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The assignment of the hydrogen bonded O–H stretch vibration in the proline matrix IR spectrum has sparked controversy. Employing constrained nuclear electronic orbital methods, we provide a clear assignment that the vibrational frequency drops to near 3000 cm−1 as a result of the interplay between electronic effects, nuclear quantum effects, and matrix effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paritaprevir is an orally bioavailable, macrocyclic drug used for treating chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Its structures have been elusive to the public until recently when one of the crystal forms is solved by microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED). In this work, the MicroED structures of two distinct polymorphic crystal forms of paritaprevir are reported from the same experiment. The different polymorphs show conformational changes in the macrocyclic core, as well as the cyclopropyl sulfonamide and methyl pyrazinamide substituents. Molecular docking shows that one of the conformations fits well into the active site pocket of the HCV non-structural 3/4A (NS3/4A) serine protease target, and can interact with the pocket and catalytic triad via hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds. These results can provide further insight for optimization of the binding of acyl sulfonamide inhibitors to the HCV NS3/4A serine protease. In addition, this also demonstrates the opportunity to derive different polymorphs and distinct macrocycle conformations from the same experiments using MicroED.

A clear understanding of real-world uptake of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir for treatment of SARS-CoV-2 can inform treatment allocation strategies and improve interpretation of effectiveness studies. We used data from a large US healthcare system to describe nirmatrelvir-ritonavir dispenses among all SARS-CoV-2 positive patients aged ≥ 12 years meeting recommended National Institutes of Health treatment eligibility criteria for the study period between 1 January and 31 December, 2022. Overall, 10.9% (N = 34,791/319,900) of treatment eligible patients with SARS-CoV-2 infections received nirmatrelvir-ritonavir over the study period. Although uptake of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir increased over time, by the end of 2022, less than a quarter of treatment eligible patients with SARS-CoV-2 infections had received nirmatrelvir-ritonavir. Across patient demographics, treatment was generally consistent with tiered treatment guidelines, with dispenses concentrated among patients aged ≥ 65 years (14,706/63,921; 23.0%), and with multiple comorbidities (10,989/54,431; 20.1%). However, neighborhoods of lower socioeconomic status (upper third of neighborhood deprivation index [NDI]) had between 12% (95% CI: 7-18%) and 28% (25-32%) lower odds of treatment dispense over the time periods studied compared to the lower third of NDI distribution, even after accounting for demographic and clinical characteristics. A limited chart review (N = 40) confirmed that in some cases a decision not to treat was appropriate and aligned with national guidelines to use clinical judgement on a case-by-case basis. There is a need to enhance patient and provider awareness on the availability and benefits of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir for the treatment of COVID-19 illness.

OBJECTIVES: Although guidelines recommend antiviral therapy for outpatients with COVID-19 who are at high risk of progressing to severe conditions, such as older adults, many patients do not receive appropriate treatment. Little is known, however, about the physician factors associated with the prescription of guideline-recommended antiviral therapy for patients with COVID-19. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Data including outpatient visits in primary care clinics in Japan from April to August 2023. PARTICIPANTS: We analysed 30 953 outpatients aged ≥65 years treated with COVID-19 (mean (SD) age, 75.0 (7.6) years; 17 652 women (57.0%)) in 1394 primary care clinics. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the prescription of guideline-recommended antivirals (ie, nirmatrelvir-ritonavir or molnupiravir), adjusted for patient characteristics, months of visits and regions. RESULTS: Antiviral prescriptions were concentrated among a small proportion of physicians; for example, the top 10% of physicians that had the largest number of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir prescriptions accounted for 92.4% of all nirmatrelvir-ritonavir prescriptions. After adjusting for potential confounders, physicians with higher patient volumes were more likely to prescribe guideline-recommended antivirals to their patients (adjusted OR (aOR) for high vs low volume, 1.76; 95% CI 1.31 to 2.38; adjusted p

The utilization of chelated fertilizers at specific concentrations could serve as an efficient method to mitigate the effects of drought stress in plants, considering it a global climatic issue. The objective of this study was to ascertain the influence of potassium and zinc chelate fertilizers on improving drought tolerance in quinoa plants. The experiment was conducted over two cropping years, 2018–2019 and 2019–2020. It followed a split-plot factorial design within a randomized complete block layout, in three replicates. The results indicated that the foliar application of the combined treatment of 50K + 50Zn significantly increased grain yield, particularly in the Q26 cultivar, under drought-stress conditions. However, the best harvest index was related to the Q26 cultivar under 100Zn application conditions. Nevertheless, the application of chelated fertilizers significantly enhanced these traits under stress compared to the non-application conditions. Furthermore, the content of glycine betaine and proline in the plant increased under the influence of 100K and 100Zn applications in the Q29 cultivar in 25% FC. Based on the obtained results for Catalase enzyme activity at 25% FC and in the presence of 100Zn foliar application and for Peroxidase at 25% FC and the presence of the combined 50K + 50Zn foliar application in the Q29 cultivar, the highest activity of these enzymes was observed. Consequently, considering the increased contents of glycine betaine and proline in the foliar application, as well as the enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes contributing to improved drought tolerance in these plants, the application of potassium and zinc chelates as fertilizers is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• ECM synthesis poses significant demands for biomass generation with requirements different from cell proliferation. • With its high glycine and proline content, collagen synthesis imposes unique biosynthetic demands. • Pro-fibrotic signaling cascades mediate metabolic rewiring in activated fibroblasts. • Targeting the metabolic pathways supporting collagen synthesis provides opportunities for treating fibrotic conditions. • Nutrient availability influences metabolic pathways regulating collagen synthesis and creates new vulnerabilities. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is present in all tissues and crucial in maintaining normal tissue homeostasis and function. Defects in ECM synthesis and remodeling can lead to various diseases, while overproduction of ECM components can cause severe conditions like organ fibrosis and influence cancer progression and therapy resistance. Collagens are the most abundant core ECM proteins in physiological and pathological conditions and are predominantly synthesized by fibroblasts. Previous efforts to target aberrant collagen synthesis in fibroblasts by inhibiting pro-fibrotic signaling cascades have been ineffective. More recently, metabolic rewiring downstream of pro-fibrotic signaling has emerged as a critical regulator of collagen synthesis in fibroblasts. Here, we propose that targeting the metabolic pathways involved in ECM biomass generation provides a novel avenue for treating conditions characterized by excessive collagen accumulation. This review summarizes the unique metabolic challenges collagen synthesis imposes on fibroblasts and discusses how underlying metabolic networks could be exploited to create therapeutic opportunities in cancer and fibrotic disease. Finally, we provide a perspective on open questions in the field and how conceptual and technical advances will help address them to unlock novel metabolic vulnerabilities of collagen synthesis in fibroblasts and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cut stem quality of Chrysanthemum varieties (Yellow Delight, Reagan Emperor, Reagan White, Shova and Punjab Shyamli) were evaluated in response to photoperiodic manipulations through Early planting (P1), Early planting with artificial short days (SDs) (P2) and Normal planting (P3). Cut stem length increased by 25.54% under P2 (79.77 cm) as compared to P3 (59.40 cm), whereas the number of flowers remained at par. Planting time and artificial SDs significantly influenced biochemical and morphological differentials. Membrane stability index (78.21), total soluble sugars (87.29 mg g−1 FW), total soluble proteins (90.85 mg g−1 FW), proline (17.57 mg g−1 FW) and peroxidase activity (16.37 Δ in absorbance min−1 g−1 FW) of Yellow Delight under P2 contributed to 1.39 times increase in its cut stem length over P3 and made it fit for P1 and P2 planting. Punjab Shyamli and Reagan Emperor exhibited luxuriant vegetative growth, whereas quality of Reagan White and Shova improved under P2. Principal component analysis revealed that days to bud initiation, days to