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International Journal of Molecular... May 2024Anoctamin1 (ANO1), a calcium-activated chloride channel, is overexpressed in a variety of cancer cells, including prostate cancer, and is involved in cancer cell...
Anoctamin1 (ANO1), a calcium-activated chloride channel, is overexpressed in a variety of cancer cells, including prostate cancer, and is involved in cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Inhibition of ANO1 in these cancer cells exhibits anticancer effects. In this study, we conducted a screening to identify novel ANO1 inhibitors with anticancer effects using PC-3 human prostate carcinoma cells. Screening of 2978 approved and investigational drugs revealed that hemin is a novel ANO1 inhibitor with an IC value of 0.45 μM. Notably, hemin had no significant effect on intracellular calcium signaling and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a cyclic AMP (cAMP)-regulated chloride channel, and it showed a weak inhibitory effect on ANO2 at 3 μM, a concentration that completely inhibits ANO1. Interestingly, hemin also significantly decreased ANO1 protein levels and strongly inhibited the cell proliferation and migration of PC-3 cells in an ANO1-dependent manner. Furthermore, it strongly induced caspase-3 activation, PARP degradation, and apoptosis in PC-3 cells. These findings suggest that hemin possesses anticancer properties via ANO1 inhibition and could be considered for development as a novel treatment for prostate cancer.
Topics: Humans; Anoctamin-1; Male; Hemin; Prostatic Neoplasms; Cell Proliferation; Neoplasm Proteins; Cell Movement; Apoptosis; Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Line, Tumor; PC-3 Cells
PubMed: 38892219
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116032 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2024New β-amino-substituted porphyrin derivatives bearing carboxy groups were synthesized and their performance as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) was...
New β-amino-substituted porphyrin derivatives bearing carboxy groups were synthesized and their performance as sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) was evaluated. The new compounds were obtained in good yields (63-74%) through nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions with 3-sulfanyl- and 4-sulfanylbenzoic acids. Although the electrochemical studies indicated suitable HOMO and LUMO energy levels for use in DSSC, the devices fabricated with these compounds revealed a low power conversion efficiency (PCE) that is primarily due to the low open-circuit voltage (V) and short-circuit current density (J) values.
Topics: Porphyrins; Solar Energy
PubMed: 38892167
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115979 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2024Rice ( L.) is an important social-economic crop, and rice seedlings are easily affected by salt stress. Chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) plays a positive role in promoting...
Rice ( L.) is an important social-economic crop, and rice seedlings are easily affected by salt stress. Chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) plays a positive role in promoting plant growth and development. To gain a better understanding of the salt tolerance mechanism of rice under the action of COS, Nipponbare rice seedlings were selected as the experimental materials, and the physiological and biochemical indexes of rice seedlings in three stages (normal growth, salt stress and recovery) were measured. Unlabelled quantitative proteomics technology was used to study differential protein and signaling pathways of rice seedlings under salt stress, and the mechanism of COS to improve rice tolerance to salt stress was elucidated. Results showed that after treatment with COS, the chlorophyll content of rice seedlings was 1.26 times higher than that of the blank group (CK). The root activity during the recovery stage was 1.46 times that of the CK group. The soluble sugar in root, stem and leaf increased by 53.42%, 77.10% and 9.37%, respectively. The total amino acid content increased by 77% during the stem recovery stage. Furthermore, the malondialdehyde content in root, stem and leaf increased by 21.28%, 26.67% and 32.69%, respectively. The activity of oxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and oxygenase (CAT) were increased. There were more differentially expressed proteins in the three parts of the experimental group than in the CK group. Gene Ontology (GO) annotation of these differentially expressed proteins revealed that the experimental group was enriched for more entries. Then, through the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), the top ten pathways enriched with differentially expressed proteins in the two groups (COS and CK groups) were utilized, and a detailed interpretation of the glycolysis and photosynthesis pathways was provided. Five key proteins, including phosphofructokinase, fructose bisphosphate aldolases, glycer-aldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, enolase and pyruvate kinase, were identified in the glycolysis pathway. In the photosynthesis pathway, oxygen evolution enhancement proteins, iron redox proteins and ferredoxin-NADPH reductase were the key proteins. The addition of COS led to an increase in the abundance of proteins, a response of rice seedlings to salt stress. COS helped rice seedlings resist salt stress. Furthermore, using COS as biopesticides and biofertilizers can effectively increase the utilization of saline-affected farmland, thereby contributing to the alleviating of the global food crisis.
