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International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Rice () is a cereal crop with a starchy endosperm. Starch is composed of amylose and amylopectin. Amylose content (AC) is the principal determinant of rice quality, but...
Rice () is a cereal crop with a starchy endosperm. Starch is composed of amylose and amylopectin. Amylose content (AC) is the principal determinant of rice quality, but varieties with similar ACs can still vary substantially in their quality. In this study, we analyzed the total AC (TAC) and its constituent fractions, the hot water-soluble amylose content (SAC) and hot water-insoluble amylose content (IAC), in two sets of related chromosome segment substitution lines of rice with a common genetic background grown in two years. We searched for quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with SAC, IAC, and TAC and identified one common QTL (, , and ) on chromosome 6. Map-based cloning revealed that the gene underlying the trait associated with this common QTL is Waxy (). An analysis of the colors of soluble and insoluble starch-iodine complexes and their λ values (wavelengths at the positions of their peak absorbance values) as well as gel permeation chromatography revealed that is responsible for the biosynthesis of amylose, comprising a large proportion of the soluble fractions of the SAC. is also involved in the biosynthesis of long chains of amylopectin, comprising the hot water-insoluble fractions of the IAC. These findings highlight the pleiotropic effects of on the SAC and IAC. This pleiotropy indicates that these traits have a positive genetic correlation. Therefore, further studies of rice quality should use rice varieties with the same genotype to eliminate the pleiotropic effects of this gene, allowing the independent relationship between the SAC or IAC and rice quality to be elucidated through a multiple correlation analysis. These findings are applicable to other valuable cereal crops as well.
Topics: Oryza; Amylose; Quantitative Trait Loci; Solubility; Plant Proteins; Water; Edible Grain; Genetic Pleiotropy; Hot Temperature; Chromosome Mapping; Starch Synthase
PubMed: 38928265
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126561 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024MIXTA-like transcription factors AtMYB16 and AtMYB106 play important roles in the regulation of cuticular wax accumulation in dicot model plant , but there are very few...
MIXTA-like transcription factors AtMYB16 and AtMYB106 play important roles in the regulation of cuticular wax accumulation in dicot model plant , but there are very few studies on the MIXTA-like transcription factors in monocot plants. Herein, wheat MIXTA-like transcription factors TaMIXTA1 and TaMIXTA2 were characterized as positive regulators of cuticular wax accumulation. The virus-induced gene silencing experiments showed that knock-down of wheat and expressions resulted in the decreased accumulation of leaf cuticular wax, increased leaf water loss rate, and potentiated chlorophyll leaching. Furthermore, three wheat orthologous genes of (, , and ) and their function in cuticular wax deposition were reported. The silencing of by BSMV-VIGS led to reduced loads of leaf cuticular wax and enhanced rates of leaf water loss and chlorophyll leaching, indicating the essential role of the gene in the deposition of wheat cuticular wax. In addition, we demonstrated that TaMIXTA1 and TaMIXTA2 function as transcriptional activators and could directly stimulate the transcription of wax biosynthesis gene and wax deposition gene . The above results strongly support that wheat MIXTA-Like transcriptional activators TaMIXTA1 and TaMIXTA2 positively regulate cuticular wax accumulation via activating and gene transcription.
Topics: Waxes; Triticum; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Plant Proteins; Transcription Factors; Plant Leaves; Chlorophyll; Trans-Activators; Plant Epidermis
PubMed: 38928263
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126557 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024The avoidance of allergen intake is crucial for persons affected by peanut allergy; however, the cross-contamination of food is common and leads to unpredictable...
The avoidance of allergen intake is crucial for persons affected by peanut allergy; however, the cross-contamination of food is common and leads to unpredictable consequences after the consumption of supposedly "safe" food. The aim of the present study was to eliminate harmful traces of peanut allergens from food using purified clinoptilolite-tuff (PCT)-a specially processed zeolite material. Analyses were performed using a peanut ELISA and a Coomassie blue (Bradford) assay. Mimicking conditions of the human gastrointestinal tract demonstrated a higher efficacy of PCT in the intestine (pH 6.8) than in the stomach (pH 1.5). Adsorption rates were fast (<2 min) and indicated high capacities (23 µg and 40 µg per 1 mg of PCT at pH 1.5 and pH 6.8, respectively). Allergenically relevant peanut protein concentrations were sorbed in artificial fluids (32 µg/mL by 4 mg/mL of PCT at pH 1.5 and 80.8 µg/mL by 0.25 mg/mL of PCT at pH 6.8) when imitating a daily dose of 2 g of PCT in an average stomach volume of 500 mL. Experiments focusing on the bioavailability of peanut protein attached to PCT revealed sustained sorption at pH 1.5 and only minor desorption at pH 6.8. Accompanied by gluten, peanut proteins showed competing binding characteristics with PCT. This study therefore demonstrates the potential of PCT in binding relevant quantities of peanut allergens during the digestion of peanut-contaminated food.