flowering, peroxidase activity, membrane stability index, proline at bud initiation and cut stem length contributed significantly to variation (60.48%) among treatments. Moreover, cut stem length, correlated positively with days to bud initiation and flowering, TSS and peroxidase activity, leaf area and SLA, suggesting their importance in breeding for off-season flowering and quality enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is an essential abiotic factor for seed imbibition process. Seeds of several Caatinga species have a physiological strategy known as seed hydration memory to mitigate the effects of irregular rainfall patterns in this environment. However, the mechanisms behind are not well understood. Therefore, our study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of water memory in Sarcomphalus joazeiro seeds through ecophysiological, biochemical and anatomical analyzes. The seeds were subjected to different cycles (0, 1, 2, and 3) of hydration (12 h) and dehydration (48 h)-HD, or continuous hydration (CH) for 183 h. The seedlings obtained of these seeds were subjected to different water suspension cycles. Our results showed that seeds subjected to HD cycles had greater germinability, higher emergence speed index, lower T50 values, and accumulated higher proline content. Seedlings from the 0, 1, and 2 seed HD cycles showed decreased net carbon assimilation (A) only when subjected to severe stress after 21 days of water deficit compared to the daily irrigated plants. While in seeds exposed to 3-HD cycles after 21 days of water deficit A did not change compared to control. Our results evidenced that seeds subjected to 3-HD cycles conferred the plants a greater tolerance to water deficit, proving the existence of seed hydration memory in Sarcomphalus joazeiro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing and most widespread diseases worldwide. Approximately 90% of diabetic patients have type 2 diabetes. In 2019, there were about 463 million diabetic patients worldwide. Inhibiting the dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) and α-glucosidase activity is an effective strategy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Currently, various anti-diabetic bioactive peptides have been isolated and identified. This review summarizes the preparation methods, structure-effect relationships, molecular binding sites, and effectiveness validation of DPP-IV and α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides in cellular and animal models. The analysis of peptides shows that the DPP-IV inhibitory peptides, containing 2-8 amino acids and having proline, leucine, and valine at their N-terminal and C-terminal, are the highly active peptides. The more active α-glucosidase inhibitory peptides contain 2-9 amino acids and have valine, isoleucine, and proline at the N-terminal and proline, alanine, and serine at the C-terminal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Salinity is one of the most detrimental factors for the growth performance and productivity of crops worldwide. Therefore, understanding crop responses or growth potentials and their effectiveness in salinity mitigation is highly important for the selection of salinity-tolerant plant varieties. In this study, the effects of salinity at various stress levels (0 mM, 50 mM, 100 mM, and 150 mM NaCl) on the morphological, physiological, and biochemical parameters of three soybean varieties ('Afigat', 'Gishama', and 'Pawi-2') were investigated. The results showed that salinity significantly reduced morphological traits including plant height, number of leaves per plant, stem thickness, shoot and root length, and fresh and dry weight. This reduction was more prominent in the 'Afigat' variety for all of these traits except shoot and root length. The concentrations of chlorophyll a and b decreased with increasing salinity. In addition, salinity significantly increased leaf electrolyte leakage (EL), lipid peroxidation, proline accumulation, and phenol and flavonoid content. The 'Pawi-2' variety was more tolerant than the other studied varieties in terms of membrane stability (less EL and a low malondialdehyde content) and proline, phenol, and flavonoid accumulation. Therefore, 'Pawi-2' may be considered as the most salt-tolerant variety in comparison with the other studied soybean varieties. Further complementary studies in field conditions including anatomical parameters are needed to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractWater deficit is the most common abiotic stress and at least 75% of corn fields in Iran are exposed to drought stress during different stages of growth. humic acid (HA) and nanosilver (NS) can help mitigate abiotic stresses in plants; especially drought stress. A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of humic acid and nanosilver on the physiological traits and yield of corn during two crop years. Experimental treatments were including deficit irrigation (100%, 80%, 60% of crop water requirement (CWR)) and nanosilver (0 (NS0), 60 (NS60), 80 (NS80) and 100 (NS100) microliters/liter/ha) and humic acid (control (HA0), 500 (HA500) and 1000 (HA1000) g/ha). The highest amount of chlorophyll a, b and total in 100% CWR+NS60+HA1000 was obtained. The highest amount of proline in 60% CWR + NS60 +HA1000 as well as treatment NS0 +HA1000 were observed. In all irrigation levels, the application of NS100 has reduced chlorophyll a and total. The yield components were affected by HA and nanosilver foliar spraying. The highest grain yield was observed in 100% CWR with the application of NS60 +HA500 at the rate of 10,582 kg/ha. In conditions of 100% CWR, nanosilver concentrations had a positive effect on plant growth and yield, and with increasing stress, high concentrations of nanosilver had a negative effect on growth and yield, but with the combined application of nanosilver and HA, the effect of drought stress decreased, which indicates the positive effect of HA in improving plant growth and yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to screen air pollution-induced stress in some plant species in the Sejzi industrial region (Isfahan, Iran). An assessment of APTI and other physiological and biochemical features of significant species in the area was conducted across three seasons: spring, summer, and autumn. The physiological and biochemical factors of the following species were evaluated: Limonium persicum, Atriplex lentiformis, Nitraria schoberi, Haloxylon persicum, Tamarix hispida, Zygophyllum atriplicoides, Karelinia caspica, and Prosopis farcta. The physiological factors assessed included acidity and relative humidity content, while the biochemical factors assessed included proline, sugar, ascorbic acid, and total chlorophyll. Subsequently, a thorough evaluation was carried out on the species under investigation to ascertain their biomonitors' capabilities and APTI. The study findings indicated that the species P. farcta, N. schoberi, and K. caspica consistently had high APTI values during the spring, autumn, and summer seasons, classifying them as tolerant plant species. Conversely, the observed traits showed significant fluctuations across the seasons. The investigation's findings indicate that the species L. persicum, N. schoberi, and K. caspica exhibit higher annual averages of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid compared to other species. The examination of the annual variation in the tolerance levels of plant species to pollution ranked from highest to lowest was as follows: N. schoberi, P. farcta, K. caspica, Z. atriplicoides, H. persicum, T. hispida, L. persicum, and A. lentiformis. Moreover, based on the annual average, the primary determinants that impact the APTI in the species being studied include ascorbic acid (35%), leaf acidity (19%), total chlorophyll content (35%), and relative humidity content (69%). Furthermore, a distinct and significant correlation was found between proline and sugar levels and the annual APTI values. Additionally, the species P. farcta had the highest API compared to other species. The study revealed the high potential of some plant species against air pollution induced stress which can be used in air and dust pollution management in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell migration requires the constant modification of cellular shape by reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. Fine-tuning of this process is critical to ensure new actin filaments are formed only at specific times and in defined regions of the cell. The Scar/WAVE complex is the main catalyst of pseudopod and lamellipodium formation during cell migration. It is a pentameric complex highly conserved through eukaryotic evolution and composed of Scar/WAVE, Abi, Nap1/NCKAP1, Pir121/CYFIP, and HSPC300/Brk1. Its function is usually attributed to activation of the Arp2/3 complex through Scar/WAVE's VCA domain, while other parts of the complex are expected to mediate spatial-temporal regulation and have no direct role in actin polymerization. Here, we show in both B16-F1 mouse melanoma and Dictyostelium discoideum cells that Scar/WAVE without its VCA domain still induces the formation of morphologically normal, actin-rich protrusions, extending at comparable speeds despite a drastic reduction of Arp2/3 recruitment. However, the proline-rich regions in Scar/WAVE and Abi subunits are essential, though either is sufficient for the generation of actin protrusions in B16-F1 cells. We further demonstrate that N-WASP can compensate for the absence of Scar/WAVE's VCA domain and induce lamellipodia formation, but it still requires an intact WAVE complex, even if without its VCA domain. We conclude that the Scar/WAVE