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Purpose: To test the ability of a combination high-velocity/high-resistance training program to enhance knee extensor muscle strength, power, nervous activation of muscle, and muscle activation time in inactive women and compare the response to training between young and old women. Methods: The study involved 49 inactive women, with young (18-33 yr, n = 25) and old (65-84 yr, n = 24) distributed to training and control groups using blocked randomization. Electrically evoked muscle twitches were measured for the knee extensors; then maximal, voluntary, isometric knee extensions were performed in a visually cued reaction time (RT) task, followed by 8 wk of explosive resistance training. Results: Training increased peak torque (+12%, P = 0.03) and reduced antagonist coactivation (-13%, P = 0.02) similarly for both age groups. Young training group increased the rate of torque development by 34% compared to young controls (-7%), old training (+9%), and old controls (+8%) (P = 0.002). Young training group increased impulse by 53%, which was greater than young controls (-11%), old training (+12%), and old controls (+9%) (P = 0.001). Resistance training did not change electrically evoked twitch, RT (premotor time, motor time, or reaction time), or nervous activation measures (onset EMG amplitude or rate of EMG rise). Conclusions: Explosive force training was ineffective at enhancing muscle twitch characteristics, neural drive, or RT in young or old women. It did enhance peak muscle force in both young and old, modulated through a reduction in antagonist coactivation. Older participants showed less of an improvement in the rate of torque development and contractile impulse than young, indicating either that this sample of older women had a reduced capacity to develop muscle power or that the 8-wk isokinetic resistance training program used in this study was not a sufficient stimulus for adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study was to determine whether muscle force, power, and optimal length were affected by 4 weeks of static or ballistic stretching. Twenty-nine males (age, 18-60 years) performed 4 maximal hip extensions to measure peak torque (PT), rate of torque development (RTD), work (W), and PT angle (PTA). Then, participants completed 4 weeks of static or ballistic flexibility training of the hip extensors followed by repetition of the testing protocol. After training, PT increased 5.3 +/- 19.0% in the static group (SG), 7.8 +/- 12.7% in the ballistic group (BG), and 6.1 +/- 17.9% in the control group (CG). RTD increased 4.8 +/- 22.7% in the SG, 3.6 +/- 28.0% in the BG and 9.7 +/- 24.0% in the CG. W increased 3.9 +/- 7.0% in the SG, 14.7 +/- 27.4% in the BG, and 5.5 +/- 9.5% in the CG. PTA changed little with a -1.6 +/- 6.6% decrease in the SG and increases of 0.86 +/- 4.1% in the BG and 0.18 +/- 8.7% in the CG. None of the results were statistically different between stretching group and CG (alpha = 0.05). These data suggest that 4 weeks of stretching have little effect on muscle strength, power, W, or length-tension relationship. PTA changed little, suggesting that a lengthening of the muscle with stretching did not occur. It is suggested that individuals can routinely stretch following exercise to maintain flexibility but should avoid stretching prior to exercise requiring high levels of muscle force. Before exercise that requires high muscular forces, individuals may perform dynamic, sport-specific exercises to increase blood flow, metabolic activity, temperature, and compliance of the muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt contamination of soils and irrigation water is a significant environmental concern for crop production. Leaf sodium (Na + ) exclusion is commonly proposed to be a key subtrait of salt tolerance for many crop plants. High-Affinity Potassium (K + ) Transporter 1 (HKT1) proteins have previously been identified as major controllers of leaf Na + exclusion across diverse species. However, leaf Na + exclusion does not always correlate with salt tolerance. We discuss literature which shows leaf Na + accumulation can, in some circumstances, be tolerated without a detrimental effect on yield when HKT1 still functions to exclude Na + from reproductive tissues. We conclude that, by having an ultimate role in the protection of reproductive performance, HKT1s' role in adaptation to salinity warrants redefinition., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) dynamically regulate the critical stress response and tumor suppressive functions of p53. Among these, acetylation events mediated by multiple acetyltransferases lead to differential target gene activation and subsequent cell fate. However, our understanding of these events is incomplete due to, in part, the inability to selectively and dynamically control p53 acetylation. We recently developed a heterobifunctional small molecule system, AceTAG, to direct the acetyltransferase p300/CBP for targeted protein acetylation in cells. Here, we expand AceTAG to leverage the acetyltransferase PCAF/GCN5 and apply these tools to investigate the functional consequences of targeted p53 acetylation in human cancer cells. We demonstrate that the recruitment of p300/CBP or PCAF/GCN5 to p53 results in distinct acetylation events and differentiated transcriptional activities. Further, we show that chemically induced acetylation of multiple hotspot p53 mutants results in increased stabilization and enhancement of transcriptional activity. Collectively, these studies demonstrate the utility of AceTAG for functional investigations of protein acetylation.

Although several studies have documented the chronic phase of traumatic brain injury (TBI), few verified the nature and severity of cognitive impairments during the acute phase. Among the studies carried out during the acute phase, instrumental functions were rarely examined compared to attention, memory, and executive functions. This study aimed to compare the nature and intensity of cognitive problems in the acute phase according to TBI severity and age. It was hypothesized that cognitive impairments would increase in line with TBI severity and age, and that instrumental functions would be less affected in victims of mild or moderate TBI than in those with severe TBI. The Brief Cognitive Exam in Traumatology (EXACT), a new and reliable test specifically designed and validated to briefly assess global cognitive functioning during the acute phase, was administered to 319 mild to severe TBI victims (aged 16 to 96 years), within three months post-accident. The EXACT evaluates five domains: Language, Instrumental functions (other than language), Attention and working memory, Episodic memory, and Executive functions and behavioral regulation. Results confirmed the negative influence of TBI severity and age on global cognitive functioning. Also, compared to victims with a mild or moderate TBI, a higher proportion of those with a severe TBI presented impaired instrumental functions (calculation, praxis, and gnosis). Thus, during the acute phase, the nature and severity of cognitive impairments vary according to TBI severity.