Topics: Oryza; Chitosan; Seedlings; Salt Tolerance; Oligosaccharides; Proteome; Plant Proteins; Proteomics; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Chlorophyll
PubMed: 38892141
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115953 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2024A key element for the cost-effective development of cultured meat is a cell line culturable in serum-free conditions to reduce production costs. Heme supplementation in...
A key element for the cost-effective development of cultured meat is a cell line culturable in serum-free conditions to reduce production costs. Heme supplementation in cultured meat mimics the original meat flavor and color. This study introduced a bacterial extract generated from that was selected for high-heme expression by directed evolution. A normal porcine cell line, PK15, was used to apply the bacterial heme extract as a supplement. Consistent with prior research, we observed the cytotoxicity of PK15 to the heme extract at 10 mM or higher. However, after long-term exposure, PK15 adapted to tolerate up to 40 mM of heme. An RNA-seq analysis of these heme-adapted PK15 cells (PK15H) revealed a set of altered genes, mainly involved in cell proliferation, metabolism, and inflammation. We found that cytochrome P450, family 1, subfamily A, polypeptide 1 (CYP1A1), lactoperoxidase (LPO), and glutathione peroxidase 5 (GPX5) were upregulated in the PK15H heme dose dependently. When we reduced serum serially from 2% to serum free, we derived the PK15H subpopulation that was transiently maintained with 5-10 mM heme extract. Altogether, our study reports a porcine cell culturable in high-heme media that can be maintained in serum-free conditions and proposes a marker gene that plays a critical role in this adaptation process.
Topics: Animals; Swine; Heme; Cell Line; Culture Media, Serum-Free; Cell Proliferation; Meat; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1; Cell Culture Techniques; In Vitro Meat
PubMed: 38892012
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115824 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2024Photosystem II (PSII) functions were investigated in basil ( L.) plants sprayed with 1 mM salicylic acid (SA) under non-stress (NS) or mild drought-stress (MiDS)...
Photosystem II (PSII) functions were investigated in basil ( L.) plants sprayed with 1 mM salicylic acid (SA) under non-stress (NS) or mild drought-stress (MiDS) conditions. Under MiDS, SA-sprayed leaves retained significantly higher (+36%) chlorophyll content compared to NS, SA-sprayed leaves. PSII efficiency in SA-sprayed leaves under NS conditions, evaluated at both low light (LL, 200 μmol photons m s) and high light (HL, 900 μmol photons m s), increased significantly with a parallel significant decrease in the excitation pressure at PSII (1-) and the excess excitation energy (EXC). This enhancement of PSII efficiency under NS conditions was induced by the mechanism of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) that reduced singlet oxygen (O) production, as indicated by the reduced quantum yield of non-regulated energy loss in PSII (Φ). Under MiDS, the thylakoid structure of water-sprayed leaves appeared slightly dilated, and the efficiency of PSII declined, compared to NS conditions. In contrast, the thylakoid structure of SA-sprayed leaves did not change under MiDS, while PSII functionality was retained, similar to NS plants at HL. This was due to the photoprotective heat dissipation by NPQ, which was sufficient to retain the same percentage of open PSII reaction centers (q), as in NS conditions and HL. We suggest that the redox status of the plastoquinone pool (q) under MiDS and HL initiated the acclimation response to MiDS in SA-sprayed leaves, which retained the same electron transport rate (ETR) with control plants. Foliar spray of SA could be considered as a method to improve PSII efficiency in basil plants under NS conditions, at both LL and HL, while under MiDS and HL conditions, basil plants could retain PSII efficiency similar to control plants.
