scholarly journals Study on the bZIP-Type Transcription Factors NapA and RsmA in the Regulation of Intracellular Reactive Species Levels and Sterigmatocystin Production of Aspergillus nidulans

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (21) ◽  
pp. 11577
Author(s):  
Bernadett Bákány ◽  
Wen-Bing Yin ◽  
Beatrix Dienes ◽  
Tibor Nagy ◽  
Éva Leiter ◽  
...  

Basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors play a crucial role in the environmental stress response of eukaryotes. In this work, we studied the effect of gene manipulations, including both deletions and overexpressions, of two selected bZIP transcription factors, NapA and RsmA, in the oxidative stress response and sterigmatocystin production of Aspergillus nidulans. We found that NapA was important in the oxidative stress response by negatively regulating intracellular reactive species production and positively regulating catalase activities, whereas RsmA slightly negatively regulated catalase activities. Concerning sterigmatocystin production, the highest concentration was measured in the ΔrsmAΔnapA double deletion mutant, but elevated sterigmatocystin production was also found in the OErsmA OEnapA strain. Our results indicate that NapA influences sterigmatocystin production via regulating reactive species level whereas RsmA modulates toxin production independently of the redox regulation of the cells.

2021 ◽  
Vol 72 (8) ◽  
pp. 3294-3306
Author(s):  
Ariel M Hughes ◽  
H Tucker Hallmark ◽  
Lenka Plačková ◽  
Ondrej Novák ◽  
Aaron M Rashotte

Abstract Cytokinin response factors (CRFs) are transcription factors that are involved in cytokinin (CK) response, as well as being linked to abiotic stress tolerance. In particular, oxidative stress responses are activated by Clade III CRF members, such as AtCRF6. Here we explored the relationships between Clade III CRFs and oxidative stress. Transcriptomic responses to oxidative stress were determined in two Clade III transcription factors, Arabidopsis AtCRF5 and tomato SlCRF5. AtCRF5 was required for regulated expression of >240 genes that are involved in oxidative stress response. Similarly, SlCRF5 was involved in the regulated expression of nearly 420 oxidative stress response genes. Similarities in gene regulation by these Clade III members in response to oxidative stress were observed between Arabidopsis and tomato, as indicated by Gene Ontology term enrichment. CK levels were also changed in response to oxidative stress in both species. These changes were regulated by Clade III CRFs. Taken together, these findings suggest that Clade III CRFs play a role in oxidative stress response as well as having roles in CK signaling.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 458
Author(s):  
Deborah Fratantonio ◽  
Fabio Virgili ◽  
Alessandro Zucchi ◽  
Kate Lambrechts ◽  
Tiziana Latronico ◽  
...  

The term “normobaric oxygen paradox” (NOP), describes the response to the return to normoxia after a hyperoxic event, sensed by tissues as oxygen shortage, and resulting in up-regulation of the Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) transcription factor activity. The molecular characteristics of this response have not been yet fully characterized. Herein, we report the activation time trend of oxygen-sensitive transcription factors in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from healthy subjects after one hour of exposure to mild (MH), high (HH) and very high (VHH) hyperoxia, corresponding to 30%, 100%, 140% O2, respectively. Our observations confirm that MH is perceived as a hypoxic stress, characterized by the activation of HIF-1α and Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2), but not Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB). Conversely, HH is associated to a progressive loss of NOP response and to an increase in oxidative stress leading to NRF2 and NF-kB activation, accompanied by the synthesis of glutathione (GSH). After VHH, HIF-1α activation is totally absent and oxidative stress response, accompanied by NF-κB activation, is prevalent. Intracellular GSH and Matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) plasma levels parallel the transcription factors activation pattern and remain elevated throughout the observation time. In conclusion, our study confirms that, in vivo, the return to normoxia after MH is sensed as a hypoxic trigger characterized by HIF-1α activation. On the contrary, HH and VHH induce a shift toward an oxidative stress response, characterized by NRF2 and NF-κB activation in the first 24 h post exposure.