Site-specific noncanonical amino acid (ncAA) mutagenesis in living cells has traditionally relied on heterologous, nonsense-suppressing aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS)/tRNA pairs that do not cross-react with their endogenous counterparts. Such heterologous pairs often perform suboptimally in a foreign host cell since they were not evolutionarily optimized to function in the foreign environment. This suboptimal performance restricts the number of ncAAs that can be simultaneously incorporated into a protein. Here, we show that the use of an endogenous aaRS/tRNA pair to drive ncAA incorporation can offer a potential solution to this limitation. To this end, we developed an engineered Escherichia coli strain (ATMY-C321), wherein the endogenous tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS)/tRNA pair has been functionally replaced with an archaeal counterpart, and the release factor 1 has been removed to eliminate competing termination at the UAG nonsense codons. The endogenous TyrRS/tRNA CUA Tyr pair exhibits remarkably efficient nonsense suppression in the resulting cell, relative to established orthogonal ncAA-incorporation systems in E. coli , allowing the incorporation of an ncAA at up to 10 contiguous sites in a reporter protein. Our work highlights the limitations of orthogonal translation systems using heterologous aaRS/tRNA pairs and offers a potential alternative involving the use of endogenous pairs.

The Escherichia coli leucyl-tRNA synthetase (EcLeuRS)/tRNA EcLeu pair has been engineered to genetically encode a structurally diverse group of enabling noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs) in eukaryotes, including those with bioconjugation handles, environment-sensitive fluorophores, photocaged amino acids, and native post-translational modifications. However, the scope of this toolbox in mammalian cells is limited by the poor activity of tRNA EcLeu . Here, we overcome this limitation by evolving tRNA EcLeu directly in mammalian cells by using a virus-assisted selection scheme. This directed evolution platform was optimized for higher throughput such that the entire acceptor stem of tRNA EcLeu could be simultaneously engineered, which resulted in the identification of several variants with remarkably improved efficiency for incorporating a wide range of ncAAs. The advantage of the evolved leucyl tRNAs was demonstrated by expressing ncAA mutants in mammalian cells that were challenging to express before using the wild-type tRNA EcLeu , by creating viral vectors that facilitated ncAA mutagenesis at a significantly lower dose and by creating more efficient mammalian cell lines stably expressing the ncAA-incorporation machinery.

Objective: To accurately assess prospective memory (PM) functioning in patients who sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI), it is important to use both subjective (questionnaires) and objective (tests) measures. However, which factors have the most significant effect on each PM measure remains unknown. This observational study aims to verify whether TBI severity or psychological status has the most influence on patients' objective and subjective PM measures., Method: Fifteen healthy control (HC) participants (n = 15), 19 patients with a mild TBI (n = 19) and 30 patients with a moderate-to-severe TBI (n = 30) were recruited during the post-acute phase. For almost every participant, a relative was also recruited (n = 62). The Test écologique de mémoire prospective (TEMP), an objective computerized PM measure consisting of naturalistic stimuli, was administered to all participants along with anxiety (BAI) and depression inventories (BDI). Participants and their relatives also completed a questionnaire, the comprehensive assessment of PM (CAPM), a subjective PM measure assessing everyday failures., Results: Results on the objective PM measure were predicted by TBI severity, while psychological symptoms (BAI and BDI) predicted scores on the subjective PM measure. In addition, relatives in the moderate-to-severe TBI group reported more PM failures on the subjective measure and their perception was significantly correlated with results on the objective PM measure, which was not the case for the other two groups of relatives., Conclusions: Objective PM measures are related to TBI severity and appear more robust against the influence of psychological factors than subjective PM measures., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Electrochemistry has recently emerged as a powerful approach in small-molecule synthesis owing to its numerous attractive features, including precise control over the fundamental reaction parameters, mild reaction conditions and innate scalability. Even though these advantages also make it an attractive strategy for chemoselective modification of complex biomolecules such as proteins, such applications remain poorly developed. Here we report an electrochemically promoted coupling reaction between 5-hydroxytryptophan (5HTP) and simple aromatic amines-electrochemical labelling of hydroxyindoles with chemoselectivity (eCLIC)-that enables site-specific labelling of full-length proteins under mild conditions. Using genetic code expansion technology, the 5HTP residue can be incorporated into predefined sites of a recombinant protein expressed in either prokaryotic or eukaryotic hosts for subsequent eCLIC labelling. We used the eCLIC reaction to site-specifically label various recombinant proteins, including a full-length human antibody. Furthermore, we show that eCLIC is compatible with strain-promoted alkyne-azide and alkene-tetrazine click reactions, enabling site-specific modification of proteins at two different sites with distinct labels., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

We have developed a novel visible-light-catalyzed bioconjugation reaction, PhotoCLIC, that enables chemoselective attachment of diverse aromatic amine reagents onto a site-specifically installed 5-hydroxytryptophan residue (5HTP) on full-length proteins of varied complexity. The reaction uses catalytic amounts of methylene blue and blue/red light-emitting diodes (455/650 nm) for rapid site-specific protein bioconjugation. Characterization of the PhotoCLIC product reveals a unique structure formed likely through a singlet oxygen-dependent modification of 5HTP. PhotoCLIC has a wide substrate scope and its compatibility with strain-promoted azide-alkyne click reaction, enables site-specific dual-labeling of a target protein., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

