GmHSP40.1, a nuclear-localized soybean J domain protein, participates in regulation of flowering time through interacting with EMF1 and JMJ14.

Heat shock protein 40s (HSP40s) are a group of J domain proteins (JDPs), which serve as co-chaperones for heat shock protein 70s. We previously reported that over-expression of a soybean class C JDP, GmHSP40.1, in Arabidopsis activated defense responses.

Development of a Novel Amplifiable System to Quantify Hydrogen Peroxide in Living Cells.

Although many redox signaling molecules are present at low concentrations, typically ranging from micromolar to submicromolar levels, they often play essential roles in a wide range of biological pathways and disease mechanisms. However, accurately measuring low-abundant analytes has been a significant challenge due to the lack of sensitivity and quantitative capability of existing measurement methods. In this study, we introduced a novel chemically induced amplifiable system for quantifying low-abundance redox signaling molecules in living cells.

Disruption of the Acyl-Activating Enzyme 3 Impairs Seed Coat Mucilage Accumulation and Seed Germination.

The Acyl-activating enzyme () 3 gene encodes an oxalyl-CoA synthetase that catalyzes the conversion of oxalate to oxalyl-CoA as the first step in the CoA-dependent pathway of oxalate catabolism. Although the role of this enzyme in oxalate catabolism has been established, its biological roles in plant growth and development are less understood. As a step toward gaining a better understanding of these biological roles, we report here a characterization of the thaliana () seed mucilage phenotype.

Soybean SAUL1, a Bona Fide U-Box E3 Ligase, Negatively Regulates Immunity Likely through Repressing the Activation of MPK3.

E3 ubiquitin ligases play important roles in plant immunity, but their role in soybean has not been investigated previously. Here, we used (BPMV)-mediated virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) to investigate the function of SAUL1 (Senescence-Associated E3 Ubiquitin Ligase 1) homologs in soybean. When two closely related homologs were silenced simultaneously, the soybean plants displayed autoimmune phenotypes, which were significantly alleviated by high temperature, suggesting that SAUL1a/1b might be guarded by an R protein.

Liver specific disruption of Glutaredoxin 3 leads to iron accumulation and impaired cellular iron homeostasis.

The role mammalian glutaredoxin 3 (Grx3) plays in iron homeostasis is poorly understood. Here we report the generation and characterization of a Grx3 liver-specific knockout (LKO) mouse strain. Grx3 LKO and WT mice had similar growth however, the LKO mice had elevated iron concentration and ROS production leading to impaired liver function and altered cytosolic and nuclear Fe-S cluster assembly.

Crucial role of glutaredoxin S17 in heat stress response revealed by transcriptome analysis.

Heat stress can have detrimental effects on plant growth and development. However, the mechanisms by which the plant is able to perceive changes in ambient temperature, transmit this information, and initiate a temperature-induced response are not fully understood. Previously, we showed that heterologous expression of an Arabidopsis thaliana L.

Redox-engineering enhances maize thermotolerance and grain yield in the field.

Increasing populations and temperatures are expected to escalate food demands beyond production capacities, and the development of maize lines with better performance under heat stress is desirable. Here, we report that constitutive ectopic expression of a heterologous glutaredoxin S17 from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtGRXS17) can provide thermotolerance in maize through enhanced chaperone activity and modulation of heat stress-associated gene expression. The thermotolerant maize lines had increased protection against protein damage and yielded a sixfold increase in grain production in comparison to the non-transgenic counterparts under heat stress field conditions.

A conserved oxalyl-coenzyme A decarboxylase in oxalate catabolism.

The ability to biosynthesize oxalic acid can provide beneficial functions to plants; however, uncontrolled or prolonged exposure to this strong organic acid results in multiple physiological problems. Such problems include a disruption of membrane integrity, mitochondrial function, metal chelation, and free radical formation. Recent work suggests that a CoA-dependent pathway of oxalate catabolism plays a critical role in regulating tissue oxalate concentrations in plants.

Crucial Role of Mammalian Glutaredoxin 3 in Cardiac Energy Metabolism in Diet-induced Obese Mice Revealed by Transcriptome Analysis.

Obesity is often associated with metabolic dysregulation and oxidative stress with the latter serving as a possible unifying link between obesity and cardiovascular complications. Glutaredoxins (Grxs) comprise one of the major antioxidant systems in the heart. Although Grx3 has been shown to act as an endogenous negative regulator of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure, its metabolic impact on cardiac function in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice remains largely unknown.

An Arabidopsis Oxalyl-CoA Decarboxylase, AtOXC, Is Important for Oxalate Catabolism in Plants.

Considering the widespread occurrence of oxalate in nature and its broad impact on a host of organisms, it is surprising that so little is known about the turnover of this important acid. In plants, oxalate oxidase is the most well-studied enzyme capable of degrading oxalate, but not all plants possess this activity. Recently, acyl-activating enzyme 3 (AAE3), encoding an oxalyl-CoA synthetase, was identified in Arabidopsis.

Development of a rapid and efficient protoplast isolation and transfection method for chickpea ().

Chickpea ( L.) is the second most important grain legume worldwide. Recent advances in the sequencing of the chickpea genome has provided a new and valuable resource to aid efforts in gene discovery and crop trait improvement.

