SsRSS1 mediates salicylic acid tolerance and contributes to virulence in sugarcane smut fungus

Sugarcane smut caused by Sporisorium scitamineum is a destructive disease responsible for significant losses in sugarcane production worldwide.However,the mechanisms underlying the pathogenicity of this fungus remain largely unknown.In this study,we found that the disruption of the SsRSS1 gene,which encodes a salicylic acid(SA)sensing regulator,does not affect phenotypic traits such as the morphology,growth rate,and sexual mating ability of haploid basidiospores,but rather reduces the tolerance of basidiospores to SA stress by blocking the induction of SsSRG1,a gene encoding a SA response protein in S.scitamineum.SsRSS1 deletion resulted in the attenuation of the virulence of the fungus.In addition to a significant reduction in whip formation,a portion of plantlets(18.3%)inoculated with theΔSsRSS1 strains were found to be infected but failed to produce whips for up to 90 days post-inoculation.However,the development of hyphae and teliospore from theΔSsRSS1-infected plants that formed whips seemed indistinguishable from that in the wild-type-infected plants.Combined,our findings suggested that SsRss1 is required for maintaining fungal fitness in planta by counteracting SA stress.

Novel therapeutic approaches targeting L-type amino acid transporters for cancer treatment

L-type amino acid transporters(LATs) mainly assist the uptake of neutral amino acids into cells. Four LATs(LAT1, LAT2, LAT3 and LAT4) have so far been identified. LAT1(SLC7A5) has been attracting much attention in the field of cancer research since it is commonly up-regulated in various cancers. Basic research has made it increasingly clear that LAT1 plays a predominant role in malignancy. The functional significance of LAT1 in cancer and the potential therapeutic application of the features of LAT1 to cancer management are described in this review.

The Effect of Acid Stress Treatment on Viability and Membrane Fatty Acid Composition of Oenococcus oeni SD-2a

To obtain ready-to-use wine malolactic starter cultures with high viability, the effects of acid stress treatments on the growth, inoculation viability, freeze-drying viability, and membrane fatty acid composition of the native Oenococcus oeni SD-2a strain were studied. The results showed that pH 3.5 and 3.2 adaptive treatments did not strongly decrease cell biomass but increased distinctly inoculation viability and freeze-drying viability. Concerning the membrane fatty acid composition, it was observed that acid stress conditions increased significantly the relative concentration of lactobacillic acid （C19cycl 1） and the unsaturated：saturated fatty acid ratio in cell membrane lipids. We assumed that acid-induced cross protective responses could be used in preparing ready-to-use O. oeni SD-2a malolactic starter cultures, and the accumulation of lactobacillic acid in the membrane of O. oeni SD-2a cells appears as an acid stress response mechanism, which might be related with the enhanced viability.

Ultra fast microwave-assisted leaching for the recovery of copper and tellurium from copper anode slime

The decomposition of copper anode slime heated by microwave energy in a sulfuric acid medium was investigated. Leaching experiments were carried out in a multi-mode cavity with microwave assistance. The leaching process parameters were optimized using response surface methodology（RSM）. Under the optimized conditions, the leaching efficiencies of copper and tellurium were 99.56% ± 0.16% and 98.68% ± 0.12%, respectively. Meanwhile, a conventional leaching experiment was performed in order to evaluate the influence of microwave radiation. The mechanism of microwave-assisted leaching of copper anode slime was also investigated. In the results, the microwave technology is demonstrated to have a great potential to improve the leaching efficiency and reduce the leaching time. The enhanced recoveries of copper and tellurium are believed to result from the presence of a temperature gradient due to the shallow microwave penetration depth and the superheating at the solid-liquid interface.

Acid stress response in environmental and clinical strains of enteric bacteria

The success of many enteric bacteria is hinged on the ability to tolerate environmental stress such as extreme acidity. The acid stress response （ASR） has been investigated in many enteric bacteria and has been shown to involve variable expression of a broad spectrum of genes involved in transcriptional regulation, metabolism, colonization and virulence; representing a linkage between acid tolerance and pathogenicity. Though the majority of ASR studies have been conducted in laboratory conditions and from the perspective of pathogenicity, the role of environmental reservoirs on acid adaptation has recently emerged as an important aspect of pathogenic microbial ecology. This mini-review profiles ASR in three opportunistic enteric pathogens and synthesizes recent work pertaining to the study of this dynamic response.

What are the evolutionary origins of stomatal responses to abscisic acid in land plants?