PHOSPHORUS-STARVATION TOLERANCE 1 (OsPSTOL1) is a variably present gene that benefits crown root growth and phosphorus (P) sufficiency in rice (Oryza sativa). To explore the ecophysiological importance of this gene, we performed a biogeographic survey of landraces and cultivars, confirming that functional OsPSTOL1 alleles prevail in low nutrient and drought-prone rainfed ecosystems, whereas loss-of-function and absence haplotypes predominate in control-irrigated paddy varieties of east Asia. An evolutionary history analysis of OsPSTOL1 and related genes in cereal, determined it and other genes are kinase-only domain derivatives of membrane-associated receptor like kinases. Finally, to evaluate the potential value of this kinase of unknown function in another Gramineae, wheat (Triticum aestivum) lines overexpressing OsPSTOL1 were evaluated under field and controlled low P conditions. OsPSTOL1 enhances growth, crown root number, and overall root plasticity under low P in wheat. Survey of root and shoot crown transcriptomes at two developmental stages identifies transcription factors that are differentially regulated in OsPSTOL1 wheat that are similarly controlled by the gene in rice. In wheat, OsPSTOL1 alters the timing and amplitude of regulators of root development in dry soils and hastens induction of the core P-starvation response. OsPSTOL1 and related genes may aid more sustainable cultivation of cereal crops., (© 2023 The Authors. Plant, Cell & Environment published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Stomata are tiny pores on the leaf surface that are central to gas exchange. Stomatal number, size and aperture are key determinants of plant transpiration and photosynthesis, and variation in these traits can affect plant growth and productivity. Current methods to screen for stomatal phenotypes are tedious and not high throughput. This impedes research on stomatal biology and hinders efforts to develop resilient crops with optimised stomatal patterning. We have developed a rapid non-destructive method to phenotype stomatal traits in three crop species: wheat, rice and tomato., Results: The method consists of two steps. The first is the non-destructive capture of images of the leaf surface from plants in their growing environment using a handheld microscope; a process that only takes a few seconds compared to minutes for other methods. The second is to analyse stomatal features using a machine learning model that automatically detects, counts and measures stomatal number, size and aperture. The accuracy of the machine learning model in detecting stomata ranged from 88 to 99%, depending on the species, with a high correlation between measures of number, size and aperture using the machine learning models and by measuring them manually. The rapid method was applied to quickly identify contrasting stomatal phenotypes., Conclusions: We developed a method that combines rapid non-destructive imaging of leaf surfaces with automated image analysis. The method provides accurate data on stomatal features while significantly reducing time for data acquisition and analysis. It can be readily used to phenotype stomata in large populations in the field and in controlled environments., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Research into crop yield and resilience has underpinned global food security, evident in yields tripling in the past 5 decades. The challenges that global agriculture now faces are not just to feed 10+ billion people within a generation, but to do so under a harsher, more variable, and less predictable climate, and in many cases with less water, more expensive inputs, and declining soil quality. The challenges of climate change are not simply to breed for a "hotter drier climate," but to enable resilience to floods and droughts and frosts and heat waves, possibly even within a single growing season. How well we prepare for the coming decades of climate variability will depend on our ability to modify current practices, innovate with novel breeding methods, and communicate and work with farming communities to ensure viability and profitability. Here we define how future climates will impact farming systems and growing seasons, thereby identifying the traits and practices needed and including exemplars being implemented and developed. Critically, this review will also consider societal perspectives and public engagement about emerging technologies for climate resilience, with participatory approaches presented as the best approach., (© American Society of Plant Biologists 2022. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: Cognitive recovery after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) may be negatively affected by a prior alcohol use disorder (AUD). This study aims to compare the cognitive recovery of patients who had comorbid TBI and AUD relative to TBI alone and investigate the influence of blood alcohol level (BAL) at hospital admission on this recovery., Method: The sample consisted of 42 patients who had sustained a TBI (mild or moderate) and had an AUD diagnosis (TBI+AUD), and 42 patients who had sustained a TBI alone (TBI). The Brief Cognitive Exam in Traumatology (EXACT), designed to evaluate cognitive functions in the acute phase of TBI was administered (± 2 weeks post-injury)., Results: After controlling for BAL at admission, the TBI+AUD group had a lower EXACT total score compared to the TBI group. The negative influence of age on the results was more pronounced in the TBI+AUD group. The number of intoxicated patients at admission was also higher in this group, although there was no correlation between BAL at admission and cognitive outcome., Conclusion: The presence of an AUD diagnosis seems to exert a greater negative influence on cognitive recovery following a mild/moderate TBI than BAL at admission, especially in older patients.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Authors and Editor-in-Chief. Some of the data presented in Figure 6C, F and G of the paper to which this corrigendum relates were reported incorrectly in the published article. After being contacted by the Journal, the authors discovered an unintentional error in how the original data were analyzed that could affect the accuracy of the subsequent analysis. The raw data were incorrectly grouped in the analysis software, thereby altering the comparisons. Therefore the authors wish to retract the paper and corrigendum and will recollect and reanalyze the data appropriately. The authors apologize for any inconvenience., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Authors and Editor-in-Chief. Some of the data presented in Figure 6C, F and G of the above-titled paper were reported incorrectly in the published article. After being contacted by the Journal, the authors discovered an unintentional error in how the original data were analyzed that could affect the accuracy of the subsequent analysis. The raw data were incorrectly grouped in the analysis software, thereby altering the comparisons. Therefore the authors wish to retract the paper and will recollect and reanalyze the data appropriately. The authors apologize for any inconvenience., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important food crops, however it is only moderately tolerant to salinity stress. To improve wheat yield under saline conditions, breeding for improved salinity tolerance of wheat is needed. We have identified nine quantitative trail loci (QTL) for different salt tolerance sub-traits in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population, derived from the bi-parental cross of Excalibur × Kukri. This population was screened for salinity tolerance subtraits using a combination of both destructive and non-destructive phenotyping. Genotyping by sequencing (GBS) was used to construct a high-density genetic linkage map, consisting of 3236 markers, and utilised for mapping QTL. Of the nine mapped QTL, six were detected under salt stress, including QTL for maintenance of shoot growth under salinity (QG ( 1-5 ) .asl -5A , QG ( 1-5 ) .asl -7B ) sodium accumulation (QNa.asl -2A ), chloride accumulation (QCl.asl -2A , QCl.asl -3A ) and potassium : sodium ratio (QK :Na.asl -2DS2 ). Potential candidate genes within these QTL intervals were shortlisted using bioinformatics tools. These findings are expected to facilitate the breeding of new salt tolerant wheat cultivars. Soil salinity causes major yield losses in bread wheat, which is moderately tolerant to salinity stress. Using high throughput genotyping and phenotyping techniques, we identified quantitative trail loci (QTL) for different salt tolerance sub-traits in bread wheat and shortlisted potential candidate genes. These QTL and candidate genes may prove useful in breeding for salt tolerant wheat cultivars.

