Staying hungry: a roadmap to harnessing central regulators of symbiotic nitrogen fixation under fluctuating nitrogen availability.

Legumes have evolved specific inventions to enhance nitrogen (N) acquisition by establishing symbiotic interactions with N-fixing rhizobial bacteria. Because symbiotic N fixation is energetically costly, legumes have developed sophisticated mechanisms to ensure carbon-nitrogen balance, in a variable environment, both locally and at the whole plant level, by monitoring nodule number, nodule development, and nodular nitrogenase activity, as well as controlling nodule senescence. Studies of the autoregulation of nodulation and regulation of nodulation by nodule inception (NIN) and NIN-LIKE PROTEINs (NLPs) have provided great insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying the nitrate-induced regulation of root nodulation for adapting to N availability in the rhizosphere.

A Novel Angle Segmentation Method for Magnetic Encoders Based on Filtering Window Adaptive Adjustment Using Improved Particle Swarm Optimization.

In this paper we outline newly-developed control algorithms, designed to achieve high-precision feedback for a motor control system using a magnetic encoder. The magnetic encoder, combing single-pole and multi-pole magnetic steels, was adopted to extend the resolution of the magnetic encoder. First, with a view to settling the issue of the jump points of the multi-pole angle value at the convergence of two adjacent magnetic poles, the angle segmentation method, which uses the window filter discrimination method, is employed to determine the actual angle value.

Stabilization of membrane topologies by proteinaceous remorin scaffolds.

In plants, the topological organization of membranes has mainly been attributed to the cell wall and the cytoskeleton. Additionally, few proteins, such as plant-specific remorins have been shown to function as protein and lipid organizers. Root nodule symbiosis requires continuous membrane re-arrangements, with bacteria being finally released from infection threads into membrane-confined symbiosomes.

Transcellular progression of infection threads in Medicago truncatula roots is associated with locally confined cell wall modifications.

The root nodule symbiosis with its global impact on nitrogen fertilization of soils is characterized by an intracellular colonization of legume roots by rhizobia. Although the symbionts are initially taken up by morphologically adapted root hairs, rhizobia persistently progress within a membrane-confined infection thread through several root cortical and later nodular cell layers. Throughout this transcellular passaging, rhizobia have to repeatedly pass host plasma membranes and cell walls.

Polysaccharide-rich fractions from Enteromorpha prolifera improve hepatic steatosis and gut barrier integrity in high-fat diet-induced obese mice linking to modulation of gut microbiota.

Polysaccharides from Enteromorpha prolifera (EP) possess important benefits in the management of obesity and associated metabolic diseases, but to date, the underlying mechanism linking this alleviative effect of EP to gut microbiota remains obscure. This study aimed to investigate the effects of EP in improving lipid metabolism disorders and intestinal barrier disruption in mice with high-fat diet (HFD), and its association with modulation of gut microbiota. C57BL/6 mice were fed a control diet or a HFD with or without 5% EP for 12 weeks.

Formin-mediated bridging of cell wall, plasma membrane, and cytoskeleton in symbiotic infections of Medicago truncatula.

Legumes have maintained the ability to associate with rhizobia to sustain the nitrogen-fixing root nodule symbiosis (RNS). In Medicago truncatula, the Nod factor (NF)-dependent intracellular root colonization by Sinorhizobium meliloti initiates from young, growing root hairs. They form rhizobial traps by physically curling around the symbiont.

Exosomal miR-103a-3p ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced immune response in BEAS-2B cells via NF-κB pathway by targeting transducin β-like 1X related protein 1.

Abnormal immune response contributes to pathophysiology of pneumonia and is recognized as a main factor for high incidence rate in children. The association between exosomes and inflammation has been reported in diverse cell types and diseases. The current study focuses on exploring the effects of exosomal miR-103a-3p on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation, and investigates the underlying mechanisms.

Smart Scanning Ion-Conductance Microscopy Imaging Technique Using Horizontal Fast Scanning Method.

To solve extended acquisition time issues inherent in the conventional hopping-scanning mode of scanning ion-conductance microscopy (SICM), a new transverse-fast scanning mode (TFSM) is proposed. Because the transverse motion in SICM is not the detection direction and therefore presents no collision problem, it has the ability to move at high speed. In TSFM, the SICM probe gradually descends in the vertical/detection direction and rapidly scans in the transverse/nondetection direction.

Symbiotic root infections in require remorin-mediated receptor stabilization in membrane nanodomains.

Plant cell infection is tightly controlled by cell surface receptor-like kinases (RLKs). Like other RLKs, the entry receptor LYK3 laterally segregates into membrane nanodomains in a stimulus-dependent manner. Although nanodomain localization arises as a generic feature of plant membrane proteins, the molecular mechanisms underlying such dynamic transitions and their functional relevance have remained poorly understood.

Identification and characterization of a novel geminivirus with a monopartite genome infecting apple trees.

A novel circular DNA virus sequence has been identified through next-generation sequencing and in silico assembly of small RNAs of 21-24 nt from an apple tree grown in China. The virus genome was cloned using two independent approaches and sequenced. With a size of 2932 nt, it showed the same genomic structure and conserved origin of replication reported for members of the family Geminiviridae.

Differential distributions of mononucleotide repeat sequences in 256 viral genomes and its potential implications.

Mononucleotide repeats (MNRs) have been systematically investigated in the genomes of eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. However, detailed information on the distribution of MNRs in viral genomes is limited. In this study, we examined the distributions of MNRs in 256 fully sequenced virus genomes which showed extensive variations across viral genomes, and is significantly influenced by both genome size and CG content.

A duplex, SYBR Green I-based RT-qPCR assay for the simultaneous detection of Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus and Cherry green ring mottle virus in peach.

Background: Co-infections of Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV) and Cherry green ring mottle virus (CGRMV) in peach is common in China and have resulted in significant yield reductions. A reliable, sensitive and quantitive method is needed to detect and distinguish between ACLSV and CGRMV in peach.

Findings: We developed a sensitive and specific SYBR Green-I based RT-qPCR for the quantification of ACLSV and CGRMV in different peach tissues, and a duplex RT-qPCR system to detect ACLSV and CGRMV simultaneously.