complex does more than directly activating Arp2/3, with proline-rich domains playing a central role in promoting actin protrusions. This implies a broader function for the Scar/WAVE complex, concentrating and simultaneously activating many actin-regulating proteins as a lamellipodium-producing core. [Display omitted] • Scar/WAVE, without its VCA domain, promotes the formation of actin-rich protrusions • Scar/WAVEΔVCA's function is conserved in both B16-F1 and D. dictyostelium cells • At least one of the WRC's polyproline domains is required for actin protrusions • N-WASP compensates for the absence of WRC's VCA domain and promotes lamellipodia Buracco et al. show that the WRC, without its VCA domain, still promotes actin-rich protrusions. However, WRC's proline-rich regions and N-WASP are essential, with the latter compensating for the absence of Scar/WAVE's VCA domain. This proves that the WRC has a broader function than activating Arp2/3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], as a globally commercialized crop, is an important source of protein and oil for both humans and livestock. With more frequent extreme weather disasters, abiotic stress has become one of the critical factors restricting soybean production. Proline (Pro) is a well-known substance in plants that responds to abiotic stress. To identify potential effector genes involved in soybean resistance to abiotic stress, we focused on the pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase (P5CDH) which is a key enzyme in the degradation process of Pro. Through homologous sequence alignment, phylogenetic tree, and predicted expression, we chose GmP5CDH1 (Glyma.05G029200) for further research. Tissue-specific expression assay showed that GmP5CDH1 had higher expression levels in soybean seed and cotyledon development. Subcellular localization assay revealed that GmP5CDH1 was a nuclear-membrane-localized protein. As the result of the predicted cis-acting regulatory element indicates, the expression level of GmP5CDH1 was induced by low temperature, drought, salt stress, and ABA in soybean. Next, we constructed transgenic Arabidopsis overexpressing GmP5CDH1. The results showed that GmP5CDH1 also strongly responded to exogenous Pro, and overcame the toxicity of abiotic stress on plants by regulating the endogenous concentration of Pro. The interaction between GmP5CDH1 and GmSAM1 was validated through yeast two-hybrid, LUC fluorescence complementary, and BIFC. In conclusion, overexpression of a soybean pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase GmP5CDH1 regulates the development of Arabidopsis thaliana by altering proline content dynamically under salt stress, especially improving the growth of plants under exogenous Pro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L-Proline (Pro) is an essential amino acid additive in livestock and aquaculture feeds. Previously, we created a Pro overproducing Halomonas elongata HN6 by introducing an engineered salt-inducible Pro biosynthetic mCherry - proBm1AC operon and deleting a putA gene that encoded a Pro catabolic enzyme in the genome of H. elongata OUT30018. Here, we report a generation of a novel Pro overproducing H. elongata HN10 strain with improved salt tolerance and higher Pro yield by expressing the mCherry - proBm1AC operon and deleting the putA gene in the genome of a spontaneous mutant H. elongata Glutamic acid Over-Producing, which overproduces glutamic acid (Glu) that is a precursor for Pro biosynthesis. The optimal salt concentration for growth of H. elongata HN10 was found to be 7% to 8% w/v NaCl, and the average Pro yield of 166 mg/L was achieved when H. elongata HN10 was cultivated in M63 minimal medium containing 4% w/v glucose and 8% w/v NaCl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Females suffer greater lifetime risk of stroke and greater morbidity and mortality from stroke compared with males. This study's objective was to identify differences in metabolomic profiling of females and males with stroke and which differences were associated with neurological outcome. Methods: Females and males with acute ischemic stroke enrolled in the Emergency Medicine Specimen Bank at a comprehensive stroke center provided whole blood samples upon arrival for mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. We used descriptive statistics to characterize the cohort. A linear regression model was fit for individual metabolites to determine differences in relative abundance between males and females while controlling for covariates (age, race/ethnicity, postmenopausal status, cardiovascular risk factors, depression, time between sample collection and last known well, and initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] score). For each differentially expressed metabolite, a linear regression model was fit to determine the association between the metabolite and NIHSS at 24 hours after admission while controlling for the covariates and acute treatments. Results: After adjusting for covariates, eight metabolites differed in females and males with a stroke. These included amino acids or their metabolites (proline and tryptophan), nucleotides (guanosine diphosphate [GDP], and inosine-3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate), citrate, dehydroascorbate, choline, and acylcarnitine-(5-OH). GDP and dehydroascorbate were significantly associated with 24-hour NIHSS (p = 0.0991). Conclusions: Few metabolites were differentially abundant in blood after a stroke when comparing females with males and controlling for confounders, but the interactions between biological sex and GDP, as well as biological sex and dehydroascorbate, were associated with 24-hour neurological function. This has important implications for future studies that evaluate the therapeutic potential of these metabolites in ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The present study investigated the phenolic profile, sugar composition and amino acid profile of lyophilised 10‐day‐old wheatgrass cultivated under varying temperature and photoperiod conditions. The targeted phenolic profile showed the abundant presence of chlorogenic, caffeic, ferulic and p‐coumaric acid. The phenolic content varied with temperature and photoperiod conditions. The comprehensive sugar profile indicated the variation in the concentration of glucose with different growing conditions altered carbohydrate metabolism in wheatgrass. Similarly, the concentration of amino acids also varied with growing conditions. Notably, the concentration of proline, arginine and GABA in wheatgrass from all wheat varieties increased more prominently in photoperiod of 22 h and growth temperature of 22 °C in light and 17 °C in dark as a response of defence mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of exogenously applied ascorbic acid (AsA, 1 mM) and proline (Pro, 1 mM), were evaluated on the growth, nutritional behavior, some key biochemical attributes, oxidative damage indicators, osmolytes accumulation as well as antioxidant system in wheat seedlings (Triticum aestivum cv. Salammbô) grown in the presence of 100 mM NaCl. AsA or Pro supplementation ameliorated wheat seedlings' growth and increased parameters that were reduced by salinity. Relative water content, total chlorophyll, K+ and total carbohydrates contents as well as K+/Na+ ratio and root-to-shoot K+ translocation were significantly increased. Osmoprotectant contents were remarkably accumulated, whereas Na+ content and root-to-shoot Na+ translocation were significantly declined. Additionally, exogenous AsA or Pro application enhanced the antioxidant defense system components and insured better oxidative stress tolerance, as indicated by reduced H2O2 production and lipid peroxidation, resulting in an increased membrane stability index. Such effects were further enhanced following the simultaneous application of AsA and Pro, resulting in a better growth, as compared to single applications of these substances. Taken together, findings of this study provide strong arguments highlighting the potential synergy between exogenously applied AsA and Pro in mitigating the adverse effects of salt stress of wheat plants at the early seedling stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat seedlings were hydroponically grown in Hoagland solution containing various levels of Se. Tolerance response to Se toxicity was investigated by determining the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), proline and chlorophyll content, the growth parameters, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes. The toxic level of Se treatment significantly retarded the seedling growth. A substantial amount of proline accumulation was also observed in response to toxic Se concentration, but it was more pronounced in putative-sensitive cultivars. Chlorophyll content significantly decreased in Se-intoxicated seedlings and increased at the lowest Se dose in both cultivars. Severe and mild chlorosis was observed in putative-sensitive and tolerant cultivars at the highest Se level. Alterations in the activities of glutathione reductase (GR, 1.6.4.2), glutathione S transferase (GST, 2.5.1.18), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX, 1.11.1.7), catalase (CAT, 1.11.1.6), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX, 1.11.1.11) and superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) were determined. TBAR level did not significantly increase in putative tolerant cultivars as an indicator of membrane lipid peroxidation. However, a significant increase was observed in putative-sensitive cultivars in response to higher selenium concentrations. In higher Se treatment groups, CAT and GST activities significantly