The Escherichia coli tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (EcTyrRS)/tRNA EcTyr pair offers an attractive platform for genetically encoding new noncanonical amino acids (ncAA) in eukaryotes. However, challenges associated with a eukaryotic selection system, which is needed to engineer the platform, have impeded its success in the past. Recently, using a facile E. coli -based selection system, we showed that EcTyrRS could be engineered in a strain where the endogenous tyrosyl pair was substituted with an archaeal counterpart. However, significant cross-reactivity between the UAG-suppressing tRNA CUA EcTyr and the bacterial glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase limited the scope of this strategy, preventing the selection of moderately active EcTyrRS mutants. Here we report an engineered tRNA CUA EcTyr that overcomes this cross-reactivity. Optimized selection systems based on this tRNA enabled the efficient enrichment of both strongly and weakly active ncAA-selective EcTyrRS mutants. We also developed a wide dynamic range (WiDR) antibiotic selection to further enhance the activities of the weaker first-generation EcTyrRS mutants. We demonstrated the utility of our platform by developing several new EcTyrRS mutants that efficiently incorporated useful ncAAs in mammalian cells, including photoaffinity probes, bioconjugation handles, and a nonhydrolyzable mimic of phosphotyrosine., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following competing financial interest(s): A patent application on the EcTyrRS mutants and ncAAs reported here has been submitted. A.C. is a cofounder and senior advisor of BrickBio, Inc., which focuses on applications of the ncAA mutagenesis technology., (© 2022 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Lifestyle modifications in the form of diet and exercise are generally the first-line approach to reduce hypertensive risk and overall cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Accumulating research evidence has revealed that consumption of non- and low-fat dairy products incorporated into the routine diet is an effective means to reduce elevated blood pressure and improve vascular functions. However, the idea of incorporating whole-fat or full-fat dairy products in the normal routine diet as a strategy to reduce CVD risk has been met with controversy. The aim of this review was to evaluate both sides of the argument surrounding saturated fat intake and CVD risk from the standpoint of dairy intake. Throughout the review, we examined observational studies on relationships between CVD risk and dairy consumption, dietary intervention studies using non-fat and whole-fat dairy, and mechanistic studies investigating physiological mechanisms of saturated fat intake that may help to explain increases in cardiovascular disease risk. Currently available data have demonstrated that whole-fat dairy is unlikely to augment hypertensive risk when added to the normal routine diet but may negatively impact CVD risk. In conclusion, whole-fat dairy may not be a recommended alternative to non- or low-fat dairy products as a mean to reduce hypertensive or overall CVD risk., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Carrying angle of elbow is the angle borne by the forearm to the arm in fully extended elbow and supinated forearm. Northeast Indian population being an amalgamation of diverse ethnicity of population, the researchers have felt the necessity of a reference value for this anthropometric parameter for pre-operative planning and template. The objective is to study the difference in carrying angle between males and females and its correlation with different parameters like age, sex, height, body mass index and handedness., Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in Gauhati Medical College and Hospital on 384 persons with ages ranging from 20 to 74 years. Carrying angle was measured by goniometer and confirmed by radiography., Results: Three hundred and forty-three were right handed while 41 individuals were left handed. In males, the mean carrying angle of the right elbow was found to be 12.55 ± 2.3° and of the left was found to be 12.27 ± 2.43°, while in females, the mean carrying angle of the right elbow was found to be 14.53 ± 2.34° and 14.06 ± 3.37° in the left ( p  < 0.05). Carrying angle is usually found significantly higher in dominant upper limb. There is no significant difference in carrying angle for northeast Indian population from the rest of the country., Conclusion: We have found that carrying angle is dependent on gender and on dominance of upper limb. The carrying angle variation in Northeastern Indian population is almost comparable with the population of the rest of our country except for some specific tribes which needs further analysis., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestOn behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest., (© Indian Orthopaedics Association 2021.)

