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The Role of N6-methyladenosine Modification in Gametogenesis and Embryogenesis: Impact on Fertility.Genomics, Proteomics & Bioinformatics Jun 2024The most common epigenetic modification of messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs) is N6-methyladenosine (m6A), which is mainly located near the 3' untranslated region of...
The most common epigenetic modification of messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs) is N6-methyladenosine (m6A), which is mainly located near the 3' untranslated region of mRNAs, near the stop codons, and within internal exons. The biological effect of m6A is dynamically modified by methyltransferases (writers), demethylases (erasers), and m6A-binding proteins (readers). By controlling post-transcriptional gene expression, m6A has a significant impact on numerous biological functions, including RNA transcription, translation, splicing, transport, and degradation. Hence, m6A influences various physiological and pathological processes, such as spermatogenesis, oogenesis, embryogenesis, placental function, and human reproductive system diseases. During gametogenesis and embryogenesis, genetic material undergoes significant changes, including epigenomic modifications such as m6A. From spermatogenesis and oogenesis to the formation of an oosperm and early embryogenesis, m6A changes occur at every step. m6A abnormalities can lead to gamete abnormalities, developmental delays, impaired fertilization, and maternal-to-zygotic transition blockage. Both mice and humans with abnormal m6A modifications exhibit impaired fertility. In this review, we discuss the dynamic biological effects of m6A and its regulators on gamete and embryonic development and review the possible mechanisms of infertility caused by m6A changes. We also discuss the drugs currently used to manipulate m6A and provide prospects for the prevention and treatment of infertility at the epigenetic level.
PubMed: 38937660
DOI: 10.1093/gpbjnl/qzae050 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024This study investigates using magnesium foliar spray to enhance mint plants' growth and physiological performance under cadmium toxicity. It examines the effects of...
This study investigates using magnesium foliar spray to enhance mint plants' growth and physiological performance under cadmium toxicity. It examines the effects of foliar application of magnesium oxide (40 mg L), in both nano and bulk forms, on mint plants exposed to cadmium stress (60 mg kg soil). Cadmium stress reduced root growth and activity, plant biomass (32%), leaf hydration (19%), chlorophyll levels (27%), magnesium content (51%), and essential oil yield (35%), while increasing oxidative and osmotic stress in leaf tissues. Foliar application of magnesium increased root growth (32%), plant biomass, essential oil production (17%), leaf area (24%), chlorophyll content (10%), soluble sugar synthesis (33%), and antioxidant enzyme activity, and reduced lipid peroxidation and osmotic stress. Although the nano form of magnesium enhanced magnesium absorption, its impact on growth and physiological performance was not significantly different from the bulk form. Therefore, foliar application of both forms improves plants' ability to withstand cadmium toxicity. However, the study is limited by its focus on a single plant species and specific environmental conditions, which may affect the generalizability of the results. The long-term sustainability of such treatments could provide a more comprehensive understanding of magnesium's role in mitigating heavy metal stress in plants.
Topics: Magnesium Oxide; Cadmium; Mentha; Plant Leaves; Stress, Physiological; Chlorophyll; Lipid Peroxidation; Plant Roots; Oxidative Stress; Antioxidants; Magnesium; Biomass
PubMed: 38937645
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65853-0 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024This study investigates the ecological interaction between honeybees (Apis mellifera) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) plants, examining the mutual benefits of this...
This study investigates the ecological interaction between honeybees (Apis mellifera) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) plants, examining the mutual benefits of this relationship. Field experiments conducted in Egypt from December 2022 to May 2023 recorded diverse insect pollinators attracted to fennel flowers, especially honeybees. Assessing honeybee colonies near fennel fields showed improvements in sealed brood (357.5-772.5 cells), unsealed brood (176.3-343.8 cells), pollen collection (53.25-257.5 units), honey accumulation (257.5-877.5 units), and colony strength (7.75-10) over three weeks. Fennel exposure explained 88-99% of variability in foraging metrics. Comparing open versus self-pollinated fennel revealed enhanced attributes with bee pollination, including higher flower age (25.67 vs 19.67 days), more seeds per umbel (121.3 vs 95.33), bigger seeds (6.533 vs 4.400 mm), heavier seeds (0.510 vs 0.237 g/100 seeds), and increased fruit weight per umbel (0.619 vs 0.226 g). Natural variation in seed color and shape also occurred. The outcomes demonstrate the integral role of honeybees in fennel agroecosystems through efficient pollination services that improve crop productivity and quality. Fennel provides abundant nutritional resources that bolster honeybee colony health. This research elucidates the symbiotic bee-fennel relationship, underscoring mutualistic benefits and the importance of ecological conservation for sustainable agriculture.
