Search

Background and aims: Low nitrogen (N) soil environment is one of the main factors limiting crop yield and horticultural plant growth. Dark septate endophytes (DSEs) are co-occurring in 80% of terrestrial plants and they can promote the absorption of N. However, few data on the contribution of DSEs symbiosis to plant N acquisition and their molecular mechanisms are available. Methods: The growth, N contents and expression of N related genes of Gisela 5, a sweet cherry rootstock colonized with and without DSE fungus S16, were measured under low and normal nitrate conditions. Subsequently, molecular identification and functional study of PaNRT2.1, a nitrate transporter highly responsive to S16, were conducted. Results: In this study, we found that S16 promoted the growth and N uptake of Gisela 5 seedlings under low and normal nitrate conditions, and induced the expression of the nitrate transporter gene PaNRT2.1 in roots. The expression of PaNRT2.1 significantly affected the nitrate uptake of Gisela 5 roots and the symbiosis with S16 under low nitrate conditions. Transcriptome analysis showed that a receptor-like kinase gene PaCRK10 was significantly induced during S16 symbiosis and PaNRT2.1 overexpression, indicating a signal transduction between DSE colonization with nitrate uptake. Further studies showed that there was a strong interaction between PaNRT2.1 and PaCRK10. Conclusions: Taken together, our results provide a deeper understanding of how DSE promoted N uptake by sweet cherry rootstock Gisela 5 and a more promising approach for improving N uptake efficiency through plant–microbe interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lectin receptor-like kinases (LecRLKs) belong to the large subfamily of receptor like kinases (RLKs), which play a critical role in plant development and innate immunity. However, knowledge about the LecRLKs in sweet cherry and its function to against adverse environmental stresses are lacking. In this study, we identified 161 PaLecRLKs genes in the genome of sweet cherry. Phylogenetic analysis showed that PaLecRLKs proteins can be divided into three types, including L -type (50), G-type (110), and C-type (1). Analysis of gene expression patterns showed that most of the L -type PaLecRLKs genes were highly expressed under biotic and abiotic stresses. Functional study found that overexpression PaLectinL16 in Arabidopsis could enhance its resistance with abiotic (salt, drought) stresses. Moreover, PaLectinL16 overexpression also improved the salt tolerance of transgenic sweet cherry rootstock Gisela 6 through increasing the activities of ROS scavenging enzymes and up-regulation the related genes. This study offers a comprehensive view of PaLecRLKs in sweet cherry and sheds light on potential roles with external environmental stresses. • 161 PaLecRLKs genes have been found in the genome of sweet cherry, including 110G-type, 50 L -type and 1C-type. • Overexpression PaLectinL16 in Arabidopsis enhanced its resistance with drought and salt stresses. • Overexpression PaLectinL16 in sweet cherry Gisela 6 roots improved its salt tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: CD30-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a distinctive malignant large cell lymphoma of T-cell lineage, often presenting in lymph node or extranodal sites. ALCL cases with extensive bone marrow and peripheral blood involvement manifested as “leukemic phase” are extremely rare and the most of those cases reported are anaplastic large cell lymphoma kinase (ALK) positive ALCL in childhood population. Here we report four adult cases of ALK-negative ALCL with extensive bone marrow and peripheral blood involvement manifested as “leukemic phase”. Circulating large lymphoma cells varied from 20 to 80% in peripheral blood and bone marrow biopsy showed various nodular or interstitial infiltrates. By reviewing the clinicopathologic data of previously reported ALCL cases with extensive bone marrow and peripheral blood involvement, there appears to be of large variations in regard to the patient''s age, morphologic variants, immunophenotypic or genotypic characteristics of the disease. While most cases of ALCL with peripheral blood and bone marrow involvement were ALK-positive or carrying t(2;5) translocation, rare ALK-negative cases were also present. Leukemic ALCL patients usually have unfavourable prognosis, regardless of ALK expression. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Simple Summary: Trehalose is the most important carbohydrate in insects. It is required for chitin synthesis and, thus, insect growth and development. Trehalase is the only enzyme that catalyzes the decomposition of trehalose. Mythimna separata is an important pest of cereal crops. We cloned and identified Tre1 and Tre2 cDNA sequences in M. separata. Analysis of MsTre1 and MsTre2 expression revealed that MsTre1 was highly expressed in the midgut, and MsTre2 was highly expressed in the integument. The expression of MsTre1 and MsTre2 was the highest in the pupal stage. We used RNA interference to inhibit MsTre1 and MsTre2 expression. MsTre1 and MsTre2 silencing resulted in significant changes in the expression of genes associated with trehalose and chitin metabolism, and significantly reduced the MsTre1 and MsTre2 activity and the glucose and chitin content. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, and transmission electron microscopy showed that the silencing of MsTre1 slowed larval molting, and the new cuticle was significantly thinner in dsMsTre1-injected larvae than in control larvae. Overall, MsTre1 and MsTre2 are two effective genes in M. separata that regulate insect growth via the trehalose and chitin metabolism pathways, and MsTre1 is more important for cuticle formation in the epidermis than MsTre2. Trehalose is an important carbohydrate substance in insect hemolymph. Chitin is the main component of cuticle and peritrophic matrix in insects. Trehalase (Tre) catalyzes the decomposition of trehalose. Few studies of trehalase in lepidopteran insects have been conducted. Here, the functions of soluble Tre (Tre1) and membrane-bound Tre (Tre2) in the growth and development of Mythimna separata were investigated. We cloned and identified Tre1 and Tre2 cDNA sequences in M. separata. Analysis expression revealed that MsTre1 and MsTre2 were highly expressed in midgut and integument, respectively. The expression of MsTre1 and MsTre2 was highest in the pupal stage. We used RNA interference (RNAi) to inhibit Tre expression in M. separata larvae. Injection of dsMsTre1 or dsMsTre2 resulted in abnormal phenotypes and impeded normal molting. Silencing of MsTre1 and MsTre2 resulted in significant changes in the expression of genes in the trehalose and chitin metabolism pathways, significantly increased the trehalose and glycogen content, and significantly decreased MsTre1 and MsTre2 activity, the glucose content, and the chitin content in midgut and integument. Silencing of MsTre1 slowed larval molting, and the new cuticle was significantly thinner. These results indicate that RNAi of Tre may be useful for control strategies against M. separata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Five soybean target lines with recombinase sites at suitable genomic positions were obtained and tested for site-specific gene stacking. For introgression of new transgenic traits to field cultivars, adding new DNA to an existing transgene locus would reduce the number of segregating loci to reassemble back into a breeding line. We described previously an in planta transgene stacking system using the Bxb1 integrase to direct new DNA into a genomic target, but for this system to operate, the target locus must have a preexisting recombination site for Bxb1-mediated integration. Here, we describe 5 soybean target lines from the screening of 118 Agrobacterium-mediated transgenic plants that were positive for gus expression. Each of the 5 target lines has a single copy of the transgenic DNA with precise DNA sequences of the recombinase recognition sites, located at least 1 kb away from the nearest coding region, not close to the centromere, and showed good expression of the reporter gene. We tested Bxb1 integrase-mediated integration of a gfp-containing plasmid into each of these lines and showed precise site-specific integration in bombarded calluses. For plant regeneration, we used embryonic axes of mature soybean seeds to conduct a new set of biolistic transformation with a DsRed-containing plasmid. Three integration events were regenerated into whole plants, demonstrating the principle that target lines can serve as foundation lines for the stacking of DNA to predefined locations in the soybean genome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Study reveals prognostic significance of 24 ferroptosis regulators in mesothelioma, identifying 9 genes (CARS1, CDKN1A, TFRC, FANCD2, FDFT1, HSPB1, SLC1A5, SLC7A11, DPP4) closely linked to outcomes. • Novel ferroptosis prognostic model, using nine genes, predicts mesothelioma survival accurately. Genes correlate with immune cell infiltration, tumor mutation burden, microsatellite instability, and PD-L1 expression. • High FANCD2 signals poor prognosis in mesothelioma. Knocking it down suppresses cell activities, heightens ferroptosis susceptibility, and correlates with immune checkpoint gene expression across cancers. Mesothelioma, an uncommon yet highly aggressive malignant neoplasm, presents challenges in the effectiveness of current therapeutic approaches. Ferroptosis, a non-apoptotic mechanism of cellular demise, exhibits a substantial association with the progression of diverse cancer forms. It is important to acknowledge that there exists a significant association between ferroptosis and the advancement of various forms of cancer. Nevertheless, the precise role of ferroptosis regulatory factors within the context of mesothelioma remains enigmatic. In our investigation, we initially scrutinized the prognostic significance of 24 ferroptosis regulatory factors in the realm of mesothelioma. Our observations unveiled that heightened expression levels of CARS1, CDKN1A, TFRC, FANCD2, FDFT1, HSPB1, SLC1A5, SLC7A11, coupled with reduced DPP4 expression, were indicative of an unfavorable prognosis. Built upon the nine previously discussed prognostic genes, the ferroptosis prognostic model offers a reliable means to forecast mesothelioma patients' survival with a substantial degree of precision. Furthermore, a notable correlation emerged between these prognostic ferroptosis regulators and parameters such as immune cell infiltration, tumor mutation burden, microsatellite instability, and PD-L1 expression in the context of mesothelioma. Within this cadre of nine ferroptosis regulatory factors with prognostic relevance, FANCD2 