Proton-pumping pyrophosphatases (H + -PPases) have been shown to enhance biomass and yield. However, to date, there has been little work towards identify genes encoding H + -PPases in bread wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) ( TaVP s) and limited knowledge on how the expression of these genes varies across different growth stages and tissue types. In this study, the IWGSC database was used to identify two novel TaVP genes, TaVP4 and TaVP5 , and elucidate the complete homeolog sequences of the three known TaVP genes, bringing the total number of bread wheat TaVP s from 9 to 15. Gene expression levels of each TaVP homeolog were assessed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in four diverse wheat varieties in terms of phenotypic traits related to high vacuolar pyrophosphatase expression. Homeolog expression was analyzed across multiple tissue types and developmental stages. Expression levels of the TaVP homeologs were found to vary significantly between varieties, tissues and plant developmental stages. During early development (Z10 and Z13), expressions of TaVP1 and TaVP2 homeologs were higher in shoot tissue than root tissue, with both shoot and root expression increasing in later developmental stages (Z22). TaVP2-D was expressed in all varieties and tissue types and was the most highly expressed homeolog at all developmental stages. Expression of the TaVP3 homeologs was restricted to developing grain (Z75), while TaVP4 homeolog expression was higher at Z22 than earlier developmental stages. Variation in TaVP4B was detected among varieties at Z22 and Z75, with Buck Atlantico (high biomass) and Scout (elite Australian cultivar) having the highest levels of expression. These findings offer a comprehensive overview of the bread wheat H + -PPase family and identify variation in TaVP homeolog expression that will be of use to improve the growth, yield, and abiotic stress tolerance of bread wheat., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© 2021 The Authors. Plant Direct published by American Society of Plant Biologists and the Society for Experimental Biology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Salinity tolerance in bread wheat is frequently reported to be associated with low leaf sodium (Na+) concentrations. However, the Portuguese landrace, Mocho de Espiga Branca, accumulates significantly higher leaf Na+ but has comparable salinity tolerance to commercial bread wheat cultivars. To determine the genetic loci associated with the salinity tolerance of this landrace, an F2 mapping population was developed by crossing Mocho de Espiga Branca with the Australian cultivar Gladius. The population was phenotyped for 19 salinity tolerance subtraits using both non-destructive and destructive techniques. Genotyping was performed using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). Genomic regions associated with salinity tolerance were detected on chromosomes 1A, 1D, 4B and 5A for the subtraits of relative and absolute growth rate (RGR, AGR respectively), and on chromosome 2A, 2B, 4D and 5D for Na+, potassium (K+) and chloride (Cl-) accumulation. Candidate genes that encode proteins associated with salinity tolerance were identified within the loci including Na+/H+ antiporters, K+ channels, H+-ATPase, calcineurin B-like proteins (CBLs), CBL-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs), calcium dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) and calcium-transporting ATPase. This study provides a new insight into the genetic control of salinity tolerance in a Na+ accumulating bread wheat to assist with the future development of salt tolerant cultivars.

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important food crops, however it is only moderately tolerant to salinity stress. To improve wheat yield under saline conditions, breeding for improved salinity tolerance of wheat is needed. We have identified nine quantitative trail loci (QTL) for different salt tolerance sub-traits in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population, derived from the bi-parental cross of Excalibur × Kukri. This population was screened for salinity tolerance subtraits using a combination of both destructive and non-destructive phenotyping. Genotyping by sequencing (GBS) was used to construct a high-density genetic linkage map, consisting of 3236 markers, and utilised for mapping QTL. Of the nine mapped QTL, six were detected under salt stress, including QTL for maintenance of shoot growth under salinity (QG(1-5).asl-5A, QG(1-5).asl-7B) sodium accumulation (QNa.asl-2A), chloride accumulation (QCl.asl-2A, QCl.asl-3A) and potassium:sodium ratio (QK:Na.asl-2DS2). Potential candidate genes within these QTL intervals were shortlisted using bioinformatics tools. These findings are expected to facilitate the breeding of new salt tolerant wheat cultivars.

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a life-threatening disease. In this study, we examined the anti-mitochondrial damaging effects of sinapic acid (SA) in isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarcted rats. Myocardial infarcted rats were prepared by injecting ISO (100 mg/kg body weight) on the 9th and 10th day. Rats were pretreated and cotreated with SA (12 mg/kg body weight) orally, daily for 10 days. A considerable increase in serum lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, myoglobin, and cardiac troponin-T was noticed in the ISO-induced rats. ISO also significantly amplified lipid peroxidation and calcium ions, and depleted the antioxidant system and mitochondrial enzymes in rat's heart mitochondria. SA treatment improved the distorted above- mentioned biochemical parameters in ISO-treated rats with its anti-mitochondrial damaging effects. This ultrastructural study on heart mitochondria and in vitro studies also confirmed the effects of SA. The current findings are suggestive of SA's cardioprotective effects., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Improving salinity tolerance in the most widely cultivated cereal, bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), is essential to increase grain yields on saline agricultural lands. A Portuguese landrace, Mocho de Espiga Branca accumulates up to sixfold greater leaf and sheath sodium (Na + ) than two Australian cultivars, Gladius and Scout, under salt stress in hydroponics. Despite high leaf and sheath Na + concentrations, Mocho de Espiga Branca maintained similar salinity tolerance compared to Gladius and Scout. A naturally occurring single nucleotide substitution was identified in the gene encoding a major Na + transporter TaHKT1;5-D in Mocho de Espiga Branca, which resulted in a L190P amino acid residue variation. This variant prevents Mocho de Espiga Branca from retrieving Na + from the root xylem leading to a high shoot Na + concentration. The identification of the tissue-tolerant Mocho de Espiga Branca will accelerate the development of more elite salt-tolerant bread wheat cultivars., (© 2020 The Authors. Plant, Cell & Environment published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

A fundamental factor to improve crop productivity involves the optimization of reduced carbon translocation from source to sink tissues. Here, we present data consistent with the positive effect that the expression of the Arabidopsis thaliana H + -PPase ( AVP1 ) has on reduced carbon partitioning and yield increases in wheat. Immunohistochemical localization of H + -PPases (TaVP) in spring wheat Bobwhite L. revealed the presence of this conserved enzyme in wheat vasculature and sink tissues. Of note, immunogold imaging showed a plasma membrane localization of TaVP in sieve element- companion cell complexes of Bobwhite source leaves. These data together with the distribution patterns of a fluorescent tracer and [U 14 C]-sucrose are consistent with an apoplasmic phloem-loading model in wheat. Interestingly, 14 C-labeling experiments provided evidence for enhanced carbon partitioning between shoots and roots, and between flag leaves and milk stage kernels in AVP1 expressing Bobwhite lines. In keeping, there is a significant yield improvement triggered by the expression of AVP1 in these lines. Green house and field grown transgenic wheat expressing AVP1 also produced higher grain yield and number of seeds per plant, and exhibited an increase in root biomass when compared to null segregants. Another agriculturally desirable phenotype showed by AVP1 Bobwhite plants is a robust establishment of seedlings., (Copyright © 2020 Regmi, Yogendra, Gomes Farias, Li, Kandel, Yadav, Sha, Trittermann, Short, George, Evers, Plett, Ayre, Roy and Gaxiola.)