Topics: Photosystem II Protein Complex; Salicylic Acid; Ocimum basilicum; Droughts; Plant Leaves; Stress, Physiological; Chlorophyll; Photosynthesis; Thylakoids; Light
PubMed: 38891916
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115728 -
Cells May 2024The differential effects of cellular and ultrastructural characteristics on the optical properties of adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces in the genus highlight the... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
The differential effects of cellular and ultrastructural characteristics on the optical properties of adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces in the genus highlight the intricate relationships between cellular arrangement and pigment distribution in the plant cells. We examined hyperspectral and chlorophyll fluorescence (ChlF) kinetics using spectroradiometers and optical and electron microscopy techniques. The leaves were analysed for their spectral properties and cellular makeup. The biochemical compounds were measured and correlated with the biophysical and ultrastructural features. The main findings showed that the top and bottom leaf surfaces had different amounts and patterns of pigments, especially anthocyanins, flavonoids, total phenolics, chlorophyll-carotenoids, and cell and organelle structures, as revealed by the hyperspectral vegetation index (HVI). These differences were further elucidated by the correlation coefficients, which influence the optical signatures of the leaves. Additionally, ChlF kinetics varied between leaf surfaces, correlating with VIS-NIR-SWIR bands through distinct cellular structures and pigment concentrations in the hypodermis cells. We confirmed that the unique optical properties of each leaf surface arise not only from pigmentation but also from complex cellular arrangements and structural adaptations. Some of the factors that affect how leaves reflect light are the arrangement of chloroplasts, thylakoid membranes, vacuoles, and the relative size of the cells themselves. These findings improve our knowledge of the biophysical and biochemical reasons for leaf optical diversity, and indicate possible implications for photosynthetic efficiency and stress adaptation under different environmental conditions in the mesophyll cells of Tradescantia plants.
Topics: Tradescantia; Plant Leaves; Fluorescence; Chlorophyll; Chlorophyll A
PubMed: 38891083
DOI: 10.3390/cells13110952 -
BMC Plant Biology Jun 2024Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important cereal crop species worldwide, but its growth and development are adversely influenced by drought stress....
Selenium and its nanoparticles modulate the metabolism of reactive oxygen species and morpho-physiology of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to combat oxidative stress under water deficit conditions.
BACKGROUND
Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important cereal crop species worldwide, but its growth and development are adversely influenced by drought stress. However, the application of trace elements is known to improve plant physiology under water-limited conditions. In this study, the effects of drought stress on wheat plants were investigated, with a focus on potential mitigation by foliar application of selenium nanoparticles (Se(np)) and sodium selenate (NaSeO). The experiment was conducted in a net house using a completely randomized design with four replications. The treatments involved three levels of drought stress (mild, moderate, and severe) started at 30 days after sowing (DAS), with foliar sprays of Se(np) and Se (both 25 µM) initiated at 27 DAS and repeated 4 times at 7-day intervals until 55 DAS.
RESULTS
Drought stress significantly reduced plant growth, whereas Se(np) and Se sprays enhanced it. Drought stress induced chlorophyll degradation, increased malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide levels, impaired membrane stability, and caused electrolyte leakage. Severe drought stress reduced the levels of antioxidants (e.g., proline, ascorbate, and glutathione by 4.18-fold, 80%, and 45%) and the activities of antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and others). Conversely, treatment with Se(np) and Se restored these parameters, for example, 1.23-fold higher total chlorophyll content with Se(np) treatment, 26% higher APX activity with Se treatment, 15% lower electrolyte leakage with Se treatment in wheat plants under severe drought stress. This Se-associated enhancement facilitated rapid scavenging of reactive oxygen species and reduced methylglyoxal toxicity, thereby diminishing oxidative stress and positively affecting the morphophysiological and biochemical responses of the plants under drought.
CONCLUSIONS
Drought-stressed wheat plants exhibited reductions in physiological processes, including water uptake and photosynthetic activity. However, Se(np) and Se applied at 25 µM mitigated the detrimental effects of drought. The application of Se(np) was notably more effective than the application of Se in mitigating drought stress, indicating the potential of the application of Se(np) as a sustainable agricultural practice under water-limited conditions.
Topics: Triticum; Oxidative Stress; Selenium; Reactive Oxygen Species; Nanoparticles; Droughts; Chlorophyll; Antioxidants; Dehydration; Hydrogen Peroxide
PubMed: 38890566
DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05282-3 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024The excessive accumulation of sodium chloride (NaCl) in soil can result in soil salinity, which poses a significant challenge to plant growth and crop production due to...
