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Archives of Microbiology Jul 2024Cordyceps cicadae is recognized for its medicinal properties, attributed to bioactive constituents like polysaccharides and adenosine, which have been shown to improve...
Cordyceps cicadae is recognized for its medicinal properties, attributed to bioactive constituents like polysaccharides and adenosine, which have been shown to improve kidney and liver functions and possess anti-tumor properties. Rho GTPase activating proteins (Rho GAPs) serve as inhibitory regulators of Rho GTPases in eukaryotic cells by accelerating the GTP hydrolysis of Rho GTPases, leading to their inactivation. In this study, we explored the function of the CcRga8 gene in C. cicadae, which encodes a Rho-type GTPase activating protein. Our study found that the knockout of CcRga8 resulted in a decrease in polysaccharide levels and an increase in adenosine concentration. Furthermore, the mutants exhibited altered spore yield and morphology, fruiting body development, decreased infectivity, reduced resistance to hyperosmotic stress, oxidative conditions, and cell wall inhibitors. These findings suggest that CcRga8 plays a crucial role in the development, stress response, and bioactive compound production of C. cicadae.
Topics: Cordyceps; GTPase-Activating Proteins; Fungal Proteins; Adenosine; Polysaccharides; Fruiting Bodies, Fungal
PubMed: 38958759
DOI: 10.1007/s00203-024-04072-7 -
Plant Cell Reports Jul 2024MdERF023 is a transcription factor that can reduce salt tolerance by inhibiting ABA signaling and Na/H homeostasis. Salt stress is one of the principal environmental...
MdERF023 is a transcription factor that can reduce salt tolerance by inhibiting ABA signaling and Na/H homeostasis. Salt stress is one of the principal environmental stresses limiting the growth and productivity of apple (Malus × domestica). The APETALA2/ethylene response factor (AP2/ERF) family plays key roles in plant growth and various stress responses; however, the regulatory mechanism involved has not been fully elucidated. In the present study, we identified an AP2/ERF transcription factor (TF), MdERF023, which plays a negative role in apple salt tolerance. Stable overexpression of MdERF023 in apple plants and calli significantly decreased salt tolerance. Biochemical and molecular analyses revealed that MdERF023 directly binds to the promoter of MdMYB44-like, a positive modulator of ABA signaling-mediated salt tolerance, and suppresses its transcription. In addition, MdERF023 downregulated the transcription of MdSOS2 and MdAKT1, thereby reducing the Na expulsion, K absorption, and salt tolerance of apple plants. Taken together, these results suggest that MdERF023 reduces apple salt tolerance by inhibiting ABA signaling and ion transport, and that it could be used as a potential target for breeding new varieties of salt-tolerant apple plants via genetic engineering.
Topics: Malus; Plant Proteins; Abscisic Acid; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Transcription Factors; Salt Tolerance; Signal Transduction; Sodium; Plants, Genetically Modified; Promoter Regions, Genetic
PubMed: 38958739
DOI: 10.1007/s00299-024-03272-1 -
TAG. Theoretical and Applied Genetics.... Jul 2024Transcriptomics and proteomics information collected on a platform can predict additive and non-additive effects for platform traits and additive effects for field...
Transcriptomics and proteomics information collected on a platform can predict additive and non-additive effects for platform traits and additive effects for field traits. The effects of climate change in the form of drought, heat stress, and irregular seasonal changes threaten global crop production. The ability of multi-omics data, such as transcripts and proteins, to reflect a plant's response to such climatic factors can be capitalized in prediction models to maximize crop improvement. Implementing multi-omics characterization in field evaluations is challenging due to high costs. It is, however, possible to do it on reference genotypes in controlled conditions. Using omics measured on a platform, we tested different multi-omics-based prediction approaches, using a high dimensional linear mixed model (MegaLMM) to predict genotypes for platform traits and agronomic field traits in a panel of 244 maize hybrids. We considered two prediction scenarios: in the first one, new hybrids are predicted (CV-NH), and in the second one, partially observed hybrids are predicted (CV-POH). For both scenarios, all hybrids were characterized for omics on the platform. We observed that omics can predict both additive and non-additive genetic effects for the platform traits, resulting in much higher predictive abilities than GBLUP. It highlights their efficiency in capturing regulatory processes in relation to growth conditions. For the field traits, we observed that the additive components of omics only slightly improved predictive abilities for predicting new hybrids (CV-NH, model MegaGAO) and for predicting partially observed hybrids (CV-POH, model GAOxW-BLUP) in comparison to GBLUP. We conclude that measuring the omics in the fields would be of considerable interest in predicting productivity if the costs of omics drop significantly.
Topics: Zea mays; Genotype; Phenotype; Proteomics; Plant Breeding; Models, Genetic; Genomics; Transcriptome; Linear Models; Multiomics
PubMed: 38958724
DOI: 10.1007/s00122-024-04679-w -
Journal of Agricultural and Food... Jul 2024This study investigated the mechanism underlying the flavor improvement observed during fermentation of a pea protein-based beverage using NCC533. A combination of...