Topics: Zeolites; Arachis; Allergens; Adsorption; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Peanut Hypersensitivity; Plant Proteins
PubMed: 38928222
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126510 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Pollen from common ragweed is an important allergen source worldwide and especially in western and southern Romania. More than 100 million patients suffer from symptoms...
Pollen from common ragweed is an important allergen source worldwide and especially in western and southern Romania. More than 100 million patients suffer from symptoms of respiratory allergy (e.g., rhinitis, asthma) to ragweed pollen. Among the eleven characterized allergens, Amb a 6 is a non-specific lipid transfer protein (nsLTP). nsLTPs are structurally stable proteins in pollen and food from different unrelated plants capable of inducing severe reactions. The goal of this study was to produce Amb a 6 as a recombinant and structurally folded protein (rAmb a 6) and to characterize its physicochemical and immunological features. rAmb a 6 was expressed in cells as a secreted protein and characterized by mass spectrometry and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy regarding molecular mass and fold, respectively. The IgE-binding frequency towards the purified protein was evaluated using sera from 150 clinically well-characterized ragweed-allergic patients. The allergenic activities of rAmb a 6 and the nsLTP from the weed (Par j 2) were evaluated in basophil activation assays. rAmb a 6-specific IgE reactivity was associated with clinical features. Pure rAmb a 6 was obtained by insect cell expression. Its deduced molecular weight corresponded to that determined by mass spectrometry (i.e., 10,963 Da). rAmb a 6 formed oligomers as determined by SDS-PAGE under non-reducing conditions. According to multiple sequence comparisons, Amb a 6 was a distinct nsLTP with less than 40% sequence identity to currently known plant nsLTP allergens, except for nsLTP from (i.e., 52%). rAmb a 6 is an important ragweed allergen recognized by 30% of ragweed pollen allergic patients. For certain patients, rAmb a 6-specific IgE levels were higher than those specific for the major ragweed allergen Amb a 1 and analysis also showed a higher allergenic activity in the basophil activation test. rAmb a 6-positive patients suffered mainly from respiratory symptoms. The assumption that Amb a 6 is a source-specific ragweed allergen is supported by the finding that none of the patients showing rAmb a 6-induced basophil activation reacted with Par j 2 and only one rAmb a 6-sensitized patient had a history of plant food allergy. Immunization of rabbits with rAmb a 6 induced IgG antibodies which strongly inhibited IgE binding to rAmb a 6. Our results demonstrate that Amb a 6 is an important source-specific ragweed pollen allergen that should be considered for diagnosis and allergen-specific immunotherapy of ragweed pollen allergy.
Topics: Humans; Allergens; Immunoglobulin E; Antigens, Plant; Animals; Carrier Proteins; Plant Proteins; Female; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal; Male; Adult; Ambrosia; Spodoptera; Recombinant Proteins; Amino Acid Sequence; Sf9 Cells; Middle Aged; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 38928218
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126513 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024The morphological architecture of inflorescence influences seed production. The regulatory mechanisms underlying alfalfa () inflorescence elongation remain unclear....