Blood ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 97 (7) ◽  
pp. 2151-2158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jefferson Y. Chan ◽  
Mandy Kwong ◽  
Margaret Lo ◽  
Renee Emerson ◽  
Frans A. Kuypers

Abstract p45NF-E2 is a member of the cap ‘n’ collar (CNC)-basic leucine zipper family of transcriptional activators that is expressed at high levels in various types of blood cells. Mice deficient in p45NF-E2 that were generated by gene targeting have high mortality from bleeding resulting from severe thrombocytopenia. Survivingp45nf-e2−/− adults have mild anemia characterized by hypochromic red blood cells (RBCs), reticulocytosis, and splenomegaly. Erythroid abnormalities inp45nf-e2−/− animals were previously attributed to stress erythropoiesis caused by chronic bleeding and, possibly, ineffective erythropoiesis. Previous studies suggested that CNC factors might play essential roles in regulating expression of genes that protect cells against oxidative stress. In this study, we found that p45NF-E2–deficient RBCs have increased levels of reactive oxygen species and an increased susceptibility to oxidative-stress–induced damage. Deformability of p45NF-E2–deficient RBCs was markedly reduced with oxidative stress, and mutant cells had a reduced life span. One possible reason for increased sensitivity to oxidative stress is that catalase levels were reduced in mutant RBCs. These findings suggest a role for p45NF-E2 in the oxidative-stress response in RBCs and indicate that p45NF-E2 deficiency contributes to the anemia inp45nf-e2−/− mice.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 684-684
Author(s):  
Raul Castro-Portuguez ◽  
Jeremy Meyers ◽  
Sam Freitas ◽  
Hope Dang ◽  
Emily Turner ◽  
...  

Abstract Aging is characterized by a progressive decline in the normal physiological functions of an organism, ultimately leading to mortality. Metabolic changes throughout the aging process disrupt the balance and homeostasis of the cell. The kynurenine metabolic pathway is the sole de novo biosynthetic pathway for producing NAD+ from ingested tryptophan. Altered kynurenine pathway activity is associated with both aging and a variety of age-associated diseases, and kynurenine-based interventions can extend lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans. Our laboratory recently demonstrated knockdown of the kynurenine pathway enzymes kynureninase (KYNU) or 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid dioxygenase (HAAO) increases lifespan by 20-30% in C elegans. However, the mechanism of how these interventions may modulate response against different stressors during the aging process has yet to be explored. Fluorescent reporter strains show the stress-responsive transcription factors skn-1 (ortholog of NRF2/NFE2L2; oxidative stress response) and hif-1 (ortholog of HIF1A; hypoxic stress response) to be highly upregulated when the kynurenine pathway is inhibited. We also demonstrated the increase expression of gst-4 and gcs-1 (transcriptional targets skn-1), which are involved in production of the antioxidant glutathione (GSH), as well as upregulation of cysl-2 (transcriptional target of hif-1), a regulator of cysteine biosynthesis from serine. We hypothesize that lifespan extension resulting from kynurenine pathway inhibition is mediated, at least in part, by upregulation of these transcription factors, providing elevated defense against oxidative stress and hypoxic stress.


mSphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guanghui Kong ◽  
Yubin Chen ◽  
Yizhen Deng ◽  
Dinan Feng ◽  
Liqun Jiang ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors are widespread in eukaryotes, including plants, animals, fungi, and oomycetes. However, the functions of bZIPs in oomycetes are rarely known. In this study, we identified a bZIP protein possessing a special bZIP-PAS structure in Peronophythora litchii, named PlBZP32. We found that PlBZP32 is upregulated in zoospores, in cysts, and during invasive hyphal growth. We studied the functions of PlBZP32 using the RNAi technique to suppress the expression of this gene. PlBZP32-silenced mutants were more sensitive to oxidative stress, showed a lower cyst germination rate, and produced more sporangia than the wild-type strain SHS3. The PlBZP32-silenced mutants were also less invasive on the host plant. Furthermore, we analyzed the activities of extracellular peroxidases and laccases and found that silencing PlBZP32 decreased the activities of P. litchii peroxidase and laccase. To our knowledge, this is the first report that the functions of a bZIP-PAS protein are associated with oxidative stress, asexual development, and pathogenicity in oomycetes. IMPORTANCE In this study, we utilized the RNAi technique to investigate the functions of PlBZP32, which possesses a basic leucine zipper (bZIP)-PAS structure, and provided insights into the contributions of bZIP transcription factors to oxidative stress, the production of sporangia, the germination of cysts, and the pathogenicity of Peronophythora litchii. This study also revealed the role of PlBZP32 in regulating the enzymatic activities of extracellular peroxidases and laccases in the plant-pathogenic oomycete.


