Emerging Lysosomal Functions for Photoreceptor Cell Homeostasis and Survival

Lysosomes are membrane-bound cell organelles that respond to nutrient changes and are implicated in cell homeostasis and clearance mechanisms, allowing effective adaptation to specific cellular needs. The relevance of the lysosome has been elucidated in a number of different contexts. Of these, the retina represents an interesting scenario to appreciate the various functions of this organelle in both physiological and pathological conditions. Growing evidence suggests a role for lysosome-related mechanisms in retinal degeneration. Abnormal lysosomal activation or inhibition has dramatic consequences on photoreceptor cell homeostasis and impacts extensive cellular function, which in turn affects vision. Based on these findings, a series of therapeutic methods targeting lysosomal processes could offer treatment for blindness conditions. Here, we review the recent findings on membrane trafficking, subcellular organization, mechanisms by which lysosome/autophagy pathway impairment affects photoreceptor cell homeostasis and the recent advances on developing efficient lysosomal-based therapies for retinal disorders.

Examining the Nutrient Exchange in All Incubation Periods in Chukar Partridges

Background: This study was conducted to examine the development of the embryo during incubation and the composition, amount and consumption of the egg nutrients among Chukars (Alectoris chukar). Methods: A total of 1210 eggs were carefully separated into their components (albumen, yolk, shell, amniotic-allantoic fluid and embryo) on day 0 (fresh), in the first (day 7), second (day 14) and third (day 21) weeks of incubation and on the hatching date. The moisture, crude protein, crude fat, carbohydrate, crude ash and energy level were determined in egg components. Result: The albumen, yolk, shell, fluid and embryo rates were calculated to be 53.62, 34.84, 11.53, 0.0 and 0.0% in fresh egg, 16.74, 33.49, 16.22, 31.76 and 2.06% in the first week of incubation, 15.65, 28.32, 15.58, 23.35 and 17.10% in the second week of incubation and 0.0, 23.33, 19.38, 0.0 and 57.29% in the third week of incubation, respectively. The hatching weight of the chick was 16.16 g. The nutrients of the yolk, albumen, fluid and shell proportionally varied significantly in different periods of incubation. According to the nutrient changes calculated based on the weight differences of egg components, carbohydrates were mostly used for nutrients during incubation. It was found that even though the nutrients in all the egg components were used in the different periods of incubation, egg yolk was an important source for the embryo throughout the incubation period.

A Study on Microbial and Macronutrient Composition of Breast Milk Varies with Lactation Duration

Complementary feeding and continuation of breast feeding is directed and advised by the national and international child health agencies. Breast milk, a complex biological fluid, shows changes in its cellular, microbial and nutrient composition as lactation progresses. In a cross-sectional study, hospital-based pilot project showed the composition of microbial and macronutrients and compared their differences before and after first six months of lactation. Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant bacterium found in breast milk, and 45% (15/33) of samples within first six months and only 13% (3/22) from those more than six months of lactation showed any bacterial growth (p=0.013). The protein content was less in breast milk samples after six months compared to those within six months of lactation (mean difference, 95% CI: 0.33 (0.10, 0.55) gm/dL, p=0.005). After controlling the lactation period, bacterial culture positivity in breast milk was associated directly with the breast milk protein content. Our pilot study observations indicate the need to study microbial and nutrient changes in breast milk as lactation advances, in a longitudinal study with larger sample size, and investigate its associations with maternal factors, infant growth, establishment of infant gut microbiota and possible role in environmental enteric dysfunction.

Produksi Bahan Kering dan Kadar Nutrien Indigofera zollingeriana di Lahan Gambut Berdasarkan Umur Panen Berbeda Setelah Pemangkasan

This study aimed to determine the increase of dry matter production and Nutrient changes of Indigofera zollingeriana cultivated in Sapric peat soils with harvest age of 2, 3 and 4 months after pruning. Indigofera foliage was obtained from the existing plot of approximately 3 years old that grown in the experimental field of the UARDS Laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture and Animal Sciences of UIN Suska Riau. The research design of randomized block design (RBD) was apllied consisting of 3 age treatments with 4 group. Each treatment, consisted of indigofera biomass harvested at 2 months old (2M), 3 months old (3M) and 4 months old (4M). The results showed that postponing harvest from 2 months to 4 months significantly (p<0.05) increased dry matter production of 71.97 g to 437.62 g and significantly (p<0.05) decreased crude protein (CP) content from 27.45% to 21.23%. Meanwhile, crude fibre (CF), extract ether (EE), ash and nitrogen free extract (NFE) contents were not influence by postponing harvest from 2 to 4 months. The respective ranges of CF, EE, ash and NFE content of I. zollingeriana were CF: 15.50%-16.50%, EE: 2.11%-2.85%, ash: 7.55%-8.31% and NFE: 46.39%-51.15%. It can be concluded that the dry matter production of I. zollingeriana that grown on Sapric peat soils were significantly influenced by harvest age. Key words: legume, maturity, nutritive value, peatland