Agriculture is expanding into regions that are affected by salinity. This review considers the energetic costs of salinity tolerance in crop plants and provides a framework for a quantitative assessment of costs. Different sources of energy, and modifications of root system architecture that would maximize water vs ion uptake are addressed. Energy requirements for transport of salt (NaCl) to leaf vacuoles for osmotic adjustment could be small if there are no substantial leaks back across plasma membrane and tonoplast in root and leaf. The coupling ratio of the H + -ATPase also is a critical component. One proposed leak, that of Na + influx across the plasma membrane through certain aquaporin channels, might be coupled to water flow, thus conserving energy. For the tonoplast, control of two types of cation channels is required for energy efficiency. Transporters controlling the Na + and Cl - concentrations in mitochondria and chloroplasts are largely unknown and could be a major energy cost. The complexity of the system will require a sophisticated modelling approach to identify critical transporters, apoplastic barriers and root structures. This modelling approach will inform experimentation and allow a quantitative assessment of the energy costs of NaCl tolerance to guide breeding and engineering of molecular components., (© 2019 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2019 New Phytologist Trust.)

Background: High consumption of low- and non-fat dairy products improves vascular dysfunction associated with elevated arterial blood pressure (BP). Currently, it is unknown if conventional full-fat dairy products improve vascular functions., Objectives: To determine if adding whole milk and full-fat dairy products to the normal routine diet improves vascular function in adults with elevated BP., Design: Sixty adults (age ± SEM; 58 ± 2 years) with elevated BP (systolic/diastolic; 120-159/ < 99 mmHg) were randomized into a controlled crossover intervention trial consisting of two 4-week dietary periods. The high dairy condition consisted of adding four daily servings of whole milk or full-fat dairy products to the normal diet and eliminated all dairy intake during the control (no dairy) condition. A 2-week washout period separated the dietary conditions., Results: Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) did not differ significantly between high dairy (11.3 ± 0.3 versus 10.9 ± 0.3 m/sec) and no dairy conditions (11.2 ± 0.3 versus 11.0 ± 0.3 m/sec). The results were consistent when ultrasound-derived vascular distension measures (arterial compliance, beta-stiffness index, and elastic modulus) were evaluated. Cardiovagal baroreceptor sensitivity (via Valsalva maneuver) demonstrated no significant difference for either dietary condition. Brachial arterial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) did not differ significantly during the high dairy (5.7 ± 0.5 versus 5.4 ± 0.6%) and no dairy conditions (6.5 ± 0.5 versus 5.6 ± 0.6%)., Conclusions: The solitary addition of whole milk and full-fat dairy products has no effect on subclinical vascular function in adults with elevated BP.

Damage to the microvascular endothelium is an important part of normal tissue injury after radiation exposure and driven by the production of pro-oxidants. The Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II is present in the mitochondrial matrix (mitoCaMKII) where it regulates Ca2+ uptake via the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU) and pro-oxidant production. Here, we demonstrate that radiation exposure disrupts endothelial cell barrier integrity in vitro, but can be abrogated by inhibition of mitoCaMKII, MCU, or opening of the mitochondrial transition pore. Scavenging of mitochondrial pro-oxidants with mitoTEMPO before, but not after irradiation, protected barrier function. Furthermore, markers of apoptosis and mitochondrial pro-oxidant production were elevated at 24 h following irradiation and abolished by mitoCaMKII inhibition. Endothelial barrier dysfunction was detected as early as 2 h after irradiation. Despite only mildly impaired mitochondrial respiration, the intracellular ATP levels were significantly reduced 4 h after irradiation and correlated with barrier function. MitoCaMKII inhibition improved intracellular ATP concentrations by increasing glycolysis. Finally, DNA double strand break repair and non-homologous end joining, two major drivers of ATP consumption after irradiation, were greatly increased but not significantly affected by mitoCaMKII inhibition. These findings support the hypothesis that mitoCaMKII activity is linked to mitochondrial pro-oxidant production, reduced ATP production, and loss of endothelial barrier function following irradiation. The inhibition of mitoCaMKII is a promising approach to limiting radiation-induced endothelial injury., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

There is a well-conceived notion that rate of recovery from strenuous exercise gets slower with age. However, it is unclear whether older adults who exercise habitually demonstrate slower rates of recovery. We determined whether older adults who are physically active demonstrate slower rates of recovery from unaccustomed strenuous exercise compared with younger peers. Healthy young sedentary (n=10, 28±2 years), young endurance-trained (n=15, 27±2 years), and older endurance-trained (n=14, 58±2 years) men and women were studied. Participants performed 45 min of downhill running at 65% of their maximal oxygen consumption. Visual analog pain scores of muscle groups increased at 24, 48, and 72 h in all three groups (p<0.05), and changes in the muscular pain scale of the legs was smaller in the older trained group than in the young trained group. Maximum isometric strengths at 90° decreased in all groups at 24 h, but the recovery rates were not different at 72 h among the groups. Plasma creatine kinase activity and myoglobin concentration increased at 24 h following downhill running and returned to baseline at 48 h in both the young and older trained groups. The present findings are not consistent with the prevailing notion that older trained adults have a slower rate of recovery from strenuous exercise., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

