scholarly journals A transposon surveillance mechanism that safeguards plant male fertility during stress

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang-Seok Lee ◽  
Robert Maple ◽  
Julius Dürr ◽  
Alexander Dawson ◽  
Saleh Tamim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Rnas ◽  
Male Fertility ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Mutagenic Activity ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Rna Targets ◽  
Maize Plants ◽  
Surveillance Mechanism ◽  
Constrained Conditions ◽  
Plant Fertility

ABSTRACTAlthough plants are able to withstand a range of environmental conditions, spikes in ambient temperature can impact plant fertility causing reductions in seed yield and significant economic losses1,2. Therefore, understanding the precise molecular mechanisms that underpin plant fertility under environmental constraints is critical to safeguard future food production3. Here, we identified two Argonaute-like proteins whose activities are required to sustain male fertility in maize plants under high temperatures. We found that MALE-ASSOCIATED ARGONAUTE 1 and 2 (MAGO1 and MAGO2) associate with temperature-induced phased secondary small RNAs in pre-meiotic anthers and are essential to control the activity of retrotransposons in male meiocyte initials. Biochemical and structural analyses revealed how MAGO2 activity and its interaction with retrotransposon RNA targets are modulated through the dynamic phosphorylation of a set of highly conserved surface-located serine residues. Our results demonstrate that an Argonaute-dependent RNA-guided surveillance mechanism is critical in plants to sustain male fertility under environmentally constrained conditions by controlling the mutagenic activity of transposons in male germ cells.

scholarly journals The Effect of Gut Bacteria on the Physiology of Red Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier and Their Potential for the Control of This Pest

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 594
Author(s):  
Qian-Xia Liu ◽  
Zhi-Ping Su ◽  
Hui-Hui Liu ◽  
Sheng-Ping Lu ◽  
Bing Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Gut Bacteria ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Rhynchophorus Ferrugineus ◽  
Intestinal Immunity ◽  
Red Palm Weevil ◽  
Nutrient Metabolism ◽  
Palm Weevil

Red Palm Weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier, is a notorious pest, which infests palm trees and has caused great economic losses worldwide. At present, insecticide applications are still the main way to control this pest. However, pesticide resistance has been detected in the field populations of RPW. Thus, future management strategies based on the novel association biological control need be developed. Recent studies have shown that the intestinal tract of RPW is often colonized by multiple microbial species as mammals and model insects, and gut bacteria have been found to promote the growth, development and immune activity of RPW larvae by modulating nutrient metabolism. Furthermore, two peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs), PGRP-LB and PGRP-S1, can act as the negative regulators to modulate the intestinal immunity to maintain the homeostasis of gut bacteria in RPW larvae. Here, we summarized the current knowledge on the gut bacterial composition of RPW and their impact on the physiological traits of RPW larvae. In contrast with metazoans, it is much easier to make genetic engineered microbes to produce some active molecules against pests. From this perspective, because of the profound effects of gut bacteria on host phenotypes, it is promising to dissect the molecular mechanisms behind their effect on host physiology and facilitate the development of microbial resource-based management methods for pest control.

scholarly journals RNAseq Reveals Differential Gene Expression Contributing to Phytophthora nicotianae Adaptation to Partial Resistance in Tobacco

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 656
Author(s):  
Jing Jin ◽  
Rui Shi ◽  
Ramsey Steven Lewis ◽  
Howard David Shew
Keyword(s):  
Partial Resistance ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Phytophthora Nicotianae ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Black Shank ◽  
Differential Gene ◽  
Go Terms

Phytophthora nicotianae is a devastating oomycete plant pathogen with a wide host range. On tobacco, it causes black shank, a disease that can result in severe economic losses. Deployment of host resistance is one of the most effective means of controlling tobacco black shank, but adaptation to complete and partial resistance by P. nicotianae can limit the long-term effectiveness of the resistance. The molecular basis of adaptation to partial resistance is largely unknown. RNAseq was performed on two isolates of P. nicotianae (adapted to either the susceptible tobacco genotype Hicks or the partially resistant genotype K 326 Wz/Wz) to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during their pathogenic interactions with K 326 Wz/Wz and Hicks. Approximately 69% of the up-regulated DEGs were associated with pathogenicity in the K 326 Wz/Wz-adapted isolate when sampled following infection of its adapted host K 326 Wz/Wz. Thirty-one percent of the up-regulated DEGs were associated with pathogenicity in the Hicks-adapted isolate on K 326 Wz/Wz. A broad spectrum of over-represented gene ontology (GO) terms were assigned to down-regulated genes in the Hicks-adapted isolate. In the host, a series of GO terms involved in nuclear biosynthesis processes were assigned to the down-regulated genes in K 326 Wz/Wz inoculated with K 326 Wz/Wz-adapted isolate. This study enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of P. nicotianae adaptation to partial resistance in tobacco by elucidating how the pathogen recruits pathogenicity-associated genes that impact host biological activities.

