Introduction: Alopecia is a systemic disease with multiple contributing factors. Effective treatment is challenging when only hair growth mechanisms are targeted while ignoring the role of maintaining hair follicle microenvironment homeostasis, which is crucial for cell growth and angiogenesis. Oxidative stress and inflammation are major disruptors of this microenvironment, leading to inhibited cell proliferation and compromised hair follicle circulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAs an endogenous time-keeping mechanism, the circadian clock benefits plant fitness and adaptation to the rhythmically changed diel environments. The key components within the core oscillator of plant circadian clock have been extensively characterised, however, the fine-tuning circadian regulators are still less identified. Here, we demonstrated that BBX28 and BBX29, the two B-Box V subfamily members lacking DNA-binding motifs, are involved in the regulation of Arabidopsis circadian clock.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCircadian pace is modulated by light intensity, known as the Aschoff's rule, with largely unrevealed mechanisms. Here we report that photoreceptor CRY2 mediates blue light input to the circadian clock by directly interacting with clock core component PRR9 in blue light dependent manner. This physical interaction dually blocks the accessibility of PRR9 protein to its co-repressor TPL/TPRs and the resulting kinase PPKs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo enhance plant fitness under natural conditions, the circadian clock is synchronized and entrained by light via photoreceptors. In turn, the circadian clock exquisitely regulates the abundance and activity of photoreceptors via largely uncharacterized mechanisms. Here we show that the clock regulator TIME FOR COFFEE (TIC) controls the activity of the far-red light photoreceptor phytochrome A (phyA) at multiple levels in Arabidopsis thaliana.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicroplastics (MPs) are emerging pollutants as vectors for microbial colonization, but their role as nutrients sources for microbial communities has rarely been reported. This study explored the impact of six types of MPs on assimilable organic carbon (AOC) and microbial communities over eight weeks. The following were the primary conclusions: (1) MPs contributed to AOC increment and subsequently increased bacterial regrowth potential.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe core plant circadian oscillator is composed of multiple interlocked transcriptional-translational feedback loops, which synchronize endogenous diel physiological rhythms to the cyclic changes of environmental cues. PSEUDO-RESPONSE REGULATORS (PRRs) have been identified as negative components in the circadian clock, though their underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we found that a subfamily of zinc finger transcription factors, B-box (BBX)-containing proteins, have a critical role in fine-tuning circadian rhythm.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe circadian clock, known as an endogenous timekeeping system, can integrate various cues to regulate plant physiological functions for adapting to the changing environment and thus ensure optimal plant growth. The synchronization of internal clock with external environmental information needs a process termed entrainment, and light is one of the predominant entraining signals for the plant circadian clock. Photoreceptors can detect and transmit light information to the clock core oscillator through transcriptional or post-transcriptional interactions with core-clock components to sustain circadian rhythms and regulate a myriad of downstream responses, including photomorphogenesis and photoperiodic flowering which are key links in the process of growth and development.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMolecular bases of eukaryotic circadian clocks mainly rely on transcriptional-translational feedback loops (TTFLs), while epigenetic codes also play critical roles in fine-tuning circadian rhythms. However, unlike histone modification codes that play extensive and well-known roles in the regulation of circadian clocks, whether DNA methylation (5mC) can affect the circadian clock, and the associated underlying molecular mechanisms, remains largely unexplored in many organisms. Here we demonstrate that global genome DNA hypomethylation can significantly lengthen the circadian period of Arabidopsis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDrinking water on isolated islands includes treated rainwater, water shipped from the mainland, and desalinated seawater. However, marine transportation and desalination plants are vulnerable to emergencies, such as extreme weather, making self-sustaining stand-by water for emergency response essential. Rainwater is ideal for producing the stand-by water, and rainwater harvesting is sustainable and clean, and prolonged biostability can be ensured by managing biological and chemical parameters.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSmall-scale distributed water purifiers (SSDWPs), providing better quality drinking water, are popularly used both in homes and in the public domain. Non-continuous operation leads to water stagnation and ultimately induces microbial contamination. However, information related to such contamination in these purifiers is reported scarcely.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aimed to compare the real-world effectiveness of valsartan and non renin-angiotensin system (non-RAS) agent monotherapy on the incidence of new on-set diabetes (NOD) in Chinese hypertensive patients. It was based on an electronic Health Recording System database from Minhang District of Shanghai. Hypertensive patients aged ≥18 years continuously taking either valsartan or non-RAS agent monotherapy for >12 months were included.
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