The evolution of active stomatal closure in response to leaf water deficit, mediated by the hormone abscisic acid （ABA）, has been the subject of recent debate. Two different models for the timing of the evolution of this response recur in the literature. A single-step model for stomatal control suggests that stomata evolved active, ABA- mediated control of stomatal aperture, when these structures first appeared, prior bryophyte and vascular plant gradualistic model for stomatal to the divergence of neages. In contrast, a control proposes that the most basal vascular plant stomata responded passively to changes in leaf water status. This model suggests that active ABA-driven mechanisms for stomatal responses to water status instead evolved after the divergence of seed plants, culminating in the complex, ABA-mediated responses observed in modern angiosperms. Here we review the findings that form the basis for these two models, including recent work that provides critical molecular insights into resolving this intriguing debate, and find strong evidence to support a gradualistic model for stomatal evolution.

Phosphatidic acid plays key roles regulating plant development and stress responses

Phospholipids, including phosphatidic acid （PA）, phosphatidylcholine （PC）, phosphatidylethanolamine （PE）, phosphatidylglycerol （PC）, phosphatidylserine （PS） and phosphoinositides, have emerged as an important class of cellular messenger molecules in various cellular and physiological processes, of which PA attracts much attention of researchers. In addition to its effect on stimulating vesicle trafficking, many studies have demonstrated that PA plays a crucial role in various signaling pathways by binding target proteins and regulating their activity and subcellular localization. Here, we summarize the functional mechanisms and target proteins underlying PA-mediated regulation of cellular signaling, development, hormonal responses, and stress responses in plants.

Wastewater-nitrogen removal using polylactic acid/starch as carbon source： Optimization of operating parameters using response surface methodology

Nitrogen removal from ammonium-containing wastewater was conducted using polylactic acid （PLA）/ starch blends as carbon source and carrier for fimctional bacteria. The exclusive and interactive influences of operating parameters （i.e., temperature, pH, stirring rate, and PLA-to-starch ratio （PLA proportion）） on nitrification （Y1）, denitrification （Y2）, and COD release rates （Y3） were investigated through response surface methodology. Experimental results indicated that nitrogen removal could be successfully achieved in the PLA/starch blends through simultaneous mtnncatlon anti clenltnncatlon. The carbon release rate of the blends was controllable. The sensitivity of Y1, Y2, and Y3 to different operating parameters also differed. The sequence for each response was as follows： for Y1, pH 〉 stirring rate 〉 PLA proportion 〉 temperature; for Y2, PH 〉 PLA proportion 〉.temperature.〉 stirring rate; and for Y3, stirring rate 〉pH 〉 PLA proportion 〉 temperature. In this study, the following optimum conditions were observed： temperature, 32.0℃; pH 7.7; stirring rate, 200.0 r · min^-1 and PLA proportion 0.4. Under these conditions Y1 Y2 and Y3 were 134.0 μg-N·g-blend^-1·h^-1, 160.9μg-N-g-blend^-1·h^-1, and 7.6 × 10^3 μg-O·g-blend^-1·h^-1, respectively. These results suggested that the PLA/starch blends may be an ideal packing material for nitrogen removal.

The RALF1-FERONIA complex interacts with and activates TOR signaling in response to low nutrients

Target of rapamycin(TOR)kinase is an evolutionarily conserved major regulator of nutrient metabolism and organismal growth in eukaryotes.In plants,nutrients are remobilized and reallocated between shoots and roots under low-nutrient conditions,and nitrogen and nitrogen-related nutrients(e.g.,amino acids)are key upstream signals leading to TOR activation in shoots under low-nutrient conditions.However,how these forms of nitrogen can be sensed to activate TOR in plants is still poorly understood.Here we report that the Arabidopsis receptor kinase FERON IA(FER)interacts with the TOR pathway to regulate nutrient(nitrogen and amino acid)signaling under low-nutrient conditions and exerts similar metabolic effects in response to nitrogen deficiency.We found that FER and its partner,RPM1-induced protein kinase(RIPK),interact with the TOR/RAPTOR complex to positively modulate TOR signaling activity.During this process,the receptor complex FER/RIPK phosphorylates the TOR complex component RAPTOR1B.The RALF1 peptide,a ligand of the FER/RIPK receptor complex,increases TOR activation in the young leaf by enhancing FER-TOR interactions,leading to promotion of true leaf growth in Arabidopsis under lownutrient conditions.Furthermore,we showed that specific amino acids(e.g.,Gin,Asp,and Gly)promote true leaf growth under nitrogen-deficient conditions via the FER-TOR axis.Collectively,our study reveals a mechanism by which the RALF1-FER pathway activates TOR in the plant adaptive response to low nutrients and suggests that plants prioritize nutritional stress response over RALF1-mediated inhibition of cell growth under low-nutrient conditions.