scholarly journals A Metabolic Choreography of Maize Plants Treated with a Humic Substance-Based Biostimulant under Normal and Starved Conditions

Metabolites ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 403
Author(s):  
Kgalaletso Othibeng ◽  
Lerato Nephali ◽  
Anza-Tshilidzi Ramabulana ◽  
Paul Steenkamp ◽  
Daniel Petras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Humic Substance ◽  
Metabolic Networks ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Plant Cell Wall ◽  
Growth Promotion ◽  
Redox Homeostasis ◽  
Metabolic Reprogramming ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Crop Development ◽  
Maize Plants

Humic substance (HS)-based biostimulants show potentials as sustainable strategies for improved crop development and stress resilience. However, cellular and molecular mechanisms governing the agronomically observed effects of HS on plants remain enigmatic. Here, we report a global metabolic reprogramming of maize leaves induced by a humic biostimulant under normal and nutrient starvation conditions. This reconfiguration of the maize metabolism spanned chemical constellations, as revealed by molecular networking approaches. Plant growth and development under normal conditions were characterized by key differential metabolic changes such as increased levels of amino acids, oxylipins and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) intermediate, isocitric acid. Furthermore, under starvation, the humic biostimulant significantly impacted pathways that are involved in stress-alleviating mechanisms such as redox homeostasis, strengthening of the plant cell wall, osmoregulation, energy production and membrane remodelling. Thus, this study reveals that the humic biostimulant induces a remodelling of inter-compartmental metabolic networks in maize, subsequently readjusting the plant physiology towards growth promotion and stress alleviation. Such insights contribute to ongoing efforts in elucidating modes of action of biostimulants, generating fundamental scientific knowledge that is necessary for development of the biostimulant industry, for sustainable food security.

scholarly journals Analysis of the Role of Bradysiaimpatiens (Diptera: Sciaridae) as a Vector Transmitting Peanut Stunt Virus on the Model Plant Nicotiana benthamiana

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1546
Author(s):  
Marta Budziszewska ◽  
Patryk Frąckowiak ◽  
Aleksandra Obrępalska-Stęplowska
Keyword(s):  
Nicotiana Benthamiana ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Virus Transmission ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Fungus Gnats ◽  
Droplet Pcr ◽  
Viral Coat ◽  
Peanut Stunt Virus

Bradysia species, commonly known as fungus gnats, are ubiquitous in greenhouses, nurseries of horticultural plants, and commercial mushroom houses, causing significant economic losses. Moreover, the insects from the Bradysia genus have a well-documented role in plant pathogenic fungi transmission. Here, a study on the potential of Bradysia impatiens to acquire and transmit the peanut stunt virus (PSV) from plant to plant was undertaken. Four-day-old larvae of B. impatiens were exposed to PSV-P strain by feeding on virus-infected leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana and then transferred to healthy plants in laboratory conditions. Using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), and digital droplet PCR (RT-ddPCR), the PSV RNAs in the larva, pupa, and imago of B. impatiens were detected and quantified. The presence of PSV genomic RNA strands as well as viral coat protein in N. benthamiana, on which the viruliferous larvae were feeding, was also confirmed at the molecular level, even though the characteristic symptoms of PSV infection were not observed. The results have shown that larvae of B. impatiens could acquire the virus and transmit it to healthy plants. Moreover, it has been proven that PSV might persist in the insect body transstadially. Although the molecular mechanisms of virion acquisition and retention during insect development need further studies, this is the first report on B. impatiens playing a potential role in plant virus transmission.

scholarly journals Deficiency of the onco-miRNA cluster, miR-106b∼25, causes oligozoospermia and the cooperative action of miR-106b∼25 and miR-17∼92 is required to maintain male fertility

