Transcriptional Landscape of Ectomycorrhizal Fungi and Their Host Provides Insight into N Uptake from Forest Soil

Although EMF are well known for their role in supporting tree N nutrition, the molecular mechanisms underlying N flux from the soil solution into the host through the ectomycorrhizal pathway remain widely unknown. Furthermore, ammonium and nitrate availability in the soil solution is subject to frequent oscillations that create a dynamic environment for the tree roots and associated microbes during N acquisition.

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Functional analysis of the OsNPF4.5 nitrate transporter reveals a conserved mycorrhizal pathway of nitrogen acquisition in plants

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.2000926117 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 117 (28) ◽

pp. 16649-16659 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Shuangshuang Wang ◽

Aiqun Chen ◽

Kun Xie ◽

Xiaofeng Yang ◽

Zhenzhen Luo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

N Uptake ◽

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal ◽

Am Fungi ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Nitrate Transporter ◽

N Accumulation ◽

N Nutrition ◽

Nitrogen Acquisition ◽

Rice Roots ◽

N Acquisition

Low availability of nitrogen (N) is often a major limiting factor to crop yield in most nutrient-poor soils. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are beneficial symbionts of most land plants that enhance plant nutrient uptake, particularly of phosphate. A growing number of reports point to the substantially increased N accumulation in many mycorrhizal plants; however, the contribution of AM symbiosis to plant N nutrition and the mechanisms underlying the AM-mediated N acquisition are still in the early stages of being understood. Here, we report that inoculation with AM fungusRhizophagus irregularisremarkably promoted rice (Oryza sativa) growth and N acquisition, and about 42% of the overall N acquired by rice roots could be delivered via the symbiotic route under N-NO3−supply condition. Mycorrhizal colonization strongly induced expression of the putative nitrate transporter geneOsNPF4.5in rice roots, and its orthologsZmNPF4.5inZea maysandSbNPF4.5inSorghum bicolor. OsNPF4.5 is exclusively expressed in the cells containing arbuscules and displayed a low-affinity NO3−transport activity when expressed inXenopus laevisoocytes. Moreover, knockout ofOsNPF4.5resulted in a 45% decrease in symbiotic N uptake and a significant reduction in arbuscule incidence when NO3−was supplied as an N source. Based on our results, we propose that the NPF4.5 plays a key role in mycorrhizal NO3−acquisition, a symbiotic N uptake route that might be highly conserved in gramineous species.

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Clinical Candidates Targeting the ATR–CHK1–WEE1 Axis in Cancer

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13040795 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 795

Author(s):

Lukas Gorecki ◽

Martin Andrs ◽

Jan Korabecny

Keyword(s):

Cell Cycle ◽

Cancer Cells ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Patient Survival ◽

Current Status ◽

Future Perspectives ◽

Phase Ii Trials ◽

Anticancer Treatment ◽

Positive Outlook ◽

Insight Into

Selective killing of cancer cells while sparing healthy ones is the principle of the perfect cancer treatment and the primary aim of many oncologists, molecular biologists, and medicinal chemists. To achieve this goal, it is crucial to understand the molecular mechanisms that distinguish cancer cells from healthy ones. Accordingly, several clinical candidates that use particular mutations in cell-cycle progressions have been developed to kill cancer cells. As the majority of cancer cells have defects in G1 control, targeting the subsequent intra‑S or G2/M checkpoints has also been extensively pursued. This review focuses on clinical candidates that target the kinases involved in intra‑S and G2/M checkpoints, namely, ATR, CHK1, and WEE1 inhibitors. It provides insight into their current status and future perspectives for anticancer treatment. Overall, even though CHK1 inhibitors are still far from clinical establishment, promising accomplishments with ATR and WEE1 inhibitors in phase II trials present a positive outlook for patient survival.

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Molecular Pathways Involved in the Development of Congenital Erythrocytosis

Genes ◽

10.3390/genes12081150 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

pp. 1150

Author(s):

Jana Tomc ◽

Nataša Debeljak

Keyword(s):

Signal Transduction ◽

Iron Homeostasis ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Oxygen Affinity ◽

Molecular Pathways ◽

Disease Development ◽

Post Translational Modifications ◽

Hemoglobin Oxygen Affinity ◽

Insight Into ◽

Idiopathic Erythrocytosis

Patients with idiopathic erythrocytosis are directed to targeted genetic testing including nine genes involved in oxygen sensing pathway in kidneys, erythropoietin signal transduction in pre-erythrocytes and hemoglobin-oxygen affinity regulation in mature erythrocytes. However, in more than 60% of cases the genetic cause remains undiagnosed, suggesting that other genes and mechanisms must be involved in the disease development. This review aims to explore additional molecular mechanisms in recognized erythrocytosis pathways and propose new pathways associated with this rare hematological disorder. For this purpose, a comprehensive review of the literature was performed and different in silico tools were used. We identified genes involved in several mechanisms and molecular pathways, including mRNA transcriptional regulation, post-translational modifications, membrane transport, regulation of signal transduction, glucose metabolism and iron homeostasis, which have the potential to influence the main erythrocytosis-associated pathways. We provide valuable theoretical information for deeper insight into possible mechanisms of disease development. This information can be also helpful to improve the current diagnostic solutions for patients with idiopathic erythrocytosis.