Topics: Bees; Animals; Foeniculum; Pollination; Flowers; Crop Production; Crops, Agricultural; Egypt; Pollen
PubMed: 38937513
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64283-2 -
Nature Communications Jun 2024Flowering plants rely on the polarized growth of pollen tubes to deliver sperm cells (SCs) to the embryo sac for double fertilization. In pollen, the vegetative nucleus...
Flowering plants rely on the polarized growth of pollen tubes to deliver sperm cells (SCs) to the embryo sac for double fertilization. In pollen, the vegetative nucleus (VN) and two SCs form the male germ unit (MGU). However, the mechanism underlying directional transportation of MGU is not well understood. In this study, we provide the first full picture of the dynamic interplay among microtubules, actin filaments, and MGU during pollen germination and tube growth. Depolymerization of microtubules and inhibition of kinesin activity result in an increased velocity and magnified amplitude of VN's forward and backward movement. Pharmacological washout experiments further suggest that microtubules participate in coordinating the directional movement of MGU. In contrast, suppression of the actomyosin system leads to a reduced velocity of VN mobility but without a moving pattern change. Moreover, detailed observation shows that the direction and velocity of VN's movement are in close correlations with those of the actomyosin-driven cytoplasmic streaming surrounding VN. Therefore, we propose that while actomyosin-based cytoplasmic streaming influences on the oscillational movement of MGU, microtubules and kinesins avoid MGU drifting with the cytoplasmic streaming and act as the major regulator for fine-tuning the proper positioning and directional migration of MGU in pollen.
Topics: Microtubules; Actin Cytoskeleton; Kinesins; Pollen; Actomyosin; Pollen Tube; Cell Nucleus; Arabidopsis; Cytoplasmic Streaming; Germination
PubMed: 38937444
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49323-9 -
Nature Communications Jun 2024Global warming has a severe impact on the flowering time and yield of crops. Histone modifications have been well-documented for their roles in enabling plant plasticity...
Global warming has a severe impact on the flowering time and yield of crops. Histone modifications have been well-documented for their roles in enabling plant plasticity in ambient temperature. However, the factor modulating histone modifications and their involvement in habitat adaptation have remained elusive. In this study, through genome-wide pattern analysis and quantitative-trait-locus (QTL) mapping, we reveal that BrJMJ18 is a candidate gene for a QTL regulating thermotolerance in thermotolerant B. rapa subsp. chinensis var. parachinensis (or Caixin, abbreviated to Par). BrJMJ18 encodes an H3K36me2/3 Jumonji demethylase that remodels H3K36 methylation across the genome. We demonstrate that the BrJMJ18 allele from Par (BrJMJ18) influences flowering time and plant growth in a temperature-dependent manner via characterizing overexpression and CRISPR/Cas9 mutant plants. We further show that overexpression of BrJMJ18 can modulate the expression of BrFLC3, one of the five BrFLC orthologs. Furthermore, ChIP-seq and transcriptome data reveal that BrJMJ18 can regulate chlorophyll biosynthesis under high temperatures. We also demonstrate that three amino acid mutations may account for function differences in BrJMJ18 between subspecies. Based on these findings, we propose a working model in which an H3K36me2/3 demethylase, while not affecting agronomic traits under normal conditions, can enhance resilience under heat stress in Brassica rapa.
Topics: Brassica rapa; Flowers; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Histones; Quantitative Trait Loci; Jumonji Domain-Containing Histone Demethylases; Plant Proteins; Temperature; Thermotolerance; Methylation; Plants, Genetically Modified; Chlorophyll
PubMed: 38937441
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49721-z -
PloS One 2024Aluminum (Al) toxicity is an important factor restricting the normal growth of plants in acidic soil. Rhododendron (Ericaceae) can grow relatively well in acidic soil....