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 389-401
Author(s):  
Alicia Hurtado ◽  
Rogelio Palomino ◽  
Ina Georg ◽  
Miguel Lao ◽  
Francisca M Real ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Male Fertility ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Mirna Cluster ◽  
Knock Out ◽  
Cooperative Action ◽  
Mouse Mutants ◽  
New Genes ◽  
Mirna Clusters ◽  
Testicular Histology ◽  
And Function

Abstract The identification of new genes involved in sexual development and gonadal function as potential candidates causing male infertility is important for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Deficiency of the onco-miRNA cluster miR-17∼92 has been shown to disrupt spermatogenesis, whereas mutations in its paralog cluster, miR-106b∼25, that is expressed in the same cells, were reported to have no effect on testis development and function. The aim of this work is to determine the role of these two miRNA clusters in spermatogenesis and male fertility. For this, we analyzed miR-106b∼25 and miR-17∼92 single and double mouse mutants and compared them to control mice. We found that miR-106b∼25 knock out testes show reduced size, oligozoospermia and altered spermatogenesis. Transcriptomic analysis showed that multiple molecular pathways are deregulated in these mutant testes. Nevertheless, mutant males conserved normal fertility even when early spermatogenesis and other functions were disrupted. In contrast, miR-17∼92+/−; miR-106b∼25−/− double mutants showed severely disrupted testicular histology and significantly reduced fertility. Our results indicate that miR-106b∼25 and miR-17∼92 ensure accurate gene expression levels in the adult testis, keeping them within the required thresholds. They play a crucial role in testis homeostasis and are required to maintain male fertility. Hence, we have identified new candidate genetic factors to be screened in the molecular diagnosis of human males with reproductive disorders. Finally, considering the well-known oncogenic nature of these two clusters and the fact that patients with reduced fertility are more prone to testicular cancer, our results might also help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms linking both pathologies.

scholarly journals Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Alydidae) to Characterize Wing Formation across All Developmental Stages

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 226
Author(s):  
Siying Fu ◽  
Yujie Duan ◽  
Siqi Wang ◽  
Yipeng Ren ◽  
Wenjun Bu
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Transcriptome Assembly ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Economic Damage ◽  
Wing Formation ◽  
Riptortus Pedestris

Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Alydidae) is a major agricultural pest in East Asia that causes considerable economic losses to the soybean crop each year. However, the molecular mechanisms governing the growth and development of R. pedestris have not been fully elucidated. In this study, the Illumina HiSeq6000 platform was employed to perform de novo transcriptome assembly and determine the gene expression profiles of this species across all developmental stages, including eggs, first-, second-, third-, fourth-, and fifth-instar nymphs, and adults. In this study, a total of 60,058 unigenes were assembled from numerous raw reads, exhibiting an N50 length of 2126 bp and an average length of 1199 bp, and the unigenes were annotated and classified with various databases, such as the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG), and Gene Ontology (GO). Furthermore, various numbers of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were calculated through pairwise comparisons of all life stages, and some of these DEGs were associated with immunity, metabolism, and development by GO and KEGG enrichment. In addition, 35,158 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and 715,604 potential single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified from the seven transcriptome libraries of R. pedestris. Finally, we identified and summarized ten wing formation-related signaling pathways, and the molecular properties and expression levels of five wing development-related genes were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR for all developmental stages of R. pedestris. Taken together, the results of this study may establish a foundation for future research investigating developmental processes and wing formation in hemimetabolous insects and may provide valuable data for pest control efforts attempting to reduce the economic damage caused by this pest.

scholarly journals Molecular mechanisms of growth depression in broiler chickens (Gallus Gallus domesticus) mediated by immune stress: a hepatic proteome study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aijuan Zheng ◽  
Anrong Zhang ◽  
Zhimin Chen ◽  
Shoaib Ahmed Pirzado ◽  
Wenhuan Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Gallus Gallus ◽  
Gallus Domesticus ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Poultry Production ◽  
Gallus Gallus Domesticus ◽  
Growth Depression ◽  
Stress Group ◽  
Immune Stress