The morphological architecture of inflorescence influences seed production. The regulatory mechanisms underlying alfalfa () inflorescence elongation remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of the transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome of two extreme materials at three developmental stages to explore the mechanisms underlying inflorescence elongation in alfalfa. We observed the developmental processes of long and short inflorescences and found that the elongation capacity of alfalfa with long inflorescence was stronger than that of alfalfa with short inflorescences. Furthermore, integrative analysis of the transcriptome and proteome indicated that the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway was closely correlated with the structural formation of the inflorescence. Additionally, we identified key genes and proteins associated with lignin biosynthesis based on the differential expressed genes and proteins (DEGs and DEPs) involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Moreover, targeted hormone metabolome analysis revealed that IAA, GA, and CK play an important role in the peduncle elongation of alfalfa inflorescences. Based on omics analysis, we detected key genes and proteins related to plant hormone biosynthesis and signal transduction. From the WGCNA and WPCNA results, we furthermore screened 28 candidate genes and six key proteins that were correlated with lignin biosynthesis, plant hormone biosynthesis, and signaling pathways. In addition, 19 crucial transcription factors were discovered using correlation analysis that might play a role in regulating candidate genes. This study provides insight into the molecular mechanism of inflorescence elongation in alfalfa and establishes a theoretical foundation for improving alfalfa seed production.
Topics: Medicago sativa; Inflorescence; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Plant Proteins; Transcriptome; Lignin; Plant Growth Regulators; Proteome; Gene Expression Profiling; Proteomics; Metabolome; Multiomics
PubMed: 38928203
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126497 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Tomato fruit ripening is accompanied by carotenoid accumulation and color changes. To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms underlying carotenoid synthesis during fruit...
Tomato fruit ripening is accompanied by carotenoid accumulation and color changes. To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms underlying carotenoid synthesis during fruit ripening, a combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis was conducted on red-fruited tomato (WP190) and orange-fruited tomato (ZH108). A total of twenty-nine (29) different carotenoid compounds were identified in tomato fruits at six different stages. The abundance of the majority of the carotenoids was enhanced significantly with fruit ripening, with higher levels of lycopene; (E/Z)-lycopene; and α-, β- and γ-carotenoids detected in the fruits of WP190 at 50 and 60 days post anthesis (DPA). Transcriptome analysis revealed that the fruits of two varieties exhibited the highest number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at 50 DPA, and a module of co-expressed genes related to the fruit carotenoid content was established by WGCNA. qRT-PCR analysis validated the transcriptome result with a significantly elevated transcript level of lycopene biosynthesis genes (including , , , and ) observed in WP190 at 50 DPA in comparison to ZH108. In addition, during the ripening process, the expression of ethylene biosynthesis ( and ) and signaling ( and ) genes was also increased, and these mechanisms may regulate carotenoid accumulation and fruit ripening in tomato. Differential expression of several key genes in the fruit of two tomato varieties at different stages regulates the accumulation of carotenoids and leads to differences in color between the two varieties of tomato. The results of this study provide a comprehensive understanding of carotenoid accumulation and ethylene biosynthesis and signal transduction pathway regulatory mechanisms during tomato fruit development.
Topics: Solanum lycopersicum; Fruit; Carotenoids; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Transcriptome; Metabolome; Gene Expression Profiling; Lycopene; Plant Proteins; Pigmentation; Color
PubMed: 38928199
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126493 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Plants photoreceptors perceive changes in light quality and intensity and thereby regulate plant vegetative growth and reproductive development. By screening a γ...
Plants photoreceptors perceive changes in light quality and intensity and thereby regulate plant vegetative growth and reproductive development. By screening a γ irradiation-induced mutant library of the soybean () cultivar "Dongsheng 7", we identified , a mutant with elongated nodes, yellowed leaves, decreased chlorophyll contents, altered photosynthetic performance, and early maturation. An analysis of bulked DNA and RNA data sampled from a population segregating for , using the BVF-IGV pipeline established in our laboratory, identified a 10 bp deletion in the first exon of the candidate gene . The causative mutation was verified by a variation analysis of over 500 genes in the candidate gene region and an association analysis, performed using two populations segregating for . () is a homolog of in , which encodes a PΦB synthase involved in the biosynthesis of phytochrome. A transcriptome analysis of using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) revealed changes in multiple functional pathways, including photosynthesis, gibberellic acid (GA) signaling, and flowering time, which may explain the observed mutant phenotypes. Further studies on the function of GmHY2a and its homologs will help us to understand its profound regulatory effects on photosynthesis, photomorphogenesis, and flowering time.
Topics: Glycine max; Photosynthesis; Exons; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Hypocotyl; Sequence Deletion; Plant Proteins; Gibberellins; Gene Expression Profiling; Phenotype
PubMed: 38928189
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126483 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Plant resistance against biotic stressors is significantly influenced by pathogenesis-related 1 (PR1) proteins. This study examines the systematic identification and...
