Production of Human IFNγ Protein in Plant through an Enhanced Expression System Based on Virus.

Plant-based systems are safe alternatives to the current platforms for the production of biologically active therapeutic proteins. However, plant-based expression systems face certain major challenges, including the relatively low productivity and the generation of target proteins in biologically active forms. The use of plant virus-based expression systems has been shown to enhance yields, but further improvement is still required to lower the production cost.

Functional analysis of McSnRK1 (SNF1-related protein kinase 1) in regulating Na/K homeostasis in transgenic cultured cells and roots of halophyte Mesembryanthemum crystallinum.

Transgenic callus and roots of ice plant with altered SnRK1 function were established using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The role of McSnRK1 in controlling Na influx and Na/K ratio was demonstrated. SnRK1 kinases (SNF1-related protein kinase1) control metabolic adaptation during energy deprivation and regulate protective mechanisms against environmental stress.

Biological, Pathological, and Molecular Characteristics of a New Potyvirus, Dendrobium Chlorotic Mosaic Virus, Infecting Orchid.

is one of the popular orchids in Taiwan. This report describes a new potyvirus tentatively named Dendrobium chlorotic mosaic virus (DeCMV) causing chlorotic and mosaic symptoms in . .

Correction: Huang, F.-C., et al. RETICULON-LIKE3 (RTNLB3) and RTNLB8 Participate in -Mediated Plant Transformation. 2018, , 638.

The authors would like to make a correction to their published paper [...

Effective Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocols for callus and roots of halophyte ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum).

Background: Ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.) is a model plant for studying salt-tolerant mechanisms in higher plants. Many salt stress-responsive ice plant genes have been identified with molecular and biochemical approaches.

Heterologous Hsp90 promotes phenotypic diversity through network evolution.

Biological processes in living cells are often carried out by gene networks in which signals and reactions are integrated through network hubs. Despite their functional importance, it remains unclear to what extent network hubs are evolvable and how alterations impact long-term evolution. We investigated these issues using heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), a central hub of proteostasis networks.

Presence of an Agrobacterium-Type Tumor-Inducing Plasmid in Neorhizobium sp. NCHU2750 and the Link to Phytopathogenicity.

The genus Agrobacterium contains a group of plant-pathogenic bacteria that have been developed into an important tool for genetic transformation of eukaryotes. To further improve this biotechnology application, a better understanding of the natural genetic variation is critical. During the process of isolation and characterization of wild-type strains, we found a novel strain (i.

Alterations of plant architecture and phase transition by the phytoplasma virulence factor SAP11.

As key mediators linking developmental processes with plant immunity, TCP (TEOSINTE-BRANCHED, CYCLOIDEA, PROLIFERATION FACTOR 1 and 2) transcription factors have been increasingly shown to be targets of pathogenic effectors. We report here that TB/CYC (TEOSINTE-BRANCHED/CYCLOIDEA)-TCPs are destabilized by phytoplasma SAP11 effectors, leading to the proliferation of axillary meristems. Although a high degree of sequence diversity was observed among putative SAP11 effectors identified from evolutionarily distinct clusters of phytoplasmas, these effectors acquired fundamental activity in destabilizing TB/CYC-TCPs.

Whole-genome sequencing and comparative analysis of two plant-associated strains of Rhodopseudomonas palustris (PS3 and YSC3).

Rhodopseudomonas palustris strains PS3 and YSC3 are purple non-sulfur phototrophic bacteria isolated from Taiwanese paddy soils. PS3 has beneficial effects on plant growth and enhances the uptake efficiency of applied fertilizer nutrients. In contrast, YSC3 has no significant effect on plant growth.

Reiterative use of FGF signaling in mesoderm development during embryogenesis and metamorphosis in the hemichordate Ptychodera flava.

Background: Mesoderm is generally considered to be a germ layer that is unique to Bilateria, and it develops into diverse tissues, including muscle, and in the case of vertebrates, the skeleton and notochord. Studies on various deuterostome animals have demonstrated that fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling is required for the formation of many mesodermal structures, such as vertebrate somites, from which muscles are differentiated, and muscles in sea urchin embryos, suggesting an ancient role of FGF signaling in muscle development. However, the formation of trunk muscles in invertebrate chordates is FGF-independent, leading to ambiguity about this ancient role in deuterostomes.

Engineering the oleaginous red yeast Rhodotorula glutinis for simultaneous β-carotene and cellulase production.

Rhodotorula glutinis, an oleaginous red yeast, intrinsically produces several bio-products (i.e., lipids, carotenoids and enzymes) and is regarded as a potential host for biorefinery.

Biomimetic strategy for constructing cellulosomal operons in .

Background: Enzymatic conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into soluble sugars is a major bottleneck in the plant biomass utilization. Several anaerobic organisms cope these issues via multiple-enzyme complex system so called 'cellulosome'. Hence, we proposed a "biomimic operon" concept for making an artificial cellulosome which can be used as a promising tool for the expression of cellulosomal enzymes in .