Aluminum (Al) toxicity is an important factor restricting the normal growth of plants in acidic soil. Rhododendron (Ericaceae) can grow relatively well in acidic soil. To uncover the adaptive mechanisms of photosynthesis under Al stress, the influence of Al stress on the photosynthetic activities of Al-sensitive (Baijinpao) and Al-resistant (Kangnaixin) rhododendron cultivars was examined by measuring gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, and the modulated reflection of light at 820 nm. Under Al stress conditions, the net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance of the rhododendron leaves decreased, whereas the intercellular CO2 concentration increased. The Al stress treatment damaged the oxygen-evolving complex of the rhododendron seedlings, while also inhibiting electron transport on the photosystem II (PSII) donor side. In addition, the exposure to Al stress restricted the oxidation of plastocyanin (PC) and the photosystem I (PSI) reaction center (P700) and led to the re-reduction of PC+ and P700+. The comparison with Kangnaixin revealed an increase in the PSII connectivity in Baijinpao. Additionally, the donor-side electron transport efficiency was more inhibited and the overall activity of PSII, PSI, and the intersystem electron transport chain decreased more extensively in Baijinpao than in Kangnaixin. On the basis of the study findings, we concluded that Al stress adversely affects photosynthesis in rhododendron seedlings by significantly decreasing the activity of PSII and PSI. Under Al stress, Kangnaixin showed stronger tolerance compared with Baijinpao.
Topics: Rhododendron; Aluminum; Chlorophyll; Photosynthesis; Fluorescence; Photosystem II Protein Complex; Stress, Physiological; Plant Leaves; Electron Transport; Light; Photosystem I Protein Complex
PubMed: 38935623
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305133 -
Frontiers in Nutrition 2024Crop yield and quality has increased globally during recent decades due to plant breeding, resulting in improved food security. However, climate change and shifts in... (Review)
Review
Crop yield and quality has increased globally during recent decades due to plant breeding, resulting in improved food security. However, climate change and shifts in human dietary habits and preferences display novel pressure on crop production to deliver enough quantity and quality to secure food for future generations. This review paper describes the current state-of-the-art and presents innovative approaches related to alien introgressions into wheat, focusing on aspects related to quality, functional characteristics, nutritional attributes, and development of novel food products. The benefits and opportunities that the novel and traditional plant breeding methods contribute to using alien germplasm in plant breeding are also discussed. In principle, gene introgressions from rye have been the most widely utilized alien gene source for wheat. Furthermore, the incorporation of novel resistance genes toward diseases and pests have been the most transferred type of genes into the wheat genome. The incorporation of novel resistance genes toward diseases and pests into the wheat genome is important in breeding for increased food security. Alien introgressions to wheat from e.g. rye and spp. have also contributed to improved nutritional and functional quality. Recent studies have shown that introgressions to wheat of genes from chromosome 3 in rye have an impact on both yield, nutritional and functional quality, and quality stability during drought treatment, another character of high importance for food security under climate change scenarios. Additionally, the introgression of alien genes into wheat has the potential to improve the nutritional profiles of future food products, by contributing higher minerals levels or lower levels of anti-nutritional compounds into e.g., plant-based products substituting animal-based food alternatives. To conclude, the present review paper highlights great opportunities and shows a few examples of how food security and functional-nutritional quality in traditional and novel wheat products can be improved by the use of genes from alien sources, such as rye and other relatives to wheat. Novel and upcoming plant breeding methods such as genome-wide association studies, gene editing, genomic selection and speed breeding, have the potential to complement traditional technologies to keep pace with climate change and consumer eating habits.
PubMed: 38933881
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1393357 -
Plant Phenomics (Washington, D.C.) 2024The tassel state in maize hybridization fields not only reflects the growth stage of the maize but also reflects the performance of the detasseling operation. Existing...