increased in putative Se tolerant cultivars. However, excluding SOD, the activity of all the studied enzymes was increased considerably in putative-sensitive cultivars in a dose-dependent manner. Higher antioxidant enzyme activities and a substantial amount of proline accumulation did not significantly contribute to overcoming Se phytotoxicity in wheat seedlings grown in media supplemented with toxic selenium levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress severely affects crop productivity and threatens food security. As current trends of global warming are predicted to exacerbate droughts, developing drought-resilient crops becomes urgent. Here, we used the drought-tolerant (BW35695) and drought-sensitive (BW4074) wheat varieties to investigate the physiological, biochemical, and leaf proteome responses underpinning drought tolerance. In response to drought, the tolerant variety had higher osmolyte accumulation and maintained higher leaf water content than the sensitive variety. BW35695 also had an enhanced antioxidant enzyme capacity and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in diminished membrane lipid damage, as reflected by malondialdehyde content. Proteomic analysis revealed that drought-induced differential expression of proteins involved in diverse biological processes in both wheat varieties, including primary and secondary metabolism, protein synthesis/folding/degradation, defense/ROS detoxification, energy, transcription, and cell structure. Notably, photosynthesis emerged as the most enriched biochemical process targeted for suppression in the drought-tolerant BW35695 wheat, but not in drought-sensitive BW4074, possibly as a survival strategy for averting cell damage inflicted by photosynthesis-derived ROS. Additionally, protein synthesis-related proteins were highly upregulated in BW35695, presumably to drive cell-wide stress-adaptive responses. The protein network identified here will be useful in further studies to understand the molecular basis for divergent drought response phenotypes in crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity leads to significant ecological challenges for global farming production. Sustainable agriculture depends on developing strategies to overcome the impacts of drought on important crops, including soybean. In this present study, seven promising soybean genotypes were evaluated for their drought tolerance potential by exposing them to water deficit conditions. The control group was maintained at 100% field capacity (FC), while the drought-treated group was maintained at 50% FC on a volume/weight basis. This treatment was applied at the second trifoliate leaf stage and continued until maturity. Our results demonstrated that water shortage exerted negative impacts on soybean phenotypic traits, physiological and biochemical mechanisms, and yield output in comparison with normal conditions. Our results showed that genotype G00001 exhibited the highest leaf area plant−1 (483.70 cm2), photosynthetic attributes like stomatal conductance (gs) (0.15 mol H2O m−2 s−1) and photosynthetic rate (Pn) (13.73 μmol CO2 m−2 s−1), and xylem exudation rate (0.25 g h−1) under drought conditions. The G00001 genotype showed greater leaf greenness by preserving photosynthetic pigments (total chlorophylls (Chls) and carotenoids; 4.23 and 7.34 mg g−1 FW, respectively) in response to drought conditions. Soybean plants accumulated high levels of stress indicators like proline and malondialdehyde when subjected to drought stress. However, genotype G00001 displayed lower levels of proline (4.49 μg g−1 FW) and malondialdehyde (3.70 μmol g−1 FW), indicating that this genotype suffered from less oxidative stress induced by drought stress compared to the other investigated soybean genotypes. Eventually, the G00001 genotype had a greater yield in terms of seeds pod−1 (SP) (1.90) and 100-seed weight (HSW) (14.60 g) under drought conditions. On the other hand, BD2333 exhibited the largest decrease in plant height (37.10%), pod number plant−1 (85.90%), SP (56.20%), HSW (54.20%), gs (90.50%), Pn (71.00%), transpiration rate (59.40%), relative water content (34.40%), Chl a (79.50%), total Chls (72.70%), and carotenoids (56.70%), along with the maximum increase in water saturation deficit (290.40%) and malondialdehyde content (280.30%) under drought compared to control conditions, indicating its higher sensitivity to drought stress. Our findings suggest that G00001 is a promising candidate to consider for field trials and further evaluation of its molecular signature may help breeding other elite cultivars to develop drought-tolerant, high-yielding soybean varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Water shortage has become a global problem and has caused many problems in agriculture and food supply for the growing world. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) as the fourth mostly-cultivated cereal, is one of the most strategic crop plants which is produced almost all over the world as a source of and important staple food and animal feed (Thabet et al., 2020). Food uncertainty is a comprehensive obstacle becomes more serious hazard all over the world in particular in developing countries for the sake of overpopulation and dwindling accessibility of croplands, water and other resources related to agricultural scopes. Water scarcity, results in plenty of disturbances in plant functions like cell division and elongation, water and nutrients relations, photosynthesis, enzymes activity, stomata movement, assimilate partitioning, respiration, oxidative damage, growth, and productivity, as several types of researches show that water shortage in the soil cause many disorders in plant tissues, which in turn leads to a punctual diminish in the photosynthesis rate (Todorova et al., 2022). In such a trouble circumstances, most of the plants are not capable to absorb abundant water, which is required for optimized growth (Danish et al., 2020). Materials and methods: To investigate the impact of different irrigation regimes as well as foliar application of methyl jasmonate on growh, physiological and biochemical characteristics of barley varieties, an experimental research using factorial split plot design in 3 replications was carried out in experimental farm of the faculty of agriculture at the University of Zanjan in 2021-2022 cultivation season. In this experiment, irrigation regimes as the main factor, including complete irrigation as the control, withholding water in flowering stage, withholding water in grain filling period and complete dry farming, varieties as the secondary factor including Bahman, Sahand, Jolgeh, Abidar as well as Ansar, and foliar application of methyl jasmonate including without spraying (control) and spraying 50 μmol of methyl jasmonate were investigated. Results showed that the effect of irrigation regime had significant impact on almost all of the characteristics except chlorophyll a/b. Results and discussion: Varieties showed considerable difference from the aspect of height, concentration of soluble sugar and grain yield. Effect of Methyl jasmonate on the relative water content (RWC), photosynthetic pigments, soluble sugar content, proline content, Malondialdehyde (MDA) and grain yield was significant. The highest grain yield (4762 kg ha-1) was detected when variety of Jolgeh was irrigated normally and was sprayed by 50 μmol of Methyl jasmonate and the lowest grain yield (432 kg ha-1) was seen when variety of Bahman was dry-farmed without foliar application of methyl jasmonate. Conclusion: The current study illustrated that barley can be grown in drought stress conditions if the right management is set on its cultivation. Methyl jasmonate showed a significant impact on the growth characteristics, biochemical and physiological attributes of the barley, despite the fact that drought had substantial adverse effects on the studied parameters of barley. However, drought resulted in different properties in barley varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hazelnuts are glycophytic and sensitive plants to salt, especially to chloride ion. However, the genotypes might be different in responses to salt stress. This search attempted to understand the behavior of four hazelnut commercial widely grown cultivars ('Segorb', 'Ronde de Piemant', 'Fertile de Coutard' and 'Negret') under salinity stress. The experimental four-year-potted plants were treated with four levels of NaCl (0, 30, 60, and 90 mM). Variations were found in the values of morphological and physiological indicators between the studied cultivars. The 'Fertile de Coutard' leaves contained the lowest accumulation of sodium (0.48%) and chloride (1.1%) of dry weight (DW)), a high potassium content (1.4% DW), the smallest decrease of Fv/Fm (15.85% at 90 mM K+/Na+ ratio (2.91% DW), the lowest decrease in the relative water content (RWC) (22.5%), the highest proline content (4 μmol g−1) of fresh weight (FW), and a low amount of lipid peroxidation (0.6 μmol g−1 FW) compared to other cultivars. On the contrary, 'Segorb' contained the highest chloride content (1.63% DW), and recorded the greatest decrease of Fv/Fm (45.12% at 90 mM NaCl) and K+/Na+ ratio (1.45% DW). Changes in the expression rate of the studied transcription factors (TF) were observed. The drought-responsive element binding (DREB) transcript level significantly increased after 12 h in 'Fertile de Coutard', and 72 h in 'Segorb'. The APETALA2/ethylene-responsive factor (AP2/ERF) transcript abundance reached the highest level after 72 h of treatment in 'Fertile de Coutard', while it did not change in 'Segorb'. Thus, our results indicate that the 'Fertile de Coutard' has the greatest potential to