De novo transcriptome assembly and discovery of drought-responsive genes in white spruce (Picea glauca).

Forests face an escalating threat from the increasing frequency of extreme drought events driven by climate change. To address this challenge, it is crucial to understand how widely distributed species of economic or ecological importance may respond to drought stress. In this study, we examined the transcriptome of white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) to identify key genes and metabolic pathways involved in the species' response to water stress.

FLT3/CD99 Bispecific Antibody-Based Nanoparticles for Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Unlabelled: Cluster of differentiation 99 (CD99) is a receptor that is significantly upregulated in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 internal tandem duplication mutation in AML (FLT3-ITD AML) exhibits even higher levels of CD99 expression. Our group previously employed a novel peptide platform technology called elastin-like polypeptides and fused it with single-chain antibodies capable of binding to FLT3 (FLT3-A192) or CD99 (CD99-A192).

The community of root fungi is associated with the growth rate of Norway spruce (Picea abies).

Our study delved into the relationship between root-associated fungi, gene expression and plant morphology in Norway spruce cuttings derived from both slow-and fast-growing trees. We found no clear link between the gene expression patterns of adventitious roots and the growth phenotype, suggesting no fundamental differences in the receptiveness to fungal symbionts between the phenotypes. Interestingly, saplings from slow-growing parental trees exhibited a higher richness of ectomycorrhizal species and larger roots.

Conifers Concentrate Large Numbers of NLR Immune Receptor Genes on One Chromosome.

Nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat (NLR) immune receptor genes form a major line of defense in plants, acting in both pathogen recognition and resistance machinery activation. NLRs are reported to form large gene clusters in limber pine (Pinus flexilis), but it is unknown how widespread this genomic architecture may be among the extant species of conifers (Pinophyta). We used comparative genomic analyses to assess patterns in the abundance, diversity, and genomic distribution of NLR genes.

High-density genetic linkage mapping in Sitka spruce advances the integration of genomic resources in conifers.

In species with large and complex genomes such as conifers, dense linkage maps are a useful resource for supporting genome assembly and laying the genomic groundwork at the structural, populational, and functional levels. However, most of the 600+ extant conifer species still lack extensive genotyping resources, which hampers the development of high-density linkage maps. In this study, we developed a linkage map relying on 21,570 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis [Bong.

Long-insert sequence capture detects high copy numbers in a defence-related beta-glucosidase gene βglu-1 with large variations in white spruce but not Norway spruce.

Conifers are long-lived and slow-evolving, thus requiring effective defences against their fast-evolving insect natural enemies. The copy number variation (CNV) of two key acetophenone biosynthesis genes Ugt5/Ugt5b and βglu-1 may provide a plausible mechanism underlying the constitutively variable defence in white spruce (Picea glauca) against its primary defoliator, spruce budworm. This study develops a long-insert sequence capture probe set (Picea_hung_p1.

Comparing DNA isolation methods for forest trees: quality, plastic footprint, and time-efficiency.

Background: Genetic and genomic studies are seeing an increase in sample sizes together with a wider range of species investigated in response to environmental change concerns. In turn, these changes may come with challenges including the time and difficulty to isolate nucleic acids (DNA or RNA), the sequencing cost and environmental impacts of the growing amount of plastic waste generated in the process. Pseudotsuga menziesii var.

Range-wide differential adaptation and genomic offset in critically endangered Asian rosewoods.

In the billion-dollar global illegal wildlife trade, rosewoods have been the world's most trafficked wild product since 2005. and are the most sought-after rosewoods in the Greater Mekong Subregion. They are exposed to significant genetic risks and the lack of knowledge on their adaptability limits the effectiveness of conservation efforts.

Comparative transcriptomic responses of European and Japanese larches to infection by Phytophthora ramorum.

Background And Objectives: Phytophthora ramorum severely affects both European larch (EL) and Japanese larch (JL) trees as indicated by high levels of mortality particularly in the UK. Field observations suggested that EL is less severely affected and so may be less susceptible to P. ramorum than JL; however, controlled inoculations have produced inconsistent or non-statistically significant differences.

Effect of Surgical Humidification on Inflammation and Peritoneal Trauma in Colorectal Cancer Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Pre-clinical studies indicate that dry-cold-carbon-dioxide (DC-CO2) insufflation leads to more peritoneal damage, inflammation and hypothermia compared with humidified-warm-CO (HW-CO2). Peritoneum and core temperature in patients undergoing colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery were compared.

Methods: Sixty-six patients were randomized into laparoscopic groups; those insufflated with DC-CO2 or HW-CO2.

Spruce giga-genomes: structurally similar yet distinctive with differentially expanding gene families and rapidly evolving genes.

Spruces (Picea spp.) are coniferous trees widespread in boreal and mountainous forests of the northern hemisphere, with large economic significance and enormous contributions to global carbon sequestration. Spruces harbor very large genomes with high repetitiveness, hampering their comparative analysis.

Connecting tree-ring phenotypes, genetic associations and transcriptomics to decipher the genomic architecture of drought adaptation in a widespread conifer.

As boreal forests face significant threats from climate change, understanding evolutionary trajectories of coniferous species has become fundamental to adapting management and conservation to a drying climate. We examined the genomic architecture underlying adaptive variation related to drought tolerance in 43 populations of a widespread boreal conifer, white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss), by combining genotype-environment associations, genotype-phenotype associations, and transcriptomics. Adaptive genetic variation was identified by correlating allele frequencies for 6,153 single nucleotide polymorphisms from 2,606 candidate genes with temperature, precipitation and aridity gradients, and testing for significant associations between genotypes and 11 dendrometric and drought-related traits (i.

