Growth modulation and metabolic responses of Ganoderma boninense to salicylic acid stress

Various phenolic compounds have been screened against Ganoderma boninense, the fungal pathogen causing basal stem rot in oil palms. In this study, we focused on the effects of salicylic acid (SA) on the growth of three G. boninense isolates with different levels of aggressiveness. In addition, study on untargeted metabolite profiling was conducted to investigate the metabolomic responses of G. boninense towards salicylic acid. The inhibitory effects of salicylic acid were both concentration- (P < 0.001) and isolate-dependent (P < 0.001). Also, growth-promoting effect was observed in one of the isolates at low concentrations of salicylic acid where it could have been utilized by G. boninense as a source of carbon and energy. Besides, adaptation towards salicylic acid treatment was evident in this study for all isolates, particularly at high concentrations. In other words, inhibitory effect of salicylic acid treatment on the fungal growth declined over time. In terms of metabolomics response to salicylic acid treatment, G. boninense produced several metabolites such as coumarin and azatyrosine, which suggests that salicylic acid modulates the developmental switch in G. boninense towards the defense mode for its survival. Furthermore, the liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOF-MS) analysis showed that the growth of G. boninense on potato dextrose agar involved at least four metabolic pathways: amino acid metabolism, lipid pathway, tryptophan pathway and phenylalanine pathway. Overall, there were 17 metabolites that contributed to treatment separation, each with P<0.005. The release of several antimicrobial metabolites such as eudistomin I may enhance G. boninense’s competitiveness against other microorganisms during colonisation. Our findings demonstrated the metabolic versatility of G. boninense towards changes in carbon sources and stress factors. G. boninense was shown to be capable of responding to salicylic acid treatment by switching its developmental stage.

Cancer Growth Inhibition Using Predictive Mathematical Models of Signaling Pathways

Cancer cells develop several hallmark changes over the progress of the tumor process. Cell assistance in multicellular organisms is regulated by the division of cell coordination by aggressive growth modulation. In this perspective, the use of molecular indicators triggering cell division is a mystery, because a cancer cell can manipulate any molecule that induces and helps growth, disturbing cellular assistance. An effective alteration proceeding to tumors must develop to be competitive, allowing a cancer cell to pass a signal resulting in better selection chances. The subjective simulation of physiological systems has become increasingly valuable in recent years, and there is now a wide range of mathematical models of signalling pathways that have contributed to some groundbreaking discoveries and hypotheses as to how this system works. Here we discuss various modeling methods and their application to the physiology of medical systems, focusing on the identification of parameters in ordinary differential equation models and their significance for forecasting cellular decisions in network modeling. In situations of global and local cell-to-cell rivalry, we quantify how this mechanism impacts a mutated cell's fixing chance of producing such a signal, and consider that this process will play a vital role in reducing cancer.

Cell surface and intracellular auxin signalling for H+-fluxes in root growth

Growth regulation tailors plant development to its environment. A showcase is response to gravity, where shoots bend up and roots down1. This paradox is based on opposite effects of the phytohormone auxin, which promotes cell expansion in shoots, while inhibiting it in roots via a yet unknown cellular mechanism2. Here, by combining microfluidics, live imaging, genetic engineering and phospho-proteomics in Arabidopsis thaliana, we advance our understanding how auxin inhibits root growth. We show that auxin activates two distinct, antagonistically acting signalling pathways that converge on the rapid regulation of the apoplastic pH, a causative growth determinant. Cell surface-based TRANSMEMBRANE KINASE1 (TMK1) interacts with and mediates phosphorylation and activation of plasma membrane H+-ATPases for apoplast acidification, while intracellular canonical auxin signalling promotes net cellular H+-influx, causing apoplast alkalinisation. The simultaneous activation of these two counteracting mechanisms poises the root for a rapid, fine-tuned growth modulation while navigating complex soil environment.

Antagonistic cell surface and intracellular auxin signalling regulate plasma membrane H+-fluxes for root growth

Growth regulation tailors plant development to its environment. A showcase is response to gravity, where shoots bend up and roots down1. This paradox is based on opposite effects of the phytohormone auxin, which promotes cell expansion in shoots, while inhibiting it in roots via a yet unknown cellular mechanism2. Here, by combining microfluidics, live imaging, genetic engineering and phospho-proteomics in Arabidopsis thaliana, we advance our understanding how auxin inhibits root growth. We show that auxin activates two distinct, antagonistically acting signalling pathways that converge on the rapid regulation of the apoplastic pH, a causative growth determinant. Cell surface-based TRANSMEMBRANE KINASE1 (TMK1) interacts with and mediates phosphorylation and activation of plasma membrane H+-ATPases for apoplast acidification, while intracellular canonical auxin signalling promotes net cellular H+-influx, causing apoplast alkalinisation. The simultaneous activation of these two counteracting mechanisms poises the root for a rapid, fine-tuned growth modulation while navigating complex soil environment.

Species-Specific Effects of Groundwater Level Alteration on Climate Sensitivity of Floodplain Trees

European floodplain forest is facing increasingly frequent and severe drought events related with ongoing climate change. Moreover, this ecosystem type was frequently affected by river regulation, leading to groundwater table lowering; however, river revitalization has, in some locations, achieved some restoration of groundwater levels. In this study, we investigated the growth–climate sensitivity and growth modulation after groundwater-level manipulation for Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl. and Quercus robur L. in one of the most important floodplain forest complexes in Central Europe. We constructed three different types of tree ring chronologies to reflect the high frequency variability, medium-low frequency variability, and basal area increment. We found F. angustifolia to be more sensitive than Q. robur to both drought and groundwater level fluctuations. Moreover, F. angustifolia showed more pronounced short-term and long-term growth decreases after artificial ground water level alteration than did Q. robur. We also found that the groundwater level increase due to river revitalization reduced the climate sensitivity for both F. angustifolia and Q. robur. The decrease in climate sensitivity associated with revitalization was more pronounced for F. angustifolia which, moreover, showed a greater basal growth after river revitalization. Our results suggest that F. angustifolia will be more threatened than Q. robur by the diminution in groundwater availability and increase in drought with ongoing climate change. They also show that river revitalization can be a suitable management tool to help the adaptation to climate change.

Growth modulation with tension-band plates for the correction of paediatric lower limb angular deformity: current concepts and indications for a rational use

Growth modulation (GM) with tension-band plates (TBPs) by tethering part of the growth plate is an established technique for the correction of angular deformities in children, and it has increasingly supplanted more invasive osteotomies. Growth modulation with TBPs is a safe and effective method to correct a variety of deformities in skeletally immature patients with idiopathic and pathological physes. The most common indication is a persistent deformity in the coronal plane of the knee exceeding 10°, with anterior and/or lateral joint pain, patellofemoral instability, gait disturbance, or cosmetic concerns. GM has also shown good results in patients with fixed flexion deformity of the knee and ankle valgus. This paper reviews the history of the procedure, current indications, and recent advances underlying physeal manipulation with TBPs. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:658-668. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.200098