PLoS Genetics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. e1009946
Author(s):  
Paul F. Langton ◽  
Michael E. Baumgartner ◽  
Remi Logeay ◽  
Eugenia Piddini

Cell competition induces the elimination of less-fit “loser” cells by fitter “winner” cells. In Drosophila, cells heterozygous mutant in ribosome genes, Rp/+, known as Minutes, are outcompeted by wild-type cells. Rp/+ cells display proteotoxic stress and the oxidative stress response, which drive the loser status. Minute cell competition also requires the transcription factors Irbp18 and Xrp1, but how these contribute to the loser status is partially understood. Here we provide evidence that initial proteotoxic stress in RpS3/+ cells is Xrp1-independent. However, Xrp1 is sufficient to induce proteotoxic stress in otherwise wild-type cells and is necessary for the high levels of proteotoxic stress found in RpS3/+ cells. Surprisingly, Xrp1 is also induced downstream of proteotoxic stress, and is required for the competitive elimination of cells suffering from proteotoxic stress or overexpressing Nrf2. Our data suggests that a feed-forward loop between Xrp1, proteotoxic stress, and Nrf2 drives Minute cells to become losers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asim Rizvi ◽  
Mohd. Farhan ◽  
Faisal Nabi ◽  
Rizwan Hasan Khan ◽  
Mohd. Adil ◽  
...  

: Oxidative stress response is critical for the malignant cells. It plays dual role by helping cancer cells survive and proliferate but also causing apoptosis and apoptosis like cell death. The oxidative stress response is characterized by a tight regulation of gene expression by a series of transcription factors (OSRts; oxidative stress response transcription factors). In this communication, we review the role of OSRts, notably NRF2 and p53 as well as other transcription factors, that modulate the response. We discuss how the oxidative stress response is hierarchal and controls ‘live or die’ signals. This is followed by a discussion on how plant derived molecules, including polyphenols, which are described both as prooxidants and antioxidants within the cancer cells, have been reported to affect the activities of OSRts. Deriving an example from preliminary data from our group, we discuss how plant derived molecules might modulate the oxidative stress response by causing structural perturbations in the proteinacious transcription factors, notably Nrf2 and p53. We look at this information in the light of understanding how plant derived molecules maybe used as lead compounds to develop modulators of the oxidative stress response.


BMC Genomics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Yan ◽  
Fan Wu ◽  
Tiantian Ma ◽  
Xifang Zong ◽  
Qian Ma ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Transcription factors act as important regulators of transcription networks. Basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors have been shown to be involved in multiple biological processes in plants. However, no information is available for the bZIP family in Cleistogenes songorica, which is an important xerophytic and allotetraploid grass in desert grasslands. Results In this study, 86 CsbZIPs were identified in the allotetraploid C. songorica genome. For location analysis, CsbZIPs were distributed evenly across two subgenomes of C. songorica. Phylogenetic tree analysis among three species indicated that CsbZIPs were evolutionarily more closely related to OsbZIPs than AtbZIPs. Syntenic and phylogenetic analyses confirmed that the CsbZIPs were mainly expanded by whole-genome duplication events. Furthermore, it was determined that rice and C. songorica might have undergone purified selection during their long evolutionary history by calculating the Ks values and Ka/Ks ratios of orthologous gene pairs. By analysing the expression patterns of CsbZIPs in different tissues and under abiotic stresses, 21 CsbZIP genes were differentially expressed between chasmogamous (CH) and cleistogamous (CL) flowers, including two FLOWERING LOCUS D (FD) genes. In shoots and roots, 79.1 and 87.2% of the CsbZIP genes, respectively, displayed transcript changes under at least one stress treatment, such as heat, cold, drought and salt. Strikingly, 17 common CsbZIP genes showed differential expression under stress response and during CL flowering. Co-expression network, GO annotation and real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses revealed a close relationship between CL flowering-associated genes and abiotic stress-related genes. Conclusions BZIP TFs were comprehensively analysed and identified in allotetraploid C. songorica. Our results provide insights into the evolutionary history of the bZIP family in C. songorica and provide abiotic stress-responsive and CL-associated candidate CsbZIP genes for potential applications in the genetic improvement of plants.


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