resilient salinity stress among the studied cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Salt stress is a prominent abiotic stressor that imposes constraints on grain yield and quality across various crops, including wheat (Triticum aestivum). This study focused on assessing the genetic diversity of 20 wheat genotypes categorized as tolerant, moderately tolerant, and sensitive with three genotypes of unknown tolerance. To address salinity stress-related problems, different morpho-physiological, osmoprotectant, biochemical, yield, and grain quality-related parameters were analyzed under control (pH 8.0, EC 3.9) and saline-sodic (pH 9.4, EC 4.02) conditions in field. Results: Findings revealed noteworthy variations among the genotypes in response to salinity stress. Greater accumulation of Na+ and lower K+ content were observed in response to salt stress in the sensitive varieties HD1941 and K9162. Proline, a stress indicator, exhibited significantly (p ≤ 0.05) greater accumulation in response to salinity stress, particularly in the tolerant cultivars KRL210 and KH65. Salt stress induced the most significant decrease (p ≤ 0.05) in spike length, thousand-grain weight, and hectolitre weight coupled with increased protein content in sensitive varieties, resulting in diminished yield. Conclusion: Correlation analysis of parameters under salinity stress showed that SOD, proline, and K+ contents can be used as the most efficient screening criteria for salinity stress during early developmental stages. Principal component analysis revealed that DBW187, DBW303, and DBW222 varieties were tolerant to salinity stress and exhibited an effective antioxidant system against salinity. This study will facilitate salt-tolerant wheat breeding in terms of the identification of tolerant lines by screening for limited traits in a wide range of germplasms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A generic model of elastin–like polypeptides (ELP) is derived that includes proline isomerization (ProI). As a case study, conformational transition of a –[valine–proline–glycine–valine–glycine]– sequence is investigated in aqueous ethanol mixtures. While the non–bonded interactions are based on the Lennard–Jones (LJ) parameters, the effect of ProI is incorporated by tuning the intramolecular 3– and 4–body interactions known from the underlying all–atom simulations into the generic model. One of the key advantages of such a minimalistic model is that it readily decouples the effects of geometry and the monomer–solvent interactions due to the presence of ProI, thus gives a clearer microscopic picture that is otherwise rather nontrivial within the all–atom setups. These results are consistent with the available all–atom and experimental data. The model derived here may pave the way to investigate large scale self–assembly of ELPs or biomimetic polymers in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was conducted to investigate the efficacy of putrescine (PUT) treatment (0, 1, 2, and 4 mM) on improving morphophysiological and biochemical characteristics of Zinnia elegans "State Fair" flowers under salt stress (0, 50, and 100 mM NaCl). The experiment was designed in a factorial setting under completely randomized design with 4 replications. The results showed that by increasing the salt stress intensity, the stress index (SSI) increased while morphological traits such as plant height decreased. PUT treatments effectively recovered the decrease in plant height and flower quality compared to the not-treated plants. Treatment by PUT 2 mM under 50 and 100 mM salt stress levels reduced the SSI by 28 and 35%, respectively, and increased plant height by 20 and 27% compared to untreated plants (PUT 0 mM). 2 mM PUT treatment also had the greatest effect on increasing fresh and dry biomass, number and surface area of leaves, flower diameter, internodal length, leaf relative water content, protein contents, total chlorophyll contents, carotenoids, leaf potassium (K+) content, and K+/Na+ ratio in treated plants compared to untreated control plants. The treatment of 2 mM PUT decreased the electrolyte leakage, leaf sodium (Na+) content, H2O2, malondialdehyde, and proline content. Furthermore, PUT treatments increased the activity of defense-related enzymes including catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and phenylalanine ammonium lyase (PAL), and reduced the abscisic acid (ABA) content while increased the level of gibberellin (GA) content compared to untreated samples under all different levels of salinity stress. In this research, enhancing the plant's antioxidant system, increasing K+ absorption, K+/Na+ ratio, and reducing the ABA/GA ratio are likely the most important mechanisms of PUT treatment, which improved growth, and maintained the visual quality of zinnia flowers under salt stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High GABA levels and its conversion to succinate via the GABA shunt are known to be associated with abiotic and biotic stress tolerance in plants. The exact mode of action is still under debate and it is not yet clear whether GABA is a common component of the plant stress defense process or not. We hypothesized that if it is a common route for stress tolerance, activation of GABA-shunt by a biotic stressor might also function in increased abiotic stress tolerance. To test this, Brassica napus plants treated with Flagellin-22 (Flg-22) were exposed to drought stress and the differences in GABA levels along with GABA-shunt components (biosynthetic and catabolic enzyme activities) in the leaf and root samples were compared. In order to provide a better outlook, MYC2, MPK6 and ZAT12, expression profiles were also analyzed since these genes were recently proposed to function in abiotic and biotic stress tolerance. Results: Briefly, we found that Flg treatment increased drought stress tolerance in B. napus via GABA-shunt and the MAPK cascade was involved while the onset was different between leaves and roots. Flg treatment promoted GABA biosynthesis with increased GABA content and GAD activity in the leaves. Better performance of the Flg treated plants under drought stress might be dependent on the activation of GABA-shunt which provides succinate to TCA since GABA-T and SSADH activities were highly induced in the leaves and roots. In the transcript analysis, Flg + drought stressed groups had higher MYC2 transcript abundances correlated well with the GABA content and GABA-shunt while, MPK6 expression was induced only in the roots of the Flg + drought stressed groups. ZAT12 was also induced both in leaves and roots as a result of Flg-22 treatment. However, correlation with GABA and GABA-shunt could be proposed only in Flg + drought stressed group. Conclusion: We provided solid data on how GABA-shunt and Fgl-22 are interacting against abiotic stress in leaf and root tissues. Fgl-22 induced ETI activated GABA-shunt with a plausible cross talk between MYC2 and ZAT12 transcription factors for drought stress tolerance in B. napus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some organic modifiers can be used to reduce the effects of alkalinity on plants. In this research, the effects of simultaneous application of biochar in the soil and foliar spraying with humic acid on the reduction of alkalinity stress in basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) were investigated. A factorial experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design with three replications. The factors included alkalinity stress at three levels (0, 50, and 100 mM as NaHCO3 with irrigation water), biochar (at three levels of 0, 1.5, and 3% by weight mixed with soil) and humic acid at three levels (0, 150, and 300 mg/L as foliar spray). The results showed that the interaction effect of alkalinity, biochar and humic acid on most of the growth characteristics as well as the amounts of proline, soluble sugars and plant pigments were significant (P≤0.01). The highest shoot and root dry weight (0.88 and 0.39 g, respectively), shoot height (23.5 cm), root length (19.5 cm) and relative water content (86.4 %) were obtained with application of 3% of biochar and 300 mg/L of humic acid, without alkalinity. Also, the highest amount of proline (3.13 μmol/g) and soluble sugars (6.08 mg/g) were found under severe alkalinity stress (100 mM of NaHCO3), without the use of biochar and humic acid. In general, the simultaneous use of biochar and humic acid is a simple, suitable and cheap method to reduce the adverse effects of alkaline stress in basil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Durum wheat (DW) is one of the major crops grown in the Mediterranean area, a climate-vulnerable region where the increase in day/night (d/n) temperature is severely threatening DW yield stability. In order to improve DW heat tolerance, the introgression of chromosomal segments derived from the wild gene pool is a promising strategy. Here, four DW-Thinopyrum spp. near-isogenic recombinant lines (NIRLs) were assessed for their physiological response and productive performance after intense heat stress (IH, 37/27 °C d/n) had been applied for 3 days at anthesis. The NIRLs included two primary types (R5, R112), carriers (+) of a differently sized Th. ponticum 7el1L segment on the DW 7AL arm, and two corresponding secondary types (R69-9/R5, R69-9/R112), possessing a Th. elongatum 7EL segment distally inserted into the 7el1L ones. Their response to the IH stress was compared to that of corresponding non-carrier sib lines (−) and the heat-tolerant cv. Margherita. Overall, the R112+, R69-9/R5+ and R69-9/R112+ NIRLs exhibited a tolerant behaviour towards the applied stress, standing out for the maintenance of leaf