Single-Cell Quantification of the Transition Temperature of Intracellular Elastin-like Polypeptides.

Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are modular, stimuli-responsive materials that self-assemble into protein-rich microdomains in response to heating. By cloning ELPs to effector proteins, expressed intracellular fusions can even modulate cellular pathways. A critical step in engineering these fusions is to determine and control their intracellular phase transition temperature ().

Physiological responses of rosewoods and under drought and heat stresses.

and are classified as vulnerable and endangered, respectively, in the IUCN Red List and under continued threat from deforestation and illegal harvesting for rosewood. Despite emerging efforts to conserve and restore these species, little is known of their responses to drought and heat stress, which are expected to increase in the Greater Mekong Subregion where the species co-occur and are endemic. In this study of isolated and combined drought and heat effects, we found that had an earlier stomatal closure and more constant midday water potential in response to increasing drought level, suggesting that is relatively isohydric while is relatively anisohydric.

Caveolin elastin-like polypeptide fusions mediate temperature-dependent assembly of caveolar microdomains.

Caveolae are membrane organelles formed by submicron invaginations in the plasma membrane, and are involved in mechanosensing, cell signaling, and endocytosis. Although implicated broadly in physiology and pathophysiology, better tools are required to elucidate the precise role of caveolar processes through selective activation and inactivation of their trafficking. Our group recently reported that thermally-responsive elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) can trigger formation of 'genetically engineered protein microdomains (GEPMs)' functionalized with either Clathrin-light chain or the epidermal growth factor receptor.

Berunda Polypeptides Carrying Rapalogues Inhibit Tumor mTORC1 Better than Oral Everolimus.

Rapalogues are a unique class of drugs with both cytostatic and immunosuppressive properties. Two founding members, rapamycin (Rapa) and its chemical derivative everolimus (Eve), are extremely potent, but their clinical use presents multiple challenges. Being water-insoluble, administration is restricted to the oral route, which results in a low bioavailability of <10%.

Anti-FLT3 nanoparticles for acute myeloid leukemia: Preclinical pharmacology and pharmacokinetics.

FLT3 receptor is an important therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukemia due to high incidence of mutations associated with poor clinical outcome. Targeted therapies against the FLT3 receptor, including small-molecule FLT3 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and anti-FLT3 antibodies, have demonstrated promising preclinical and even clinical efficacy. Yet, even with the current FDA approval for two FLT3 inhibitors, these modalities were unable to cure AML or significantly extend the lives of patients with a common mutation called FLT3-ITD.

Comparative Genomics, Pangenome, and Phylogenomic Analyses of spp., and Delineation of sp. nov.

species are bacterial plant pathogens mainly affecting woody plants. Association of all members with devastating disorders (e.g.

Multiple Metabolic Innovations and Losses Are Associated with Major Transitions in Land Plant Evolution.

Investigating the evolution of plant biochemistry is challenging because few metabolites are preserved in fossils and because metabolic networks are difficult to experimentally characterize in diverse extant organisms. We report a comparative computational approach based on whole-genome metabolic pathway databases of eight species representative of major plant lineages, combined with homologous relationships among genes of 72 species from streptophyte algae to angiosperms. We use this genomic approach to identify metabolic gains and losses during land plant evolution.

Nanotoxicology of an Elastin-like Polypeptide Rapamycin Formulation for Breast Cancer.

The clinical utility of rapamycin (Rapa) is limited by solubility, bioavailability, and side effects. To overcome this, our team recently reported an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) nanoparticle with high affinity, noncovalent drug binding, and integrin-mediated cellular uptake. Given the scarcity of pharmacology/toxicology studies of ELP-based drug carriers, this article explores safety and efficacy of ELP-Rapa.

Hydroxyacetophenone defenses in white spruce against spruce budworm.

We review a recently discovered white spruce () chemical defense against spruce budworm ( involving hydroxyacetophenones. These defense metabolites detected in the foliage accumulate variably as the aglycons, piceol and pungenol, or the corresponding glucosides, picein and pungenin. We summarize current knowledge of the genetic, genomic, molecular, and biochemical underpinnings of this defense and its effects on .

The humanin peptide mediates ELP nanoassembly and protects human retinal pigment epithelial cells from oxidative stress.

Humanin (HN) is a hydrophobic 24-amino acid peptide derived from mitochondrial DNA that modulates cellular responses to oxidative stress and protects human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells from apoptosis. To solubilize HN, this report describes two genetically-encoded fusions between HN and elastin-like polypeptides (ELP). ELPs provide steric stabilization and/or thermo-responsive phase separation.

The large repertoire of conifer NLR resistance genes includes drought responsive and highly diversified RNLs.

The NLRs or NBS-LRRs (nucleotide-binding, leucine-rich-repeat) form the largest resistance gene family in plants, with lineage-specific contingents of TNL, CNL and RNL subfamilies and a central role in resilience to stress. The origin, evolution and distribution of NLR sequences has been unclear owing in part to the variable size and diversity of the RNL subfamily and a lack of data in Gymnosperms. We developed, searched and annotated transcriptomes assemblies of seven conifers and identified a resource of 3816 expressed NLR sequences.