Molecular mechanisms of microbiome modulation by the eukaryotic secondary metabolite azelaic acid.

Photosynthetic eukaryotes, such as microalgae and plants, foster fundamentally important relationships with their microbiome based on the reciprocal exchange of chemical currencies. Among these, the dicarboxylate metabolite azelaic acid (Aze) appears to play an important, but heterogeneous, role in modulating these microbiomes, as it is used as a carbon source for some heterotrophs but is toxic to others. However, the ability of Aze to promote or inhibit growth, as well as its uptake and assimilation mechanisms into bacterial cells are mostly unknown.

pH-Responsive Upconversion Mesoporous Silica Nanospheres for Combined Multimodal Diagnostic Imaging and Targeted Photodynamic and Photothermal Cancer Therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) have gained considerable attention as potential alternatives to conventional cancer treatments. However, these approaches remain limited by low solubility, poor stability, and inefficient targeting of many common photosensitizers (PSs) and photothermal agents (PTAs). To overcome the aforementioned limitations, we engineered biocompatible and biodegradable tumor-targeted upconversion nanospheres with imaging capabilities.

pH-responsive upconversion mesoporous silica nanospheres for combined multimodal diagnostic imaging and targeted photodynamic and photothermal cancer therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) have garnered considerable interest as non-invasive cancer treatment modalities. However, these approaches remain limited by low solubility, poor stability and inefficient targeting of many common photosensitizers (PSs) and photothermal agents (PTAs). To overcome these limitations, we have designed biocompatible and biodegradable tumor-targeted upconversion nanospheres with imaging capabilities.

Physiological and transcriptomic analyses revealed gene networks involved in heightened resistance against tomato yellow leaf curl virus infection in salicylic acid and jasmonic acid treated tomato plants.

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), a member of the genus of the family, causes leaf curl disease of tomato that significantly affects tomato production worldwide. SA (salicylic acid), JA (jasmonic acid) or the JA mimetic, COR (coronatine) applied exogenously resulted in improved tomato resistance against TYLCV infection. When compared to mock treated tomato leaves, pretreatment with the three compounds followed by TYCLV stem infiltration also caused a greater accumulation of HO.

Protein mimetic amyloid inhibitor potently abrogates cancer-associated mutant p53 aggregation and restores tumor suppressor function.

Missense mutations in p53 are severely deleterious and occur in over 50% of all human cancers. The majority of these mutations are located in the inherently unstable DNA-binding domain (DBD), many of which destabilize the domain further and expose its aggregation-prone hydrophobic core, prompting self-assembly of mutant p53 into inactive cytosolic amyloid-like aggregates. Screening an oligopyridylamide library, previously shown to inhibit amyloid formation associated with Alzheimer's disease and type II diabetes, identified a tripyridylamide, ADH-6, that abrogates self-assembly of the aggregation-nucleating subdomain of mutant p53 DBD.

Classification and experimental identification of plant long non-coding RNAs.

Our understanding of gene regulation is constantly evolving. It is now clear that the majority of cellular transcripts are non-coding RNAs. The spectrum of non-coding RNAs is diverse and includes short (<200 nt) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) (>200 nt).

Expression of Plant Receptor Kinases in E. coli.

Plant receptor kinases play diverse signaling roles in disease resistance and plant development. They represent a large plant gene family with over 600 members in Arabidopsis thaliana. While the functions of several members of the receptor kinase family have now been elucidated, a great proportion still remains uncharacterized.

Quantification of hydrogen peroxide in plant tissues using Amplex Red.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are by-products of photosynthesis and respiration in plant tissues. Abiotic and biotic stressors also induce the production and temporary accumulation of ROS in plants, including hydrogen peroxide (HO), whereby they can act as secondary messengers/chemical mediators in plant defense signaling and lead to programmed cell death. HO acts as a hub for critical information flow in plants.

Proteomic Profiling and the Predicted Interactome of Host Proteins in Compatible and Incompatible Interactions Between Soybean and Fusarium virguliforme.

Sudden death syndrome (SDS) is a complex of two diseases of soybean (Glycine max), caused by the soil borne pathogenic fungus Fusarium virguliforme. The root rot and leaf scorch diseases both result in significant yield losses worldwide. Partial SDS resistance has been demonstrated in multiple soybean cultivars.

Starvation-Induced Dietary Behaviour in Drosophila melanogaster Larvae and Adults.

Drosophila melanogaster larvae are classified as herbivores and known to feed on non-carnivorous diet under normal conditions. However, when nutritionally challenged these larvae exhibit cannibalistic behaviour by consuming a diet composed of larger conspecifics. Herein, we report that cannibalism in Drosophila larvae is confined not only to scavenging on conspecifics that are larger in size, but also on their eggs.

The role of NOI-domain containing proteins in plant immune signaling.

Here we present an overview of our existing knowledge on the function of RIN4 as a regulator of plant defense and as a guardee of multiple plant R-proteins. Domain analysis of RIN4 reveals two NOI domains. The NOI domain was originally identified in a screen for nitrate induced genes.

Homo-dimerization and ligand binding by the leucine-rich repeat domain at RHG1/RFS2 underlying resistance to two soybean pathogens.

