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Cognitive decline has been reported as a common consequence of COVID-19, and studies have suggested a link between COVID-19 infection and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. To shed light on this link, we conducted an integrated genomic analysis using a novel Robust Rank Aggregation method to identify common transcriptional signatures of the frontal cortex, a critical area for cognitive function, between individuals with AD and COVID-19. We then performed various analyses, including the KEGG pathway, GO ontology, protein-protein interaction, hub gene, gene-miRNA, and gene-transcription factor interaction analyses to identify molecular components of biological pathways that are associated with AD in the brain also show similar changes in severe COVID-19. Our findings revealed the molecular mechanisms underpinning the association between COVID-19 infection and AD development and identified several genes, miRNAs, and TFs that may be targeted for therapeutic purposes. However, further research is needed to investigate the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of these findings.

Dietary restriction (DR) without malnutrition is associated with longevity in various organisms. However, it has also been shown that reduced calorie intake is often ineffective in extending life span. Selecting optimal dietary regimens for DR studies is complicated, as the same regimen may lead to different outcomes depending on genotype and environmental factors. Recent studies suggested that interventions such as moderate protein restriction with or without adequate nutrition (e.g., particular amino acids or carbohydrates) may have additional beneficial effects mediated by certain metabolic and hormonal factors implicated in the biology of aging, regardless of total calorie intake. In particular, it was shown that restriction of a single amino acid, methionine, can mimic the effects of DR and extend life span in various model organisms. We discuss the beneficial effects of a methionine-restricted diet, the molecular pathways involved, and the use of this regimen in longevity interventions.

Boron is an essential micronutrient for plants and animals; however, it can be toxic when present at high concentrations. The purpose of this study was to understand the mechanisms of boron tolerance in the Turkish barley (Hordeum vulgare) Anadolu cultivar. For this purpose, 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) was used to screen differentially expressed proteins for both control and boron-stressed Anadolu barley genotypes. Seven proteins were revealed by 2-DE: 1) ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCo large chain), 2) TLP5, a thaumatin-like protein, 3) PR5, a basic pathogenesis-related protein, 4) a RNase S-like protein, 5) a PSI type III chlorophyll a/b-binding protein, 6) a light-harvesting complex I LHC I, and 7) the vacuolar proton-translocating ATPase subunit E protein. These were found to be upregulated in response to boron treatment. Even though the protein encoded by the V-ATPase subunit E gene was overexpressed, its transcript level was downregulated by boron treatment. Heterologous expression of the barley V-ATPase subunit E gene in yeast provided boron resistance to yeast cells. These results indicated that the V-ATPase subunit E gene was functional and conferred tolerance to toxic boron levels in yeast and might play a role in the overall boron tolerance of barley. © TÜBITAK., Bor, bitkiler ve hayvanlar için gerekli olan mikrolementlerdendir. Ancak yüksek konsantrasyonlarda toksik etki göstermektedir. Bu çalışmada bora dayanıklı Anadolu arpa (Hordeum vulgare) genotipindeki bor tolerans mekanizmasının anlaşılması amaçlanmıştır. Kontrol ve bor stresi uygulanmış ve Anadolu genotipi arasındaki farklı seviyede ekspres olan proteinleri taramak için 2 boyutlu elektroforez tekniği uygulanmıştır. İki boyutlu elektroforez deneyi sonucu ekspresyon seviyesi artan yedi protein bulunmuştur: ribuloz 1,5-bifosfat karboksilaz/oksijenaz büyük zincir, thaumatin benzeri protein TLP5, patojenaz benzeri protein PR5, RNaz S benzeri protein, PSI tipi III a/bbağlayıcı protein, ışık toplayan kompleks protein I LHC I ve vakuol proton translokasyon ATPaz alt birim E. V-ATPaz alt birim E geni tarafından kodlanan proteinin seviyesinin bor uygulaması ile artmasına rağmen, genin transkript seviyesi azalmıştır. Arpa V-ATPaz alt birim E geninin maya hücrelerinde ifadenlenmesi maya hücrelerine bora karşı dayanıklılık sağlamıştır. Bu sonuçlar, V-ATPaz alt birim E geninin mayada fonksiyonel olduğunu ve maya hücrelerine, toksik bor seviyelerine karşı dayanıklılık sağladığını ve de arpada bor toleransında bir rolü olabileceğini göstermektedir., TUBITAK 104T213; TUBITAK TBAG-2354; IYTE-BAP20

Boron is an essential micronutrient for plants and animals; however, it can be toxic when present at high concentrations. The purpose of this study was to understand the mechanisms of boron tolerance in the Turkish barley (Hordeum vulgare) Anadolu cultivar. For this purpose, 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) was used to screen differentially expressed proteins for both control and boron-stressed Anadolu barley genotypes. Seven proteins were revealed by 2-DE: 1) ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCo large chain), 2) TLP5, a thaumatin-like protein, 3) PR5, a basic pathogenesis-related protein, 4) a RNase S-like protein, 5) a PSI type III chlorophyll a/b-binding protein, 6) a light-harvesting complex I LHC I, and 7) the vacuolar proton-translocating ATPase subunit E protein. These were found to be upregulated in response to boron treatment. Even though the protein encoded by the V-ATPase subunit E gene was overexpressed, its transcript level was downregulated by boron treatment. Heterologous expression of the barley V-ATPase subunit E gene in yeast provided boron resistance to yeast cells. These results indicated that the V-ATPase subunit E gene was functional and conferred tolerance to toxic boron levels in yeast and might play a role in the overall boron tolerance of barley.