicinal herbs databases represent much useful information, adding some features to these databases could assist them to have better functionality. This work may not cover all the necessary information, but we hope that our review can provide readers with fundamental concepts, perspectives and suggestions for constructing more useful databases.
Topics: Plants, Medicinal; Phytotherapy; PubMed
PubMed: 36625159
DOI: 10.1093/database/baac110