To optimize shoot growth and structure of cereals, we need to understand the genetic components controlling initiation and elongation. While measuring total shoot growth at high throughput using 2D imaging has progressed, recovering the 3D shoot structure of small grain cereals at a large scale is still challenging. Here, we present a method for measuring defined individual leaves of cereals, such as wheat and barley, using few images. Plant shoot modelling over time was used to measure the initiation and elongation of leaves in a bi-parental barley mapping population under low and high soil salinity. We detected quantitative trait loci (QTL) related to shoot growth per se, using both simple 2D total shoot measurements and our approach of measuring individual leaves. In addition, we detected QTL specific to leaf elongation and not to total shoot size. Of particular importance was the detection of a QTL on chromosome 3H specific to the early responses of leaf elongation to salt stress, a locus that could not be detected without the computer vision tools developed in this study., (© 2019 The Authors The Plant Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Society for Experimental Biology.)

Regular consumption of low- and nonfat dairy products reduces blood pressure (BP) in adults with elevated BP. Currently, it is unknown if conventional full-fat dairy products exert similar hypotensive effects. We hypothesized that adding full-fat dairy products to the normal routine diet would reduce seated office and ambulatory BP (primary outcome) in adults with elevated BP when compared with a no dairy control. Using a randomized controlled crossover design, 60 adults with elevated systolic BP (systolic/diastolic BP: 120-159/<99 mm Hg) participated in a 4-week high-dairy (4 servings a day of full-fat dairy products + regular diet) and a 4-week no-dairy condition (plant-based food items + regular diet) separated by a 2-week washout period. Data were analyzed based on time, condition, and sex. Seated office systolic BP did not change significantly in either condition. There were no changes in systolic BP in male or female participants across either dietary period. Ambulatory (24-hour) systolic BP did not change significantly in the high-dairy (133 ± 2 vs 131 ± 1 mm Hg) or no-dairy conditions (132 ± 2 vs 131 ± 1 mm Hg). No significant changes were observed for diastolic BP or pulse pressure during condition for office or ambulatory measures. The solitary addition of full-fat dairy products to the normal routine diet does not exert hypotensive effects in adults with elevated BP when compared to the no-dairy control., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Nucleophilic reactivity of deconjugated butyrolactams has been demonstrated for enantioselective Michael additions to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones. These reactions are catalyzed by diphenylprolinol silyl ether and trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane-derived bifunctional primary aminothiourea, respectively, producing the Michael adducts with moderate diastereoselectivities and good to excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99:1 er). Unlike in the case of structurally related deconjugated butenolides where vinylogous addition is prevalent, an exclusive α-addition is observed for deconjugated butyrolactams.

Key Message: Novel QTL for salinity tolerance traits have been detected using non-destructive and destructive phenotyping in bread wheat and were shown to be linked to improvements in yield in saline fields. Soil salinity is a major limitation to cereal production. Breeding new salt-tolerant cultivars has the potential to improve cereal crop yields. In this study, a doubled haploid bread wheat mapping population, derived from the bi-parental cross of Excalibur × Kukri, was grown in a glasshouse under control and salinity treatments and evaluated using high-throughput non-destructive imaging technology. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of this population detected multiple QTL under salt and control treatments. Of these, six QTL were detected in the salt treatment including one for maintenance of shoot growth under salinity (QG (1-5) .asl-7A), one for leaf Na + exclusion (QNa.asl-7A) and four for leaf K + accumulation (QK.asl-2B.1, QK.asl-2B.2, QK.asl-5A and QK:Na.asl-6A). The beneficial allele for QG (1-5) .asl-7A (the maintenance of shoot growth under salinity) was present in six out of 44 mainly Australian bread and durum wheat cultivars. The effect of each QTL allele on grain yield was tested in a range of salinity concentrations at three field sites across 2 years. In six out of nine field trials with different levels of salinity stress, lines with alleles for Na + exclusion and/or K + maintenance at three QTL (QNa.asl-7A, QK.asl-2B.2 and QK:Na.asl-6A) excluded more Na + or accumulated more K + compared to lines without these alleles. Importantly, the QK.asl-2B.2 allele for higher K + accumulation was found to be associated with higher grain yield at all field sites. Several alleles at other QTL were associated with higher grain yields at selected field sites.

Background: Elevated android body fat increases the risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases. Postprandial hyperglycemia contributes to the proatherogenic metabolic state evident in android adiposity. Due to the insulinotropic effect of milk-derived proteins, postprandial hyperglycemia has been shown to be reduced with the addition of dairy products. The purpose of this study was to determine whether one serving of nonfat milk added to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) could attenuate postprandial hyperglycemia in individuals with elevated android adiposity and whether these improvements would be associated with metabolic and/or peripheral hemodynamic effects., Methods: In this placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover experimental study, 29 overweight/obese adults (26 ± 1 year) consumed an OGTT beverage (75 g glucose) combined with either nonfat milk (227 g) or a placebo control (12 g lactose + 8 g protein + 207 g water) that was matched for both carbohydrate and protein quantities., Results: In the whole sample, blood glucose and insulin concentrations increased over time in both trials with no significant differences between trials. Relative increases in peak blood glucose response were significantly related to android body fat ( p  < 0.05). The subjects in the highest tertiles of android body fat displayed attenuated hyperglycemic responses as well as improvements in flow-mediated dilation (FMD) after milk intake., Conclusions: A single serving of nonfat milk may attenuate acute hyperglycemia in individuals with elevated android body fat offering a simple and convenient option for managing elevations in blood glucose.