relative water content but also for the accumulation of proline and soluble sugars in the flag leaf and the preservation of photosynthetic efficiency. As a result, all the above three NIRLs (R112+ > R69-9/R5+ > R69-9/R112+) displayed good yield stability under the IH, also in comparison with cv. Margherita. R112+ particularly relied on the strength of spike fertility/grain number traits, while R69-9/R5+ benefited from efficient compensation by the grain weight increase. This work largely confirmed and further substantiated the value of exploiting the wild germplasm of Thinopyrum species as a useful source for the improvement of DW tolerance to even extreme abiotic stress conditions, such as the severe heat treatment throughout day- and night-time applied here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of horse and donkey meat in the production of kaddid—a traditional dish typically not made with these meats—from a physical and chemical perspective. The results showed that both meats exhibit similar water retention during cooking, contributing to comparable tenderness and juiciness, with no significant differences in pH values, indicating similar quality (p > 0.05). However, their amino acid profiles differ: horse meat contains lower levels of glutamate (p < 0.05), methionine (p < 0.01), isoleucine (p < 0.05), and leucine (p < 0.05), but higher levels of proline (p < 0.05), histidine (p < 0.01), and lysine (p < 0.001) compared to donkey meat. Both meats provide essential amino acids. Horse meat is richer in saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (32.44% and 39.58%, respectively), while donkey meat has a higher content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (31.51%), with a more favorable PUFA/SFA ratio, suggesting better cardiovascular health benefits. In terms of dried meat, donkey kaddid has a higher protein (17.45 g/100 g) and lower fat content (2.1 g/100 g) compared to horse kaddid (16.7 g/100 g, and 3.5 g/100 g, respectively) (p < 0.05). These findings inform consumer choices and production practices, promoting the use of horse and donkey meat for kaddid production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractWater deficit stress (WDS) is one of the most significant abiotic limiting factors in cultivated crops, including cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.). With global climate change and the destruction of ecological balance, the frequency and severity of drought events are increasing in many regions around the world. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to investigate the potential of using nano zinc particles (ZnO-NPs), plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (Azospirillum sp.), and their combination to mitigate the negative impacts of WDS on cotton var. Giza 96. Extended irrigation intervals of 30 and 45 days led to considerable decreases in plant height, chlorophyll content, relative water content (RWC), yield, and cotton fiber quality compared to the optimal irrigation interval (every 15 days). When applied individually or in combination, ZnO-NPs and Azospirillum sp. can ameliorate the negative effects of WDS on cotton growth and productivity. Overall, the use of Azospirillum sp. and ZnO-NPs, either individually or in combination, has demonstrated their potential to enhance cotton growth and yield parameters (plant height, dry weight, leaf area, chlorophyll pigment, seed index, seed yield, and lint%) under prolonged irrigation intervals during 2021 and 2022 seasons. Antioxidant enzymes activity comprising catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and proline content were increased under drought stress. Cotton fiber quality parameters including length, strength, and micronaire were insignificantly affected under low irrigation rate. The combination of ZnO-NPs and Azospirillum sp. provided the most effective mitigation of WDS during both experimental seasons, outperforming the effects of individual applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amino acids have a crucial role in the field of asymmetric organocatalysis for the production of chiral compounds with high added value and specific biological activity. In particular, proline offers high activity and stereoselectivity for catalyzing aldol reactions in organic solvents. However, proline‐based catalysts often lack water‐solubility, accessibility, catalytic performance, or recovery in aqueous media. This work reports the design of proline‐functionalized poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanoparticles with a magnetic core that offer high availability of chiral units in water and high recyclability. A proline‐based copolymerizable surfactant is designed and integrated onto the surface of PMMA nanoparticles through a miniemulsion polymerization process without using additional surfactants. The miniemulsion technique allows the incorporation of magnetite to the system to create a magnetically separable catalyst. The chiral nanocatalyst presents a high diastereoselective catalytic activity for the intermolecular aldol reaction between p‐nitrobenzaldehyde and cyclohexanone in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discontinuous hydration and dehydration (HD) cycles refer to controlled imbibition followed by dehydration before seed germination. Here, we investigated whether the level of imbibition before HD cycles affects the physiology of Tabebuia heterophylla seeds and seedlings. Seeds were imbibed for 10 h (T1; phase I of imbibition) or 35 h (T2; phase II), dehydrated, and progressively rehydrated one to four times (HD cycles). Germination and biochemical parameters (membrane integrity; total soluble, reducing, and nonreducing (NRS) sugars; proteins, amino acids, proline, H2O2, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase activity) were quantified at the last rehydration step of each cycle. Biometric and biochemical parameters (including pigments) were analysed in seedlings 60 days after germination. HD cycles at T1 led to reduced seed germination and greater plasma membrane damage, higher enzyme activity (catalase and glutathione reductase) and accumulation of NRS, total amino acids, and proline compared to the controls and T2 treatment. Cellular damage became more severe with more HD cycles. HD cycles at T2 synchronized germination regardless of the number of cycles and also had a priming effect. T2 seeds had less NRS, total amino acids, and proline content than T1. HD cycles at T1 produced seedlings with higher carotenoid and total chlorophyll content than controls and T2, while seedlings from HD cycles at T2 had higher amounts of osmoprotectants. HD cycles at T2 benefited seeds and seedlings more than at T1. This suggests that the physiological and biochemical effects of HD cycles in seeds modulate seedling plasticity, depending on water availability, potentially promoting increased tolerance to recurrent droughts that will be intensified with ongoing climate changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed vigour is a desirable trait especially for direct seeded rice (DSR) cultivation. Seeds with high vigour could improve seed germination, support seedlings in competing with weeds for water and nutrients, and improving seedling establishment throughout the early stages of crop growth. The success of DSR system which account for more 25% of world cultivation areas is highly dependent on the seed vigour and seedling establishment. Seed priming is a promising technique to improve seed vigour. Proline is an amino acid that has been well studied for its roles in plants under different environmental stress conditions. Nevertheless, the effect of proline as a seed priming agent in improving seed vigour in rice remain elusive. In this research, the effect of 24 h of proline priming at various concentrations (0 mM, 1 mM, 2 mM, 10 mM and 20 mM) on rice seed vigour, amylase activity, and total soluble sugar (TSS) content of a Malaysia indica rice variety, MR269 was investigated. Results showed that seeds primed with lower concentration of proline (0 mM, 1 mM and 2 mM) had better germination responses while priming at high concentrations (10 mM and 20 mM) reduced seed germination. Among the concentration tested, priming with 1 mM proline enhanced seed vigour with significantly higher germination percentage (GP), germination rate index (GRI) and seedling vigour index (SVI). In addition, proline primed seeds also exhibited increased amylase activity and TSS content as compared to unprimed seeds. However, priming seed with 20 mM proline was detrimental to the seed vigour and seedling growth whereby lower GP, GRI and SVI and higher mean germination time (MGT) were observed. In short, this study shows that proline could be a potential seed priming agent to improve seed vigour in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pharmacology of amino acid transporters in the SLC6 family is poorly developed compared to that of the neurotransmitter transporters. To identify new inhibitors of the proline transporter SIT1 (SLC6A20), its expression in Xenopus laevis oocytes was optimized. Trafficking of SIT1 was augmented by co-expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in oocytes but there was no strict requirement for coexpression of ACE2. A pharmacophore-guided screen identified tiagabine as a potent non-competitive inhibitor of SIT1. To understand its binding mode, we determined the cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of ACE2-SIT1 bound with tiagabine. The inhibitor binds close to the orthosteric proline binding site, but due to its size extends into the cytosolic vestibule. This causes the transporter to adopt an inward-open conformation, in which