The excessive accumulation of sodium chloride (NaCl) in soil can result in soil salinity, which poses a significant challenge to plant growth and crop production due to impaired water and nutrient uptake. On the other hand, hydropriming (WP) and low level of NaCl priming can improve the germination of seeds, chlorophyll contents, oil and seed yield in plants. That's why this study investigates the impact of hydro and different levels of NaCl (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0%) priming, as pre-treatment techniques on canola seeds germination, growth and yield of two varieties Punjab and Faisal Canola. Results showed that, WP performed significant best for increase in germination (~ 20 and ~ 22%) and shoot length (~ 6 and ~ 10%) over non-priming (NP) in Punjab Canola and Faisal Canola respectively. A significant increase in plant height (~ 6 and ~ 7%), root length (~ 1 and ~ 7%), shoot fresh weight (~ 5 and ~ 7%), root fresh weight (~ 6 and ~ 7%) in Punjab Canola and Faisal Canola respectively. It was also observed that plants under WP and 0.5%NaCl priming were also better in production of seed yield per plant, oil contents, silique per plant, seeds per silique, and branches per plant chlorophyll contents and leaf relative water contents over NP. In conclusion, WP and 0.5%NaCl has potential to improve the germination, growth, yield and oil attributes of canola compared to non-priming, 1.0%NaCl priming, 1.5%NaCl priming and 2.0%NaCl priming.
Topics: Germination; Brassica napus; Sodium Chloride; Seeds; Chlorophyll; Water; Salinity; Soil
PubMed: 38890414
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63948-2 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Amidst the challenges posed by climate change, exploring advanced technologies like nanotechnology is crucial for enhancing agricultural productivity and food security....
Amidst the challenges posed by climate change, exploring advanced technologies like nanotechnology is crucial for enhancing agricultural productivity and food security. Consequently, this study investigated the impact of nano SiO (nSiO), nano TiO (nTiO) and SiO/TiO nanocomposites (NCs) on 30-day-old Zea mays L. plants and soil health at concentrations of 100 and 200 ppm. Results showed that nSiO and nTiO at 100 ppm and SiO/TiO NCs at both concentrations, positively influenced plant growth, with the best stimulation observed at 200 ppm of SiO/TiO NCs. Improved plant growth was associated with higher chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, rhizospheric N-fixing and phosphate solubilizing bacterial population and plant nutrient uptake. Additionally, treated plants exhibited increased cellulose and starch levels. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content was lower or similar to that of the control, except at 200 ppm of nTiO-treated shoots. Antioxidant enzyme activities fluctuated, indicating physiological adjustments. Overall, 100 ppm of nTiO as well as nSiO and 100 and 200 ppm of SiO/TiO NCs improved soil fertility and Z. mays growth, suggesting potential benefits for sustainable agriculture. The findings lay the foundation for more comprehensive investigations into the long-term fate of nanomaterials in soil and their intricate molecular-level interactions with Z. mays.
Topics: Zea mays; Titanium; Silicon Dioxide; Soil; Nanocomposites; Photosynthesis; Chlorophyll
PubMed: 38886471
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61456-x -
ACS Omega Jun 2024In this study, the functionality of an elastomer composite material containing polypyrrole (PPy) as a stress sensor was evaluated. The material was prepared using the...
In this study, the functionality of an elastomer composite material containing polypyrrole (PPy) as a stress sensor was evaluated. The material was prepared using the swelling method by diffusing the pyrrole monomer into the elastomer before polymerization. To achieve adequate diffusion, organic solvents with affinity for the elastomer were used. The resulting materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), surface electrical resistance, and thermal and mechanical properties for application as a stress sensor. The simultaneous change in electrical resistance and tension stress was measured using a digital multimeter with electrodes connected to the jaws of a universal mechanical testing machine. The influence of stress cycles on the piezoresistivity of the composite materials was investigated. The obtained PPy/NBR composite presented a good combination of electrical conductivity and mechanical properties. The strain at break remained with mild variation after coating with PPy.
PubMed: 38882075
DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c02166