Disruption of endocytosis through chemical inhibition of clathrin heavy chain function.

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) is a highly conserved and essential cellular process in eukaryotic cells, but its dynamic and vital nature makes it challenging to study using classical genetics tools. In contrast, although small molecules can acutely and reversibly perturb CME, the few chemical CME inhibitors that have been applied to plants are either ineffective or show undesirable side effects. Here, we identify the previously described endosidin9 (ES9) as an inhibitor of clathrin heavy chain (CHC) function in both Arabidopsis and human cells through affinity-based target isolation, in vitro binding studies and X-ray crystallography.

Role of polyamines in plant growth regulation of Rht wheat mutants.

Besides their protective role, polyamines also serve as signalling molecules. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the polyamine signalling pathways, especially to identify polyamine-regulated mechanisms and their connections with other regulatory molecules. Reduced height (Rht) genes in wheat are often used in breeding programs to increase harvest index.

Proteomics, Holm Oak () and Other Recalcitrant and Orphan Forest Tree Species: How do They See Each Other?

Proteomics has had a big impact on plant biology, considered as a valuable tool for several forest species, such as , , , and . This review assesses the potential and limitations of the proteomics approaches and is focused on as a model species and other forest tree species. Proteomics has been used with since 2003 with the main aim of examining natural variability, developmental processes, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses as in other species of the genus or .

Physiological and structural adjustments of two ecotypes of L. from different habitats in response to drought and re-watering.

covers a very fragmented area in Europe and, at the edge of its natural distribution, is considered a relic endangered species near extinction. In our study, it was hypothesized that individuals from the edge of the habitat, with stronger climate constrains (drier and warmer environment, Italy, IT ecotype), developed different mechanisms of adaptation than those growing under optimal conditions at the center of the habitat (more humid and colder environment, Bulgaria, BG ecotype). Indeed, the two ecotypes displayed physiological, structural and functional differences already under control (unstressed) conditions.

Holm oak proteomic response to water limitation at seedling establishment stage reveals specific changes in different plant parts as well as interaction between roots and cotyledons.

Quercus ilex is a dominant tree species in the Mediterranean region with double economic and ecological importance and increasing use in reforestation. Seedling establishment is extremely vulnerable to environmental stresses, particularly drought. A time course study on physiological and proteomic response of holm oak to water limitation stress and recovery during early heterotrophic growth is reported.

High diversity of thermophilic cyanobacteria in Rupite hot spring identified by microscopy, cultivation, single-cell PCR and amplicon sequencing.

Genotypic and morphological diversity of cyanobacteria in the Rupite hot spring (Bulgaria) was investigated by means of optical microscopy, cultivation, single-cell PCR, and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Altogether, 34 sites were investigated along the 71-39 °C temperature gradient. Analysis of samples from eight representative sites shown that Illumina, optical microscopy, and Roche 454 identified 72, 45 and 19% respective occurrences of all cumulatively present taxa.

Interaction of polyamines, abscisic acid and proline under osmotic stress in the leaves of wheat plants.

The exact relationship between polyamine, abscisic acid and proline metabolisms is still poorly understood. In the present study, the effects of putrescine and abscisic acid treatments alone or in combination with polyethylene glycol-induced osmotic stress were investigated in young wheat plants. It was observed that abscisic acid plays a role in the coordinated regulation of the proline and polyamine biosynthetic pathways, which compounds are related to each other through a common precursor.

Desiccation-induced alterations in surface topography of thylakoids from resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis studied by atomic force microscopy, electrokinetic and optical measurements.

With their ability to survive complete desiccation, resurrection plants are a suitable model system for studying the mechanisms of drought tolerance. In the present study, we investigated desiccation-induced alterations in surface topography of thylakoids isolated from well-hydrated, moderately dehydrated, severely desiccated and rehydrated Haberlea rhodopensis plants by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM), electrokinetic and optical measurements. According to our knowledge, so far, there were no reports on the characterization of surface topography and polydispersity of thylakoid membranes from resurrection plants using AFM and dynamic light scattering.

