The Expression Characteristics and Potential Functions of Heat Shock Factors in Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum

Heat shock transcription factor(HSF)are essential regulators of heat shock protein(HSP)gene expression in plants and algae,contributing to their resilience against biotic and abiotic stresses.However,the localization,structure,phylogenetic relationship,and characteristics of PtHSF genes in microalgae,especially in diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum,remain largely unexplored.This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the PtHSF gene family in P.tricornutum.A genome-wide analysis identified 68 PtHSF genes,which were classified into two distinct subfamilies:traditional and untraditional.Motif and structure analyses revealed evidence of multiple duplication events within the PtHSF gene family.Expression profiling revealed diurnal patterns,with 34 genes being downregulated during the light period and upregulated during the dark period,while 19 genes exhibited the opposite pattern.These findings suggest that PtHSF genes may have specialized functions during the diurnal cycle and play a crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis in response to various stresses.Notably,PtHSF16,30,and 43 genes exhibited higher expression levels,suggesting their potential importance.This study provides a valuable foundation for future investigations into the specific functions of HSFs under different stress conditions and their regulatory mechanisms in P.tricornutum and other microalgae.

Expression Analysis of Aldo-Keto Reductase 1 (AKR1) in Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica L.) Subjected to Abiotic Stresses

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) is a drought-tolerant millet crop of arid and semi-arid regions. Aldo-keto reductases (AKRs) are significant part of plant defence mechanism, having an ability to confer multiple stress tolerance. In this study, AKR1 gene expression was studied in roots and leaves of foxtail millet subjected to different regimes of PEG- and NaCl-stress for seven days. The quantitative Real-time PCR expression analysis in both root and leaves showed upregulation of AKR1 gene during PEG and salt stress. A close correlation exits between expression of AKR1 gene and the rate of lipid peroxidation along with the retardation of growth. Tissue-specific differences were found in the AKR1 gene expression to the stress intensities studied. The reduction in root and shoot growth under both stress conditions were dependent on stress severity. The level of lipid peroxidation as indicated by MDA formation was significantly increased in roots and leaves along with increased stress levels. Finally, these findings support the early responsive nature of AKR1 gene and seem to be associated at least in part with its ability to contribute in antioxidant defence related pathways which could provide a better protection against oxidative stress under stress conditions.

Hypoxia inducible factor(HIF) in the tumor microenvironment：friend or foe？

Hypoxia acts as an important regulator of physiological and pathological processes. Hypoxia inducible factors(HIFs) are the central players involved in the cellular adaptation to hypoxia and are regulated by oxygen sensing EGLN prolyl hydroxylases.Hypoxia affects many aspects of cellular growth through both redox effects and through the stabilization of HIFs. The HIF isoforms likely have differential effects on tumor growth via alteration of metabolism, growth, and self-renewal and are likely highly context-dependent. In some tumors such as renal cell carcinoma, the EGLN/HIF axis appears to drive tumorigenesis,while in many others HIF1 and HIF2 may actually have a tumor suppressive role. An emerging role of HIF biology is its effects on the tumor microenvironment. The EGLN/HIF axis plays a key role in regulating the function of the various components of the tumor microenvironment, which include cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelial cells, immune cells, and the extracellular matrix(ECM). Here, we discuss hypoxia and the diverse roles of HIFs in the setting of tumorigenesis and the maintenance of the tumor microenvironment as well as possible future directions of the field.

Chaperone-mediated autophagy:roles in neuroprotection

Chaperone-mediated autophagy （CMA）, one of the main pathways of lysosomal proteolysis, is characterized by the selective targeting and direct translocation into the lysosomal lumen of substrate proteins containing a targeting motif biochemically related to the pentapeptide KFERQ. Along with the other two lysosomal pathways, macro- and micro-autophagy, CMA is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis and survival by selectively degrading misfolded, oxidized, or damaged cytosolic proteins. CMA plays an important role in pathologies such as cancer, kidney disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. Neurons are post-mitotic and highly susceptible to dysfunction of cellular quality-control systems. Maintaining a balance between protein synthesis and degradation is critical for neuronal functions and homeostasis. Recent studies have revealed several new mechanisms by which CMA protects neurons through regulating factors critical for their viability and homeostasis. In the current review, we summarize recent advances in the understanding of the regulation and physiology of CMA with a specific focus on its possible roles in neuroprotection.

Unanchored ubiquitin chain sustains RIG-I-induced interferon-I activation and controls selective gene expression

Ubiquitination plays a crucial role in retinoic acid-inducible gene I(RIG-I)-induced antiviral responses.However, the precise regulatory mechanisms of RIG-I activity mediated by conjugated and unanchored ubiquitin chains remain to be determined. In this study, we discovered that T55 of RIG-I was required for its binding ability for the unanchored ubiquitin chains. Experimental and mathematical analysis showed that unanchored ubiquitin chains associated with RIG-I were essential for sustained activation of type I interferon(IFN) signaling. Transcriptomics study revealed that the binding of RIG-I with unanchored ubiquitin chains additionally regulated the expression of a subset of metabolic and cell fate decision genes. Moreover, we found that ubiquitin-specific peptidase 21(USP21) and USP3 deubiquitinate conjugated and unanchored ubiquitin chains on RIG-I respectively. Taken together, characterization of the regulation mode and functions of conjugated ubiquitination and the unconjugated ubiquitin chainbinding of RIG-I may provide means to fine-tune RIG-I-mediated type I IFN signaling.