This study investigated the mechanism underlying the flavor improvement observed during fermentation of a pea protein-based beverage using NCC533. A combination of sensomics and sensoproteomics approach revealed that the fermentation process enriched or generated well-known basic taste ingredients, such as amino acids, nucleotides, organic acids, and dipeptides, besides six new taste-active peptide sequences that enhance kokumi and umami notes. The six new umami and kokumi enhancing peptides, with human recognition thresholds ranging from 0.046 to 0.555 mM, are produced through the degradation of 's storage protein. Our findings suggest that compounds derived from fermentation enhance umami and kokumi sensations and reduce bitterness, thus improving the overall flavor perception of pea proteins. In addition, the analysis of intraspecific variations in the proteolytic activity of and the genome-peptidome correlation analysis performed in this study point at cell-wall-bound proteinases such as PrtP and PrtM as the key genes necessary to initiate the flavor improving proteolytic cascade. This study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the flavor improvement of pea protein during fermentation and identifies potential future research directions. The results highlight the importance of combining fermentation and senso(proteo)mics techniques in developing tastier and more palatable plant-based protein products.
PubMed: 38957928
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c02317 -
Genome Biology and Evolution Jul 2024We present the first long-read de-novo -assembly and annotation of the luna moth (Actias luna) and provide the full characterization of heavy chain fibroin...
We present the first long-read de-novo -assembly and annotation of the luna moth (Actias luna) and provide the full characterization of heavy chain fibroin (h-fibroin)--, a long and highly repetitive gene (>20 Kbp) essential in silk fiber production. There are more than 160,000 described species of moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera), but only within the last five years have we begun to recover high-quality annotated whole genomes across the order which capture h-fibroin. Using PacBio HiFi reads, we produce the first high-quality long-read reference genome for this species. The assembled genome has a length of 532 Mbp, a contig N50 of 16.8 Mbp, an L50 of 14 contigs, and 99.4% completeness (BUSCO). Our annotation using Bombyx mori protein and A.luna RNAseq evidence captured a total of 20,866 genes at 98.9% completeness with 10,267 functionally annotated proteins and a full-length h-fibroin annotation of 2,679 amino acid residues.
PubMed: 38957923
DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evae148 -
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2024The incidence of neurological disorders, particularly age-related neurodegenerative pathologies, exhibits an alarming upward trend, while current pharmacological... (Review)
Review
The incidence of neurological disorders, particularly age-related neurodegenerative pathologies, exhibits an alarming upward trend, while current pharmacological interventions seldom achieve curative outcomes. Despite their diverse clinical presentations, neurological diseases often share a common pathological thread: the aberrant accumulation of misfolded proteins within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). This phenomenon, known as ER stress, arises when the cell's intrinsic quality control mechanisms fail to cope with the protein-folding burden. Consequently, misfolded proteins accumulate in the ER lumen, triggering a cascade of cellular stress responses. Recognizing this challenge, researchers have intensified their efforts over the past two decades to explore natural compounds that could potentially slow or even reverse these devastating pathologies. Flavonoids constitute a vast and heterogeneous class of plant polyphenols, with over 10,000 identified from diverse natural sources such as wines, vegetables, medicinal plants, and organic products. Flavonoids are generally divided into six different subclasses: anthocyanidins, flavanones, flavones, flavonols, isoflavones, and flavonols. The diverse family of flavonoids, featuring a common phenolic ring backbone adorned with varying hydroxyl groups and additional modifications, exerts its antioxidant activity by inhibiting the formation of ROS, as evidenced by research. Also, studies suggest that polyphenols such as flavonoids can regulate ER stress through apoptosis and autophagy. By understanding these mechanisms, we can unlock the potential of flavonoids as novel therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, this review critically examines the literature exploring the modulatory effects of flavonoids on various steps of the ER stress in neurological disorders.
PubMed: 38957188
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1348151 -
Journal of Food Science Jul 2024Previously, we showed that water extract (soymilk, except pH was increased to 8 from 6.5) of whole soybean could be used directly as a raw material for producing edible...
Previously, we showed that water extract (soymilk, except pH was increased to 8 from 6.5) of whole soybean could be used directly as a raw material for producing edible soy films by deposition of the film-forming solution (soy extract with enhancers). However, the strength of such soy films needed improvement because they were weak. The purpose of this study was to investigate how transglutaminase (TG) cross-linking reactions and film enhancers, including pectin (low- and high-methoxyl pectin), whey protein isolate (WPI), and soy protein isolate (SPI), improve the physical properties of soy films. Soy films prepared with TG had tensile strength (TS) of 3.01 MPa and puncture strength (PS) of 0.78 MPa, which were higher by as much as 51% and 30% than that of soy films without TG treatment, respectively. Pectin showed significant effects on the mechanical properties of TG-added soy films in terms of TS, PS, and % elongation. On the other hand, only TS and PS were increased by the addition of WPI or SPI. Heat curing had a significant effect on soy film's physical properties. TG treatment significantly reduced film solubility when soaked in water and various levels of acid (vinegar) and base (baking soda) solutions. Under the experimental conditions of 35 unit TG and 28 min of reaction, the degrees of cross-linking were evidenced by the disappearance of individual protein subunits, except the basic subunit of glycinin, and the reduction of 21% of lysine residues of the proteins. HIGHLIGHTS: Edible soy films were made with transglutaminase and about 21% lysine cross-linked. The mechanical strength of soy films was increased by incorporating film enhancers. Transglutaminase enhanced the mechanical properties of soy films.