Background: The protein encoded by GmRLK18-1 (Glyma_18_02680 on chromosome 18) was a receptor like kinase (RLK) encoded within the soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) Rhg1/Rfs2 locus.

The Magnaporthe oryzae effector AvrPiz-t targets the RING E3 ubiquitin ligase APIP6 to suppress pathogen-associated molecular pattern-triggered immunity in rice.

Although the functions of a few effector proteins produced by bacterial and oomycete plant pathogens have been elucidated in recent years, information for the vast majority of pathogen effectors is still lacking, particularly for those of plant-pathogenic fungi. Here, we show that the avirulence effector AvrPiz-t from the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae preferentially accumulates in the specialized structure called the biotrophic interfacial complex and is then translocated into rice (Oryza sativa) cells. Ectopic expression of AvrPiz-t in transgenic rice suppresses the flg22- and chitin-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and enhances susceptibility to M.

The receptor like kinase at Rhg1-a/Rfs2 caused pleiotropic resistance to sudden death syndrome and soybean cyst nematode as a transgene by altering signaling responses.

Background: Soybean (Glycine max (L. Merr.)) resistance to any population of Heterodera glycines (I.

Recombination suppression at the dominant Rhg1/Rfs2 locus underlying soybean resistance to the cyst nematode.

Host resistance to "yellow dwarf" or "moonlight" disease cause by any population (Hg type) of Heterodera glycines I., the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), requires a functional allele at rhg1. The host resistance encoded appears to mimic an apoptotic response in the giant cells formed at the nematode feeding site about 24-48 h after nematode feeding commences.

Separable fragments and membrane tethering of Arabidopsis RIN4 regulate its suppression of PAMP-triggered immunity.

RPM1-interacting protein 4 (RIN4) is a multifunctional Arabidopsis thaliana protein that regulates plant immune responses to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and bacterial type III effector proteins (T3Es). RIN4, which is targeted by multiple defense-suppressing T3Es, provides a mechanistic link between PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity and effector suppression of plant defense. Here we report on a structure-function analysis of RIN4-mediated suppression of PTI.

Specific threonine phosphorylation of a host target by two unrelated type III effectors activates a host innate immune receptor in plants.

The Arabidopsis NB-LRR immune receptor RPM1 recognizes the Pseudomonas syringae type III effectors AvrB or AvrRpm1 to mount an immune response. Although neither effector is itself a kinase, AvrRpm1 and AvrB are known to target Arabidopsis RIN4, a negative regulator of basal plant defense, for phosphorylation. We show that RIN4 phosphorylation activates RPM1.

The nematode resistance allele at the rhg1 locus alters the proteome and primary metabolism of soybean roots.

Heterodera glycines, the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), causes the most damaging chronic disease of soybean (Glycine max). Host resistance requires the resistance allele at rhg1. Resistance destroys the giant cells created in the plant's roots by the nematodes about 24 to 48 h after commencement of feeding.

Plant receptor-like serine threonine kinases: roles in signaling and plant defense.

Plants are hosts to a wide array of pathogens from all kingdoms of life. In the absence of an active immune system or combinatorial diversifications that lead to recombination-driven somatic gene flexibility, plants have evolved different strategies to combat both individual pathogen strains and changing pathogen populations. The receptor-like kinase (RLK) gene-family expansion in plants was hypothesized to have allowed accelerated evolution among domains implicated in signal reception, typically a leucine-rich repeat (LRR).

Kinetic and thermodynamic study of a chemically modified highly active xylanase from Scopulariopsis sp: existence of an essential amino group.

The amino groups of purified least acidic xylanase (LAX) isomer and carboxyl groups of purified highly acidic xylanase (HAX) isomer from Scopulariopsis sp. were chemically modified, resulting in charge neutralization and reversal. Modification of the second amino group was accompanied by the complete loss of enzyme activity in both the absence and presence of xylose.

Soybean disease resistance protein RHG1-LRR domain expressed, purified and refolded from Escherichia coli inclusion bodies: preparation for a functional analysis.

Introduction and expression of foreign genes in bacteria often results accumulation of the foreign protein(s) in inclusion bodies (IBs). The subsequent processes of refolding are slow, difficult and often fail to yield significant amounts of folded protein. RHG1 encoded by rhg1 was a soybean (Glycine max L.

The Soybean Genome Database (SoyGD): a browser for display of duplicated, polyploid, regions and sequence tagged sites on the integrated physical and genetic maps of Glycine max.

Genomes that have been highly conserved following increases in ploidy (by duplication or hybridization) like Glycine max (soybean) present challenges during genome analysis. At http://soybeangenome.siu.

Innovative kinetic and thermodynamic analysis of a purified superactive xylanase from Scopulariopsis sp.

Two isoenzymes of endo-1,4-beta-xylanase (EC 3.2.1.

A novel thermodynamic relationship based on Kramers Theory for studying enzyme kinetics under high viscosity.

In most studies of enzyme kinetics it has been found sufficient to use the classical Transition State Theory (TST) of Eyring and others. This theory was based on the solvent being an ideal dilute substance treated as a heat bath. However, enzymes found in organisms adapted to very low (psychrophiles) and very high (thermophiles) temperatures are also subjected to variable solute concentrations and viscosities.