A Targeted Screen Reveals Female-Sterile Genes That Control the Size of Germline Stem Cell Niche During Development.

Adult stem cells maintain tissue homeostasis. This unique capability largely depends on the stem cell niche, a specialized microenvironment, which preserves stem cell identity through physical contacts and secreted factors. In many cancers, latent tumor cell niches are thought to house stem cells and aid tumor initiation.

Peeking at a plant through the holes in the wall - exploring the roles of plasmodesmata.

Plasmodesmata (PD) are membrane-lined pores that connect neighbouring plant cells and allow molecular exchange via the symplast. Past studies have revealed the basic structure of PD, some of the transport mechanisms for molecules through PD, and a variety of physiological processes in which they function. Recently, with the help of newly developed technologies, several exciting new features of PD have been revealed.

Arabidopsis RETICULON-LIKE3 (RTNLB3) and RTNLB8 Participate in Agrobacterium-Mediated Plant Transformation.

can genetically transform various eukaryotic cells because of the presence of a resident tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid. During infection, a defined region of the Ti plasmid, transfer DNA (T-DNA), is transferred from bacteria into plant cells and causes plant cells to abnormally synthesize auxin and cytokinin, which results in crown gall disease. T-DNA and several virulence (Vir) proteins are secreted through a type IV secretion system (T4SS) composed of T-pilus and a transmembrane protein complex.

Preliminary phylogeny of Coemansia (Kickxellales), with descriptions of four new species from Taiwan.

Four new species of Coemansia from Taiwan are described. Three produce spirally twisted sporangiophores, and these new taxa increase the number of species in the Coemansia spiralis complex from three to six. Each new taxon is morphologically unique.

Horizontal Acquisition and Transcriptional Integration of Novel Genes in Mosquito-Associated Spiroplasma.

Genetic differentiation among symbiotic bacteria is important in shaping biodiversity. The genus Spiroplasma contains species occupying diverse niches and is a model system for symbiont evolution. Previous studies have established that two mosquito-associated species have diverged extensively in their carbohydrate metabolism genes despite having a close phylogenetic relationship.

Site-specific His/Asp phosphoproteomic analysis of prokaryotes reveals putative targets for drug resistance.

Background: Phosphorylation of amino acid residues on proteins is an important and common post-translational modification in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Most research work has been focused on phosphorylation of serine, threonine or tyrosine residues, whereas phosphorylation of other amino acids are significantly less clear due to the controversy on their stability under standard bioanalytical conditions.

Results: Here we applied a shotgun strategy to analyze the histidine and aspartate phosphorylations in different microbes.

Arabidopsis dolichol kinase AtDOK1 is involved in flowering time control.

Dolichols are a class of isoprenoids that consist of highly polymerized and unsaturated long-chain isoprenes. They play crucial roles in protein glycosylation including N-glycosylation, because the oligosaccharide is assembled on a lipid carrier, dolichyl diphosphate. Arabidopsis DOLICHOL KINASE 1, AtDOK1 (At3g45040), encodes a functional dolichol kinase that is involved in plant reproductive processes.

Complete Genome Sequence of sp. NBRC 100390.

sp. NBRC 100390 was initially described as a duplicate of GNAT3597 (=ATCC BAA-520) but later found to be different in the 16S rDNA sequences. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of this bacterium to establish its identity and to facilitate future investigation.

Winding paths to simplicity: genome evolution in facultative insect symbionts.

Symbiosis between organisms is an important driving force in evolution. Among the diverse relationships described, extensive progress has been made in insect–bacteria symbiosis, which improved our understanding of the genome evolution in host-associated bacteria. Particularly, investigations on several obligate mutualists have pushed the limits of what we know about the minimal genomes for sustaining cellular life.

Comparative genomics of Vibrio campbellii strains and core species of the Vibrio Harveyi clade.

The core of the Vibrio Harveyi clade contains V. harveyi, V. campbellii, V.

Complete Genome Sequence of Spiroplasma sp. TU-14.

Spiroplasma sp. TU-14 was isolated from a contaminated sample of Entomoplasma lucivorax PIPN-2 obtained from the International Organization for Mycoplasmology collection. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of this bacterium to facilitate the investigation of its biology and the comparative genomics among Spiroplasma spp.

The cysteine residues at the C-terminal tail of Bamboo mosaic virus triple gene block protein 2 are critical for efficient plasmodesmata localization of protein 1 in the same block.

The movement of some plant viruses are accomplished by three proteins encoded by a triple gene block (TGB). The second protein (TGBp2) in the block is a transmembrane protein. This study was aimed to unravel the mechanism underlying the relatively inefficient cell-to-cell movement of Bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV) caused by amino acid substitutions for the three Cys residues, Cys-109, Cys-112 and Cys-119, at the C-terminal tail of TGBp2.