exhibited the most pronounced prognostic influence, as elucidated by our analyses. Subsequently, we executed a validation process employing clinical specimens sourced from our institution, thus confirming that heightened FANCD2 expression is a discernible harbinger of an adverse prognosis in the context of mesothelioma. In vitro experiments revealed that knocking down FANCD2 markedly suppressed the proliferation, migration, and ability of mesothelioma cells to attract immune cells. Furthermore, our findings also showed that reducing FANCD2 levels heightened the vulnerability of mesothelioma cells to inducers of ferroptosis. Furthermore, an extensive pan-cancer analysis uncovered a robust association between FANCD2 and the gene expression linked to immune checkpoints, thereby signifying an adverse prognosis across a broad spectrum of cancer types. Additional research is warranted to validate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous study demonstrated that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) HOTTIP was maximally expressed in PDAC, and promoted cancer cell progression and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Numerous studies indicated that lncRNAs or EMT supported cancer stem cells. However, the role of HOTTIP in pancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSCs) remains unclear. Here, we evaluated the role and mechanism of HOTTIP in PCSCs. First, we analyzed the relationship between HOTTIP expression and overall or disease-free survival in 90 patients with PDAC after radical resection. Patients with higher HOTTIP expression had shorter disease-free survival and overall survival than those with lower expression. Expression of HOTTIP and other lncRNAs was detected in PCSCs and non-PCSCs by laser capture microdissection (LCM). HOTTIP was highly expressed in PCSCs. In addition, in vitro assays showed that HOTTIP alterations affected stemness, including sphericity, tumorigenesis, and stem factors (LIN28, NANOG, OCT4, and SOX2) and markers (ALDH1, CD44, and CD133). Mechanistically, HOTTIP mediated HOXA9 to enhance the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by binding to WDR5 in PCSCs. In vivo results showed that HOTTIP or HOXA9 alterations influenced stemness. Our results indicate that the HOTTIP/WDR5/HOXA9/Wnt axis contributes to PCSC stemness and is a potential therapeutic target for PDAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basic leucine zipper (bZIP) family of transcription factors plays an important role in the growth and developmental process as well as responds to various abiotic stresses, such as drought and high salinity. Our previous work identified GmFDL19, a bZIP transcription factor, as a flowering promoter in soybean, and the overexpression of GmFDL19 caused early flowering in transgenic soybean plants. Here, we report that GmFDL19 also enhances tolerance to drought and salt stress in soybean. GmFDL19 was determined to be a group A member, and its transcription expression was highly induced by abscisic acid (ABA), polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) and high salt stresses. Overexpression of GmFDL19 in soybean enhanced drought and salt tolerance at the seedling stage. The relative plant height (RPH) and relative shoot dry weight (RSDW) of transgenic plants were significantly higher than those of the WT after PEG and salt treatments. In addition, the germination rate and plant height of the transgenic soybean were also significantly higher than that of WT plants after various salt treatments. Furthermore, we also found that GmFDL19 could reduce the accumulation of Na+ ion content and up-regulate the expression of several ABA/stress-responsive genes in transgenic soybean. We also found that GmFDL19 overexpression increased the activities of several antioxidative enzyme and chlorophyll content but reduced malondialdehyde content. These results suggested that GmFDL19 is involved in soybean abiotic stress responses and has potential utilization to improve multiple stress tolerance in transgenic soybean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) is a tumor suppressor that protects against metastasis and genomic instability. RKIP is downregulated in many types of tumors, although the mechanism for this remains unknown. MicroRNAs silence target genes via translational inhibition or target mRNA degradation, and are thus important regulators of gene expression. In the current study, we found that miR-224 expression is significantly upregulated in breast cancer cell lines, and especially in highly invasive MDA-MB-231 cells, compared to human normal breast epithelial cells. In addition, miR-224 inhibits RKIP gene expression by directly targeting its 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR). Moreover, metastasis, as assayed by Transwell migration, 3D growth in Matrigel, and wound healing, was enhanced by ectopic expression of miR-224 and inhibited by miR-224 downregulation. Promotion of metastasis in response to miR-224 downregulation was associated with derepression of the stroma-associated RKIP target genes, CXCR4, MMP1, and OPN, which are involved in breast tumor metastasis to the bone. Taken together, our data indicate that miR-224 play an important role in metastasis of human breast cancer cells to the bone by directly suppressing the RKIP tumor suppressor. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]