Alteration of iron responsive gene expression in Arabidopsis glutaredoxin loss of function plants with or without iron stress.

Iron (Fe) is a mineral nutrient and a metal cofactor essential for plants. Iron limitation can have detrimental effects on plant growth and development, while excess iron inside plant cells leads to oxidative damage. As a result, plants have evolved complex regulatory networks to respond to fluctuations in cellular iron concentrations.

Consumption of polysaccharides from Auricularia auricular modulates the intestinal microbiota in mice.

The objective was to determine the contribution of A. auricular polysaccharides (AAP) in modulating the composition and diversity of the intestinal microbe in mice. AAP was extracted from A.

Effect of Acyl Activating Enzyme (AAE) 3 on the growth and development of Medicago truncatula.

The Acyl-Activating Enzyme (AAE) 3 gene encodes an oxalyl-CoA synthetase that catalyzes the conversion of oxalate to oxalyl-CoA in a CoA and ATP-dependent manner. Although the biochemical activity of AAE3 has been established, its biological role in plant growth and development remains unclear. To advance our understanding of the role of AAE3 in plant growth and development, we report here the characterization of two Medicago truncatula AAE3 (Mtaae3) mutants.

The MAPK Kinase Kinase GmMEKK1 Regulates Cell Death and Defense Responses.

MAPK signaling pathways play critical roles in plant immunity. Here, we silenced multiple genes encoding MAPKs using virus-induced gene silencing mediated by to identify MAPK genes involved in soybean () immunity. Surprisingly, a strong hypersensitive response (HR) cell death was observed when soybean (), a homolog of Arabidopsis () , was silenced.

Purification, identification and functional characterization of an immunomodulatory protein from Pleurotus eryngii.

Pleurotus eryngii contains bioactive compounds that can activate the immune system. Here we report the identification, purification, and functional characterization of the bioactive P. eryngii protein (PEP) 1b.

Silencing of OsGRXS17 in rice improves drought stress tolerance by modulating ROS accumulation and stomatal closure.

Glutaredoxins (GRXs) modulate redox-dependent signaling pathways and have emerged as key mediators in plant responses to environmental stimuli. Here we report that RNAi-mediated suppression of Oryza sativa GRXS17 (OsGRXS17) improved drought tolerance in rice. Gene expression studies showed that OsGRXS17 was present throughout the plant and that transcript abundance increased in response to drought stress and abscisic acid (ABA) treatment.

Expression of a monothiol glutaredoxin, AtGRXS17, in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) enhances drought tolerance.

Abiotic stresses are a major factor limiting crop growth and productivity. The Arabidopsis thaliana glutaredoxin S17 (AtGRXS17) gene has conserved functions in plant tolerance to heat and chilling stress in Arabidopsis and, when expressed ectopically, in tomato. Here, we report that ectopic expression of AtGRXS17 in tomato also enhanced tolerance to drought and oxidative stress.

Arabidopsis Glutaredoxin S17 Contributes to Vegetative Growth, Mineral Accumulation, and Redox Balance during Iron Deficiency.

Iron (Fe) is an essential mineral nutrient and a metal cofactor required for many proteins and enzymes involved in the processes of DNA synthesis, respiration, and photosynthesis. Iron limitation can have detrimental effects on plant growth and development. Such effects are mediated, at least in part, through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Construction of pDUO: A bicistronic shuttle vector series for dual expression of recombinant proteins.

Our ability to genetically manipulate microbial systems is often hampered by the availability of genetic tools. Thus, there is a need for the continued expansion of our molecular tool box. In support of this expansion, this study reports the design, construction, and validation of a new bicistronic shuttle vector series, pDUO, for the dual expression of genes in different hosts.

Determining the Biochemical Properties of the Oxalate Biosynthetic Component (Obc)1 from Burkholderia mallei.

Oxalic acid is produced by a variety of organisms ranging from simple microbes to complex animals. This acid has been proposed to fulfill various physiological and pathological functions which vary between organisms. In bacteria from the Burkholderia genus, oxalate secretion has been shown to be quorum sensing dependent and to support pathogenicity and cell viability.

The expanding footprint of CRISPR/Cas9 in the plant sciences.

CRISPR/Cas9 has evolved and transformed the field of biology at an unprecedented pace. From the initial purpose of introducing a site specific mutation within a genome of choice, this technology has morphed into enabling a wide array of molecular applications, including site-specific transgene insertion and multiplexing for the simultaneous induction of multiple cleavage events. Efficiency, specificity, and flexibility are key attributes that have solidified CRISPR/Cas9 as the genome-editing tool of choice by scientists from all areas of biology.

An Oxalyl-CoA Dependent Pathway of Oxalate Catabolism Plays a Role in Regulating Calcium Oxalate Crystal Accumulation and Defending against Oxalate-Secreting Phytopathogens in Medicago truncatula.

Considering the widespread occurrence of oxalate in nature and its broad impact on a host of organisms, it is surprising that so little is known about the turnover of this important acid. In plants, oxalate oxidase is the most well studied enzyme capable of degrading oxalate, but not all plants possess this activity. Recently, an Acyl Activating Enzyme 3 (AAE3), encoding an oxalyl-CoA synthetase, was identified in Arabidopsis.