Nonselective Chemical Inhibition of Sec7 Domain-Containing ARF GTPase Exchange Factors.

Small GTP-binding proteins from the ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) family are important regulators of vesicle formation and cellular trafficking in all eukaryotes. ARF activation is accomplished by a protein family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) that contain a conserved catalytic Sec7 domain. Here, we identified and characterized Secdin, a small-molecule inhibitor of ARF-GEFs.

The Inhibitor Endosidin 4 Targets SEC7 Domain-Type ARF GTPase Exchange Factors and Interferes with Subcellular Trafficking in Eukaryotes.

The trafficking of subcellular cargos in eukaryotic cells crucially depends on vesicle budding, a process mediated by ARF-GEFs (ADP-ribosylation factor guanine nucleotide exchange factors). In plants, ARF-GEFs play essential roles in endocytosis, vacuolar trafficking, recycling, secretion, and polar trafficking. Moreover, they are important for plant development, mainly through controlling the polar subcellular localization of PIN-FORMED transporters of the plant hormone auxin.

Accumulation of transposable elements in selfing populations of Arabidopsis lyrata supports the ectopic recombination model of transposon evolution.

Transposable elements (TE) can constitute a large fraction of plant genomes, yet our understanding of their evolution and fitness effect is still limited. Here we tested several models of evolution that make specific predictions about differences in TE abundance between selfing and outcrossing taxa, and between small and large populations. We estimated TE abundance in multiple populations of North American Arabidopsis lyrata differing in mating system and long-term size, using transposon insertion display on several TE families.

Application of a diffusion model to measure ion leakage of resurrection plant leaves undergoing desiccation.

Haberlea rhodopensis is a chlorophyll-retaining resurrection plant, which can survive desiccation to air dry state under both low light and sunny environments. Maintaining the integrity of the membrane during dehydration of resurrection plants is extremely important. In the present study, the diffusion model was improved and used for a first time to evaluate the changes in ion leakage through different cellular compartments upon desiccation of H.

Wheat plant selection for high yields entailed improvement of leaf anatomical and biochemical traits including tolerance to non-optimal temperature conditions.

Assessment of photosynthetic traits and temperature tolerance was performed on field-grown modern genotype (MG), and the local landrace (LR) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as well as the wild relative species (Aegilops cylindrica Host.).

Polyamines may influence phytochelatin synthesis during Cd stress in rice.

Although the metabolism of phytochelatins and higher polyamines are linked with each other, the direct relationship between them under heavy metal stress has not yet been clarified. Two approaches were used to reveal the influence of polyamine content on cadmium stress responses, particularly with regard to phytochelatin synthesis: putrescine pre-treatment of rice plants followed by cadmium stress, and treatment with the putrescine synthesis inhibitor, 2-(difluoromethyl)ornithine combined with cadmium treatment. The results indicated that putrescine pre-treatment enhanced the adverse effect of cadmium, while the application of 2-(difluoromethyl)ornithine reduced it to a certain extent.

In Planta Recapitulation of Isoprene Synthase Evolution from Ocimene Synthases.

Isoprene is the most abundant biogenic volatile hydrocarbon compound naturally emitted by plants and plays a major role in atmospheric chemistry. It has been proposed that isoprene synthases (IspS) may readily evolve from other terpene synthases, but this hypothesis has not been experimentally investigated. We isolated and functionally validated in Arabidopsis the first isoprene synthase gene, AdoIspS, from a monocotyledonous species (Arundo donax L.

Phenotypic differences determine drought stress responses in ecotypes of Arundo donax adapted to different environments.

Arundo donax has been identified as an important biomass and biofuel crop. Yet, there has been little research on photosynthetic and metabolic traits, which sustain the high productivity of A. donax under drought conditions.

Antioxidant defense during desiccation of the resurrection plant Haberlea rhodopensis.

Maintaining a strong antioxidant system is essential for preventing drought-induced oxidative stress. Thus, in the present study we investigated the role of some non-enzymic and enzymic antioxidants in desiccation tolerance of Haberlea rhodopensis. The effects of high light upon desiccation on antioxidant capacity was estimated by comparing the response of shade and sun plants.