Systemic Optimization of Legume Nodulation: A Shoot-Derived Regulator, miR2111

Long-distance signaling between the shoot and roots of land plants plays a crucial role in ensuring their growth and development in a fluctuating environment, such as with soil nutrient deficiencies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are considered to contribute to such environmental adaptation via long-distance signaling since several miRNAs are transported between the shoot and roots in response to various soil nutrient changes. Leguminous plants adopt a shoot-mediated long-distance signaling system to maintain their mutualism with symbiotic nitrogen-fixing rhizobia by optimizing the number of symbiotic organs and root nodules. Recently, the involvement and importance of shoot-derived miR2111 in regulating nodule numbers have become evident. Shoot-derived miR2111 can systemically enhance rhizobial infection, and its accumulation is quickly suppressed in response to rhizobial inoculation and high-concentration nitrate application. In this mini-review, we briefly summarize the recent progress on the systemic optimization of nodulation in response to external environments, with a focus on systemic regulation via miR2111.

Theoretical and Experimental Analyses of Nutrient Control in Electrical Conductivity-Based Nutrient Recycling Soilless Culture System

An electrical conductivity (EC)-based closed-loop soilless culture system is practical for in-field deployment. Literature on the closed-loop soilless culture nutrient management premise the limitations in managing recycled nutrients under dynamic changes in individual nutrient uptake concentrations. However, recent systems analysis studies predicting solutions for nutrient fluctuation stabilization in EC-based closed-loop soilless culture systems suggest that the system may have a deterministic side in nutrient variation. This study aims to derive a nutrient control principle in an EC-based nutrient recycling soilless culture system by theoretical and experimental analyses. An integrated model of solutes such as K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ and water transport in growing media, automated nutrient solution preparation, and nutrient uptake was designed. In the simulation, the intrinsic characteristics of nutrient changes among open-, semi- closed-, and closed-loop soilless cultures were compared, and stochastic simulations for nutrient control were performed in the closed-loop system. Four automated irrigation modules for comparing nutrient changes among the soilless culture systems were constructed in the greenhouse. Sweet pepper plants were used in the experiment. In the experimental analysis, nutrient concentration conversion to the proportion between nutrients revealed distinctive trends of nutrient changes according to the treatment level of drainage recycling. Theoretical and experimental analyses exhibited that nutrient variations in open-, semi- closed-, and closed-loop soilless culture systems can be integrated as a function of nutrient supply to the system’s boundary areas. Furthermore, stochastic simulation analysis indicated that the nutrient ratio in the soilless culture system reveals the nutrient uptake parameter-based deterministic patterns. Thus, the nutrient ratio in the closed-loop soilless culture could be controlled by the long-term feedback of this ratio. We expect that these findings provide theoretical frameworks for systemizing nutrient management techniques in EC-based closed-loop soilless culture systems.

Is the Cyanobacterial Bloom Composition Shifting Due to Climate Forcing or Nutrient Changes? Example of a Shallow Eutrophic Reservoir

Cyanobacterial blooms in eutrophic freshwater is a global threat to the functioning of ecosystems, human health and the economy. Parties responsible for the ecosystems and human health increasingly demand reliable predictions of cyanobacterial development to support necessary decisions. Long-term data series help with identifying environmental drivers of cyanobacterial developments in the context of climatic and anthropogenic pressure. Here, we analyzed 13 years of eutrophication and climatic data of a shallow temperate reservoir showing a high interannual variability of cyanobacterial development and composition, which is a less occurring and/or less described phenomenon compared to recurrant monospecific blooms. While between 2007–2012 Planktothrix agardhii dominated the cyanobacterial community, it shifted towards Microcystis sp. and then Dolichospermum sp. afterwards (2013–2019). The shift to Microcystis sp. dominance was mainly influenced by generally calmer and warmer conditions. The later shift to Dolichospermum sp. was driven by droughts influencing, amongst others, the N-load, as P remained unchanged over the time period. Both, climatic pressure and N-limitation contributed to the high variability of cyanobacterial blooms and may lead to a new equilibrium. The further reduction of P-load in parallel to the decreasing N-load is important to suppress cyanobacterial blooms and ameliorate ecosystem health.

Peaceful Living of Tumor Cells with their Non-malignant Neighbors: The trade of tumor cells with Tumor Microenvironment

Tumor cell growth and survival are the outcome of a communication between tumor cells and tumor microenvironment (TME). In another words, tumor cell growth and survival are greatly affected by the interaction between adjacent cells and tumor cells. In this paper, we review the recent advances in studies of TME, including metabolic interplays between tumor cells and their non-malignant neighbors (peaceful interaction and autophagy), trades of signaling pathways (approach to most important ones; cytokine pathway, NF-kB pathway, intra-tumoral hypoxia, oxidative stress, and nitric oxide-depended pathways), miRNAs (as the regulatory molecules which are present in TME), and Tumor-associated Exosomes (TAEs). Characterization of TME bio-molecules, nutrient changes, and cellular and molecular interactions help to clarify progression of cancer, and find novel targets for treatment of cancer.