Are Gene Expression Microarray Analyses Reliable? A Review of Studies of Retinoic Acid Responsive Genes

Microarray analyses of gene expression are widely used, but reports of the same analyses by different groups give widely divergent results, and raise questions regarding reproducibility and reliability. We take as an example recent published reports on microarray experiments that were designed to identify retinoic acid responsive genes. These reports show substantial differences in their results. In this article, we review the methodology, results, and potential causes of differences in these applications of microarrays. Finally, we suggest practices to improve the reliability and reproducibility of microarray experiments.

Effects of postoperative immune-enhancing enteral nutrition on the immune system,inflammatory responses,and clinical outcome

Objective This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of postoperative immune enhancing enteral nutrition on the immune system,inflammatory responses,and clinical outcome of patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. Methods This study was designed as a multicenter,prospective,randomized and controlled clinical trial. One hundred twenty-four patients undergoing major abdominal surgery were randomly assigned to receive either an immune enhancing enteral diet or an isocaloric and isonitrogenous control enteral diet for seven days. Enteral feeding was initiated 24 hours after surgery. Host immunity was evaluated by measuring levels of IgG,IgM,IgA,CD4,CD8,and CD4/CD8,and the inflammatory response was determined by assessing IL-1α, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α levels. Infectious complications were also recorded. Results One hundred twenty patients completed the study and four patients were excluded. On postoperative day 9,among patients receiving an immune enhancing diet,IgG,IgA,CD4 and CD4/CD8 levels were significantly higher and TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations were significantly lower compared to the control group. Moreover,among patients receiving an immune enhancing diet,when comparing preoperation to day 9 postoperation levels,increases in IgA,CD4,and CD4/CD8 levels were significantly higher than in control patients and increases in TNF-α concentrations were significantly lower. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups with regard to infectious complications. Conclusions Postoperative administration of immune enhancing enteral nutrition in patients undergoing major abdominal surgery can positively modulate postoperative immunosuppressive and inflammatory responses.

Mechanistic studies of PEG-asparaginase-induced liver injury and hepatic steatosis in mice

PEGylated-L-asparaginase(PEG-ASNase)is a chemotherapeutic agent used to treat pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL).Its use is avoided in adults due to its high risk of liver injury including hepatic steatosis,with obesity and older age considered risk factors of the injury.Our study aims to elucidate the mechanism of PEG-ASNase-induced liver injury.Mice received 1500 U/kg of PEG-ASNase and were sacrificed 1,3,5,and 7 days after drug administration.Liver triglycerides were quantified,and plasma bilirubin,ALT,AST,and non-esterified fatty acids(NEFA)were measured.The mRNA and protein levels of genes involved in hepatic fatty acid synthesis,β-oxidation,very low-density lipoprotein(VLDL)secretion,and white adipose tissue(WAT)lipolysis were determined.Mice developed hepatic steatosis after PEG-ASNase,which associated with increases in bilirubin,ALT,and AST.The hepatic genes Ppara,Lcad/Mcad,Hadhb,Apob100,and Mttp were upregulated,and Srebp-1 c and Fas were downregulated after PEG-ASNase.Increased plasma NEFA,WAT loss,and adipose tissue lipolysis were also observed after PEG-ASNase.Furthermore,we found that PEG-ASNase-induced liver injury was exacerbated in obese and aged mice,consistent with clinical studies of ASNase-induced liver injury.Our data suggest that PEG-ASNase-induced liver injury is due to drug-induced lipolysis and lipid redistribution to the liver.

Perspectives of Using L-Tryptophan for Improving Productivity of Agricultural Crops: A Review

Plant growth regulators are biologically active signaling molecules that regulate a number of plant physiological processes. Auxin(indole-3-acetic acid) is an important plant growth regulator and is synthesized within plant tissues through L-tryptophan(L-TRP)-dependent and-independent pathways. It has been found that plants respond to exogenously applied L-TRP due to insufficient endogenous auxin biosynthesis. The exogenous application of L-TRP is highly significant for normal plant growth and development.L-tryptophan is applied through foliar spray, seed priming, and soil application. Soil-applied L-TRP is either directly taken up by plants or metabolized to auxin by soil microbiota and then absorbed by plant roots. Similarly, foliar spray and seed priming with L-TRP stimulates auxin synthesis within plants and improves the growth and productivity of agricultural crops. Furthermore, L-TRP contains approximately 14% nitrogen(N) in its composition, which is released upon its metabolism within a plant or in the rhizosphere and plays a role in enhancing crop productivity. This review deals with assessing crop responses under the exogenous application of L-TRP in normal and stressed environments, mode of action of L-TRP, advantages of using L-TRP over other auxin precursors, and role of the simultaneous use of L-TRP and auxin-producing microbes in improving the productivity of agricultural crops. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review reporting the importance of the use of L-TRP in agriculture.