Ethylene negatively regulates cold tolerance through HbEIN3-HbICE2 regulatory module in Hevea brasiliensis.

Cold stress can result in reduced growth rates, decreased latex production, and restricted areas for the Para rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). However, the molecular mechanisms governing the response of Hevea brasiliensis to cold stress remain elusive. Here, we found that ethylene plays a negative role in Hevea brasiliensis responses to cold stress.

Complete genome sequence of antibiotic-producing sp. HBERC⁃20821, isolated from Wawushan Hill, Sichuan Province, China.

The complete genome of a capable of producing multiple antibiotics was sequenced. Strain HBERC-20821 was isolated from a soil sample collected at Wawushan Hill, Sichuan Province, China. Genomic information will facilitate our systematic genetic manipulation of the strain at the gene level, enhancing its antibiotic production.

Potential increased propofol sensitivity in cognitively impaired elderly: a controlled, double-blind study.

Background: Cognitive impairment in the elderly may lead to potential increased sensitivity to anesthetic agents targeting receptors associated with cognition. This study aimed to explore the effect of cognitive status on propofol consumption during surgery in elderly patients.

Methods: Sixty elderly patients scheduled for laparoscopic radical prostatectomy were allocated to either a cognitively normal [CogN, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score ≥26] or cognitively impaired (CogI, MoCA <26) group.

Improving the Activity of Tryptophan Synthetase via a Nucleic Acid Scaffold.

Tryptophan synthetase (TSase), which functions as a tetramer, is a typical enzyme with a substrate channel effect, and shows excellent performance in the production of non-standard amino acids, histamine, and other biological derivatives. Based on previous work, we fused a mutant CE protein (colistin of , a polypeptide with antibacterial activity) sequence with the sequence of TSase to explore whether its catalytic activity could be enhanced, and we also analyzed whether the addition of a DNA scaffold was a feasible strategy. Here, dCE (CE protein without DNase activity) protein tags were constructed and fused to the TrapA and TrapB subunits of TSase, and the whole cell was used for the catalytic reaction.

HbBIN2 Functions in Plant Cold Stress Resistance through Modulation of HbICE1 Transcriptional Activity and ROS Homeostasis in .

Cold stress poses significant limitations on the growth, latex yield, and ecological distribution of rubber trees (). The GSK3-like kinase plays a significant role in helping plants adapt to different biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the functions of GSK3-like kinase BR-INSENSITIVE 2 (BIN2) in remain elusive.

Complete Genome Sequence of sp. Strain NBEC-018, Isolated from Nematode-Infected Potatoes.

species are ubiquitous Gram-positive bacteria. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of sp. strain NBEC-018.

Acaricidal Activity and Field Efficacy Analysis of the Potential Biocontrol Agent NBIF-001 against Spider Mites.

In recent years, spider mites have caused considerable economic losses to global agriculture. However, currently available management strategies are limited because of the rapid development of resistance. In this study, NBIF-001 was isolated and evaluated for its acaricidal activity.

Sulfenylation of ENOLASE2 facilitates HO-conferred freezing tolerance in Arabidopsis.

HO affects the expression of genes that are involved in plant responses to diverse environmental stresses; however, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate that HO enhances plant freezing tolerance through its effect on a protein product of low expression of osmotically responsive genes2 (LOS2). LOS2 is translated into a major product, cytosolic enolase2 (ENO2), and sometimes an alternative product, the transcription repressor c-Myc-binding protein (MBP-1).

HbSnRK2.6 Functions in ABA-Regulated Cold Stress Response by Promoting HbICE2 Transcriptional Activity in .

Low temperature remarkably limits rubber tree ( Muell. Arg.) growth, latex production, and geographical distribution, but the underlying mechanisms of cold stress response remain elusive.

Complete Genome Sequence of Bacillus badius NBPM-293, a Plant Growth-Promoting Strain Isolated from Rhizosphere Soil.

species have a long history of widespread use in biocontrol and crop growth-promoting fields. Here, we present the genome sequence of the rhizobacterium NBPM-293. The genome sequence will provide valuable information for a better understanding of the mechanism of plant growth promotion.

Current Insights on the Diverse Structures and Functions in Bacterial Collagen-like Proteins.

The dearth of knowledge on the diverse structures and functions in bacterial collagen-like proteins is in stark contrast to the deep grasp of structures and functions in mammalian collagen, the ubiquitous triple-helical scleroprotein that plays a central role in tissue architecture, extracellular matrix organization, and signal transduction. To fill and highlight existing gaps due to the general paucity of data on bacterial CLPs, we comprehensively reviewed the latest insight into their functional and structural diversity from multiple perspectives of biology, computational simulations, and materials engineering. The origins and discovery of bacterial CLPs were explored.

Adverse effects of Alport syndrome-related Gly missense mutations on collagen type IV: Insights from molecular simulations and experiments.

Patients with Alport syndrome (AS) exhibit blood and elevated protein levels in their urine, inflamed kidneys, and many other abnormalities. AS is attributed to mutations in type IV collagen genes, particularly glycine missense mutations in the collagenous domain of COL4A5 that disrupt common structural motifs in collagen from the repeat (Gly-Xaa-Yaa) amino acid sequence. To characterize and elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying how AS-related mutations perturb the structure and function of type IV collagen, experimental studies and molecular simulations were integrated to investigate the structure, stability, protease sensitivity, and integrin binding affinity of collagen-like proteins containing amino acid sequences from the α5(IV) chain and AS-related Gly missense mutations.

Thermoplastic moulding of regenerated silk.

