AEBS inhibition in macrophages: Augmenting reality for SERMs repurposing against infections.

Beyond their clinical use as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), raloxifene and tamoxifen have attracted recent attention for their favorable activity against a broad range of dangerous human pathogens. While consistently demonstrated to occur independently on classic estrogen receptors, the mechanisms underlying SERMs antimicrobial efficacy remain still poorly elucidated, but fundamental to benefit from repurposing strategies of these drugs. Macrophages are innate immune cells that protect from infections by rapidly reprogramming their metabolic state, particularly cholesterol disposal, which is at the center of an appropriate macrophage immune response as well as of the anabolic requirements of both the pathogen and the host cells.

Salt Stress-Induced Modulation of Porphyrin Biosynthesis, Photoprotection, and Antioxidant Properties in Rice Plants ().

Salt stress disrupts cellular ion homeostasis and adversely impacts plant growth and productivity. We examined the regulatory mechanisms of porphyrin biosynthesis, photoprotection, and antioxidant properties in salt-stressed rice seedlings. In response to 150 mM NaCl, the rice seedlings exhibited dehydration, reduced relative water content, and increased levels of conductivity, malondialdehyde, and HO.

Expression of the Arabidopsis Mg-chelatase H subunit alleviates iron deficiency-induced stress in transgenic rice.

The most common symptom of iron (Fe) deficiency in plants is leaf chlorosis caused by impairment of chlorophyll biosynthesis. Magnesium (Mg)-chelatase H subunit (CHLH) is a key component in both chlorophyll biosynthesis and plastid signaling, but its role in Fe deficiency is poorly understood. Heterologous expression of the Mg-chelatase H subunit gene () increased Mg-chelatase activity by up to 6-fold and abundance of its product, Mg-protoporphyrin IX (Mg-Proto IX), by 60-75% in transgenic rice () seedlings compared to wild-type (WT) controls.

Altered regulation of porphyrin biosynthesis and protective responses to acifluorfen-induced photodynamic stress in transgenic rice expressing Bradyrhizobium japonicum Fe-chelatase.

We examined the molecular regulation of porphyrin biosynthesis and protective responses in transgenic rice (Oryza sativa) expressing Bradyrhizobium japonicum Fe-chelatase (BjFeCh) after treatment with acifluorfen (AF). During the photodynamic stress imposed by AF, transcript levels of BjFeCh in transgenic plants increased greatly; moreover, transcript levels of OsFeCh2 remained almost constant, whereas in wild type (WT) plants they were considerably down-regulated. In the heme branch, transgenic plants exhibited greater levels of OsFC and HO transcripts than WT plants in the untreated stems as well as in the AF-treated leaves and stems.

Effects of Light-Emitting Diode Irradiation on Growth Characteristics and Regulation of Porphyrin Biosynthesis in Rice Seedlings.

We examined the effects of light quality on growth characteristics and porphyrin biosynthesis of rice seedlings grown under different wavelengths from light emitting diodes (LEDs). After 10 days of exposure to various wavelengths of LEDs, leaf area and shoot biomass were greater in seedlings grown under white and blue LEDs than those of green and red LEDs. Both green and red LED treatments drastically decreased levels of protoporphyrin IX (Proto IX) and Mg-porphyrins compared to those of white LED, while levels of Mg-Proto IX monomethyl ester and protochlorophyllide under blue LED were decreased by 21% and 49%, respectively.