Background: Selecting for low concentration of Na + in the shoot provides one approach for tackling salinity stress that adversely affects crop production. Novel alleles for Na + exclusion can be identified and then introduced into elite crop cultivars., Results: We have identified loci associated with lower Na + concentration in leaves of durum wheat landraces originating from Afghanistan. Seedlings of two F 2 populations derived from crossings between Australian durum wheat (Jandaroi) and two Afghani landraces (AUS-14740 and AUS-14752) were grown hydroponically and evaluated for Na + and K + concentration in the third leaf. High heritability was found for both third leaf Na + concentration and the K + /Na + ratio in both populations. Further work focussed on line AUS-14740. Bulk segregant analysis using 9 K SNP markers identified two loci significantly associated with third leaf Na + concentration. Marker regression analysis showed a strong association between all traits studied and a favourable allele originating from AUS-14740 located on the long arm of chromosome 4B., Conclusions: The candidate gene in the relevant region of chromosome 4B is likely to be the high affinity K + transporter B1 (HKT1;5-B1). A second locus associated with third leaf Na + concentration was located on chromosome 3BL, with the favourable allele originating from Jandaroi; however, no candidate gene can be identified.

Soil salinity can severely reduce crop growth and yield. Many studies have investigated salinity tolerance mechanisms in cereals using phenotypes that are relatively easy to measure. The majority of these studies measured the accumulation of shoot Na+ and the effect this has on plant growth. However, plant growth is reduced immediately after exposure to NaCl before Na+ accumulates to toxic concentrations in the shoot. In this study, nondestructive and destructive measurements are used to evaluate the responses of 24 predominately Australian barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) lines at 0, 150 and 250mM NaCl. Considerable variation for shoot tolerance mechanisms not related to ion toxicity (shoot ion-independent tolerance) was found, with some lines being able to maintain substantial growth rates under salt stress, whereas others stopped growing. Hordeum vulgare spp. spontaneum accessions and barley landraces predominantly had the best shoot ion independent tolerance, although two commercial cultivars, Fathom and Skiff, also had high tolerance. The tolerance of cv. Fathom may be caused by a recent introgression from H. vulgare L. spp. spontaneum. This study shows that the most salt-tolerant barley lines are those that contain both shoot ion-independent tolerance and the ability to exclude Na+ from the shoot (and thus maintain high K+:Na+ ratios).

Salinity is a global problem affecting agriculture that results in an estimated US$27 billion loss in revenue per year. Overexpression of vacuolar ATPase subunits has been shown to be beneficial in improving plant performance under saline conditions. Most studies, however, have not shown whether overexpression of genes encoding ATPase subunits results in improvements in grain yield, and have not investigated the physiological mechanisms behind the improvement in plant growth. In this study, we constitutively expressed Arabidopsis Vacuolar ATPase subunit C (AtVHA-C) in barley. Transgenic plants were assessed for agronomical and physiological characteristics, such as fresh and dry biomass, leaf pigment content, stomatal conductance, grain yield, and leaf Na+ and K+ concentration, when grown in either 0 or 300mM NaCl. When compared with non-transformed barley, AtVHA-C expressing barley lines had a smaller reduction in both biomass and grain yield under salinity stress. The transgenic lines accumulated Na+ and K+ in leaves for osmotic adjustment. This in turn saves energy consumed in the synthesis of organic osmolytes that otherwise would be needed for osmotic adjustment.

The first catalytic enantioselective α-sulfenylation of deconjugated butyrolactams has been developed using dimeric cinchona alkaloids as catalysts in a water-enriched reaction medium. Highly substituted and densely functionalized γ-lactams, bearing a quaternary stereogenic center, are produced with up to 99.5 : 0.5 er. The applicability of the same catalyst system for the enantioselective α-selenylation and formal vinylogous γ-hydroxylation of deconjugated butyrolactam has also been described.

Plant breeding and improvements in agronomic practice are making a consistent contribution to increasing global crop production year upon year. However, the rate of yield improvement currently lags behind the targets set to produce enough food to meet the demands of the predicted global population in 2050. Furthermore, crops that are exposed to harmful abiotic environmental factors (abiotic stresses, e.g. water limitation, salinity, extreme temperature) are prone to reduced yields. Here, we briefly describe the processes undertaken in conventional breeding programmes, which are usually designed to improve yields in near-optimal conditions rather than specifically breeding for improved crop yield stability under stressed conditions. While there is extensive fundamental research activity that examines mechanisms of plant stress tolerance, there are few examples that apply this research to improving commercial crop yields. There are notable exceptions, and we highlight some of these to demonstrate the magnitude of yield gains that could be made by translating agronomic, phenological and genetic solutions focused on improving or mitigating the effect of abiotic stress in the field; in particular, we focus on improvements in crop water-use efficiency and salinity tolerance. We speculate upon the reasons for the disconnect between research and research translation. We conclude that to realise untapped rapid gains towards food security targets new funding structures need to be embraced. Such funding needs to serve both the core and collaborative activities of the fundamental, pre-breeding and breeding research communities in order to expedite the translation of innovative research into the fields of primary producers., (© 2016 The Authors The Plant Journal © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Constitutive expression of the Arabidopsis vacuolar proton-pumping pyrophosphatase (H + -PPase) gene (AVP1) increases plant growth under various abiotic stress conditions and, importantly, under nonstressed conditions. Many interpretations have been proposed to explain these phenotypes, including greater vacuolar ion sequestration, increased auxin transport, enhanced heterotrophic growth, and increased transport of sucrose from source to sink tissues. In this review, we evaluate all the roles proposed for AVP1, using findings published to date from mutant plants lacking functional AVP1 and transgenic plants expressing AVP1. It is clear that AVP1 is one protein with many roles, and that one or more of these roles act to enhance plant growth. The complexity suggests that a systems biology approach to evaluate biological networks is required to investigate these intertwined roles., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)