the intracellular gate is blocked. This study provides the first structural insight into inhibition of SIT1 and generates tools for a better understanding of the ACE2-SIT1 complex. These findings may have significance for SARS-CoV-2 binding to its receptor ACE2 in human lung alveolar cells where SIT1 and ACE2 are functionally expressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants encounter numerous adversities during growth, necessitating the identification of common stress activators to bolster their resistance. However, the current understanding of these activators' mechanisms remains limited. This study identified three anti-stress activators applicable to apple trees, all of which elevate plant proline content to enhance resistance against various adversities. The results showed that the application of these sugar substitutes increased apple proline content by two to three times compared to the untreated group. Even at a lower concentration, these activators triggered plant stress resistance without compromising apple fruit quality. Therefore, these three sugar substitutes can be exogenously sprayed on apple trees to augment proline content and fortify stress resistance. Given their effectiveness and low production cost, these activators possess significant application value. Since they have been widely used in the food industry, they hold potential for broader application in plants, fostering apple industry development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creeping savory is a wild plant that is used for comestible consumption, preparation of beverages, and production of sanitary ware and herbal drugs. To investigate the effects of salinity stress and salicylic acid on antioxidant enzymes, photosynthetic pigments, relative water content, proline, and soluble protein content in S. spicigera a factorial experiment was conducted based on a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and three replications. The experiment was implemented at the greenhouse of Agriculture and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Kermanshah, Iran (2019). Experimental treatments were four levels of salinity (0-50-100-150 mM NaCl) and two levels of salicylic acid (0 and 2 mM). Results showed that increasing salinity levels caused a significant reduction in relative water content, leaf fresh weight, leaf dry weight, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid content. Salinity drastically enhanced the antioxidant activities (SOD, POD, and CAT), and cell proline content. Salicylic acid considerably decreased proline content under salt stress conditions, but improved antioxidant activities of SOD, POD, and CAT, and enhanced chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoid content, protein content, relative water content, and leaf fresh weight under salt stress. Salicylic acid reduced the destructive effect of salinity on some morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics in creeping savory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the detailed mechanistic insights of L-proline catalyzed, solvent-controlled, regioselective Mannich reaction. Different solvation models were employed to understand the formation of critical intermediates. The seminal difference in the nature of H-acceptor solvents and H-donor solvents leads to variation in the attachment site on the reactant molecule. Our calculations suggest that the H-acceptor solvent exhibits selective non-covalent interaction with α-hydrogen atoms of the iminium group, facilitating the reactivity at the more hindered site, which results in the formation of a branched isomer. On the other hand, the H-donor solvent preferentially binds to the carboxylate group, thus enabling the reactivity to proceed from the less hindered carbon chain, leading to a linear isomer. The above distinct interactions force a regioselective generation of enamines. Thus, the iminium ion's site-specific solvent interaction has been observed to cause a switch in the regioselectivity. These enamines subsequently react with cyclic ketone to produce Mannich base with excellent enantioselectivity (>99%ee). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of exogenous administration of two concentrations of proline (10 and 20 mM) on postharvest values and chilling injury (CI) of 'Malaseh Saveh' pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruits was investigated during 90 days at 4 °C. Proline treatment attenuated CI symptoms and prevented membrane lipids peroxidation, and reduction of cell membrane integrity in treated fruits, which were represented by malondialdehyde and electrolyte leakage, respectively. Therewith, a higher amount of endogenous proline (352.48 µg g−1 FW) was perceived in 20 mM proline-treated fruits at the end of the cold storage time. Furthermore, proline treatment increased antioxidant capacity and antioxidant enzyme activity, namely ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase, and also retained ascorbic acid amount at higher levels. This treatment decreased the activity of polyphenol oxidase and enhanced the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity which led to high accumulation of total phenol, flavonoids, and anthocyanin. All in all, exogenous application of proline, especially 20 mM concentration, as a safe, natural, and environment-friendly osmolyte substance, could alleviate harmful effects of CI and retain eating values of pomegranate fruits all over long-term postharvest and shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding gene expression kinetics and the underlying physiological mechanisms in stress combinations is a challenge for the purpose of stress resistance breeding. The novelty of this study is correlating the physiological mechanisms with the expression of key target genes in tall fescue under a combination of various salinity and osmotic stress treatments. Four drought- and salt-responsive genes belonging to different crucial pathways evaluated included one transcription factor FabZIP69, one for the cytosolic polyamine synthetase FaADC1, one for ABA signaling FaCYP707A1, and another one for the specific Na+/H+ plasma membrane antiporter FaSOS1 involve in osmotic homeostasis. FaSOS1, FaCYP707A1, and FabZIP69 were induced early at 6 h after NaCl treatment, while FaSOS1 and FaCYP707A1 were transcribed gradually after exposure to PEG. However, stress interactions showed a significantly increased expression in all genes. Expression of these genes was positively correlated to Pro, SSs, IL, DPPH, and antioxidant enzyme activity and negatively correlated with RWC, total Chl, and MSI. Chemical analyses showed that tall fescue plants exposed to the combination of stresses exhibited increased quantity of reactive oxygen species (H2O2), EL and DPPH, and higher levels of antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT, and SOD), Pro, and SSs content, compared with control seedlings. Under dual-stress conditions, the expression of FabZIP69 was effective in controlling the expression of FaSOS1 and FaADC1 genes differently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low temperature is a major environmental factor that negatively affects the growth and productivity of plants, such as the tropical fruit Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.), which is susceptible to cold stress. Therefore, to investigate the effect of the amino acid L-phenylalanine (Phe), L-cysteine (Cys), or sodium selenite (Se) on enhancing antioxidant activities, experiments were conducted on the phenolic compounds, proline content, and membrane stability of Cape gooseberry seedlings under low-temperature stress. The seedlings were exposed for 48 h to a low temperature (4 °C) followed by 24 h of optimal growth conditions. In seedlings treated with Se, we found a high relative water content, good membrane integrity, low ion leakage, and hydrogen peroxide. Additionally, this treatment led to the improvement of photosynthetic pigments and antioxidant activity. The analysis of seedlings under cold stress showed that the Phe enhanced the stomatal conductance and phenol content. Furthermore, low concentrations of Cys resulted in the production of proline and flavonoids, which reduced the negative effects of environmental stress on seedlings and maintained cell membrane integrity. Overall, in this experiment, the use of Se and low concentrations of Cys had a positive effect on the amount of antioxidant compounds, which improved seedling growth under stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress, at different growth stages, causes substantial yield loss in major crops, thus, threatening global food security. Enhancement of drought stress tolerance in plants has been reported with the sole application of silicon (Si) and Zinc (Zn). However, the synergistic effects of their combined application and the exact mechanisms through which they enhance drought tolerance are still not fully understood. Therefore, the present study investigated the potential of Si and Zn to ameliorate drought stress in Eruca sativa (L.) and associated morphological and physio-biochemical mechanisms. The seeds were soaked in individual or combined Si (3 mM, from calcium silicate) and Zn (10 mM, from zinc sulfate) solutions for 8 h and 12 h. Water-primed and unprimed seeds were kept as control. Later, primed seeds were grown under various levels of drought viz. control (100% field capacity, FC) and 50% FC. Results revealed that drought stress significantly reduced growth traits, photosynthetic pigments, and reactive oxygen species and decreased antioxidative enzymes activities. Seed priming with Si and Zn increased seedling lengths, and their fresh and dry weights under drought stress with significantly higher values for the combined application of both. Moreover, Si and Zn-treated plants also showed a significant increase in chlorophyll pigments, i.e., chlorophyll and carotenoid contents in drought-exposed seedlings. Seed priming treatments improved drought-induced oxidative stress tolerance associated with higher activities of enzymatic and non-enzyme antioxidant activities and soluble sugar and proline contents. The results suggested that the combined application of Si and Zn serves as an appropriate treatment to increase the seedling growth, and physiological and biochemical attributes of E. sativa under drought stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purslane has been suggested as an alternative crop suitable for human consumption due to its high content of minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, and several health-beneficial compounds. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of salinity stress (tap water (control), 2000, 4000, 6000, 8000, and 10,000 mg L−1), biostimulant application (putrescine and salicylic acid at 200 mg L−1), and the combination of the tested factors (i.e., salinity × biostimulant application) on the growth and chemical composition of purslane plants (Portulaca oleracea L.) over two growing seasons (2022 and 2023). Irrigation with tap water and putrescine application resulted in the highest plant height, weight of aboveground and underground parts, and number of shoots per plant. In contrast, the lowest values of growing parameters were recorded under severe saline stress (10,000 mg L−1), especially for the plants that were not treated with biostimulants. The same trends were observed for macronutrients (N, P, K), total carbohydrates, total chlorophylls, and vitamin C content in leaves. Moreover, nitrate and proline content was higher in plants grown under salinity stress, especially under severe stress (8000–10,000 mg L−1) without biostimulant application. In general, the application of biostimulants mitigated the negative impact of salinity on plant growth and leaf chemical composition, while the effect of putrescine on the tested parameters was more beneficial than that of salicylic acid. In conclusion, this study provides useful information regarding the use of putrescine and salicylic acid as biostimulatory agents with the aim of increasing purslane growth under salinity conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of trace metal elements (TMEs) on plants is one current pollution problem, the severity of which is increasing with industrial development, population growth and inappropriate agricultural practices. The latter can have irreversible effects on ecosystems, including species extinction, trophic chain contamination and altered human health, particularly in the case of consumed plants such as zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo L.). This study aims to investigate the effects of nickel on various physiological and biochemical parameters of zucchini growth, with a particular focus on how this toxic metal impacts the quality of fruit that is consumed by humans. To achieve this, plants aged 45 days were grown for one month on solid media loaded with different concentrations of Ni (0, 100, 300 and 500 µM). The results showed that exposure of plants to Ni resulted in significantly altered growth and higher accumulation of Ni in the shoots (1314 µg·g−1 DW) than in roots and fruits. Concerning non-enzymatic antioxidants, the results showed that Ni toxicity significantly increased total polyphenols, especially in shoots at 300 µM Ni, while flavonoid content decreased in the roots and shoots in response to Ni treatment. Our results also show that nickel tolerance in C. pepo is ensured by a combination of several mechanisms such as an increase in the content of proline. This species can survive and tolerate, to different degrees, toxic cations at concentrations up to 500 µM but with visible symptoms of toxicity such as chlorosis of the leaves. Indeed, based on thresholds of hyperaccumulation, we can qualify Cucurbita pepo as a hyperaccumulator species of nickel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We attempted to study the response of six rice cultivars, viz., BPT 5204, CR 1009, TRY 1, CO 50, Jodimattai, and CO 46, to salt stress under in vitro conditions. In this study, we report the highest relative growth rate (RGR) in BPT 5204 and TRY1, suggesting that these could maintain a higher relative fresh mass of the callus to survive salt stress. For regeneration frequency (RF), genotype TRY 1 registered the highest RF (35%) in the control (0 mM NaCl), but a significant reduction in RF (66%) was observed at 90, 120, and 150 mM NaCl. The genotypes CO 50, CR 1009, and BPT 5204 registered the lowest regeneration frequency (6.7%) and produced a moderate number of shoots. The biochemical nature of stress implies that proline content decreases in the control and progressively increases from 30 to 90 mM but gradually decreases with higher salt concentrations. The proline content was high for both tolerant (BPT 5204) and sensitive (CO-46) cultivars, implying that proline gives adaptiveness rather than growth. Our results provide unique insight into the antioxidant (catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)) properties of callus culture. Antioxidants act as potential reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers and provide adaptive mechanisms to plants. The antioxidant enzyme activities increased progressively with increasing NaCl concentration in the medium, showing that antioxidants augment the stress and provide an adaptive mechanism. The genotypes BPT 5204 and TRY1 had a significant level of enzyme activities at 90, 120, and 150 mM NaCl treatment, whereas the other genotypes seemed to have reduced enzymatic activities. Hence, the genotypes BPT 5204 and TRY1 were better in their performance for the above parameters, which showed growth and biochemical homeostasis in response to salt stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinity is one of the most devastating environmental impediments that poses a significant threat to agricultural practices hamper crop productivity worldwide. In the present study, a total of thirty finger millet genotypes were examined through in vitro screening at varying sodium chloride concentrations (0, 75, 175, 275, and 375 mM). Based on the morphological characteristics, visual salt injury (VSI) and salinity susceptibility index (SSI), two tolerant (TRY–1 and ML–365), two moderately tolerant (GPU—48 and GPU—28) and two susceptible (VL–146 and Indaf–9) genotypes were shortlisted. Further, the greenhouse illustrated the experiment to assess physiological and biochemical response at the seedling stage by imposing sodium chloride concentrations (0 and 375 mM). The results revealed that TRY–1 was on par among all the studied genotypes that exhibited a significant increase (P < 0.05) in phenotypic (germination percentage, shoot length, root length, and seedling vigour index) biochemical characteristics (contents of total chlorophyll, proline, phenolic, and flavonoids) and antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD and CAT) under varying salinity regimes indicating a strong defense mechanism against salinity-induced oxidative and osmotic stress. In contrast, Indaf—9 exhibited a significant decrease in all the growth and physiological traits and an increment in MDA and H2O2 content compared to other genotypes. In Indaf—9, MDA increased by 184% whereas in TRY—1, it increased by 105%. In contrast, proline content was enhanced as maximum in TRY –1 (239%) compared to Indaf—9 (191%) from 0 to 375 mM sodium chloride concentration. Our findings were supported by extensive statistical analyses such as cluster analysis, correlation, and PCA, indicating key contributing traits involved in salinity stress tolerance. Therefore, this study may help select the salt-tolerant genotypes and contribute to sustainable agriculture by increasing food production in saline-prone agroecological zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Pyrabactin resistance 1-like (PYL) proteins are abscisic acid (ABA) receptors that play a crucial role in the plant's response to adverse environmental conditions. However, as of yet, there is limited research on the role of PYL proteins in potato. In this study, a potato PYL gene, StPYL8-like, was identified through transcriptome analysis under drought stress. Molecular characterization revealed that the StPYL8-like protein possesses a highly conserved PYL family domain. Evolutionary analysis demonstrated that StPYL8-like protein clusters with various PYL proteins are involved in stress responses across different species. Functional assays showed that StPYL8-like robustly responds to different abiotic stresses, including drought and ABA treatment. Furthermore, the transient and stable expressions of StPYL8-like in tobacco enhanced their drought resistance, leading to increased plant height, leaf number, and fresh weight, as well as an improved root system. Transgenic tobacco carrying the StPYL8-like gene exhibited lower malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and higher proline accumulation and antioxidant enzyme activity compared to wild-type plants under drought conditions. Moreover, StPYL8-like upregulated the expression of stress-responsive genes (NtRD29A, NtLEA5, NtP5CS, NtPOD, NtSOD, and NtCAT) in transgenic plants subjected to drought stress. Collectively, these findings highlight the positive regulatory role of the StPYL8-like gene in enhancing potato plants' response to drought stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]