Abstract Background Immunological stress decreases feed intake, suppresses growth and induces economic losses. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Label-free liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS) proteomics techniques were employed to investigate effects of immune stress on the hepatic proteome changes of Arbor Acres broilers (Gallus Gallus domesticus) challenged with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Results Proteomic analysis indicated that 111 proteins were differentially expressed in the liver of broiler chickens from the immune stress group. Of these, 28 proteins were down-regulated, and 83 proteins were up-regulated in the immune stress group. Enrichment analysis showed that immune stress upregulated the expression of hepatic proteins involved in defense function, amino acid catabolism, ion transport, wound healing, and hormone secretion. Furthermore, immune stress increased valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation pathways. Conclusion The data suggests that growth depression of broiler chickens induced by immune stress is triggered by hepatic proteome alterations, and provides a new insight into the mechanism by which immune challenge impairs poultry production.

scholarly journals Deleterious effects of obesity upon the hormonal and molecular mechanisms controlling spermatogenesis and male fertility

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 184-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lien M. Davidson ◽  
Kate Millar ◽  
Celine Jones ◽  
Muhammad Fatum ◽  
Kevin Coward
Keyword(s):  
Male Fertility ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms

scholarly journals The Function of the PRRSV–Host Interactions and Their Effects on Viral Replication and Propagation in Antiviral Strategies

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 364
Author(s):  
Jun Ma ◽  
Lulu Ma ◽  
Meiting Yang ◽  
Wei Wu ◽  
Wenhai Feng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Immune Escape ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Respiratory Syndrome Virus ◽  
Swine Industry ◽  
Live Virus ◽  
Virus Challenge ◽  
Host Interactions

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) affects the global swine industry and causes disastrous economic losses each year. The genome of PRRSV is an enveloped single-stranded positive-sense RNA of approximately 15 kb. The PRRSV replicates primarily in alveolar macrophages of pig lungs and lymphatic organs and causes reproductive problems in sows and respiratory symptoms in piglets. To date, studies on how PRRSV survives in the host, the host immune response against viral infections, and pathogenesis, have been reported. PRRSV vaccines have been developed, including inactive virus, modified live virus, attenuated live vaccine, DNA vaccine, and immune adjuvant vaccines. However, there are certain problems with the durability and effectiveness of the licensed vaccines. Moreover, the high variability and fast-evolving populations of this RNA virus challenge the design of PRRSV vaccines, and thus effective vaccines against PRRSV have not been developed successfully. As is well known, viruses interact with the host to escape the host’s immune response and then replicate and propagate in the host, which is the key to virus survival. Here, we review the complex network and the mechanism of PRRSV–host interactions in the processes of virus infection. It is critical to develop novel antiviral strategies against PRRSV by studying these host–virus interactions and structures to better understand the molecular mechanisms of PRRSV immune escape.

scholarly journals Alteration of transporter activities in the epididymides of infertile initial segment-specific Pten knockout mice†

2018 ◽  
Vol 99 (3) ◽  
pp. 536-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bingfang Xu ◽  
Stephen D Turner ◽  
Barry T Hinton
Keyword(s):  
Male Fertility ◽  
Initial Segment ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Fluorescein Isothiocyanate ◽  
Proximal Region ◽  
Sperm Maturation ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Permeability Characteristics ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Tensin Homolog

Abstract A fully functional initial segment, the most proximal region of the epididymis, is important for male fertility. Our previous study generated a mouse model to investigate the importance of initial segment function in male fertility. In that model, phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten) was conditionally removed from the initial segment epithelium, which resulted in epithelial de-differentiation. When spermatozoa progressed through the de-differentiated epithelial duct, they developed angled flagella, suggesting compromised sperm maturation, which eventually resulted in male infertility. To understand the molecular mechanisms, by which PTEN regulates epididymal sperm maturation, we compared the transcriptome profile of the initial segment between controls and initial segment-specific Pten knockouts and revealed that water, ion, and organic solute transporter activities were one of the top molecular and cellular functions altered following loss of Pten. Alteration in protein levels and localization of several transporters following loss of Pten were also observed by immunofluorescence analysis. Epithelial cells of the initial segment from knockouts were more permeable to fluorescein isothiocyanate–dextran (4000 Da) compared to controls. Interestingly, conditional deletion of Pten from other organs also resulted in changes in transporter activity, suggesting a common role of PTEN in regulation of transporter activity. Taken together, our data support the hypothesis that loss of Pten from the initial segment epithelium results in changes in the transporting and permeability characteristics of the epithelium, which in turn altered the luminal fluid microenvironment that is so important for sperm maturation and male fertility.

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