The tassel state in maize hybridization fields not only reflects the growth stage of the maize but also reflects the performance of the detasseling operation. Existing tassel detection models are primarily used to identify mature tassels with obvious features, making it difficult to accurately identify small tassels or detasseled plants. This study presents a novel approach that utilizes unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and deep learning techniques to accurately identify and assess tassel states, before and after manually detasseling in maize hybridization fields. The proposed method suggests that a specific tassel annotation and data augmentation strategy is valuable for substantial enhancing the quality of the tassel training data. This study also evaluates mainstream object detection models and proposes a series of highly accurate tassel detection models based on tassel categories with strong data adaptability. In addition, a strategy for blocking large UAV images, as well as improving tassel detection accuracy, is proposed to balance UAV image acquisition and computational cost. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can accurately identify and classify tassels at various stages of detasseling. The tassel detection model optimized with the enhanced data achieves an average precision of 94.5% across all categories. An optimal model combination that uses blocking strategies for different development stages can improve the tassel detection accuracy to 98%. This could be useful in addressing the issue of missed tassel detections in maize hybridization fields. The data annotation strategy and image blocking strategy may also have broad applications in object detection and recognition in other agricultural scenarios.
PubMed: 38933805
DOI: 10.34133/plantphenomics.0188 -
Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal : SPJ :... Jul 2024Skin cancer refers to the pathological condition characterized by the proliferation of atypical skin cells in an uncontrolled manner. Plant-based products such as bixin...
OBJECTIVE
Skin cancer refers to the pathological condition characterized by the proliferation of atypical skin cells in an uncontrolled manner. Plant-based products such as bixin although show promising anticancer properties, but maintaining their stability in a formulation is a difficult task. The objective of the research is to formulate a silver nanoparticle gel preparation of bixin and evaluate its anticancer properties.
METHODS
The extract from seed was prepared by hot extraction technique to isolate the active ingredient, bixin. A green synthesis approach was utilized for preparing the silver nanoparticle gel of bixin (BOAgNPs). Characterization of silver nanoparticles was done using FTIR, scanning electron microscopy, compatibility study, homogeneity testing, pH evaluation, and drug content determination. The anticancer activity was performed using cell lines (B16F10) and by chemical carcinogen (7,12-dimethylbenz (a) anthracene) in mice.
RESULTS
The BOAgNPs-loaded topical gel was found to be homogeneous (clear orange color) and pH-compatible (pH ≈ 6.66) with the skin. The characterization studies indicated the presence of all functional groups in the formulation. An optimized batch of bixin-nano gel showed about 60% inhibitory effects on B16F10 cell lines ( activity) when equated with a reference drug, 5-fluorouracil. The anticancer study suggested suppression of tumorigenesis and promotion of the healing process with bixin-nano gel application on the skin.
CONCLUSION
The results suggested the promising anticancer property of bixin when formulated in silver nanoparticle gel. The preparation of silver particles nano gel with bixin might provide an effective alternative option for treating skin cancers, provided more research complements the findings of the present study.
PubMed: 38933714
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2024.102125 -
Frontiers in Genome Editing 2024Rice, a staple food for a significant portion of the global population, faces persistent threats from various pathogens and pests, necessitating the development of... (Review)
Review
Rice, a staple food for a significant portion of the global population, faces persistent threats from various pathogens and pests, necessitating the development of resilient crop varieties. Deployment of resistance genes in rice is the best practice to manage diseases and reduce environmental damage by reducing the application of agro-chemicals. Genome editing technologies, such as CRISPR-Cas, have revolutionized the field of molecular biology, offering precise and efficient tools for targeted modifications within the rice genome. This study delves into the application of these tools to engineer novel alleles of resistance genes in rice, aiming to enhance the plant's innate ability to combat evolving threats. By harnessing the power of genome editing, researchers can introduce tailored genetic modifications that bolster the plant's defense mechanisms without compromising its essential characteristics. In this study, we synthesize recent advancements in genome editing methodologies applicable to rice and discuss the ethical considerations and regulatory frameworks surrounding the creation of genetically modified crops. Additionally, it explores potential challenges and future prospects for deploying edited rice varieties in agricultural landscapes. In summary, this study highlights the promise of genome editing in reshaping the genetic landscape of rice to confront emerging challenges, contributing to global food security and sustainable agriculture practices.
PubMed: 38933684
DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2024.1415244