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Pathomechanisms in the Kidneys in Selected Protozoan Parasitic Infections

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22084209 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (8) ◽

pp. 4209

Author(s):

Karolina Kot ◽

Natalia Łanocha-Arendarczyk ◽

Michał Ptak ◽

Aleksandra Łanocha ◽

Elżbieta Kalisińska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Kidney Injury ◽

Therapeutic Interventions ◽

Parasitic Infections ◽

Injury Mechanisms ◽

Kidney Involvement ◽

Leishmania Spp ◽

Apoptosis Process ◽

Insight Into

Leishmaniasis, malaria, toxoplasmosis, and acanthamoebiasis are protozoan parasitic infections. They remain important contributors to the development of kidney disease, which is associated with increased patients’ morbidity and mortality. Kidney injury mechanisms are not fully understood in protozoan parasitic diseases, bringing major difficulties to specific therapeutic interventions. The aim of this review is to present the biochemical and molecular mechanisms in kidneys infected with Leishmania spp., Plasmodium spp., Toxoplasma gondii, and Acanthamoeba spp. We present available mechanisms of an immune response, oxidative stress, apoptosis process, hypoxia, biomarkers of renal injury in the serum or urine, and the histopathological changes of kidneys infected with the selected parasites. Pathomechanisms of Leishmania spp. and Plasmodium spp. infections have been deeply investigated, while Toxoplasma gondii and Acanthamoeba spp. infections in the kidneys are not well known yet. Deeper knowledge of kidney involvement in leishmaniasis and malaria by presenting their mechanisms provides insight into how to create novel and effective treatments. Additionally, the presented work shows gaps in the pathophysiology of renal toxoplasmosis and acanthamoebiasis, which need further research.

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The apple C2H2-type zinc finger transcription factor MdZAT10 positively regulates JA-induced leaf senescence by interacting with MdBT2

Horticulture Research ◽

10.1038/s41438-021-00593-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kuo Yang ◽

Jian-Ping An ◽

Chong-Yang Li ◽

Xue-Na Shen ◽

Ya-Jing Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mass Spectrometry ◽

Transcription Factor ◽

Liquid Chromatography ◽

Zinc Finger ◽

Leaf Senescence ◽

Transcriptional Activity ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽

Zinc Finger Transcription Factor ◽

Insight Into

AbstractJasmonic acid (JA) plays an important role in regulating leaf senescence. However, the molecular mechanisms of leaf senescence in apple (Malus domestica) remain elusive. In this study, we found that MdZAT10, a C2H2-type zinc finger transcription factor (TF) in apple, markedly accelerates leaf senescence and increases the expression of senescence-related genes. To explore how MdZAT10 promotes leaf senescence, we carried out liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry screening. We found that MdABI5 physically interacts with MdZAT10. MdABI5, an important positive regulator of leaf senescence, significantly accelerated leaf senescence in apple. MdZAT10 was found to enhance the transcriptional activity of MdABI5 for MdNYC1 and MdNYE1, thus accelerating leaf senescence. In addition, we found that MdZAT10 expression was induced by methyl jasmonate (MeJA), which accelerated JA-induced leaf senescence. We also found that the JA-responsive protein MdBT2 directly interacts with MdZAT10 and reduces its protein stability through ubiquitination and degradation, thereby delaying MdZAT10-mediated leaf senescence. Taken together, our results provide new insight into the mechanisms by which MdZAT10 positively regulates JA-induced leaf senescence in apple.

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Cold-Active β-Galactosidases: Insight into Cold Adaption Mechanisms and Biotechnological Exploitation

Marine Drugs ◽

10.3390/md19010043 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 43

Author(s):

Marco Mangiagalli ◽

Marina Lotti

Keyword(s):

Low Temperature ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Building Blocks ◽

Cold Active ◽

Cold Adaption ◽

Glycosyl Donor ◽

Pharmaceutical Industries ◽

Biotechnological Processes ◽

Hydrolysis Of ◽

Insight Into

β-galactosidases (EC 3.2.1.23) catalyze the hydrolysis of β-galactosidic bonds in oligosaccharides and, under certain conditions, transfer a sugar moiety from a glycosyl donor to an acceptor. Cold-active β-galactosidases are identified in microorganisms endemic to permanently low-temperature environments. While mesophilic β-galactosidases are broadly studied and employed for biotechnological purposes, the cold-active enzymes are still scarcely explored, although they may prove very useful in biotechnological processes at low temperature. This review covers several issues related to cold-active β-galactosidases, including their classification, structure and molecular mechanisms of cold adaptation. Moreover, their applications are discussed, focusing on the production of lactose-free dairy products as well as on the valorization of cheese whey and the synthesis of glycosyl building blocks for the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.