The wheat mutant DELLA-encoding gene (Rht-B1c) affects plant photosynthetic responses to cadmium stress.

Тhe sensitivity to cadmium (Cd) stress of two near-isogenic wheat lines with differences at the Rht-B1 locus, Rht-B1a (tall wild type, encoding DELLA proteins) and Rht-B1c (dwarf mutant, encoding modified DELLA proteins), was investigated. The effects of 100 μM CdCl on plant growth, pigment content and functional activity of the photosynthetic apparatus of wheat seedlings grown on a nutrient solution were evaluated through a combination of PAM chlorophyll fluorescence, oxygen evolution, oxidation-reduction kinetics of P700 and 77 K fluorescence. The results showed that the wheat mutant (Rht-B1c) was more tolerant to Cd stress compared to the wild type (Rht-B1a), as evidenced by the lower reductions in plant growth and pigment content, lower inhibition of photosystem I (PSI) and photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry and of the oxygen evolution measured with Clark-type and Joliot-type electrodes.

Patterns of Evolutionary Trajectories and Domestication History within the Genus Hordeum Assessed by REMAP Markers.

The patterns of genetic diversity related to the taxonomy and domestication history of 85 accessions representing the main four species of the genus Hordeum were examined by retrotransposon-microsatellite amplified polymorphism (REMAP) markers based on the retrotransposon BARE-1. A substantial level of genetic polymorphisms at among- and within-species level was observed showing that this retrotransposon family and its adjacent genomic regions has been a target for genome dynamics during the evolution and domestication of barley. The obtained data are consistent with the current taxonomic status within the genus Hordeum.

Comparative analysis of polyamine metabolism in wheat and maize plants.

In the present work changes in polyamine contents were investigated after various hydroponic polyamine treatments (putrescine, spermidine and spermine at 0.1, 0.3 and 0.

Effect of Zinc and Copper Nanoparticles on Drought Resistance of Wheat Seedlings.

The effect of a colloidal solution of Cu,Zn-nanoparticles on pro-oxidative/antioxidative balance and content of photosynthetic pigments and leaf area of winter wheat plants of steppe (Acveduc) and forest-steppe (Stolichna) ecotypes was investigated in drought conditions. It has been shown that Cu,Zn-nanoparticles decreased the negative effect of drought action upon plants of steppe ecotype Acveduc. In particular, increased activity of antioxidative enzymes reduced the level of accumulation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and stabilized the content of photosynthetic pigments and increased relative water content in leaves.

How Does the Amount and Composition of PM Deposited on Platanus acerifolia Leaves Change Across Different Cities in Europe?

Particulate matter (PM) deposited on Platanus acerifolia tree leaves has been sampled in the urban areas of 28 European cities, over 20 countries, with the aim of testing leaf deposited particles as indicator of atmospheric PM concentration and composition. Leaves have been collected close to streets characterized by heavy traffic and within urban parks. Leaf surface density, dimensions, and elemental composition of leaf deposited particles have been compared with leaf magnetic content, and discussed in connection with air quality data.

DNA damage, repair monitoring and epigenetic DNA methylation changes in seedlings of Chernobyl soybeans.

This pilot study was carried out to assess the effect of radio-contaminated Chernobyl environment on plant genome integrity 27 years after the accident. For this purpose, nuclei were isolated from root tips of the soybean seedlings harvested from plants grown in the Chernobyl area for seven generations. Neutral, neutral-alkaline, and methylation-sensitive comet assays were performed to evaluate the induction and repair of primary DNA damage and the epigenetic contribution to stress adaptation mechanisms.

Useful parasites: the evolutionary biology and biotechnology applications of transposable elements.

Transposable elements usually comprise the most abundant nongenic fraction of eukaryotic genomes. Because of their capacity to selfreplicate and to induce a wide range of mutations, transposable elements have long been considered as 'parasitic' or 'selfish'. Today, we recognize that the findings about genomic changes affected by transposable elements have considerably altered our view of the ways in which genomes evolve and work.