Topics: Transglutaminases; Pectins; Soybean Proteins; Tensile Strength; Solubility; Whey Proteins; Food Packaging; Cross-Linking Reagents; Glycine max; Edible Films; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Soy Milk
PubMed: 38957134
DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.17107 -
Journal of Food Science Jul 2024This study explored the mechanism of l-lysine intervention in wheat gluten protein (WG) gel formation under a microwave (MW) field. The results showed that the MW...
This study explored the mechanism of l-lysine intervention in wheat gluten protein (WG) gel formation under a microwave (MW) field. The results showed that the MW treatment had higher ζ-potential values at the same heating rate. After adding l-lysine, the solution conductivity and dielectric loss were significantly increased. Moreover, the WG gel strength enhanced 4.40% under the MW treatment. The Fourier spectra showed that the α-helix content was decreased 13.78% with the addition of lysine. The ultraviolet absorption spectra and fluorescence spectra indicated that MW irradiation impacted the interactions between WG molecules more effectively than the water bath heating, promoting the denaturation and unfolding of the protein structure. In addition, scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that the incorporation of lysine promoted an ordered network structure formation of the protein, which enhanced the gel properties. This indicated that the zwitterion of l-lysine played a regulatory role in the aggregation of proteins in the MW field.
Topics: Microwaves; Lysine; Triticum; Glutens; Protein Aggregates; Plant Proteins; Hot Temperature; Gels
PubMed: 38957101
DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.17169 -
Journal of Agricultural and Food... Jul 2024This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms by which dark septate endophytes (DSE) regulate salt tolerance and the accumulation of bioactive constituents in licorice....
This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms by which dark septate endophytes (DSE) regulate salt tolerance and the accumulation of bioactive constituents in licorice. First, the salt stress tolerance and resynthesis with the plant effect of isolated DSE from wild licorice were tested. Second, the performance of licorice inoculated with DSE, which had the best salt-tolerant and growth-promoting effects, was examined under salt stress. All isolated DSE showed salt tolerance and promoted plant growth, with D43 being the most effective. Under salt stress, D43 could promote growth, increase antioxidant enzyme activities, enhance glycyrrhizic acid accumulation, improve key enzyme activities in the glycyrrhizic acid synthesis pathway, and induce the expression of the key enzyme gene and salt tolerance gene of licorice. The structural equation model demonstrated that DSE alleviate the negative effects of salt stress through direct and indirect pathways. Variations in key enzyme activities, gene expression, and bioactive constituent concentration can be attributed to the effects of DSE. These results contribute to revealing the value of DSE for cultivating medicinal plants in saline soils.
Topics: Glycyrrhizic Acid; Glycyrrhiza; Endophytes; Salt Stress; Salt Tolerance; Ascomycota; Plant Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
PubMed: 38957088
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c00700 -
Journal of Agricultural and Food... Jul 2024Plants withstand pathogen attacks by recruiting beneficial bacteria to the rhizosphere and passing their legacy on to the next generation. However, the underlying...
Plants withstand pathogen attacks by recruiting beneficial bacteria to the rhizosphere and passing their legacy on to the next generation. However, the underlying mechanisms involved in this process remain unclear. In our study, we combined microbiomic and transcriptomic analyses to reveal how the rhizosphere microbiome assembled through multiple generations and defense-related genes expressed in under pathogen attack stress. Our results showed that continuous exposure to the pathogen DC3000 led to improved growth and increased disease resistance in a third generation of mutant . It could be attributed to the enrichment of specific rhizosphere bacteria, such as and . Pathways associated with plant immunity and growth in . , such as MAPK signaling pathways, phytohormone signal transduction, ABC transporter proteins, and flavonoid biosynthesis, were activated under the influence of rhizosphere bacterial communities. Our findings provide a scientific basis for explaining the relationship between beneficial microbes and defense-related gene expression. Understanding microbial communities and the mechanisms involved in plant responses to disease can contribute to better plant management and reduction of pesticide use.
Topics: Arabidopsis; Rhizosphere; Plant Diseases; Pseudomonas syringae; Disease Resistance; Microbiota; Bacteria; Soil Microbiology; Arabidopsis Proteins; Adaptation, Physiological; Plant Roots; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
PubMed: 38957087
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c02200