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Gene Transcription as a Therapeutic Target in Leukemia

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22147340 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (14) ◽

pp. 7340

Author(s):

Alvina I. Khamidullina ◽

Ekaterina A. Varlamova ◽

Nour Alhuda Hammoud ◽

Margarita A. Yastrebova ◽

Alexandra V. Bruter

Keyword(s):

Gene Transcription ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Hematological Malignancies ◽

Mechanisms Of Action ◽

Special Program ◽

Cell Plasticity ◽

Hematopoietic Stem ◽

Promising Strategy ◽

Tumor Cell Plasticity ◽

Transcriptional Landscape

Blood malignancies often arise from undifferentiated hematopoietic stem cells or partially differentiated stem-like cells. A tight balance of multipotency and differentiation, cell division, and quiescence underlying normal hematopoiesis requires a special program governed by the transcriptional machinery. Acquisition of drug resistance by tumor cells also involves reprogramming of their transcriptional landscape. Limiting tumor cell plasticity by disabling reprogramming of the gene transcription is a promising strategy for improvement of treatment outcomes. Herein, we review the molecular mechanisms of action of transcription-targeted drugs in hematological malignancies (largely in leukemia) with particular respect to the results of clinical trials.

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Tree species rather than type of mycorrhizal association drives inorganic and organic nitrogen acquisition in tree-tree interactions

Tree Physiology ◽

10.1093/treephys/tpab059 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Robert Reuter ◽

Olga Ferlian ◽

Mika Tarkka ◽

Nico Eisenhauer ◽

Karin Pritsch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tree Species ◽

Mycorrhizal Fungi ◽

Prunus Avium ◽

N Uptake ◽

Organic N ◽

Acer Pseudoplatanus ◽

N Sources ◽

Mycorrhizal Association ◽

N Acquisition ◽

Inorganic And Organic

Abstract Mycorrhizal fungi play an important role for the nitrogen (N) supply of trees. The influence of different mycorrhizal types on N acquisition in tree-tree interactions is, however, not well understood, particularly with regard to the competition for growth-limiting N. We studied the effect of competition between temperate forest tree species on their inorganic and organic N acquisition in relation to their mycorrhizal type (i.e., arbuscular mycorrhiza or ectomycorrhiza). In a field experiment, we quantified net N uptake capacity from inorganic and organic N sources using 15N/13C stable isotopes for arbuscular mycorrhizal tree species (i.e., Acer pseudoplatanus L., Fraxinus excelsior L., and Prunus avium L.) as well as ectomycorrhizal tree species (i.e., Carpinus betulus L., Fagus sylvatica L., and Tilia platyphyllos Scop.). All species were grown in intra- and interspecific competition (i.e., monoculture or mixture). Our results showed that N sources were not used complementarily depending on a species´ mycorrhizal association, but their uptake rather depended on the competitor indicating species-specific effects. Generally, ammonium was preferred over glutamine and glutamine over nitrate. In conclusion, our findings suggest that inorganic and organic N acquisition of the studied temperate tree species is less regulated by mycorrhizal association, but rather by the availability of specific N sources in the soil as well as the competitive environment of different tree species.

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Integrated Insight into the Molecular Mechanisms of Spontaneous Abortion during Early Pregnancy in Pigs

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22126644 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (12) ◽

pp. 6644

Author(s):

Xupeng Zang ◽

Ting Gu ◽

Wenjing Wang ◽

Chen Zhou ◽

Yue Ding ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Spontaneous Abortion ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Gene Set Enrichment Analysis ◽

Differentially Expressed ◽

Gene Set ◽

Cerna Network ◽

Major Interest ◽

End Stage ◽

Insight Into

Due to the high rate of spontaneous abortion (SAB) in porcine pregnancy, there is a major interest and concern on commercial pig farming worldwide. Whereas the perturbed immune response at the maternal–fetal interface is an important mechanism associated with the spontaneous embryo loss in the early stages of implantation in porcine, data on the specific regulatory mechanism of the SAB at the end stage of the implantation remains scant. Therefore, we used high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics tools to analyze the healthy and arresting endometrium on day 28 of pregnancy. We identified 639 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) and 2357 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at the end stage of implantation, and qRT-PCR was used to verify the sequencing data. Gene set variation analysis (GSVA), gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated weaker immune response activities in the arresting endometrium compared to the healthy one. Using the lasso regression analysis, we screened the DELs and constructed an immunological competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network related to SAB, including 4 lncRNAs, 11 miRNAs, and 13 genes. In addition, Blast analysis showed the applicability of the constructed ceRNA network in different species, and subsequently determined HOXA-AS2 in pigs. Our study, for the first time, demonstrated that the SAB events at the end stages of implantation is associated with the regulation of immunobiological processes, and a specific molecular regulatory network was obtained. These novel findings may provide new insight into the possibility of increasing the litter size of sows, making pig breeding better and thus improving the efficiency of animal husbandry production.

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