Plant resistance against biotic stressors is significantly influenced by pathogenesis-related 1 (PR1) proteins. This study examines the systematic identification and characterization of PR1 family genes in sugarcane ( Np-X) and the transcript expression of selected genes in two sugarcane cultivars (ROC22 and Zhongtang3) in response to pathogen infection. A total of 18 genes were identified at the whole-genome level and further categorized into four groups. Notably, tandem and segmental duplication occurrences were detected in one and five gene pairs, respectively. The genes exhibited diverse physio-chemical attributes and variations in introns/exons and conserved motifs. Notably, four SsnpPR1 (SsnpPR1.02/05/09/19) proteins displayed a strong protein-protein interaction network. The transcript expression of three () genes was upregulated by 1.2-2.6 folds in the resistant cultivar (Zhongtang3) but downregulated in the susceptible cultivar (ROC22) across different time points as compared to the control in response to pathogen infection. Additionally, was specifically upregulated by 1.2-3.5 folds at 24-72 h post inoculation (hpi) in ROC22, suggesting that this gene may play an important negative regulatory role in defense responses to pathogen infection. The genetic improvement of sugarcane can be facilitated by our results, which also establish the basis for additional functional characterization of genes in response to pathogenic stress.
Topics: Saccharum; Plant Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Ustilago; Plant Diseases; Stress, Physiological; Disease Resistance; Multigene Family; Phylogeny
PubMed: 38928169
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126463 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Drought stress is one of the most severe natural disasters in terms of its frequency, length, impact intensity, and associated losses, making it a significant threat to... (Review)
Review
Drought stress is one of the most severe natural disasters in terms of its frequency, length, impact intensity, and associated losses, making it a significant threat to agricultural productivity. Sorghum (), a C4 plant, shows a wide range of morphological, physiological, and biochemical adaptations in response to drought stress, paving the way for it to endure harsh environments. In arid environments, sorghum exhibits enhanced water uptake and reduced dissipation through its morphological activity, allowing it to withstand drought stress. Sorghum exhibits physiological and biochemical resistance to drought, primarily by adjusting its osmotic potential, scavenging reactive oxygen species, and changing the activities of its antioxidant enzymes. In addition, certain sorghum genes exhibit downregulation capabilities in response to drought stress. Therefore, in the current review, we explore drought tolerance in sorghum, encompassing its morphological characteristics and physiological mechanisms and the identification and selection of its functional genes. The use of modern biotechnological and molecular biological approaches to improving sorghum resistance is critical for selecting and breeding drought-tolerant sorghum varieties.
Topics: Sorghum; Droughts; Reactive Oxygen Species; Transcription Factors; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Stress, Physiological; Plant Proteins; Adaptation, Physiological
PubMed: 38928168
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126464 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024(MF) is a medicinal herb widely employed in traditional medicine for relieving sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, headaches, and toothaches. Here, we investigated the...
(MF) is a medicinal herb widely employed in traditional medicine for relieving sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, headaches, and toothaches. Here, we investigated the potential preventive effects of MF extract (MFE) against 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD)-induced ovotoxicity in ovarian cells and a mouse model of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). The cytoprotective effects of MFE were assessed using CHO-K1 or COV434 cells. In vivo, B6C3F1 female mice were intraperitoneally injected with VCD for two weeks to induce POI, while MFE was orally administered for four weeks, beginning one week before VCD administration. VCD led to a significant decline in the viabilities of CHO-K1 and COV434 cells and triggered excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and apoptosis specifically in CHO-K1 cells. However, pretreatment with MFE effectively prevented VCD-induced cell death and ROS generation, while also activating the Akt signaling pathway. In vivo, MFE increased relative ovary weights, follicle numbers, and serum estradiol and anti-Müllerian hormone levels versus controls under conditions of ovary failure. Collectively, our results demonstrate that MFE has a preventive effect on VCD-induced ovotoxicity through Akt activation. These results suggest that MFE may have the potential to prevent and manage conditions such as POI and diminished ovarian reserve.
Topics: Animals; Female; Mice; CHO Cells; Cricetulus; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency; Ovary; Plant Extracts; Reactive Oxygen Species; Apoptosis; Vinyl Compounds; Cyclohexenes; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Disease Models, Animal; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 38928161
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126456