Early insights into the unique structure and properties of native silk suggested that β-sheet nanocrystallites in silk would degrade prior to melting when subjected to thermal processing. Since then, canonical approaches for fabricating silk-based materials typically involve solution-derived processing methods, which have inherent limitations with respect to silk protein solubility and stability in solution, and time and cost efficiency. Here we report a thermal processing method for the direct solid-state moulding of regenerated silk into bulk 'parts' or devices with tunable mechanical properties.

Propofol alleviates cisplatin-related cognitive impairment.

Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is commonly reported following the administration of chemotherapeutic agents and comprises a wide variety of neurological problems. Many patients after chemotherapy need further surgery under anesthesia. Thus, in this study, we examined whether propofol, one of the most commonly used anesthetics in surgery, could further affect the cognitive abilities in mouse CRCI models.

Deciphering metabolic responses of biosurfactant lichenysin on biosynthesis of poly-γ-glutamic acid.

Poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) is an extracellularly produced biodegradable polymer, which has been widely used as agricultural fertilizer, mineral fortifier, cosmetic moisturizer, and drug carrier. This study firstly discovered that lichenysin, as a biosurfactant, showed the capability to enhance γ-PGA production in Bacillus licheniformis. The exogenous addition of lichenysin improved the γ-PGA yield up to 17.

Enzymatic Phosphorylation of Ser in a Type I Collagen Peptide.

Phosphoproteomics studies have reported phosphorylation at multiple sites within collagen, raising the possibility that these post-translational modifications regulate the physical or biological properties of collagen. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations and experimental studies were carried out on model peptides to establish foundational principles of phosphorylation of Ser residues in collagen. A (Gly-Xaa-Yaa) peptide was designed to include a Ser-containing sequence from type I collagen that was reported to be phosphorylated.

Collagen Gly missense mutations: Effect of residue identity on collagen structure and integrin binding.

Gly missense mutations in type I collagen, which replace a conserved Gly in the repeating (Gly-Xaa-Yaa) sequence with a larger residue, are known to cause Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI). The clinical consequences of such mutations range from mild to lethal, with more serious clinical severity associated with larger Gly replacement residues. Here, we investigate the influence of the identity of the residue replacing Gly within and adjacent to the integrin binding GFPGER sequence on triple-helix structure, stability and integrin binding using a recombinant bacterial collagen system.

POCD in patients receiving total knee replacement under deep vs light anesthesia: A randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: Clinical observation, as well as randomized controlled trials, indicated an increasing rate of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) with increasing depth of general anesthesia. However, the findings are subject to bias due to varying degree of analgesia. In this trial, we compared the rate of POCD between patients receiving light versus high anesthesia while holding analgesia comparable using nerve block.

Lichenysin production is improved in codY null Bacillus licheniformis by addition of precursor amino acids.

Lichenysin is categorized into the family of lipopeptide biosurfactants and has a variety of applications in the petroleum industry, bioremediation, pharmaceuticals, and the food industry. Currently, large-scale production is limited due to the low yield. This study found that lichenysin production was repressed by supplementation of extracellular amino acids.

Untangling the transcription regulatory network of the bacitracin synthase operon in Bacillus licheniformis DW2.

The bacitracin synthetase gene cluster in Bacillus licheniformis DW2 is composed of the bacABC operon encoding a non-ribosomal peptide synthetase and bacT encoding a thioesterase. Although the bacitracin gene cluster has been well studied, little is known about how this gene cluster is regulated. This study provides insight into how the transcription factors Spo0A and AbrB regulate bacitracin biosynthesis.

Airflow behavior changes in upper airway caused by different head and neck positions: Comparison by computational fluid dynamics.

The feasibility of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to evaluate airflow characteristics in different head and neck positions has not been established. This study compared the changes in volume and airflow behavior of the upper airway by CFD simulation to predict the influence of anatomical and physiological airway changes due to different head-neck positions on mechanical ventilation. One awake volunteer with no risk of difficult airway underwent computed tomography in neutral position, extension position (both head and neck extended), and sniffing position (head extended and neck flexed).

Neuroprotective effects of HTR1A antagonist WAY-100635 on scopolamine-induced delirium in rats and underlying molecular mechanisms.

Background: Limited surveys have assessed the performance of 5-hydroxytreptamine receptor 1A and its antagonist WAY-100635 in pharmacological manipulations targeting delirium therapies. The purpose of this paper was to assess the central pharmacological activity of WAY-100635 in a rat model of scopolamine-induced delirium and its underlying mechanism.

Results: A delirium rat model was established by intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine and behavioral changes evaluated through open field and elevated plus maze experiments.

CETP polymorphisms confer genetic contribution to centenarians of Hainan, south of China.

Objective: In this paper, we will discuss if the CETP polymorphism contributes to the centenarians in Hainan island.

Methods: We tested the TaqIB and I405V polymorphisms of CETP gene among 276 centenarians and 301 matched healthy individuals by AS-PCR and analyzed the data with SPSS software package (Version 19.0).

Engineering Bacillus licheniformis for the production of meso-2,3-butanediol.

Background: 2,3-Butanediol (2,3-BD) can be used as a liquid fuel additive to replace petroleum oil, and as an important platform chemical in the pharmaceutical and plastic industries. Microbial production of 2,3-BD by Bacillus licheniformis presents potential advantages due to its GRAS status, but previous attempts to use this microorganism as a chassis strain resulted in the production of a mix of D-2,3-BD and meso-2,3-BD isomers.

Results: The aim of this work was to develop an engineered strain of B.